On the message and Ordinance, referred on February 9, 2022, Docket #0259, Amending City of Boston Code, Ordinances, Chapter XV, Section X and Establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act, the committee submitted a report recommending the Ordinance ought to pass in a new draft. The report was accepted; the Ordinance was passed in a new draft.
Dawkins 03550356 will be placed on file. Matters recently heard for possible action. Mr. Clerk, please read Docket 0259. Number 0259 An Ordinance amending City of Boston Code Ordinances Chapter 15, Section ten and establishing the Boston Fair Chance Act. Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilor Arroyo, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations Council of Rail. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Yesterday, March eight, the government operating committee held a hearing on docket number 259, an ordinance amending the City of Boston code ordinances. And Chapter 15, Section ten that establishes the Boston Fair Chance Act. This docket is sponsored by Councilor Me and myself. The ordinance would amend existing language in the Boston City Code establishing a chief affirmative action officer instead of instead creating the Boston Fair Chance Act. The Fair Chance Act would formalize the position of the Chief Diversity Officer who would provide oversight of the city's nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action policies. This ordinance would also require regular updates on progress made regarding diverse hiring. Would 1/2 just make sure I'm where I am in promotions and require that the Chief Diversity Officer work with officers to make sure there are fair hiring practices and policies in place for family members of current employees. I want to thank my co-sponsor councilman here for introducing this legislation as well as my council colleagues for joining Council President Ed Flynn, Councilor Rosie Louie and Councilor Erin Murphy, Councilor Kenzie Bok, Councilor Kendra Lara, Councilor Liz Braden and Councilor Brian Root. I also want to thank members of the administration for their attendance and participation, and I finally want to thank the advocates who took the time out of their workdays and showed tremendous courage in their testimony yesterday and sharing their experiences. I'm looking forward to getting to work on the specific language in this ordinance, and as Chair, I recommend that this docket remain in committee so that we can have some working sessions on it. Thank you. Thank you, Counselor Arroyo. The chair recognizes counsel here. Counsel, meet me here. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to my co-sponsor, Counselor Arroyo, for. For chairing a great hearing. And I just want to take a quick moment to thank all the panelists and members of the public who took a big risk showing up at yesterday's hearing and speaking up about the injustices that they face here every day. We have heard from so many other people who experience the same workplace problems but are too afraid to speak up because they fear retaliation. But let's be clear it should not be a punishable offense for any employee to try to make a workplace better and friendlier to people from all backgrounds. That is, in fact, actually exactly what our ordinance is designed to do. We are incredibly grateful to receive testimony from mary i mary a generally solace severa from the mayor's administration. In addition to our panel of advocates Dennis Boneham, Daryl Higginbottom, Jerome Hagle and Jeff Dr. Jeff Lopes. We've learned a lot about their personal and professional experiences dealing with workplace discrimination, and I look forward to continuing working alongside each of these amazing advocates as we move towards working in our working sessions and eventually towards passing this ordinance. Finally, I'd like to say and to thank Jasmine from Castle Royal's staff for helping us pay all of this hearing and and moving this work forward. I just want to quickly say that, you know, over the last year or so, we have heard from so many people who were afraid to even meet with me in public because they didn't want to talk about this. And so it took a lot of courage for people to step up and share their personal journeys. But I think this is a call to action. It is if we're really serious about really looking at the systemic racism that exists and continues to prevent black and brown people from moving up . We need to make sure that we're leaning into this conversation and ready to roll up our sleeves to do right by so many employees who have been passed up for promotions that they were well qualified for and oftentimes are training their white counterparts to do the work that they should be doing. So I'm hoping that as we continue to move forward with the working sessions, that we come ready to do the work that it's going to take to bring justice to the folks who have been waiting for far too long. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, councilman. Here. Thank. Thank you, counsel. Royal docket 0259 will remain in committee. Mr. Clerk, please read docket 0272 and 0273 together. Docket numbers 0272 message. In order for your approval, in order to reduce the fiscal year 22 appropriation for the reserve for collective bargaining by $2,016,409 to provide funding for various departments for fiscal year 22. Increases contained within the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Boston and senior docket number 0273 Message in orders for a supplemental appropriation