City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. For the record, my name is Ben Weber. I'm the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and I'm the Boston City Council for District 6. Today is 05/18/2026, the exact time is, 02:11PM. This hearing is being recorded, and it's also being livestreamed at boston.gov/city-council-tv and broadcast on xfinity channel eight rcn channel 82 and phio channel nine sixty four.

The council's budget review process will encompass a series of hearings that run from April through June. We strongly encourage residents take a moment to engage in this process by giving testimony for the record. You can do so in several ways. First, can attend one of our hearings in person or virtually and give public testimony. You can do so if you're here in person and sign in on the sign in sheet near the entrance and we'll call on you in the order you signed up after the first round of counselor questions and after we've heard from the presentation from the panel and we'll go to public testimony after that.

If you're here virtually, you can get a Zoom link by either filling out an online form on our council budget review website, by e mailing the committee at ccc. Wmboston dot gov. Or you can get a Zoom link by e mailing our central staff budget analyst, Karishma Chauhan at k a r I s h m a dot c h o u h a n at boston dot gov. Again, following the first round of councilor questions, we'll allow for we'll have public testimony. You'll each be given two minutes to to make your remarks.

Please introduce yourself. Tell us your name, where you're from, and what organization you're with, if any. Also, on May 26 at six p. M, we have the fourth of four public listening sessions right here in the council. So you can come here 6PM, and I will be here and hopefully, you know, some of my colleagues to to hear public testimony at that listening session.

Again, you can testify in person or virtually at that session. In lieu of testifying at a hearing virtually or in person, you can also submit written testimony to the committee by emailing us at ccc.wm@boston.gov. Lastly, can submit a two minute video of your testimony through the form on our website. For more information on the city council budget process and how to testify, please visit the city council's budget website at boston.gov/council-budget. Let's see.

I think I've covered everything. Today this morning this afternoon's hearing is on docket number 0733 to 0740 and number 0747747 at an overview of the FY '27. It's the fiscal year 2027 operating budgets for Boston Centers for Youth and Families and the Office of Early Childhood, which is a program under the Office of Human services this hearing will cover the will also cover the child care revolving fund this is one in a series of hearings to review the fiscal year twenty twenty seven budget these matters were sponsored by mayor Michelle woo and were referred to the committee on 04/08/2026 This afternoon, I'm joined by my colleagues in order of arrival, councilor Flynn, councilor Santana, and councilor Culpepper. We waive opening statements at these budget hearings generally, so we're going go right to the panel. Let me introduce you.

We're joined this afternoon by the Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth and Families, Marta Rivera Director of Operations, Eddie Maguire and Analytics and Program Director, Paula Gaviria Villarreal. Okay, if I got that right. Helps us there's a soccer team from Spain from Villarreal. I would like to let my colleagues know that Director Villarreal may need to leave a little prior to 05:00 due to childcare needs and I advise my colleagues to ask her questions now during the first round because she has to leave for good reason. So okay.

So I'm gonna hand it over to the panel. If you have a presentation let's let's hear from you. Just so, Director, what time do you need to leave by?

No, by five it's perfect. Just not after

five. Okay, by five Yeah, yeah. Think we're good there. Okay. Both of you give your presentations, and we'll go to counsel questions.

Perfect. Thank you very much. So, the Office of Early Childhood, and I'll just show you a bit of what we've been doing and will continue to do in this upcoming fiscal year. So, we have several trainings for our family child care providers, and these are home based providers. Throughout the years, we've served over five ninety family child care providers in all of our 14 neighborhoods.

And out of all these family child care providers, 90 of them remain open. These trainings started in 2019, so this speaks highly of the value of our trainings. This is a roadmap we've created to highlight all the trainings available for family child care providers, and it starts with an interest for aspiring providers and support in getting their license, and then it guides them through what it requires to run a small business since we know that family child care providers are not only educators, but they're small businesses, and many times they lack the knowledge and would like to acquire these skills. So, this is just basically what we offer, which is the business training, tech and marketing, then we have the ages and stages questionnaire. We've partnered with the Boston Public Health Commission to offer trainings in physical activity and nutrition for young children.

And then, as part of ARPA, this we will need to update, we offered degrees and certificates for free. And now, what we've seen is a couple of our family child care providers being interested in opening a center. So, we provide support and guidance in travel and like going through ISD and EEC requirements. This is just a graph to highlight the number of providers that have gone through each training in the light blue. You'll see those trainings that are paid for with operational funds and in what looks like black you'll see what was paid with ARPA funds.

Most of it is operational funds. Our number one training is the business training and then the second and third are the ages and stages questionnaire and the tech and marketing. And this year we started offering an English as a second language training and we're piloting to see if we should offer it next year. Then a bit of information about the educators that have gone through our trainings. 99% are women, 94% are women of color, and 68% of them speak a language other than English.

The language that is mostly spoken is Spanish, and 23% live in Boston Housing Authority or some form of public housing. Then as you may see, most of these providers take the training in Spanish. So the English training is the light blue. The number of providers that have take taken this our trainings in Spanish is the dark blue, and over half take the trainings in Spanish. We've seen a large increase in our Spanish speaking population and family child care providers.

So, we've accommodated for these providers. Then a bit of our ARPA investments, which are coming to an end. Here, what you see is how we've allocated the funds depending on the settings. So light blue is family childcare. The orange is center based settings, and the strange sort of yellowish ochre is a mix.

So, that is the growing the workforce, which is all the certificates and degrees, and those have gone to both educators that work in family child care, but also teachers that work in center based. So we've really supported a wide population both in our family child care, but in our center based spaces with ARPA funds. You can see that with especially with the growing the workforce and then we also had the stimulus and stability training which was focused only on center based providers, We've supported a large number, sorry, the numbers are tiny for me right now, but we've supported quite a large number of educators in the field in our early education. So this is everything that was impacted by ARPA incentives. As I mentioned before, there won't be any more ARPA funds, but we will continue our programming with operational funds.

And now a bit of the programs and supports for children and families. So, last summer we started what we call keeping kids cool and it's an initiative to support our youngest children, so zero to five, to stay cool in extreme heat. They're usually not thought of as a population at risk, but they are. So, what we've done is partner with community based organizations and call them our neighborhood heat champions. And it's really been a community based campaign where we just share information that people can share out through their own trusted networks with constituents around how to keep the youngest children cool.

We've also created action plans for both parents and caregivers and childcare providers in what to do before a hot day and what to do during a hot day and how to identify all the cooling resources around their neighborhood. Then we have the new campaign Boston Reads. This is ongoing. It's really a campaign focused on fostering a culture around reading since a very young age. And, we're at the beginning.

It's also mostly a communications campaign for now, but we've partnered with the library, with the Boston Public Health Commission, BPS, and several other partners to come together and instead of working in silos, a unified message and approach to early literacy. We're currently developing parent lessons so they can acquire the skills they need to be their the the first teacher for their own children. And I'm sure you've seen our story stops. There's one just outside City Hall, and these have been also great. There's a map where you can find all of them.

Oh, something happened. It's okay. After Boston reads oh, there we go. Thank you. Wait. Then another one of our initiatives for families and young children is connect, learn, explore, mostly focused on the biking. We have biking lessons for our youngest children in BPS and outside of BPS. We have one of our bike towns just outside City Hall, and this is a space for children to learn how to ride a bike around the city safely. This has been huge. The numbers have been constantly increasing, and we've had great feedback.

So this is also an initiative we focus for on. And finally, Great Starts, which is our enrollment platform. And Great Starts was started with ARPA funds. Now we've changed to operational funding from BPS, but we co manage it together. And it's really a one stop shop where you can find all the options of childcare and BPS grades k to 12, and you can apply to BPS grades k to 12, as well as our to our Boston pre k settings in community based organizations.

It is great because it is mobile and user friendly, and this saves families a lot of time. They don't have to go to welcome centers to apply to the childcare or school of their interest. And they complete registrations on their computer or their mobile, and it's available in all the BPS official languages. It's also created a streamlining and simplifying process. Families are notified via the the website if they need to update documents or if they're missing something.

And as I mentioned, this has allowed it it's really made it easier for families because they don't have to accommodate to the schedule of our welcome centers. They can do this whenever they have time. And our welcome centers can now serve those that need more support. And finally, this summer, we will be adding our BPS, as we call it, fifth quarter or summer programming to the website so parents can apply in one space in a secure platform. And that is it.

Thank you very much, Commissioner Rivera. Do you have something else? Okay. We've also been joined by Councillor Pippen.

Thank you. Good afternoon. Again, my name is Martha Rivera. I'm the commissioner of the Boston Centers for Youth and Families. Thank you, chairman Weber and counselors, for the opportunity to present BCYF's budget for budget for fiscal year twenty seven.

I wanna take this opportunity to thank mayor Wu for her unwavering support of BCYF and our human services chief Jose Masseau whose deep connection to our mission rooted in his own participation in Boston community center programs is invaluable. Equally important is the support of his deputy chief, Lisa Conley, and the entire office of human services team. Next slide, please. The mission of BCYF remains steadfast to strengthen Boston youth and families in their pursuit of success through meaningful relationships, essential programs, and vital community resources. Next, please.

Our proposed budget for f y twenty seven is 30,500,000 and remains essentially level funded. As reflected here, the vast majority of the budget supports personnel costs that sustain programs, services, and daily operations across BCYF centers citywide. Next slide, please. BCYF provides community access to a broad range of programs and resource throughout our entire network of 36 sites, which include 22 stand alone centers like the Shelburne Community Center and Curtis Hall Community Center, 14 BPS based centers like Leahy Halloran and the Metahunt Community Centers, two senior centers exclusively dedicated to older adults, one in Grove Hall, the other in Charlestown, one beach in South Boston, and 18 pools throughout the city. Next, please.

But as many of us know, BCYF is far more than a network of buildings. We are trusted community hubs and an essential extension of city services. Our centers provide safe spaces for young people, access to critical resources for residents, and meaningful community connection for seniors. Beyond our everyday programming, BCYF plays a critical civic and public safety role by serving as polling locations, operating cooling centers during extreme heat, and standing ready to open as emergency shelters working with the office of emergency management when Boston residents need us most. Next slide, please.

BCYF currently has 206,288 registered members. Again, that's 206,288 registered members. Those members have visited us or participated in BCYF programs over the last fiscal year a total of 900,000 times. So nearly 900,000 times. So, again, wide range of visitors, and certainly, high user.

As a key part of the city's commitment to youth, BCYF continues to expand access to sports, swim lessons, and other opportunities for children and teens with strong support from our mayor and our cabinet leadership. In f y twenty five, as you see there in the chart, BCY have offered 4,321 activities. This year, we've already exceeded that number by nearly 6%, and the fiscal year is not over. Alongside a 19% increase in youth participation in sports programs. You see that on the far right of the chart.

Next slide, please. To date, youth participation in aquatics programs has increased by 20% compared to the fiscal last fiscal year. And BCYF lifeguards have already taught 431 swim lessons proud of the team. Guards and aquatic staff whose commitment continues to expand safe, high quality water access and instruction for, Boston youth and families. And on that note, I wanna recognize BCYF's greatest asset, our staff.

They're the mentors, coaches, and lifelines for Boston's youth every day. As mentioned earlier, 81% of our budget is dedicated to supporting the staff who make our program services and community impact possible. Next, please. Because of this team and the dedication of many partners, we're able to offer a diverse and creative programming menu, including youth developmental sports programming like basketball, swimming, volleyball, futsal, specialized enrichment such as sewing, boat building, martial arts, and senior fitness, teen programming throughout the summer, including BCYF's super teens program and Boston At The Dark events with the office of youth enrichment advancement, adult and senior programs like chair yoga, fitness classes, and pickleball, girls programming like girls leadership core, girls night out events throughout the year. And if you missed it, BCYF summer guide is already up and out.

You can find it on our landing page, boston.gov/bcyfsummer. Next slide, please. At BCYF, inclusion are central to how we serve residents and ensure everyone feels welcome and able to participate. This year, we expanded inclusive programming and staff training throughout partnerships rather through partnerships that support residents of all abilities, including sensory swim programs for individuals with sensory processing needs, adaptive sports and Special Olympics programming for individuals with intellectual, physical and cognitive disabilities, inclusion training in partnership in partnership with the Boston Disabilities Commission and the Equity Cabinet. We're also prioritizing accessibility in our facilities.

The new Grove Hall Community Center and North End Community Center are being designed with universal access and modern accessibility standards in mind. Also, thanks to a state grant, the city's the state grant the city's department of information technology received, BCYF is modernizing technology access with new computers and assistive tools such as braille displays and Excel print keyboards. Sorry. Can you go to the next slide? And in partnership with the Office for Women's Advancement, BCYF continues advancing menstrual equity by providing free, yes, free menstrual hygiene products at every BCYF facility.

BCYF is the largest, employer for youth. We have been for several years, including our, hiring youth through our own programming and hiring teams in partnership with the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity. Each year, we employ over 800 young people who support programming and operations across our sites. Next, please. But of course, we don't do this work in a vacuum or alone.

Our impact is multiplied through a network of dedicated partners. Collaborations like the ones we have with our professional sports teams, like the New England Revolution who provide soccer clinics at our sites, and the Boston Bruins Foundation who for over, twelve years, I think going on seventeen years now, have been the sponsor of our spelling bee. We also partner with area colleges like BU and Wentworth Institute of Technology. And we also, of course, work closely with many of our colleague colleagues in city departments like H Strong who help us foster intergenerational connections, Animal Control who host clinics for our fur babies and our fur friends in our buildings, the Boston Public Health Commission, who partner with us and we where, we provide clinics, vaccine clinics for COVID vaccine or flu vaccines, and, various public safety departments. We work with the, Boston Police Department, the Fire Department, who provide a range of programming at our sites, and we are so grateful to all of them.

Next slide, please. This year, BCY have expanded its use of technology and digital communications to better connect residents with programs, services, and events across the city. Through a coordinated outreach strategy supported by 24 central based staff serving as volunteer brand ambassadors along with 15 center managed Facebook pages, we dramatically expanded our ability to reach Boston communities where they already have, where they already access information. As a result, BCYF saw a 380% increase in its reach and 580% increase in impressions compared to last year while growing on our growing our audience to nearly 15,000 followers and significantly increasing engagement across emergent emerging platforms like Blue Sky. Next slide, please.

So I'd like to share a few of our chief goals for FY twenty seven. In FY twenty seven, as you can see here, we are focusing on four things, raising the bar, investing in our people, listening to improve, and deepening our partnerships. So, essentially, we're advancing a clear system wide standard for program quality by partnering with center directors, program supervisors, and all our front line staff to define and implement key performance indicators and outcomes driven practices across all age groups. We continue to invest in our staff through ongoing professional development and targeted training to build the skills, consistency, and capacity needed to deliver high quality impactful programming across all of our centers. We're institutionalizing consistent feedback loops with participants and communities to continuously inform, refine, and elevate services, ensuring they remain responsive, relevant, and high impact.

And we're deepening and leveling strategic partnerships to expand program offerings program offerings and service delivery across BCYF sites, increasing capacity without duplicating existing resources. Lastly, we're collaborating with partners to codesign and deliver programs that are responsive to evolving community needs, ensuring services are relevant, accessible and aligned with local priorities. Next slide, please. BCYF's FY twenty seven budget reflects our continued commitment to support Boston residents through safe spaces, meaningful programs, and strong community connections. Like every city department, BCYF will need to navigate ongoing fiscal realities thoughtfully and responsibly while continuing to meet the evolving needs of our communities.

Our focus will remain on protecting direct services, supporting our staff, and continuing to provide safe, welcoming spaces for Boston residents of all ages. Thank you again for the opportunity to present BCYF's fiscal year twenty seven budget and for your continued support of our work.

Okay, thank you very much. Is that all from the panel? Okay. Just a reminder for new arrivals, Director Villareal has a heart stop at five. So if you're worried about getting your questions into early childhood, just maybe start there. Okay. Well, Councillor Flynn, I thought you wanted to go last. No, I'm just kidding. You're here first. So, Councillor Flynn, we'll do six minutes for a first round.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the administration team that is here. Director, thank you for the work you're doing on childcare outreach and support. Director, is the childcare revolving fund, is that also supporting the day care center downstairs?

That is not under

That's ours.

That's yours. Okay.

Yes. That's for the child care. Correct.

Okay. Is it okay if I ask you a question about the day care center? Sure. Okay. I've always been a strong supporter of the day care center and the incredible mission I love seeing coming in and seeing the parent or the guardian taking their kids to school in the morning.

Just give us an overview of of how the program is going, commissioner.

I'll have to get back to you on the number of slots we have. We are full and day care usually is full. We have a wait list. And so far we typically have some openings. So we do have some openings right now but are staffed enough to provide continue providing services without interruption.

Okay. Thank you. So let me let me go back to director. On childcare outreach and support. What is the just generally speaking, what is what is the cost privately to put a child into child care. What you know that's that's some that's structured maybe it's eight to two or eight to three. Do you have an idea of what that what those costs are?

Yes. Actually, we do. And of course, it depends on the setting. It varies, but it's it's more expensive for our younger children. So, infants, it's around 3,000 a month depending on the setting.

As I mentioned, you can find the spaces as that are 2,000 it's between 2,000 and 3,000 a month. For our toddlers, there are places that actually charge the same amount, and some of them just decrease by a tiny bit. So, you could find it also within that range. And preschool tends to be more affordable. Okay. Yeah. And we also have Boston Pre K, so for some parents it's even more affordable in the sense that they don't have to pay for 180 days of childcare.

So that that price of $2,000 a month or $3,000 a month for infants, it's it's certainly expensive, but for your child to get that type of support, they're really they're really getting a head start on other children. Is that is that accurate?

It it's really So, let me see if I understood your question, counselor. Is it around like quality tied to the cost or?

No. Like a child that An infant that gets childcare compared to an infant that doesn't get childcare, have you studied the results in terms of the impact it has as you become a toddler and into grade school or middle school?

We have not. I'm sure there's research out there. What we do have research on is our preschool age. So three and fours and then the impact is especially on our Boston pre k population to see how our curriculum tends to impact the children that go through Boston Pre K. But we don't have the information on whether an infant going through childcare develops differently than an infant that doesn't.

Okay. No. Thank you. Thank you. And I'm I'm a strong supporter of childcare and trying to get as many children into childcare programs, whether they're associated with the city program or or the state or or or private.

But I think every child should have equal access to childcare regardless of how much your family makes, how much your guardian or parent makes. Let me just go to commissioner and dispose some of the BCYF centers in my district. I was at I knew what we commissioner, we were at the Blackstone recently. They had a youth group that did a wonderful mural and had a wonderful presentation at the Blackstone. What can we expect for young teens or teens, I should say, at the Blackstone or Josiah Quincy this summer? What are some of the options for them?

So I have to go on and check the summer guide, which again they're listed there. But just based on what they've done the past year, the center director there, Marco, has done a fantastic job. Him and his team are really bringing a wide range of activities from dancing to orbiting sports, developmental clinics. They have a number of partnerships. They have the technology lab and a team center. So for specific activities, I'd I'd definitely have to look on the guide, but I I don't doubt they have a counter full of activities for those kids.

Well, commissioner, you mentioned Marcos and have had had the opportunity to work with them for, I don't know, six years or seven years. However, he's been long he's been there, probably longer. But an outstanding dedicated city employee does a tremendous job providing exceptional support to the youth of the South End, Roxbury. I see a lot of Villa Victoria kids there, a lot of kids from Ruth Barkley, but they he has a wonderful way about him and bringing people together. So I just want to acknowledge him. Mister chair, I'm out of time. I'll wait for the next round.

Okay. Thank you. Councillor Santana.

Thank you, mister chair, and good afternoon. Thank you to our panelists for being here today. I think I'm gonna start with commissioner Rivera. First, I do wanna thank you and, you know, I think it's your your staff in in in in our centers. They do amazing work.

I consider myself someone who grew up in our BCYF centers, having grown up across from the Johnson Community Center and the Tobin Community Center, and know how important it is for our youth, for our families. I think you mentioned in your opening remarks about, you know, our BCYF centers being safe havens, and I I truly believe that, especially for for our young people. I'm looking at your in in the in the slides, you provide the breakdown of your budget. And I think it says here about $4,000,000 are going into facilities and utilities expenses. Can you just you know I think as much as I love our BCYF centers, I also understand the conditions many of them that are in right and just want I know we're in a very tough year right now, but I think it's like just moving forward.

You know, what are the plans to to really renovate, you know, our our our facilities?

So what we have in our budget supports a lot of custodial and cleaning. Right? So the maintenance or rather anything that has to be fixed, a lot of that lives with public sorry, property management.

Okay.

We have been so fortunate over the last several years to be under property management now and just capitalize on all of their incredible expertise and the staff that they have to be able to again help maintain and sustain our facilities. So in addition to what you see there, which again is very basic for cleaning, we also are supported by the property management department. We have, as you know, we have some, projects in the work with capital. I know you with, the Tobin being, in your neighborhood or where you grew up, so that's also in line with the capital, for some capital improvements there. I'm not sure if that answered your question.

Yeah. And I mean, I guess, obviously, I mean, even the Johnson Community Center in Alice Taylor, right, it was closed or I think it just over the last two years, it got reopened. It was renovated. And, I mean, it looks amazing. I was there for the ground opening, and I know many families in Ellis Taylor are able to not only use that. I mean, are there any plans over the next, let's say, three to five years to to renovate other facilities across the city?

Yeah. I mean, our hope is working with capital, you know, and public facilities to continue to cycle our community centers through, you know, capital projects and make those investments before, you know, they're they're in dire, you know, need for repair before they break. But as you know, we, it's a long list of facilities.

Absolutely.

But the effort that the administration has put in just understanding the condition of the facilities, not just BCYF, all the facilities, and the investments in the facilities has been unprecedented.

Great. No, that's good to hear and I think that's something I'm gonna be advocating for in future years just to see those investments be made into our facilities. I do wanna talk about some of your staff your staff, so your personnel. I know even like a few years ago on the council we looked at there was a lot of positions that weren't being filled and wanna just have an update on, you know, how our positions across the city are are, you know, are are people applying? Are we are we hiring? Is there are there anything is there anything else that we need to do to make sure that those positions are being filled? I think the last time I checked in with you, the I think those open positions were decreasing, which is a good thing, but we'd like to hear that on the record if possible.

Yeah. We're certainly doing far better than last year at the same time Yeah. In terms of the number of vacancies. We have an incredible team in our HR department led by Francesca Jean Pierre and just our operations and programming team. They just all done an incredible job again filling the vacancies we've had. So and in terms of filling current vacancies and being impacted by any positions being held, we're getting a lot of support from the mayor's office as well as budget. So if you go online, you will see that BCYF is one of the few departments that is still hiring. We wanna make sure that those positions are filled to support some programming. It's our busiest time. And so we've certainly gotten the support to make that happen.

Awesome. Thank you.

And if you're going ask about lifeguards, we're on track to have enough lifeguards as well.

That's great. That's great to hear. Awesome. I think I'll use the last minute just to kind of, you know, as we're approaching summer, do BCYL centers do they do operating hours change? You know, I've been doing some research on just like across the country of other centers in other cities right expanding hours some I think not they don't have traditional BCUI centers like we do and provide the same services but I think some do have you know some facilities are open 20 fourseven especially for our, you know, unhoused population.

And, you know, during the summer our operating hours expanded and we'd just like to hear your thoughts about just like expansion of hours just in general as we look forward to, you know, in the next couple of years.

So our summer hours historically do change. And depending on the site, it's either to the earlier time of the day or the later time of the of the day. So because our you know, families and need, you know, kids need somewhere to go, we do front load our staff. So, basically, if you are a youth worker that comes in one to nine, we do have that youth worker come in earlier because we provide daytime summer activities. So we have the teens as well as the school age kids that we need to staff the the centers to provide activities for.

And then there are we do try to work with the Office of Public Safety to make sure that those centers are in places that are hotspots for the city and historically have high rates of violence. If they need office to stay open later, we typically do. And those, you know, along, let's say, the Blue Hill Corridor, we do keep the sites that are, along that area still, you know, remain open till nine. So we are still working on finalizing our summer hours, but it is something that every year we look at and assess where does it make sense to open late, where does it make sense to close earlier, and front load staff to support programming.

Awesome. I love to hear that. Again, just love the incredible work that you and your team do, especially under your leadership over the last four years, commissioner. I think this is an area where the council needs to continue to look how we could invest in our BCYF centers to make sure that our families and our young people, and as you mentioned, our elders are receiving those services. Thank you to you and to your entire team. Thank you Mr. Chair for allowing me to go a few minutes over.

Okay thank you. Councillor Culpeper.

Thank you Mr. Chair. Thank you to our panelists and the work that you do for our young folks. I've a couple of questions about the offer funds. You've for office of early childhood.

You received 17,750,000 offer funds?

I'm sorry, Councillor Culpepper. Actually, I'm partially zapped, so you have to speak up.

We did. I think for the Office of Early Childhood, 17,500,000.

You used those for business training, licensing support, ESL, OL support, marketing assistance, pathways toward degree attainment for providers. Were all of those programs supported through ARPA funds?

No. Actually, the business training has always been supported by operational funds. Tech and marketing started as one of our ARPA trainings, and we had 50 family childcare providers go through it. It was so successful that now we support it with operational funds. Same for the licensing support program. It started as an ARPA initiative for growing the workforce, but now we've also expanded and continue to license family child care providers with operational funds.

And so the 17,000,000 was ARPA funds, how much did you have in operational funds?

Last year we had in operational funds 1,148,510.

And what about for fiscal year twenty seven?

For fiscal year twenty seven we have 763,468.

So there's about 400,000 that was cut from operational funds?

Approximately, 34 And

all the ARPA funds are used?

Yeah. All the ARPA funds have been used.

Of the business training, the licensing support ESOL, market assistance pathways to a degree, Which ones of those won't you be able to continue because of the cut in the operational funds and the ARPA funds running out?

So we will continue business training, tech and marketing, ESOL, and licensing. The degrees for free, that won't continue. But the state has its own program to support early childcare providers with degrees and reimbursement for their degrees. But the rest will all continue with operational funds.

Do you know how much the state is?

I do not know the exact number. I can get back to you. Okay. But, yes, the the state invested a lot in degrees for free, actually, through some of the higher ed institutions that we supported as well, which was Roxbury no. Bunker Hill and Urban College.

And how many of the participants did you say would you say received their degrees?

I do not have that number at the top of mind, I can get Yes. That to

Because I I want to look at now that the noble aqua funds, how much the state money, how many will the state be able to support toward the degree attainment? And for the providers, will you continue to support providers with operational funds?

Yes. Yes. We will continue licensing, business training, tech and marketing, ESOL, and we're designing a new program focused on family engagement.

But you'll have much fewer funds.

Yes. The ESOL is in house, so one of our staff members designed and implements the ESOL. The other three, we had an RFP go out this fiscal year, so we guarantee that we will have them for three years. And so for the

160 businesses that were in training, how many will you be able to support in fiscal year twenty seven?

So in fiscal year twenty seven, we have set up to support 80 through the business training 80. 40 through tech and marketing, that's a 120, 30 through licensing,

so 30 through licensing?

Yeah. 30 through licensing.

And you did a 136 last year?

Licensing, we didn't do a 136 last year. Licensing, we have a total of 70 I'll get that exact number, but I think 77.

It I have in your notes a 136 in licensing support.

Oh.

So A 160 in business training.

A 160 business training, yes.

With the decreased funds, you will only be able to do 80?

No. So, actually, the decreased funds do not impact the trainings as such. The decreased funds, what they impact is at the end of each training, we would give providers we give providers a stipend associated with finishing the with the completion.

Mostly with opera funds?

With operational funds.

Okay.

That is

what we won't be able to cover with operational funds, the stipend

The at stipend the at the

Yeah. The trainings are not impacted. But for the stipends at the end, we've found other external partners who are willing to support that. And so from the

from losing the ARPA funds

You can finish your statement.

Thank you. So when when you look at the 14 bit of Boston neighborhoods that participated in the training and received financial support, what neighborhoods can you identify that have that still have significant childcare shortages or what they call childcare deserts. Where are the childcare deserts at?

So it depends on the age group, but the one that comes to mind is Longwood Fenway area, and there is almost no childcare there. Alston Brighton has a lack in family childcare providers mostly, but they do have some center based organizations. But actually, one of the neighborhoods where we see the largest gap in childcare seats available, because they have a very large population in that age group, Charlestown. So they have a lot of children but not enough childcare within the same neighborhood.

Thank you, mister chair.

Perfect. I'll give myself six minutes. I'm not the chair of Ways and Means. I'm not gonna pretend. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for for being here as panelists. Thank you for the work you both all three of you do for your both of your very important departments. I work I've especially recently, I've been reaching out to commissioner quite a bit, and you've been nothing but helpful. So thank you so much for that. I am a dad of three kids, a five year old, a three year old, and a three month old.

So I very much am intertwined with the conversation of early childhood and any services provided to towards that age group in the city. I have been able to go through the process of finding childcare, of enrolling my daughter into BPS, now looking at UPK options for my son. So I wanted to start off with a question about, for any parents out there, is there a landing page for for you to be able to go to and say, hey, I'm looking for childcare for my child. Where am I able to go? What is available in my neighborhood? Can you kinda speak to this a little bit and yeah. That'll be helpful.

Of course, counselor. That would be great starts.

Great starts? Yeah.

So great starts is a one stop shop as we call it for all of our child care in the city. We get the data from the state. So, we update the data every two weeks because we do not see so many changes from center based organizations available for child care. But we do see an influx in family child care providers. So we want to stay up to date.

We don't want parents and caregivers to find a spot that looks great because it's just down the block and then it turns out that that family childcare provider just closed. So great starts not only lets you see what is available in your neighborhood, but it also at the beginning explains to you a bit about each setting. So parents can also understand what is home based, center based, and identify what works best for them. And it also gives a certain other filters that let you select the age range because as you mentioned, have three children in different ages. You could find childcare for the three of them depending on their age range.

If they're Boston peer k, then your eligibility or when they start going to school, also your eligibility depending on schools. So Great Starts has everything, and we've really tried to make it user friendly. As I mentioned, it's translated into all 10 languages. It's available on the phone, online, and it should have all the information that parents and caregivers need. We've also started working with family child care providers and center based providers in an effort to give them the opportunity to really make their profile their own. Yeah. So add any information that would highlight what makes them different from other spaces.

Well that's helpful to know that, okay, that that exists. And you said get start?

Great starts.

Great, I said good. Get great starts, okay.

Yep.

And now a question geared towards more to the providers. Two part question. One, where does most of our funding come from to support them if there is any? I mean, then in terms of permitting and licensing, is that something that the city takes care of? Is that the state? Can you can you share that?

Of course. So I'll answer the second question first. Everything around licensing is a state.

State? Okay. Yeah.

We don't do any licensing. We support providers once they're licensed. So all of the trainings that we offer are for licensed providers except the licensing support program that is for aspiring providers that live in Boston and want to go through the process of becoming a family child care provider. As I mentioned, those funds are now operational because we've realized that the impact is immense and family child care provider tend to offer seats for our youngest population and that's where we see the shortage, so So zero to we really want to have more of them, but not only more of them. We need to give them the tools they need to sustain their business and have a business that doesn't close their doors because they can't find children.

So that is all operational fronts from our office.

Thank you. I'm very lucky that in my district, I feel there's a lot of those home based day care centers for children. I'm a big fan of them. The people that run them are great. I've heard nothing but great reviews from the multiple ones that exist in my district. Appreciate the support that you provide to them.

A pleasure.

So thank you.

They're very valuable to us. Yeah.

And I'm seeing a lot of strollers in my district, so that's a good thing, which is which is great. I'm gonna shift my direction over to BCYF a little bit. I wanna start off just first by thanking you for assisting me with the Hyde Park Municipal buildings and questions that I had in terms of the playground there and the next steps for the capital projects that are coming in there starting, I think, we're in design and then hopefully into construction next year. So I know they're gonna be very excited. So thank you so much for for those upgrades.

The question I always get around my BCYF centers are the pools in Matapan, the one at the Mildred and the one at the Matahunt. The reason why I've learned because of you and others is that the there's a shared part a shared ownership with BPS and of the pools. So I I wanna ask you all, this is scheduling of the open of the hours of the pool, is that through BCYF or is that through BPS? We've gotten the green light from BCYF that the pools are well and running and that they're good to be run, but then we hear from sometimes from BPS that it's like, oh, the time that we don't know when we can open them, etcetera. I wanna know what's the actual what can I tell the residents for the Mildred Pool and the Madahan Pool that, hey?

Are these pools gonna be open? When will they be open? And will they have lifeguards?

So the short answer is BCYF schedules and runs the pools for the community access. That's the the short answer. And I'm not sure where the confusion might be around opening, but there are sometimes some you know, we we get the you you think the pool is ready to go and then inspector comes and then, you know, we still have punch list we have to get through, so we have to halt any plans to move forward. So maybe that's just on us to be able to better communicate with BPS. Don't know if, Ted, do you have anything else to add?

Yeah. And just during our regular hours of operation, obviously, pools aren't typically available during school hours. So, window is usually like three to four, maybe even a little earlier than that. But typically, like I said, during school hours, we don't operate. But we will have staff there. We could sometimes assist in different programs specific to the school. But it's from that time till about typical closing time is nine p. M. There are some overlay with respect to scheduling related to maintenance and contracts that will impact. A lot of the time, we do try to have structured programming, specifically trying to teach people how to swim.

The latter half of that day is usually open swim. So, what you'll see from that like three to about seven window is way more structure. So, you're in there for a specific swim lesson. You're in there for an adaptive swim lesson or things. And then Saturdays are actually the day in which we have much more access, and we typically operate between eight to four and nine to five.

But we try to stay in touch as much as possible. Pools like to to break regularly. And so, when something comes up, in order to diagnose what it is, how long it's going to be down, typically, you know, relying upon our in house expertise, but at sometimes it would be external as well, bringing in contractors. That varies in our ability. So, there usually is a little bit of a delay just because we're trying to diagnose the problem.

But as soon as we have an understanding of what, you know, what it is and how long it's going to take, we put it out. And if it's a vital piece of the pool, are certain things that, you know, and certain temperatures and other regulations that we have to maintain. Some, you know, if the pool drops below 86 degrees, like seventy, seventy six, even though it might feel good on a 91 degree weather, you're technically not in compliance with the code. So you have to shut down. So, it's stuff like that, just educational things that I've had the fortune of learning. Well, going through all these different exercises with respect to people. But Matahan pool should be coming online shortly. Perfect.

Perfect. Yes. So, if there's anything that I can share with my residents for Matapan for this summer season for those two pools, that'd be helpful for me. Just be able to just share that with residents. Absolutely. We'll make sure we get that effort to you. Thank you. Okay. I am going to give the chairmanship back to Councillor Weber.

Is that there? Are you now the chair? Yeah. Okay. Okay. So we do have folks who signed up to testify. I'm just I have a couple questions. Again, if you if you haven't signed up and you wanna testify, just let me know. I'll call on you at the end. But I'm going to go to public testimony after a couple of questions me.

Give myself a couple of minutes. I guess, again, BCOIF, I think one of the issues has been, think, Councillor Santana, vacant positions. And I think the projected number of vacancies is going down as you're continuing to try higher. But it's around the 50 person range every year. Can you just talk about, like what are those positions that are they getting people come in for a couple months and then they're out?

Are there summer positions that show up as, like, that they're vacant the whole year because they are only in the summer? I don't know. How do we interpret that that data?

I mean, for the again, of for our year round positions, again, historically, we had a hard time filling those vacancies. We're far doing way better now over the past year and filling year round positions. We have about some fifty, sixty seven, yeah, 67 seasonal positions, just under a 100, and, those not including those. So I'm just thinking year round positions. Again, we are, doing better at filling those.

The positions that are historically hard to fill, no surprise. It's just positions that are frontline staff that are lower paying. Sometimes it has to do with the schedule. Even, you know, someone looking for full time position might not wanna work one to nine as a youth worker. So the whether it's the schedule, the location, the pay, there's a number of factors that contribute to that.

Do you are there positions that it's hard to fill because of the pay isn't high enough? And what

are A lot of our frontline positions.

Okay.

Yeah, those are youth workers, building managers

Athletic assistants. You know what the starting salary is for a youth athletic worker? Staff.

Most of them are maxing out in the $60,000 $65,000 range. Some of them are lower, like the assistant positions are yeah, within that range.

Okay. I'm sorry. Selfishly, I'm gonna ask about Curtis Hall. I've gotten some confused or some folks concerned emails. Okay? Apparently they're here. What's happening with Curtis? Is it closing? I I've heard a whole range of the pool is closing. There's funding for classes that is ending. Is that this group? I'm not sure. Other And I've also I received email that the entire facility is closing. So can you just Are there recent developments at Curtis Hall? You can update the District 6 Council

Yeah. On So the pool will be closing? Needs repair and include the locker rooms which are in dire need of repair?

Yeah. So there is a renovation project specific to the pool. The site is not closing. Okay. It's just that section of of the building that would be closed for a period of time for the renovation. So

the locker rooms

Locker room and the pool area.

Are being renovated and the pool.

The pool area. We've got significant issues with the pool shell, water loss, as well as the the the systems within. We've put some upgrades in it, but overall, it needs to be changed, especially the locker room. So those that renovation is we're looking forward to it, and we believe it will take, I believe, right around a year for us to complete it. But once that is that is done, we'll have a you know, essentially renew.

So Curtis Hallpool, when is that gonna start, or is it started already?

It has not started yet. It's supposed to start in June. It's been a little bit of a moving target, but June seems to be the date.

Okay. Well, we'll get to public testimony and I can can ask some questions maybe based on what some Curtis Hall users have thoughts on. Also the Hennigan, you know this is endless. It's been it closed before I got elected two and a half years ago and it's been closed the entire time that I've been in office. So, what's the latest on the Hennigan?

For so I get updates from our BPS colleagues at the BPS facilities quite regularly, specific to that. Obviously, there's been a lot of attention on that pool. Last update we received is that the benches that are required, there are a variety of different equipment as well as furniture that's required to operate a pool. Just came in on the May 13. So in the installation of those benches, we then will be pending an inspection through ISD. So we're hopeful that within the next two to three weeks we'll be able to operate the pool.

Okay. And then I guess director Villarreal, do you work with like literacy programs around the city? I know in my district we've got eight two six Boston.

So we have the new campaign, Boston Reads. We launched it last year, and we're currently developing what it will look like in terms of programming. But we've partnered with the library, BPS, the Boston Public Health Commission, and within BPS, Countdown to Kindergarten to make early literacy resources available to every family in the city. We are developing in partnership with these organizations what we call parent universities, so lessons for parents that want to learn about early childhood literacy skills. And we are, hopefully in partnership with the Boston Public Libraries sending a Hello Catchling kit upcoming in the fall for new parents so they can find all the resources around the city, around early literacy.

Okay. And then do you give grants to or do you have do you give out grants

to No. We don't, but we do have several partners. So I can't remember at the top of my mind because it's many of them, but they're on the Boston Reads webpage. But we have partners such as Racing a Reader, the BFIN, which is the Boston Family Engagement Network, several other outside organizations of city hall that are working on early literacy, and we're trying to unify the effort and highlight the work that they're already doing. So on our website you can find what is happening in their neighborhoods and how they can support some of them support the child care providers and some of them support parents and families in the city.

Okay. Thank you. I'm sorry. Councilor Braden, have you had a chance to ask questions? Don't think so. No, no. You're here is what matters. The important part is you're here. So I'm going give you six minutes and then we're going go to public testimony.

Good, thank you. Good to see you all.

Good to see you, Counsel.

So let's see where I want to start. I was just wondering, in terms of BCYF programming and access, how much funding was allocated for BCYF programming at the Jackson Man for this past last year?

So we have a overall budget. There's no allocation of the budget by site. We work with each site to make sure that we have adequate programming depending on programmable square footage and the staffing and hours of operation.

So they don't have a budget?

They don't. We work with each site again, whether it's to hire vendors, buy their art supplies.

So can you looking back over the last year, we're almost at the year end of the financial year '26. Can you do you have an account of how much money BCYF spent on programming at the Jackson Man?

Roughly, because again, we do a lot of bulk purchases.

Just in terms of, you know, like for tutors or yoga teachers or whatever, like what Sure. We've got a ballpark. Yeah. Yeah. Could you get that to us?

Yes.

Yeah.

We'll try to tease it out.

And is it possible to get some comparables with some other community centers?

Possibly.

Okay. That would be really good.

Think about our department again as a whole. Yeah. Whether it's contracted services or whether it's purchasing of materials from sewing machines to art supplies, we do a lot of bulk purchases.

Mhmm. Okay.

And we'll try to tease that out.

Yeah. Because then how much funding funding again, same question. Like, how much funding has been allocated or has been asked for the year coming starting this July?

I don't know. We haven't had that conversation yet. We haven't started any discussions about spending by site for services. And as a reminder, councilor, we have, it's only been since 2019 that BCYF has incurred the cost of programming expenses for the sites, the BCYF sites. Prior to that, it was done through the councils because all membership fees, all rental fees, all of that funding to support programming at the site will go to the councils. Prior to 2019. And after 2019, it's really centrally that we try to continue supporting that program.

So the councils at the present time were taking care of adult education and adult education. So that's for high set, for high school

That's currently.

And then the adult ESOL classes for about 150 people. So yeah. And then they pay for all equipment and stuff as well.

That's currently. Again, prior to that, all membership fees, all rental fees, anything that was, you know, funding that came into the building, that would go to councils to support programming. So the idea again, I mentioned that because to be able to do how we do it now is fairly new and we're trying to work through to make sure that there's an equitable way that sites continue to have access to services and programming funds.

So in looking at the program for the summer, how much funding is allocated to the Jackson Mann Community Center for next summer?

I don't know. Don't again, I'd have to go back and look at how we you know, what they have planned.

Because it doesn't look like there's anything much planned. And then so Alston Brighton families have gone years without a fully functioning community center. What concrete commitments can BCYF make to ensure that residents get quality programming going forward?

Can you ask again? Sorry, I couldn't hear you.

In terms of commitments to try and ensure that we have quality programming, like we don't have anything in the BCYF catalog for summer programming. There's nothing in Jack Alston Brighton. Nothing. There's nothing listed. And when you go to the website, there's nothing listed.

So it's currently it's it's since been updating updated, and I understand that you had recently a meeting and people saw nothing. So that is the center staff is their responsibility to program the site. And at that time of the deadline, when that was published, it was not available. But there is currently programming, and there will be programming at the Jackson Mann. And for anyone who interpreted that differently, I apologize. But at the time of the deadline, the information wasn't available, but it is there now. And in previous summers, if you go back last summer, it was similar. You had some sites that wasn't able to provide the information by the deadline, and what was published was go to the website because that's where it's updated. Doesn't mean there's nothing happening. That's not you know, we're not gonna allow that to happen.

Well, it's really hard for families to figure out what's happening and what's not. And then how many BCYF community centers are not open on weekends?

I could get a list of them, but typically we have either Tuesday through Saturday operations or Monday through Friday operations. So, you know, there's a few of them that I can think of off the top of my head are, you know, the Blackstone Community Center, the Tyne and Community Center. You it depends typically. And usually sites that don't operate a pool, especially if it's a shared site, we look at a Monday through Friday option.

So we don't have a pool. So and we have had over over the history of the Jackson Man, we've always had Saturday programming with the volleyball program and and youth sports and all sorts of things happening because that's the one day. Saturdays are a day when families are able to go and use the facility. But I think since since the since the school's closed, the the the the center is not open on Saturdays at all. So is there any way that we can change that situation?

Absolutely. Something we can definitely look into and make sure that this programming that aligns with the Saturday operations. Typically, like I said, depending on the site and the demand, and usually we get that we gauge that through the Senate Directors and the program supervisors at the site. They would help deliver a package that would say that that is the best. We are typically, like I said, on Saturdays, delivering aquatic programming at those shared sites. If there isn't aquatic programming, we would just have to figure out what exactly we're, you know, what our staff would be running.

It'd be soft. It'd be sports making volleyball and whatever.

And I think we can work with our program our program team. I mean, it's fourteen days notice with the collective bargaining agreement for us to transition schedules and things like that, but working with the center to to make that adjustment. I don't we are down one staffer there. Think it's athletic director. We've been really pursuing to try to get someone in there and in that position for a number over a year now. So if anyone's watching this and wants to be an athletic director at the Jackson Mann, please feel free to apply. But What's

the what's the compensation for an athletic director?

I would say I think it maxes out in the $60,000

range. Okay. Mr.

So it would be a Tuesday through Saturday shift.

Yes.

So we wouldn't be able to add a Saturday. It wouldn't be Monday through Saturday. Again, because of staffing capacity and just funding. We can shift to Tuesday to Saturday but if I if I remember correctly, there was a preference to keep the Monday, I believe, because the council has classes. So you'd have to look at that.

Okay. So it's five days. Pick take your pick. Five days open. Take your pick. Yeah. Tuesday through Friday Monday through Friday, Tuesday through Saturday. Correct.

If we're able to get an additional staffer there, somebody interested in it, we could potentially shift to six days. But under the current structure, it would have to be five days in one of the two.

Okay. I've got further questions, but do

Well, you want if you want another question, then we'll go to

public testimony. Let's see. And that so it's projected to be 90 degrees tomorrow. It's only May. It's only May. And you know our summers are getting hotter. We have we have heat waves that last, you know, several days of hot weather. The senior center will be closed for the next year and a half to get HVAC upgrades, repairs. So the Jackson Man is currently functioning as is it functioning as a cooling center? And, is the plan what is the plan this summer to use the Jackson Man as a cooling center for Alston Brighton?

I don't know if it is functioning as a cooling center currently.

Because that was its role in the past.

But It was? Okay. Yeah. That if it wasn't, it could will continue to be so as long as it does have ability to cool.

Yeah. And that would be your question, like, in terms of facilities. Are are we is it really up to speed to be a cooling center? Or or to have programming in the middle of heat wave? Like, will the temperature be so high that it's not safe to be using it as a

I'd have to double check to see. I don't recall any one specific issue. But typically, the only way you get off of the cooling center list is if there is a facility issue related to HVAC. Again, I think if people I don't know if everyone's aware, a lot of our gyms don't have HVAC. We use large fans, things like that. That's like the biggest area during the summer. It's something in operation that we have to take into consideration every every year, but it it's even during heat I mean, we're a public building, so you're able to come in and access that facility at any time of the year, whether it's a heat wave or not.

Mhmm. Yeah.

Yeah. It's just really I think last year, had a heat wave and, you know, there was nothing posted as a play as a cooling center in the district.

So The stickiest day for a heat wave is Sundays. We don't operate there's only one or two facilities that operate on a Sunday. So when a heat wave is coming in and it is on a Sunday, the primary day for that, it's organizing over time as well as bringing in other staff to do it. It's not, you know, inherent. So typically, if you're operating Tuesday through Saturday, any day during that time, you can access the facility during those normal operating hours, six days a week, Monday through Saturday. But that Sunday window is the more difficult one to do. We don't just for people to be aware.

Very good. Thank you.

And just, counsel, knowing that, again, not all of the buildings have AC, The other thing that we've done is we've worked with the mayor's office of New York and Mechanics and the office of emergency management to make sure that we have things like misting tents and other ways to cool people off. So we just and just trying to expand our footprint too. Yeah. So we set up misting tents and other ways to cool off and shaded area outside our facilities. So I just wanna throw that in there because

I really had a yeah. I appreciate that. I think we really had a sca scramble. I think it was I don't think it was last year. It was the year before on Juneteenth. Our kids in pub kids were out of school. Centres were closed. There there was a big scramble because and misting tents. I think BHA had to deploy misting tents to to their housing facilities to try and make sure that kids weren't overheated and whatever. Anyway, thank you, mister chair.

Okay. Thank you, madam president. We're gonna go to a round of public testimony or all the public testimony and then come back for a second round of questions from my colleagues. So, on order of arrival, I guess, Ashley Ochoa is first, then Eileen Lapowski, then No. Oh, no?

I thought I had to sign up.

Male Oh,

oh. Female

I'm sorry.

Female I'm

Female My colleague over there told me to sign up.

Male Oh, apologize. Female I apologize. Sorry.

He's a bull follower.

Male Okay. So, Ashley, Eileen, Meg O'Brien, Pamela Yellen, and Erica Boule. Sorry. Apologize. Tell us your sorry, Ashley? No? Yeah. So, either of these microphones here on the sides, they're on. Whenever you're ready. So it's two minutes. Again, introduce yourself. Tell us where, you know, if you want to represent a neighborhood of Boston, tell us where you live. Also tell us if you're with an organization. And then I'll start the clock, and you'll have two minutes.

Good afternoon. My name is Ashley Ochoa. I am an eight twenty six Boston alumna, and currently serve on the alumni board. I want to thank you, Chairman Weber and counselors, for giving me the opportunity to speak today about the importance and impact that programs like a two six Boston have on Boston youth like me. A two six Boston is a writing, tutoring, and publishing organization that provides in school and out of school programs to Boston students of all ages.

My experience with this program has had a lasting impact on my academic journey and my personal growth. Excuse me, I have really bad allergies. As someone who is hard of hearing, learning has not come easily to me. At times, I needed extra support and encouragement in order to fully build confidence in myself and my abilities. Having a program like A26 Boston made a difference in my life.

Through the After Scope program, I received the academic support and mentorship I needed to succeed. The staff and tutors created an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and building important academic and life skills that I still use to this day. One of the biggest ways A26 Boston helped me was through writing. Before joining the program, I did not always feel confident expressing myself, but through support and encouragement, I strengthened my writing skills and found my voice. Because of this program, I had three short stories published, along with two poems, one in English and one in Spanish, before even starting middle school.

Those accomplishments meant so much to me because they showed me that my ideas and voice matter. A26 Boston gave me opportunities I never imagined I would have. Programs like A26 Boston are incredibly important because many students do not always receive enough academic support in schools. Every student learns differently, and some students need additional guidance and a safe space where they can grow with confidence. HS6 Boston provides that support to more than 3,800 Boston students every year, and that number is still growing.

This program does more than help students with homework. It helps students discover confidence in themselves through a creative safe space. It creates opportunities for students who may otherwise struggle silently or feel overlooked. That's why eight twenty six Boston was awarded the City of Boston by the City of Boston with its Youth Organization of the Year Award earlier this year by Mayor Wu and the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement. They were also honored as one of the Boston Globe's twenty twenty five Bostonians of the Year last year.

Programs like eight twenty six Boston also rely on funding and support from different departments within the City of Boston, including the Office of Early Childhood, the Office of Arts and Culture, and the Office of Youth Engagement Advancement. That funding helps make these programs, mentorship opportunities, and student employment and publications possible. Without that support, students like me would not have had the opportunity to publish our writing, share our stories, and build confidence in our voice at a young age. And new voices like mine have the power to change our city, community, and schools. I am standing here today, not only as a former Boston Public School student, but as proof of the impact this program can have.

Now, as a member of the Alumni Board, I want to help ensure future students have access to the same support and opportunities that shaped my life. I hope you will continue to support and fund eight twenty six Boston so that more students can benefit from programs like this and reach their potential. Thank you for your time.

Okay, thank you very much. Yes, no clapping loud apparently. I was going to give Corey two minutes, but you've taken all of his time also. I would just say eight twenty six you know, is a great program in District 6. And, you know, they lost they turned down a $250,000 grant from the federal administration because they refused to comply with, like, anti DEI or just, you know, racist policies of the Trump administration.

So, you know, that's the heroes to to a lot of us. So just tagging, you know, flagging that for everyone. Okay. So next, Eileen. Ellen. Oh, I'm sorry. See, this is without my reading glasses. Ellen and then Meg O'Brien, Pamela and then Erica. And, okay. So, generally, I've taken Cory's time, you got two minutes. Yep. When the buzzer goes off, you don't have to stop. Just acknowledge the chair that you know you're over time and try to wrap it up. But if you just bulldoze ahead, I'm gonna have to interrupt you and that's Okay. Not So whenever you're ready. Okay.

Thank you for allowing me to speak, and that was really inspiring. Thank you. My name is Ellen Lepalsky. I'm a long time resident of Jamaica Plain, more than forty years. I raised a child there, and he used the community center. He went to to Curtis Hall to go swimming and do other things. But I'd like to speak about it now from my own perspective as an adult. Curtis Hall is a really, really important place for a whole group of people, all ages, very diverse. And first, I wanna encourage it to be remain fully funded or funded at the level that it needs. Secondly, I'd like to say for myself, I now go there probably five mornings a week.

Three mornings at 07:00 for exercise class, adult fitness class, and two mornings for pickleball. It's become a really important place for me. Right now, we're being told that it might or might not have the same programming. It's very there's doesn't seem to be any way to figure out if it's happening or not happening. The new director is not has not been very available to us.

And when people have spoken with him, he's wanting to make some pretty significant changes. And we don't really know who gets to make these changes or who gets input into this. But I would say that for adult fitness, although more of us are older who are here today, that's because this is during working hours, that the 07:00 and 08:00 classes are very important for working people. And I would say pickleball the same. And I just hope that there's a way that we can have important dialogue about finding out when the programming is going to be decided and how we can have input into what gets programmed. Thank you very much.

Okay. Thank you. Yes. You don't have to take all two minutes to make your point. Okay. So, yeah, Meg, you're up.

Hi. Good afternoon. I'm Meg O' O'Brien, and I'm a fairly new resident to Jamaica Plain, just under two years, but over a year and a half attending full body workout at Curtis Hall, which has been fabulous. And I have this community now. I bump into people in the neighborhood. I'm new, but I know people in the neighborhood. It's terrific. And I have better health and consistent. When I miss a class, one out of three during the week, I notice it. If I miss two, I'm set back.

And I gave credit as soon as I could get back to the next class after leaving Curtis. I walk out just a mile, just plus, to Curtis Hall when the weather permits. I don't take a bus. I get there and get home again. I wear bright clothing and there's lots of traffic on Center Street.

I was hit by a car a SUV that came up to my shoulder in front of the Dunkin' Donuts as he rolled through the sidewalk, not the crosswalk, the sidewalk, as he looked at the traffic, not the any pedestrians. But I didn't fall. And I give direct credit to the workout that I do three days a week at Curtis Hall. And I went in and told my trainer and he was trembling and I said, didn't fall. Had I fallen, I would have been under that SUV and it doesn't matter for the fire department across the street. I wouldn't be alive. He wasn't stopping. He was just rolling. So it's important to me. And the other thing is we are a community.

We showed up. We have all the I have few pictures. We went to wake up the earth, which is another great it started with JP with political active activism, not just political, but just neighborhood. We stay engaged. We stay involved. We have musicians and artists in our group. Our class doesn't cost much of anything but a staff person. We use the equipment that's on-site. We go in at seven and 8AM Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Friday, we lost the 8AM.

It got taken away because last summer, we, you know, made some room because there were kids camp and a count a staff person needed a vacation. We allow vacations. So we adjust. We adapt. We got a trainer in as under contract. We do what we can to keep this going, but now we're told it's going to go to a public school schedule with two weeks off in between and likely not in the summer. Every answer is vague. I heard some vague responses here this today when a direct question, can you tell us what? We don't know who's making plans. We don't know what those tentative or high goals or low goals are.

And it's very disrespectful, and and it's very upsetting, clearly. And we don't wanna lose it. And our class is 40 people at the 7AM and 40 people at the 8AM. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you very much. Pamela and then Erica.

Thank you for for hearing us. This is 20% of our

morning Closer to the Monday.

Yeah. We represent 20% of our 07:00 class from this morning just as an idea of how important it is, and it just happens to be because we all could rearrange our schedules to be here. I'm a twenty year resident of Jamaica Plain. I'm here to ask the council to protect the adult morning fitness classes at Curtis Hall, and the classes are running at near maximum capacity at every class, delivering measurable public health outcomes at no additional cost to the city. It currently offers the five classes, two on Monday, two on Wednesday, and one on Friday.

These classes serve 20 participants in each class. The seven AMs run at near a 100% capacity and the Wednesday, 08:00 near capacity. We used to have regular overflow from the 07:00 class when the classes were a little bit closer together. We understand there's a proposal to reduce or eliminate these morning classes to redirect resources toward youth programming, and I strongly support youth programming. I mean, kids are our future, but we are the ones that are at paying the cost of that.

The participants in this class are predominantly perimenopausal and menopausal women ages 20 to 70, and this population without targeted training faces the highest rate of bone fractures, falls, hospitalizations, and loss of independent living. Doctor Rhonda Wright, an orthopedist, research shows that eighty percent of menopausal women experience musculoskeletal deterioration and that perimenopause window is a critical intervention time. Doctor. Stacy Sims documents the direct link between inadequate strength training and increased mortality. These classes are not luxury.

They're prevention. The city pays for a fitness class far less than the cost of an emergency room visit, a hip fracture, replacement, or long term care. Personally speaking, I started classes April 2025. I've lost 15 pounds. I've gained significant muscle, and I've lowered my a one c, which is pretty significant for reduction in health care. That just represents me going three days a week when I can because I travel a lot to take care of family.

Yeah. If you just

Yeah. I

I just I wanna be direct about something which Meg brought up that this is not a budget line item here. The classes have built genuine community. Participants who are isolated, I was very isolated. I've lived there for twenty eight years and yet just started going to class. We bring in new members. We form cross generational friendships spanning ages 25 to 70, possibly 80. We're fulfilling the mission statement of meaningful relationships in essential programs. So I have three asks. One to preserve all five morning classes. Two, to recognize that adult and youth programming are should not be in competition.

We are there at seven and 08:00 in the morning. Kids are not. And consider the cost benefit. The small line item in the community center budget prevents significant downstream health and social costs. Thank you very much.

Okay. Thank you. Okay. Erica.

Hi. I'm Erica. It would be very hard to follow these three individuals. I am here to represent the middle generation of our fitness class. I'm also a former early childhood educator for thirteen years, so thank you, thank you for all of your work.

I was a J I am a J P resident. I've been a J P resident for like fifteen or a little bit more, give or take. I went to Davis for Davis Square for a little while and came back. Anyway, I felt like I had a big community in j p, and then I started coming to Curtis Hall. Curtis Hall is this hub of connectivity and collaboration and diversity and it's just amazing.

You have to come by. And I feel like there's just a bit of communication that needs to tighten up for it to just get on this extra level. But I think more the things I want to leave you with is is gratitude for seeing us helping us thrive and excitement for hopefully the summer, for us to be all sweating in the gym where there is an AC, but we come anyway because that's the type of people that we are. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you very much. Is anyone else here to give public testimony? Okay. Oh, you yes. Okay. So we have one person online, Melissa Allen.

Oh, Melissa.

Seems like a got a theme. Yeah. Yeah. It's this Curtis's all's fault for getting all these people all this energy. Yeah.

I think to Melissa, you if you can hear us, have to accept an invitation to join as a panelist. Online. Yep. I I can see you. Can you hear us?

I think so. I can hear you. Yes. I'm sorry.

No. No. I can hear you. Whenever you're ready, just introduce yourself, and you'll have two minutes.

Thank you. Hello. I'm Melissa Allen. I'm a longtime resident of Jamaica Plain as well. I've been here my entire life. I've been attending the Curtis Hall since I was a kid. I would practice swimming there, but in my adult years, Curtis Hall has been more important to me than ever. I also attend the full body workout classes at 07:00 in the morning, and I go three times a week. And then on the off days, I am at the fitness center working on the moves we learned. I am lifting weights.

I'm using the treadmill. And in that time since I joined the class back in 2023, I've lost 20 pounds. I've gained muscle, and I've built an entire new circle of friendships that I've been able to add to my social group. I'll go walking down the street like Alan said, and I'll run into people I know. And it feels so good to be part of a community, where people know each other, and it's because we all attend these programs, these fitness classes at Curtis Hall.

So while I truly do support any program that Curtis Hall supports and all of BCYF, adult fitness is is crucial to us, but I think it's crucial to our community. We are representing a group that doesn't really exercise all the time, that it's hard to exercise because we're working or we have other adult responsibilities, but we are an example of how it is possible. And So thank you so much for your time.

Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. So that wraps up our public testimony. We're gonna go to second round of questions from my colleagues. Guess just exercising the chair's privilege, mean, do you Commissioner Rivera, do you have anything in response to the comments on Curtis Hall before we move on?

I just want to thank everyone for making the time to come out today, and I I hear you loud and clear. And just wanna say that there's like they said, there hasn't been a decision made. And I think that to the senate director's credit, just anticipating, you know, that there may be changes and maybe that wasn't the best way to communicate it, but at this time, there aren't any that we can announce. So I apologize that we don't have more information, but until we know what we have in our budget and, again, until we have that information, we're not gonna be able to to really announce anything. So I wanna continue working with all of the patrons as the senate director does.

Speak into the mic.

Oh. Hi.

Okay. So sorry.

Okay. Can you hear me? Yes. Okay. Well, yeah, think it's just there's they're still looking into this. They haven't decided anything yet. There's nothing to announce. And so they're still trying to weigh what classes that they'll be able to provide. It's my sense of commissioner. Am I do I have that right?

And they'll, I don't know, be working. I I don't know if you can set up a meeting with the site director and and the the, you know, people frequent the Curtis Hall to talk about you know these decisions before they get made. Certainly if you the district six counselor would like to be involved in the conversation so just to in terms of you know, looking for resources in the budget or trying to figure out anyway, so I'd like if you if you wanna

Yeah. Mean, as I talked about my the overall budget, again, these are, you know, conversations and decisions that across our entire network, you know, we have to we'll have to weigh and make moving forward. Our goal is to have minimal impact and to retain and sustain as much programming as possible.

Okay. So, I guess the response is there's no news to report. Nothing has definitely been cut. You know, they're looking at everything. You know, you're not out of the woods yet. So, yeah, I apologize. We don't really have a back and forth. But I just thought since we just get some follow-up from the commissioner, please, you got my policy director just came out and gave you cards. Reach out. We can talk about this further. Counselor Braden, know if you have other questions, you can go for a second round. Yeah.

I was just wondering in terms of what level of funding would be required to restore, a baseline set of youth senior and family programs in Alston Brighton this year, even without a permanent, like fully functioning center at the Jackson

Mann? Programmatically?

Programmatically, yes. Because we we really we've lost a lot. It seems like we've lost a lot of programs. We don't

So the only thing that I'm aware of that has been lost in recent years are the two the council programs. So they had an out of school time program, which is a licensed program. There was a preschool program, which also is a licensed program. So those are the only that I'm aware of that have been lost, and they were, again, run by the council. And that was pre COVID because of the low they couldn't fill the slots, and that was had a lot to do with the school relocating. Other than that, I'm not aware of any other programming that's been lost.

So the the programs that were happening on on Saturdays, like the the volleyball groups that were using the space and all this the Saturday programming was a big loss. But, you know, just in terms of youth, senior, and family programs, like, it seems like we're sort of getting back to where we were. But the the big question we have is are we actually do we actually have the funding to add, you know, a yoga teacher or, you know, other other programming to try and build it up? Because it's almost like a death by a thousand cuts. It'd be it's if we don't actually provide programming, then we won't we won't have people attending.

And it's a chicken and egg situation.

Yeah. I mean, I'd love to hear what the programs are that you're aware of that are no longer happening. Because to my knowledge, there aren't any that, again, were either provided for or some were funded by BCYF that are no longer happening other than the licensed programs. And as you mentioned, the Saturday programming wasn't anything that we were facilitating. That was those were external third parties that were using the space on Saturdays.

That's the thing, know, there's a lot of creative energy in that area and folks would be happy to run creative run programming probably at pretty pretty inexpensive expense for the for the BCYF, but it would be programming nonetheless. So I think, you know, trying to facilitate that process so that folks it's, you know, it's that particular area of our neighborhood and of the city has very, very little in terms of public facilities for for anything. And, you know, having having even the vestiges of a pro some programming there in the in the in the interim while we're we're working on building getting a new community center is really, really important. So I just don't know what's what in your opinion what is the best approach to trying to ramp up those those programs, those offerings, regardless of whether it's funded by BCYF or the council or community volunteers or whatever? Are there any restrictions on what we can do?

I think, certainly, you know, initially a conversation with the the center staff, and we're happy again at central office to either facilitate or support them in having some kind of engagement process to find out what is it that, you know, the community feels they want or need that they're not seeing. And for the program that is taking place, what's the what's the usership? What are we looking at in terms of how the facility is being used? So looking at what's there, who's using it, and what else? What's missing? So I'm happy to, again, reach out to you, counselor, work with you to set up something with the center staff and extend it to the community.

Yeah. And I think And

I've already sent a message to our staff to discuss the Tuesday through Saturday option with Saturday becoming a new window, obviously. So, we'll get together with internally, see the feasibility, the staffing structure, its feasibility. There are some existing staff related issues there that I've highlighted, but also for them personally, which sometimes impacts our ability to operate. But if Saturday is something that the community would like to see and if we believe that it has the bigger impact, you know, it's it's a minor adjustments and just making sure that we have, you know, the appropriate

I think we'll be pretty much consistent in asking for Saturdays, especially folks that are involved in the volleyball program. There's a lot of interest.

I believe the volleyball program is operational still.

It's Saturdays.

Not Saturdays.

We're not open on Saturdays.

For them specifically? Yeah. Okay.

And and having a having a yeah. I think it's worthy of further conversation. I'll certainly be reaching out and see if we can work on having more offerings over there and and in in partnership with the staff that are there. Yeah. Very good. Thank you.

Okay. Yeah, so I just a couple questions. Don't know if, Councillor Braden, if you have a third round, which you may. So is BCOF saving money by training fitness instructors and referees in house? I think that's been discussed rather than contracting with them. What's the status of that?

Yeah. So that is actually one of the approaches we're taking. So I don't know if it's saving money, but just being more yeah, strategic with our funding. What funding we do have to support programming over the last couple of years, we have done things like train our staff to provide specialty classes, which is actually how the Curtis Hall class was facilitated. Know, the athletic assistant there got his certification in senior fitness and other classes, and so he himself took him upon himself to to provide a high level and degree of classes, and he has since since been promoted.

So continuing those classes, we've had to pay for external vendors as an example. Referees is another one, even our own lifeguards, right, training them in a variety in addition to swim, right, in a variety of different specialized fitness classes or sensory swim to be able to have these facilitate the classes.

Okay. And then in terms of like what's going on in Curtis Hall in terms of the budget, like do you have like a specific budget for Curtis Hall that's

it's coming

the same question that Calcisor Breed and asked a specific budget for sites. So again, it's not how our budget is allocated. It's obviously how we do have to think about allocating or dispersing funds. But we don't track it by site. We try to do as much as possible in bulk or hire multiple vendors through one RFP process so that each site doesn't have to do that. Imagine 36 sites all contracting and doing their own purchasing. It would be overwhelming to our three to four person finance team. So we do try to, I guess, know, if I use a, you know, bulk order and and coordinate a lot of things citywide.

Okay. I guess I think that's it for me. Councillor Braden, do you have you want another hour and a half or?

Oh, had one more question really was about the capital the capital plan BCYF increased from $216,000,000 for financial '26 to 30 to 2 and 29,700,000 for '27 to '31. That's a $13,600,000 increase. But in financial year '26, the one we're just finishing up now, BCYF has only spent 46% of its planned capital budget. I'm just wondering, is that a capacity issue or what's the reason for the underspend in the capital budget for this financial year '26?

I don't really I don't know how to answer that. So you're asking the why the capital allocated funds?

Yeah. This might have been a question more for PS public facilities. Yes.

So I mean, from the client perspective as being the departments whose projects are on the capital list, we know that yes, in some instances it has been that there's not a project manager assigned. I know in previous years that was the case, so the project wasn't able to get started.

Okay. And let me just quickly look. I think that's all I have, Mr. Chair.

Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. I think that looks like it from our counselors. I'm happy to folks from JP stick around if you want to talk. But I want to thank the panelists for coming and for your presentation and thoughtful responses to all the questions, and my colleagues for being here. And I don't know, we get to maybe enjoy a little bit of the nice weather this afternoon. So again, thank you. This afternoon's hearing is now adjourned.