Remarks by Julia M. Mejia
59 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 3
- Play at 2:34:29
“Can you just please discuss how you distribute multilingual ballots to each polling location? How do you determine how many and which sites get which languages? I'm going to assume that's depending on the language that's spoken most, right? That's how you do it?”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:35:44
“Great. And police are often seen at polling sites, in which one would believe that requires extra officers to be on duty that day and likely require more overtime. And we're on a budget. So I'm just curious, could individuals like civilian flaggers or others play this role instead?”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:36:32
“So maybe we could update the ordinance and amend it so that we can reflect that. Maybe, I don't know. Maybe the legal eagles can advise us accordingly, but who knows. I just think that the more pathways that we can create for strengthening opportunities for other folks would be great. So I don't know, something worth looking into. And then what logistical and administrative issues does the election department struggle with the most? And Then I'm just curious. Can you please explain? Central tabulation and why the city does it the way that it does especially with the way it posts unofficial…”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:38:21
“I would increase that maybe to $50 or something. I don't know.”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:38:27
“Listen, y'all. I know for me, I'm always on a budget coming $20, $30 to come all the way down to City Hall. Is it virtual? You got to be in here in person too. That's parking you have to pay for. There's a lot of barriers that we're putting on to people participating here. Listen, I'm not trying to change everything, but I think there is some worth. Maybe y'all can do it in the district and maybe y'all can be the ones to go to where the people are at and train them there. Maybe do regional trainings and provide pizza.”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:39:06
“I know I would show up, I'm getting fed, and I don't have to get on the train to come to City Hall for two and a half hours. I think we should change the way y'all do that. I'm gonna put an ordinance for that as well, how you feel about that, Sabina? Nah, all jokes aside, I really do believe as someone who's all about making sure that people participate not just in electoral politics, but just in their own lives, I think that the more that we can do to make it easier for folks. You can't do the training virtually, obviously not, because you have to see the machines or... No, we do some…”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:40:53
“I'll just say one last thing. I know I was jokingly making reference getting folks more engaged. I think that some of the poll workers that have already been trained could take on some more leadership role, and you can create a little pipeline, and maybe they could help do some of the trainings.”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:41:21
“That's great, because what that does is that gives them some leadership development, and also they can do it in their own district, they could host the training and lead it, and that could be less, another way to remove the barrier. So, you know, just more things that you can ask for more money in next year's budget to make it all happen. But yeah, I'm not gonna give you all more things and then not, you know, but if there's anything that I can do to be helpful, please know that I'm here for all of it, and thank you, thank you.”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 2:47:21
“I'm not sure, Shane, if there's anyone virtually.”
City Council · Oct 2, 2026
- Play at 15:35
“Wow, you're very generous, Councillor Chair. Normally opening remarks are only two. You want me to take two? Yeah, I'll take two. I also want to be mindful that we're here to listen. And so I am grateful to Councillor Louis-Jean for her steadfast leadership and commitment. I know what it is like to see my people suffer, right? And sometimes we hold these things so much more at our heart when it's, you know, our loved ones. And I think this advocacy in regards to what the city can do in terms of increasing our support services it's not just a conversation for the sake of having one it's really…”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 34:53
“Thank you. Thank you, Council Culpepper. And it's great to Always here, all good work that's coming out of Moya, so I'm really grateful. And I just have a few questions. I'm curious about how many organizations, through some of the grant opportunities, are we funding and supporting?”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 35:46
“And what about safety net, like food access, stipends for housing?”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 37:13
“And what role, if any, or any type of communication with the Office of Workforce Development? Like, given the fact that so many folks are losing their status and are unable to work, what if any conversations you have been having with our city workforce development?”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 38:03
“So those are ongoing conversations. Yeah, talk to me a little bit more about the entrepreneurship because I know that, you know, the Neighborhoods Jobs Trust, we've been able to,”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 38:46
“Yeah, sure. One is specifically around the return on those investments. Like some of the organizations that you've been working with, you mentioned I think 30 or so in the legal space and also in mental health. high level, you know, what type of technical assistance, capacity building, ongoing communication do you have with these organizations? And when you hear what they have to share, how are you adapting kind of your service deliverables and RFPs?”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 41:04
“I'm happy to see that. And, you know, because I'm going to have to be leaving early, I wanted to just also note that Pastor Homasil, we worked a few years ago on a wellness program for recent arrivals, specifically to help young people acclimate to the culture. Many of them have experienced trauma just to get here. And so it's really hard for them to access the curriculum when they have so much going on. And so they created an after-school program where they were able to provide not just academic, but also emotional and mental well-being support. So I think that the intersection, especially…”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 1:47:21
“4 minutes and as you should respect the lead sponsor who has been dedicating a lot of her time and her staff's energy to supporting this issue so I would I would I would second I know I'm using my four minutes to advocate for my colleague”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 1:47:43
“Uh-oh, he's trying to control everything here today. Normally that's my role. Stop it.”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 1:47:54
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 1:52:04
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 1:52:35
“Well, awkward, because I do have a hard stop, so I wanted to just finish, and I want to think, is that okay? But, you know, I think, what I'll just end with, I'm not going to even ask another question, I'll just end with this, is that this whole idea of being innovative and thinking outside the box is exactly the type of conversations that we should be having. Because we have the BCYF centers, we have the YMCAs, we have the Boys and Girls Club that are not operating at night. And there's opportunities there for how do we utilize some of the spaces that we have publicly for shelter. You know,…”
City Council · Sep 25, 2026
- Play at 33:01
“Thank you, Madam President. And just so that I understand and those who are tuning in understand that this particular vote is just to make sure that the money that we have left over that we can use in the future. And therefore, the vote that we're about to take for everybody that's paying attention is a responsible vote because what we're doing is just reallocating those dollars for future use. I just want to make sure that my interpretation of what's happening here is that simple. Is that what that is? Yeah, I'm going to thank you.”
City Council · Sep 23, 2026
- Play at 33:34
“Yeah. Okay, so then the vote that I'm taking is to just make sure that we can reallocate the leftover funds so that we can use in the future. Correct? Okay, good. Thank you. Thank you.”
City Council · Sep 23, 2026
- Play at 1:29:11
“Thank you, Madam President. On September 22nd at 2 p.m., the Committee on Education held a hearing on docket number 0406 in order for a hearing on transparency and accountability of private fundraising in our Boston public schools. I was joined by my council colleagues, Councillor Flynn, Councillor Louis-Jean, Councillor Weber, Councillor Culpepper, and Councillor Fitzgerald, and with a letter of absence that we received from Councillor Pepin. At this hearing, We heard from experts, advocates, and members of the administration. Former New York City Councilor Mark Treger shared his legislation…”
City Council · Sep 23, 2026
- Play at 2:42:39
“Thank you, Madam President, and I want to thank Councillor Louis-Jean and Councillor Breeden for adding me as an original co-sponsor. Boston Medical Center is one of the most important institutions in our city. Every day its resident physicians carry the enormous responsibility of caring for our city's most vulnerable populations. And yet too many of these resident physicians are struggling to make their ends meet in a city that they work to care for every day. We cannot continue to talk about Boston being a world-class healthcare city while the people delivering that care struggle to live…”
City Council · Sep 23, 2026