Good morning.

I don't want to get set up here.

My name's Ben Weber.

Oh, and a little feedback.

And I am the Boston City Counselor for District Six and the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Today is May 14th, two thousand twenty-six, and the exact time is ten twelve AM.

Uh I have a few preliminaries to get through here, so just bear with me.

Uh this hearing's being recorded.

It's also being live streamed at Boston.gov slash city dash council-tv and broadcasts on Xfinity Channel Eight, RCN Channel 82, and FIOS Channel Nine Sixty Four.

The council's budget review process encompasses a series of public hearings from April through June.

First, they can attend one of our hearings, uh, and give public testimony.

They can either attend in person or virtually for a full schedule of our hearings.

Uh you can go on our website boston.gov slash council dash budget.

You can give testimony in person by coming to the chamber and uh signing in on the sign-in sheet near the entrance.

You'll be called on in the order you've signed up.

You can also testify virtually uh via Zoom.

To testify virtually, sign up using our online form on our council budget review website, or by emailing the committee at ccc.wm at Boston.gov, or by emailing Karish Machauhan at K-A-R I S H M A.

C H O U H A N at Boston.gov.

You'll be given a zoom link and you testify on Zoom.

You can also attend the fourth of four public listening sessions we have right here in the chamber.

The fourth one, the last one will be Thursday, May 26th at 6 p.m.

Again, right here.

You can come and you'll have two minutes to to talk to the counselors.

You can attend again, you can give testimony in person or virtually for that listening session also.

Uh, when you're called to testify, you'll have two minutes.

Please state your name, your residence, if you're with an organization, what organization you're with, and uh, and then you'll have two minutes to to speak.

Um, in lieu of testifying at a hearing virtually or in person, you can submit written testimony by email by sending it to the committee at CCC.wm at Boston.gov.

You can also just email you can snail mail it to my office and we'll submit it.

But uh hopefully email works.

If you have a problem, just reach out to my office and and we'll help you get your testimony submitted.

You can also submit a two-minute video of your testimony through a form on our website.

For more information on the city council budget process and how to testify.

Please visit the city council's budget uh website at Boston.gov slash council-budget.

Um, so for our public testimony, what we'll be doing is we'll hear from the panel.

Then our my council colleagues will all get a chance to, you'll have five to seven, eight minutes to ask questions.

Uh, and that's their first round of questions.

They'll have second rounds and maybe even third rounds, but after that first round of questions that we hear from the panel, we're gonna call on public testimony.

So then everyone who's here who wants to testify, everyone online, you'll have your chance after our first round of questions.

Um again, if you uh to testify in the chamber, please sign in.

Uh, or you can email for a zoom link, you can email Karishma at K-A-R-I-S-H-M-A.C-H-O-U-H-A-N at Boston.gov for the zoom link and your name will be added to the list.

This morning's hearing is on docket number 0733 to 0740, an overview of the fiscal year 2027 operating budgets for the Age Strong Commission, Boston Vets, and the Office of Returning Citizens, which is housed within the Office of Human Services, if I have that right.

Okay, this is one of a series of hearings on the fiscal year 2027 budget.

These matters were sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and referred to the committee on April 8th, 2026.

I'm joined by my colleagues in order of arrival, Councillor Flynn, sitting up here, uh, Councilor Murphy, Councillor Durkin, uh then Councillor Fitzgerald.

Uh we uh waive opening statements at the budget hearings, just uh get get things moving.

Um my colleagues will have a chance to speak uh uh I'll give them plenty of time for their rounded questions.

But I'm just gonna introduce the panel and then uh we're gonna go to you.

So we're joined by Age Strong Commissioner.

Let me make sure this list matches this list.

It does.

Uh Emily Shea, who's our commissioner for Age Strong, um, our Chief of Human Services, uh Jose Masso, our executive director for the Office of Returning Citizens, Ashley Montgomery, uh, and our commissioner of vets, Robert Santiago.

Sorry, Rob Santiago to me, but Robert, apparently.

Um, so uh just for our panelists, you don't don't you don't have to press the buttons.

We have central staff, they'll turn your mics on and off.

That will take care of that.

And just is it a clicker for the slideshow?

Great, uh, uh Chief Masso.

So I'm gonna hand the floor over to our panel.

Thank you.

Greatly appreciate it.

And uh good morning, Chairman Weber.

Uh, much thanks to you and the other uh members of the council who are here today in the chamber.

Uh, for the record, my name is Sol Zay Masso, I am the Chief of Human Services.

It's a pleasure to be here today to represent the Human Services Cabinet.

I'm joined today by three of my department heads, Emily Shea, Commissioner of Age Strong, Robert Santiago, Commissioner of the Office of Veteran Services, and Nasty Montgomery, the executive director of the Office of Returning Citizens.

I'll quickly go through an opening statement and then we'll hand it over to my colleagues who will share a brief opening statement as well.

As you all know, the human services cabinet is made up of six departments.

A strong commission, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, Boston Public Library, Office of Returning Citizens, Office of Veterans Services, and the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement.

Today's hearing will cover the budget for the Office of Human Services and the three departments present today.

The remaining three departments in our cabinet have either had their own hearings or are scheduled to do so.

And I'm grateful for this council's interest in the important work of our cabinet.

The Office of Youth Engagement Advancement, oh yeah, had a hearing last Tuesday with YEO and YOU.

Boston Centers for Youth and Families will have a hearing on Monday, May 18th.

And the hearing for the Boston Public Library will be on the following day, May 19th.

While I am always happy to weigh in on any issues related to my departments, I'm hoping the most of the questions today you have are about our cabinet's initiatives or those of the three departments presenting today.

The Human Services Cabinet is guided by a vision of Boston where all residents have access to the services, opportunities, and resources they need to thrive.

The departments in our cabinet are united by a shared mission of providing equitable access to services for our residents and their neighborhoods free of charge.

Our cabinet has almost 1,000 employees in 70 locations.

We are in every neighborhood and we offer services, programs, and events that have the potential to reach every Boston resident.

This mission has never been more important as residents face escalating costs in almost every area of their household budgets.

In the face of fertile cuts and inflation, our teams are on the front lines to connect residents to the resources available at the city and to flag potential responses for leaders who can advocate for the preservation of our vital safety net programs.

Even though this is a difficult budget year, I am proud that the mayor's proposed budget protects our teams and the core services they deliver to the residents every single day.

This means that even though we need to do more with less, our libraries, community centers, and senior centers will remain open, and the direct services that residents have come to expect from all of our departments will remain free and available to all.

The human services team had a great year in FY26.

We have continued to support Mayor Wu's goal of making Boston a great place to raise a family by leading cross-department work on youth sports, water safety, and the arts.

Through Let's Play Boston, we work with the teams at BCYF, the Parks Department, and BPS coordinate, collaborate, and break down silos with a shared goal of increasing youth sports participation to meet the Healthy People 2030 goal of 63% by the year 2030.

In support of the Let's Play Boston goal this year, we invested 275,000 in 62 community-based sports programs to enable them to lower the cost of sports participation.

We launched the She Cultures campaign to encourage more women to get involved in coaching across uh youth sports.

And just this last week, we welcomed the Aspen Institute's Project Place Summit to Boston, shining a spotlight on Boston and the work that our partners are doing every day to make the city a great place to raise a family.

In addition to youth sports, we continue to lead on water safety through swim safe Boston.

We are pursuing three main strategies in our efforts to improve water safety in Boston.

First, we are working with BCYF and BPS to increase the availability of swim opportunities in the city by getting as many pools many of our pools open as possible.

We have also partnered with a number of schools and after school programs to fund swim lessons as part of the school day.

Second, we have supported BCYF and their efforts to hire and retain lifeguards.

Last summer was the first of several years that we were fully staffed at 87 lifeguards and are able to keep all of our pools open throughout the summer months.

Finally, we work with BCYF and private partners, such as the YMCA of Greater Boston and Boys and Girls Clubs to offer free beginner swim lessons.

This year alone, we provide free swim lessons to 600, excuse me, 6,600 young people through our BCYF and our private aquatics partners.

And we continue to look for ways to innovate and bring more free swim lessons online.

Finally, we are proud to continue our work with the city's youth serving programs to our management of the youth development fund.

Each year, YDF distributes approximately 1.5 million to nonprofit youth development organizations in Boston with the goal of increasing the quality and affordability of youth development programs in the city.

Effective youth development programming offers countless downstream benefits.

It increases young people's confidence, it helps them develop their social skills, it builds resilience, and it offers connection to peers and caring adults in their community.

This year, YDF invested in 128 youth development programs across the city, and for the third year, we hosted the emerging organization learning community.

In a month, we'll award certificates to 20 leaders of nonprofit youth serving organizations who have participated in an eight-month class with Earthman College to learn about nonprofit management.

The FY27 budget will require us to think differently about how we do our work, but fundamentally, our priorities remain the same and our teams remain dedicated to providing the best possible services to Boston residents.

And now I'll turn it over to Commissioner Emily Shea of the Age Strong Commission to give her opening remarks.

Thanks, Chief.

Hi, everybody.

Thank you so much, Counselors, for uh the opportunity to be here today.

Um I'm excited to share the work that Age Strong does to support Boston's older residents.

My name is Emily Shea, and I serve as Age Strong Commissioner.

May is an important and especially important month for us and a very exciting month because it's older Americans month.

So if you haven't dropped by a senior program this month, come on out to one of our senior centers, one of our programming sites, one of our partner organizations, and I'm sure that you'll be warmly welcomed.

So for the first time in our history, that's the right side.

For the first time in our history in Boston, Bostonians age 60 and over outnumber Bostonians age 19 and under.

Older adults are not just a segment of our city, they're our fastest growing population.

So I invite you to imagine a Boston that embraces aging, where your value doesn't have an expiration date.

Whether you're five, 15 or 65 or 95, when we invest in our people, we're investing in our future.

One that is stronger, more inclusive, and more vibrant for everybody.

Next slide, please.

We aspire to be Boston's one-stop shop for older adults.

Whether we're providing direct assistance or connecting people to our incredible network of partners, our goal is the same: a more responsive, interconnected system where every older person has the resources to thrive.

We deliver on this promise by helping people navigate benefit eligibility and enrollment, providing reliable transportation through the Age Strong Shuttle and City Taxi Coupon Program, cultivating connection and a sense of purpose by hosting hundreds of culturally responsive events and meaningful volunteer opportunities, and strengthening the aging services network and working across sectors to build a Boston where we all can live and age well.

Next slide, please.

At AgeStrong, we continue to meet the evolving needs of our community.

This year we delivered over 5,000 hours of direct programming at AgeStrong sites, supplemented by thousands of additional hours through our community grants.

We managed a 15% increase in the number of total rides provided by the Age Strong Shuttle while maintaining a punctual, dependable system.

Through over 65 neighborhood-based clinics and workshops, we helped over 1,300 residents navigate complex systems to secure life-changing benefits, programs, and information.

And we funded over 95 partners because we know that none of us can do this work alone, and we shouldn't.

We need to work in partnership with our valuable community partners.

These grants included 500,000 for expanding engagement grants, which we give to 36 organizations to expand social engagement programming, 450,000 to 10 behavioral health partners to expand clinical access, 220,000 to address hoarding, our older Americans Act grants, and our rolling grants.

But this is not all that we did.

Our amazing older volunteers also served over 90,000 hours to make Boston a better place to live.

We certified our 100th age and dementia friendly business.

And our older adult rowers, I don't know if you've seen our rowing group, but they row on the Charles River, and they were actually on Good Morning America this year.

So they're famous.

There is so much more, but I know you don't want me here talking all day.

So I just want to say that all of this work wouldn't be possible without my incredible team, and so I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank them publicly for all that they do.

Next slide, please.

We have had many goals for this year, and you can see a few of them up here for this upcoming year.

So we're going to be launching our next city plan on aging.

So this is a cross-departmental plan of concrete actions that we can take over the next few years to continue to build a Boston where we all can live and age well.

We'll be fully implementing our community ambassador program, which we're kicking off this year.

These are older people that we are hiring to help us build bridges to diverse communities to further our reach.

We will work to modernize and expand and improve our transportation services.

And we are going to double down on our commitment to our neighborhoods.

And I know that you all have heard me say this before.

Sometimes I feel like I'm a broken record, but I feel like we're only as good as the number of people that we're reaching.

So that is why it's critical to be connected in our neighborhoods, to work with our community partners, and also to work with all of you.

I know I see you out in the neighborhoods often.

So I'm happy to work with all of you.

We very much appreciate the partnership.

So thank you so much for your time today.

Good morning, uh Chair Weber, counselors, uh fellow cabinet members, uh Boston neighbors, especially my fellow veterans and their families.

I'm Commissioner Rob Santiago of the Office of Veteran Services, and it's definitely an honor for me to be here to speak on the great work that uh the office has done in partnership and in collaboration with many of our nonprofit uh fellow organizations, veteran organizations with the city council, the administration, and of course, all our neighbors and community members.

So the first slide here uh just pretty much covers our mission and vision.

Uh every year we work hard to facilitate full and equal participation in all aspects of life for our veterans in the city of Boston.

We'll continue to recognize, advocate, and always engage with our veterans and their families by connecting them with the services and resources that they have earned and fully deserve.

The vision of our office is to continue to find innovative ways of empowering our veterans and military family members of Boston to live healthy and thriving lives.

Next slide.

So here we are.

Our four core services for the Office of Veterans Services is to assist our veterans with benefit applications.

Rather, it be uh processing uh mass general law chapter 115, which is a mandate from the state of Massachusetts, where every city and town in the commonwealth has a veteran services officer.

And also we assist our veterans with also processing VA compensation and pension claims.

Uh, also we coordinate burial expenses for our indigent veterans, pretty much actually for all our veterans who are eligible and/or family members to apply for those uh burial benefits.

So it'll be a little bit more on the next slide on that one.

We also oversee Memorial Day decorations.

Uh, pretty much uh to if I could piggyback off uh Commissioner Shea, May is also a very uh huge and big month for the veterans community and the vet and the military community uh in the United States because it is Memorial Day month, and we have a lot of great uh activities that are going to be happening, and also a lot of wonderful commemorative uh events that are gonna honor and recognize our veterans and fallen service members that are no longer with us.

Uh and the last one is our outreach and community engagement because we need to continue to connect with our veterans community members, all the organizations that we work with, and the stakeholders in the community.

So here's another quick overview of our programs and our services.

I mentioned the burial services.

Well, here in the state of Massachusetts, we have three um dedicated cemeteries, Mount Hope Cemetery, which is owned by Parks and Wreck in the city of Boston for our veterans, which is also the biggest one uh that we have in the city.

Uh Massachusetts also has a memorial cemetery at Wichenden, and of course, Bourne National Cemetery as well.

Another program that we have is our Hero Squares and Biopracts program where we honor our service members who are killed in action and then, uh like I mentioned a second ago, our Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs.

Right now, currently, our partners and a lot of volunteers in the community are raising uh wreaths on our Hero Squares, which you could see throughout the about 1,200 hero squares are being decorated.

Um, some of them have already been decorated and also planting flags of those veterans and service members that are no longer with us in our uh cemeteries throughout the city.

We have over over 52,000 of veteran um plots that are going to be having flags for Memorial Day.

Some of the state benefits programs, one that I talked about was the Mass General Law Chapter 115, which is the Massachusetts General Law, where we help out our service members that need financial assistance.

There is a requirement for Mass General Law Chapter 115.

Uh you need to be 200% of the uh the national poverty level to qualify for that, and also have some certain asset um limitations as well.

The Welcome home Bonus is another program that we administered through the city.

That's also a state benefits program and of course the annuity program.

Like I mentioned, uh we also process a lot of the national VA benefits.

We support on the VA pension, our aides and attendance.

For any of these programs, by all means, contact our office, and we'll be able to fill you in and tell you what those requirements are and help you with processing them.

And also, we work very closely with our city, state, and federal agencies to ensure that all our veterans are taken care of.

And here are just some examples of who we work with.

We have legal services.

Of course, we'll ensure that we also take care of our veterans through the local food banks, transitional housing through uh the HUD bash programs.

We also work very closely with the New England Center Home for Veterans, employment through Mass Hire, and also the great number of nonprofit organizations that are there to help out our veterans.

Here is a here's a very, very busy slide because it demonstrates how busy we are on a yearly basis in the Office of Veterans Services.

We had mentioned that May is a very busy month for us, but also it's not just May, it's every month.

Uh in the calendar year, there are many, many, many observances and events that cover for our veterans and military services as well.

On the left hand side here are many events and days that we observe uh in the city of Boston, and on the right hand side, those are national observances.

So they kind of like coinside and we're partnering partner with each other.

But we have a lot of great events.

As a matter of fact, this Saturday there is going to be a big event.

There is being hosted by the Friends of the Gordine Park, where we'll be observing and recognizing our black veterans.

So please, if you have time, please come out to Gording Park this Saturday.

The uh event starts at 11 o'clock at Gording Park, which is in Roxbury.

If you want additional information, please contact my office and we will be uh insured to give you more information on that.

But again, there's a lot of great uh events that happen throughout the year uh that we are a part of.

And here are just some photos uh from some of our events.

We also hosted a yoga event for our uh for our veterans at um at Castle Island.

Um, some of these are from the Black uh Veterans Event, uh our women's uh round table, uh, some tabling there as well.

You can see the Veterans Day Parade and also an event that we held for our Gold Star Gold Star Wives.

And the next slide is our core accomplishments.

We have administered over 1 million dollars of direct financial payments to our veterans.

We have supported over 200 families and dependents in assisting them every month.

We have also supported 40 plus families with burials of their loved ones who were veterans, and uh the 50 plus outreach and commemorative events that we have held throughout the year.

And here is the slide of uh um also talking about the 59,000 plus graves and heroes squares that we've decorated.

But you know, today uh one of the things that I want to also mention is that you know I'm speaking, you know, not just as the Commission of Office of Veterans Services, but also as a fellow veteran and as someone who wore the uniform, as someone who understands personally what it means to serve, sacrifice, and continue carrying that responsibility long after my service is ended.

I want to thank uh the members of the Boston City Council for your continued partnership and unwavering support of our veterans community.

You know, every dollar invested in veteran services represents more than assistance, it represents dignity, it represents stability, it represents our promise that service to this country will never be forgotten once the uniform comes off.

But even beyond service and benefits, we must all acknowledge a deeper truth, and that truth is that we will never truly be able to compensate the sacrifices made by our veterans and especially by the families of those who never came home.

No program, no grant, no benefit can ever fully repay a spouse who lost a husband or wife, a child who grew up without a parent, or parents who buried their son or daughter in service to this country.

And it is important to remember that veterans do not stop serving when the uniform comes off.

Every day across this great city, veterans continue to step up for their neighbors and their communities, especially in times of need.

They become first responders, they become teachers, coaches, advocates, volunteers, nonprofit leaders, and then and mentors.

There are the people organizing food drives, checking on elderly neighbors, supporting struggling families and answering the call again long after the military service has ended.

So when we invest in veterans, we are not only honoring past service, we are strengthening the very people who continue to serve the city each and every single day.

Now we are facing a significant budget reduction.

And I'm not going to dress that up or soften it because the people who serve deserve honesty.

For my team and me, this isn't just about numbers on a page.

Every line in our budget represents a veteran.

It represents a family, a moment where someone needs us, sometimes on their hardest day.

And if you could bear with me, I would like to share a couple of those stories.

Bill is a 78-year-old Navy veteran.

He came to our office as a referral from his social worker at the New England Center in Home for Veterans.

He was in need of both financial assistance and medical reimbursement.

He also expressed a desire to be more connected in the veterans' community.

Our veterans benefit specialist Melissa explained Chapter 115 to him and how the Office of Veterans Services could assist him.

He became a recipient, and he currently received monthly income from the office and was also referred to Tufts Dental by Melissa to get treatment that he needed.

Chapter 115 was able to pay over $1,200 in dental care and get him a set of dentures that he wanted.

Bill loves his new set of dentures and feels more confident in his appearance.

He was also able to join us at several of our events, including the Military Appreciation Night and the Boston Harbor Heroes Ride, where he met and socialized with many members of the City of Boston's veterans community.

Isaac, a Marine Corps veteran who experienced homelessness, met with Meg, our senior veteran service, senior veteran services benefits advisor.

With Meg's help, she was able to guide him through Chapter 115 process and connect him to the New England Center Home for Veterans, where the New England Center and the Volunteers of America were able to secure him a housing voucher.

However, he was also overdue on storage fees.

So we at the Office of Veterans Services was able to reach out to one of our partners, the Boston Bulletpin Project, who was able to pay his overdue fees.

In working with several partner organizations, we were able to provide wraparound services for him and successfully have him move into his new unit in November of last year.

And this is from him.

Thanks for your support.

I was able to successfully complete the move in with the support and advocacy I've seen provided has made a huge difference.

Now this one last one here.

I just wanted to send this email to you personally to take the time to thank you for all you have done for me.

He's speaking to Met Cuttehee.

It's a fine line between making it and not in this life today and the services that you and your team provide are crucial.

Now I can't speak for every veteran out there, but I will damn sure speak for myself.

As in time I have known you time and time again, you have been there to help and guide me along my journey to become the person I wanted and needed to be.

Literally, from being scraped up off the street as a homeless veteran to helping me get into my own apartment.

I can honestly say that I could not have done this without your support and willingness to literally listen to what my needs were and doing the best you could to make sure that they were met.

Now don't get me wrong, you are no pushover.

There was definitely times you took and put your foot down and said, Kurt, you gotta get it together.

And what that did for me was make me look at what I could do better.

In times like these that I believe made me a stronger when darker days came.

In closing, I would like to say thank you again, Meg, for your support, your teachings, and the commitment to helping save this here veteran's life.

I truly believe I wouldn't have ever made it to where I am today without you.

I hope this email finds you well, and I appreciate everything you have done.

So these three stories are all individual stories, but they have one core similarity, and that is the service that we provided, the empathy and professionalism from our staff at the Office of Veterans Services, and the passion and commitment to care for all our veterans.

So the question is this.

The question is, how do we protect what matters most?

And I want you to know that we have already done the work.

We know what is non negotiable.

Direct services to our veterans, claim assistance, crisis response, and showing up for our families when they need it most.

Those, I guarantee you, will not be compromised.

Our mission remains unchanged.

We will continue to show up.

We will continue to advocate, honor, and sacrifice, and continue fighting for every veteran and military family that call the city of Boston home.

Because this work is not simply my job.

It is my obligation.

It's all of our obligation.

It is my sworn duty as your commissioner, but even more importantly, as a fellow veteran who deeply loves this community and believes Boston must always remain a city that stands beside those who served.

We are adapting.

We continue to strengthen our partnership.

Because in Boston, we don't do this work alone.

And we always look for new ways to deliver services more efficiently.

And we continue to commit to ensuring that veterans feel seen, supported, and served.

To my neighbors, especially our veterans and their family, hear me on this.

We will not step back from our responsibility to you.

We will always answer the call.

We will always continue to show up in your neighborhoods, and we will still fight to ensure you receive the benefits and support you've earned.

Because like I said, for me, I don't just serve the community as commissioner.

I am a veteran myself.

And that makes this again not only an obligation, but my sworn duty.

And even in a constrained environment, our priority remains unchanged.

Serving the veterans of this community with dignity, urgency, and respect.

Thank you, Commissioner Santiago.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Ashley Montgomery.

I'm the executive director for the Mayor's Office of Returning Citizens.

I'm grateful to be in the space.

So the Office of Returning Citizens, like I said, serves individuals coming out of incarceration back into the city of Boston.

We operate in multiple components, but our major major component is case management services.

Currently, we're serving 564 clients that are enrolled in case management services across three case managers and one director of case management service, one director of case management.

Case management services includes individual service, individualized support plans in addition to meeting clients where they're at, which means just addressing their goals, and it can be as simple as getting some vital documents to as more complex as mental health support, addiction support, whatever that might look like for the individual client.

We have open office hours in order to ensure that our wait list is minimized.

Two days a week, we do direct client engagement through walk-ins.

Our office receives uh 10 new client registrations each week.

Um, and our clients remain engaged with our office for an average of 368 days and often continue participating through internal programming after case management is closed.

Um, case managers engage in also in community office hours, so we go throughout the city in order to meet clients where they're at because we recognize that transportation can be a barrier for the individuals that we serve.

We also operate with um individual internal referrals.

Um, so once a client is assigned a case manager, um they then are assigned either to an internal or housing housing, internal internal housing or employment specialists.

Within our employment services, um we have employed 98 clients during this fiscal year, so from June 2025 to current, um, and the majority of our clients have been placed in human services in addition to food services, so about 50 percent are placed in those in those industries.

We also provide um job readiness support, which encompasses resumes to results, which is an internal or ORC employment workshop that um includes soft skill development, resume building, job applications, and mop interviews.

We also within our office have a Cory approved job board.

Um, so even if a client isn't engaged in case management services or employment services, they're able to reference our job board to know what employment opportunities are available to them.

We also have 175 employer collaborations currently within our office.

30 of them we were built in fiscal year 2026, and we work with 27 different workforce development partners.

As it relates to housing, um, our housing specialist has about 125 clients active on our caseload, 38% of those clients actually are within the BHA housing program.

So we still work with clients even when we place them into the voucher program and provide them with case management services to ensure there's sustainability.

Our housing specialist also places clients in market rate housing, subsidized housing, and single room occupancy units.

So far, all 100% have tenancy retention for all placements under 12 months.

And we also, within our housing program, provide support with access to housing assistance funding, RAF applications, furniture assistance, and we also have a housing ready readiness workshop, which we just launched last month to ensure that clients are ready with their budgeting and they're not we're not setting clients up for failure, but we're really selling up for clients for success while they're in their in their permanent placements.

So we have internal workshops where we fill in the gaps of case management services by providing digital literacy, credit building, and job application assistance.

We offer hybrid um options in order to increase insects accessibility, which includes build your credit, build your tech skills, and library essentials, which are all within the city.

We also partner with different service service providers, which include transitional assistance, we offer free quarry ceiling, we do programming pop-ups such as Dress for Success and various other opportunities.

We offer CPR training to our clients and to our community partners.

We also have a bunch of community-based events where we focus on family reunification.

Um we recently did a town hall where we talked about the services that we offer and allowed for individuals to speak about the gaps that might exist within the reentry ecosystem.

And lastly, we also provide advisory groups in order to break down silos within the re-entry ecosystem and that so that we can work collaboratively and thank you.

Okay, uh, thank you.

Is that the that's the presentation?

Okay, thank you very much to all our panelists.

Um for your comments.

Um, okay, so I'm just gonna go to um my colleagues here, starting with counselor Flynn.

Uh, we're gonna go uh uh oh, sorry, we've been joined by counselor Louis Jen, Counselor Culpepper.

Uh, have received a letter of absence from Councillor Santana.

Um, so we're gonna go with eight minutes.

Uh and then uh each counselor again.

Uh yeah, every counselor's gonna have a chance to ask questions, they don't have to use all eight minutes, but the end of our first round of questions we'll hear from everyone here who signed up to testify and online as well.

Okay, counselor Flynn.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you to the administration panel that is here.

Let me start with the veterans department.

Let me be clear.

The city administration cut the veterans department 14 percent, just over 700,000.

I also come here not as a city counselor, but as a disabled veteran as well.

I see other veterans that are sitting in this room in military family members that are here as well.

14% reduction is significant.

If we cut the veterans' budget by 25 cents, I would be equally outraged.

Once you cut the veterans' budget and you feel comfortable cutting a veteran's budget, it makes it easier for you to cut it the next year.

Now it's $700,000.

What will it be next year?

Could it be a million dollars?

When I grew up in South Boston, I didn't necessarily idolize the people that played sports.

I I respected the men and women that served in the military that came back from Korea and from and from Vietnam and helped build my neighborhood, helped build this country.

I just want to read a few of them off.

Some of them are older, some of them are younger.

It's a new generation, too.

Jim Coveney, John from Dorchester that just passed away, Lou Nealand, Paul Evans, out in Dorchester, Joe Zenck, Commander Tuett at the American Legion Post.

I knew Jake Como, my neighbor Dave Conley, Hayward Fennell, African American veteran.

I have a letter here from Tony Millennium.

Outraged.

Tony Molina is outraged of these budget cuts.

Proud Puerto Rican veteran, a hero.

Willis Saunders, Tuskegee Yaman, who's a close friend of mine, who was a superintendent on the Boston Police Department, Coleman Nee, Tommy Lyons, Greg Kelly, Danny McGoon, Tom Kelly, Gene Valencourt.

There's so many others that we respected, that we still respect, not just for their military service, but for the contributions they have made fighting for veterans, fighting for military families, coaching litter league, supporting our neighbors in need.

Veterans are part of the community.

I see them coaching coaching sports.

I see them going to PTA meetings, mentoring kids.

But what I also know is that they're proud, and they may not have received benefits directly themselves.

Many of the Vietnam veterans weren't treated with the respect when they came home.

But what they fought for was to ensure the next generation of veterans weren't treated the way Vietnam veterans were.

And that was successful.

My neighborhood built the first Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the country to returning to honor the 25 men that were killed in Vietnam.

They weren't treated well by the VA, by government.

But they continued fighting for veterans' benefits.

They still continue fighting for veterans' benefits.

Which brings us to this location today.

As someone that served 24 years in the United States Navy, that receives exceptional care from the VA medical care.

Why?

Well, we're not giving veterans anything.

They've earned these benefits.

As Abraham Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln once said, it's caring for the veteran, for the family, for the orphan.

But now we're at an impasse.

What do we do as a city?

Do we accept these cuts and move on and hope it doesn't happen again?

Or do we show the city and do we show the nation that we still have a little bit of fight in us?

We still have a little bit of courage in us, that we're not going to stand up for veterans.

Because if if we accept a cut to the veterans department, it's going to happen again.

Maybe not next year.

It'll happen again.

Let's not set the precedent that it's okay to balance the budget on the back of veterans and military families.

I can't accept that.

I would rather resign my job as a city council than vote against any budget that hurts veterans.

That's how serious I am about what is taking place today.

I'm embarrassed.

I'll be honest with you.

I'm embarrassed, what the city of Boston did.

Cutting veteran services, cutting a veteran's budget.

And let me also say, I know the exceptional work the veterans department does here at the city of Boston.

I respect the commissioner.

I respect the team.

With them.

I like them all.

I respect them all.

But my job as a city councilor, and I'm sure the veterans that work at that department would be right here with me, or would be sitting in that auditorium waiting to testify if they weren't working there.

Because they are committed to veteran services.

The city council saw this as a outrageous cut.

All but one city council went on record against what the city administration tried to do.

And then going to veterans at particular events and saying thank you to veterans.

We can't have it both ways.

We can't show up at parades and thank veterans, and in a half hour later, cut veterans' programs.

We either support veterans or we don't support veterans.

But I think this body has the courage to stand up to the city administration, even though I know my council colleagues know it's difficult to stand up against the city administration.

But it's the right thing to do, it's the moral thing to do.

Let me just end, Council Weber.

Thank you for being gracious and give me an extra minute.

Let's not balance the city budget.

Let's not balance a state budget.

Let's not balance a federal budget on the back of veterans and military families.

It's about respect.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Councillor Murphy.

We've been joined by Councillor Warrell.

Yeah.

Um, thank you for being here.

Thank you, Commissioner Santiago, for your words.

Um, sorry.

So this is hard.

I'm a mom of a soldier who's deployed.

I'm also caring for my aging parents, so these two departments do so much.

With so little, and the veterans department is one of, if not the smallest budgets in the entire city.

So a cut to your department is unacceptable.

I do want to thank I see people here who I know are here to support the EMS union leadership.

I know you're here for all good reasons, but you know, to support our veterans, thank you.

And when we talked before, many of your calls are to our seniors, and thank you for the work you do.

Dean Magoon, you know, a veteran yourself, the you know, director of Mass Fallen Heroes, you help so many families.

Joe Cook, you know, Gold Star Father, no one no one wants to be a gold star family member, but you are counselor Flynn and Santiago Navy veterans who the only time council of Flynn has ever missed a council meeting is when he's with Coleman in Washington fighting for our veterans.

Advocating, and then we have residents around this city, like Richie Gormley, who buries veterans who can't afford it, flies, you know, families home to Ireland when they can't bury them with respect.

And then also when, you know, not that West Roxbury is the only neighborhood you know, we're at places around the city all the time where people care about our veterans, but the West Roxbury Main Street Director Lindsay Chase, who you know started the hometown hero military banner.

So when I drive down Center Street in West Roxbury, I know that those residents they care, they care about our veterans.

So when we have a couple hundred thousand dollars that's cut, like we we can fix that, we can do better, and we should do better.

So I mean, I don't know if I even really have a question, but I know, Commissioner, we've talked in the past that you know there's this spin.

Well, we can get reimbursed, we can maybe get more grants, but if you could just speak to the reimbursement process, and that you can't ask for to be reimbursed unless you had the money to spend it, and what the cuts would actually mean to our veterans.

Thank you, Council, for your question.

So I'm assuming you're referring to chapter 115.

Uh so chapter 115, the process would be that a veteran would have to come in and have a need, and that like I had mentioned during my presentation, chapter 115 is a program from the state, um, and it is reimbursable, 75%, only for those that they do approve.

Now, when the process is when they when a veteran goes on chapter 115, the money comes out of our budget, our age of veterans budget, and then um we do get reimbursed, but we do not get reimbursed as a department.

The city of Boston gets reimbursed, so that money will go into uh to Treasury Department.

Um, and so for example, if um a reimbursement to a veteran happening at Q1 of FY26, the city will get reimbursed from Q1 of FY27.

I believe that's how the process goes, that money will go back into the Treasury, which is why every year we have to um recommend our budget.

Now, uh just for the sake of transparency, the ace of veterans' line, which uh covers chapter 115, it's not part of the uh the the cuts that are being that um the part of the 720,000 that are being cut.

So that's so that that line unfortunately is not being touched when it comes to the direct and core services for our veterans.

That line still remains intact, um, which fortunately will allow us to um to maintain our focus and have our priority in assuring that that our veterans um receive that benefit.

Okay, thank you.

And like counselor Flynn said, um, I also would rather give up my job than take a vote, and maybe I'll be outvoted that makes any cuts, especially where it's it's so small.

So thank you for all you do.

I do have an age-strong question.

Um, or just comment.

So you also had grants that were cut, and if I could just share like one like email I got early on in April, that we recently established a new center to strengthen behavioral health support in our community for our older adults with the growing level of unmet need.

We provide one-to-one counseling, health education, and mental health support groups through this evidence-based strong mind program.

These services are especially important to our older adults and community members who experience isolation, depression, anxiety, trauma, and other emotional challenges.

And this grant now has been cut.

Like I got many calls and emails from you know different nonprofit organizations.

If you could speak to like how we're going to fill in those gaps, how we're going to continue to support our seniors who we know it's not just city employees who do that, right?

So many organizations that we help deliver that.

Sure.

And I would say, I mean, we we count so much on our community partners who do some critical work, and I think you're referencing our behavioral health grants, which are helping to fill some real gaps out there in terms of people get being able to get culturally appropriate behavioral health supports.

We have been doing a lot of work to try to meet and kind of cultivate additional behavioral health partners who are able to bill for their clinical services to try to bridge some of those gaps.

But our hope is that we can kind of create some of those bridges and elevate the conversation around older adults with some of our philanthropy partners in the hopes that we could try to bridge some of those gaps.

Thank you.

Chief Masso, and some of these departments aren't don't fall under you, but over the last few days, I've been at these budget hearings and finding out that many departments 100% of their grants have been taken away.

If you could speak to any under the human service cabinet, any a hundred percent under your cabinet.

Sure.

So the um the cuts that are being mentioned are all grant-related in each department.

So as we speak about age strong, veteran services and office returning citizens, uh, they're all in regards to grants.

Uh, for human services, that is also the case.

And so the ones mentioned, if you see it on paper, it's about a 49% reduction in the Office of Human Services, Youth Development Fund, the youth uh the Let's Play Boston Sports Grants and the Swim Safe grants as well.

Thank you, Chair.

Okay, uh, thank you.

Counselor Durkin, Europe.

Thank you so much.

I'd like to follow up on Counselor Murphy's question.

Um, I think uh obviously it's been really, really important uh for me to remain consistent that every single department is facing cuts right now given the budget season that we're in.

And I think I've recently voted present on a resolution that uh was about reinstating the grant money to veteran services.

Um veteran services is incredibly important to me, and um, Commissioner Santiago, I want you to know that uh the work that you do and that your um that your department does is incredibly important.

Um I have a nephew that's uh about to actively enlist, and both of my grandfathers um served.

Um, so and I, you know, I think, and my brother-in-law as well.

Um, you know, being from a place where a lot of people are, you know, it's like it's people I grew up went to school with.

Um, there are people that are no longer with us.

Um, so I just want to tell you that my vote as present was really about process, and it was really about we actually need to make cuts somewhere in order to reinstate money somewhere.

So um I have this is an incredibly difficult budget season, and um the budget is increasing by the smallest amount since 2010.

And I think a number of the cuts, um, I think the city council should use its full power to um come together at least as seven people to say what we want to replace in this budget.

And so I definitely have colleagues that want us to pull money out of a hat.

We cannot pull money out of a hat.

We have to actually make decisions.

That's why we're put in these positions is to make decisions about there have been some tough calls that have been made.

I just want to confirm and affirm my support for veterans in this process.

So that I can make a decision about how I will, you know, what I will cut from and what I will make decisions about in this budget.

I didn't feel like I could vote on that resolution until I knew what I was willing to cut from until I as I'm going through this process.

So Commissioner Santiago, could you tell us a little more about the Bridge the Gap mini grant and and who are the beneficiaries of that grant?

Sure, thank you, Council Durkin, and thank you very much for your support and also for your nephew for uh doing the uh the the the having the courage to raise his right hand and uh and and protect our freedoms so we be able to have these.

I know we talked about it's army, not Navy, so yeah, you know, we'll we'll you know we won't we we won't go there in this hearing how's that?

Um but thank you for your question.

So the bridge the gap will uh uh grants program that came about for trying to find innovative ways for us to reach our veterans to be able to take care of our veterans in the community and their families, like it states in our vision statement.

Um so one of the problems that I seem to have with uh MGL chapter 115 is that it's very low threshold.

You have to be 200% of the poverty level, your assets have to be, you know, you know, very low assets as well.

I believe it's 8,000.

I have the chart in here if you really you know want me to talk on that.

So a lot of our veterans don't qualify uh for chapter 115, even though they really should, because of the 20% poverty level.

So one of the ways that that we came up with to reach our veterans in the community is to work with our community partners.

And one of the things that I was what I was hearing was that you know, we will be able to help, you know, we could do you know A, B, and C, but you know, it'll take a couple of dollars, you know, to to assist to expand on programs or to have additional programs that'll benefit our veterans community.

So, what better way to do that than start out with a mini grants program through the bridge together?

And what were the sizes of the grants?

The grant um I think our lowest, if I remember correctly, was 2500 up to uh 9,999.

So close to 10,000.

So that's so that way we could maintain between being a mini grant program as we work through the the the process itself, as we get accustomed to the process itself, and as long as you know, to hopefully at some point in the near future have a higher capacity to offer more with uh with our grants program.

So a lot of our organizations do rely on that uh the grants so they could able to have programs in the community to help out our veterans.

Thank you.

And um I just need to shout out my friends from the Mission Hall Post, um, amazing amazing men who served our country with so much distinction.

Um I know that they've often talked about sort of the lack of resources for folks that are you know in the throes of needing support and help.

Um and so um, you know, I definitely want to through this budget process see what what you know changes we can make to ensure I'm just curious if so the full amount that was cut from the bridge the gap grant mini grant was was that the full um amount cut from veterans or what was the other grants?

It was a full amount.

That was a full amount, okay.

Um do you think that if we were able to reinstate a portion of that, like that the veteran services would like what level of grant um I guess what level of support from the council through our amendments process do you think would make a difference to it like would be enough to run a program if that makes sense.

Well, that's honestly a question that um that needs to be answered by by the council um but I I I will say that the program has been a success.

We have been able to um to um break some barriers down uh to access for our veterans in the community and their families because of the grant program.

Yeah, I do want to thank you for your incredibly meaningful work because I know that it's not easy to ask for help either, and it's not easy to even put in an application for grant money.

So the fact that um these veterans and I I want to thank Counselor Flynn for his service and for his advocacy.

I don't think that this needs to be something that divides us.

I think this can be something that brings us all together, and so it sounds like based on the vote that we had at the council that there is the political will to find the money for to reinstate this grant money, and I know that that's not what you're asking for because you're here to present the budget that you um, but I want to thank you for your service as well.

Um I want to move to one question about um about um about our uh our aging population.

Um I know that the um population is growing, um, and I know that we're also um, you know, limiting our budget for a growing population of people.

Um, how can we can make and obviously I know the incredible events and the things that we've um I've gotten a chance to um Commissioner Shea uh see you out in the community and see uh the great work of uh the HRO commission.

Um I'm curious, sort of how you're going to do more with less, or like what um sort of what kind of creativity that you're gonna need to bring with less resources.

Sure.

Um thank you, counselor.

Uh so I think I mean creativity is a good word, right?

Because I think that um that's a space we're always in.

Uh, you know, we we don't have a senior center in every neighborhood, so we're always kind of piecing together the resources to be able to do that.

I mean, you're in a basement at St.

Joseph's to be able to make something happen.

I I have a fabulous team, and we have uh amazing community partners.

We have been really grateful for the uh, you know, for the money that we've been able to give out to the community, and um, you know, that the money money is being reduced by 1.37 million dollars.

Um, so we will but but I think that as we think about kind of our state funding, our federal funding, our staffing, the partners um that we have um have a lot of heart, and I think that um uh we're always working together to try to piece together um a system that needs an incredible amount more resources, right?

I mean, even it always needs more resources because we have a population that's growing that fast, and we don't currently have the infrastructure.

Um, so I think we'll just continue with that creativity, continue trying to seek resources in different places like we always do, and and I think um uh continuing those partnerships that are so critical really working together and and pooling resources and and trying to make it work.

Thank you, and uh thank you for your creativity.

Thank you for everything that you bring um to your job because I know it matters a lot to our seniors, so thank you.

Thank you, Chair.

Okay, thank you very much, Councillor Fitzgerald.

Thank you, Chair, appreciate the time panel.

Thank you for being with us today.

Um there's a heavy feeling in the room around this.

And uh I gotta be honest, I'm uh I don't feel worthy even speaking on it uh not being a veteran like yourself, Commissioner and and uh and counselor Flynn, uh, or even probably harder being the mother of a soldier like Counselor Murphy, um I can only imagine.

Uh but it's worth mentioning.

I had a conversation with Counselor Flynn uh last week, and he said something that really stuck with me about this issue.

He said, John, he said, This is the deal our country made.

When someone goes off to fight for our freedom and our democracy, we take care of them when they come back, and that's the deal we made, and that's stuck with me because as I thought about it when we talk about how our bad uh budget reflects our values.

That's one of that that's a deal where they are out there fighting.

It's a pillar of our democracy because it's probably the only pillar that sustains our democracy when used appropriately, right?

When it's used in the right intention, and so I can't I can't compromise that value in that budget when I think of that deal.

When this is with democracy at stake and the protectors of our democracy and the people that sacrifice all they do when they come back to be taken care of is what they're asked.

And to me, that's a fair deal.

And so just going forward, uh, I just want to uh let you all know of my support uh to reinstate uh all the money back into the veterans uh budget because um uh it doesn't seem like if we don't hold up our end of the bargain, how can we expect anything less from the people who are serving us?

So uh I appreciate your statements, Commissioner, and thank the service of of Ed uh and Erin's son, and um uh we'll get into questions.

Um so I think we heard Commissioner, I'll start with veterans.

Uh, you know, my first question: what services to veterans would be impacted by the budget cuts, but I think you've talked a little bit about that already, unless there's anything else that you would like to specify.

Uh I'll give you a moment to say what these uh what these specific cuts are impacting.

Uh thank you, Consul for Sherlin, thank you for for your kind words.

Um, so the grants program is definitely one of them.

Also, the Heroes Banners program uh will be the other one.

Uh so the Heroes Banners program at first has started out um as a grants program, which is um how we're gonna first go about it, and eventually it turned into more of a procurement uh program.

We'll it'll be vendor-to-vender, but that one would also uh be affected, and also some con um contract services as well.

Okay, thank you.

Um, has the department seen a higher demand for services for veterans uh in this past year?

And uh I can only imagine with an ongoing war wherever an individual stands on the purpose of the war, uh, we're going to be having more veterans come back uh needing help um in the future as well.

So uh it seems like it's a good time to maybe solidify the foundation of this uh rather than cut back.

Yeah, we haven't really seen a high demand for Chapter 115 because of uh of the stringent requirements for chapter 115, but being out in the community, um the outreach is definitely a big part of what we do, outreach and engagement to ensure that we start engaging those young veterans that are coming back from board, those those veterans that are in our community from Iraq, from Afghanistan, who really don't know what our office does or or even that we exist, you know, because a lot of times one thing that I've noticed is and this is it's been it's continuing, it's continuous every year, where people think we're part of the VA.

Well, we're not part of the VA, the VA they are collaborators, they are partners in taking care of our veterans on a federal level.

But uh the city of Boston does have an office of veteran services that we want to engage our younger, um, our younger uh veterans' population as well.

So eventually in the future, we may see those numbers grow, but as of now, for those services uh for those core services, the numbers have remained stable.

Great, thank you.

Um Commissioner Shea, the Age Strong.

Um I know in the past, I believe again this year, some of our state representatives have received money in the House budget.

Um I know, for example, Representative Dan Hunt uh from Dorchester has gotten money for senior programming, uh, especially in Dorchester that goes to age strong.

Could you tell me what is that programming look like and what's being done with the state money?

Sure.

Um, so I so I know folks have heard me talk about this before, but I think of older adult programming like a big puzzle, right?

We have so many gaps, and we're just trying to find sources of funding to plug some of those gaps.

Um so we've been really grateful for some of our state um uh partners stepping up and and helping us plug some of those gaps.

You reference um uh rep hunts specifically.

Um so we have a number of um programs going on in the Dorchester community.

Um, and I'm trying to I'm trying to think what those are right this second.

Um but I can actually we have it uh broken out.

We have a whole list of them that we are doing.

So we've been um we've been activating a lot of uh stuff in partnership with the IRES Pastoral Center, um, in the representatives district.

We're going to be doing a uh celebration um for older adults at that's going to be hosted at Florian Hall coming up in June.

Um uh a bunch of different programming going on in um uh a few different senior housing buildings, and I'm I'm trying to think, because I know Rep Warel also put in some money, so I'm trying to think where the line is, but we have some stuff going on in Pazuko, stuff, a few of the different senior housing buildings.

Um so happy to happy to give you a list of that work, but we think of it as um uh kind of a big puzzle.

Um we know that things are really tight on the state um this year as well, and we're grateful that there are some earmarks, a little bit lower amounts, but definitely some earmarks still in the house version of the budget that's in the state right now.

Thank you.

And it's good.

So do we anticipate those will continue to happen?

And not just the services in Dorchester, but it'll be all the services you provide as well, but through the state aid.

Do you think that's that'll be enough to continue?

Is that sort of the baseline?

And we're still so I think so.

So what I would say is the amount that we will not uh given what's in the current house budget, we won't have as much as we had last year.

Um, but we are hopeful that those earmarks will stay in, and we're hopeful that they'll remain in.

Um, you know, we're hopeful there won't be any 90 state cuts.

Great.

Um I'll ask uh for the Office of Returning Citizens.

Um, what are some of the places uh that the officer of returning cities has collaborated with for employment?

I know that you try and make sure that there's a pipeline uh to get folks employment afterwards, and I'm assuming there's work with the unions as well.

Uh do you want to describe anything that happens there with the who you who you're working with, what employers and uh and unions, if any, as well.

Yeah, um, thank you for that question.

So, like I said, we have 175 collaborations, not just within the city of Boston, but across just um the state in general.

Um, and we are in collaboration with some of the unions as well, such as building pathways and some other ones.

We're also in the process of creating an employer advisory group, so working with the Office of Supplier Diversity to bring them to the table to talk about our work and talk about the cross-collaboration that we can do to kind of build out that employment ecosystem as it relates to people with quarries.

Um, so it's constantly building, but there's a bunch of different ones that we're working with currently, and I don't have I can share the list, but like I said, there's 175 different um employers that we work with currently.

That's great.

Um I know with a very few questions, I'll just a quick yes or no, Emily, to you.

But uh the taxi voucher program uh and the Lyft program.

Do we know what stands with the budget cuts and how are they operating?

What are you seeing between both?

Because I know this taxi voucher and lift, and if either are the effect on either of them.

Sure.

So that the taxi voucher program is funded through the fees that taxis pay into the program.

Um we also were very uh grateful to get a um uh million dollar federal earmark to be able to modernize that program.

We're still waiting to figure out we're still waiting on the federal government for that, um, but that will fund some um uh tech technology to be able to kind of modernize that program.

Um, and then um the LIFT program, that was a small um amount of uh donated dollars that we had that we did a uh small ride chair pilot on.

Um we do hope to expand on that work um with with um uh external funds.

Great.

Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you for the time.

Yeah, thank you, Councillor Louis John.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chair, and I just want to thank um everyone from the administration, Chief Marseau for the incredible work that you do, uh Commissioner Shea, you are everywhere where there are older adults and you care so deeply.

Um, Director Montgomery, um, your work for returning citizens and really trying to lead the work of that office and Commissioner Santiago, the work that you do in the city on behalf of our veterans.

I want to thank you for your service.

I know um that this is very um personal for you, and this is very, you know, my cousin who was your shipmate.

I know that you care deeply about uh this population as a veteran yourself as a person of color and as someone who deeply understands that too often our vulnerable communities are asked to carry too much.

Um I walked into chambers and I was you know grateful for those who are here, those who have served our country, our veterans, thank you for your service, our seniors from Mass Senior Action Council who deserve to age with dignity, and those from our returning citizens community who understand that healing and caring for those who are both victims of harm and perpetrators of harm still deserve this city's support.

Um I walked into uh this body, not knowing sort of like what the work will be about, but promising that I would advocate for affordable housing, affordable homeownership, and for returning citizens in that first budget cycle, we created the first ever.

Number one, we doubled the budget for returning citizens, and I'm very proud of that work that my office led on.

And we created the first ever grant program for returning citizens, understanding that the more we are funding and working with nonprofits that are led to that are led by people of color, women of color, who themselves are have uh either themselves been incarcerated or had loved ones incarcerated, are going to help us with recidivism, or going to help us make sure that people aren't returning into cycles of harm and violence.

And I'm really proud of that, and I'm really proud of the grant program.

And as a corollary, I'm really disappointed to see the cuts in the grants to returning citizens.

With ARPA money, we I invested money in alongside this body to prevent socialized social isolation for our seniors.

And so I both understand that the work that was happening in the offices and in every line, we actually do see in most of the departments an increase to personnel, which I think is important to recognize the work and the labor of your offices.

But the grants are also important to show partnership and collaboration and to show that we believe in co-leading alongside community organizations.

And so my first question actually is going to be to you, Director Montgomery, with respect to I know there was recently a town hall for returning citizens.

What did you hear?

What was learned?

I was not able to make it, but I wanted to understand like what was what was the feedback that your office received at that town hall.

So interestingly enough, it wasn't about the cuts to grants, which I allowed space for that.

The feedback was really about the gaps in services in general, and that was the point of the town hall to really address those gaps.

We um recently in the summer of 2025 did a needs assessment to think about those gaps.

And so we as an office have already been addressing those.

So a lot of it was around accessibility, transportation, meaning people where they're at, um, you know, enhancing services as it relates to women, right?

A lot of services are like you have to be a woman and right.

There's no service that's really about women that are women that are formally incarcerated, it's like you have to be a woman and have addiction, you have to be a woman and have children or something like that.

Um, so what we've done, we've been just addressing it internally.

Um, so those are some of the things that kind of came out of the town hall, it was really about clients kind of focusing on the gaps they have within themselves, right?

And a lot of that is more of a systems issue as opposed to you know, office of returning citizens issue.

Um, but really um thinking about ways in which we can collaborate on the state level to ensure that those things are embedded in the service delivery delivery that we do have for returning citizens.

I have two follow-up questions for you.

One is my office has been working on how do we further, you know, there's a lot of difficulties and barriers for those returning home from incarceration to get employment, and it's good to see the 98 placements this year.

Um, a lot of the stigmas are faced by outside employers, and we know and we've seen the stigmas even within the city when it comes to ensuring that people get access to jobs.

One of the avenues, and something my office has been working on is how are we increasing um uh the ability for folks coming home from incarceration to engage in entrepreneurial activities, and how are we supporting employment and placement with entrepreneurs, maybe uh uh so proprietorships, LLCs who are uh probably have more lenient uh employment um employment requirements.

Have we been doing work in sort of the entrepreneurial space?

Yes, so um the first part of that question is that we also we host an employment entrepreneurship workshop in collaboration with First Step Alliance.

So that happens, we have multiple cohorts where individuals come in and learn about entrepreneurship, learn how to get their LLCs.

Um there's also it's also in collaboration with the Harvard Law Clinic, so they learn about the legality around it as well.

But in addition to, I just alluded to it earlier, um, we are in the process of creating an employer advisory group, not just with supplier diversity, but also with the Office of Small Business to address what just what you're saying, right?

Like to address like, okay, let's address the issues around Cory and let's make it a more of an open forum.

Um so the point of it is to have a plan list and include individuals that are impacted by incarceration, but are in leadership positions, right?

And so, such as like the Devos and the all the other peoples of the world that are in leadership positions but are have been at some point impacted by incarceration to speak to some other of the small businesses to get people with it with Corey's a chance in employment in the employment industry.

So thank you.

That work is incredibly important.

We've, you know, during my first term again when we were fighting and created this grant program, we heard from people about how important it was employment opportunity, housing, and basic services like access to ID.

So I'd love if my office can be involved and if we can make sure that we are putting the people who are contenting our office involved and connected to the um employer group that you were talking about.

Yeah, and I would love that because truth be told, we try to launch it in April and the turnout just wasn't where we wanted to be.

So we're trying to build out that.

We'd love to help.

We would love to have for sure.

Second question is from a this grant program, what have been the I and I know because I was intimately involved, I heard some of the people, some of the complaints about it, but what were the good that came up?

Like I obviously very much want us to continue to give grants because it's oftentimes in the same way that for our aging population, not a great source of grants for folks who are doing the work of recidivism, trying to prevent folks, especially black and brown folks from uh experiencing re-experiencing reincarceration.

There aren't that many grant opportunities for our veterans and many the uh the bridge grants, like what has the, what are the good things that have come as a result of these grants?

And I also want to say I do also understand for most of these, even I think the mini bridge grants, like there's a level of recency.

Like I've been on the council for five years, and I've seen the creation and the evolution.

So we're not talking about long-standing grant programmers, but I still think we have some data, either qualitative or quantitative that talks about sort of the good of these grants.

Yeah, so I'll speak from my perspective now, pass it over to you.

But um, you know, I think there's a multitude of great things that have come out of it.

One is collaboration, right?

I talked about some of the advisory groups that we kind of co-host.

Um, so really breaking down the silos and the reentry ecosystem has kind of come out of the grant process.

Um, in addition to, you know, you know, the city is restricted to by the anti-aid amendment, right?

And so being able to kind of level set the things that we can't do to work in collaboration with other um community-based organizations has been a value add for us.

Um, in addition to like, let's be honest, like there is a lot of people that are there are more and more people that are coming out of incarceration, and we can't be all things, so really just leveraging other community partners on the work that they can do in another um barrier that we have is that we're not HIPAA compliant, right?

And so we can kind of leverage like that mental health component, those addiction services component with some of those community partners as well.

Commissioner Santiago, uh very much what Ashley said, but one of the things that I do want to bring up, and I think she touched on it as well, was uh, you know, it it helps me bring these organizations into my ecosystem, into what we do here as a as a city organization, and it helps me expand the reach of of our office into the community.

Now, I mentioned a second ago when uh when uh counselor forward asked me his question about um, you know, how do we bring the the young the young veterans in in into this to the city uh veteran services?

Well, that's definitely one way to do it.

You know, we've uh we've been able to give money to uh an organization called Frost Call, and we have testimonials from them and and and and some of those that the that um that use their services that it was able to bring him into the the what other programs may be available to him as well.

So it's not just helping out these organizations get to the veterans community, but it also helps us expand what we do and the services that we offer to those that otherwise we might not have been able to touch.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Okay, thank you, Counselor Culpepper.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and I want to thank all the leaders for all the work that you've already done or doing.

Hope to do.

Um also want to thank the chair um counselor Flynn for his advocacy on behalf of the veterans.

I mean, whenever veterans issue comes up, counselor Flynn is the first one to step up to the plate to fight for the veterans.

I'm also disappointed in the cuts because I think a strong and veterans are uh areas that I consider untouchable.

Um, and so I'm trying to figure out.

Well, let me just start with uh Chief Master.

There was a memo that went out asking all the leaders to cut by two percent, right?

Remember that memo?

Correct, right?

Right.

And when I look at these cuts, these cuts are far beyond two percent 1.37 million from Aid Strong, 724,000 from Office of Veterans Services, 900,000 from Office of Returning Citizens.

And so how did we get from 2% to 1.37 to 724,000 under 900,000?

That's a really great question.

So my understanding is just in terms of the responsibility of both you all as a legislative body and the city of Boston overall is to be able to produce a balanced budget.

So beyond the 2% exercise was really recognizing the fiscal reality of where we are as a city, both this fiscal year and the next fiscal year, and as a result of that, what occurred is in which I believe you all understand uh was a determination across the board, many departments are impacted uh to either reduce or eliminate the grants that were being able to give out, and so primarily what is that you're referring to are the grants uh in each department.

So the numbers that you said for H strong, the 12%, the 14% in um OBS, the 36% in ORC, and then the 49% in OHS are grant-related.

And so as the uh department has office heads were uh in discussion with the analyst.

There's an analyst that comes to each of you, Emily, uh Commissioner Santiago and actually you sit with one of the analysts from the city that goes over your budget to try and determine cuts.

Uh so counselor, we uh each department umits uh budget that hits a target that's requested, and this uh uh this year it was to submit uh proposed um budget that was two percent less than last year's number.

And did you do that?

Uh and submitted the two percent budget, yes.

Yes, and and then and so um so the kind of that's the department's role in it, right?

Is to submit the required documents.

Right, and actually you did the same thing, submitted the a two per a budget with two percent cut, correct?

And um Director Santiago Commission, sure you did the same thing, you submitted a budget with the two percent cut.

That's correct that was requested.

And so after you submitted the budget with the two percent cut, and you saw that how did what was the next step in the process?

Once you submitted the budget, you discussed it with an analyst.

What was the next step in the process?

You submitted two percent, you took that cut, you took that hit.

What was next?

How did you I'm trying to figure out how we got to where we are with these big cuts versus the requested two percent cut that you gave to the who'd you give it to?

Who was it submitted to?

So I I don't know, counselor, that I can speak to it kind of beyond the department submission.

Um I'm not sure I can speak to kind of have it.

Specific.

Who'd you submit that two percent cut in the budget to?

Um, uh we submit it to the office of budget management.

And who do you submit it to specifically?

Um, so was it Jim Williams?

Yeah, I mean it's it's like a whole host of people, but uh I think all department budget submissions go into OBM and Jim is the head of that department.

And you had a conversation.

Who was the next person you had a conversation with about the cuts?

Because your cut was only two percent, right?

Right, but it went a lot farther than two percent.

Who was the person that you discussed your two percent cut with?

Uh so each department has a budget analyst, and so what we go back and forth with the budget analysts to make sure that they understand, you know, if they have any questions in the lines that we submitted, um, uh just to get clarity out of that.

So I'll I'll give an example.

Like for our uh we um, you know, we do a lot of events, and so we kind of a lot we kind of lay out each of the costs in that, and if she has if Matt, if our analyst has questions, she comes back to us and ask questions.

And you do a lot of great events, I love those events.

Um, how is that gonna impact the events that you uh give during the year?

What's the impact?

So it's cut out some events or so beyond uh beyond our grant for our three grant programs.

Um uh we had uh an additional 200,000 in cuts to our department uh in our events and programs area, um, and so uh so we're we're doing a lot of different things to think creatively, both about how we procure, about how we can reduce costs, about um, you know, we want to make sure that the core of what we do remains.

Um, and so um uh you know, I think what about the breakdown?

Can you give me a breakdown of the 1.7 million and the grants that it affected?

Sure, so so in our department it was um 500,000 for our expanding engagement grants, which are our grants that target social isolation.

And that's 36 organizations.

Can we have a copy of all 36 through the chair?

If I might so we could know what 36 organizations, yes, and then and then um uh we have 10 organizations that receive our uh behavioral health grants, which is for clinical um support, clinical behavioral health services for older people.

Of those 10 also yes, yes, I yes, and then and then we have um 220,000 in hoarding funds.

So those are the three um the three categories.

And what about the 150,000 enrolling grant for transportation and social media?

Uh sure, the the rolling grants we did uh we've done over the last year out of kind of one-time external funding.

Uh so some council and aging funding we were able to roll over.

So we are um looking at our full budget right now and trying to figure out um uh which we're gonna be able to what you know what we're gonna be able to do.

And that transportation was that the transportation that took the seniors from one event to another.

The transportation, the um I'm not I'm not 100% sure what transportation you're referring to, but I would just say that we we provide some transportation, we part we procure some transportation, obviously transportation costs as you've heard from BPS budget are going up, so everything is, you know, we're we will still be providing transportation to our events, Mr.

Chair.

Okay, I'll respect my colleagues and I'll wait until the second round.

Okay, thanks.

Uh so Bob Dylan lyrically time is an ocean, but it is at the shore.

So okay, uh Council, eight minutes.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to the panel.

Um for all the work that all um each and each and every one of you do for your respective department uh in the community that you serve.

Uh in the past, um, we as a council have advocated to get more dollars to each of your departments um and also trying to find creative ways on how to serve uh the populations that you know uh your department serve.

Like you know, last year we uh got more money into the bridge the gap, and I think was that the second year or the first year?

It was a second year, so it was a second year.

So it was like a new grant that we were just getting up and started to run because we or you identified the uh commission, you identified the issue with the chapter 115 that a lot of our veterans were not uh getting the assistance that they needed because of the income eligibility requirements under Chapter 115.

So under Council Flynn's advocacy and you know the creative uh work of you and the individual in your department, you know, we were able to get more money in that bridge the gap mini grant, um, and it's and it's sad to see uh that that take a cut at this point.

Um I guess one of my questions around that grant is can you speak to like the demand um and the need uh to be a little bit more creative around getting assistance to veterans um because of the restrictions around other federal uh assistance that you know your department has uh thank you counsel for that question so just to clarify so you want me to talk on um on the grants themselves or how are we going to work around not having the grants well we can talk about the grants themselves okay and how you wanted to get more creative to get more assistance to the to the veterans that weren't being served under chapter 115 okay okay so with the grants uh there've been a a a gateway to reaching veterans that we normally uh would not have been able to reach and it also um uh like I mentioned earlier it it it it helped us get our word out there that there is the mayor's office of veteran services that's out there to to uh to advocate for assist our veterans and there's also a lot of uh there's a huge educational piece that goes along uh with the bridge to gap program as well uh so that you know the the younger generation that those who may not think about their grandfather who served in World War II or in the Korean war now thinks about them because of the programs that we offer through the bridge to gap um with with organizations that support that support veterans we started with doing the mini grants program and the funds that came for the mini grants program actually came from the AIDS to veterans line and we were able to shift it over for the uh for the mini grants program it has been very successful the past uh so many years we've uh uh given over 300 thousand dollars to the veteran organizations that uh that's the support veterans in our community and we've been able to maintain uh uh a great relationship with them because of that and expand on that relationship one of the things that um I wanted to see happen with the Bridge to Gap was somewhere down the line uh been able to you know to to expand it a little bit more to reach more veterans in our community um through you know through through more grant funding because of the the the um because the MGL chapter 115 again only limits us to what we could do and what access we could get to our veterans which mostly impacts indigent veterans which of course remains our core we need to take care of the veterans they need taken care of and that's part of what we do but we also know that there's a need in the community to take care of other veterans who may not be um uh eligible for chapter 115 so that's what the mini grants program came from and um it has evolved it has become a great um uh a grant program but again you know we will always remain core to what our mission is uh regardless of the mini grant program or not and ensure that the veterans and need taken care of will be taken care of thank you for that and it I thought it was a great program I remember you being super excited about it two years ago and it felt like we were getting some momentum and I look forward to work with my colleagues to make sure that we get you know the funding back into veterans.

Commissioner Shea thank you for your collaboration collaboration across uh our older adults program in I know one of the things that you spoke about was the ride share program and I know external funds helped um uh uh stand up that program what what was the cost um um sure so when we ran that pilot we had a um uh it ended up being $20,000 all together and how many how many rides did that I can I can get back to you on that we we limited uh so we ran it for a few months we limited every person to six rides right and I can't remember the total number of rides but um but I can circle back with you awesome and could you talk to us about I go about it and I you know rave about the program and you know older adults always say um you know they will want more of it can you talk about very popular yeah yeah can you talk about the demand um uh well I will say that just like uh for all of us right being able to get where you want to go when you want to get there um is uh is popular right um and um and I I think the other critical piece of that program is that our shuttle was able to also book rides for people that couldn't do like the online technology to book a ride um so um you know so it it was it was a popular program.

Awesome um and is the only way um we're looking to bring back that program is through external funds, or is there a possibility to stand it up in-house?

Yeah.

I mean, I I think at this point, I uh certainly not certainly in this budget year, I don't think we would be able to put any operating dollars towards it.

I mean, I think we have talked before.

Um we we do hope um over the next year, and I I think I have the staffing in place for it now, really, to look at um uh all of our transportation services and um uh think critically about uh kind of how we're moving people around the city.

Um and and so uh I don't think I would ever say that there could never be any operating funds going to it, but I think certainly in this next year it's not an operating budget line item.

Right, with your current budget, but if we were able to get you an additional fund, is it something you think we could stand up?

Um I I can I can certainly circle back with you.

Okay.

Um with you on that, I think um potentially I think we'd need to figure out um some contracting pieces, got it.

Uh Director Montgomery, um, I know we've had conversations in the past around housing discrimination.

Can you can you talk to us about um how many you know returning citizens are facing housing discrimination, how we're dealing with it as a department.

Uh yeah, I can't give you an exact number, um, but I do know that our process is that we do provide mitigating letters um as people go through some level of discrimination.

So internally to our office, we are providing mitigating letters as it relates to certain offenses, um, certain clients that we're working with, um, whatever have you.

So as a department, we do provide advocacy and you know, whatever whatever level of support individuals need as they're f facing discrimination as relates to housing.

Yeah, thank thank you for that.

I just wanted you to state that so you know the public knows that they can come to you know the office of attorney citizens to get those mitigated letters and just want to end on like the budget on this.

The budget process is one of the most important responsibilities that we have as a council is our opportunity to work with the mayor, with department, with the community, make sure our priorities and values are reflected in the dollars we approve.

And as a council, we should not put ourselves at a disadvantage when we are advocating for our district or for the citywide needs.

To do that well, we need the full picture.

We need to understand not just what is being proposed on the spending side, but also what assumptions are being made on the revenue side.

Uh, that is why I chair um I you know constantly want to push for uh a dedicated working session focused on revenue so we can look at the data together, understand the constraints, and have a clearer conversation about the choices in front of us.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh, Counselor Flynn, you had a comment.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I also wanted to recognize it's a neighbor of mine in South Boston.

I feel to mention him, someone I have great respect for.

I was with him over the weekend at the Fitzgerald Post.

Um, Joe Cook of who does an exceptional job is his son.

Uh Tim served honorably in Iraq and passed away, but Joe has contributed so much to students through the scholarship scholarship fund in his son's memory, and uh we want to acknowledge Joe, but we want to especially acknowledge the heroic service of of Tim Tim Daw Cook, a United States Navy veteran and um someone someone we have great respect for.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair for giving me that extra 30 seconds.

Okay, thank you.

Uh so I I have a couple questions and we'll go to public testimony.

Um I've got the sign-in sheet.

Um again, if you want to testify publicly and you're in the room, um, just you know, I can call.

I you don't have to have signed up.

I'll just you'll have time at the end.

Um, so uh, you know, I feel I feel like uh you know, we we've had a lot of these hearings and we were hearing from people who've worked for years on on issues, and I feel like we have to hear from all these department heads who are being asked to like scuttle their own ships and uh um and I I know no one likes this uh in terms of you know how to restore funding and you know that's our jobs but um uh I guess uh in terms of so Commissioner Santiago so your this the staff you know we're we're losing grant funds but your staff is still they're gonna be processing benefits can you just talk about what the staffing levels are in your department and and what work they're doing thank you consequent uh Weber and thank you for making the Navy reference with the scuttling and all that um so the Office of Veterans Services we um right now currently have 12 FTEs that uh um including myself and we also have uh three vacant positions right now we're currently in the process of hiring uh for a priority role on uh one of the positions and uh we'll be filling the others uh hopefully soon soon after that uh so uh we have uh five uh veterans benefit specialists with one of them being the senior uh veterans benefit specialists in the office and what they know what they do is they handle and work with our veterans to ensure that they receive the benefits and services that they've earned rather than through chapter 115 helping them with VA claims or doing a warm handoff to another organization that may be able to to to help and assist out as well and part of the process of what they do and they do a really great job of it is they they they talk to the veterans they actually sit down and have a conversation with them and then during that course of the conversation they figure out other areas where they could actually be able to help out this veteran or assist a veteran and letting them know that hey you also uh you know may be qualified for for these other benefits as well so they so so their job is two prong not only in helping out the veterans but also one of the great things that they do that I'm also very proud of is a quantitative piece of this is they all know each other's veterans they all know uh uh the the veterans that come in and out of our office who's on chapter 115 who was on chapter 115 who's moved to another community or who from another community is coming back into the Boston area as well and that and and and that is is due to the the CRM system that we have the case note system that we have where we all could go in there myself included I could just go into the system and see uh where what this last touch was with a veteran whether it was a phone call an email or or an in-person we also have a burials agent and that burials agent is the one who's in charge of uh ensuring that our veterans um are taken care of and their families are there to to we're there to to assist the families in ensuring that the the that the veterans are taken care of in that sense as well and of course we have the management team um that includes myself the deputy commissioner and the director of operations okay um okay and just uh I'm gonna try to move down the line here so for for the officer returning citizens um the organization we've heard from here uh in this chamber and I think there's some people here from we're better together uh and so do has your the office worked with with that organization in the past and you just do have we given grants to them and we are better together yeah yes of course we worked with them um heavily okay can you just how how I in terms of grants I'm assuming we don't have the grant funding in your budget at the moment uh um in this proposed budget but so what kind of work did that those grants fund are you talking about specifically for we are better together yes and you feel free to if it makes you want to comment on something else you know uh or similar work that other organizations are doing that you're doing that's fine I'm just that that was sort of like I we I think we all heard from that group and it seemed like an you know sort of really valuable work in the community and I just wanted to hear more about it yeah they do our involvement yeah we are better together definitely does amazing work um we've funding that we've funded them through our housing grant opportunity we also have funded them in the past through our health and wellness grant opportunity um they're a caregiver organization so they um do work on both sides of harm um so Ruth Rollins does amazing work we've showed up to their graduations um they've come to our town halls.

They're a part of our advisory committee um to you know address gaps, break down silos, think about ways in which we can be few more collaborative, um, not just between uh our organization the Office of Returning Citizens are we are better together, but as the re-entral ecosystem does exists wholly.

Um, so yeah, we've done a lot of work with them.

We've done how much were the grants?

Um, I actually have it in front of me okay for we are better together.

Um, we have actually funded them a total of a hundred and forty thousand dollars from between fiscal year twenty three to fiscal year twenty-six.

Okay, um, thank you very much.

And then sorry, just Commissioner Shea.

Uh uh the West Roxbury uh Senior Center.

So what is the status?

We we got up to three days in the funding.

Uh, what's the status for next year based on what we're getting from the state and uh do we have gaps to fill on our sure?

So um so I think obviously state budget is still in process and won't be done until the end of June.

Um what I would say is that um uh that obviously it's my goal to fund, have programming all across our city, right?

Whether that's in West Roxbury, where we have our highest percentage of older adults, they're almost 31% now, which is incredible, um, or kind of in Dorchester, Roxbury, all over.

Um, so um there are a couple of sources of funding that we were using to fund uh the third day in West Roxbury that are um cut in this budget, and we're going to need to look at um the funding we do have at the end of this cycle, both from the city and from the state, and from the feds, because our federal dollars are also going down.

Um, and we're going to need to kind of reshape and look at exactly what we're doing across the city.

It is my goal to have programming in every neighborhood and as much programming as possible.

And um, and uh I'm gonna um, with my staff and with our partners really put our heads together and try and figure out how we make that happen.

Okay, uh, and so I think because the I I know uh Brett McGregor uh put in for extra, so money above what we had last year now from the I don't think so.

Okay, I I mean they so uh at least as much then I believe that in the house budget, right?

Which obviously that's not the finalized budget, but I believe that I believe there's the same earmark as last year in the house budget.

Um I'm assuming that will be I well I know uh Senator Rush said he was supporting supporting that, so um I think I know state budget is tight.

I I don't know what will happen at the end of state budget, or you know, none of us have a crystal ball.

Okay, okay, thank you very much.

Uh so it's gonna bring it to our first round of questions.

We're gonna go to public testimony.

Uh did you mention uh Counselor Flynn?

Has if you can have the mic to make a yeah, thank you again, Mr.

Chair, and um for anyone in the room um that wants to have lunch.

We have uh pizza and water in the curly room.

Um, it's open to everybody.

You just have to walk around and go to the reception and they'll let you in the curly room.

So just want to um invite you to some um some pizza and water.

Um thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Okay, you just have to earn it by testifying.

Uh okay.

Um uh okay.

So I'm gonna call call out the first five people or so.

Again, public testimony.

There's two microphones, they both work.

If you're taller, I recommend the microphone on my right.

It's uh for some reason goes up higher.

But uh, so I have uh uh Lily Bryan, uh Sylvia Exantis, Gina Hudson, uh Dan Magoon, and then Joe Cook.

Uh so uh again, introduce yourself.

I I know uh you've been here before, so um uh just keep an eye on the clock again.

So I might my rule is gonna be like the the buzzer is gonna go off.

Please, you know, acknowledge that you've heard the buzzer and that you know you're over time, and we'll just hopefully you can wrap up soon.

Okay, thank you very much.

Good morning, counselor.

My name is Lily Bryan, and I am from Dorchester, and I speak on today on behalf of as president of the Boston chapter.

And I act now, I'm nervous.

Oh, sorry.

We can we can start at the beginning.

Okay.

Okay.

My name is Lily Bryan, and I'm from Dorchester, and I speak today as president of the Boston chapter to ask for your support to restore the cut proposal for Age Strong.

The male budget proposal will cut more than one million dollars from our age strong and eliminate the expansion engagement grant program and the grants that helps seniors access mental health care.

It would also end the funding for programs that help seniors deal with hoardiness.

The expansion engagement grant helps seniors get involved in community service.

During COVID, I felt alone and depressed.

Even after the shutdown, I would just sit and look out of my window.

A good friend of mine pushed me to attend the Mildred L.

Drop-in center in Mattapan.

I was glad she did.

At first, it was hard for me to speak out and began to connect.

This is also when I began when I became involved with my senior action.

Now I speak for myself and my community.

Without this grant program, many seniors may lose their chance to connect with others, as I did.

I can tell you that this would be harmful.

We are also deeply concerned about eliminating mental health and hoardiness grant.

Many seniors struggle with mental health issues, and it is important that they stay at that they receive the access in their community, and be able to connect with people that they can trust in their own language.

These grants help stabilize people and provide crisis service for those most at risk.

Hardiness is also a very challenging issue that can cause seriousness of loss of home.

This leads to more homelessness, which costs the cities more than in the long run.

Seniors are growing, and it's important to this Boston community.

We helped build it, this city, and we are still have a lot to offer.

On behalf of my senior action, I urge you to find a way to put money back into these important age-strong programs.

Our seniors is counting on you.

Thank you so much.

Okay, thank you, Miss Bryan.

Okay.

Okay.

Uh so going forward, please, when you hear the buzzer, uh, okay, yeah.

I'm a bus.

I just I don't want to interrupt people, you know, uh, just try to wrap it up.

But if so from now on, if you hear if the buzzer sounds and I we don't uh sort of talk about it, I'll just have to interrupt people and then ask you to wrap it up.

But thank you very much, Miss Brian.

That was great testimony.

Okay, so Sylvia Exantis, Gina Hudson, Dan McGoon, Joe Cook, and then Avril uh Carmine.

Okay, I've got some folks from the question.

Oh okay.

Uh so uh Sylvia.

Uh we'll we'll get we'll get to you in a minute.

Um, if you're on Zoom, uh so Gina is Gina Hudson here also on Zoom.

We're all happy with the okay.

Okay, so I will I'll make sure to circle back.

Uh Dan McGoon.

If I'm got that right.

Yeah, okay, great.

And then uh Joe Cook, Avril Carmine, Jason.

I'm sorry, I gotta put my.

I think it's Atkins.

No, uh, I was wrong with that.

Yutkins, then Miles Royce.

So whenever whenever you're ready.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh, and thank you, Councilor Finn.

Uh Flynn, I heard this free pizza and budget cuts, so you got me out of the office.

Thank you.

Uh, my name's Dan McGoon.

I'm a proud resident of Dorchester.

I'm here today as a combat veteran as the executive director of Mass Fallen Heroes and Innovats headquartered right in the seaport.

I'm here to strongly oppose any cuts to the Office of Veteran Services.

As Counselor Flynn noted, we're in a dangerous time and point where we continue to harm veterans and set bad precedent.

Over 16 years ago, I sat in this very chamber and warned the body at the time that we were failing our veterans.

I left active duty in 2007 and returned to the city I love only to find that heroes that answer the call after 9-11 were being pushed to the back of the line.

The warning was ignored.

Unfortunately, three administrations later, the slow erosion of veteran services and benefits has become normalized.

Today, with Mayor Wu's proposed 724,000 cut to the office, it's not just a budget reduction, it's the latest step in a systematic betrayal of those who've worn the uniform.

Funding cuts do not happen overnight.

They're another chapter of a long story of marginalization.

In Boston, veteran hiring has been slashed by 75%.

And Boston qualified veterans are denied city jobs.

In Boston, paid military leave is undermined, and in Boston, our heroes are treated as an afterthought while other priorities take center stage.

When veterans successfully transition for military service and do not need the Office of Veteran Services, the city responds by slashing veteran hiring and making it harder for them to succeed financially.

When veterans struggle with the same transition and then turn to the Office of Veteran Services for support, the city now proposes to cut the very programs designed to catch them.

This is a cruel catch 22, and it is unacceptable.

Boston should be leading the nation in honoring its veterans and not racing to set another dangerous precedent that values special interest programs more than the men and women who defend the United States of America.

We have plenty of waste fraud and other bloated initiatives that could be cut.

Do not balance the budget on the backs of our veterans.

I do have a little bit more.

Yeah, yeah.

Just two weeks ago, my office received a call from a Purple Heart recipient, a Vietnam veteran living in the South Boston low-income senior housing.

This gentleman never asked for help because he had survivor's guilt his entire life because he made it home.

Now at this stage in his life and his age, he's in need of the chapter 115 benefits and the other benefits and services that this office does provide.

And it was a perfect referral for the Office of Veterans Services.

And as expected, and they're equipped to help him, they did.

Cutting off any services or grants would hurt him and other men and women just like him.

Counselors, and I know a lot of you support this, and I thank you.

Now's the time to stand up.

We cannot continue to trample on the legacy pride and honor of our Boston veterans.

Show the steel in your spine.

Stand up for those who stood up for you and defend the men and women who make Boston and America possible.

I urge you to recut to reject these cuts outright.

It's a Boston Veteran Services.

And I also ask that we conduct an independent audio audit and study on meaningful meaningful veteran services and programs that this great office does provide through Commissioner Santiago.

Veterans do not want handouts, they want opportunity and services they deserve.

Give them the tools, the respect, and the priority that they have earned.

I thank you for your time, and I'm happy to answer any questions and stand ready to work with any counselor in the city that is serious about putting veterans first.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um okay, Joe Joe Cook, Avril Carmine, uh Jason Yutkins.

Thank you, Dan.

Dan was the uh Eddie talked about uh first Vietnam Memorial in the country.

That was M Street Park, and Dan McGoon was the first one to put a fallen heroes memorial in the country.

And we'll be the first one to put a PTSD memorial at the National Cemetery, May 23rd.

My name is Joe Cook.

I'm a South Boston resident, proud father of Timothy Doc Cook.

We serve that country proudly.

Somebody said something about truth be told.

Citizens.

Not gonna be able to get back into the uh into the swing of the community about work and whatnot.

I'm not that polished on my speech here, but uh Tim ended up down here, Court Street at the homeless shelter.

He ended up with no teeth.

Robert Santiago just said he helped out a veteran.

That was my son.

I couldn't get the help that he needed because he was in another VA.

After you came back from Iraq a year after he was suffering PTSD.

It was a roller coaster ride.

And uh I just want to stop for a minute.

Thank you, Aaron Murphy, for your son's service.

Thank you, Eddie.

Thank you, Dan.

Any veteran in the uh room.

Yeah, and as far as uh John Fitzgerald said democracy, democracy starts right here.

We don't even start this this meeting with a pledge of allegiance, which is a shame.

My feeling, but that's how I feel.

They serve that country, we serve them.

After the roller coaster, Tim passed away.

I knew I could never bring them back, but I was determined to spread awareness and help other veterans.

We started a scholarship to help city kids understand the service of country, service community, and how they could spread awareness about PTSD.

Since Commissioner Robert Santiago has taken office, he has stepped up, been involved with the scholarship in many ways.

He has met me personally with the community outreach.

He has helped me guide me through the Bridge the Gap Mini Mini Gap grant program.

This grant has helped support the scholarship and to help break the stigma.

I just want to provide the city council with some numbers that I gave to the president of this gentleman right here.

These numbers show that uh I'm just gonna give you for example, post 9-11 Iraq Afghanistan veterans that uh 7,557 died in action.

There's 30,000 who died afterward.

That's almost five times.

And why is the stigma still here?

I don't know.

But that's what the whole scholarship is about.

Why do people ignore mental health?

It's a very important issue.

And Robert Santiago is doing that with veterans every day.

Thank you, Robert.

Um, Mr.

Cook, just a couple more minutes here.

Well, not a couple more minutes, but if you one minute, I'll give you a couple seconds if you want to wrap up.

Support the scholarship.

Uh, so uh the numbers show by by the sheet here that there was all overwhelming overwhelming demand for veteran services.

The promise never to leave any veteran behind should hold fast.

I oppose any proposed budget cuts to the veteran services.

I make a motion to reconsider the budget respectfully, Joseph Cook.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Uh Avril Carmine, Jason uh Yutkins, and then Miles uh Royce, or Royal, I apologize.

Yes, hi.

Uh April Carmine, Leather District resident, and I'm also on the board of one LD.

Um, I just have veterans uh from my family, my late father, my late grandfather.

Um, but as a concerned citizen of Boston, I needed to come down here and have my voice heard on it.

Um, it's a little disappointing that I don't see Counselor Durkin sitting at her seat right now.

Um, as someone as her generation, um, I really did want to speak to her.

Um, I think and I feel, and I hope I'm not alone in this, but cutting the budget for veterans is the most un-american thing you can ever do.

That's just my full statement.

And yes, look to your morals.

It was a promise.

These men and women promise to serve their country, to serve as Americans, and what we need to do is fulfill our promise to support them in any way possible for what they need.

So thank you to all the veterans in this room right now, and thank you to the ones that are currently serving, especially your son, Councillor Murphy.

I say reinstate the budget, 700,000.

It's not worth what they do for us out there fighting for our rights and our freedom.

These are our veterans.

They deserve this.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um Jason.

Good afternoon, Council.

Good afternoon to all our veterans here today.

My name is Jason Jackins.

I'm the president of the BPPA EMS division, representing the hard work and EMTs and paramedics that respond to veterans every day in this city.

I'm here today to strongly support restoring the proposed funding cuts to our Office of Veterans Services.

Our veterans, our military families, surviving spouses deserve direct support, meaningful investment from the city of Boston.

Many of the men and women that I represent serve this country before they continue their service in public service.

Some served overseas in combat, and many return carrying physical and emotional scars, and several choose to continue serving by responding to emergencies in all of our neighborhoods in the city of Boston.

For us, this conversation is deeply personal.

But I also want to make something equally clear.

The veteran services should not be restored by taking funds away from other public safety departments.

That is a wrong approach.

It creates a false choice between supporting veterans or supporting public safety.

Boston should never force citizens or its employees and believe in that we can only support one over the other.

We can and should do both.

I want to condemn Councillor Aaron Murphy for publicly recognizing that firefighters, EMS, police officers who are veterans should never be expected to absorb cuts simply because of their military service.

And of course, his service to this great country.

Regardless of politics, support in veterans should never become a partisan issue.

We thank all and appreciate all the counselors that support our veterans, because it's a moral responsibility.

At the same time, I would like I would be failing as duties as president of the BBP EMS division if I did not speak honestly about the state of public safety staffing in response.

EMS personnel is exhausted.

Our veterans and active duty members who serve at Boston EMS are also exhausted.

EMS fire police across this city continue to deal with staff and shortages, burnout, mandatory overtime, recruitment challenges, and increase in call volumes.

Every EMT, every firefighter, every paramedic, every officer.

They all matter, especially our veterans that come to serve in the city, but just in a different uniform.

Cuts to public safety funding have real world consequences, but so do cuts to veteran services.

Veteran services and public safety are connected by the same core values: service, sacrifice, sense of duty, and commitment to others.

That's why we should be this should not be a debate over which essential services should suffer more.

Boston is a world-class city with a multi-billion dollar budget.

Surely we can find a response way to fully support veterans.

The BBPA EMS division supports restoring veteran services.

We simply urge the council, the administration to restore the funding through broader budget processes, reserve funds, or any other available resources, not by shifting the burden onto public safety.

Boston should send a clear message that we stand with our veterans today and every day, and we stand with our public service.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, yeah.

Good afternoon, counselors, and thank you all for giving me the opportunity to speak.

My name is Miles Royal, and I am an EMT with Boston EMS and the legislative director for our EMS union.

Every day my partners and I respond to calls throughout the city of Boston.

We meet people on some of the worst days of their lives in homes, shelters, veteran housing, sidewalks, and sometimes living alone on the street.

Among these patients are veterans and active duty service members who have already given so much in service to this country.

Some are young men and women recently returning home from deployment, trying to transition back into civilian life.

Others are older veterans who carried some the weight of service for decades before finally asking for help.

No matter their age, their branch, or their service, there are some things they all deserve.

Dignity, support, and a city that stands with them as they've stood for us.

As first responders, we see firsthand the struggles many veterans face, from housing insecurity, mental health challenges, substance use disorders, chronic illness, and isolation.

We also see the positive impact veteran services can have when resources are available, access to counseling, outreach programs, transportation, benefits assistance, housing support, and community service.

This can be the difference between stability and a crisis.

According to the data from 2020 census, approximately 20,000 veterans call Boston home.

In addition to thousands of active active duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, and military families live and work throughout our city every single day.

These are not just the 6-6, these are our neighbors and family members, our co-workers, and people who've answered the call to serve during times of war and peace.

Many sacrificed family milestones, holidays, years away from loved ones, and in some cases, their physical and mental well-being, so others could live safely and freely.

These individuals hold their community to commitment to this nation.

We must uphold our commitment to them.

Reducing funding for veteran services sends the wrong message to the people who have already sacrificed more than most ever will.

These services are not luxuries.

Okay, thank you.

I'm sorry, Margaret Chaburack, and then a group from We're Better Together.

It's uh Toshani Strother, uh Delda, uh, Barbosa, and then a group of others, but uh okay.

Margaret.

Hi, can you hear me?

Yep, okay.

First of all, thank you, um, Flynn for serving and um your son, Counselor Murphy.

Um, I'm not wearing the shirt today because I have to wear it.

I'm wearing it for a reason.

It's going on my sixth year.

I don't know if you heard this about the DAB program, so yeah, so um on my sixth year this September volunteering, but I'm here for all the many women and men who serve this country.

And why when I hear that there's money being cut from the budget, it's ugly.

I don't know if that's the word I can say, or disgusting, but that's just my point of view of it.

So um I'm just here just on behalf of all the veterans that are gone and living that can't be here to actually represent themselves.

And I am also from South Boston, and I do know three personal veterans in my life, so thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Um, okay, uh Shawnee uh Struther, Zelda, sorry, Zelda Barbosa, Stephanie Williams, uh Belinda Sales, um, and then uh I think it's David Connolly and Aja Jackson.

I would just say, in terms of the the buzzer, I know from uh I know everyone from We Are Better Together has an amazing uh message to convey.

Uh at the listening session.

I I everyone from the group spoke, like over upwards of 10 minutes.

So we we don't have that much time uh because we have to finish this hearing and have an afternoon here.

So it's two minutes.

When you hear the buzzer, please please uh you know be respectful to everyone else.

And I again I just uh I I kind of you're not gonna have as much time as as uh the listening session, but I you'll you'll have more than two minutes each, but just try to uh wrap it up.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning, counselors and community leaders.

My name is Tashani Strother, and I am the case management supervisor for We Are Better Together, the Warren Daniel Haston Project.

I stand before you today in hopes that you will not only support but continue to fund our re-entry program.

Every person leaving incarceration faces a single question that the moment they return home.

Will my community give me a real chance to rebuild my life?

For too many, the answer is no.

Without support, people returning from incarceration face overwhelming barriers.

Housing instability, unemployment, untreated trauma, family separation, stigma, and isolation.

These challenges do not just impact individuals.

They impact mothers, fathers, children, children, neighborhoods, public safety, and the future of our city.

Our organization exists to interrupt that cycle.

We connect with individuals and communities to build resilience in the face of trauma.

We help heal women and girls, support men returning home, advocate for impacted families, and challenge the harmful narratives that continue to dehumanize people affected by violence and incarceration.

But most importantly, we help people transition successfully back into their communities with dignity, accountability, and hope.

Because re-entry is not just about someone leaving prison.

It is about whether they return to homelessness or stability, despair or opportunity, isolation or community.

When cities invest in re-entry programs, they invest in safer neighborhoods, stronger families, lower recidivism, and long-term economic stability.

Funding this work is not charity, it is prevention, it is public safety, it is community healing.

We are asking you today to invest in people who are too often counted out before they are ever even given a chance to contribute.

The individuals we serve are not statistics, they are parents trying to reunite with their children, survivors trying to heal, community members trying to work, grow, and give back.

With your support, we continue transforming trauma into leadership, pain into purpose, and re-entry into a pathway towards lasting change.

We are not asking you to fund a program.

We are asking you to fund possibility, restoration, and safer communities for us all.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you very much.

Zelda, Stephanie, Belinda.

Hello.

Hi, good afternoon.

Um, I'm from We Are Better Together.

I'm here to speak about something that is deeply personal to me: re-entry, healing and second chances.

Reentry is not just about someone coming home for prison.

It's about rather a person has a real opportunity to rebuild their lives, reconnect with their families, and become part of community again.

It is about rather families who have suffered for generations, finally find a chance to heal.

I have watched my own family be torn apart by generational cycles connected to the school to pipeline, to prison to pipeline.

I've been, I've seen people fall and fall again, not because they wanted to, but because the systems around them made it almost impossible to succeed.

Too often people return home with trauma, no support and no resources, no opportunity, no path forward.

Families are left carrying pain for decades.

And when families are broken apart for years, the damage spreads beyond one person.

Children grow without parents, parents lose their sons and daughters, communities lose people who have been who have contributed, mentored others, worked, led, and given back.

Entire neighborhoods are affected when incarcerated.

Incarceration becomes more common than opportunity.

This is this is why re-entry programs matter so much.

Re-entry gives people a real chance at life.

It helps sons and daughters return home with support instead of shame.

It creates pathways to employment, education, counseling, housing, stability.

Most importantly, it reminds people that they still matter in the world.

But what I've learned that is that true re-entry not only is about helping the individual, it's about healing the whole family.

I came into We Are Better Together in 2023, and I'm currently the case manager, and I do this because it healed my family.

We are better together, focusing on restoring families, supporting and healing, rebuilding relationships that were damaged by incarceration and trauma.

For so long, families suffered in silence because they were there were not enough programs centered on restore restoring and healing.

Programs like the like these show us that re-entry should what re-entry should look like.

They recognize that families need support too.

They understand that healing cannot happen in the entire family if it is not addressed, recovering and learning how to move forward together.

Reentry is needed in cities across the country and all around the world, but incarceration and generational trauma are not isolated problems.

Communities everywhere struggling with the cycle of poverty, violence, addiction, incarceration.

Without reentry support, these cycles continue.

But when we invest in people, healing become healing becomes possible.

Imagine what happens when someone is given a second chance instead of another obstacle.

Imagine a father reunited with his children, a mother finding stability after years of struggle, a person choosing hope because they finally see a future for themselves.

The impact reaches for far beyond one household, it strengthens entire communities.

I'll wrap it up.

Yeah.

Okay.

Strengthens families and creates hope where hopelessness one existed.

They help people become workers, mentors, parents, leaders, and community leaders again.

The benefit of us because every family deserves a second chance to heal, and every person deserves a chance to grow.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Yes, and I will not be before you long.

My name is Stephanie Williams Crosby.

Thank you for allowing me to speak here today.

Councilman, Chairman, panel.

I come in honor of We Are Better Together, the Warren Daniel Harrison Project.

I'm a longtime member of We Are Better Together.

I'm a Caregiver, and I also have four children returning home from incarceration.

And the We Are Better Together, Warren Daniel Hairston Program, Caregivers' Empowerment Program, Reinvestment Program, excuse me, really encouraged me to learn how to receive my children back into community.

They gave me the strength to really create a return and citizens plan, a re-entry plan.

And I do have one son that's home and what he used to embrace as ways of living that was unhealthy ways of living.

He now was able to take the tools that I was able to give him from the space that I learned and created, and we are better together, and now he's a working citizen of Boston, Massachusetts.

Also, while I was here, I spoke to a book that I was able to write through the wounds that I received, patent that I was giving my children that kind of helped with some of their behaviors in the community.

And I stood in We Are Better Together with the strength to write that book, publish that book, and stand before you today with that book that my children are now reading, identifying it, the ones that are incarcerated, identifying the wounds that they had, and working on it for them to come back to community.

Thank you for listening.

We are better together.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Um Belinda and David Connolly, Headrich Jackson.

Yes, hello.

Good afternoon, and hello, council members.

My name is Belinda Sales, and I am a part of We Are Better Together, Warren Daniel Harrison Project.

I am here today in support of to continue funding for the reentry grant program.

On March 24th, 2026, I spoke before this body regarding caregivers in our community.

Today I speak not only as an advocate, but as someone personally impacted by re-entry, who has been firsthand how it affects individuals, families, and our neighbors.

Re-entry support is critical because many returning citizens face barriers to housing, employment, mental health services, and stability.

Without prosper support, these challenges can continue cycles of hardship and incarceration programs funded through re-entry grants, provided people with resources, guidance, and real opportunities to rebuild their lives and become productive members of our the community.

This funding is an investment in safer communities and stronger families and sick and second chances.

I urge you to continue prioritizing and funding re-entry services for those who need them most.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you very much.

Okay, so David Connolly, Adrian Jackson, David, Mr.

Connolly.

I'm a decorated disabled combat wounded Vietnam veteran.

Uh born and raised in South Boston.

When I came home with the aid guidance and direction of Boston Veterans Services, I was able to buy a home in my neighborhood within the first year that I got home and get back on my feet after the trauma and being wounded.

That saved my life.

I could only imagine coming home without these services, you know, which led to 100,000 Vietnam veterans suicides, 22 a day, still uh veterans suicides.

Uh I really urge you to not take that money away from veterans and then put it on the back of first responders who traded a military uniform for a police officer or firefighters uniform.

We need that money.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Aja.

Good afternoon, city counselors.

My name is Asia Jackson.

I stand here representing we are better together today.

I don't come here with statistics first.

I come with people.

I come with a mother waiting for her child to come home from prison, hoping his heart doesn't already have a heart and heart, um, and programs like this really need investment, really need your support, and we really need your funding.

I come home with fathers, I come with fathers who miss birthdays, graduations, bedtime stories, still waking up every day trying to become someone his child or her child can be proud of.

See, reentry is not just a program.

It is the difference between survival and restoration.

We work with people, society calls returning citizens.

But I need this room to understand people are not mistakes, people are not their worst day, and people are not a dark number.

They are human beings trying to return to a city that says it believes in second chances, but second chances require investment.

You cannot tell someone to rebuild their life while removing the tools from their hands.

Housing is violence prevention, mental health support is violence prevention, jobs are violence prevention, community is violence prevention, and how we are better together, we create spaces where healing is louder than shame, where mentorship interrupts hopelessness, and where people are seen for their potential, not their past.

So I ask this council do not budget for punishment more than you budget for healing because we are not disposable and we are always better together.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Uh, we're gonna go to online testimony again.

If there's anyone uh in in the room who uh wants to give in-person testimony, uh you can just line up after that.

And if you haven't signed up and testified already.

Okay, so um so I have two okay.

Just give me a second here.

Okay, uh so uh Sylvia Exantis up first.

Yes, on Zoom.

I also have a Geo Valencia on Zoom, but I don't know if you want to do that.

Um, yes, I can hear you.

Oh, can you hear me?

Yep.

Okay, I'm not sure if I can be seen.

I don't see myself.

Um you were for a second now.

I it's uh I think you turn your camera off.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, there.

I see you now.

Alright, I can't see myself, but that's okay.

Okay, and so when whenever you're ready to start, I'll start the two in two minutes.

Sure.

Okay, all right.

Yes, I'll get started.

Um good afternoon, Chair Weber, Vice Chairman Fitzgerald, members of the council, Chief Jose Maso, and Commissioner Shay.

Um, thank you for allowing me to speak here this afternoon.

My name is Sylvia Exantis, and I am the chief executive officer of Central Boston Elder Services in Roxbury.

For more than 51 years, CBES has been a lifeline for Boston's older adults.

Today we serve over 12,000 seniors across the city's most diverse neighborhoods, helping people remain healthy, independent, and in their homes for more than half, for more than half are eligible for nursing home care, but remain at home because of the support they receive.

I am here today to urge you to protect age-draw commissioners, expanding engagement grant program.

These programs, movie nights, blog parties, and cultural gatherings may appear social, but they are essential health interventions.

Engagement is not entertainment, it is prevention when older adults stay connected, they experience lower rates of depression, improved physical health, and delayed cognitive decline.

These programs reduce isolation and give people something to look forward to.

Often the only reason they leave their homes.

Eliminating this funding would be devastating.

We respectfully ask for level funding, and add um no reduction, no further reduction that would eliminate this vital grant program.

Because this investment works this year alone, CBS is celebrating seven centenarians, seven individuals turning over turning a hundred years old.

A powerful testament to what connection and community make possible.

We can invest in connection now or pay for a crisis later.

Thank you for your leadership and commitment to Boston's older adults.

I urge you to preserve this critical funding.

I'd also like to thank my members of my team who are there today and who have provided information about Central Boston and this testimony specifically.

So thank you again for giving us this time this afternoon.

Okay, thank you.

Um I don't see a Gina Hudson online, but this offset those I'm a stay with the same.

Okay.

What is it?

Does that mean oh she's uh not testifying?

Okay.

Uh and Gio Valencia, I see you in person, but you're listed online.

So okay, okay.

Well, okay, uh I'm just gonna move on here.

I've got uh um Lily May.

Yeah, there's a bunch of that's a lot of people.

I don't know if these are people here.

Okay, uh Lily, I don't know if you can hear us.

Okay, uh I'm here, I'm here.

Okay.

Uh yes.

Great, I can hear you.

Yes, this is Lily.

Um uh um perhaps the Greater Boston Chinese Voice Center, we thank for all the hard work that the A Strong have been um uh uh provided to all the seniors in the Greater Boston area, and we uh strongly opposed for the um for the budget cutting, and because we see how valuable and uh that the uh benefit that uh from this programs to all the seniors uh to uh all the shares and we all the seniors from here that we we did join, we are joining the uh the program here and joined the meeting, and we strongly oppose for the budget cutting and we appreciate all the hard work from uh the A Strong from Commission Commissioner Emily Shade and all the staff from the H strong uh departments.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Um, okay.

If you if you're signed up online, you have to accept being promoted to a panelist, I think, uh to be able to speak.

We send an invitation.

So shume in uh last call.

Okay, uh we'll we'll come back to you uh Vincent Wuh.

Come in.

Okay, uh Yang uh Yi.

Um you gotta accept the invitation.

Hi, okay.

Yes.

Yes, right.

Okay, hi everyone.

Uh I'm Jan Asani from the Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center, and I'm the help and wellness coordinator.

So we are here to um uh we invite two seniors here to speak out for our um what we have been doing for them to uh for the programs, and uh we will be translating for them, but we do really want them to speak out their voice in their own language.

Okay, yes, thank you.

We can see you and hear you, so uh you whenever you're ready to start.

Uh we'll have two minutes.

Yes, I think so.

So we have Mandarin first.

Okay.

Hello, my name is Su Hong Ru, and I'm a participant in memory cafe of the dementia program at the Greater Boston Golden Center.

A little louder from the interpreter would be good.

I'm sorry, yeah.

I'm here today to respectfully ask the city government to continue funding the expanding engaging grant for dementia care in physical year 2027.

As I have grown older, I have noticed changes in my memory and emotional well-being.

Sometimes I forget things and I feel anxious and lonely because of concerns about my condition.

For me, this is not only an activity program, it is a place I where I can once again feel warm, competitions and connection.

The staff and warrantings are extremely patient and understand our language and culture, which created a safe and open space for us to communicate freely.

This words of have helped me better understand dementia and taught me how to cope with the anxiety and stress that come with the memory changes.

In the past, many older elders were afraid of dementia because they did not understand it and were some were unwilling to talk about their condition.

Through these educational programs, we have learned how to care for ourselves, how to seek help, and how to reduce the shame and misunderstanding surrounding dementia.

After participant in these activities, I have clearly feel more emotionally stable and more willing to go out and connect with others.

Excuse me, sorry, but it's two minutes per person.

We're way over that, and we need to have other people to get to.

If you could interpret for me, just we have a lot two minutes per person.

Okay, two minutes for persons.

As I grown older, I went through a long period of feeling alone.

Some days I did not want to leave my home and speak with anyone.

I knew my emotional health was getting worse, but because of the language and cultural barriers, I didn't know where to seek for help.

Later, I joined the behavioral health programs at the Great Boston Chinese Golden Age Center.

The program provides two monthly support groups and one-to-one counseling surveys.

For me, these surveys are much more than simple conversations.

They make me feel careful, understood and connected again.

I'll try to keep in within two minutes.

So I sincerely hope the City of Council will continue supporting this program.

For immigrant older adults, this service not only improved mental health, but also restore hope, entities, and a sense of community.

Thank you for listening to the story.

So thank you.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

We have a few more people online.

I don't know, Helen, somebody.

Oh, I have a Helen.

Yes.

Okay.

Um I have somebody whose name is Behavioral Health Support Group from GBCAC.

I don't know if that is separate, or we just heard from them.

But if you're logged on as a behavioral health support group, you'll have two minutes.

Why?

Okay, yes.

Good afternoon, counselors and members of the committee.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

My name is Kendy, and here is Kira.

We are the social workers from Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center.

Today we are speaking on behalf of clients from our mental health neutral support group in support of continued funding for Boston Age Strong and the enhancing behavioral health access grant.

This program provides a culturally and linguistically responsive, supportive environment that helps elder adults reduce isolation, stay connected to their community, and receive peer support in a safe space.

Many of them are also caregivers or co-caregivers within their families.

So the positive impact of this program often often extends beyond the individual and meaningfully impacts the well-being of the entire family.

And the following are their stories.

uh in boston uh i have been participating in the mental health support group for nearly three years i have been um i have seen this program grow from the beginning when it did not yet exist to now having regular meetings twice a month there was limited Chinese speaking groups in the area unless I'm physically unwell I attend every group session participating in this group is very meaningful to me because it is the only group activity I take part in here I receive comfort and support from my peers members of the group share ideas and offer engagement sorry and offer encouragement and together we empathize with the stress that each of us experience in our daily lives okay I I don't know if you could hear the the the buzzer the buzzer went off uh for two minutes if you could wrap it up uh okay um well actually yeah to respect the time uh we also send the rest of the testimony via email so thank you for your time and we sincerely hope for um uh you continue support to kind of for Boston Age Strong and the behavioral health grant thank you okay thank you very much uh we have one more uh user logged in as GBCAC not sure if there's another uh group over there and then I have one one more person after that uh Luann O'Connor and then that will wrap up public testimony um I know Commissioner Shay has uh somewhere to go so we'll do a quick round if anyone has any questions for age strong and then uh questions for I know Councillor Braden has joined us um okay uh so I no on that other user okay uh you have to unmute if you've accepted invitation and we do have an afternoon hearing I'm looking at moving that to three I don't know if the elections department can start an hour back but can you let me know yeah actually can I can I um can I testify?

Yes you have two minutes okay um um Megan Chong from Big of Austin Chinese Golden Center um I have to thank age strong in supporting us with two grants the expanding engagement grant um and also the enhancing behavioral health access grant so by using the um expanding engagement grant we develop our dementia care program at the golden center and we use the enhancing behavioral health access grant and we started a new center might be two years ago the BHA center so um with these two essential grants is very essential for our program so with the car we we probably have to start our dementia care program so the dementia care program is the expansion engagement grant so we do member cafe dementia education and caregiver support for people who is taking care of dementia patients so if the funding got coming this year physical year 2027 we probably have to start out all the dementia program at the golden central and for the enhancement behavioral access grant is so essential I actually have the funding to hire bilingual social worker so we are facing starving issue if the budget got cut so it's really essential to support those two programs I want to limit um my um testify short um and we serve a lot of population especially um with the behavioral health access grant so uh for Asian population it is very difficult to get funded for behavioral health services so the age strong behavioral health access grant is so essential to continue to provide the services to the elderly and for people who go through aging process being isolated being having chronic ill so it they they face a lot of isolation being depressed and few of them come in with anxiety disorder.

So with our counseling support group we enhance them to live a long life so this is it essential for both programs to continue?

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Thank you uh um luann O'Connor.

And then I I do see uh uh there's another uh organization logged in as Zoom user, which is Einstein, Boston Age Strong.

But uh Luann, you you're up if uh get an invitation accept it and unmute.

Yes, good afternoon.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

I can't see you.

Uh but uh so if you have a camera and you want to turn it on.

I don't know, counselor.

Do you want to see me?

Hold on, here we go.

Okay.

Okay, so obviously um my name is Luann O'Connor.

I'm from South Boston, and I'm here to testify and to ask the city council to um not allow the veterans' budget to be cut whatsoever.

Um we did this last year, where I believe it was up for cutting, and councillor Flynn had to mobilize veterans across the state of Massachusetts in order to have that funding restored.

Um, these are men and women that are putting on a uniform, and for those of us who are not veterans, we don't understand the full uh capacity of what they're giving us insofar as a sacrifice.

So it appears as though because we have fiscal mismanagement that we are going after the most vulnerable populations.

One is the veterans and the other one is uh the seniors for agents strong.

Both of those departments are crucial for vulnerable population.

The other thing that I want to mention and I would like for the council to consider, there are very many, many, many departments within the city of Boston that are top-heavy.

Those departments, such as the BPDA being one of them, ONS, ZBA, and we can just go on and on.

That's where if we need to cut budget, that's where we need to look.

We don't need to look at first responders, and we most certainly don't need to look at our veterans, because even today, as our veterans are deployed over in um Iran and across the world, they're protecting us, they're protecting our country so that these types of war issues do not come to our soil.

And we need to appreciate that.

Whether you're in your twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, so on and so forth.

It's really important that they are recognized for the sacrifice that they are giving, and they are from all walks of life, all ethnic backgrounds, all economic backgrounds, and it's really I'm asking the council um to look into the top heavy departments that can be cut.

Uh the ARPA dollars are gone.

Those departments are still up and running, those positions are still up and running.

That's where we need to look, especially with our property taxes being what they are today.

So that's all I have to say.

Um definitely appreciate the council taking the uh time and listening, actually listening, um, to the people as well as the uh nonprofit um that are representing the vulnerable populations.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much.

Uh I have someone logged in as Einstein, Boston Age Strong.

Oh hi.

Um my name is Arnstein Me.

And I would like to say that I'm a resident of greater Boston area.

I'm here to support Boston A.

Strong, they support the community agent, greater Boston Chinese for the A Center.

And change the behavior, uh health, assets, grand.

I'm deeply granted to have assess the mental health service, and then that helped me to save my life to get out of depression.

And with the respond to my uh language and culture background, I would like to think thanks to the government for the support this older or Dow in Boston, which have made it much easier for me to receive help from the social worker uh can be and the counselor there doing my difficult time.

Their support has renewed my sense of hope and motivate in life.

So they basically saved my life after I all of depression and I all of my suicide thought and I'm back to normal.

So thanks to the program, and I sincerely hope that in 2024 the government will continue to support this meaningful and essential program.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh thank you very much.

Uh that is okay.

That's it for online testimony.

Uh I just um so it we're we're gonna do another round just for my colleagues.

We are moving the 2 p.m.

hearing to three, so that elections will start at three.

Um, but I and Emily Shea has to leave.

Does anyone want to put up any questions for age strong?

Okay.

Uh and so uh councillor Culpepper, you know, you you got two minutes uh and then uh counselor uh Braden does that work?

Councillor might go on or is it your you're up yet two minutes?

I mean you really got a limit to two minutes and then uh councillor.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Each of the panelists, I know these cuts are.

You will have time for another round with other panelists.

Just Commissioner Shea.

Oh, just okay.

Commissioner Shay.

I looked at these cuts.

If you had to prioritize these cuts, what would you say you'd needed to keep if you had to make that determination?

Uh I mean, I think that's a a very difficult question, counselor.

I'm not sure I can I'm not sure I can answer that.

I think I think at the end of the day, what we'll do is we'll look at our entire budget, we'll look at what our staff can do.

We'll look at any state dollars we're getting in.

We still don't know kind of our state numbers, and and then we'll um uh we'll figure out what we're cutting, but I I don't know that I have that for you right now.

So let me ask another way.

In terms of amendments, if we looked at amending, you would want and you would need everything that's being cut, to be put back.

Yeah, I mean I can tell you that uh when I proposed my two percent cut, what we tried to do was kind of take a little bit from from everywhere so that um because I I mean I think you've heard from testimony today, there are uh certain things that are um uh I would say that everything we're doing is filling a gap, right?

We're not duplicating services, right?

And so I think we would just uh try and put the puzzle together as best we could.

And if I had my dreters, I you would want us to put everything back that we could.

Because I mean, I I mean uh I know that council is going to have a lot of difficult decisions to make, but certainly um certainly uh we'll do uh the best we can with all the money that we're given.

Thank you.

Okay, yeah, thank you, Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Braden.

I apologize for brilliant.

I had a medical um not uh a dental emergency this morning that I had to take care of.

Um so in the and in the bo in the budget book and the budget letter that from the administration said that Boston was able to secure a million dollar federal earmark for transportation services.

Um what's it do we off the top of your head?

What's the name of it and where is it in the where can we find it?

Um I don't remember the name, but we can get that to you.

But it was in um last year's federal budget.

We are still waiting uh for, I guess we have to like apply to ACL.

So we've done we've done everything we need to do.

We're waiting on next instructions from ACL, but it's it is specifically to modernize our taxi coupon program.

So it's to do to uh purchase some technology to kind of bring that paper coupon cash program into the 21st century.

Very good, good money well spent.

Um it looks like programs and partnerships program are taking the biggest cut.

Um, so I don't want to get into the weights because I've got literally got two minutes, but uh which particular programs I know we've had a lot of advocacy as we've already heard from our testimony online engagement grant for dementia care and enhanced behavioral health access, those are the those are two grants that uh are they continuing this year or are they being cut back curtailed?

Yeah, so so uh obviously just across the board with city departments.

All all of the community grants were cut.

So our we $500,000 for our expanding engagement, which is social connection grants, $450,000 for behavioral health clinical access, $220,000 for hoarding, and then another 200,000 that's just our events and programs.

So um, you know, um the other question I had was just um we depend on on sort of those grants to sort of outsource our you know bilingual social workers, for example.

Um how can you uh for cultural and linguistic resources and programs that are provided for Chinese older speaking uh older Chinese speaking adults and caregivers in the community can are we are we still making sure that we're we're covering that extremely vulnerable vulnerable population, but making sure that our bilingual services, social workers, caregivers, um that they're getting the support they need because it's not something we can necessarily cover in our own in our own bailiwick in terms of.

Sure, sure.

So I what I would say is that um we use all of our grant programs to cover gaps, and a lot of those gaps are bilingual services or programs.

Um Boston is a very diverse city, and um, and it's important that we're culturally responsive.

We're we're um trying to figure out uh if there are other sources of funding that we can connect our grantees to so that we can continue those um continue those services.

So that's something that we're exploring um to see what's what else is out there for them.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, Councillor Braden, thank you.

I just and one uh sorry, one final question from uh Councillor Flynn to the HRO commissioner and then we'll do a second round for the rest of the panels.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Chair and um Commissioner.

I don't necessarily have a question, but I just want to acknowledge I've worked with you for eight years.

You've been very professional, you're very committed to supporting our seniors with so many different programs.

You're an outstanding dedicated um city employee.

Um I think we both share uh like Council Braden, a commitment to our seniors, especially our immigrant seniors, including our Asian Asian seniors as well.

Like like Council Braden, I I want to go on record in support of the programs that provide exceptional support to our seniors, especially our immigrant neighbors, ensuring that they are treated with respect and dignity, also factoring in language and communication access.

Wonderful.

Thank you, Counselor.

I just really thank you so much, everybody, and I'm I'm my apologies for having uh to get across town by one forty.

So, thank you, Commissioner.

Thank you.

Um so we'll just go to uh a second round uh for everyone here for the remaining panelists.

Uh we we do have to we we have a hard stop, we have to finish this at two so we can give folks a break.

Uh but uh this is a very substantive panel, you know, covering a lot of different topics.

So I appreciate panels' willingness to stick around and and answer questions.

Uh so we'll we'll do uh we're gonna do three minutes uh and if there are any remaining questions, we'll and time we'll do a third round.

Well starting with Councillor Flynn.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I also want to say thank you to Ashley as well for the professional work you're doing as a probation officer for eight years in Suffolk Superior Court, supporting returning citizens, trying to ensure that they get the services and programs they need from coming out of jail or coming out of prison.

What impact will this budget have on young men, young women that need a place to go after after getting discharged from jail or prison?

Certainly if you don't have a good plan and you come back to the your community without housing, without options, um it's very difficult for you to succeed.

Just want to ask generally, what is the impact that we'll have on our returning citizens that are uh might be coming out of jail or prison over the next over the next year or so.

Yeah, thank you.

Um counselor Flynn.

You know, I think in generally speaking, it's gonna have an impact, right?

You know, um, we have a lot of people that are releasing more and more each year.

Um, I will say that, you know, internally to our city department, um, we have a strong case management team in addition to a housing specialist, housing specialist and employment specialists so we'll continue to do the work that we're doing, um, in addition to continuing to do some cross-collaboration with some of our community partners.

Um, I have been working on the back end to, you know, ensure that there's other additional funding that we can kind of tap into as it relates to the philanthropy, that word, philanthropic um organizations, and that's some work that I'm doing and working in collaboration with other city departments to ensure that our um community partners are still supported.

Excellent.

Um, thank you, Ashley.

And uh, you have a tough job.

I think you're doing a very good job, and you're trying your best.

Well, maybe one final question.

Women coming out of prison or jail, they have added challenges than than med do men do, certainly.

Um, what what are some of the how we're gonna help women coming out of jail or prison?

What are some of the um programs that we could help them with?

Yeah, so thank you for that question.

Actually, you know, that's been something that's on my radar um fully.

Um, I kind of alluded to earlier that that's been identified in the needs assessment that we conducted um in the summer of 2025.

It's actually been something that I've been talking about with Northeastern University of how we can kind of do a call to action to some of our partners within the community, in addition to some of our universities, um, to bring this to light, um, to create more programming because a lot of programming is focused around um again what I was saying, like women and or even even the fatherhood programs or even men in general.

Um, so you know, we're working on our back end to ensure that um this is kind of brought to the forefront, and we're having more conversations around what ways in which we can support with other institutions.

Thank you.

Ashley, when when the budget is over, could you and I um could we meet?

I'd just like to learn more about um the programs you offer and um see how I can be more of assistance and provide provide any assistance I can to our returning citizens, but again, respect the work you do and respect the um the mission that you um you're you're working on.

Thank you.

Yeah, I would love that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Flynn.

Uh Councilor Fitzgerald.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, I'll just send it one question goes for for all departments, really.

Um a lot of the times when we're when we're in a tough squeeze here, we're looking for efficiencies, and I'm thinking about some of the other uh providers that do services, whether it's veterans, age, uh, or returning citizens, and uh the sometimes overlap or uh you know, sort of the miscommunication between the two, or um is there a way that we can look at or or are there programs that we're funding now uh in trying to stretch the gap that we have to make sure it's covered?

Uh that there is a surplus of anything, uh like there might be uh are we are we funding other outside providers that uh might be losing their grants, or are there other providers that if we consolidate we can do a more effective job for less money?

Um I just think about all the different nonprofits we meet with and everything that kind of go through the run the gamut of of services, and so a lot of them have very similar overlapping services, and a lot of them look to the city and say we need your money to make sure we keep going.

Um you can really this is and this applies to really all departments across the city, so it's not just you guys specifically, but in these tight times and looking to be efficient.

Do you guys have any thoughts on how that could be done or if there is actually a world where like you know, and I don't need you to out any specific people, that's not what I'm asking.

It's more just like yes, yes, counselor, there is a world where we could probably um focus on just several of the of the folks that do this work, and they're much more efficient than uh, you know, spreading it out across multiple.

Yeah, I'll tap in here, House Secretary.

I appreciate the question.

Really great question, just as far as the analysis is concerned, is definitely definitely in line.

So, what is that we're thinking as well in the philanthropic space?

A lot of funders and foundations are now giving towards organizations that are collaborating, right?

And so, just in terms of like the impacts, really want to see the return on investment, uh, really sourcing those organizations that are partnering with each other uh who have similar lines of work or anything else like that for the emissions to see what the impact is and have greater reach, and so just observing that from the outside perspective, a couple things is that what we identified in just the great work that you all heard from the panelists today is that granting out to organizations is an extension of the work that they do, right?

And so, as we grant nonprofit organizations, these are the organizations that may be able to reach a population that we can't reach, may be able to do a body of work that we are not able to do due to being city government, etc.

Right, and so does it stop the day-to-day work that these departments do on a daily basis, however, it allows us to amplify the work.

As we do that, we do recognize that uh, due to our procurement policies, et cetera, it is a competitive process, right?

And so, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that organizations will get this grant funding year after year.

Uh so even if we do streamline it to what is that you're is suggesting, it still will be a competitive process.

I think what is that you're naming is is there an opportunity to amplify our return on investment by looking at maybe part of the application process, it's it's a requirement that organizations that actually partner with other organizations.

That's something we could definitely look into if that is an avenue that we want to go down.

I think there's a lot of learnings opportunities from outside organizations as well.

Yeah, no, I appreciate that response.

And uh again, I just want to thank all of you for the work you do, uh, each meaningful in its own right, but also as uh collaboration for the city of Boston.

So uh hope you continue to collaborate uh and we will try and fund that.

Thank you as always for your support.

Thanks, guys.

Okay, thank you very much.

Counselor Cultepper.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I think I have a sad question for you that I had for Emily.

If you had to prioritize, how would you prioritize and how much as your prioritize would we need to uh put in in terms of uh an amendment?

So I think similar to Commissioner Shea, that's a uh difficult question to answer.

But what I will say is that the work is already happening internally, and not to take away uh community partners are doing amazing work.

So I'm not taking away from the fact that they're doing amazing work, but I will say that you know I alluded to earlier, like we are already doing case management services, we're already doing housing, we're already doing um employment, we're already doing internal programming, we're already doing all that work, and it was working with community partners was definitely a value add and it was an add-on.

So it's difficult to answer that question because I think regardless of.

Let me answer this way then.

If we do an amendment, it should be for everything because it'd be difficult for the cuts that would have to be made.

I mean, the cuts are gonna hurt no matter what.

Is that correct?

In terms of community, like better together, those kind of organizations that depend on this grant funding.

So I don't know if those organizations solely depend on our grant funding, right?

They get a bunch of different grant funding from different organizations.

So I don't know, you know, we give very small dollars, so I don't know if it's dependent on the funding that we're giving them.

Um, you know, but I'm like I said, I'm really working on the back end to make sure that there's some level of funding and some streams of income that they can still get to support our returning citizens.

Is that with all of the organizations that just get correct?

Uh same same question.

Uh so for veterans is the priority would always be on our core core services, yeah.

Uh offering benefits of the benefits, uh, ensuring that the services are are rendered to our veterans' communities and and their families.

So it's always going to be centered on debt.

And uh, you know, also to work within the limits of what we're given.

So, whatever funding that we do uh end up with and whatever we get, our priorities would always gonna be first our core services, and then we'll uh the programs and everything else that falls underneath that.

And so, same question, you would need the entire funding if we can amend it and get it back to you in order to save non-core services.

Well, whatever we get in the final budget is what what we're gonna prioritize with and and see where we go from there.

And I understand that you're gonna try and prioritize with whatever you get, but from our perspective, um, we want to make sure that you get what you need in order to in order not to have to cut programming.

And so as we look at these amendments I think it's significant that we try and do all we can to make sure you get all you can so you can do all you can for all the people you can because either way someone's going to hurt if we can't make this amendment especially for the work that you do and the way that the entire panel touches the community and so we'll do what we can do and hopefully what we can do is restore all of that funding for all of the organizations.

I mean we can only do what we can do but we're going to work hard to try and make sure that as we look at amendments we can amend as much as we can so you can do as much as you can for as many people as you can thank you counselor.

Okay.

I did no okay thank you.

Well so we're coming back let's Councillor Braden and then I you know I'll I'll come back to you and Councilor Flynn.

Thank you.

Counselor Brady Thank you.

And to go to veteran services I'm I'm just wondering in terms of the current case load per case worker will the um will the 1920 27 financial year 27 budget impact your about your caseload or your ability to carry the caseload that you have right now it will not no and and and what and which particular area of your operations will be most impacted by the this sort of tightening that we have to go through the cuts um will impact our mini grants program or hero banners program and uh a small portion of our contract contract services.

And in terms of the contracted services which particular space um are we contracting out services to well from the contractor services well we well most likely will be impacted and that was part of our two percent uh that that that we proposed uh would be on some of the items essential items that we purchase for our for our veterans community okay um and then is there a concern about outreach to veterans at risk of homelessness given that this cut these cuts like I think that it's it's a sad reflection of our society that our veterans are a higher higher proportion of our homeless folks are are veterans.

Will these cuts impact our our services and our outreach to potentially prevent homelessness or help folks who are homeless?

Substantially I guess you could say our our homeless veterans but um but any you know any cut like that you know may or may not have an impact.

Yeah okay as I say it takes a village not just for the kids for everybody.

And then the Office of Returning Citizens will reduce um you know with the reduced resources will you will you be able to maintain coordination with Boston Housing Authority Mayor's Office of Housing and Public Health to prevent returning citizens becoming homeless.

I think that's always a big concern for us.

So I would hope so I I can't answer for um those organizations but I I don't see a cut I don't see the cuts impacting us directly in how we deliver our services as as it relates to housing.

Okay and um that's good to know um and then in terms of in particular which particular you know non-personnel services are those contracted programs that were we're cutting back the grants uh are there particular spaces are you trying to spread like are you have you are you lost your all of your grant making ability all of it or are there are you able to help retain some of it uh we lost our community these grants and in if we were to put money back into the budget like or move things around are there particular areas where you would prioritize um making grants if you if we had more money and put money back?

At this point, that's kind of hard to answer.

That's a hard question.

I know it's a really it's a really hard question.

But anyway, thank you for all you do.

I think you're our returning citizens getting them resettled and stable and housed in our communities is really important to help them prevent precipitation and keep them in communities so thank you for all your work.

Thank you.

And it didn't get to talk to Mr.

Masso this morning, but good to see you keep up the good work.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Uh just Counselor Flynn, did you have uh follow-up?

Yeah, thank you.

And uh maybe I'll ask either either Rob or to Jose, but was the was the veterans department instructed to come up with the two percent um cut in services.

Were they were you able to identify that in in forward a recommendation to the budget team about the two percent cut?

Uh yes, we were told to uh uh um to um recognize the two percent um as part of our an exercise that's correct.

Okay, then if we were to recognize if you were to identify a two percent cut, why are we cutting the budget fourteen percent?

I question I can't answer.

Okay, nope, fair fair enough.

Um and Rob, I have I have tremendous respect for you and the job you're doing.

Um as you as you know, we had we we met recently and I'm very disappointed, but I'm not disappointed at you because I know you're a tremendous advocate for veterans.

Um but let me ask Jose, if we if the veterans department recommended two percent cut to the budget, why are we cutting it 14%?

It's a really great question, counselor.

It's a similar question that uh Council Cole Pepper asked earlier, uh, similar to every department actually proposing a two percent cut and then receiving the uh the recommended cuts that they received, and so age strong, 12%, veterans at 14%, or C at 36%, OHS at 49%.

Um as you may know, you know, as far as the fiscal reality of what is that we're proposing, we have an obligation to present a balanced budget, which requires some really difficult decisions, and part of the decisions was for departments uh to eliminate the grant the community grant opportunities and so that's what you see reflected.

And so that was encompassing that, so that's where you see the percentage cuts for each department.

However, we could have cut two percent from the veterans' budget and kept more a larger percentage of the budget of the budget intact.

We didn't have to cut 14 percent.

If if we wanted to cut two percent, then we could have a discussion about two percent, but the veterans department did their part.

They made a recommendation of two percent, and then and then we came back and it was cut fourteen percent.

That's that's that's the troubling part to me is I don't think it had to be that big of a cut.

East department um did their part in presenting the two percent, and you know, I think that you know with Chair Weber and with your work in the work that you all do in terms of um the power that you all have throughout this process, and so we definitely look forward to working closely with you throughout the amendment process and being able to find a solution that works well for everybody.

Okay, I hear you I I do want to be positive.

I want to end on a positive note.

Uh Mr.

Chair, I have no further questions.

Okay.

Thank you.

I guess just to follow up for Jose, in terms of in this in all the departments what we've seen are cuts to grants and and not personnel, but that you know, is did you look at that, you know, sort of balance uh in terms of the cuts and you know in these departments?

Uh in terms of the I mean obviously we don't want to see city workers being laid off, but like if you're trying to deliver the services, like they're there shouldn't there be a balance, or you know how how do you make that decision?

I did not make that decision.

Um, however, the the decision as far as it was made is that there's a priority in terms of not impacting essential services, city services, and that was prioritized as well as uh doing as best as possible to keep the workforce intact.

And so with that, I'm grateful that our departments are actually able to continue, you know, delivering their services on a daily basis.

Uh the impact was external, and so as I mentioned earlier, the amplification of the work that we're able to do through outside organizations, uh, that's the work that was impacted.

Um, however, the day-to-day direct services was not impacted and workforces were able to remain intact.

Okay, okay, thank you.

Councillor Culpepper, did you have a brief follow-up?

Well, because you you took my line of questioning, but it's now yours.

And so, Chief Mass, so that's what bothers me the most, that the impact that's gonna be felt in the community the most.

And when you look at how the budget took place, we we expected two percent across the board from all departments, but there are some departments that had 14, 25, much larger percentage cuts that has an impact on the community.

And my question for you is what role did you play in what was cut or what was not cut from outside.

I had an obligation to submit a 2% uh exercise.

So that's the role that I played.

In terms of you're talking to an individual, hold on a second.

I excuse me, I'm not done with I'm saying.

Let me just follow.

I'm asking the questions, not you.

So you see, you submitted the no, and I'm I'm gonna let you finish, but I want to put in this context.

When you submitted the 2% budget as you were requested, what happened with regard to something coming to 14% or something coming to 20%?

How did that happen?

You're talking to an individual whose budget was cut by 49%.

So as you talk about these percentages in these other departments, I just want to remind you you're talking to an individual whose department was cut by 49%.

Annually, we are able to provide grants to over 250 organizations throughout the city of Boston.

I am a former nonprofit leader, and so I understand what the impact is.

And as a result, some of the work that we did over the past four years was really intentional.

So through the youth development fund, for example, for the past three years, what is that we were able to do is amplify an emerging organization learning core.

And what this was was identifying organizations, the grassroot organizations that actually operate underneath a small annual budget amount each year, and it was about 20 or so that we gave them tools and resources where they will meet monthly to be able to learn how to fundraise, they will learn how to be able to manage the board, etc.

As I mentioned, this past year we were able to partner with our um with Urban College, and so many of these organizations, 20 which will be be receiving certifications later this month, um, were able to actually receive college credit to be able to apply the work that they do.

So again, what we recognize is that the funding that we provided to them is not in perpetuity, right?

And we really wanted to message that to them, let them know that this is not gonna be ongoing, and so we wanted to make sure that they had the tools and resources to be able to continue to work in different capacities to be able to find different other sources of funding so that work could continue.

But the larger organizations, they've been around for decades, and so we know that they're able to continue to work in different capacities.

They are great and they will continue to work and be able to manage these hits.

It's the smaller ones that I think are having the biggest impact, and we know that to be true.

And again, we're not negating that.

Nobody here on the panel has saying that the impact is not gonna be felt at all.

We do recognize that to be true, but we're grateful for as far as city departments is that we're able to continue the work that we're able to do for city residents on a daily basis.

And and just like you, I understand the work of these smaller nonprofits and how significant it, because they're the ones that like the smaller churches, they're the ones that are doing the underground work.

Here's my final question.

If let me try and rephrase it, can you give us out of your 49%?

And you may not be able to.

If you can give us out of your 49 cent priorities of what you would like to see, that we can then look at it to amend the budget to try and fill as much of those gaps as we can.

I'm gonna quote uh Commissioner Santiago, who earlier said, and I quote, that is a question that needs to be answered by the council, and that was a wonderful quote, Commissioner Santiago.

So I really do work.

I'll definitely look forward to working closely with you throughout the amendment process so we can figure it out.

How do we provide and produce a balanced budget?

Um while making sure our core city services and I have to do that?

And I think that's critical.

I really do.

I think that's if you work with us to try and make sure that we hit the critical program so that the gap is as narrow as possible.

I think that's the goal that we all want that the council works with uh the mayor's leadership and partnership, and that new authority did say that uh we were partners in this.

So, yeah, let's let's sit down uh chief and with all of your commissioners and our leaders and see if we can't figure out something that makes sense so we can still have have as much an impact on these nonprofits as we have in the past.

And the technical assistance, I'm sure you're still doing technical assistance with them when they have questions.

But I think it makes sense if we sit down to really try and figure out what makes sense because you know better than we do.

I mean, we're hearing from our constituents and our nonprofits, but you also know from your side better than we do what you can do and what makes sense to try and close this gap as much as possible.

Thank you, Mr.

Okay, thank you.

Uh to wrap up, Councillor Braden.

Do you have any okay, Councilor Murphy?

Oh, I'm gonna just thank you for all of you and we're here to support.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh thank you very much.

Uh just want to thank everyone for for being here and um uh for your really thoughtful uh responses today uh and to my colleagues who've been here asking great questions.

Um so uh just for everyone, we're we're because we we kept this going uh till it's now 145.

We postponed elections hearing till three, so it'll give central staff time to uh organize.

Um so look forward to seeing not you but other people here at three.

Uh thank you very much.

This morning's hearing is now adjourned.

Okay.