Order for a hearing on Government Accountability, Transparency, and Accessibility of Decision-Making Protocols in City Government.
Docket number 064 to cancel on me here or for the following order for a hearing on government accountability, transparency and accessibility of decision making protocols in city government. Did she ever recognize this councilman? Here, Councilman. Here you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. And I'd like to add Councilor Tanya Fernandez Anderson as an original co-sponsor. Council Fernandez Anderson is so supportive. Thank you. If you've heard me speak before, you know that you've heard me say nothing about us. Without us is for us. And it's something that I said a lot when I was first running for office. And it and it was meant to remind people that we can't let the people who are in power close the door on us when it comes to decisions and choices that they make every day that impact our daily lives and lived experiences. I thought as a city councilor that I'd be able to get in here and learn that the decision making protocols and bringing that knowledge to the people. But even now, as a councilor, I struggle to grapple with how decisions are being made. And I'm often notified that something in the administration is happening after it has occurred. Cabinet Appointments Department hires are made without consulting US. COVID ARPA dollars are being spent with little community interaction. KBA decisions are being made in opposition to popular support for certain projects, and in one study conducted in collaboration with our office, we found that nearly a quarter, a quarter of respondents said that they strongly disagree that their voice was heard to represent it and policy decisions. This is a problem, but it's not a problem that's unique to one mayor or one city council or one department. We have systems and structures in place in our cities that pre-date all of us, that determine how we make decisions and how we must collaborate in order to make those decisions. But those systems routinely leave the voices of the people out. And so that is why we're filing this hearing today. We need to get to the bottom of how decisions are being made here in the city of Boston, what systems and structures are in place that force us to make decisions that way, and what structural changes or even changes to the charter need to be made in order to ensure that the voices of the people and that's all people are being heard. I look forward to this conversation and learning more alongside my colleagues. I really do appreciate my favorite nerd in the policymaking space, Jacob Blake Hawk, for his relentless advocacy in getting us to this point. I really do believe if we're really serious about changing the way we do business, that's going to require us to look at how we are functioning. I know that I have been incredibly disappointed by the number of things that have come across this council, and I've been forced to vote yes or no on things that I haven't had much of a voice in. And I have a responsibility to my constituents to making sure that we're creating the type of structure that allows us for us to really. Represent them in their voices. So I look forward to the hearing and my colleagues to participate. Thank you. Thank you. Counsel me here. The chair recognizes Counsel Fernandez innocent. Counsel Fernandez innocent. You have the floor. Thank you so much, counselor. President Flynn and my original co-sponsor, counselor. Me here. Thank you so much for partnering or adding me to your. Yeah. That the. So the councilor. So the council needs access to all relevant information eminent from the city government. Right. And the issue here, I think, is that if there's no if there's not one streamlined process, then things are can get, you know, sort of contrived or we lose trust in this paranoia. And we talk about this, these processes that include us, we talk about I've heard my council colleagues talk about equity and being what being that we know that certain thing or certain moneys affect a certain population and pulling on our heartstrings, beautiful presentations and all of that should be followed with good intentions and of course implementation of action. However, if we're not working on a transparent platform, if we're not if we're not doing that together as as my council colleague, Sister Maria said, if it doesn't if it's not with us, then it's not for us. So I strongly, of course, agree and support this and look forward to the work. Thank you. Thank you, Counsel Fernandez. Innocent. But anyone else like to speak or or sign onto this matter. Please raise your hand, Mr. Kirk. Please add Counselor Arroyo, Counsel of Brad and Counsel Coletta Counsel Fernandez Andersen Counsel Clarity Counsel Elara Counsel and Counsel Murphy. Please add the chair. 2:00 064 Cho will be assigned to the Committee on Government Accountability, Transparency and Accessibility. Mr. Clarke. Please read docketed. 06430643 Council and me here for the following resolution Opposing State Receivership for Boston Public Schools.