City Council - Regular Meeting

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Good morning. For the record, my name is Erin Murphy, At-Large City Councilor, and I am the chair of the Boston City Council Committee on Human Services. Today is September 24th, and the exact time is 10.04 a.m. This hearing is being recorded. It is also being live streamed at boston.gov backslash city-council-tv and broadcast on Xfinity Channel 8, RCN Channel 82, and Fios Channel 964. Written comments may be sent to the committee email at ccc.hs at boston.gov and will be made part of the record and available to all councillors. Public testimony will be taken at the end of this hearing. Individuals will be called on in the order in which they signed up and will have two minutes to testify. If you're here in person and interested in testifying, you can sign in at the sign-in sheet near the entrance of the chamber. If you are listening in and you want to testify virtually, you can email our central staff liaison, Megan Cavanaugh at M-E-G-H-A-N dot K-A-V-A-N-A-G-H at boston.gov for the link, and your name will be added to the list. Today's hearing is on docket 1335, order for a hearing to discuss the status of the Blackstone Pool and an independent engineering study on repairs. This matter was sponsored by Councillors Ed Flynn, John Fitzgerald, and Minyad Culpepper, and was referred to the committee on July 8th, 2026. Today I am joined by my colleagues in order of arrival, Councillor Flynn, And hopefully more colleagues will show up. I know that we had invited the administration, obviously, to be here to discuss this important matter back at the beginning of the month on November 2nd. Brian Ford, Executive Director of Facilities Management for Boston Public Schools, Mary Skipper, Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools, and Mata Rivera, the Commissioner, Boston Centers for Youth and Family was sent back on September 2nd, invites. Unfortunately, there is no one here from the administration yet. Maybe they will show up. Hopefully, we'll see as the meeting goes on. But while we wait for our community panel, I'm going to hand it off to the lead sponsor, Councillor Flynn.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy, for chairing this important hearing. Thank you to Councillor Culpepper, Councillor Fitzgerald for joining me as co-sponsors on this hearing order and as fellow South End City Councillors as well. Let me just give a little bit of history of the Blackstone School and where it's located, if I may. The Blackstone School is located almost in the heart of the south end. It's located next diagonal to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross Church across the street, basically from Ruth Barclay Apartments, which is the BHA old cathedral apartments. It's also across the street as well from Villa Victoria, which is predominantly a Puerto Rican, um, and in Asian community. Um, the Ruth Barclay apartments, BHA apartments is predominantly, um, black and Latino. Also up the road a bit is castle square, which is another low-income residential community that's predominantly an Asian community. It's walking distance to Roxbury as well and walking distance to Chinatown. I highlighted the demographics in and around the Blackstone School, Blackstone Pool, because I do think it's important. I do think it's important for us to acknowledge and know where it's at. It's surrounded by communities of color. And I felt that's important to bring that up because it's one of the only public swimming pools that has been closed for an extended period of time. in the heart of the black community in Boston. Historically, the heart of the black community in Boston was always the south end in Roxbury. We also know that when people drowned, tragically drowned, many of them or a high percentage of them are people of color. Many people don't have access to swimming lessons. That's why I believe this is a critical issue for Blackstone students, for South End and Roxbury residents, for low-income residents. I believe this is a racial justice issue. To have a vacant swimming pool in the heart of the communities of color and to leave it unfixed for an extended period of time is simply unacceptable. I know our colleagues from the Boston Public School Department and the Boston Center of Youth and Families were invited today to this important hearing. I do want to be respectful, but I am disappointed in the administration's decision not to send anyone to today's hearing due to a scheduling conflict. For transparency, this public hearing was noticed, which means it was posted, on Wednesday, September 2nd at 1.25. Invitations went out immediately to city officials, inviting them on how we can work together, how we can communicate effectively, how we can fix a swimming pool in the heart of communities of color. Their input is critical. Several days ago, on Friday, BPS was notified, apparently, or the Red Sox were notified, apparently, that there would be a public event at the same school we're trying to fix where the Boston Red Sox would come to the Blackstone School for some infrastructure work and for celebration. The Blackstone community wanted me at the event because I spend a lot of time at the Blackstone School. I have a wonderful relationship with them. but I had to tell them I couldn't be there because I'm chairing this important meeting. And they said, well, Ed, you've had this meeting scheduled for the longest period of time. Why would the City of Boston schedule a meeting on the Blackstone School at the same time? Why would the City of Boston schedule an event with the Boston Red Sox at the same time as your hearing? There's frustration all around on this decision. But who gets hurt is the residents of the South End. They don't deserve this. If the administration had prioritized a Red Sox event at the Blackstone School, the very same school and pool we are here today to discuss, they should have made time to show up and answer questions about the closure and the impact it's having on the community. It should not have been scheduled for the state for this time, knowing that this is already scheduled. It's disrespectful. They can be disrespectful to me, but they shouldn't be disrespectful to communities of color. I've heard from residents in the south end in Roxbury who are planning to testify to express their frustration regarding the closure of the pool over the last several weeks. So many residents have reached out to me and said, let's work together so we can reopen this. Maybe it takes an independent engineering study to get it done. We also know that We also know that the Blackstone Community Center in the Boston Public School pool, as I mentioned early, has historically served communities of color in the south end in Roxbury, including the residents of Villa Victoria, BHA Ruth Barclay Apartments. It's been closed indefinitely due to structural issues, a deteriorated pool shell, drain line failure, and groundwater intrusion. Of the 18 pools operated by BCYF, nine will close the summer of 2025, significantly limiting access to swim lessons and recreational water activities, which are vital for the public safety, health, youth development. In the summer of 2026, 16 of the 18 pools have since reopened, with the exception of the Blackstone Pool and the Mirabella Pool as well. Where is the justice for the residents of the south end in Roxbury? As I mentioned, this is a racial justice issue. The city of Boston's FY27, FY31 capital plan includes $500,000 for the Blackstone school study, which will determine the scope of major renovations at the school and pool. A complete renovation will take years to complete. Does that mean that there will not be a pool opened at the Blackstone. From what I am told, the only way a pool can open at the Blackstone is if a new school is built. I'm not confident a new school is going to be built there. I'm asking for an independent study and how we're able to get the resources to fix the current Blackstone swimming pool. I don't think we can wait. I think it's a public safety issue. I think it's a public health issue. I also believe it's a racial justice issue. This pool closure continues to worsen disparities in exposure to hotter summers and denies enrichment opportunities for communities of color and immigrant neighbors. In June 2026, the City Council held a hearing on the overall condition of the BCYF poles, where BPS informed the body that reopening the Blackstone would require a full excavation to understand the full scope of damage and major renovations to BCYF Blackstone. In closing, I would have appreciated the city administration, BPS, to have prioritized a public hearing on the status of the Blackstone swimming pool for my constituents, many of them communities of color, many of them African American, Hispanic, Asian, living in the South End, living in Roxbury. This is about social, economic, and racial justice. It's critical we provide this important opportunity for communities of color and neighbors in public housing to be heard and respected on the closure of the pool. Let me ask, if this was in another neighborhood, a wealthier neighborhood, would this have been allowed to take place for an extended period of time. But because it's surrounded by Ruth Barkley, BHA Development, it's surrounded by Villa Victoria, Castle Square is up the road, not a short walking distance to Roxbury. Does that mean that their voice is less important? Does that mean that they're insignificant? Those are the people we want swimming so we can provide them critical swimming lessons and exercise and living a good, healthy lifestyle. I also know seniors want to use the swimming pool as well at nighttime. They say to me, Ed, we love swimming because it's good for our bodies. It doesn't have the punishment. on our joints and muscles in a swimming pool. And Ed, when can we open up the Blackstone swimming pool? I just can't ignore my constituents and say, there's nothing I can do about it. That's not how I was born. That's not how I was raised. That's not what I do on the city council. I fight for my constituents regardless of who gets mad at it. As you probably can tell, I am disappointed that there is no one from the city administration here to work with me, to work with the council, to see how we're going to move forward. With that, Madam Chair, I do know that residents of the south end, including neighborhood civic leaders, respected civic leaders, including Jonathan that's here right now, others on the Zoom screen, do want to testify, do want to engage in the conversation, do want to be heard, because they want to be heard because they also want to advocate for their neighbors. They know the history of the South and where the swimming pool is located. And they also think that it's a racial justice issue. How could it not be a racial justice issue if you're surrounded by a public housing development, you're surrounded by Villa Victoria. Right next to Villa Victoria is West Adams Street, which is a BHA development for seniors and persons with disabilities. Do they deserve to have a swimming pool? That's the question. Do those residents deserve to have a swimming pool? And if we say yes, let's get it done. If we say no, they don't deserve to have a swimming pool, then okay, then they don't deserve to have a swimming pool. but I'm not accepting that answer from anybody. I'm gonna do everything I can to get this swimming pool opened, and I'm not giving up. I'm gonna stop there, Madam Chair, because I know you have an opportunity to introduce our panel.

Thank you, and thank you for setting the stage and always advocating for the residents. So thank you, Jonathan Alves, you're here in person, President of the Washington Harris Neighborhood Association, I do know that Steve Fox and I believe representative John Moran, we're having a few zoom issues. We're trying to get them in on zoom, but, and also council Flynn. I know after you speak, Jonathan and our panel, you have letters also from the community. that will make sure we have time to uplift their voices. So Jonathan, welcome. Thank you for being here. And if you probably heard or see that, unfortunately, a celebration was scheduled by BPS and the administration after these invites went out at the same time. So we are going right to you and the community to hear directly. So you have the floor. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Murphy. Thank you, Councillor Flynn, for elevating this extremely important neighborhood issue, the City of Boston. For those who don't know me, my name is Jonathan Alves. I am a 12-year resident of the South End, 15-year resident of the City of Boston. currently serve as the president of the Washington-Harrison Neighborhood Association, which was formerly the Blackstone Square Neighborhood Association and East Berkeley we combined earlier this year. I represent the largest geographical neighborhood association in the South End, which happens to include the Blackstone Community Center and Pool. I am a father of a two-year-old daughter. I'm an active community member, volunteer. Although I work in the private sector, my passion is my community, which is why I also felt it really important to be here today in person, even though it's not always easy to do. The first thing I want to say, and I don't want this to be the focus, but I do want to get on record saying it, I am pretty disappointed when i look around the chamber today i don't see any city representatives i don't see any other city councilors many who i know personally uh... i don't see anybody from the school system for bps leadership uh... and i think that's pretty disappointing because this is This is an important equity issue. This is an important issue for the overall city of Boston. I do want to say that it's worth acknowledging that there has been a lot of work done by the city to open a lot of pools that were historically closed. So that shouldn't go without mention. But I do think that it's extremely unfortunate and frustrating that, since I've been in the South End, again, for more than 12 years, the Blackstone Community Center pool has not been opened, and I think it goes back further than that. So the question we ask ourselves is, what is a reasonable amount of time to dedicate resources to and budget to fixing something that's so important in a community that is extremely diverse, as Councilor Flynn noted? There are multiple Boston public housing projects that surround the school. There are also mixed income use households throughout the South End. This is a pool that can serve really everybody, not just me and my daughter, but other families. And there's also many families that have already had kids that have gone through the system that remember back 20 years ago using the pool where they learned to swim. And they wrote letters in advocating today. I personally spoke to fifty residents about this and I know that many organizations, non-profits and individuals have sent in letters highlighting the importance of getting a study and funding done for this school. Now perhaps it's a bigger issue but I think that we can still focus on bigger issues while solving immediate needs and one of those immediate needs is making the pool accessible. One of the questions that I would pose to the city of Boston when they've thought about prioritizing pool fixes, and again, they've done a good job fixing a lot of pools across the city. We can't take that away. But some of the pools that were prioritized were seasonal, meaning outdoor use only. The Blackstone Community Center pool is seasonal independent. It's an indoor pool, which means it can be used all year round. So the question I would say is, what's the thought process behind the pool prioritization? Why would a pool that is seasonal independent not necessarily be at the top of the list, and especially one that's been closed for more than a decade? I think Councilor Flynn alluded to it earlier, but learning how to swim is a public safety issue at its core, outside of the recreational uses and benefits that having an active community center centered around a pool can bring. I think we all know that drowning remains preventable. We know that access to swimming lessons can save lives. And if you look at even the national data, approximately 65% of African-American children and 45% of Latin children have little to no swimming ability. And I know we could look at the actual numbers in the South End, but that's pretty astonishing if you think about it. Not everybody is privileged and has the opportunity to go to a paid membership pool. Not everybody has the opportunity to have access to people that can teach them to swim. This is where as a society, this is where as a city who speaks to care about everybody has to step up and fill that gap because children and kids and elders and family, this is the equalizer. This is what gives everybody a chance, and this is what can prevent deaths. We know that the South End is extremely diverse, like many neighborhoods in Boston, arguably one of the most diverse neighborhoods. We know that low-income families face particular barriers And we know those barriers are directly correlated to things like having access to swimming and learning how to swim. I mean, if you walk down Washington Street in the South End and you talk to kids from the Villa Victoria or talk to kids from Ruth Cathedral Housing, you know, I can recall over the summer just talking about even going to the beach with a few kids and none of those kids had ever even been to the beach because they didn't know how to swim. They told me that personally. And I was initially a little shocked, but then I wasn't surprised when I looked into the data and I thought about it for a second. A lot of these families, especially the lower income ones, they don't have access and the ability to get to other locations in the city so easily, especially if they're younger and their parents are working multiple jobs and they're just trying to make ends meet. This pool, this community center, serves a wide array of folks, and it makes things really accessible, but it hasn't been able to be leveraged. I can tell you, representing Washington-Harrison Neighborhood Association, representing many residents that I spoke with, that we are committed, that I am committed, on working with Councillor Flynn, Councillor Murphy, the City of Boston, the Mayor, and whoever else we need to, to get this prioritized, to get this funded, to get this budgeted. We have a lot of smart people in the city with a lot of resources. We can do it. So I would just conclude by saying I appreciate the opportunity to be here. I trust that this will not be the final conversation. I would encourage the city to pay attention to the many letters that I saw come in this morning from well-respected residents and organizations in the South End. I know that we can do better and let's do better. Let's reopen this pool. Thank you.

Thank you, Megan. Thank you for being here, and you said it and noticed it is always discouraging when the chamber is empty, not just with colleagues, but the administration. It happens, unfortunately, oftentimes when Councilor Flynn and I file hearing orders, there doesn't seem to be a political will sometimes when we're advocating for communities that may not be high on the priority for whatever political reason, but I appreciate you always advocating not just for yourself, your family, but your community, and you understand which is so important as a Nazanat large city councilor. It's what I see every day is what we do in High Park matters to Roxbury. What we do in the South End matters to the Chinatown. Wherever we're investing our time and our energy and our resources, it ripples out to the rest of the city. When we're talking about coastal flooding, people in West Rocksbury have to be part of that conversation too. And when we're talking about students, close to 600 students at the Blackstone, many of them minorities living right there in that neighborhood, they would have that pool open during the day, swimming lessons, students. So they would be learning how to swim without parents having to find time on the weekends or in the evenings. So it's important that the students of the Blackstone, they deserve know i grew up learning how to swim at the murphy community school in dorchester right that i grew up in community centers and we know that access to swimming lessons not just saves lives it's access to you know our community centers matters so the blackstone in that community deserves what every other school and you mentioned charlestown i was there advocating for charlestown but if we're re-renovating an outdoor pool but then not making sure we're finding resources to open a year-round pool like we have to make sure that what's good for one neighborhood has to be good for another so that's important I do two announcements. One is the Zoom is not working completely properly. I know that Representative Remoran and Steve Fox is on there, and somebody else, we can't see their name, Ethan, is working hard to get it fixed. We may switch them over to Google Meet in one minute. But before we do that, I do want to acknowledge that we've been joined by Councillor Fitzgerald. So, Councillor Fitzgerald, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair, and I would like to thank both of you, especially Councillor Flynn and Culpepper, for bringing this forward as well, talking about the need for a swimming pool in the South End. I know right now, even at the Murphy School, the pool in Dorchester is out, and we've gotten a lot of feedback about that, and sort of the uptake on the swim team and the activities that occur there and the things that we can offer our kids and what is being impacted by not it being there. And so to think that that has happened over a lengthy amount of time at the Blackstone and what people are being derived of there. I just want to say I appreciate to Mr. Alves for being here today and representing the community. And I know that he cares very deeply about what that could provide. And I would like to thank Representative Moran and Steve Fox for also being here today to chime in. We are in support of getting the investment that this place needs as soon as possible so that the beauty that comes with the swimming pool and all the good things, all those amenities can be offered to the South End community. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Before we take a break to see if that's going to work, I do just want to share some data on past capital budget. promises and just state that that last year council of flynn in 2025 filed docket 1438 which was an order for hearing regarding the status in the future of the blackstone pool and i believe if we went back every year every year you do file this hearing to get some answers so the city has not published a reopening date a current itemized repair estimate or a publicly available engineering assessment establishing the full scope of the work The pool was operating in May of 2019 and was listed among the closed facilities by the summer of 2022. In 2019, at a Ways and Means hearing, Councillor Flynn asked about the Blackstone pool and whether there were any issues. The admin responded that the pool was functioning and that they were not aware of any issues. In 2021, at a Ways and Means hearing, Councillor Flynn requested an update on renovation plans at the Blackstone Community Center. The administration responded, the BCYF Blackstone Community Center is housed within the BPS Blackstone School, so any and all facility upgrades and improvements, as well as day-to-day custodial work, are performed and funded by BPS Facilities Management, not BCYF. We have collaborated on joint funding in the past in the gym, in the pool areas, but we are unaware of any specific renovation plans. I do have to say that often had been our answer when asked about other pools that there was An ability, I would say to hide behind. Is this a bps issue? Is this a property management issue? I know that is now under public facilities and I think managed better. Under that umbrella that and can't just. Pass the buck back and forth, because at the end of the day. Residents students. And, you know, us even councils, it doesn't matter who the bill goes to. It matters that the city is working to get it open. So we have been joined. So I will go over more of some of the. Disinvestment promises originally. 20Million dollars that now look like, maybe 200,000 will be spent on a study. So. I do, I'll go over those after, but we have been joined on zoom by Steve Fox, who is the chair of the South end forum and also by representative John Moran. So. Representative, would you like to go 1st? Thank you both for being here and sorry for some of the technical difficulties.

Yeah, good morning. hopefully you can hear me okay good morning john we can hear you it's good to see you steve as well good to see you and i know um john finnells did a really good job of kind of representing uh some of the neighborhood views uh but sitting behind uh right behind me you can see is a photo uh done by alan rowan kreit a famous south end painter and i guess just want to Talk and just kind of emphasis re, emphasize that. I'm proud to represent a very diverse district in district 9 and includes. Folks in lower Roxbury, it includes folks in the South end and these kids really deserve a place to. to swim to, you know, for their mental health as well as their physical health. I think that mental health part is the part that maybe I bring as a member of the Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Committee that it's really important, physical exercise is really important. And I do feel very heavy hearted when I think about some of the resources that half of my constituents get as by virtue of being fairly affluent and have multiple opportunities to go to special programs. But yet there's this important 50% of my district with children that don't have the means to join special clubs or go to other places. And so I just simply want to say that this is a really important tool in our toolbox for these kids And it is, you know, having visited it a couple of years ago, it's just, it's a sad state of affairs. We can't get the school back up and running. And I would, anything that we can do at the state level to help, we're willing to do, but I really would love to see a focus on that. And I just want to thank both Councilor Murphy and Councilor Flynn for holding this important hearing about this really important topic. I just want to really emphasize that I appreciate the fact that we need to fight for those that have less in my Suffolk District 9 district. So thanks very much.

Thank you, John. Representative. Steve, you can go next.

Good morning, all. Can you hear me okay?

Yes.

Great, thanks. Councilor Murphy, Councilor Flynn, thank you very much for holding this hearing. Rep Moran, good to see you. Thank you for your good words. Jonathan Alves, great job in terms of laying out some of the principles involved in why we're concerned about this. Those of you who know me know that I come from a South End Forum perspective, tries to bring together all the organizations of the South End, both neighborhood associations, as well as nonprofits, as well as our businesses. And so I can say to you that one of the things that I can represent here that has not already been spoken well by John or Jonathan is the whole idea of the South End as a public facility desert. if that's the right term. Let's keep in mind that we've now had a closed south end library for over three years. We're not gonna get a library back for at least another 18 months to two years. So we haven't had that facility. There is no other public facility in the south end where communities can meet where there can be recreation, where there can be kids who can gather, where seniors can come together. So while this hearing is focused on the pool, and that's a really critical aspect, just a side note here. Jonathan said he's been here for a dozen years. I've been in the South End for a little longer. So let's say three decades. The same experience in terms of the pool. I recall one short period of time when it was reopened almost three decades ago, and then it closed down quickly and never reopened. So we've been without that pool in the Blackstone Community Center for quite a long time. But the larger issue, which I think all of us are aware of, is that the Blackstone Community Center itself, which is the old Blackstone School, is in desperate, desperate need of a renovation. And every year neighborhood associations put it on the agenda as a priority for funding by the city council on the capital budget, and every year it gets ignored. So I really wanna say that from a South End facility perspective, We need to make this a real priority, not just because of the pool, which I think is crucial, but also because the The community center that houses that pool is not going to be able to house a brand new pool unless we do some major structural renovations on that community center. I will tell you the last time I held a meeting at that community center, we had to leave halfway through the meeting because the heat could not be turned down and people were actually sweating in the meeting. That's the level of infrastructure problems that we see at the Blackstone Community Center. So I want to emphasize how important it is to the South End that we get treated fairly in terms of facilities. We have only fire stations, one police station, and schools, and no other community facilities. actually served the 32,000 residents of the South End. So I really want to emphasize how important it is as a matter of basic fairness that the South End be treated well in terms of getting this fixed. Really appreciate it. Happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you all. Thanks much.

Thank you both of you. Um, we do have 1 other person for public testimony separate from panelists. So, before we go to that, if any of my colleagues would like to ask any questions directly to this community panel council of Flynn, you have the floor. Yeah, I know you also have some letters that were mentioned Jonathan. Thank you. I think you saw them come into of, you know. Community members that we want to get some of their points on the record.

So if council flint if you'd like to Yeah, I before I ask questions, I want to say thank you to Steve Fox to To representative John and to into Jonathan as well Three three individuals that Constantly advocate for South End and Roxbury residents but you know, have tremendous respect for you and for your advocacy, especially your advocacy for communities of color. They're part of our neighborhood. They contribute greatly to our city and what they're asking for is a little bit of respect. They're asking for a little bit of justice and they're asking for the same decency And as Steve Fox mentioned, the same basic city services that other neighborhoods receive. Is that really a lot to ask for? I don't think so. But I do want to say thank you to Steve and to Jonathan and to John for always being there for the South End residents. Let me ask, let me start with Steve Fox. And then I'll give an opportunity for my other colleagues. Steve, I received a lot of letters, and Jonathan Elves highlighted it too. Jonathan said he received, he talked about 50 people all about this issue, advocating for it to be open. I received a letter here from Vanessa Calderon, a well-respected leader in our community. I received letters from the South End soccer program, the Friends of the Blackstone, school as well. But Steve, we spoke earlier about how critical it is for swimming lessons for children, all children to receive swimming lessons, especially children of color that might not have access. It's very challenging, Steve, for South End residents to get to another swimming pool to get swimming swimming lessons, and we really haven't developed a plan to ensure South End residents have that option. That's how critical a swimming pool is. So I guess my question to you, Steve, is what can we do as a neighborhood to stay active to stay engaged, to continue to advocate for South End residents to ensure that they are treated with respect?

Well, thanks, Councilor. I think that the South End has ended up trying to find solutions of necessity as a result of the lack of facilities. For example, on this issue, in terms of pools, And I want to be sure that everybody understands that it's not just swimming. It's also creating a gathering spot for young kids to be able to come together, not only in learn swimming, but to be able to engage and find a place where they can feel comfortable, safe, and can engage in a bunch of different activities before the swimming. and after the swimming. So keep in mind that when we talk about fixing this pool, we're not just talking about people sitting in the pool and learning swimming. There's a bunch of activities adjacent to that that are important. So what we've done is we've reached out to places like the Y, And, you know, we used to years ago, and this is, we're going back quite a ways, we actually went to the Sheraton in Back Bay and asked if we could possibly cut a deal for South End residents, resident kids, to be able to use the pool there. We weren't able to cut a deal, but that's the kind of thing that we've been forced to do over time in order to try to serve our community as neighborhood people. And so, you know, the Y, of course, has been tremendously responsive, and that's over by Northeastern, and that's great, and they're terrific. But there's nothing that really is as fair as having a facility where kids can feel like they can go and learn and be together and feel safe. So I think in response to your question, Councillor, we've basically been trying everything we can to try to identify potential solutions while we don't have our own solution. So that's why it's really important that this be treated as priority so that we aren't always coming hat in hand. Thanks.

Thank you, Steve. I appreciate those comments and respect the work you have done. Steve, you mentioned, you highlighted the swimming, but also the building, the structure itself. I was there recently, I believe with John Moran. We were there for a youth event as it relates to painting of a mural. It was a beautiful mural done by young people, young teens, many from the Villa Victoria area, and they did a wonderful job. But you are exactly right, the building itself is in desperate need of infrastructure improvements. So I want to ask Rep. Moran, John, you spend a lot of time in that area with the youth. What else can we do in terms of advocating for not just a pool, but also for infrastructure improvements to the facility itself, the playground, the outside, the courtyard? It's connected to the school. I was there for opening. I think you were there as well. for opening day for school. We go to that pancake breakfast all the time. But they have an excellent principal, Ms. Shepik. She's doing a wonderful job. But what else can we do, Rep. Moran? And I know you've done a tremendous amount of work in this field, but just want to ask what your thoughts are.

Yeah, no, thanks, Counselor. I guess one thing that comes to mind is that, to your point, we have an amazing new, well, she's been there now, two years or three years, Courtney Sheffman. She's a phenomenal, she's a superhuman in my book in what she's doing with that school. And if you go through the school for the events that we go to, whether it be the book reading thing, we go to a counselor and Jonathan, I know you go to those too, or the pancake breakfast or other things. If there's some, there's definite spirit. Then we have the friends of the Blackstone who do a yeoman's job of trying to bring resources to the school. So I guess I would say that when I look at the Hurley School, I say, well, why are there so many resources at Hurley and so many, they raise $100,000 a year for the school itself. And why, so I guess it's a long way of saying, I think we can somehow bolster the friends of Blackstone and advertise them more. I know that at one point last year, we invited them to the South End Forum. They were going to come. I think if we could just bolster them and boost them economically and just spiritually to kind of get them going, then I think the next step is for them to also focus on the pool itself. I think they could be a huge asset. There are a number of wonderful people on that organization. But I went to a fundraiser for them, and I'm just going to be honest, their goal was like $5,000. where the Hurley to school was $100,000. But I do have a story that I listened to the elders, people older than me, I should say at this point, but they listened to folks and they say that Hurley school was once similar to Blackstone in terms of needing more resources. And so if we sort of look at it as we did it with Hurley, We put in a parent-teacher organization. We put in the resources. There's so much focus. So, and I don't want to commingle the school with the BCYF Center, but I do think they're somewhat related. And I think a tactical thing we can do is put some energy and support behind the Friends of Black Women.

Thank you, John. I do want to ask a quick question to my friend Jonathan as well. Jonathan, what you highlighted at the beginning really resonated with me, is you said many people, many families in the South End don't have the ability to take their kids to private swimming lessons. And when that happens, it's the job of government to step in to provide that critical support, I believe. I was fortunate enough, my wife and I were fortunate enough to send our kids to private swimming lessons. I think that's why it's critical that every kid, regardless of if you have any money, you should get swimming lessons, you should have a safe place to swim in a BCYF facility. And I know the important work you're doing, Jonathan, What can you do as a community leader to ensure that we stay engaged, we stay on top of this issue, but we also educate more people about what's happening at this facility? And I know you continue to do that, but just wanted to see what your thoughts are.

I appreciate the question. I'll just make a comment and then I'll offer some ideas. You're absolutely right. Many families in the south end of Roxbury do not have the means to access private swim lessons or private facilities. This really speaks personally to me. Many of you know that I am the son of an immigrant father who was one of nine who came over from Portugal in the 1960s. My grandparents took nine kids over here. They were illiterate. My father had a fourth grade education. And they worked traditional jobs from first gen people, right? Just trying to make their way. My father had three sons. I'm the oldest of three. and he did his best to create opportunity for us. We didn't have private lessons but we had access where I grew up in Central Mass to some swimming places and we would go there and he didn't even really know how to swim but, you know, connected us with some people. And now he has three sons who, two live in the city of Boston, work in the private sector, and a younger brother who runs planning for the city of Alexandria, Virginia. So it's a, in some ways, a success story for immigration and opportunity, really. And, you know, even his parents always said that, you know, coming from a dictatorship era Portugal, there's very little opportunities, that education is the equalizer. And that has always stuck with me because you just never know when you give kids a fair shot and a chance what they can do, regardless of what their background is. Nobody chooses to be born. You're born into what you're born into. But if you have a chance and you have a foundation, you can be successful. And I'm living proof of that. My brothers are proof of that. So the pool, the community center, this is about equal opportunity. This is about giving kids a chance to make it and do good things. As a community leader, what I would say we can do a more focused job around is using our new platform as a combined neighborhood association that has a large footprint to keep this issue front and center, to make sure that we have continued elected representation on our calls, which we historically have. So I thank, you know, Councillor Fitzgerald, Flynn, Murphy, Rhett Moran, Steve Fox from the forum for being there. Helping to use our platform to elevate the organizations like the Friends of Blackstone School, because I do think they are connected, as Rhett Moran said, and Steve said. The other thing that has surprised me and maybe it shouldn't have but many of us are well aware of the private school that opened in the South End under the Croft and the issues that happened there and now the new school South End Village Academy who just got some zoning approval to remain at the place on 1511 Washington I would like to say that that organization when the school is in financial trouble to restart rallied a lot of parents and a lot of money to keep it going and to stay. And what potentially started off as a little bit of a rocky relationship I think has actually started to, started to improve. Many of the letters that came in today were from parents and administration from the South End Village Academy. They have kids, too. They're residents. Now, maybe their backgrounds are different than some of the other kids, but they have resources. And I've communicated with their head of school, and they're committed to this, too. So I think leaning on the South End Village Academy and the network that they have whether it's funding or expertise, could be something that we could leverage. Because I've been pretty impressed with the rallying that they did with a pretty short notice to put attention on this. And I think that speaks to the fact of equality. Maybe those kids have private pools that they can go to, maybe they don't, but they recognize the importance of the opportunity. So just to summarize, I think what I can do is continue to use my platform in conjunction with the South End Forum to elevate the friends groups. I think that we can... leverage our connections with private institutions, I think they're non-profit now, but South End Village Academy, and tap into some of those resources, because I think the money is there, I think the talent is there, we just need to keep the foot on the gas and keep this issue front and center and get this done. I know that we can do it, so that's what I would say.

Well, thank you, Jonathan, and I'm gonna pass it along to my other colleagues to see if they have, well, that's up to the Chair, to see if they have questions, but I do want to let Steve know and Jonathan know and the representative know, later in this hearing, I will read into the record a letter from Vanessa Calderon, who's the president of EBA. I'm going to read into the record a letter of support as well from the head of school, as you mentioned, Jonathan, at the South End Village Academy. Christina Lopez, and I'm going to be speaking with her later this afternoon. I also have a letter I'm going to read into the record from the friends of the Blackstone School as well, and from the president of the Soccer Unity Project. I have other letters, but in the interest of time, I'm only going to read these four later on in the hearing, but I just wanted to let you three know that I agree with you, there's a lot of support in this community for us going forward. And what I'm going to do, just so you three know, is we'll continue having this meeting, but at some point, maybe in November, I think we have to reconvene with the city council meeting again with public schools there, with the support of the mayor's office, with the support of city officials, support of yourself as well, have another meeting where we can discuss this specific issue and how we move forward. And I think part of how we move forward is effectively communicating, being respectful to each other, and ensuring that there's money in the budget so we can move forward to fix the pool. I don't think it's going to be If we're committed to doing, to fixing the pool, we can get it done. I'm confident of that. But if we don't want to get it done and we want to give excuses of why we can't get it done, then that's another avenue that people can take. But that's not the avenue I'm going to take. But I'm going to do everything I possibly can to get this pool reopened. And I want to say thank you to Jonathan. I want to say thank you to Steve. And I want to say thank you to John as well for being strong leaders and tremendous advocates for the south end. I'm going to give it back to the chair.

Thank you, Councillor Flynn. I did just also want to reiterate as the chair of this committee, which will hold hearings on pools and community centers across the city that I'm also committed because seeing as though the administration chose to schedule after this was already noticed and they were invited a celebration that we will keep this in committee and reschedule a hearing and if you are okay with it and I know Council Fitzgerald you are also a lead sponsor having this set next meeting in the community. We can have it either at the Blackstone School. I know last year we got a well-attended meeting when we were talking about, you know, the mass and cast issues there. So I think it's important that we have it in the evening in the community because so many people, like you mentioned, are at work and not able to be here. And I think that to get the attention of many who seem to think that this may not be worth their political capital to advocate for this resource that's so needed in this community that if we show that people will show up and that's something you all do so well and just quickly want to mention last because just last year when we were celebrating neighborhood groups kind of forming together you individually do great work but also know that when you come together more can get done quickly told this story back when my grandmother and grandfather started the Pope's Hill neighborhood association back in the sixties and knew that that landfill and dump there, which is now the Murphy school and playgrounds, you know, baseball yesterday, there was just the ribbon cutting for the upgrades that the state funded for the playground there. We have baseball fields, but it's the community center in the school, which was going to be ignored and they were never going to build a school in a community center in that neighborhood. And my grandfather realized that he needed to work with other people. So he created, which is still around Duna, which was the Dorchester United neighborhood association, you know, bringing together community people and really getting city hall to listen. And it's something I know you and the South End do. You spend an enormous amount of time. I know we're here to talk about the Blackstone and the pool, but I think for me as an at-large counselor, I want it to be on the record that the counselors who are here who represent the South End, but all of you who show up every day, you have a lot going on in the South End, right? With the recovery issues, with the mass and cast issue, and Thousands of hours are spent monthly, I bet, just trying to make your community better. And the city should not turn their back on something like a school and a pool. To me, even though it costs money, it would be such a positive impact. I do, before I pass it back to Councillor Fitzgerald, just want to state some of the capital funding. As you know, our capital funding comes out for five year increments. So when it was the 24, 28, published plan, there was a $2 million pool project shown for the Blackstone. In the 25 FY29 capital budget, there was a $2 million authorized with $500,000 existing and $1.5 million added. In the 2630 capital plan published for the Blackstone pool, it said $2 million authorized. The revised table showed zero planned in the 2526 years. both projects still to be scheduled with no actual bps spending at that point and when you look at the 27 through 31 fy capital plan there is no blackstone pool project that appears at all in the profile so the mission and the study we're not sure what happened but it does not show up in the the capital budget for the next five years. So we need to get it in the budget, we need to advocate, we need to track down the money, and make sure that this community gets what they deserve. That being said, I will pass it off to Councilor Fitzgerald.

Madam Chair, I just want to highlight that Reverend Culpepper did have an emergency. He would have been here. He's done an excellent job advocating and supporting the residents of the south end in Roxbury. But I just wanted to note that he is not here because of an emergency with a loved one in his community parish. So I just wanted to pass that along. Thank you.

Thank you for that. And I often refer to him as Reverend Culpepper, not Councilor Culpepper. And he did mention yesterday at the council meeting that he had to, not had to, but was going to be at a funeral mass and thank, um, sending our prayers to Culpepper and know that he is a strong advocate. So thank you for that council for sure.

Thank you chair. I don't have any questions, but I do just want to throw my support behind the South end community as I always have and always will. Um, we've got three great folks up here representing community. I want to thank again, uh, our state representative John Moran for taking the time. out of what I know an elected official's busy schedule can be to come and talk about a pool, but knowing the importance of that. And Steve, for always being involved, and obviously John, for the great work that you've done in gathering the community together to be a stronger voice. Just want to say you guys have done a great job. You're putting the work in. That work should be supported. We are here to support you, and we will continue to fight to make sure that the youth in the community, as well as adults, elders, and anyone else who uses a pool has access to that amenity. Thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Patrell. I just want to check. Is anyone on? No. Okay. So we don't have any other public testimony. If anyone wanted to have any closing statements, I'll start with the panelists. Rep Moran, do you have any closing statements?

Councilor, no, I'm all set, but thank you. And again, I just want to thank everybody again for making some time today. And I do think it would be a good idea to do an on-site, an additional on-site hearing. Again, thank you for taking the time. I know you've got a big city too, you know, and as an at-large councilor, you've got the entire city. So thank you for taking the time and focusing on the South End as well.

Of course. No, thank you. Steve, do you have a closing statement?

Not really a closing statement, just one additional piece of this puzzle that I wanted to mention. When we lost the Harriet Tubman House at 566 Columbus Avenue, we lost one of the gathering spots where kids and seniors and others gathered. Now, the UCES has done a great job at their new Rutland Street facility to making up for what we lost at the 566 Columbus location. But I want to be clear that that building, which is now great housing in the South End, was really a gathering spot and the Blackstone Community Center and that pool you know, should have been able to fill the gap, but the infrastructure and the problems and a closed pool have not allowed us to be able to fill the gap. So in addition to the lack of public facilities, we also have the lack of private facilities within the south end that's putting an even bigger squeeze on us in the south end in terms of our facility desert. So I wanted to make sure that that was clear as well. Thanks very much. Really appreciate this chair.

Thank you. And thank you for getting that on the record. It's important to know what other resources and Jonathan, you mentioned when other neighborhoods and oftentimes we're advocating and as an at-large counselor, I do advocate for all the neighborhoods, but for, say, a community center or a pool when we do have others. Maybe it's a Y or another BCYF. But in the South End, it really is, you called it a desert, right? We talk about food deserts when we don't have appropriate food markets around. But there is a infrastructure desert in the South End. And it's important that we do something about that for the community. So Jonathan, if you'd like to close out or?

Sure, I'll be brief. I just want to thank Councillor Flynn, Chair Murphy, Rep Fitzgerald, Representative John Moran, Steve Fox from the South End Forum for making this a priority, for being here today to advocate. I believe that we'll continue to focus on this, and I believe that we can achieve a desirable outcome. I believe that we have enough talent resources and energy to do it. So I'm committed to working with each one of you to do that. I want to thank all the people that I spoke to, some fairly last minute, that wrote in letters and offered testimony, specifically Iba and Vanessa Calderon, who's the director over there. I want to thank the South End Village Academy, Christina Lopez, for not only personally writing a testimony as a South End parent, but also on behalf of the school, and putting this information in their newsletter. David Rusick of the Blackstone School Friends Group, as well as the administration of Blackstone School, and several Hurley School parents that I talked to that also sent letters in. Appreciate each of you doing that, especially under a little bit of a time constraint. but it matters and it's on the record. I also just want to thank the people that I know couldn't be here today. A lot of the folks from certain communities, marginalized communities, that this is really important, but they're working right now. They don't have the... the luxury that some of us do and flexibility in our schedule to testify and be here. But I can tell you that they're behind this, and I want to make sure their voices are amplified. We're here for them as well. And I think the in-person meeting, I think, in November would be a great idea. You have my commitment to rally as much support for that meeting as possible so we can have a big, big focus. I know that the administration can do better on this. And I think that, you know, if we keep the focus on this issue and we keep the focus on this community, we will be successful. So thank you for your time and appreciate the opportunity to testify.

Thank you. And I will work with Council Flynn and all of you to set the best date and location for that definitely before the year out. So, Council Flynn is now going to read those letters that he mentioned earlier to highlight some important concerns.

Yeah, right. We generally don't highlight or read into the record letters of support, but I I do want to take the opportunity to do that because they are members of the community, they are community partners, they're well-respected in the community, and I wanted to make sure that their voices are heard. I do want to read into the record a couple of letters. Like Jonathan mentioned, I have received, I don't know, 20 letters, 30 letters, but I'm only going to read in a few of them, three or four of them maybe. This letter is from Vanessa Calderon Rosado, PhD, and she's obviously associated, she's at the leadership of EBA, which is the organizing management of Villa Victoria in social services. On behalf of EBA, our board of directors in our community of residents at Villa Victoria, I am writing to urge the City of Boston and the Boston City Council to prioritize the repair and reopening of the pool at the Blackstone Community Center in the south end. For more than a decade, this important community asset has remained closed, depriving neighborhood residents of a vital recreational, educational, and public health resource. The prolonged closure of the Blackstone pool has had a significant negative impact on the South End community, particularly on children, families, older adults, low-income residents who depend on public facilities for recreation and wellness. Swimming is not simply a leisurely activity. It is a life-saving skill, an effective form of exercise, and an important outlet for youth engagement. The absence of a local public pool has limited opportunities for swimming lessons, water safety education, physical fitness, and structured youth program. For many families in the South End, including families in the Villa Victoria, traveling to pools in other neighborhoods can be difficult due to transportation challenges, work schedules, childcare responsibilities. As a result, many young people have lost access to affordable water activities entirely. This has contributed to inequities recreational opportunities and has deprived generations of neighborhood children of the chance to learn how to swim confidently and safely. The closure has also diminished an important gathering place that once helped strengthen community connections. Community centers and their facilities play a critical role in fostering social interaction, supporting healthy lifestyles and and providing safe environments for residents of all ages. The loss of the Blackstone pool has left a noticeable gap in the services and resources available to South End residents. Reopening the pool would provide substantial benefits for the neighborhood and the city as a whole. It would expand access to physical activity and help address health, social, and recreational disparities. Swimming is particularly valuable because it is accessible across age groups and abilities, offering low impact exercise for seniors, rehabilitation opportunities for individuals with injuries, and healthy recreation for children and families. Furthermore, a restored Blackstone pool could serve as a hub for swim lessons, lifeguard training, youth employment programs, and community events. It would create opportunities to teach critical water safety skills, help reduce the risk of drowning, and promoting lifelong health and wellness. Investment in the Blackstone Community Pool is an investment in equity, health care, youth development, and neighborhood vitality. I'm going to repeat that sentence again. Investment in the Blackstone Community Center Pool is an investment in equity, public health, youth development, and neighborhood vitality. The South End deserves access to the same quality recreation facilities available elsewhere in Boston, and residents should not have to wait any longer for the return of this essential resource. I respectfully ask the Boston City Council to work with the Mayor's Office, the Boston Center for Youth and Families, community organizations, and local residents to secure the funding and support necessary to repair and reopen the Blackstone Community Pool as soon as possible Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continued service to the people of Boston. Sincerely, Vanessa Calderon Rosado, PhD. Madam Chair, with your permission, may I continue?

Please do, yes.

Okay. This letter that I'm about to read into the record is a letter from Christina Lopez, the founding head of school, South End Village Academy. Dear members of the Boston City Council Committee on Human Services, I am writing in support of efforts to repair and reopen the pool at the Blackstone Community Center. As a lifelong South End resident and parent, I have appreciated the Blackstone Community Center as an important resource for families in our neighborhood. While my family did not use the pool itself, I fondly remember gathering at the Blackstone Community Center pre-pandemic with other young families and being so grateful that this resource was in our backyard, a place that provides opportunities, programming, and gathering space for South End children and families. It has been wonderful that programming had picked up Marco had done a wonderful job, but opening the pool would be critical in ensuring the community center functions at the level that other neighborhoods do. As a school teacher, I know that community of families with young children that we serve would see this community improvement as impactful in determining their decision to remain in the city and in this neighborhood. Families of school age children in the south end love to connect beyond their school communities. It is one of the reasons why the South End is so special. The pool would be a place for all children to connect and grow together. It could provide opportunities for swimming, in water safety education, athletics, physical activity, enrichment, and simply enjoying a community resource together. Additionally, with the nationwide shortage of lifeguards, it would provide a key location for training and jobs for young adults. Blackstone is already an important institution in the south end. Reopening the pool would expand what this community resource can offer to children and families and would bring an existing neighborhood asset back into use and confirm the south end as a desirable and supportive neighborhood for families to raise their children. I understand that the city council is considering the status of the pool and an independent engineering study to determine the repairs needed for reopening. I hope the city will continue to pursue a path toward restoring the pool as a functioning public resource. As a parent, a South End resident, a school teacher, I would be grateful to see the Blackstone Pool open again for the children and families of our neighborhood. Thank you for your consideration and for your work on behalf of the South End community. Sincerely, Christina Lopez, the founding head of school, the South End Village. Madam Chair, this well-respected group is the Friends of the Blackstone School. Voice your support to help reopen the Blackstone community pool. To the Friends of the Blackstone community, The new school year has brought us incredible energy back to Blackstone Elementary. We're reaching out with an important request. Your help advocating for the repair of the Blackstone Community Pool, which has sat unusable for 10 years. We've just learned that a hearing on reopening the pool will be held September 24th, 10 a.m. with an option for virtual testimony. Friends of Blackstone President David Ruzick has graciously written a letter highlighting the benefits of reopening the pool, and we invite you to do the same. Renovating the pool will be a valuable asset to both the BCYF Blackstone Community Center, the Blackstone School, offering children a safe, supervised space to learn, a life-saving skill while building confidence and discipline. That's from the Friends of the Blackstone School. This is a letter from Carolyn at the Saka Unity Project. Carolyn K. Fiscato. Dear city councilors, elected officials, city officials, I am writing as a long-time South End resident, mother, community member, youth program director to strongly advocate for the repair and reopening of the Blackstone Pool and the renovation and reinvestment in the BCYF Blackstone Community Center. Blackstone has long been an important place of connection, recreation, and opportunity for South End and Lower Roxbury families. Yet for years, this community has experienced a lack of investment in this critical public resource. Our neighborhood deserves the same level of investment in its community center and pool that other communities have received. This is deeply personal for me. My children are now adults, but they were raised going to the Blackstone. They learned to swim there, play there, made friends, created memories. that remain with them today. As a parent, having a safe, accessible, affordable place for my children to play, learn, build relationships was incredibly important. Blackstone also brought neighbors together and created connections across backgrounds, something the neighborhood and city need. I met people and formed friendships with families I may never have encountered without this shared community space. That is one of the most important roles of a community center, creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds and generations to connect and build a sense of belonging. The need for these spaces is especially important in the south end and lower Roxbury. While the neighborhood has seen significant housing development, rising market rate housing, that does not mean that the needs of long-time residents and families have disappeared. The neighborhood has the fourth highest rate of housing development. Thousands of residents cannot afford private gyms, swim clubs, or other recreational facilities. Public spaces like Blackstone provide healthy, accessible opportunities for everyone. The city has also made a commitment to ensuring that Boston youth have opportunities to learn to swim. Mayor Wu has spoken about making swimming accessible to all youth and expanding partnerships with organizations such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club. Blackstone and the young people in our community should be part of that vision, not left out of it. I am asking the city to prioritize the repair and reopening of the Blackstone pool Commit to a meaningful renovation of the BCYF Blackstone Community Center. Include Blackstone residents in planning for the facility's future. Explore partnerships with the YMCA Boys and Girls Club and other youth-serving organizations to expand swimming and youth programming. Provide the community with a clear plan and timeline for these investments. My children grew up in the Blackstone. They learned to swim there, play there, made friends there, and experienced the kind of community connection that cannot be replaced. I know our family is not alone in feeling this way. Blackstone is more than a building in a pool. It is a community resource that has helped generations of families connect, grow, and thrive. Our neighborhood deserves to have that resource fully restored and invested in for the next generation. Thank you for listening to the community, for making the repair, reopening, and renovation of Blackstone a priority. That's from Caroline Foscato, a South End resident.

Thank you, Council of Flint. Do you have any closing statements before I close out this hearing?

Yeah, I think there is.

Do we have any? There's no public testimony, so we will go to Council Flynn's closing statement.

Thank you, Council Murphy, for chairing this important hearing. Thank you to Jonathan Ellis for being here, for Steve Fox as well, for Rep John Moran. All three play a critical role, well respected in the South End, but fight for their community. I think this is a racial justice issue. We know where the Blackstone School and Pool is located. It's located in an area where it's almost sandwiched between BHA Barclay, which is the old Cathedral public housing development. It's right across the street from Villa Victoria, predominantly a low income area, large Puerto Rican, large Asian community. Across from that on West Adams Street is a large BHA development, mostly persons with disabilities and seniors, people of color. Castle Square is up the road, a large Asian community. Just a couple blocks away also is Chinatown, a large immigrant community. Lower Roxbury is not far from the Blackstone, and that's predominantly a, or a large, a large African-American community. I bring that forward because many people just simply don't have the ability to pay for private swimming lessons. Many people don't have the ability to join a youth club for their kids. But having a BCYF facility that's upgraded, a new working pool, a new building with an opportunity for youth and families to come together to enjoy the space and spend time with each other. That's what a community is all about. That's how you learn about our differences. That's how you make friends. You learn about people's backgrounds and heritage and culture and about their struggles by competing in sports and playing and reading together or sitting in a painting project and activities for youth and families. That's what the South End is all about. There's probably not, there's probably a neighbor that's not more engaged and dedicated than the South End. They're committed, they're compassionate. What I respect about them is it's always about the next generation. This pool might not benefit them personally, but it will benefit the next generation of South End residents. That's what I respect, is that it's not about them, it's about helping others in need. And that's what I learned from the South End community, is you don't give up on a project, you don't give up on people, you continue advocating and fighting for them

you never take no for an answer thank you madam chair thank you thank you council of flynn before i adjourn this meeting i do just want to reiterate that i am committed to working with the lead sponsors council of flynn fitzgerald and culpepper and the advocates jonathan and others in the community to make sure we set a good time a good date and a location to continue this conversation the administration will be invited to attend and hopefully at that time they will show up. We have been joined by Councillor Worrell. I will give him as soon as he settles in an opportunity. He made it just in time. I almost banged the gavel. It's a far away from Mattapan, Dorchester. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to Council Flynn for putting this forward and always being a fierce advocate for his community and making sure that all of our residents are getting the same type of level of service across the board when it comes to city services and city facilities. So just wanted to come and show my support. Sorry that I was late. There was a funeral for Victoria Williams, the chair of Ward 12. So I just want to recognize her. and her service and lift up her family. So again, just wanted to be here, show some support, and again, sorry that I was late.

No worries. Did you want to add anything about, just so you do know, the administration did not show up. We did have Representative Moran, Steve Fox, and Jonathan Alves are here for the community panelists. And I also have committed to holding, keeping it in committee, and holding a meeting in community in the next couple months, trying to pick a good date with the community. Because as you know, oftentimes those who want their voices heard are at work and maybe not able to get here. So I think we also need to send a message that, and the letters that came in, Council Flynn had many that he read, and Jonathan, you mentioned that, we know that Strong South End community wants to be heard so allowing them in in a public setting I think is an important next step to send that political will out there to our colleagues Hopefully they'll rally with us.

Absolutely and anything that we can do during the budget process Please let's start thinking about that as well It's one thing to get the facilities up and running and this is another thing to make sure that the staffing is there and to make sure that the facilities are open and accessible not only during the week, but also on the weekend. So I think we have to absolutely think about this in two phases. And as the budget season approaches us, can't believe in three more months it will be, you know, January, December already. So I think it's things that we have to keep in front of our mind.

Awesome. Thank you, Councillor Orrell, and I will now adjourn docket 1335. Thank you.