Search for terms in any order (think of space as an "and" connector) environmental science

Search for terms in exact order (for phrases) "environmental science"

Search for either term environmental or science

Search using wildcards fish*
This will find 'fish', 'fisheries', etc.
So-called "fuzzy" searches judgement~
This is useful for commonly misspelled words. This would find "judgment" or "judgement", etc.
Proximity searches "employee termination"~5
This will find any document that contains these two terms within five words of each other.
Term boosting opioid treatment^2
Boost a term to make it more relevant. If you are interested in the term opioid, but are especially interested in opioid treatment, you would use this.
Boolean operators education -children
education not children
The two searches above work in the same manner. They find documents containing the word education that does not contain the word children.
Grouped searches (education or teaching) and children
This will find documents that contain children, and that also contain EITHER education or teaching
Advanced Search
Advanced Search | Search Help

4/8/25, 11:00 AM - Budget Hearing: Ways & Means, Gardner Auditorium, State House, Boston

Status: Normal
Date/Time: 4/8/25 11:00 AM
Location: Gardner Auditorium, State House, Boston
Committee: Joint Committee on Ways & Means (JWM)
Add to your calendar
     


Joint Committee on Ways and Means Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Hearing 
 

 

 

Representative Kip A. Diggs, House Chair and Senator Pavel Payano, Senate Chair

 

Topic:  General Public Hearing

 

To testify during the hearing, please register using the following link:

April 8th Testimony Registration

The registration form to testify will close on Monday, April 7. People who have not registered may still sign up in person the day of the hearing (April 8) to testify, but will only be heard if time allows.

Written testimony may be submitted to the committee by emailing Kip.Diggs@mahouse.gov or SenateCommittee.Ways&Means@masenate.gov  


Related files:
Written Testimony: League of Women Voters of Mass. Testimony in Support of HB
Related to HB1 (HD1) - Governor Maura Healey (D) - An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2026

04/08/2025 - Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Show All
Printable
Transcript
This transcript is initially posted in unedited form, edited transcript to follow.
SPEAKER114.96 -14.96 Thank14.96 you.15.2 Welcome,15.52 everybody.15.91
18.55 Oh.18.55 There's18.95 my19.11 list19.36 here.19.68
20.32 SPEAKER220.32 -20.32 Okay.20.32
23.68 SPEAKER123.68 -23.68 Over23.68 the23.99 past24.15 several24.48 weeks,24.8 we've26.07 conducted26.31 727.51 ways28.39 and28.71 means28.87 hearings29.19 traveling30.55 from30.95 the31.19 State31.35 House31.59 to32.87 Gloucester,33.03 Amherst,34.23 Clinton,35.03 Worcester,35.83 Cape36.95 Cod,37.27 and38.15 Attleboro.38.31 These39.75 hear40.07 hearings40.39 have40.87 provided41.11 invaluable42.06 insights43.02 into44.3 our44.55 diverse44.78 needs45.27 of46.06 our46.23 communities.46.47 Hearing48.47 from48.78 various49.02 secretariats49.5 about50.86 the51.27 governor's51.42 budget51.98 has52.78 highlighted53.1 how54.35 each54.67 town54.91 and55.31 city55.47 faces55.79 unique56.67 challenges57.15 and58.27 opportunities.58.59 It's60.83 been61.15 rewarding61.47 to62.27 experience62.43 the63.07 work63.23 towards63.87 a64.27 solution64.43 that65.23 reflects65.55 their66.19 priorities.66.99 But68.37 today,68.61 we're68.92 here69.25 at69.89 the70.13 people's70.28 house,70.69 your71.25 house,71.56 to72.44 hear72.61 your72.92 concerns.73.33 So75.33 this75.65 is75.81 a75.97 public76.05 hearing,76.44 and77.08 we'll77.41 we're77.97 gonna78.2 have78.44 378.77 minutes,79.01 680.13 minutes80.44 for80.84 a81.25 group.81.48 If82.2 you82.44 have82.53 written82.77 testimony,83.08 if83.99 you're84.07 gonna84.31 read84.39 your84.79 written85.03 testimony,85.35 we'd85.91 rather86.23 just86.55 have86.87 you87.03 give88.07 us88.23 the88.47 written88.63 testimony88.95 and89.43 just89.67 go89.83 ahead89.91 and90.07 say90.23 a90.47 a90.79 few90.87 words.91.11 The91.43 the91.75 written91.83 testimony92.07 will92.55 speak92.79 for92.95 itself.93.19 We're94.87 gonna95.11 really95.43 stick95.67 to95.91 the96.07 396.23 minutes96.47 because97.36 it's97.76 so98 many98.16 people98.4 here,98.72 and99.67 we99.92 wanna100 hear100.31 everybody.100.56 Your101.44 voices101.76 matter,102.23 and,103.12 we103.76 thank104 you.104.23 So104.8 I'm104.95 gonna105.12 pass105.44 it105.59 off105.76 to106.08 my106.23 cochair,106.8 Pawel109.28 Paiano.110.85
111.41 SPEAKER3111.41 -111.41 Paiano.111.41 Yes,111.89 sir.112.13
114.93 Thank114.93 you,115.25 mister116.21 chair.116.69 Good117.17 morning.117.41 Buenos117.73 Dias,118.05 everyone.118.45 Thank119.41 you119.57 all119.81 for119.97 joining120.21 us120.53 today120.77 for121.09 the121.33 final121.49 hearing121.81 of122.29 the122.45 Massachusetts122.85 joint123.49 ways123.81 and123.97 means124.13 committee.124.45 This125.47 hearing125.63 is126.1 especially126.34 important,126.98 as127.78 is,128.03 well,128.43 1128.66 of128.82 the128.91 sole128.99 opportunities,129.31 1129.94 of130.03 the130.19 opportunities130.26 for130.75 the130.91 public,130.99 participation131.63 in132.19 the132.34 budget132.5 process.132.91 Over133.78 a134.1 50134.26 individuals,135.22 as,135.94 chair136.66 Dibson136.99 says,137.38 have137.78 signed138.1 up138.34 to138.58 speak,138.82 and139.14 we're139.38 very139.71 grateful140.1 for140.88 your141.12 engagement141.36 and141.84 your142.08 willingness142.24 to142.72 share142.88 your143.2 thoughts143.36 with143.68 us.143.84 Your144.48 input144.72 is145.12 crucial,145.36 in146.4 shaping,146.64 this147.76 year's148 budget148.24 and148.64 is148.8 gonna148.88 play149.12 a149.36 key149.44 role,149.68 as150.72 we150.96 deliberate151.12 on151.6 the151.76 budget.151.92 For152.88 the153.12 first153.28 8153.52 hearings,153.84 we154.32 heard154.48 from154.72 government154.88 officials155.44 and156.11 experts,156.26 but156.83 today,156.99 it's157.54 your157.78 voices158.03 that158.34 are158.43 gonna158.5 help158.83 guide159.06 us,159.31 in159.94 this160.11 work.160.34 Given161.06 the161.39 large161.54 number161.87 of162.11 speakers162.26 as162.67 the162.83 chair162.91 has163.15 said,163.39 we164.19 are164.34 asking164.83 that165.15 everyone165.39 stick165.87 to166.11 the166.26 3166.43 minute166.83 time167.15 limit167.39 to167.87 ensure168.03 that168.34 we168.5 have168.67 time168.91 for169.22 everyone169.54 to170.11 be170.26 heard.170.43 If170.98 you171.14 feel171.3 like171.62 you171.78 have171.94 more172.1 to172.34 share,172.58 you173.06 can173.3 always173.46 submit173.86 written174.42 testimony,174.82 which175.38 will175.62 be175.7 shared175.78 with176.1 the176.26 rest176.34 of176.58 the176.66 committee.176.74 I177.38 want,177.54 send178.18 a178.34 special178.5 thanks178.9 to,179.3 my180.02 colleagues180.26 in180.66 the180.74 committees,180.9 the181.3 senators,181.46 and181.86 the181.94 reps182.1 that,182.42 have183.13 gone183.53 all184 across184.16 the184.56 state,184.72 hearing185.93 from,186.32 from186.88 experts.187.21 And187.93 I188.16 also188.25 wanna188.49 thank188.81 my,189.04 co189.76 chair,190 vice190.49 chair190.72 Diggs,190.97 and191.6 his191.76 team191.93 for192.16 their192.32 excellent192.49 work192.97 in193.21 organizing193.36 this193.84 hearing.194.08 And,194.81 my195.95 incredible196.27 staff,196.91 both197.63 my197.95 staff198.11 and198.35 the198.43 interns198.67 who199.39 are199.63 at199.95 the200.11 front200.27 desk,200.43 for201.15 their201.31 dedication201.55 making202.11 sure202.43 this202.67 hearing202.99 runs203.55 smoothly.203.87 Your204.99 participation205.39 today206.03 is206.35 what206.51 makes206.75 this206.99 process207.15 truly207.47 democratic,207.87 and208.67 we208.83 appreciate209.07 your209.63 continued209.87 involvement.210.43 As211.66 you211.97 can212.13 see212.38 on212.85 you213.09 know,213.18 I'm213.34 a213.5 former,213.57 drama215.09 kid.215.57 On215.9 stage216.06 left,216.29 you're216.85 gonna217.01 see217.25 the217.42 ASL,217.57 interpreter.218.69 Make219.97 sure220.22 that220.53 as220.69 you're220.85 walking221.09 in,221.5 you222.22 don't222.46 block222.85 them.223.18 And,225.03 thank226.39 you.226.55 I'm226.79 I'm227.03 I'm227.27 looking227.35 forward227.59 to227.83 today.227.99
228.39 SPEAKER1228.39 -228.39 Likewise.228.39 Thank228.87
229.19 SPEAKER3229.19 -229.19 you.229.19 Should229.75 we229.99 introduce230.15 the230.63
231.03 SPEAKER1231.03 -231.03 So231.03 like231.83 you232.07 just232.23 said,232.39 the232.71 ASL233.03 interpreter233.51 is233.99 here.234.23 So234.55 anyone234.95 that235.43 wants235.59 to235.91 that236.55 needs236.87 help237.11 interpreting,238.03 we238.51 want238.75 to239.07 put239.31 on239.63 put239.96 up240.19 first.240.35 So,241.24 if241.79 there's241.96 anybody,242.28 please242.91 let243.24 us243.4 know243.56 so243.79 we243.96 can244.11 make244.28 sure244.44 that244.75 you245.4 can245.56 be245.72 taken245.88 care246.19 of246.35 and246.51 and246.75 move247 up247.24 first.247.88 I248.59 would248.75 also248.91 like249.31 to249.63 introduce249.72
253.19 my253.19 state253.35 rep253.59 you253.83 want253.99 other254.23 ones?254.95 My255.27 state255.43 representatives.255.67 I'll257.75 start257.91 with,258.15 the259.59 minority259.83 leader.260.79
263.75 Ranking263.75 leader.264.24 Sorry.264.48 I'm264.71 sorry.264.95 Where266.95 am267.27 I267.31 at?267.36 Oh,267.6 jeez.267.68 Where268.15 am268.31 I268.48 at?268.56 Todd.270.63 Sorry.270.95 Todd271.27 Smallwood.271.6 Good,272.31 buddy.272.56 Sorry.273.12
280.07 SPEAKER4280.07 -280.07 Thank280.07 you280.39 very280.55 much.280.79 I'm281.27 Todd281.43 Smalla.281.75 I282.23 am282.39 the282.63 state282.87 representative283.11 of283.59 the283.63 first283.67 hand283.91 in284.15 district.284.23 I'm284.55 the284.63 ranking284.79 member285.11 of285.35 the285.43 committee.285.51 We286.07 are286.15 honored286.39 to286.71 have286.79 all287.03 of287.19 you287.35 here287.51 today287.67 at287.91 the288.07 State288.23 House288.47 as288.71 the288.87 chair289.03 said,289.27 the289.51 People's289.67 House.290.07 While291.43 we291.67 move291.91 around292.07 the292.39 Commonwealth292.47 to293.81 have293.88 many294.21 hearings294.44 on294.85 different295 subjects,295.32 we295.81 could296.05 classify296.37 this296.85 1297 as297.32 the297.56 most297.73 important297.97 1298.37 because298.61 it298.85 gives299 anybody299.25 and299.65 everybody299.81 the300.21 opportunity300.44 to301.32 come301.49 here,301.73 sign301.97 up,302.21 and302.61 testify302.76 before303.49 this303.88 committee.304.05 We305.09 have305.25 a305.56 very,305.73 quick306.37 schedule306.61 that's307 moving307.32 fast.307.65 We'll308.11 be308.35 releasing308.43 the308.83 House308.91 budget309.15 in309.47 about309.63 a309.87 week.310.03 We'll310.43 be310.67 rolling310.75 into311.07 the311.23 debate311.39 in311.71 the311.87 House,311.95 and312.43 then312.59 the312.75 Senate312.83 will313.15 be313.31 doing313.47 it313.71
313.79 SPEAKER5313.79 -313.79 in313.79 short313.87 order314.19 after314.43 that.314.75 But315.47 having315.79 your316.11 voice316.35 here316.59 as316.83 part316.99 of317.23
317.31 SPEAKER4317.31 -317.31 this317.31 process317.47 is318.27 the318.59 most318.75 important318.99 part,319.47 that320.46 you320.63 can320.79 undertake321.1 in321.5 as321.82 being322.06 a322.22 member322.31 of322.63 this322.7 commonwealth.322.87 And323.5 so323.66 we323.82 appreciate324.06 your324.46 time324.63 today,324.87 and325.26 we325.5 look325.58 forward325.75 to326.06 hearing326.14 from326.38 every326.54 single326.79 1327.02 of327.19 you.327.35 Thank327.58 you.327.75
332.63 SPEAKER1332.63 -332.63 Thank332.63 you.332.94 So333.5 we333.82 have333.99 to336.34 my336.58 left,336.82 rep338.34 Steve,339.06 Exaros.339.86
341.3 SPEAKER5341.3 -341.3 What?341.3
342.42 SPEAKER1342.42 -342.42 Rodney342.42 Elliot.342.98 Rep344.5 Elliot.344.66 I346.09 can't346.34 see.346.66
349.57 Joe349.57 McKenna,349.81 rep351.69 rep353.57 Souza,353.89 rep355.33 Beal,355.57
361.18 rep361.18 Hamilton?361.42 I361.89 don't362.06 see362.21 him.362.45 Rep362.77 Hamilton?363.01 I364.13 missed364.3 you.364.54
367.53 Rep367.53 Hawkins?367.77
371.21 Rep371.21 Natalie371.53 Higgins?372.01
376.49 Rep376.49 Garcia?376.81
381.19 Rep381.19 Howard,381.43
384.06 Rep384.06 Kesner,384.38 Rep386.63 Kenny,386.94 Rep388.7 Kearns,389.35 Rep391.58 Kilcoyne,392.06 Rep394.19 Mendez?394.35
397.31 Rep397.31 Moran?397.55 Rep398.99 Owens?399.23
403.07 Rep403.07 Sabadosa?403.47
406.75 Let406.75 me407.07 see.407.15 Rep409.51 Tyler.409.75 Did410.07 I410.24 see410.39 Rep410.63 Tyler?410.88 I411.44 see411.51 her.411.83 Appeas?414
418.96 Repchason?418.96
422.86 Rub422.86 Marcy?423.1
426.38 SPEAKER3426.38 -426.38 Sullivan426.38 Almeda?427.02 Rub427.58 Sullivan427.82 Almeda?428.22
431.34 SPEAKER1431.34 -431.34 Rub431.34 Vaughn?431.58
434.62 And,434.62
437.51 Rabduffy?437.51 I438.95 didn't439.12 see439.35 her439.51 here.439.68 And440.24
444.31 who444.31 did444.47 I444.63 miss444.71 anybody?444.95 So446.63 you448.56 know448.71 that448.95 name?449.12 Ariagua.450 Ariagua.450.56
452.84 SPEAKER3452.84 -452.84 Sorry452.84 about453.16 that.453.4 Senator,453.8 you454.28 wanna454.36 take454.52 over?454.68 Yes.455.72 Thank456.12 you,456.28 mister456.44
456.81 SPEAKER1456.81 -456.81 I'm456.81 fine.456.86 I'm456.9 fine.456.95 I'm457 fine.457.48 Rep.458.76 Skarsdale.459.16 I'm459.64 sorry.459.8
462.6 SPEAKER3462.6 -462.6 No462.6 more.462.76 Thank463.4 you,463.64 chair464.38 Dibs.464.45 I465.18 want465.33 to,465.57 introduce466.21 the466.77 the467.01 vice467.18 chair,467.57 of468.29 the468.54 committee,468.62 senator469.1 Joan469.33 Comerford.469.57
472.06 SPEAKER6472.06 -472.06 Good472.06 morning,472.21 everyone.472.62 I'm473.1 Joan473.25 Comerford.473.57 I474.13 represent474.29 25475.1 cities475.57 and475.89 towns476.06 in476.29 the476.45 Hampshire476.62 Franklin477.01 Worcester477.5 District.477.98 It's479.12 great479.28 to479.52 be479.68 with479.76 you480 this480.16 morning.480.32 Special480.72 shout481.12 out481.36 to481.52 the481.68 Northampton481.76 and482.32 Amherst482.48 Students482.88 who've483.52 driven483.84 in484.16 from484.32 Western484.56 Mass484.88 to485.12 make485.28 their485.44 voices485.68 heard.486.08
489.04 SPEAKER3489.04 -489.04 Thank489.04 you,489.28 madam489.52 vice489.84 chair.490.08 I490.72 will490.88 now491.12 introduce491.79 the,492.19 the492.82 members,493.06 the493.79 senate493.94 members494.26 of494.58 the494.67 committee.494.82 We495.46 have495.63 assistant495.87 vice496.26 chair496.5 Paul496.75 Feeney,497.06 ranking497.7 minority498.02 member498.5 Patrick498.82 O'Connor,499.14 senator500.11 Michael500.58 Brady,500.9 senator501.31 Nick501.94 Collins,502.19 senator502.67 Brendan503.14 Crichton,503.55 senator504.19 John505.06 Cronin,505.31 senator506.18 Lydia506.5 Edwards,506.74 senator507.3 Adam507.7 Gomez,508.02 senator509.14 from509.38 Worcester,509.54 Robin509.94 Kennedy,510.26 senator,511.22 Paul512.02 Marks,512.34 senator513.38 Liz514.26 Miranda514.58 who's515.54 with515.7 us515.94 today,516.02 senator516.34 Jake516.74 Oliveira,516.98 senator517.86 Michael518.58 Rush,518.98 senator519.5 Ryan519.82 Fatman,520.23 and521.02 senator521.26 Kelly521.9 Dooner,522.3 towards523.42 my523.75 left.523.9
527.66 SPEAKER1527.66 -527.66 Awesome.527.66 Let's528.06 get528.23 started.528.46 So528.87 chair529.18 chair530.14 Dom?530.54
535.11 Chair535.11 Mindy535.43 Dom,535.75 you536.07 ready?536.15
541.35 Oh,541.35 okay.542.15
548.93 I548.93 understand.549.18 Alright.549.62 Do551.65 you551.82 want551.98 to552.01 you552.46 want552.77 to552.93 This553.58 is553.89
554.77 SPEAKER3554.77 -554.77 this554.77 is554.86 the555.01 order555.18 of555.42 the555.58 Montana.555.65
557.25 SPEAKER1557.25 -557.25 Alright.557.25 Just558.38
558.54 SPEAKER3558.54 -558.54 call558.54 the558.77 first558.93 person.559.18
561.65 SPEAKER1561.65 -561.65 Chaplain561.65 Clemente562.85 Clementina563.57 Cherry.565.09
573.41 SPEAKER3573.41 -573.41 I573.41 think,573.58 for574.46 the574.86 next574.93 person,575.25 he576.05 might576.29 wanna576.46 say,576.77 Elise577.82 DeSosa578.05 next,579.1 and579.65 then579.89 after580.05 her580.29 is580.54 gonna580.62 be580.93 Noel581.1 Trent.581.41 Okay.581.89
582.77 SPEAKER1582.77 -582.77 Elise582.77 Luisa584.22 DeSosa584.77 and585.69 Noel586.09 Trent587.29 will587.61 be587.77 the588.73 the588.81 next588.89 2589.13 people.589.37
596.33 SPEAKER7596.33 -596.33 Blessed596.33 morning,596.81 chairman598.01 Diggs598.33 and598.82 chairman599.05 Paiano,599.45 and600.01 members600.25 of600.65 the600.74 House600.89 and601.21 Senate601.38 on601.86 Ways602.01 and602.25 Means602.41 Committee.602.74 The604.01 Louis604.17 d604.5 Brown604.74 Peace604.98 Institute605.29 appreciates606.01 the606.57 opportunity606.82 to607.7 present607.86 testimony608.82 to609.38 the609.53 house609.7 and609.93 senate610.1 ways610.57 for611.29 the611.45 f611.7 y611.93 26612.17 state612.74 budget.612.98 The614.09 Peace614.25 Institute614.57 is615.05 a615.29 center615.37 of615.61 healing,615.85 teaching,616.17 and616.57 learning616.73 for617.45 families617.61 and618.09 communities618.33 impacted619.05 by619.45 murder,619.61 trauma,620.25 grief,621.13 and621.53 loss.621.77 I622.97 founded623.13 the623.53 Peace623.69 Institute623.93 in625.05 1993625.29 after626.33 my626.65 15626.81 year627.21 old627.37 son,627.76 Louis628 Brown,628.25 was628.64 caught628.8 in628.97 the629.21 crossfire629.29 of630.49 a630.73 rival630.8 gang631.13 shootout631.45 5632.17 days632.4 before632.73 Christmas.633.05 We634.33 are634.49 here634.73 with635.13 my635.37 co635.61 executive635.76 director,636.33 Rachel636.8 Rodriguez,637.13 and637.76 we638 respectfully638.17 request638.88 funding639.21 in640.17 line640.33 item640.73 5641.13 4641.53 1641.77 3642.01 10642.41 98642.73 in643.77 the643.93 amount644.01 of644.33 $1,000,000644.41 Specifically,646.09 we646.81 suggest647.05 the647.45 following647.61 language.648.09 For649.05 the649.29 provision649.45 of649.85 statewide650.01 support650.57 services650.97 for651.45 survivors651.61 of652.09 homicide652.25 victims,652.73 including653.75 outreach654.24 services,654.88 burial655.36 assistance,655.83 grief656.32 counseling,656.63 and657.6 other657.83 supports658.15 provided,658.63 that659.2 fund659.51 shall659.83 be660.07 expanded660.32 as660.79 grants,661.03 aggregate662.79 amount663.2 for663.51 no663.75 less663.91 than664.15 850,000664.32 to665.67 the665.83 Peace666 Institute666.24 Corporation,666.79 a667.91 a668.12 community668.28 based668.52 support669 organization669.4 dedicated670.2 to670.68 serving670.84 families671.16 and671.56 communities671.72 impacted672.84 by673.24 murder,673.48 and674.36 provided674.68 further675.08 that675.48 the675.64 Peace675.8 Institute676.12 Corporation676.76 shall677.4 establish677.72 and678.28 administer678.52 a679.72 process679.96 to680.44 distribute680.68 no681.32 less681.56 than681.8 a682.04 hundred682.2 and682.44 $50,000682.68 to684.5 the684.74 Massachusetts685.05 Survivors685.7 of686.17 Homicide686.42 Victims686.98 Network687.38 organizations688.01 to689.13 the689.38 Commonwealth689.54 of690.01 Massachusetts690.17 in691.86 form692.1 of692.42 grants692.58 of693.05 a693.22 hundred693.3 thousand.693.7 For694.74 3694.98 decades,695.22 the695.7 Peace695.86 Institute696.17 has696.82 served696.98 at697.3 the697.38 corner697.54 store698.01 cornerstone699.49 of699.89 the700.13 Commonwealth700.29 homicide700.85 response701.41 process,701.89 answering702.53 the703.01 call703.17 to703.97 support704.13 families704.53 in704.93 the705.09 aftermath705.25 of705.81 homicide706.05 regardless707.49 of708.05 where708.13 in708.37 the708.53 Commonwealth708.61 the709.25 family709.33 resides.709.73 State709.75 officials709.78
709.8 SPEAKER1709.8 -709.8 and709.8 municipal709.83 leaders709.85 rely709.87 heavily709.9
709.92 SPEAKER7709.92 -709.92 on709.92 the709.95 Peace709.97 Institute,711.09
714.13 peace714.13 institute,714.29 referring715.57 families715.97 of716.52 the716.61 treasury716.76 of717.33 an717.4 array717.57 of717.88 services,717.97 advocacy,718.69 love,719.33 and719.49 care.719.64 The720.52 peace720.69 institute721.09 has721.64 risen721.88 to722.13 the722.29 occasion722.45 and723.49 has723.64 taken723.88 on724.29 this724.45 role724.61 willingly724.85 and725.49 with725.64 great725.88 strength726.46 and726.78 vision.726.94 We728.14 think728.3 it's728.54 important728.78 that729.26 state729.5 funding729.82 be730.22 aligned730.46 with730.78 the730.94 role731.1 that731.34 we731.5 are731.66 being731.82 asked732.14 to732.46 play.732.62 The733.58 Peace733.74 Institute734.06 had734.54 served734.78 families735.1 and735.5 communities735.66 impacted736.38 by736.78 homicide737.02 in738.06 over738.22 90738.54 municipalities738.94 across739.98 all740.38 regions741.57 of741.73 the741.88 Commonwealth.742.13 Additionally,743.25 offering744.45 training744.85 and745.25 support745.49 services745.88 to746.45 the746.61 over746.76 a747.17 50747.25 cities748.05 and748.37 towns748.61 that749.4 have749.57 experienced749.73 this750.37 homicide750.61 since751.64 1994751.97 when752.93 our753.17 organization753.4 was754.05 founded.754.29 I'll755.05 turn755.29 it755.37 over755.61 to755.85 Rachel756.09 Rodriguez.756.41
758.41 SPEAKER8758.41 -758.41 Thank758.41 you.758.65 It's759.77 notable760.17 that760.81 of761.21 the761.45 160761.69 house762.97 districts763.37 in763.93 this764.09 legislature,764.33 157765.29 have766.81 been766.97 directly767.13 impacted767.61 by768.09 homicide.768.25 In769.75 the769.92 senate,770.08 every770.8 single771.04 district.771.43 On772.96 the773.12 joint773.36 committee773.92 on774.39 ways774.56 and774.8 means,774.96 the775.51 peace775.75 institute776 has776.48 served776.8 families777.2 in777.75 15778 of778.63 the778.8 17779.04 senate779.68 districts780.08 on780.63 this780.88 committee781.12 and782.34 20782.5 out782.82 of783.06 the783.22 35783.38 house783.94 districts784.34 on784.98 this785.14 committee.785.38 Currently,786.82 the787.38 funds787.54 support788.1 homicide788.58 response789.14 across789.7 Massachusetts790.18 and791.14 coordinate791.38 a791.86 statewide792.02 network792.5 of792.9 survivors793.14 of793.62 homicide793.78 victims.794.26 We795.53 provide795.7 practical796.01 support796.74 within797.22 the797.46 first797.62 24797.93 to798.5 72798.58 hours799.22 after799.62 a799.93 homicide800.1 and800.98 continue801.29 to801.7 provide801.86 case802.34 management802.65 and803.05 healing803.29 services803.7 indefinitely.804.34 1806.34 homicide806.65 impacts807.29 at807.86 least807.93 10808.34 immediate808.65 family809.13 members.809.53 Even811.07 if811.39 homicide811.47 decreases,812.19 the813.15 survivor813.39 rate813.87 is814.11 always814.35 growing814.67 and815.15 impacting815.47 families815.95 and816.35 communities816.59 for817.15 generations.817.39 Please819.07 support819.47 our819.87 requested820.03 language820.59 and821.07 funding821.31 level821.71 of822.11 a822.27 million822.43 dollars822.75 for823.31 line823.55 item823.87 4824.43 5824.75 1825.07 3825.39 dash825.71 1826.15 0826.39 9826.63 8.826.88 With827.75 your827.91 support,828.15 we'll828.63 advance828.95 this829.43 work829.6 together,829.91 interrupting830.48 cycles831.03 of831.43 violence831.6 and832 building832.24 more832.48 peaceful832.79 communities833.27 where833.83 everyone834.07 can834.48 thrive.834.71 Thank836 you836.24 for836.39 your836.55 leadership836.79 and837.2 support.837.43 It838.17 was838.41 especially838.65 meaningful839.13 for839.77 us839.93 to840.25 provide840.73 this841.13 testimony841.45 because842.49 it's842.81 National843.21 Crime843.61 Victims843.85 Rights844.33 Month.844.65 So845.05 thank845.29 you845.45 again.845.69
846.49 SPEAKER7846.49 -846.49 Thank846.49 you.846.65
849.21 SPEAKER1849.21 -849.21 Thank849.21 you.849.53 Knowing851.29 that851.61 I851.77 came851.93 from852.17 a853.22 family853.38 that853.7 has853.77 lost854.1 also854.42 losing854.74 my855.13 son,855.38 I855.86 can856.01 relate856.18 to856.5 what856.65 your856.82 what857.58 your858.34 wishes858.58 and858.98 and859.3 thoughts859.54 because,859.86 a861.54 loss861.62 is861.93 traumatic.862.1 So863.06 we're863.93 taking864.25 advisement.864.89 So865.46 thank865.7 you.865.86 Any866.5 questions?866.65
873.33 SPEAKER9873.33 -873.33 So873.33 I'm873.65 a873.89 huge874.05 fan874.29 of874.61 the874.77 Peace874.93 Institute,875.25 and875.65 I875.81 just875.97 thought876.13 I'd876.37 make876.77 it877.01 publicly877.17 known877.73 that878.05 when878.69 my878.93 brother879.09 was879.41 killed879.57 in879.81 2017,879.97 the881.25 first881.41 place881.65 that881.97 I882.21 went882.37 to882.53 was883.17 the883.41 Peace883.57 Institute,883.89 and884.38 you884.53 helped884.69 me884.93 and885.81 my886.05 family.886.29 And887.57 I'm887.81 eternally888.53 grateful.889.1 I'd890.29 love890.53 for890.69 you890.86 to891.01 share891.17 a891.5 little891.57 bit891.81 about892.13 the892.45 work892.62 that892.86 you're893.01 doing893.25 outside893.57 of893.98 Boston.894.13 Oftentimes,895.17 I897.17 have,897.41 colleagues898.86 that899.34 reach899.5 out899.74 to899.9 me900.06 because900.3 they900.54 know900.7 that900.94 I901.1 work901.66 in901.9 this902.06 space,902.3 and,902.78 it's903.9 happening904.14 in904.54 Springfield904.7 or905.26 Lynn905.5 or905.82 Brockton,906.06 for906.62 example.906.86 And907.74 they're907.9 calling908.22 the908.54 Peace908.78 Institute,909.1 to910.46 get910.62 support910.94 because911.34 your911.74 work911.9 is912.14 not912.38 just912.62 in912.94 inner913.26 city913.58 Boston.914.11 And914.26 I914.43 just914.5 would914.75 like914.83 for915.07 you915.14 to915.31 spend915.38 a915.63 moment915.71 just916.35 to916.59 share916.67 a916.99 little917.07 bit917.23 about917.47 that917.63 so917.87 that918.02 we918.18 can918.26 understand918.5 the919.07 collective919.31 effort919.87 of920.18 your920.35 work.920.5 It921.23 actually921.47 impacts921.95 more922.5 than922.67 just,922.99 the923.87 city924.11 that924.43 I924.67 represent924.83 here925.31 in925.55 the925.63 legislature.925.87
927.11 SPEAKER7927.11 -927.11 Thank927.11 you,927.27 senator.927.51 What928.15 we've928.39 learned928.55 is928.87 homicide929.19 knows930.23 no930.55 boundaries.930.87 It931.43 knows931.67 no931.91 culture,932.15 no932.95 class,933.19 and933.59 no933.75 communities.934.07 People934.71 who935.03 are935.19 dealing935.35 with935.75 anger935.99 react,937.03 and937.43 then937.67 those937.91 of938.15 us,938.39 whether938.63 we938.95 were939.19 intended939.43 target939.99 or941.15 caught941.55 in941.79 the941.96 crossfire,942.12 families943.24 are943.72 still943.88 being944.04 devastated.944.43 So945.08 for945.24 us,945.48 it's946.6 not946.84 about947.15 telling947.63 people947.96 what948.43 to948.67 do.948.84 It's949.08 it's949.39 fulfilling949.72 a950.75 missing950.91 piece.951.39 We952.04 work952.2 with952.43 law952.67 enforcements.952.84 We953.63 work953.88 with954.12 the954.27 city.954.43 We954.75 work954.91 with955.15 the955.32 hospital.955.48 What956.81 makes957.13 this957.45 different957.77 is958.25 I959.37 am959.53 not959.77 just960.01 a960.33 founder.960.49 I'm960.97 also961.21 a961.53 client.961.69 When962.09 Lewis962.41 was962.73 killed,962.89 there963.69 were963.85 really964.01 no964.41 resources964.81 available.965.61 And966.49 so966.73 I966.97 left967.21 the967.53 hospital967.69 empty968.25 handed968.57 physically969.05 and969.69 within969.93 my970.33 soul.970.57 You971.87 know,972.11 we972.42 we972.9 have973.47 surgery.973.78 We974.5 have974.75 a974.99 wisdom975.14 tooth975.63 pull.975.87 We976.59 leave976.9 with977.38 an977.63 aftercare977.95 package.978.59 We979.14 leave979.47 telling980.11 us980.42 what980.75 we980.99 need981.23 to981.38 do.981.54 When982.26 my982.5 child982.75 was982.99 murdered983.14 and983.54 I983.71 was983.87 told984.02 that984.35 he984.59 was984.83 dead,985.07 I986.26 left986.5 empty986.75 handed.987.07 So988.16 once988.48 society988.8 realized989.28 Lewis989.76 was990.16 a990.32 good990.64 kid,990.96 we992.16 wanted992.4 for992.72 nothing.992.96 Resources993.44 came994.08 for994.32 us.994.56 And994.8 what994.96 we995.2 did,995.44 I996.08 wanted996.24 to996.48 pay996.64 it996.8 forward.996.96 So997.68 this997.92 is998.16 something998.32 that998.72 we998.88 have999.04 translated999.28 the999.84 survivor's1000 burial1000.48 and1000.88 resource1001.04 guide.1001.45 We've1002 translated1002.4 in1002.97 Spanish,1003.21 Cantonese,1004.16 Haitian,1005.29 Cape1005.85 Verde,1006.09 and1006.33 Creole.1006.49 Not1006.97 everybody1007.29 speaks1007.85 English.1008.33 So1009.29 what1009.52 we1009.68 do1009.92 is1010.25 when1010.64 someone1010.88 in1011.61 another1011.85 city1012.25 and1012.49 state1012.73 or1013.13 the1013.29 DA's1013.45 office1013.92 in1014.65 another1014.81 county1015.21 reaches1015.85 out1016.17 to1016.41 our1016.49 survivors1016.73 outreach1017.21 services,1017.77 that's1018.81 the1019.05 first1019.29 thing1019.53 that1019.77 we1019.93 do1020.17 is1020.49 make1021.37 sure1021.69 that1022.01 the1022.25 family1022.49 has1023.13 this.1023.45 We1023.93 connect1024.25 with1024.65 them,1024.81 and1025.53 we1025.77 really1026.01 guide1026.65 them1026.97 to1027.29 make1027.45 funeral1027.77 preparations1028.25 and1029.21 to1030.24 understand1030.57 their1031.92 rights1032.24 according1032.81 to1033.29 the1033.44 Massachusetts1033.77 Victims1034.81 Bill1035.29 of1035.53 Rights.1035.77 When1037.85 someone1038.16 is1038.64 arrested,1038.88 they1039.77 read1040.01 their1040.24 Miranda1040.48 rights.1040.96 When1042.09 someone1042.33 is1042.81 murdered,1043.05 nobody1043.92 reads1044.57 us1044.88 our1045.13 rights.1045.29 So1046.37 making1046.69 sure1047.09 that1047.41 we1047.73 are1047.89 letting1048.05 families1048.53 know1049.17 that1049.41 you1049.73 have1050.13 the1050.37 right1050.61 to1051.41 bury1051.65 your1051.97 loved1052.13 11052.37 with1052.61 dignity1052.77 and1053.17 compassion,1053.41 including1054.37 those1055.09 whose1055.33 loved1055.57 ones1055.89 were1056.05 murdered1056.29 due1056.69 to1056.93 police1057.01 involved1057.33 shootings,1057.89 they1058.77 are1059.09 too1059.33 are1059.65 impacted.1059.89 So1060.61 that's1061.6 the1061.84 work1061.99 that1062.32 we1062.47 do.1062.71 And1063.04 because1063.43 we1063.99 do1064.23 not1064.47 want1064.79 to1065.04 recreate1065.28 Peace1065.91 Institute,1066.23 senator,1066.95 we1067.91 are1068.23 training1068.47 municipalities.1070.08 We1071.04 are1071.28 training1071.43 district1071.91 attorney's1072.32 office.1072.79 We1073.19 are1073.36 training1073.6 law1073.99 enforcement.1074.23 We1075.19 are1075.36 training1075.6 hospital1076.23 to1077.91 add1078.23 this1078.55 guide1079.03 as1079.43 part1079.67 of1079.83 their1079.99 standard1080.23 of1080.63 care.1080.79 And1081.43 as1081.67 a1081.83 part1081.99 of1082.23 this,1082.39 what1082.63 we1082.87 wanna1083.11 do1083.43 is1083.67 offer1083.99 each1084.39 of1084.71 you1084.87 on1085.11 this1085.27 committee1085.51 your1086.55 own1086.79 guide.1087.11 If1087.43 you1087.59 tell1087.75 us1087.91 the1088.15 languages1088.31 you1089.03 speak,1089.27 we1089.91 will1090.07 offer1090.31 you1090.63 this1090.95 guide1091.19 with1091.51 a1091.75 cheat1091.91 sheet.1092.31 So1093.02 God1093.18 forbid1093.35 if1093.83 something1093.98 happens1094.38 in1094.78 your1094.94 district,1095.26 you1095.74 will1095.9 know1096.14 exactly1096.38 what1097.51 to1097.74 do,1097.83 and1098.22 families1098.78 do1099.42 not1099.66 have1100.46 to1101.51 GoFundMe1101.66 because1103.35 the1103.66 state1103.9 victim's1104.3 compensation1104.87 offers1105.98 funding1106.46 for1107.2 burial1107.44 assistance.1107.76 So1108.24 thank1108.4 you,1108.56 senator.1108.8
1113.76 SPEAKER101113.76 -1113.76 I1113.76 just1114 wanted1114.16 to1114.4 also1114.56 just,1114.88 weigh1115.6 in,1115.84 just1116.56 on1116.8 the1116.88 recent1117.04 experience1117.28 I1117.76 had1117.84 with1118 the1118.16 institute.1118.24 I1118.72 just1118.8 wanna1118.96 just1119.28 commend1119.52 your1119.92 work.1120.08 I1120.57 wanna1120.64 just1120.88 emphasize1121.2 how1121.68 rapid1121.92 fire1122.33 your1122.72 response1122.96 was1123.37 to1123.61 a1123.77 victim1123.92 in1124.24 the1124.33 in1124.8 Boston's1125.05 South1125.53 End1125.77 and1126.01 how1126.24 you1126.4 helped1126.64 that1126.88 family1127.13 and1127.44 helped1127.61 me1127.85 as1128.33 a1128.48 legislator1128.64 get1129.13 resources1129.37 and1129.92 put1130.09 stuff1130.33 together.1130.57 You're1131.29 really1131.61 quite1131.92 amazing1132.24 in1132.57 your1132.72 communication1132.96 skills.1133.61 The1134.16 team1134.33 is1134.64 just1134.8 great,1135.05 So1135.28 thank1135.52 you1135.68 very,1135.92 very1136.16 much1136.4 for1136.64 all1136.8 you1136.96 do.1137.04
1138.16 SPEAKER71138.16 -1138.16 Thank1138.16 you,1138.4 representative.1138.64
1144.16 SPEAKER11144.16 -1144.16 Thank1144.16 you.1144.4
1144.88 SPEAKER71144.88 -1144.88 Thank1144.88 you.1145.12
1147.36 SPEAKER11147.36 -1147.36 Chair1147.36 Dom,1147.6 you1147.92 ready?1148 New1148.72 crew?1148.96
1158.73 Rep1158.73 Ramos1158.97 is1159.38 also1159.54 in1159.93 the1160.1 house1160.17 of1160.41 11160.49 the1160.82 11160.97 to1161.13 say.1161.38
1165.76 Right.1165.76 Right.1167.72 Right.1168.23 Right.1168.74 Right.1169.25 Right.1169.76 Right.1169.84
1187.45 Hi,1187.45 guys.1187.77 Just1188.09 don't1188.33 know.1188.57 You1188.96 you1189.13 have1189.29 great1190.72 chairman1191.94 right1192.26 there1192.54 that's1192.82 he1193.46 does1193.62 incredible.1193.94 So1194.34 and1195.22 it's1195.46 it1195.7 shows1195.86 how1196.18 many1196.26 people1196.5 you1196.74 got1196.9 with1197.14 you.1197.38 So1197.62 whatever1198.02 you're1198.34 doing,1198.58 keep1198.82 doing1199.06 it.1199.3
1199.78 SPEAKER111199.78 -1199.78 Thank1199.78 you1200.02 so1200.18 much.1200.34 I1200.66
1204.34 SPEAKER121204.34 -1204.34 thank1204.34 you1204.38 31204.66 incredible1204.74 speakers1205.46
1227.35 SPEAKER11227.35 -1227.35 Welcome.1227.35 So1228.31 thank1228.47 you1228.63
1228.79 SPEAKER111228.79 -1228.79 so1228.79 much.1229.03 I'm1229.43 gonna1229.59 let1229.91 them1230.07 introduce1230.23 themselves.1230.71 Okay.1231.27
1231.91 SPEAKER121231.91 -1231.91 They're1231.91 here1232.15 to1232.39 speak1232.55 towards1232.87 the1233.27 education1233.43 part1233.99 of1234.15 the1234.23 budget,1234.39 and1234.71 I'm1234.95 really1235.03
1247.8 SPEAKER131247.8 -1247.8 Hello,1247.8 everyone.1248.13 Thank1248.68 you1248.85 for1249.01 allowing1249.16 us1249.4 to1249.64 speak1249.72 today.1250.04 My1250.54 name1250.7 is1250.86 Yatharath1250.94 Rajakumar,1251.42 and1252.06 I'm1252.14 161252.3 years1252.62 old.1252.94 I'm1253.42 reading1253.66 the1253.9 statement1254.06 on1254.46 behalf1254.54 of1254.86 the1254.94 Amherst1255.1 Regional1255.42 High1255.82 School1255.98 students1256.22 concerned1256.62 about1257.02 the1257.34 elective1257.5 classes1257.9 due1258.38 to1258.54 the1258.7 looming1258.78 budget1259.18 cuts.1259.5 Electives1260.22 are1260.7 a1260.94 cornerstone1261.02 of1261.58 opportunity1261.74 at1262.38 every1262.46 school,1262.78 allowing1263.36 students1263.67 to1264.08 experience1264.23 new1264.71 classes1264.95 and1265.67 learn1265.91 new1266.15 skills.1266.39 Cutting1267.03 electives1267.27 may1267.76 seem1267.99 right,1268.15 but1268.55 each1268.79 class1269.12 allows1269.36 students1269.67 to1270.55 express1270.71 creativity1271.12 and1271.76 have1271.99 fun.1272.15 For1272.79 the1273.03 past1273.12 71273.36 years,1273.67 I've1273.91 enjoyed1274.15 every1274.63 second1274.88 of1275.19 the1275.36 ARPS1275.6 band1276.15 program,1276.47 a1277.12 place1277.2 where1277.52 I1277.68 truly1277.92 belong.1278.16 Walking1278.96 into1279.2 the1279.44 band1279.52 room1279.76 with1279.92 my1280.08 saxophone1280.24 is1280.88 like1281.12 stepping1281.28 into1281.52 another1281.76 world.1282.08 The1282.64 worries1282.8 of1283.2 tests1283.44 and1283.92 grades1284.16 disappear1284.56 and1285.04 get1285.2 replaced1285.44 by1285.84 the1286 warmth1286.16 of1286.48 music.1286.56 Having1287.28 electives1287.6 allows1288.08 us1288.4 to1288.64 escape1288.88 the1289.12 pack1289.28 school1289.52 day1289.76 by1290.08 relaxing1290.32 and1290.96 refocusing.1291.28 As1292.82 colleges1293.06 emphasize1293.46 well1293.93 rounded1294.17 students,1294.49 elective1295.13 opportunities1295.62 to1296.17 explore1296.34 are1296.74 crucial.1296.98 Yet1297.62 with1297.86 budget1298.1 cuts1298.34 threatening1298.65 the1299.06 existence1299.13 of1299.54 electives,1299.7 students1300.17 are1300.58 losing1300.74 more1301.06 than1301.22 just1301.38 classes.1301.54 We1302.1 are1302.26 losing1302.41 passion,1302.82 motivation,1303.46 and1304.1 opportunities1304.41 that1305.06 could1305.22 shape1305.38 our1305.62 futures.1305.78 High1306.73 school1307.05 students1307.29 in1308.17 high1308.41 school1308.65 holds1309.13 unforgettable1309.85 moments1310.49 for1310.89 many,1311.13 not1311.45 from1311.69 hardcore1311.93 tests1312.33 or1312.57 endless1312.73 assignments,1313.21 but1313.85 rather1314.09 the1314.41 classes1314.57 that1314.89 sparked1315.13 joy1315.53 and1315.85 creativity,1316.09 also1317.29 known1317.69 as1318.01 electives.1318.09 Many1319.08 students1319.47 in1319.8 our1319.95 school1320.12 share1320.52 the1320.76 same1320.91 experience,1321.15 whether1321.56 that1321.88 is1321.95 through1322.12 art,1322.43 engineering,1322.76 or1323.23 language.1323.39 When1324.12 dealing1324.43 with1324.6 millions1324.76 of1325.08 dollars1325.23 at1325.56 the1325.71 state1325.8 level,1326.04 the1326.36 amount1326.52 of1326.76 money1326.84 for1327.08 students1327.23 and1327.8 schools1328.04 may1328.43 seem1328.6 tremendous.1328.84 However,1329.71 the1330.28 reality1330.43 is1330.99 far1331.15 from1331.39 that.1331.63 Electives1332.12 are1332.6 often1332.67 the1332.99 first1333.08 classes1333.32 to1333.71 get1333.88 cut.1334.04 Business1334.85 and1335.01 culinary1335.33 arts1335.73 are1336.13 just1336.37 21336.53 of1336.77 a1336.93 wide1337.01 variety1337.33 of1337.65 classes1337.89 that1338.45 have1338.61 been1338.77 taken1338.85 out1339.17 due1339.41 to1339.57 our1339.65 shrinking1339.81 budget.1340.21 Elective1341.01 teachers1341.41 such1341.81 as1342.13 our1342.29 ARHS1342.69 band1343.17 director,1343.33 miss1343.73 Cara1343.97 Bear,1344.29 dedicate1344.85 themselves1345.25 with1345.65 undivided1345.81 attention1346.37 towards1346.85 the1347.17 well-being1347.25 of1347.73 our1347.81 students,1348.04 yet1349.08 their1349.56 work1349.72 is1349.88 under1350.12 threat1350.36 as1350.6 budget1350.76 cuts1351.08 target1351.56 electives1351.96 first.1352.43 Electives1353.15 serve1353.72 as1353.96 a1354.12 vital1354.28 way1354.6 and1356.04 vital1356.36 part1356.99 of1357.23 the1357.39 education1357.47 system1357.96 statewide,1358.36 impacting1359.23 thousands1359.8 of1360.12 students1360.28 that1360.67 who1360.91 rely1360.99 on1361.39 them1361.47 to1361.72 discover1361.88 their1362.28 passion1362.43 and1363.12 prepare1363.36 for1363.6 their1363.84 futures1364 outside1364.4 of1364.72 the1364.8 classroom.1364.96 I1365.6 urge1365.76 you1366 to1366.16 reconsider1366.32 the1366.8 budget1366.96 priorities1367.28 and1367.92 understand1368.24 the1368.56 fundamental1368.72 role1369.36 that1369.76 electives1369.92 play1370.4 in1370.64 student1370.88 lives1371.2 across1371.52 the1371.84 state.1372 Thank1372.56 you.1372.8
1374.56 SPEAKER11374.56 -1374.56 Thank1374.56 you.1374.88
1378.29 SPEAKER141378.29 -1378.29 Good1378.29 afternoon,1378.68 honorable1379.16 members1379.73 of1380.05 the1380.13 state1380.29 legislature.1380.68 My1381.64 name1381.81 is1381.97 Nandal1382.13 Dorje,1382.61 and1383.01 I1383.16 am1383.24 currently1383.4 a1383.73 junior1383.88 at1384.21 Amherst1384.37 Regional1384.77 High1385.16 School.1385.4 Today,1386.13 we1386.68 stand1386.92 before1387.24 you,1387.57 not1387.88 just1388.13 on1388.37 behalf1388.61 of1388.92 a1389.09 single1389.24 school1389.64 district,1389.97 but1390.41 for1390.57 the1390.81 future1390.89 of1391.21 public1391.45 education1391.85 across1392.41 Massachusetts.1392.81 At1394.33 the1394.49 moment,1394.57 the1394.97 Amherst1395.05 Pelham1395.53 Regional1395.85 School1396.33 District1396.57 is1396.97 facing1397.21 tremendous1397.53 budget1398.01 cuts1398.33 totaling1398.65 $3,500,0001399.21 Our1401.53 schools1401.77 have1402.17 been1402.25 known1402.49 to1402.65 have1402.81 excellent1403.05 programs1403.53 and1404.01 support1404.25 systems1404.57 which1405.05 these1405.37 cuts1405.61 threaten1406.1 to1406.41 dismantle.1406.58 Due1407.86 to1408.1 the1408.26 routine1408.34 budget1408.74 cuts1409.06 being1409.3 a1409.62 reoccurring1409.78 event,1410.26 an1410.89 increasing1411.22 amount1411.62 of1411.93 proposals1412.17 are1412.82 being1412.98 drafted1413.22 to1413.7 cut1413.86 down1414.1 those1414.34 support1414.58 and1414.89 creativity1415.22 programs.1415.78 Music1416.82 and1417.13 art1417.38 programs,1417.62 reading1418.34 specialists,1418.74 library1419.46 staff1419.93 and1420.17 classroom1420.5 aids1420.89 should1421.52 not1421.64 be1421.76 a1422.08 luxury1422.24 but1422.64 a1423.04 necessity.1423.2 Parents1424.8 and1425.2 educators1425.44 have1425.92 expressed1426.24 how1426.64 these1426.88 programs1427.12 have1427.6 been1427.76 able1428 to1428.24 support1428.48 students1428.88 thrive1429.44 academically1429.84 with1430.56 confidence1430.72 while1431.68 bridging1431.92 the1432.32 gap1432.48 for1432.72 students1432.88 with1433.28 learning1433.52 differences.1433.92 This1435.72 issue1436.04 is1436.36 directly1436.67 a1437.15 result1437.23 of1437.56 the1437.72 State1437.88 funding1438.12 structure1438.43 that1438.84 continues1439.15 to1439.72 underfund1439.96 districts1440.52 including1441.08 Amherst1441.56 making1442.04 for1442.36 less1442.52 opportunities1442.84 for1443.72 future1443.96 students.1444.43 These1445.88 cuts1446.12 will1446.52 undo1446.76 years1447.15 of1447.47 hard1447.63 work1447.88 and1448.12 progress1448.36 which1448.76 we1448.91 are1449.08 constantly1449.32 trying1449.96 to1450.2 maintain.1450.36 If1451.66 the1451.9 state1452.06 does1452.38 not1452.62 act1452.94 upon1453.1 this,1453.42 not1453.82 only1454.06 is1454.3 the1454.46 state1454.62 cutting1454.94 budgets,1455.26 but1455.82 also1455.98 cutting1456.38 the1456.78 futures1456.94 of1457.34 students.1457.58 Our1458.86 students1459.18 deserve1459.74 to1460.22 learn1460.38 and1460.62 prepare1460.86 for1461.26 what1461.5 lies1461.74 ahead1462.06 in1462.86 both1463.1 the1463.42 present1463.58 and1463.98 future.1464.22 Thank1464.86 you.1465.18
1469.79 SPEAKER151469.79 -1469.79 Honorable1469.79 legislators,1470.35 thank1471.07 you1471.38 for1471.46 hearing1471.63 us1471.95 today.1472.11 My1472.98 name1473.14 is1473.31 Noah1473.46 Farris,1473.79 and1474.11 I'm1474.27 a1474.42 senior1474.51 at1474.83 Amherst1475.07 Regional1475.38 High1475.87 School.1476.03 I'm1476.9 speaking1477.22 on1477.55 behalf1477.79 of1478.12 my1478.28 peers1478.44 because1478.92 we1479.24 worry1479.4 the1479.72 proposed1479.88 budget1480.36 will1480.92 strangle1481.16 humanities1481.72 programs1482.28 at1482.6 our1482.76 schools.1482.92 41484.04 years1484.36 ago,1484.6 as1485.08 a1485.32 ninth1485.4 grader,1485.64 I1486.04 was1486.2 full1486.44 of1486.6 self1486.76 doubt1487.08 and1487.64 had1487.88 no1488.12 idea1488.28 where1488.68 school1488.92 could1489.24 possibly1489.4 take1489.88 me.1490.12 For1490.76 my1491 classmates1491.16 and1491.64 me,1491.8 it1492.13 was1492.29 always1492.53 our1492.85 humanities1493.16 teachers1493.64 who1494.29 were1494.53 constantly1494.68 expanding1495.24 our1495.81 horizons.1495.96 For1497.48 example,1497.64 when1498.13 my1498.29 friend1498.44 Rory1498.68 took1499.09 mister1499.33 Sears'1499.72 charcoal1500.05 drawing1500.53 class,1500.77 he1501.4 learned1501.57 he1501.88 wants1502.05 to1502.29 go1502.37 to1502.53 art1502.68 school1502.85 and1503.24 become1503.4 a1503.81 professional1503.96 artist.1504.44 His1505.51 newfound1505.83 passion1506.31 for1506.71 studio1506.95 art,1507.43 in1507.91 fact,1508.07 inspired1508.39 him1508.71 to1508.95 quit1509.11 vandalism.1509.35 Our1510.79 beloved1511.03 French1511.43 teacher,1511.83 Madame1512.63 Tice,1513.03 single1514.15 handedly1514.55 coordinates1515.11 our1515.67 French1515.75 club1515.99 and1516.31 plans1516.47 huge1516.71 events1517.03 to1517.67 foster1517.83 collaboration1518.23 and1519.17 multiculturalism1519.34 in1520.21 our1520.38 community1520.45 and1521.41 push1522.05 us1522.38 to1522.69 adapt1522.93 an1523.26 international1523.49 perspective.1524.05 And1525.17 it1525.34 was1525.49 in1525.65 miss1525.82 Barbara1526.05 Just's1526.45 English1526.78 class1527.1 that1527.34 my1527.49 friend1527.65 Christopher1527.89 felt,1528.45 for1528.93 the1529.1 first1529.26 time,1529.49 truly1529.89 represented1530.53 and1531.02 engaged1531.26 with1531.82 the1531.97 school1532.13 curriculum.1532.45 For1533.77 my1533.93 friend,1534.09 Finn,1534.41 miss1534.81 Keown's1535.05 English1535.53 unit1535.85 on1536.25 disability1536.41 justice1537.05 and1537.53 miss1537.69 Hartle's1537.93 sculptural1538.73 class1539.29 led1539.61 him1539.77 to1540.01 envision1540.09 a1540.49 career1540.65 as1541.45 an1541.69 architect.1541.93 He1542.73 hopes1542.89 to1543.21 design1543.37 spaces1543.77 that1544.57 are1544.81 both1544.89 beautiful1545.13 and1545.61 accessible.1545.85 Humanities1547.36 classes1548.08 spark1548.96 life1549.28 changing1549.52 discoveries,1549.99 but1550.63 without1550.88 adequate1551.28 reform1551.84 in1552.23 the1552.32 funding1552.47 process,1552.8 ensuing1553.6 cuts1554.08 will1554.56 debilitate1554.8 our1555.43 humanities1555.52 curriculum,1556.08 leaving1556.96 the1557.2 faculty1557.36 overstretched1557.91 and1558.47 less1558.63 available1558.88 to1559.28 inspire1559.43 our1559.99 students.1560.08 There's1561.32 nothing1561.56 frivolous1561.88 about1562.36 humanities.1562.76 We1563.96 respectfully1564.28 ask1564.84 you1565.08 to1565.24 remember1565.4 all1565.88 aspects1566.04 of1566.76 how1566.92 high1567.08 school1567.32 prepares1567.56 us1567.96 for1568.12 the1568.28 future.1568.36 Thank1568.92 you.1569.24
1571.16 SPEAKER11571.16 -1571.16 Thank1571.16 you.1571.4 You're1572.36 our1572.6 leaders,1572.84 future1573.82 leaders,1574.21 so1574.53 we1574.77 we1575.01 we1575.26 need1575.41 you.1575.65 That's1575.97 what1576.21 we1576.38 used1576.53 to1576.69 hear1576.77 all1576.93 the1577.1 time1577.17 when1577.41 I1577.58 was1577.65 a1577.82 kid.1577.89 Kids1578.29 are1578.62 our1578.77 future,1578.86 so1579.17 thank1579.89 you1580.13 for1580.29 stepping1580.45 up.1580.86
1586.78 SPEAKER31586.78 -1586.78 Thank1586.78 you1587.02 very1587.26 much.1587.5 To1588.46 the1588.7 members,1588.86 I1589.26 don't1589.34 know1589.5 if1589.66 there's1589.74 any1590.3 questions1590.46 now.1591.02 Seeing1592.46 none,1592.86 so1594.38 11594.62 thing1594.86 to1595.1 mention,1595.26 all1596.06 senators,1596.62 reps,1597.18 we1597.98 all1598.14 have1598.38 we're1598.54 able1598.78 to1599.02 ask1599.18 11599.4 question.1599.57 If1599.88 there's1600.05 a1600.29 question,1600.37 you'd1601.24 like1601.48 to1601.72 ask,1601.88 representatives,1602.13 please,1602.92 contact1603.88 chair1604.37 Dibbs.1604.68 Send1605.01 them1605.16 send1605.33 them1605.48 a1605.64 message.1605.72 For1606.53 the1606.68 senators,1606.85 if1607.24 you1607.4 can1607.57 text1607.72 me1607.97 so,1608.13 we1608.53 can1608.68 make1608.85 sure1609.01 that1609.16 we1609.33 know.1609.48 I1609.81 wanna1609.97 thank1610.21 you1610.45 all1610.61 for,1610.92 for1611.72 your1611.88 testimony.1612.05 Yes,1613.09 senator1613.4 Commerford.1613.72
1614.74 SPEAKER61614.74 -1614.74 Thank1614.74 you,1614.9 mister1615.06 chair.1615.38 I1615.86 just1615.94 wanted1616.18 to1616.42 say1616.58 Amherst,1616.82 you1617.78 rocked1618.02 it.1618.34 Thank1618.66 you1618.82 so1619.14 much.1619.3 And1619.78 thank1620.02 you1620.18 to1620.42 your1620.58 teacher,1620.74 miss1621.06 Seltzer,1621.3 for1622.18 organizing1622.66 this.1623.3 Of1623.62 course,1623.78 thanks1624.02 to1624.34 rep1624.5 Dom.1624.82 What1625.62 you're1625.86 talking1626.02 about1626.34 is1626.58 a1626.74 structural1626.9 problem1627.54 in1627.94 the1628.1 education1628.26 formula,1629.22 and1629.7 we1629.94 need1630.1 to1630.26 crack1630.34 it1630.63 open.1630.88 And1631.6 because1631.84 of1632.08 your1632.23 advocacy1632.47 here1633.04 and1633.84 at1634.08 UMass1634.32 Amherst1634.71 when1635.04 the1635.28 the1635.43 committee1635.6 was1636.08 there1636.23 to1636.47 hear1636.56 about1636.8 education,1637.04 we're1637.84 11638.15 step1638.39 closer.1638.63 So1639.04 thank1639.2 you.1639.36
1641.04 SPEAKER31641.04 -1641.04 Thank1641.04 thank1641.36 you1641.6 all.1641.84
1642.23 SPEAKER161642.23 -1642.23 Thank1642.23 you.1642.47
1644.22 SPEAKER31644.22 -1644.22 And1644.22 up1644.54 next,1644.78 you1645.18 know,1645.34 I1645.42 I1645.58 I1646.22 grad1646.38 graduated1646.94 out1647.34 of1647.5 UMass1647.58 Amherst,1647.9 so1648.22 I1648.38 feel1648.46 like1648.62 I'm1648.78 a1648.86 41649.02 11649.18 31649.42 kid.1649.66 And1650.54 and1650.78 sticking1651.1 to1651.5 that,1651.74 we1652.38 have1652.62 a,1653.1 we1654.06 have1654.3 a1654.46 few1654.54 members,1654.7 that1655.38 are1655.54 from1656.1 the1656.49 Northampton,1656.74 youth1657.78 commission.1658.1 I'm1659.13 gonna1659.3 say1659.93 the1660.17 first1660.34 person1660.65 that's1660.89 up,1661.13 and1661.3 then1661.46 I'm1661.62 gonna1661.7 say1661.93 the1662.17 other1662.34 names1662.58 to1662.89 make1663.06 sure1663.3 that,1663.93 all1665.22 the1665.38 individuals1665.62 are1666.26 ready1666.41 to1666.74 come1666.89 up1667.13 and1667.3 there's1667.46 a1667.78 seamless1668.02 transition.1668.49 Zara1670.02 Usman,1670.41 and1672.47 then1672.63 afterwards,1672.87 it's1673.35 gonna1673.43 be1673.59 Nadia1673.75 Loi1674.39 Orsolic1674.87 and1675.75 then1675.99 Owen1676.31 Daggett.1677.19
1688.14 We1688.14 we1688.46 also1688.63 have1688.94 C.1689.11 Co.1689.35 Helen1689.5 Tajirian1690.3 and,1691.02 and1691.5 then1691.59 Emilian1691.83 Durbin.1692.22 Sarah,1694.38 31695.11 31695.35 31695.74 minutes.1695.98
1696.93 SPEAKER171696.93 -1696.93 Okay.1696.93 Great.1697.25 Thank1697.65 you1697.89 so1698.13 much.1698.29 It1699.33 is1699.57 a1699.81 real1699.97 honor1700.21 to1700.53 be1700.69 here1700.77 today.1701.01 I'm1701.73 my1702.05 name1702.21 is1702.37 Zahra1702.53 Usman.1702.85 I'm1703.33 a1703.49 junior1703.65 at1703.97 Northampton1704.13 High1704.77 School,1704.93 and1705.57 I1705.89 am1706.05 a1706.29 member1706.45 of1706.77 the1706.93 student1707.09 union1707.41 there.1707.89 And1708.45 the1708.77 51709.01 of1709.25 us1709.41 are1709.73 here.1709.89 21710.55 of1710.79 us1711.03 are1711.19 on1711.27 the1711.84 Northampton1711.91 Commission,1712.47 and1713.03 21713.43 of1713.6 us1713.84 are1714.15 on1714.32 the1714.47 Northampton1714.55 High1715.03 School1715.19 Student1715.36 Union.1715.6 And1716.15 11716.23 of1716.39 us1716.47 is1716.63 on1716.79 both.1716.95 So,1717.36 it's1718.15 a1718.32 very1718.47 honor1718.63 to1718.88 be1719.03 here.1719.12 I'm1719.99 just1720.55 gonna1720.79 talk1721.12 about1721.27 the1721.75 budget1721.91 situation1722.41 in1722.57 Northampton1722.73 a1723.01 little1723.29 bit.1723.53 From1723.93 the1724.25 last1724.41 fiscal1724.73 year,1725.13 we1725.93 had,1726.17 over1726.89 201727.13 positions1727.45 cut1727.93 in1728.25 our1728.41 district,1728.57 and1728.97 the1729.29 original1729.45 proposed1729.93 cuts1730.33 were1730.57 for1730.81 40.1730.97 And1731.61 then,1731.77 our1732.49 mayor1732.73 found1733.21 some1733.53 money1733.69 and,1734.09 reinstated1734.73 some1735.37 positions.1735.53 And1736.33 coming1736.48 to1736.64 this1736.8 next1737.13 budget1737.37 season,1737.68 we're1738.01 looking1738.24 at1738.48 another1738.64 201739.04 cuts.1739.37 And1741.13 those1741.28 reductions1741.52 have1742.24 had1742.48 the1742.64 impacts1742.88 of1743.44 increased1744.24 pressure1744.64 on1744.96 paras.1745.2 We1745.61 hear1745.76 it1746.01 time1746.09 and1746.33 time1746.4 again1746.64 in1746.8 city1746.96 council1747.28 and1747.52 school1747.68 committee1747.92 meetings1748.24 for1748.88 901749.13 minutes1749.44 each1749.85 time1750.01 that1750.89 our1751.13 paraeducators1751.29 are1752.09 struggling.1752.33 IEPs1752.89 are1753.45 struggling1753.69 to1754.09 be1754.25 met1754.33 if1754.49 being1754.73 met1754.97 at1755.13 all.1755.29 As1756.49 the1756.73 Amherst1756.89 students1757.37 just1757.69 talked1757.93 about,1758.17 electives1758.65 are1759.21 being1759.45 cut1759.69 and,1760.33 opportunities1761.29 for1761.93 students1762.09 to1762.41 explore1762.57 their1763.05 interests1763.21 are1763.93 just1764.09 going1764.33 away.1764.65 Additional1766.54 support1767.02 in1767.41 classes1767.58 is1768.3 just,1768.78 like,1769.02 nonexistent1769.58 as1770.7 bigger1771.02 class1771.41 sizes1771.65 ranging1772.3 on,1772.78 like,1772.93 301773.26 students1774.06 in1774.46 a1774.62 class1774.7 have1775.02 made1775.17 it1775.34 impossible1775.49 for1776.06 teachers1776.22 to1776.54 give1776.62 specialized1776.86 attention1777.34 to1777.74 students.1777.89 There's1778.54 been1778.78 a1778.86 loss1778.94 of1779.34 mental1779.5 health1779.74 support1780.06 as,1780.7 adjustment1781.82 counselors1782.22 and1782.78 guidance1783.02 counselors1783.34 have1783.82 been1784.06 cut1784.22 from1784.38 those1784.7 departments,1784.94 making1785.9 a1786.22 caseload1786.38 of1786.94 up1787.18 to,1787.26 like,1787.42 3001787.66 to1788.14 3501788.3 students1789.1 per,1789.5 counselor.1790.3 And1791.1 in1791.26 some1791.42 cases,1791.66 we1792.14 only1792.3 have,1792.62 for1793.04 instance,1793.37 in1793.92 NHS,1794.16 we1794.64 only1794.8 have1795.04 11795.2 adjustment1795.44 counselor1795.92 to1796.64 serve1796.8 all1797.13 the1797.37 students1797.44 not1798.09 under1798.33 IEPs.1798.72 So1799.37 that's1799.53 around,1799.85 like,1800.09 7501800.4 students1801.44 for1802.01 a1802.24 caseload.1802.33
1804.96 Our1804.96 schools1805.13 and1805.61 any1806.3 school1806.54 in1806.78 Massachusetts,1806.94 any1807.58 school1807.74 in1807.98 this1808.14 country1808.3 already1809.1 needed1809.34 more1809.66 support.1809.9 Coming1810.3 out1810.54 of1810.7 post1810.86 COVID,1811.1 where1811.58 there1811.82 was1811.98 an1812.14 immense1812.22 amount1812.62 of1812.78 learning1813.18 loss,1813.5 students1814.22 just1814.78 need1815.1 additional,1815.58 mental1816.62 health1816.94 and1817.58 academic1818.06 support1818.62 to1819.02 be1819.18 able1819.26 to1819.5 succeed1819.66 in1820.06 this1820.3 new1820.54 environment.1820.7 And1822.24 Northampton1822.57 Public1823.21 Schools1823.45 doesn't1824.09 benefit1824.4 from1824.88 any1825.13 of1825.37 the1825.61 funding1825.92 reforms1826.33 in1827.21 chapter1827.45 701827.77 that1828.24 give1828.4 money1828.57 to1828.88 schools,1829.13 or,1830.16 like,1830.33 similar1830.57 to1830.88 us.1831.05 For1831.21 instance,1831.45 we're1831.68 not1831.92 a1832.09 regional1832.16 school,1832.57 so1833.05 we1833.21 don't,1833.37 get1833.92 extra1834.16 funding.1834.4 And1834.72 we're1834.88 also1835.05 not1835.37 a1835.53 rural1835.61 school1836.01 because1836.24 we1836.57 live1836.72 in1836.88 a1836.96 city.1837.13 So,1838.06 the1838.7 the1839.26 chapter1839.5 701839.82 funding1840.22 formula1840.54 just1841.1 really1841.26 doesn't1841.5 work1841.74 for1841.98 us.1842.14 And1843.02 our1843.42 town1843.9 has1844.38 been1844.7 divided1845.1 by1846.06 the1846.38 issue1846.54 of1846.86 school1847.02 funding.1847.34 You1847.98 can1848.06 hear1848.3 it1848.46 at1848.62 every1848.78 city1849.02 council,1849.34 every1849.74 school1849.98 committee1850.22 meeting.1850.62 Our1851.16 the1851.88 people1852.13 in1852.37 our1852.53 town1852.61 are1852.85 oppositional1853.09 on1853.97 this1854.13 subject,1854.29 and1854.85 we1855.73 know1855.88 as1856.61 students1856.85 that1857.24 it's1857.49 a1857.64 bigger1857.81 issue,1858.21 a1858.53 state1858.68 issue1858.92 that1859.64 needs1859.88 to1860.13 be1860.29 solved1860.45 through1860.77 the1861.01 restructuring1861.4 of1861.97 the1862.05 chapter1862.21 71862.61 701863.24 funding1863.49 formula1863.88 and1864.53 bills1864.68 such1865.01 as1865.33 s,1865.49 401866.13 400.1866.8 Excuse1867.2 me.1867.76 My1868.8 peers1868.96 and1869.28 I1869.36 were1869.6 here1869.76 today1870 to1870.32 advocate1870.4 for1870.72 an1870.88 increase1871.04 in1871.36 chapter1871.52 701871.84 funding1872.16 for1872.64 this1872.8 fiscal1872.96 year1873.36 as1873.76 well1873.92 as1874.16 an1874.32 increase1874.48 in1874.72 minimum1874.88 aid.1875.36 But,1876.48 however,1876.72 we1877.28 as1877.52 I1877.68 said1877.84 before,1878 the1878.4 system1878.56 isn't1878.8 working,1879.04 and1879.28 we1879.44 urge1879.52 you1879.76 to1879.92 restructure1880 the1880.48 formula.1880.64 Thank1880.96 you1881.2 so1881.36 much1881.52 for1881.68 your1881.84 time.1882
1889.38 SPEAKER181889.38 -1889.38 Good1889.38 afternoon,1889.71 and1890.18 thank1890.42 you1890.59 for1890.74 allowing1890.9 me1891.23 to1891.31 speak1891.47 in1891.71 front1891.79 of1891.95 you1892.11 today.1892.27 My1892.9 name1893.07 is1893.23 Nadia1893.38 Loyarslick,1893.71 and1894.35 I'm1894.42 a1894.59 junior1894.66 from1894.99 the1895.14 Northampton1895.23 School1895.79 District.1896.03 I'm1896.96 here1897.2 speaking1897.44 on1897.76 behalf1897.92 of1898.16 myself.1898.24 Yes.1898.72 I1898.96 also1899.12 serve1899.44 as1899.68 a1899.8 member1899.92 of1900.24 our1900.32 school's1900.48 student1900.8 union1901.12 and1901.44 school1901.6 council.1901.92 Over1902.8 the1903.04 past1903.2 few1903.44 years,1903.68 me1904 and1904.24 other1904.32 students1904.56 from1904.88 my1905.12 community1905.2 have1905.76 been1905.92 battling1906.08 a1906.48 budget1906.56 crisis1906.88 that1907.36 has1907.52 severely1907.68 impacted1908.16 the1908.56 state1908.64 of1908.88 our1909.04 schools.1909.12 The1910.03 instability1910.27 of1910.83 our1910.98 budget1911.14 is1911.55 not1911.71 just1911.87 an1912.03 infliction1912.11 on1912.59 schools'1912.74 resources,1913.14 it's1913.87 an1914.11 infliction1914.27 on1914.66 the1914.83 safeties1914.98 of1915.38 the1915.47 members1915.63 of1915.95 our1916.03 school1916.18 district.1916.51 Just1917.38 within1917.63 the1917.95 year,1918.11 our1918.42 district1918.59 has1919.07 compiled1919.22 countless1919.79 injury1920.18 reports1920.51 from1920.83 the1920.98 teachers1921.07 in1921.38 our1921.55 school1921.71 districts,1921.95 especially1922.75 for1923.07 those1923.23 working1923.39 with1923.71 younger1923.95 students1924.19 in1924.59 elementary1924.75 schools.1925.39 This1926.27 problem1926.51 has1926.91 only1927.07 worsened1927.31 as1927.71 class1927.87 sizes1928.11 have1928.51 increased.1928.67 As1929.47 Zarr1929.79 mentioned,1930.03 a1930.35 lot1930.43 of1930.55 this1930.67 has1930.91 stemmed1930.99 from1931.31 the1931.55 lack1931.63 of1931.79 parent1931.95 educators1932.27 and1932.83 proper1932.99 support1933.31 in1933.63 classrooms1933.79 for1934.35 students1934.51 learn1934.91 struggling1935.23 with1935.63 learning1935.79 disabilities.1936.11 In1937.4 law1937.64 61937.88 01938.13 3,1938.28 c1938.53 m1938.68 r1938.85 28,1939.09 section1939.57 8,1940.04 it1940.44 states1940.68 for1940.92 public1941.16 school1941.48 programs1941.72 that1942.2 integrate1942.37 children1942.77 with1943.16 and1943.4 without1943.57 disabilities,1943.96 the1944.77 class1945.01 size1945.24 shall1945.48 not1945.72 exceed1945.96 201946.28 with1946.68 11946.92 teacher1947.09 and1947.48 11947.64 aide1947.88 and1948.2 no1948.37 more1948.53 than1948.68 51948.92 students1949.16 with1949.48 disabilities.1949.64 If1950.65 the1950.69 number1950.73 of1950.89 students1951.05 with1951.45 disabilities1951.69 is1952.17 61952.25 or1952.49 7,1952.65 then1953.21 the1953.45 class1953.61 size1953.85 may1954.09 not1954.33 exceed1954.57 151954.97 students1955.29 with1955.69 11955.93 teacher1956.09 and1956.41 11956.57 aide.1956.81 With1957.45 the1957.61 severity1957.77 of1958.25 the1958.33 cuts1958.49 our1958.81 district1958.97 is1959.29 facing,1959.45 these1960.01 criteria1960.25 may1960.81 not1960.97 be1961.21 met.1961.37 Not1962.01 only1962.25 does1962.49 this1962.73 impact1962.89 the1963.21 quality1963.37 of1963.69 learning1963.77 for1964.17 all1964.33 the1964.49 kids1964.57 already1964.97 struggling1965.21 with1965.61 education,1965.99 but1966.72 it1966.88 impacts1967.12 the1967.43 teachers1967.6 and1967.84 parents1967.99 who1968.32 are1968.48 handling1968.63 more1969.04 than1969.2 they1969.36 can1969.52 safely1969.67 handle.1970.08 It's1970.88 gotten1971.12 to1971.36 the1971.52 point1971.6 where1971.84 at1972.23 least1972.39 of1972.63 ours1972.88 41973.28 of1973.52 our1973.67 staff1973.84 members1974.08 have1974.39 quit1974.63 in1974.88 the1975.04 middle1975.2 of1975.43 the1975.52 year1975.67 because1975.99 of1976.32 these1976.39 overwhelming1976.63 conditions.1977.2 Just1978.49 to1978.65 put1978.73 it1978.85 in1978.97 perspective,1979.21 Northampton,1979.85 in1980.49 comparison1980.73 to1981.13 some1981.29 districts1981.61 surrounding1982.01 us,1982.33 is1982.73 11982.89 of1983.13 the1983.21 more1983.29 privileged1983.61 school1984.17 districts.1984.41 Though1985.37 they1985.61 may1985.77 not1985.93 be1986.09 represented1986.25 today,1986.81 those1987.29 students1987.61 in1988.01 the1988.17 other1988.25 districts1988.49 deserve1988.97 a1989.29 chance1989.37 for1989.61 their1989.77 situations1990.01 to1990.49 be1990.74 considered1990.9 as1991.55 they1991.71 are1991.87 going1991.95 through1992.18 similar,1992.51 if1992.83 not1993.07 worse1993.23 conditions1993.55 as1993.87 Northampton.1994.11 It's1995.31 not1995.55 just1995.71 an1995.95 issue1996.03 of1996.35 proper1996.42 education1996.74 anymore.1997.23 It's1997.87 an1998.11 issue1998.27 of1998.59 our1998.74 safety1998.9 and1999.31 our1999.47 future.1999.63 I'm2000.83 here2001.07 along2001.38 with2001.63 my2001.79 peers2001.95 asking2002.35 for2002.66 your2002.83 support2003.07 and2003.31 increases2003.47 in2003.95 minimum2004.11 aid2004.42 and2004.83 restructuring2005.15 of2005.87 chapter2006.03 702006.43 funding2006.75 so2007.31 that2007.47 we2007.63 can2007.79 stop2007.95 our2008.27 situation2008.43 and2008.99 many2009.23 others2009.55 from2009.79 worsening.2009.95 Thank2010.83 you.2011.07
2014.67 SPEAKER32014.67 -2014.67 Owen.2014.67
2018.05 SPEAKER192018.05 -2018.05 Hello,2018.05 Ways2018.45 and2018.68 Means2018.85 Committee.2019.09 I'm2020.05 Owen2020.29 oh,2020.77 can2021.01 I2021.16 go?2021.24 Yeah.2021.64 I'm2022.37 Owen2022.68 Daggett2022.92 from2023.24 the2023.48 Northampton,2023.64 Massachusetts,2024.13 and2024.68 I'm2024.85 a2025.01 sophomore2025.16 at2025.57 Northampton2025.81 High2026.29 School.2026.53 Chapter2027.57 702027.96 funding,2028.37 as2028.85 many2029.45 of2029.69 you2029.77 know,2029.93 has2030.25 left2030.49 countless2030.73 school2031.13 districts2031.37 across2031.77 Massachusetts2032.17 behind2032.81 while2033.37 also2033.61 leaving2033.85 municipalities2034.25 with2035.13 difficult2035.37 decisions.2035.77 In2036.57 Northampton,2036.81 622037.69 Percent2038.09 of2038.41 our2038.57 budget2038.65 goes2038.97 to2039.13 education2039.29 spending.2039.77 This2040.41 underscores2040.65 the2041.13 power2041.29 that2041.69 formulas2041.85 such2042.25 as2042.49 chapter2042.65 702042.97 have2043.53 on2043.77 entire2044.2 municipalities.2044.52 How2045.88 is2046.04 our2046.2 city2046.67 supposed2047.08 to2047.39 prioritize2047.56 education2048.2 while2049.32 also2049.64 funding2049.95 an2050.36 entire2050.52 city?2050.91 While2051.72 I2051.95 hear2052.04 often2052.28 from2052.52 the2052.76 state2052.84 of2053.16 historic2053.32 new2053.72 funding2053.95 initiatives,2054.28 many2055.72 cities2055.95 across2056.2 Massachusetts2056.52 are2057.24 having2057.39 to2057.55 contemplate2057.72 historic2059.87 cuts2060.19 due2060.59 to2060.75 historic2060.91 debt.2061.23 While2062.83 I2062.95 understand2063.07 many2063.63 priorities2063.79 of2064.19 this2064.27 legislature2064.51 and2065.23 budget2065.39 during2065.95 uncertain2066.35 times,2067.15 it2067.47 is2067.63 hard2067.79 to2067.95 think2068.11 of2068.27 a2068.43 more2068.51 pressing2068.67 issue2069.07 for2069.39 the2069.55 many2069.71 districts2069.95 receiving2071.07 chapter2071.39 782071.8 across2072.28 Massachusetts,2072.68 a2073.39 majority2073.55 in2073.95 the2074.11 Commonwealth.2074.28 It2075.24 appears2075.39 that2075.8 momentum2076.43 to2076.91 increase2077.07 chapter2077.39 702077.72 funding,2078.04 something2078.43 that2078.68 has2078.84 not2078.99 been2079.16 adequately2079.32 addressed2079.8 in2080.11 this2080.28 year's2080.36 budget,2080.68 has2081.24 finally2081.47 come2081.8 to2081.95 the2082.11 attention2082.2 of2082.59 the2082.76 state.2082.84 It2083.41 would2083.53 be2083.65 a2083.97 complete2084.05 disaster2084.53 for2085.01 this2085.25 motion2085.41 to2085.73 be2085.81 overlooked,2086.05 and2087.89 deny2088.13 thousands2088.53 of2088.85 students2089.01 across2089.49 Massachusetts2089.89 the2090.69 education2090.85 that2091.25 they2091.49 deserve.2091.65 This2093.01 state2093.25 values2093.49 education2093.89 so2094.69 highly2094.93 and2095.41 has2095.68 waited2095.84 far2096.09 too2096.48 long2096.57 to2096.89 truly2097.05 address2097.45 the2097.84 inequities2098.09 of2098.64 chapter2098.8 702099.13 funding2099.45 as2099.93 this2100.09 budget2100.24 has2100.57 shown.2100.72 Western2101.45 Massachusetts2101.84 and2102.57 the2102.72 entire2102.97 state2103.45 cannot2103.93 afford2104.24 to2104.57 wait2104.72 another2104.89 152105.2 years2105.53 before2105.84 funded2106.24 formulas2106.8 are2107.45 looked2107.61 into2107.84 again.2108.24 At2109.54 the2109.62 ways2109.78 and2110.02 means2110.18 committee,2110.5 on2111.3 education2111.54 and2112.02 local2112.1 aid,2112.34 it2112.82 was2112.98 made2113.14 very2113.3 clear2113.54 that2114.02 the2114.34 education2114.5 department2114.98 will2115.38 follow2115.54 the2115.78 legislature2115.94 in2116.58 regard2116.82 to2117.14 reforming2117.3 chapter2117.62 70.2118.02 Far2118.74 too2118.98 many2119.14 government2119.38 workers2119.78 have2120.1 been2120.26 cut2120.42 this2120.66 year,2120.82 And2121.32 the2121.55 sooner2121.64 the2122.03 legislature2122.2 looks2122.84 to2123.23 reform2123.39 or2123.71 at2123.95 least2124.03 bolster2124.28 chapter2124.68 78,2125.07 the2125.88 less2126.03 public2126.28 teachers2126.59 will2127.16 be2127.32 cut2127.47 and2127.71 the2127.88 fewer2127.95 students2128.28 will2128.76 be2128.91 left2128.99 behind.2129.23 You2129.64 know,2129.88 I2130.11 I2131.23 don't2131.39 think2131.64 I've2131.8 ever2131.95 come2132.2 across2132.36 a2132.68 district2132.76 that2133.57 is2133.89 thrilled2134.29 or2134.77 feels2135.65 that2135.89 chapter2136.13 782136.45 is2137.17 adequate2137.65 for2138.05 them,2138.21 and2139.25 this2139.73 has2139.97 affected2140.21 countless2141.73 districts2142.37 right2142.93 next2143.17 to2143.33 each2143.41 other.2143.57 I2143.81 can2143.89 think2144.05 of2144.29 many2144.45 who2144.69 are,2144.85 going2147.34 to2147.57 cut2147.74 likely2148.3 20,2149.49 either2151.18 cut2151.89 20,2152.22 public2153.82 school2154.14 staff2154.45 or,2154.78 go2156.3 further2156.54 into2156.78 debt.2157.09 So2157.41 please2158.22 look2158.78 into2158.93 chapter2159.18 702159.49 before.2159.89
2162.4 SPEAKER32162.4 -2162.4 Thank2162.4 you.2162.64 Seko2163.12 Helen2163.68 Tajarian?2164.64
2165.68 SPEAKER202165.68 -2165.68 Yes.2165.68 You2166.4 can2166.48 just2166.64 call2166.8 me2166.96 Helen.2167.12 Thank2167.52 you.2167.76 Good2169.28 morning,2169.6 everybody.2170 I2170.48 am2170.64 Helen,2170.88 a2171.28 162171.44 year2171.76 old2171.92 resident2172.16 of2172.64 rural2172.88 Sunderland,2173.2 which2174.72 is2175.04 just2175.28 surrounded2175.52 by2176 farmlands.2177.03 And2177.91 I've2178.16 choice2178.32 into2178.64 Northampton2179.03 High2179.59 School2179.76 in2179.99 Northampton,2180.16 which2180.95 is,2181.11 more2181.59 sort2181.99 of2182.16 a2182.24 city2182.39 where2182.72 I'm2182.95 a2183.11 junior.2183.28 I'm2184.24 testifying2184.39 before2185.03 you2185.36 as2185.84 a2186.07 school2186.24 choice2186.47 student2186.8 who2187.28 found2187.51 the2187.68 funding2188.24 and2188.64 opportunities2188.8 for2189.43 my2189.59 local2189.76 rural2190.07 high2190.32 school2190.55 to2190.8 be2190.95 inadequate.2191.11 On2192.28 the2192.44 opposite2192.52 end2192.84 of2193 the2193.16 spectrum2193.32 are2194.36 charter2194.52 schools2194.92 who2195.56 draw2196.04 money2196.36 away2196.6 from2196.84 local2197.08 public2197.4 schools2197.64 such2197.96 as2198.28 mine.2198.36 The2199.16 Commonwealth2199.32 has2199.8 a2199.96 commitment2200.12 to2200.52 public2200.68 schools,2201 and2201.4 bill2201.56 s2201.88 32202.12 82202.28 92202.52 not2202.76 only2202.92 addresses2203.24 this,2203.64 but2204.04 can2204.2 be2204.36 amended2204.52 with2204.92 language2205.08 from2205.56 HD2205.8 42206.2 42206.36 32206.6 92206.76 to2207.03 be2207.18 even2207.26 more2207.51 effective.2207.74 My2208.7 public2208.86 school2209.11 minimum2209.42 aid2209.82 district2210.07 has2210.46 faced2210.63 a2210.86 multitude2211.03 of2211.59 budget2211.74 cuts2212.07 that2212.78 have2212.94 affected2213.11 our2213.51 public2213.66 schools2213.9 deeply2214.22 and2214.63 resulted2214.86 in2215.18 student2215.34 protests2215.74 and2216.22 municipal2216.46 tension,2217.42 and2217.74 I2217.9 can2218.07 just2218.22 keep2218.39 on2218.55 going2218.7 on,2219.79 honestly.2219.95 Though2220.27 I2220.43 speak2220.59 on2220.83 behalf2220.99 of2221.31 myself,2221.39 it2221.87 has2222.11 been2222.35 frustrating2222.59 as2223.15 a2223.23 member2223.31 of2223.63 both2223.79 the2224.03 student2224.19 union2224.51 and2224.91 vice2225.15 chair2225.39 of2225.63 my2225.87 city's2225.95 youth2226.27 commission2226.59 to2227.31 have2227.47 to2227.63 continually2227.79 advocate2228.27 for2228.75 my2228.91 education2229.07 and2229.87 that2230.03 of2230.27 my2230.35 peers2230.51 and2230.83 be2230.99 met2231.15 with2231.39 a2231.55 hard2231.63 reality2231.87 that2232.64 this2232.8 is2232.95 not2233.03 something2233.28 that2233.59 is2233.84 just2233.99 relegated2234.23 to2234.71 our2234.88 municipality,2235.19 but2236.23 rather2236.47 an2236.88 issue2237.03 that2237.28 is2237.43 far2237.59 larger2237.84 than2238.23 just2238.47 Northampton.2238.8 I2240.07 come2240.32 before2240.47 you2240.71 today2240.95 to2241.28 ask2241.43 that2241.68 you2241.84 reopen2241.99 funding2242.39 formulas2242.71 so2243.19 that2243.43 students2243.59 across2243.99 Massachusetts2244.39 can2245.36 have2245.51 access2245.99 to2246.31 equitable2246.79 education.2248.15 Senators2249.51 and2249.91 representatives,2250.07 thank2250.87 you2251.11 for2251.19 your2251.35 time.2251.51
2253.75 SPEAKER32253.75 -2253.75 Thank2253.75 you.2253.99 Amelia2254.31 Durban.2254.79
2260.08 SPEAKER212260.08 -2260.08 Alright.2260.08 Hello,2260.47 everyone.2260.88 My2261.36 name2261.43 is2261.68 Amelia2261.84 Durbin.2262.32 I2263.04 am2263.2 a2263.43 resident2263.59 of2263.99 Northampton,2264.16 Massachusetts.2264.72 I'm2266.08 162266.32 years2266.72 old2266.95 and2267.2 a2267.36 junior2267.52 at2267.91 Northampton2268.16 High2268.72 School.2268.88 I2270.16 am2270.39 extremely2270.64 fortunate2271.11 and2271.68 very2271.84 grateful2272.08 to2272.56 be2272.64 a2272.8 student2272.88 in2273.34 a2273.5 state2273.58 that2273.82 is2274.06 consistently2274.3 ranked2274.86 top2275.26 in2275.58 education2275.82 in2276.3 this2276.46 country.2276.62 However,2277.98 this2278.3 quality2278.46 of2278.86 education2279.02 is2279.5 not2279.66 equitably2279.9 received2280.62 across2281.34 the2281.74 Commonwealth.2281.9 I2283.18 don't2283.34 understand2283.58 why2284.3 we2284.46 considered2284.62 first2285.26 when2285.98 when2287.47 districts2287.8 like2288.03 mine2288.28 have2288.59 laid2288.76 off2288.91 over2289.16 302289.39 public2289.72 school2290.03 teachers2290.36 in2290.76 the2290.91 past2290.99 22291.24 years,2291.39 and2291.95 we're2292.2 looking2292.28 at2292.59 another2292.91 202293.32 plus2293.72 this2294.03 budget2294.28 cycle.2294.68 Districts2296.03 like2296.43 mine2296.68 and2296.91 other2297.07 minimum2297.47 aid,2298.03 rural,2298.36 or2298.76 declining2298.84 enrollment2299.32 districts2299.8 are2300.28 facing2300.36 elementary2300.76 class2301.18 sizes2301.58 of2301.82 302302.06 to2302.38 402302.54 kids2302.86 per2303.26 class2303.5 with2303.82 12304.06 educator.2304.38 Our2305.82 most2306.06 vulnerable2306.3 students,2306.78 English2307.58 language2307.98 learners,2308.38 low2309.02 income2309.26 students,2309.58 students2310.22 with2310.54 learning2310.78 differences2311.02 are2311.98 left2312.14 behind2312.46 and2312.86 without2313.02 the2313.26 resources2313.42 to2313.98 be2314.06 educated2314.22 equitably.2314.94 These2316.38 are2316.45 not2316.61 the2316.86 conditions2317.09 in2317.57 which2317.82 youth2318.05 can2318.45 learn2318.61 at2318.86 the2319.09 level2319.26 that2319.66 our2319.89 state2320.05 claims2320.38 to2320.61 provide.2320.7 Every2322.38 year,2322.78 my2323.02 city2323.26 must2323.57 choose2323.74 between2324.05 funding2324.38 public2324.7 education2325.02 and2325.57 funding2325.82 the2326.05 other2326.22 provisions2326.45 required2327.02 and2327.34 guaranteed2327.57 by2328.05 a2328.3 municipal2328.38 government.2328.93 The2330.77 reality2330.93 is2331.33 public2331.65 education2332.05 funding2332.45 in2332.85 my2333.01 community2333.17 has2333.73 been2333.89 neglected2334.05 for2334.53 years,2334.69 and2335.41 just2335.65 like2335.81 the2336.13 responsibility2336.29 lawfully2337.09 falls2337.57 on2337.89 both2337.97 the2338.21 state2338.37 and2338.61 municipality2338.85 to2339.65 fund2339.73 education,2340.05 so2340.93 does2341.09 the2341.33 blame2341.41 for2341.73 this2341.89 oversight.2342.13 Districts2343.82 like2344.14 mine2344.45 desperately2344.86 need2345.49 more2345.74 state2345.89 funding2346.14 and2346.86 not2347.02 through2347.18 the2347.41 current2347.49 formulas.2347.82 A2349.1 6%2349.34 increase2350.06 in2350.45 chapter2350.62 702351.02 is2351.49 great2351.66 until2351.97 you2352.45 realize2352.7 that2353.18 we2353.49 will2353.74 receive2353.97 a2354.3 2.37%2354.38 increase2355.66 over2356.14 an2356.38 already2356.54 insufficient2356.86 amount2357.41 of2357.74 money.2357.89 Increasing2358.92 minimum2359.32 aid2359.72 is2359.96 great2360.12 until2360.44 it2360.84 becomes2360.92 part2361.24 of2361.48 what2361.56 is2361.72 adding2361.96 to2362.2 the2362.36 growing2362.52 budget2362.76 deficits2363.16 faced2363.96 by2364.2 districts2364.36 like2364.84 mine2365 and2365.32 other2365.48 surrounding2365.8 in2366.28 the2366.36 area.2366.44 Please2368.12 support2368.6 bill2369.08 s2369.4 4002369.64 and2370.45 reopen2370.61 the2371.01 funding2371.18 formulas2371.49 that2371.97 fund2372.14 public2372.38 education2372.78 in2373.26 the2373.41 Commonwealth.2373.57 The2374.7 Student2374.93 Opportunity2375.26 Act2375.89 was2376.22 and2376.53 continues2376.78 to2377.26 be2377.41 an2377.66 important2377.89 and2378.3 effective2378.45 piece2378.86 of2379.09 legislation,2379.26 for2380.86 many2381.09 municipalities2381.49 across2382.22 the2382.53 state.2382.7 However,2383.61 funding2383.93 education2384.49 is2385.13 not2385.37 a2385.53 12385.61 size2385.85 fits2386.09 all2386.33 feat,2386.49 and2387.37 currently,2387.69 your2388.41 system2388.65 is2389.21 not2389.37 working.2389.61 Students2391.05 like2391.45 myself,2391.77 my2392.33 22392.57 younger2392.73 sisters,2393.13 my2393.53 peers2393.69 here2394.01 today,2394.25 the2395.13 educatives2395.29 we2396.49 learn2396.65 from2396.97 and2397.29 look2397.53 up2397.77 to2397.93 are2398.59 all2398.82 facing2399.47 the2399.79 fall.2399.95 So2400.27 we2400.51 really2400.66 truly2400.99 need2401.39 more2401.55 state2401.79 funding,2402.66 and2403.07 we2403.22 need2403.39 to2403.55 reopen2403.7 the2404.03 funding2404.18 formulas2404.59 that2405.07 fund2405.22 districts2405.39 like2405.86 mine.2406.03 Thank2406.59 you2406.82 all2406.99 for2407.14 your2407.3 time.2407.47 Appreciate2407.79 it.2408.27
2409.47 SPEAKER12409.47 -2409.47 Thank2409.47 you.2409.7 Great2409.95 job.2410.27 Rep2411.7 Sabadosa.2411.95
2415.06 SPEAKER222415.06 -2415.06 Hi.2415.06 Thank2415.94 you2416.18 so2416.5 much2416.74 for2417.14 being2417.38 here2417.62 today2418.34 and2418.66 for2418.98 for2419.3 all2419.54 of2419.7 your2419.78 comments.2420.02 I2420.5 really,2420.74 just2421.62 wanna2421.86 say2422.1 that2422.18 I2422.34 appreciate,2422.58 first2423.06 of2423.3 all,2423.38 that2423.46 you've2423.62 come2423.86 here2424.02 in2424.34 person,2424.5 which2424.9 makes2425.14 a2425.38 huge2425.46 difference.2425.78 And2426.26 I2426.5 want2426.66 to2427.51 underscore2427.82 that2428.3 this2428.55 is2428.78 the2428.86 first2428.95 step2429.18 in2429.66 a2429.82 long2429.98 process.2430.22 So2430.63 we're2430.78 gonna2430.95 do2431.82 what2432.14 we2432.39 we2432.78 can2432.95 do2433.18 in2433.43 this2433.59 budget,2433.74 but2434.07 you've2434.22 talked2434.47 about2434.7 many2434.95 other2435.18 pieces2435.34 of2435.66 legislation.2435.82 So2436.39 I2436.55 want2436.7 you2436.95 to2437.11 know2437.26 that,2437.59 your2438.14 advocacy2438.39 is2439.03 going2439.11 to2439.34 continue2439.43 to2439.91 be2439.98 needed2440.14 in2440.78 lots2441.02 of2441.18 fronts.2441.42 And2442.3 I2442.54 appreciate2442.86 how2443.58 you2443.74 have2443.98 turned2444.62 the2445.02 conversation2445.18 to2445.82 where2445.98 it2446.22 needs2446.3 to2446.54 be,2446.62 to2446.86 the2447.02 state,2447.1 because2448.14 this2448.86 is2449.1 a2449.18 state2449.34 issue.2449.66 It's2450.3 not2450.62 just2450.78 a2451.02 local2451.18 issue.2451.5 You're2451.82 right,2452.06 it2452.38 is2452.46 tearing2452.81 communities2453.13 apart,2453.53 and2453.85 we2454.01 don't2454.24 want2454.49 to2454.72 see2454.81 that.2454.97 But2456.01 I2456.16 I2456.33 won't2456.49 I2456.72 won't2456.89 speak2457.05 for2457.29 Senator2457.45 Comfort,2457.85 but2458.16 I2458.33 think2458.41 I2458.64 can2458.72 say2458.89 that2459.45 we2459.61 both2459.77 really,2460.01 really2460.24 want2460.49 to2460.72 work2460.81 with2461.05 you2461.2 on2461.36 this2461.53 and2461.85 and2462.16 resolve2462.72 these2463.13 issues2463.29 for2463.68 Northampton,2464.01 for2464.57 Amherst,2464.72 and2465.13 all2465.29 the2465.45 other2465.53 school2465.85 children2466.16 that2466.49 I2466.64 see2466.72 walking2466.97 in2467.29 here2467.45 today.2467.68 So2467.93 thank2468.51 you2468.75 for2468.91 for2469.39 coming2469.47 and2469.79 for2469.95 making2470.11 your2470.27 voices2470.51 heard.2470.83
2472.11 SPEAKER32472.11 -2472.11 Vice2472.11 chair2472.43 Commerford.2472.67
2473.47 SPEAKER62473.47 -2473.47 Thank2473.47 you2473.71 so2473.87 much,2473.95 mister2474.27 chair.2474.59 Northampton,2476.27 you2476.99 rocked2477.23 it.2477.63 Like2478.27 Amherst.2478.59 Right?2479.07 Your2479.31 voices2479.47 are2480.03 centered2480.27 in2480.75 this2480.91 conversation2481.47 because2482.11 you've2482.43 made2482.75 them2482.99 centered,2483.31 and2484.36 that's2484.52 the2484.84 power2484.99 you2485.32 have2485.47 as2485.72 a2485.88 rising2486.11 young2486.91 electorate.2487.16 And2488.28 I2488.43 will2488.59 just2488.76 say2488.91 for2489.08 the2489.24 edification2489.39 of2489.88 committee2490.11 members2490.52 and2490.76 as2490.99 rep2491.24 Sabadossa2491.39 knows,2492.11 this2492.52 is2492.76 not2492.84 the2493.08 first2493.16 time2493.32 these2493.64 students2493.8 have2494.2 come2494.36 to2494.91 the2495.16 state2495.32 house.2495.56 They2495.8 were2495.95 here2496.2 to2496.36 speak2496.52 directly2496.76 to2497.16 secretary2497.39 Tutwiler2497.95 with2498.78 this2499.02 very2499.18 same2499.58 ask2499.98 that2500.22 we2500.46 reopen2500.78 the2501.18 chapter2501.34 702501.66 formula,2502.06 and2502.78 then2502.94 we2503.02 tackle2503.18 the2503.58 inequities2503.82 that2504.78 are2505.02 facing2505.18 the2505.66 majority2505.9 of2506.38 school2506.62 districts2506.94 in2507.66 the2507.82 state2507.98 right2508.3 now.2508.54 So2508.78 kudos.2509.02 Thank2509.74 you,2509.98 mister2510.14 chair.2510.46
2514.36 SPEAKER12514.36 -2514.36 Thank2514.36 you,2514.59 guys.2514.76 Noel2515.8 Trent2516.19 doctor2516.59 Noel2516.99 Trent2517.32 is2517.64 next.2517.8
2518.43 SPEAKER32518.43 -2518.43 And2518.43 then2518.68 Alan2518.91 Burt.2519.23
2521.39 SPEAKER12521.39 -2521.39 And2521.39 then2521.55 Alan2521.88 Burt.2522.28
2542.39 SPEAKER232542.39 -2542.39 Good2542.39 morning,2542.7 chairman2543.11 Diggs,2543.59 chairman2543.99 Paiano,2544.39 members2545.26 of2545.66 the2545.74 joint2545.91 committee2546.3 on2546.63 ways2546.86 and2547.11 means.2547.26 Thank2548.07 you2548.22 for2548.39 the2548.55 opportunity2548.7 to2549.34 testify2549.51 this2550.22 morning.2550.39 My2551.18 name2551.34 is2551.59 doctor2551.74 Noel2552.14 Trent,2552.47 and2552.78 I2553.03 am2553.11 the2553.26 CEO2553.43 and2553.91 president2554.07 of2554.81 the2554.97 Museum2555.13 of2555.61 African2555.85 American2556.33 History,2556.81 Boston2557.45 and2558.01 Nantucket.2558.25 The2559.29 museum2559.45 is2559.77 the2560.01 leading2560.09 cultural2560.49 institution2561.05 devoted2561.85 to2562.17 African2562.41 American2562.81 history2563.29 in2564.01 Massachusetts,2564.25 New2565.45 England,2565.69 with2566.25 campuses2566.49 in2567.13 Nantucket2567.29 and2568.01 right2568.25 here2568.57 on2569.21 Beacon2569.37 Hill.2569.85 I'm2570.77 here2570.93 to2571.16 request2571.49 that2571.89 the2572.05 committee2572.2 support2572.61 an2573.01 earmark2573.16 for2573.89 the2574.13 museum2574.29 line2575.01 item2575.32 700809002575.81 in2579.24 the2579.41 amount2579.64 of2579.97 $250,000.2580.2 These2582.78 funds2583.02 would2583.42 go2583.58 to2583.74 support2583.9 staffing,2584.38 operations,2585.18 and2586.14 needed2586.38 upgrades2586.78 in2587.34 advance2587.58 of2588.06 the2588.22 2002588.38 fiftieth2588.86 anniversary2589.34 of2590.3 the2590.46 American2590.62 Revolution.2591.18 I2592.62 will2592.78 be2593.1 frank.2593.34 This2594.3 is2594.54 an2594.7 existential2595.16 moment2595.57 for2595.97 the2596.13 museum2596.29 and2597.01 for2597.24 many2597.49 cultural2597.89 institutions2598.45 in2599.24 the2599.41 Commonwealth.2599.57 Since2600.84 the2601.09 inauguration2601.32 in2602.05 January,2602.29 the2602.84 museum2603.09 has2603.49 been2603.72 buffeted2603.89 by2604.45 both2604.61 fiscal2604.93 and2605.64 policy2605.8 threats.2606.36 We2607.22 have2607.38 seen2607.54 the2607.78 impact2607.94 on2608.42 our2608.58 federal2608.82 and2609.14 corporate2609.38 funding.2609.78 We2610.5 have2610.66 also2610.9 seen2611.22 it2611.46 reduced2611.7 institutional2612.18 engagement2612.9 as2613.54 schools2613.78 and2614.18 companies2614.42 try2615.38 to2615.62 assess2615.78 whether2616.5 or2616.82 not2617.06 coming2617.46 to2617.78 the2617.94 museum2618.1 and2618.98 learning2619.14 about2619.46 our2619.86 common2620.1 history2620.58 puts2621.51 their2621.84 funding2622.07 and2622.55 institutions2622.88 at2623.91 risk.2624.16 Additionally,2625.28 the2626.32 uncertainty2626.64 regarding2628.16 the2628.47 release2628.64 of2628.95 our2629.11 economic2629.28 development2629.84 bond2630.47 funds2630.72 make2631.28 support2631.51 during2631.99 this2632.32 budget2632.47 year2632.88 critical.2633.2 The2634.24 chilling2634.4 effect2634.88 has2635.28 been2635.52 immediate2635.84 and2636.4 tangible.2636.64 Boston2637.76 is2638.16 the2638.32 cradle2638.48 of2638.88 the2638.96 revolution2639.12 and2639.68 the2639.84 nation.2640 Sustaining2640.48 that2640.96 legacy2641.2 is2642 particularly2642.32 important2643.04 in2644.16 this2644.32 moment,2644.56 as2645.12 well2645.28 as2645.52 the2645.68 rest2645.76 of2646.08 Massachusetts.2646.24 And2647.68 maintaining2647.92 the2648.48 stories2648.72 of2649.12 African2649.55 Americans2649.8 who2650.36 fought2650.68 and2650.99 struggled2651.23 side2651.8 by2652.03 side2652.28 with2652.99 their2653.23 fellow2653.39 Americans2653.8 at2654.28 Bunker2654.43 Hill,2654.84 Lexington,2655.47 and2656.19 Concord,2656.51 who2657.32 helped2657.55 define2657.88 the2658.36 meaning2658.43 of2658.76 American2658.91 liberty2659.39 and2660.28 through2660.59 the2660.84 abolitionist2661.07 and2661.8 civil2661.95 rights2662.36 movement.2662.76 It2663.73 also2663.89 calls2664.37 for2664.69 learning2664.93 and2665.33 remembering2665.57 those2666.21 black2666.45 families2666.77 that2667.25 lived2667.49 in2667.73 on2668.13 the2668.29 North2668.37 Side2668.61 Of2668.85 Beacon2669.01 Hill,2669.41 wanted2670.29 and2670.61 strove2670.85 for2671.17 the2671.33 same2671.49 things2671.81 as2672.13 families2672.37 in2672.77 Barnstable,2672.93 Haverhill,2674.05 New2674.77 Bedford,2674.93 and2675.49 the2675.65 North2675.81 End,2676.13 as2677.07 well2677.24 as2677.47 the2677.72 interracial2677.88 coalitions2678.84 that2679.88 collectively2680.2 resisted2680.76 slavery2681.32 at2681.72 the2681.88 African2682.04 Meeting2682.52 House,2682.84 including2683.47 the2683.95 work2684.11 of2684.43 noted2684.59 abolitionist2684.91 William2685.72 Lloyd2686.11 Garrison.2686.36 Funding2687.55 an2687.95 earmark2688.11 for2688.59 the2688.76 museum2688.91 in2689.64 this2689.88 line2690.11 item2690.36 will2690.68 help2690.84 us2691.07 weather2691.32 the2691.64 current2691.72 storm2692.08 and2692.8 continue2693.04 to2693.44 serve2693.6 as2693.92 a2694.16 resource2694.32 to2694.88 citizens2695.12 and2696 residents2696.24 and2696.72 students2696.88 across2697.28 the2697.6 Commonwealth.2697.84 It2698.88 will2699.04 preserve2699.28 knowledge2699.68 and2700.08 history2700.32 that2701.2 some2701.44 are2701.84 actively2702.08 trying2702.72 to2703.12 erase.2703.36 We2704.4 are2705.26 the2705.41 first2705.57 victims2705.89 in2706.93 an2707.09 attempt2707.34 to2707.89 revise2708.22 our2708.86 Commonwealth's2709.09 rich2710.05 history.2710.38 We2711.26 are2711.41 asking2711.57 that2711.89 you2712.14 help2712.3 support2712.54 the2712.86 museum2713.02 with2713.41 this2713.57 earmarked2713.82 funding2714.3 for2714.7 the2714.86 next2715.02 fiscal2715.26 year.2715.74 Thank2716.38 you2716.54 for2716.78 your2717.02 attention,2717.18 and2717.57 I2717.74 am2717.89 happy2717.97 to2718.3 answer2718.45 any2718.78 questions2719.02 you2719.57 may2719.74 have.2719.97
2725.08 SPEAKER12725.08 -2725.08 Thank2725.08 you2725.32 very2725.56 much.2725.8 I2726.68 don't2726.84 really2727 have2727.24 a2727.4 question.2727.48 I2727.88 just2727.96 know2728.2 that2728.36 our2728.6 history2728.76 is2729.16 important,2729.4 but2730.36 we2730.6 cannot2730.76 forget2731.72 our2732.12 history.2732.28 We2733.07 need2733.23 to2733.32 be2733.47 able2733.55 to2733.71 learn2733.8 from2734.03 all2734.28 of2734.43 our2734.51 history2734.68 so2735.07 we2735.64 can2735.8 stop2735.95 making2736.2 the2736.51 mistakes2736.68 that2737.39 we've2737.55 made2737.71 in2737.95 the2738.11 past.2738.36 We2738.91 need2739.16 to2739.32 learn2739.55 and2740.2 get2740.36 better.2740.59 So2740.99 thank2741.32 you2741.47 for2741.71 being2741.88 here.2742.11
2742.68 SPEAKER232742.68 -2742.68 Thank2742.68 you.2742.91
2748.27 SPEAKER12748.27 -2748.27 Alan2748.27 Burt?2748.67
2752.83 And2752.83 Al2753.31 Annette2753.63 Burke2754.19 is2754.51 Dirk2754.75 sorry,2755.23 Duke2755.63 is2755.95 next.2756.27
2767.36 SPEAKER242767.36 -2767.36 Thank2767.36 you.2767.68 My2768.64 name2768.8 is2768.95 Alan2769.2 Byrd.2769.59 I2769.99 am2770.07 the2770.23 chair2770.47 of2770.8 the2770.95 DMH2771.2 Southeast2771.99 Area2772.64 Citizens2773.03 Advisory2773.59 Board.2774.39 I2776.07 am2776.23 here2776.31 today2776.63 to2776.87 speak2777.11 not2777.43 only2777.67 for2777.99 our2778.23 area2778.47 board,2778.87 but2779.35 for2779.59 the2779.75 other2779.91 area2780.23 boards2780.63 across2780.95 the2781.35 state.2781.59 I2782.47 can2782.63 report2782.87 that2783.27 we2783.43 are2783.59 deeply2783.75 concerned,2784.31 and2784.95 in2785.19 fact,2785.35 horrified2785.75 about2786.79 the2787.11 proposed2787.27 cuts2787.83 to2788.07 the2788.31 02/19262788.55 d2790.32 m2790.49 h2790.61 budget.2790.72 We2792.89 are2793.13 not2793.29 paid2793.45 employees,2793.84 but2794.49 we2794.72 are2794.97 the2795.13 strong2795.29 advocates2795.77 for2796.32 the2796.57 approximate2796.72 3,4002797.36 clients2798.72 of2799.13 the2799.29 Department2799.45 of2799.93 Mental2800.09 Health.2800.41 We2801.2 are2801.36 family2801.61 members,2802.01 professionals,2802.72 and2803.84 clients2804.08 of2804.48 DMH2804.72 programs2805.28 and2805.76 services.2806 We2807.12 are2807.36 a2807.52 very2807.68 important2807.92 voice.2808.48 Please2808.88 hear2809.2 our2809.52 concerns,2809.76 our2810.32 crying2810.56 out2810.96 for2811.44 your2811.6 support.2811.92 Part2813.36 of2813.6 our2813.76 role2813.92 is2814.24 to2814.4 monitor2814.64 the2815.04 contract2815.28 reviews2815.84 of2816.4 DMH2816.64 in2817.36 its2817.6 vendor2817.84 programs.2818.24 I2819.18 can2819.34 report2819.51 that2819.9 we2820.14 see2820.3 clear2820.55 evidence2820.94 of2821.42 less2821.66 crises2822.14 and2823.03 hospitalizations2823.26 because2824.39 of2824.7 the2824.86 supports2825.11 and2825.82 services2826.14 provided2826.78 to2827.18 our2827.34 most2827.59 vulnerable2827.82 men,2828.39 women,2828.94 and2829.34 children2829.51 who2829.98 are2830.22 suffering2830.39 with2830.78 mental2830.94 illness.2831.42 We2832.68 listened2832.84 to2833.24 the2833.48 testimonies2833.64 of2834.28 the2834.44 various2834.6 commissioners2835 yesterday2835.56 at2836.44 the2836.68 Attleboro2836.84 High2837.56 School.2837.8 We2838.52 wish2838.76 that2839 our2839.16 commissioner,2839.4 Brooke2839.96 Doyle,2840.28 who2840.68 we2840.84 admire,2841.08 had2841.96 more2842.2 strongly2842.52 emphasized2843.16 that2844.12 these2844.36 cuts,2844.68 which2845.16 the2845.48 governor2845.72 ordered2846.28 her2846.76 to2847.08 make,2847.24 will2847.91 have2848.16 a2848.39 devastating2848.55 effect2849.2 on2849.52 our2849.76 most2849.91 vulnerable2850.16 citizens.2850.72 We2851.91 wish2852.07 she2852.24 had2852.47 emphasized2852.64 that2853.28 these2853.52 cuts2853.76 will2854.16 result2854.39 in2855.04 massive2855.36 costs2855.84 to2856.39 other2856.55 areas2857.2 of2857.68 the2857.84 state2857.91 budget,2858.32 as2858.95 there2859.2 will2859.43 be2859.59 a2859.84 surge2859.99 of2860.39 costly2860.72 detox2861.87 and2862.19 psychiatric2862.59 hospitalizations,2863.31 along2864.75 with2865.07 costly2865.39 emergency2865.95 response2866.59 services,2867.15 housing2868.19 and2868.59 homelessness2868.75 costs,2869.47 along2870.27 with2870.67 increased2870.91 costs2871.39 to2871.79 our2871.95 courts2872.19 and2872.75 departments2872.99 of2873.63 corrections,2873.87 as2874.91 persons2875.22 who2875.55 become2875.78 desperate2876.26 often2877.07 resort2877.55 to2877.95 desperate2878.18 measures.2878.66 We2879.95 must2880.18 remind2880.43 you2880.74 that2880.91 the2881.22 design2881.3 of2881.7 the2881.95 programs2882.11 and2882.59 services2882.82 of2883.39 the2883.55 Department2883.7 of2884.11 Mental2884.26 Health2884.66 is2885.39 to2885.63 reduce2885.86 the2886.82 otherwise2886.98 massive2887.55 cost2888.03 to2888.34 the2888.51 state.2888.74 The2889.66 outcome2889.9 statistics2890.46 of2891.02 DMH2891.26 clearly2891.9 demonstrate2892.46 the2893.1 savings2893.26 to2894.14 the2894.3 state2894.46 budget.2894.7 It2895.42 is2895.58 a2895.74 good2895.9 business2896.22 model.2896.7 We2897.74 understand2897.98 that2898.46 our2898.7 state2898.86 is2899.1 in2899.26 a2899.42 fiscal2899.58 crisis.2900.22 We2901.02 understand2901.18
2913.64 Meaning2913.64 that2913.95 programs2914.19 like2914.68 the2914.91 Department2915.07 of2915.47 Mental2915.64 Health2916.03 must2916.75 remain2916.99 fully2917.47 funded.2917.79 Again,2918.99 we2919.39 have2919.63 been2919.79 in2919.95 a2920.11 behavioral2920.35 crisis2921.07 for2921.63 the2921.79 past2921.95 several2922.27 years.2922.67 Let2923.55 us2923.79 address2924.11 this,2924.59 not2924.91 exacerbate2925.23 it.2925.95 12926.91 of2927.07 the2927.23 other2927.31 commissioners2927.55 noted2928.19 yesterday2928.59 that2929.15 DMH2929.39 got2929.95 a2930.11 7%2930.27 increase.2931.07 As2931.93 you2932.09 read2932.26 it,2932.34 you2932.57 will2932.82 see2933.05 that2933.22 this2933.53 comes2933.86 from2934.26 their2934.82 proposed2935.14 cuts2935.61 before2935.93 you.2936.41 In2937.3 summary,2937.53 we2938.34 need2938.49 to2938.66 keep2938.73 the2939.05 Pacassette2939.22 Mental2939.86 Health2940.09 Hospital2940.57 open.2941.14 We2941.78 need2942.01 all2942.26 of2942.49 our2942.57 case2942.82 managers.2943.14 We2943.95 need2944.11 all2944.35 of2944.51 our2944.83 inpatient2944.99 and2945.55 outpatient2945.79 programs2946.43 for2946.83 the2946.99 men,2947.07 women,2947.63 and2948.11 children2948.27 suffering2949.15 from2949.55 mental2949.71 illnesses.2950.11 We2951.07 are2951.31 the2951.47 spokespersons2951.79 for2952.67 those2952.91 who2953.39 cannot2953.55 speak2954.03 for2954.27 themselves.2954.43 Please2955.47 listen2955.79 to2956.19 us.2956.35 Please2956.67 support2956.91 us2957.31 in2957.55 helping2957.87 those2958.27 most2958.59 in2958.91 need.2959.07
2960.45 SPEAKER32960.45 -2960.45 Thank2960.45 you.2960.61
2960.93 SPEAKER12960.93 -2960.93 Thank2960.93 you.2961.09 Rep.2963.01 Becks,2963.34 you2963.57 have2963.73 a2963.89 question?2963.97
2964.78 SPEAKER252964.78 -2964.78 Yes,2964.78 sir.2965.18
2967.82 SPEAKER262967.82 -2967.82 Thank2967.82 you,2968.05 Chair2968.38 Diggs.2968.61 Chair2969.26 Diggs2969.49 and2969.82 I2970.05 come2971.26 from2971.49 Cape2972.05 Cod.2972.38 So2973.74 we're2974.14 proud2974.54 to2974.94 represent2975.18 you.2975.74 We're2976.38 glad2976.62 that2976.86 you2977.1 came.2977.26
2979.82 We2979.82 should2980.06 not2980.3 be2980.54 cutting2980.7 mental2981.02 health2981.34 facilities2981.74 is2982.54 my2982.94 opinion,2983.18 and2983.98 we2984.14 spoke2984.38 about2984.62 that2984.86 yesterday2985.1 with2985.5 the2985.74 commissioner.2985.9 We're2986.62 waiting2986.86 for2987.18 some2987.42 more2987.58 answers.2987.9 As2989.76 far2990.01 as2990.24 POCASET,2990.41 I've2991.84 been2992.09 there.2992.24 It2993.45 should2993.61 not2993.93 be2994.09 closed.2994.32 It2994.89 should2995.05 actually2995.28 be2995.68 added2996.24 on2996.57 to.2996.72 Use2997.68 it.2998.01 People2998.41 need2998.8 help.2999.13 As3000.41 I3000.57 said3000.72 yesterday,3000.97 223001.93 veterans3002.49 take3003.05 their3003.28 life3003.53 every3003.84 day,3004.16 first3005.28 responders.3005.52 So3006.8 I'm3007.52 glad3007.76 that3008 you3008.16 came.3008.32 This3008.64 is3008.8 how3008.88 it3009.12 works.3009.2 You3009.52 come3009.68 to3009.84 the3010 People's3010.16 House.3010.56 Let3010.96 us3011.2 hear3011.36 your3011.6 comments3011.92 and3012.64 know3012.8 that3013.04 we're3013.2 working3013.52 on3013.92 keeping3014.24 it3014.56 open3014.72 and3015.36 actually3015.68 making3016.08 it3016.4 even3016.72 better.3016.96 Thank3018 you,3018.24 Chair3018.48 Diggs.3018.72
3021.01 SPEAKER13021.01 -3021.01 Thank3021.01 you.3021.16 Good3021.57 job.3021.72
3022.68 SPEAKER33022.68 -3022.68 Thank3022.68 you.3023.01
3026.77 SPEAKER13026.77 -3026.77 Next,3026.77 we're3027.16 gonna3027.33 have3027.57 Suzanne3027.81 Connolly.3028.29
3046.91 SPEAKER113046.91 -3046.91 Good3046.91 morning,3047.15 Chairman3047.71 Diggs,3048.11 Chairman3049.32 Peiano,3049.8 and3050.28 members3050.43 of3050.76 the3050.91 committee.3051.07
3053.8 My3053.8 name3053.95 is3054.11 Suzanne3054.43 Conley.3054.84 I3055.32 live3055.47 in3055.72 Barnstable,3055.88 Cape3056.68 Cod's3056.91 largest3057.24 town3057.72 and3058.36 ground3058.68 03059.07 for3059.55 the3059.72 onshore3059.88 impacts3060.43 of3060.99 planned3061.24 offshore3061.64 wind.3062.2 A3063.17 nonpartisan3063.49 citizens3064.37 group3064.85 I3065.01 chair3065.25 is3065.65 opposing3065.81 plans3066.37 to3067.17 land3067.33 73067.73 extra3068.29 high3068.69 voltage3068.85 4003069.41 megawatt3070.05 ocean3071.01 cables3071.41 on3071.89 33072.05 town3072.45 owned3072.77 recreational3073.17 beaches,3073.89 and3074.77 then3074.93 to3075.17 route3075.33 these3075.65 through3075.89 our3076.13 villages3076.29 and3076.77 neighborhoods3076.93 to3077.82 terminate3078.05 at3078.53 a3078.7 series3078.78 of3079.18 massive3079.34 new3079.74 substations,3079.97 sitted3081.34 sitting3082.05 atop3082.45 the3082.78 Cape3083.02 Sol3083.34 Source3083.57 aquifer.3083.89 If3084.93 allowed3085.18 to3085.49 happen,3085.66 this3086.22 would3086.45 mean3086.7 the3086.93 equivalent3087.09 of3087.74 43087.89 and3088.22 a3088.3 half3088.38 times3088.7 the3089.41 output3089.66 of3090.05 the3090.22 former3090.38 Pilgrim3090.7 nuclear3091.18 power3091.66 plant3091.89 running3092.76 through3093 our3093.32 streets.3093.56 We3094.6 have3094.84 been3095 called3095.16 nimbyists,3095.48 of3096.28 course,3096.52 and3096.84 purveyors3097.08 of3097.64 misinformation.3097.8 I'm3099.32 here3099.56 to3099.72 say3099.88 that3100.04 the3100.28 Healy3100.44 Driscoll3100.76 administration3101.16 and3101.96 the3102.2 Executive3102.36 Office3102.92 of3103.16 Energy3103.32 and3103.72 Environmental3103.88 Affairs3104.52 have3105.32 not3105.55 only3105.8 ignored3106.11 our3106.51 legitimate3106.68 concerns,3107.23 they3108.03 have3108.2 themselves3108.43 spread3108.91 misinformation3109.23 as3110.11 they3110.28 promote3110.51 an3110.91 overreliance3111.07 on3111.95 offshore3112.2 winds3112.59 wind3113.55 as3113.95 the3114.2 means3114.36 to3114.59 achieve3114.84 the3115.23 energy3115.39 goals3115.88 set3116.59 forth3116.84 by3117.16 the3117.32 Climate3117.39 Act3117.88 of3118.11 2021.3118.28 Recently,3119.89 secretary3120.45 Tepper3120.93 publicly3121.41 claimed3121.81 offshore3122.21 wind3122.69 is3123.09 by3123.33 far3123.49 the3123.73 least3123.89 expensive3124.29 way3124.69 to3124.93 produce3125.09 electricity.3125.49 That3126.45 is3126.69 patently3126.93 false.3127.41 Only3128.21 true3128.61 if3128.93 huge3129.25 federal3129.65 and3130.05 state3130.29 subsidies3130.61 remain3131.25 in3131.57 place.3131.73 On3132.49 Monday,3132.73 March3133.21 31,3133.69 testifying3134.17 before3134.82 this3135.05 committee,3135.3 she3136.09 responded3136.41 to3136.89 concerns3137.05 about3137.61 the3137.86 aforementioned3138.01 substations3138.73 by3139.86 pronouncing3140.09 them3140.57 safe,3140.89 ignoring3141.61 the3142.09 all3142.34 too3142.49 frequent3142.82 catastrophic3143.45 fires3144.51 and3144.83 explosions3145.23 at3145.71 these3145.95 facilities3146.19 and3146.99 thus3147.23 the3147.47 inadvisibility3147.71 of3148.59 locating3148.83 them3149.23 on3149.47 top3149.63 of3149.87 drinking3150.03 water3150.43 protection3150.75 zones.3151.23 Such3152.03 an3152.19 event3152.35 at3152.75 13152.83 of3153.07 the3153.15 proposed3153.31 substations,3153.79 which3154.75 would3154.91 cover3155.15 203155.55 acres3155.95 and3156.27 use3156.43 200,0003156.67 gallons3157.63 of3158.43 dielectric3158.67 oil3159.31 and3159.55 large3159.79 quantities3160.41 of3160.72 toxic3160.89 s3161.37 SF3161.77 63162.16 gas3162.41 could3163.2 lead3163.37 to3163.61 an3163.77 environmental3163.93 catastrophe3164.72 for3165.37 entire3165.53 region3165.93 of3166.24 the3166.41 Commonwealth.3166.49 In3167.77 my3168.01 opinion,3168.16 the3168.64 current3168.81 administration's3169.13 transition3169.93 plan3170.49 is3171.2 poorly3171.45 thought3171.77 out3172.01 and3172.16 executed,3172.33 essentially3172.97 allowing3173.53 foreign3174.09 owned3174.41 offshore3175.17 wind3175.49 developers3175.89 driven3176.77 by3177.09 profit3177.33 to3177.73 dictate3177.97 siting3178.45 and3178.77 permitting3178.93 decisions.3179.49 I3180.29 come3180.53 here3180.77 today3181.01 to3181.41 implore3181.65 members3182.05 of3182.45 this3182.61 committee3182.85 to3183.65 take3183.81 a3184.05 hard3184.21 look3184.45 at3185.01 any3185.17 expenditures3185.49 allocated3186.29 to3186.77 the3186.93 executive3187.09 office3187.65 of3187.97 EE3188.13 and3188.37 A3188.53 and3188.69 its3188.85 various3189.01 departments.3189.41 In3190.61 my3190.78 opinion,3190.93 the3191.41 Commonwealth's3191.58 plan3192.14 to3192.45 effect3192.61 a3192.93 transition3193.02 to3193.58 renewable3193.74 energy3194.3 is3195.02 badly3195.26 in3195.58 need3195.82 of3195.97 a3196.14 reset.3196.22 We3197.09 should3197.26 focus3197.58 on3197.97 reliable3198.22 rather3199.09 than3199.41 intermittent3199.66 energy3200.14 sources,3200.54 such3201.09 as3201.34 small3201.58 modular3202.45 reactors,3203.02 new3204.07 carbon3204.31 capture3204.71 technologies,3205.11 energy3206.23 conservation3206.79 measure3207.59 measures,3208.39 cost3209.19 containment3209.59 for3210.15 the3210.31 consumer,3210.47 and3211.35 overdue3211.67 upgrades3212.23 to3212.79 the3212.95 grid.3213.11 We3213.67 should3213.83 certainly3214.07 not3214.55 be3214.71 looking3214.95 the3215.27 other3215.51 way3215.67 when3215.91 legitimate3216.15 environmental3216.87 concerns3217.59 are3218.07 raised,3218.23 nor3218.86 should3219.11 we3219.34 be3219.51 trying3219.59 to3219.91 undermine3220.14 article3220.55 973220.95 of3221.91 the3222.07 Massachusetts3222.22 constitution3223.03 and3223.66 the3223.91 Public3224.07 Lands3224.39 Protection3225.11 Act3225.66 of3225.91 20223226.07 to3227.34 allow3227.51 electrical3227.91 infrastructure3228.55 to3229.51 be3229.66 built3229.82 where3230.14 it3230.39 simply3230.63 doesn't3231.11 belong.3231.51 Thank3232.22 you3232.47 for3232.63 hearing3232.78 me3233.11 this3233.26 morning.3233.51
3235.93 SPEAKER13235.93 -3235.93 Thank3235.93 you,3236.09 Suzanne.3236.49 Yes.3237.05 Any3237.53 questions?3237.85
3240.25 SPEAKER263240.25 -3240.25 Rep3240.25 Hector.3240.41 Thank3241.53 you3241.85 again,3242.01 chair3242.41 Diggs.3242.73 Again,3244.09 being3244.41 from3244.73 Cape3244.97 Cod,3245.21 I3245.61 appreciate3245.85 you3246.33 coming.3246.49 I3247.61 have3247.85 a3248.01 concern3248.17 of3248.73 industrializing3249.64 the3250.51 ocean,3250.59 what3250.99 it3251.23 does3251.39 to3251.64 the3251.71 marine3251.88 life,3252.28 running3252.91 the3253.16 cables3253.32 under3254.03 our3254.36 beaches,3254.59 through3255.47 our3255.88 villages,3255.95 and3256.84 building3257.07 substations3257.55 on3258.28 our3258.51 sole3258.76 source3259.16 aquifer.3259.47 That3261.23 is3261.47 a3261.64 big3261.8 concern3262.03 of3262.51 of3262.84 mine.3262.99 So3264.36 I'm3264.52 glad3264.6 that3265 you3265.16 came3265.32 to3265.96 the3266.04 People's3266.2 House.3266.68
3269.24 I3269.24 my3269.72 question3269.96 is3270.36 how3270.6 much3270.92 money3272.44 is3272.76 in3273 the3273.16 budget3273.32 proposal3273.96 that3275.48 affects3275.8 our3276.52 funds3278.63 offshore3279.34 wind?3279.91
3281.11 SPEAKER113281.11 -3281.11 Well,3281.11 a3281.82 a3282.07 few3282.22 months3282.3 ago,3282.63 the3283.43 governor3283.51 announced3283.91 a3284.3 new3284.47 $35,000,0003284.79 tax3286.14 credit3286.39 for3286.79 offshore3287.03 wind3287.43 developers.3287.74 So3288.95 there's3289.11 that.3289.43 In3290.05 the3290.29 h3290.37 1,3290.77 I'm3291.17 looking3291.41 at3291.65 it3291.89 line3292.05 by3292.21 line,3292.45 and,3292.77 I'm3293.17 13293.57 of3293.73 the3293.89 the3294.13 largest,3294.37 extra3295.17 expenditures3295.65 is3296.21 a3296.45 $10,000,0003296.53 increase3297.41 to3297.81 CEC.3298.05 And,3299.25 I3300.29 I3300.53 just3300.61 think,3300.77 you3301.09 know,3301.17 there3301.33 are3301.57 all3301.65 these3301.89 smaller3302.3 items3302.63 with3303.03 incremental3303.34 increases3303.99 to3304.86 support3305.11 offshore3305.82 wind.3306.3 None3307.34 of3307.59 us3307.74 in3307.99 my3308.14 group3308.39 are,3309.11 you3309.51 know,3309.66 are3310.07 climate3310.3 deniers.3310.78 That's3311.43 not3311.74 our3311.99 point.3312.22 We3313.18 understand3313.43 the3313.91 climate3314.32 is3314.56 changing,3314.64 and3315.2 we3315.36 believe3315.52 that3316.08 we3316.4 need3316.64 to3316.8 mitigate,3317.04
3320.08 but3320.08 we3320.24 don't3320.48 believe3320.72 this3321.04 is3321.36 the3321.52 way.3321.68 And3322.48 I3322.8 think3322.96 that3323.28 there3324 are3324.24 really3324.48 smart3324.8 people3325.12 in3325.44 this3325.52 state3325.84 who3326.36 can3326.61 take3326.68 a3327.01 look3327.09 at3327.33 this3327.49 plan3327.72 and3328.77 in3329.16 concert3329.41 with3329.72 the3329.89 legislature3330.05 and3330.77 say,3331.01 isn't3331.57 there3331.89 a3332.05 better3332.2 way3332.45 to3332.68 do3332.77 this?3333.01 Because,3333.33 you3334.45 know,3334.53 I3334.84 I3335.24 live,3335.41 as3335.72 you3335.89 know,3336.05 rep3336.84 Exaros,3337.33 very3338.45 close3338.68 to3339.01 where3339.16 that3339.41 that3339.79 blade3340.03 exploded3340.51 in3340.99 July.3341.15 We3341.79 are3342.11 still3342.35 pick3342.75 picking3343.15 up3343.47 pieces3344.03 of3344.43 trash3344.67 from3345.15 that3345.39 that3346.03 terrible3346.43 blade3346.91 disaster3347.31 on3348.11 our3348.35 beaches.3348.51 It's3349.31 fiberglass.3349.71 It's3350.43 PVC3350.75 foam.3351.39 It's3351.87 epoxy3352.27 resin.3352.83 It's3353.15 it's3353.39 complete,3353.63 environmental3354.7 disaster,3355.57 and3356.93 there3357.09 are3357.18 countless3358.38 more3358.93 blades3359.26 out3359.57 there,3359.74 being3360.78 put3361.09 up.3361.34 We3361.57 just3361.74 have3361.97 lost3362.22 all3362.53 confidence3362.78 that3363.34 this3363.57 is3363.74 the3363.89 way3364.05 to3364.22 go.3364.38 We3365.26 do3365.41 need3365.57 to3365.82 transition3366.05 off3366.7 of3366.86 fossil3367.09 fuels,3367.49 for3368.43 the3368.67 good3368.83 of3369.07 our3369.15 world,3369.39 the3369.79 good3369.87 of3370.11 our3370.27 children3370.51 and3370.83 grandchildren,3371.07 but3372.11 I3372.43 just3372.51 think3372.67 there3372.91 are3373.15 much3373.31 better3373.63 ways3373.87 to3374.11 do3374.27 this.3374.35 So3374.59 thank3374.83 you3374.99 for3375.15 the3375.31 question.3375.47
3377.23 SPEAKER263377.23 -3377.23 Thank3377.23 you3377.47 for3377.63 your3377.79 testimony.3377.95 Thank3378.51 you,3378.75 chair3378.91 Diggs.3379.23
3380.27 SPEAKER13380.27 -3380.27 Anybody3380.27 else?3380.75
3383.39 SPEAKER113383.39 -3383.39 Thank3383.39 you,3383.64 chair3383.8 Diggs.3384.03
3384.36 SPEAKER13384.36 -3384.36 Have3384.36 a3384.47 great3384.59 day.3384.76 Jonathan3386.91 Ozak3387.55 and3388.43 Dan3388.99 Darien3389.8 Gumbrell3390.68 Will3392.03 be3392.28 next.3392.36 Will3392.84 be3392.99 next.3393.23
3427.38 SPEAKER23427.38 -3427.38 Good3427.38 afternoon.3427.62
3430.74 My3430.74 name3430.98 is3431.22 Nini3431.46 Silva,3431.86 and3432.58 I'm3432.82 here3433.14 with3433.62 the3433.86 Disability3434.02 Policy3434.82 Consortium.3435.3 And3436.74 I3437.46 have3437.7 lived3437.94 in3438.26 Milton3438.5 for3439.38 close3439.86 to3440.18 253440.34 years.3440.98 I3442.51 wanna3442.68 talk3443.07 today3443.32 about3443.8 deaf3444.28 and3444.51 hard3444.76 of3444.99 hearing3445.16 services.3445.64 The3447.23 Massachusetts3447.55 Commission3448.36 for3448.91 the3449.07 Deaf3449.23 and3449.47 Hard3449.64 of3449.88 Hearing3450.03 has3450.84 been3451.07 level3451.39 funded3451.8 for3452.43 the3452.59 past3452.84 couple3453.16 of3453.39 years,3453.55 while3454.4 other3454.88 agencies3455.28 have3456.64 received3456.88 increases.3457.76 The3459.44 Massachusetts3459.68 Commission3460.48 for3460.88 the3461.12 Deaf3461.2 and3461.52 Hard3461.68 of3461.84 Hearing3462 is3462.48 the3462.64 only3462.96 agency3463.52 that3464.96 provides3466 screening3466.99 and3467.71 certification3468.03 of3469.32 American3469.47 sign3470.03 language3470.36 interpreters,3470.84 which3471.32 you3471.63 see3471.95 here3472.28 are3473.23 crucial3473.39 service3473.95 today.3474.51
3479.37 American3479.37 sign3479.85 language3480.09 interpreters3480.81 allow3482.25 people3482.73 to3483.05 have3483.21 deaf3483.93 and3484.25 hard3484.33 of3484.49 hearing3484.65 people3484.97 to3485.29 have3485.45 communication3485.93 access.3486.65 Excuse3488.01 me.3488.41 But3488.81 they3489.13 also3489.37 allow3490.97 places3491.53 like3492.01 hospitals3492.25 and3493.29 schools3493.53 and3494.7 places3494.86 like3495.43 here3495.91 in3496.22 the3496.3 state3496.47 house3496.78 to3497.34 comply3497.59 with3498.07 the3498.22 Americans3498.47 with3499.18 Disabilities3499.43 Act.3500.22
3504.55 Also,3504.55 the3506.3 Massachusetts3506.55 Commission3507.34 for3507.82 the3507.99 Deaf3508.07 and3508.39 Hard3508.55 of3508.78 Hearing3508.86 needs3509.94 to3510.18 have3510.26 their3511.06 referral3511.46 system3512.02 updated.3513.46 Their3514.02 computer3514.34 system3514.82 is3515.3 out3515.54 of3515.78 date.3515.86 They3516.82 they3517.62 are3517.94 not3518.18 able3518.5 to3520.5 keep3520.74 up3520.98 with3521.54 the3522.18 amount3522.58 of3523.54 referrals3523.94 that3524.82 they3525.14 I'm3525.59 sorry,3525.82 request3526.95 that3527.11 they3527.26 receive.3527.59 They3528.78 need3529.34 $2,000,0003529.74 to3531.26 update3531.51 this3532.3 system3532.63 so3533.59 that3533.82 they3534.46 can3534.7
3537.66 make3537.66 sure3537.98 that3538.22 the3538.46 requests3538.7 are3539.51 filled3539.66 in3540.71 a3540.87 timely,3541.19 high3541.99 quality3542.23 manner.3542.79 We3545.19 also3545.51 need3545.99 you3546.55 see3546.79 here,3547.11 communication3548.31 access3549.03 real3549.67 time.3549.99 There3551.27 are3551.51 programs3552.72 in3553.68 the3553.93 state3554.09 of3554.24 Massachusetts3554.57 where3555.68 people3555.93 can3556.32 go3556.8 and3557.13 learn3557.36 to3557.68 become3557.84 sign3558.49 language3558.8 interpreters.3559.28 There3560.32 are3560.64 no3561.45 programs3562.32 for3563.53 a3563.77 card.3563.93 There3564.72 used3565.05 to3565.36 be3565.53 13565.68 at,3566.64 pardon3568.18 me,3568.58 MassBay3569.86 Community3570.5 College,3571.06 but3571.54 that3571.86 closed3572.5 over3573.38 203573.7 years3574.02 ago.3574.26 And3575.46 we3575.86 need3576.26 more3576.74 CART3577.06 providers.3577.38 You're3578.74 gonna3578.98 hear3579.22 me3579.38 say3579.62 this3579.78 a3580.1 couple3580.26 times.3580.58 The3580.98 baby3581.14 boomers3581.54 are3581.94 getting3582.1 older.3582.42 There3583.19 are3583.43 going3583.51 to3583.84 be3583.91 more3584.23 and3584.64 more3584.88 people3585.28 who3585.99 are3586.32 hard3586.55 of3586.8 hearing.3587.03 These3587.84 people3588.07 do3588.55 not3588.8 use3589.51 American3589.99 sign3590.55 language.3590.88 They3591.91 use3592.23 they3592.71 depend3592.95 on3593.51 English,3593.91 which3594.88 Clark3595.51 uses.3597.19 It's3598.45 like3598.61 captioning3598.77 on3599.33 the3599.49 TV.3599.73 Card3600.13 is3600.45 like3600.61 captioning3600.85 real3601.41 life.3601.57
3604.45 In3604.45 addition,3604.61 the3606.45 New3606.69 England3606.85 home3607.33 for3608.37 the3608.53 deaf3608.69 also3610.93 needs3611.74 additional3613.02 funding.3613.58 They3614.38 do3614.7 not3615.02 have3615.49 enough3616.06 space3617.02 for3617.97 all3618.38 of3618.61 the3618.86 deaf3619.02 elderly3619.58 people3620.14 who3621.18 need3621.74 to3623.85 move3624.09 into3624.49 an3625.05 independent3625.37 living,3626.01 assisted3626.81 living,3627.37 or3628.09 nursing3628.25 home3628.81 situation.3629.61
3633.69 I3633.69 wanna3633.85 tell3634.17 you3634.41 about3634.57 a3634.97 person,3635.13 a3635.53 723635.77 year3636.81 old3637.05 gentleman3637.61 who3638.89 is3639.14 living3639.45 with3639.78 HIV,3640.09 and3641.61 he3642.49 is3642.89 experiencing3645.05 cognitive3646.09 decline,3646.89 and3647.93 he3648.18 has3648.41 been3648.66 on3648.89 that3649.14 waiting3649.38 list3649.78 for3650.49 73650.82 years.3651.76 And3652.8 there3653.12 is3653.44 no3653.68 hope3654 that3654.4 he's3654.64 going3654.96 to3655.28 be3655.36 moving3656.72 in3657.12 anytime3657.52 soon.3658.08 They3658.88 are3659.12 building3659.36 a3659.76 new3659.92 building3660.08 nearby,3660.64 but3661.44 that's3661.68 under3662.16 HUD3662.72 and3663.12 only3663.44 has3663.68 163664.16 units3664.8 for3665.6 deaf3665.92 people.3666.16 That's3666.95 not3667.19 enough.3668.8 Deaf3669.03 people3669.36 need3669.84 to3670.07 be3670.16 together3670.47 so3671.28 that3671.43 they3671.67 can3671.91 communicate3672.39 and3673.03 they're3673.28 not3673.51 isolated.3673.84 We3675.36 all3675.59 know3675.84 isolation3676.55 leads3677.59 to3678.47 cognitive3679.03 decline,3679.98 Alzheimer's,3680.54 so3681.66 it's3681.98 a3682.22 pay3682.46 now3682.7 or3683.26 pay3683.58 later3683.82 kind3684.38 of3684.54 situation.3684.78
3688.3 In3688.3 addition,3688.54 the3689.42 deaf3689.66 and3689.9 hard3690.06 of3690.3 hearing3690.46 independent3690.86 living3691.42 centers3691.82 need3693.18 an3693.42 increase3693.66 in3694.14 funding.3694.38 When3695.89 I3696.2 worked3696.36 there,3696.61 when3696.93 in3697.32 the3697.41 beginning3697.57 of3697.96 my3698.2 career,3698.45 I3699.09 worked3699.24 at3699.48 Deaf3699.64 Inc,3699.89 and3701.01 we3701.41 had3701.64 mostly3702.36 elderly3703.09 people3703.57 who3704.05 would3704.2 come3704.45 because3704.76 they3705.09 needed3705.32 hearing3705.72 aids.3706.05 Those3707.32 health3707.96 insurance3708.28 currently3709.01 does3709.64 not3709.89 cover3710.46 the3710.7 cost3711.1 of3711.42 hearing3711.58 aids,3711.9 and3712.78 many3713.1 elders3713.42 would3713.9 come3714.14 seeking3714.78 funding,3715.18 and3716.22 the3716.46 waiting3716.7 list3717.02 was3717.42 so3717.66 long3717.9 that3718.7 a3719.74 lot3719.82 of3720.06 them3720.22 would3720.78 pass3721.42 away3721.66 before3722.72 getting3723.84 hearing3724.47 aids.3724.8 This3725.68 is3726.56 not3726.64 okay.3727.2
3730.24 That3730.24 need3730.56 is3730.95 also3731.28 only3731.91 going3732.24 to3732.64 increase3732.8 as3733.52 the3733.68 baby3733.91 boomers3734.24 age.3734.72 Thank3735.58 you3735.66 very3735.9 much3736.14 for3736.7 listening3736.94 to3737.34 me3737.5 and3737.66 your3737.9 time3738.14 today.3738.38
3741.74 SPEAKER13741.74 -3741.74 Thank3741.74 you.3742.06
3752.73 SPEAKER273752.73 -3752.73 Thank3752.73 you3752.97 for3753.22 the3753.38 opportunity3753.61 to3754.18 speak3754.41 before3754.73 you3755.05 today.3755.38 My3756.41 name3756.66 is3756.82 Jonathan3757.05 Osek,3757.53 and3757.93 I3758.18 am3758.26 here3758.41 to3758.66 advocate3758.89 on3759.3 behalf3759.45 of3759.78 the3759.93 deaf3760.18 and3760.34 hard3760.49 of3760.66 hearing3760.73 community,3761.14 which3762.35 direct3762.51 needs3763.07 improved3763.95 services3764.43 and3765.23 funding3765.39 to3765.95 to3766.83 ensure3767.07 their3768.03 needs3768.27 are3768.67 met3768.91 far3769.63 and3770.03 effectively.3770.35 The3771.87 topics3772.19 I3772.75 will3772.83 address3773.07 are3773.79 crucial3773.95 to3775.57 the3775.8 well-being3776.05 in3777.24 addition3777.4 of3778.28 this3778.53 community.3778.84
3781.96 Our3781.96 current3782.44 referral3782.76 platform3783.4 for3784.53 the3784.76 communication3785.01 access3786.05 real3786.68 time3787.16 translation,3787.96 CART,3789.52 and3791.6 ASL3792.08 translators3793.36 referral3794.16 is3795.12 outdated.3795.52 This3797.76 platform3798.08 is3798.8 essential3799.04 for3799.76 providing3800.8 timely3801.52 and3803.02 accurate3803.18 referrals3803.66 to3804.61 those3805.18 in3805.66 need3805.89 of3806.7 communication3807.02 assistance.3808.38
3811.09 The3811.09 lack3811.34 of3811.74 useful3811.97 card3812.93 services3813.34 impacts3815.26 those3816.95 of3817.51 us3817.83 who3818.15 depend3818.63 on3819.19 it3819.35 for3819.99 accurate3820.47 communication3821.19 in3822.39 real3822.63 time3823.19 settings3823.67 such3824.35 as3825.03 educational3826.95 institution,3827.99 workplace,3829.75 and3831.8 medical3831.95 appointments3832.68 without3834.91 suitable3835.32 card3836.76 services,3837.23 we3838.43 face3838.68 important3839.16 barriers3839.8 to3840.99 communicate3841.32 leading3842.43 to3843.07 misunderstanding,3844.03
3846.87 misinformation,3846.87 and3848.95 frustration.3849.27 Move3851.75 over.3852.07 The3853.75 outdated3854.07 state3854.79 of3855.67 the3855.91 referral3856.07 platform3856.63 worsening3857.99 these3859.03 issues3859.43 by3860.23 causing3860.55 delays3861.65 in3862.38 the3862.61 process3862.78 of3863.49 requesting3863.73 necessarily3864.93 access.3866.53 This3868.45 results3868.78 in3870.38 independent3870.61 access3872.21 to3872.69 services3873.01 during3874.86 downgrading3875.58 the3876.86 deaf3877.1 and3877.42 hard3877.58 of3877.82 hearing3877.9 community.3878.3 I3880.22 urge3880.54 this3881.02 committee3881.26 to3882.3 assign3882.7 $2,000,0003883.58 to3884.78 update3885.18 this3886.06 platform,3886.3 which3887.66 will3888.06 enhance3888.46 its3889.72 functionality3889.88 and3891.55 streamline3891.95 the3893.24 referral3893.39 process,3894.28 ensuring3895.64 that3896.36 those3897.24 in3897.55 need3897.8 can3898.11 receive3898.36 time3898.91 and3899.55 support.3899.95
3904.7 Deaf3904.7 seniors3905.02 are3905.58 facing3905.82 a3906.54 desperate3906.7 storage3907.18 of3907.74 proper3908.06 housing3908.38 options.3909.1 The3910.06 New3910.3 England3910.46 home3910.86 for3911.18 the3911.26 deaf,3911.5 while3912.22 valuable3912.7 resources3913.42 lacks3914.14 enough3914.78 space3915.34 to3915.9 accommodate3916.3 all3917.1 individual3917.34 who3918.34 are3918.51 required3918.66 a3919.3 service.3919.55 This3920.74 storage3921.07 of3921.39 space3921.63 leave3922.11 many3922.59 seniors3922.91 at3923.55 risk3923.78 of3924.51 isolation3924.82 and3925.78 in3926.03 Cape3926.18 Cod3926.43 care.3926.74 It3927.47 is3927.63 urgent3927.78 to3928.66 address3928.91 this3929.7 gap3930.03 by3930.51 increasing3930.74 funding3931.55 to3932.47 expand3932.71 and3933.27 improve3933.51 house3934.23 facilities3934.63 for3935.67 deaf3935.91 seniors.3936.31 Thank3938.71 you.3938.95
3940.15 SPEAKER13940.15 -3940.15 Thank3940.15 you3940.39 very3940.63 much.3940.79 Rep3942.47 Shirley3942.79 Agawamba.3943.11
3945.75 SPEAKER283945.75 -3945.75 Alright.3945.75 I3946.15 got3946.23 thank3946.47 you.3946.71 I3946.87 have3947.14 a3947.17 question3947.21 really3948.01 quickly.3948.26 The3950.01 wait3950.26 list3950.57 is3950.89 so3951.14 long,3951.45 so3952.34 there3952.57 is3952.82 no3953.05 time3953.93 frame3954.18 for3954.49 when3954.82 individuals3955.05 will3955.69 get3955.86 help.3956.09 Is3956.73 that3956.89 correct?3957.38
3961.08 SPEAKER293961.08 -3961.08 Yes.3961.08 Well,3961.32 thank3962.44 you.3962.68
3962.92 SPEAKER283962.92 -3962.92 That3962.92 is3963.16 terrible3963.4 to3963.96 hear,3964.12 but3964.44 let3964.76 me3964.92 tell3965.08 you,3965.32 we3966.28 hear3966.52 you3966.68 today.3966.92 Thank3967.64 you3967.88 for3968.04 your3968.2 advocacy.3968.36
3970.44 SPEAKER273970.44 -3970.44 Thank3970.44 you.3970.68
3971.32 SPEAKER23971.32 -3971.32 It's3971.32 our3971.64 pleasure.3971.8
3973.57 SPEAKER33973.57 -3973.57 Mister3973.57 Ozak,3974.05 I3974.78 wanna3974.93 thank3975.18 you3975.34 both,3975.49 for3975.97 your3976.14 testimony.3976.38 And3976.86 mister3977.01 Ozak,3977.26 I3977.57 know3977.66 that3977.82 there3977.89 was3978.05 probably3978.22 some3978.7 more3978.86 that3979.01 you3979.18 wanted3979.34 to3979.57 say,3979.66 so3980.14 I3980.3 would3980.38 suggest3980.61 to3980.93 you3981.18 that,3981.41 if3982.3 you3982.53 wanna3982.78 submit3983.09 the3983.73 rest,3983.89 of3984.61 your3984.7 your3985.16 written3985.32 testimony,3985.56 to3986.52 the3986.76 committee,3986.84 make3987.16 sure3987.4 you3987.64 you3987.72 give3987.88 it3988.12 to3988.2 the3988.44 the3988.68 folks3988.84 that3989.16 are3989.24 on3989.32 the3989.48 the3989.56 front3989.72 of3989.96 the3990.04 desk,3990.12 and3990.6 we'll3990.76 share3990.92 with3991.16 the3991.24 rest3991.4 of3991.56 the3991.64 committee.3991.8 Thank3992.28 you.3992.44
3993.56 SPEAKER13993.56 -3993.56 And,3993.56 we3994.44 we3995.16 went3995.32 to3995.56 a3995.8 it3996.04 was3996.2 either3996.44 Amherst3996.68 or3997.08 Worcester,3997.32 and3998.12 we're3998.92 hearing3999.16 about3999.72 the4000.04 deaf4001.3 and4001.45 hard4001.53 of4001.93 hearing4002.09 and4002.66 how4002.89 we4003.05 need4003.3 to4003.53 make4003.61 sure4003.78 that4004.09 our4004.26 students4004.57 and4005.53 students4005.86 we4006.18 have4006.41 students4006.57 out4006.97 there.4007.14 Just4007.3 to4007.53 let4007.69 you4007.93 know,4008.01 we4008.49 need4008.73 a4009.69 lot4009.78 of4009.93 people4010.09 to4010.34 to4010.57 be4010.66 able4010.82 to4011.05 sign,4011.21 and4011.93 you4012.09 can4012.26 get4012.49 paid4012.73 a4013.38 good4013.45 amount4013.69 of4014.01 money.4014.18 It's4014.66 a4014.89 good4014.97 recreation4015.56 sorry.4016.12 It's4016.52 a4016.68 good4016.84 profession4017.08 to4018.36 be4018.52 able4018.68 to4018.92 help4019 your4019.4 fellow4019.64 person.4020.6 So4021.64 please,4021.96 if4022.36 you4022.52 ever4022.76 think4023 of4023.16 doing4023.8 something,4024.12 that4024.52 would4024.6 be4024.84 an4025 an4025.48 awesome4025.64 way4025.96 to4026.6 honor4026.76 someone,4027.16 to4027.84 help4027.91 somebody4028.15 else4028.47 out.4028.71 So4029.19 just4029.51 to4029.76 let4029.91 you4030.07 know,4030.23 that's4030.8 a4031.11 really4031.28 good4031.59 position,4031.99 a4032.55 good4032.71 job4032.95 that4033.51 you4033.76 could4033.84 have4034.07 in4034.32 being4034.55 able4034.8 to4035.03 help4035.11 somebody.4035.28 Rep,4036.32 please?4036.55
4041.51 Go4041.51 ahead.4041.76 Oh,4043.31 I4043.55 thought4043.71 you4043.87 oh,4044.67 okay.4044.91
4048.11 Dang4048.11 it.4048.19
4052.91 Darian4052.91 Gabriel?4054.11 Kimbrell.4055.09 Kimbrell.4055.41
4056.05 SPEAKER34056.05 -4056.05 And4056.05 then4056.28 next,4056.45 Annette4056.76 Duke.4057.09
4057.8 SPEAKER14057.8 -4057.8 Annette4057.8 Duke4058.36 is4058.76 next.4058.93
4076.84 SPEAKER304076.84 -4076.84 Are4076.84 you,4077.08 calling4077.72 Annette4078.04 Duke4078.44 at4078.92 this4079.08 point?4079.32
4082.38 SPEAKER14082.38 -4082.38 Annette4082.38 Duke?4082.78
4084.05 SPEAKER304084.05 -4084.05 Yes.4084.05 I'm4084.45 here.4084.78 Can4085.26 you4085.49 hear4085.66 me?4085.82 I'm4086.05 online.4086.3
4086.7 SPEAKER14086.7 -4086.7 We4086.7 can4086.86 hear4087.01 you.4087.34 You're4087.41 on4087.57 Zoom.4087.74 Yes.4088.05
4089.41 SPEAKER304089.41 -4089.41 Excellent.4089.41 Thank4089.89 you4090.14 so4090.38 much,4090.53 chair4091.01 Diggs4091.34 and4091.97 chair4092.22 Paianno.4092.53 I4093.69 really4093.77 appreciate4094.01 your4094.49 allowing4094.73 us4095.05 to,4095.21 testify4095.77 remotely.4096.89 My4098.01 name4098.17 is4098.33 Annette4098.49 Duke.4098.81 I'm4099.13 a4099.29 housing4099.45 attorney4099.77 at4100.09 the4100.25 Mass4100.33 Law4100.57 Reform4100.73 Institute,4101.13 and4102.09 I'm4102.33 here4102.57 today4102.81 to4103.13 testify4103.37 on4103.85 behalf4104.01 of4104.33 the4104.49 access4104.65 to,4105.05 council4106.15 coalition,4106.63 which4107.66 has4107.91 over4108.23 2404108.47 organizational4109.35 supporters.4110.06 And4110.55 we4110.86 urge,4111.19 the4112.15 joint4112.31 committee4112.55 on4112.86 ways4113.02 and4113.27 means4113.51 to4113.66 include4113.82 $5,000,0004114.31 for4116.47 the4116.55 access4116.7 to4117.02 council4117.19 line4117.59 item4117.82 to4118.54 continue4118.86 the4119.9 program.4120.14 I4121.58 will4121.74 be4121.9 submitting4122.06 written4122.46 testimony4122.7 with4123.18 more4123.34 details,4123.58 but,4124.06 last4125.18 budget4125.5 year,4125.82 the4126.06 access4126.22 to4126.54 counsel4126.62 line4127.02 item4127.26 was4127.5 approved4127.74 in4128.22 the4128.38 FY4128.62 254129.02 budget4129.5 for4130.3 2,500,000.0.4130.54 The4132.41 Mass4132.57 Legal4132.81 Assistance4133.22 Corporation4133.61 immediately4134.34 launched4134.98 the4135.38 project4135.53 in4135.94 the4136.09 fall4136.26 and4137.14 was4137.38 carefully4137.69 and4138.26 has4138.49 been4138.73 carefully4138.98 developing4139.45 it,4139.85 so4140.81 that4140.98 it4141.14 will4141.3 succeed4141.53 moving4142.09 forward.4142.49 At4144.02 the4144.18 onset,4144.34 MLAC4144.81 reached4145.22 out4145.45 to4145.61 more4145.77 than4145.94 2004146.18 stakeholders4146.9 to4147.61 solicit4147.69 input4148.89 about4149.05 where4149.29 to4149.45 start4149.61 and4150.09 focus4150.41 this4150.81 project.4151.05 This4152.09 may4152.33 be4152.41 the4152.65 first4152.73 time4152.97 in4153.21 the4153.37 country4153.53 that4154.33 such4154.57 a4154.81 broad4154.97 survey4155.29 has4155.69 been4155.85 done4156.01 in4156.25 the4156.41 context4156.57 of4156.97 access4157.21 to4157.53 counsel.4157.69 In4158.97 January,4159.21 the4159.77 project4159.93 was4160.25 up4160.49 and4160.65 running.4160.81 Staff4161.53 attorneys4161.77 are4162.78 taking4162.94 cases,4163.34 filing4163.9 court4164.23 papers,4164.47 appearing4164.94 in4165.34 court,4165.51 and4165.98 negotiating4166.15 with4166.63 attorneys.4166.78 Legal4168.15 services4168.47 is4169.02 partnering4169.19 with4169.74 the4169.9 Mass4170.06 Union4170.3 public4170.63 housing4170.94 tenants4171.27 to4171.59 do4171.74 outreach4171.98 in4172.39 public4172.55 housing.4172.86 Mass4173.82 law4174.23 reform4174.39 is4174.78 starting4174.94 to4175.51 do4175.74 training4175.9 for4176.23 new4176.47 lawyers,4176.7 and4177.49 MLAC4177.57 is4178.21 beginning4178.45 to4178.77 collect4178.93 data4179.25 and,4179.89 establish4181.25 reporting4181.81 systems.4182.21 So4182.53 the4182.77 infrastructure4183.01 is4183.73 getting4183.89 set4184.53 up.4184.77 At4185.81 the4185.97 same4186.13 time,4186.45 the4186.69 imbalance4186.93 of4187.41 representation4187.65 is4188.53 getting4188.69 worse.4189.01 The4190.05 last4190.21 24190.45 years,4190.69 approximately4191.77 4%4192.34 of4193.22 tenants4193.45 were4193.77 represented4194.1 while4194.57 over4194.9 90%4195.3 of4196.02 landlords4196.18 were4196.73 represented.4196.9 This4197.85 is4198.1 what4198.26 this4198.49 program4198.73 seeks4199.14 to4199.45 correct.4199.61 Again,4200.98 the4201.3 coalition4201.53 is4202.02 requesting4202.18 a4203.22 2,500,000.04203.38 increase4204.57 for4205.06 a4205.22 total4205.3 of4205.61 5,000,0004205.85
4212.96 represent4212.96 the4213.12 clients4213.36 that4213.6 they're4213.64 currently4213.68 representing4214.8 if4215.44 the4215.52 cases4215.6 aren't4215.92 resolved4216.16 and4217.04 expand4217.44 and4217.92 start4218.08 to4218.32 take4218.56 new4218.8 cases.4218.96 Again,4220.47 I'll4220.78 be4221.02 submitting4221.18 written4221.74 testimony,4222.15 and4222.78 I4222.94 really4223.1 appreciate,4223.34 your4224.47 support4224.7 for4225.02 this.4225.18 And4225.9 we'll4226.15 take4226.47 any4226.7 questions.4226.94 Thank4227.43 you.4227.74
4232.32 SPEAKER14232.32 -4232.32 No4232.32 questions.4232.64 Thank4233.28 you4233.6 very4233.76 much4234 for4234.16 your4234.32 testimony.4234.48 Krish4235.68 Mosher?4236
4237.6 SPEAKER34237.6 -4237.6 Yeah.4237.6 And4238.16 Ashley4238.48 Tarian.4238.88
4239.28 SPEAKER14239.28 -4239.28 And4239.28 Ashley4239.6 Tarian,4239.92 you're4240.4 next.4240.64
4258.2 SPEAKER34258.2 -4258.2 Just4258.2 wanna4258.44 remind,4258.69 panelists,4259.48 that4260.2 there'll4260.36 be4260.6 64261.09 minutes,4261.4 time4263.64 limit.4263.88 But4264.84 if4265 there's4265.16 a4265.72 further4265.88 testimony,4266.2 you4266.76 can4266.84 always4267 submit4267.32 written4267.72 testimony.4268.04
4269.96 SPEAKER14269.96 -4269.96 And4269.96 believe4270.28 you4270.52 me,4270.68 the4270.92 the4271.08 testimony4271.4 is4271.96 very4272.2 important.4272.44 Okay?4272.84 We4273.4 do4273.64 read4273.8 it.4274.04
4294.71 SPEAKER314294.71 -4294.71 We4294.71 are4295.03 eighth4295.27 grade4295.51 students4295.67 at4296.07 Gateway4296.31 Regional4296.71 School4297.19 in4297.75 Huntington,4297.99 Massachusetts.4298.47 In4299.43 the4299.59 beginning4299.75 of4299.99 the4300.15 year,4300.23 the4300.47 eighth4300.63 grade4300.87 collectively4301.19 chose4301.91 to4302.68 investigate4302.91 school4304.19 funding4304.52 for4304.91 our4305.07 civics4305.23 action4305.64 project.4305.95 We4306.76 initially4306.91 had4307.56 very4307.88 little4308.19 to4308.52 no4308.68 understanding4308.84 about4309.4 how4309.64 the4309.8 gateway4309.88 schools4310.35 were4310.6 funded.4310.76 In4311.88 our4312.03 research4312.27 and4312.68 conversations,4312.91 we4313.48 have4313.64 learned4313.88 that4314.11 rural4314.35 schools4314.68 face4315.07 a4315.23 unique4315.4 challenge.4315.88
4319.18 SPEAKER324319.18 -4319.18 We4319.18 are4319.5 here4319.58 to4319.82 speak4319.98 to4320.22 you4320.38 today4320.62 about4320.94 the4321.1 fiscal4321.26 crisis4321.58 that4321.98 is4322.22 impacting4322.38 our4322.86 school.4323.02 The4323.42 gateway4323.66 community4324.06 desperately4324.86 needs4325.34 increased4325.58 funding4325.98 or4326.54 else4326.7 gateway4326.94 is4327.26 in4327.42 jeopardy.4327.5 In4328.06 jeopardy4328.3 of4328.7 losing4328.94 more4329.18 teachers,4329.42 in4329.9 jeopardy4330.14 of4330.54 losing4330.78 more4331.18 learning4331.5 opportunities,4331.9 and4332.84 ultimately,4333.07 in4333.95 jeopardy4334.19 of4334.59 closing4334.68 down.4335.07 And4335.55 it4335.72 is4335.88 not4336.11 just4336.27 us.4336.43 Other4337.07 rural4337.31 schools4337.55 nearby4338.11 are4338.68 also4338.76 struggling.4338.99 For4339.8 many4339.95 of4340.19 us,4340.27 gateway4340.51 is4340.99 all4341.07 we4341.4 have4341.55 ever4341.88 known.4342.11 But4342.76 as4342.91 we4343.07 have4343.23 grown4343.4 older,4343.64 we4344.03 are4344.19 starting4344.35 to4344.68
4351.69 fiscal4351.69 crisis4352.01 affects4352.49 our4352.89 school4353.13 firsthand.4353.69 Here4354.33 are4354.49 some4354.65 of4354.81 our4354.97 stories.4355.13
4366.02 SPEAKER334366.02 -4366.02 Ladies4366.02 and4366.34 gentlemen4366.43 of4366.82 our4366.98 great4367.15 Commonwealth,4367.31 during4368.1 the4368.34 spring4368.51 of4368.74 204368.9 22,4369.15 I4369.78 was4369.94 attending4370.02 fifth4370.51 grade4370.74 within4371.29 a4371.45 suburban4371.61 school4371.93 district4372.17 in4372.41 Hampshire4372.57 County.4372.89 During4373.77 a4374.01 windstorm,4374.09 a4374.65 tree4374.81 impacted4375.13 my4375.53 home,4375.69 destroying4376.17 it4376.57 and4376.73 causing4376.89 my4377.21 family4377.29 to4377.61 relocate4377.69 to4378.17 Russell,4378.25 Massachusetts4378.57 and4379.37 I4379.53 to4379.69 Gateway4379.93 School4380.25 District.4380.49 I4381.29 clearly4381.53 remember4381.85 34382.33 years4382.49 ago,4382.73 the4383.13 the4383.34 very4383.49 first4383.57 thing4383.73 I4383.81 noticed4383.98 at4384.38 school4384.53 was4384.94 how4385.18 few4385.41 extracurricular4385.65 and4386.38 educational4386.53 field4387.01 trip4387.26 opportunities4387.41 were4387.98 offered4388.14 compared4388.38 to4388.69 my4388.77 previous4389.01 school4389.34 system.4389.57 In4390.45 fact,4390.69 because4391.01 of4391.26 this,4391.41 I4391.65 did4391.81 not4391.98 even4392.14 plan4392.3 to4392.53 stay4392.61 in4392.77 the4392.94 Hilltown4393.09 system4393.49 for4393.98 my4394.14 high4394.3 school4394.45 education.4394.69 Recently,4396.25 my4396.73 research4396.97 has4397.29 shown4397.45 that4397.85 gateway4398.01 is4398.41 my4398.57 best4398.73 option4398.89 due4399.45 to4399.69 the4399.77 neighboring4399.93 rural4400.41 school4400.57 districts4400.89 also4401.29 experiencing4401.61 a4402.09 funding4402.17 deficit4402.49 and4403.13 cannot4403.29 afford4403.61 to4403.93 provide4404.09 equal4404.49 educational4404.81 milestones4405.29 to4405.77 students.4405.93 Additionally,4406.97 I4407.53 remember4407.61 high4408.01 school4408.17 students4408.33 of4408.73 my4408.81 previous4408.97 school4409.29 district4409.53 describing4409.99 challenging4410.31 advanced4411.03 placement4411.35 curriculums,4411.76 and4412.4 how4412.56 they4412.72 would4412.8 benefit4412.95 significantly4413.35 from4413.84 these4414.07 classes4414.23 to4414.56 become4414.64 competitive4414.95 applicants4415.52 to4415.99 some4416.15 of4416.31 the4416.4 most4416.56 esteemed4416.8 universities4417.19 within4417.68 our4417.91 wonderful4417.99 state.4418.4 It4419.19 was4419.27 then4419.52 that4419.68 I4419.84 set4419.91 my4420.07 sights4420.23 on4420.48 the4420.56 Massachusetts4420.72 Institute4421.27 of4421.68 Technology.4421.84 Gateway4422.96 cannot4423.36 afford4423.68 to4423.92 offer4424 an4424.24 equal4424.4 amount4424.56 to4424.8 these4424.96 advanced4425.2 placement4425.44 classes4425.84 without4426.16 additional4426.56 financial4426.96 assistance.4427.52
4433.68 SPEAKER294433.68 -4433.68 Another4433.68 struggle4434.08 that4434.4 we4434.56 face4434.72 is4434.96 busing.4435.12 I4435.6 know4435.68 other4436.08 people4436.32 here4436.56 at4436.72 Gateway4436.8 that4437.2 have4437.36 hour4437.52 long4437.76 bus4437.92 rides4438.16 due4438.4 to4438.77 lack4438.85 of4438.94 enough4439.09 busing.4439.34 When4439.97 you4440.22 consider4440.38 all4440.94 that4441.09 time4441.26 spent4441.49 on4441.73 a4441.9 bus,4441.97 I4442.3 think4442.38 a4442.53 lot4442.61 about4442.77 what4443.09 people4443.26 could4443.57 be4443.73 doing4443.9 with4444.14 that4444.22 valuable4444.45 time,4444.85 studying,4445.41 socializing,4445.81 or4446.38 sleeping.4446.53 Personally,4447.18 I4447.57 do4447.73 not4447.9 have4448.05 a4448.14 long4448.22 bus4448.45 ride4448.61 because4448.85 I'm4449.09 the4449.26 last4449.41 stop.4449.65 But4449.9 because4450.05 of4450.38 other4450.53 kids4450.77 on4451.09 my4451.18 bus,4451.34 it4451.57 comes4451.81 late4451.97 every4452.21 single4452.45 day,4452.61 and4452.77 I4453.01 have4453.09 to4453.25 rush4453.33 to4453.49 get4453.65 to4453.73 class4453.89 on4454.13 time.4454.29 I4455.25 get4455.49 in4455.65 trouble4455.73 or4456.05 coming4456.21 tardy4456.53 because4457.01 our4457.33 school4457.49 is4457.73 treated4457.89 less4458.45 simply4458.77 because4459.09 of4459.33 our4459.41 location.4459.65 Additionally,4460.37 our4461.01 school4461.25 used4461.65 to4461.81 offer4461.97 a4462.21 late4462.37 bus4462.53 to4462.77 allow4462.93 students4463.17 to4463.57 stay4463.73 after4463.89 school4464.13 for4464.29 extracurriculars4464.45 or4465.25 to4465.41 get4465.57 extra4465.73 help4466.05 from4466.21 a4466.37 teacher.4466.45 Because4467.24 of4467.48 funding4467.56 cuts,4467.89 we4468.2 no4468.36 longer4468.52 have4468.77 a4468.93 late4469.01 bus.4469.24 As4469.48 a4469.73 result,4469.81 there's4470.13 far4470.44 less4470.77 participation4471.01 in4471.56 after4471.73 school4471.97 activities4472.36 than4472.77 there4473.01 once4473.16 was.4473.48 In4473.97 the4474.13 suburban4474.28 school,4474.85 it4475.16 would4475.41 not4475.65 be4475.97 that4476.13 big4476.28 a4476.44 deal4476.52 to4476.69 ask4476.85 your4477.09 parents4477.16 to4477.48 come4477.56 pick4477.81 you4477.89 up4478.05 104478.28 minutes4478.52 away4478.93 from4479.21 your4479.37 home.4479.53 But4479.85 in4480.17 rural4480.41 schools4480.73 like4481.05 ours,4481.21 it4481.53 might4481.77 take4481.93 our4482.17 parents4482.33 304482.73 to4483.05 454483.21 minutes4483.61 each4483.93 way4484.09 to4484.33 come4484.41 get4484.57 us.4484.81 The4485.21 loss4485.37 of4485.61 an4485.69 after4485.93 school4486.25 program4486.57 was4486.89 extremely4487.13 damaging4487.53 to4488.01 our4488.09 school4488.25 community.4488.49
4493.23 SPEAKER14493.23 -4493.23 Why4493.23 don't4493.47 you4493.55 sit4493.7 next4493.86 to4494.1 him4494.19 so4494.27 he4494.51 can4494.66 go4494.82 next?4495.06
4496.74 SPEAKER54496.74 -4496.74 I've4496.74 come4497.06 here4497.23 my4497.47 whole4497.55 schooling4497.78 career,4498.1 and4498.27 in4498.51 my4498.59 time4498.74 here,4498.91 I4499.15 have4499.23 seen4499.31 how4499.55 year4499.78 after4499.94 year4500.1 our4500.35 middle4500.51 school4500.66 students4500.91 graduate.4501.23 They4501.94 leave4502.1 to4502.43 another4502.66 district,4502.98 often4503.7 going4504.02 to4504.27 a4504.43 trade4504.51 school4504.74 or4504.98 a4505.06 school4505.15 that4505.39 offers4505.47 more4505.86 AP4506.1 classes.4506.35
4508.95 Students4508.95 yearly4509.27 just4509.59 because4509.75 we4509.91 can't4510.07 afford4510.31 to4510.63 have4510.71 a4510.87 school4510.95 that4511.19 people4511.35 wanna4511.59 graduate4511.91 from.4512.39 Our4513.11 district4513.35 is4513.67 forced4513.83 to4514.15 let4514.23 go4514.39 of4514.55 teachers4514.63 year4515.11 after4515.35 year4515.59 due4515.91 to4515.99 budget4516.15 cuts.4516.47 This4516.95 alone,4517.27 several4518.07 teacher4518.47 yes,4518.87 this4519.11 year4519.27 alone,4519.51 several4520.13 teachers4520.36 and4520.76 interventionalists4520.93 will4521.8 lose4522.05 their4522.28 job4522.44 due4522.69 to4522.84 challenging4523.01 funding.4523.65
4526.69 SPEAKER344526.69 -4526.69 In4526.69 the4526.93 time4527.09 that4527.32 I4527.48 have4527.65 been4527.8 in4527.97 Gateway,4528.13 I4528.76 realized4528.93 that4529.24 our4529.4 school4529.56 district4529.89 has4530.28 only4530.44 64530.76 sports4531.01 in4531.24 all4531.4 seasons4531.65 combined.4532.05 That4532.78 is4532.86 not4533.1 a4533.14 lot4533.18 of4533.5 options4533.74 compared4534.22 to4534.54 the4534.78 other4534.86 schools4535.26 for4535.58 me.4535.82 I4536.3 love4536.46 playing4536.7 sports,4537.02 but4537.42 the4537.66 options4537.82 that4538.14 Gateway4538.38 has4538.78 are4539.42 not4539.58 the4539.82 sports4539.98 I4540.7 like,4540.86 and4541.1 many4541.34 other4541.58 students4541.82 would4542.22 agree4542.46 with4542.7 me4542.86 too.4543.02 I4543.58 feel4543.74 like4543.98 the4544.14 more4544.3 options4544.62 we4544.94 have,4545.18 the4545.42 more4545.58 sports4545.9 in4546.22 our4546.38 school,4546.54 the4547.49 people4547.66 would4547.9 want4548.06 to4548.45 play4548.53 sports4548.77 more.4549.1 Sports4549.9 are4550.3 very4550.45 important4550.69 on4551.1 physical4551.26 and4551.66 mental4551.73 health4552.06 because4552.3 in4552.69 sports,4552.85 you4553.18 learn4553.34 sportsmanship4553.57 and4554.3 you4554.45 make4554.61 friends.4554.85 Sports4555.66 helps4556.06 you4556.3 build4556.45 communities,4556.77 but4557.34 in4557.57 rural4557.81 schools4558.14 like4558.53 ours,4558.77 there's4559.18 simply4559.49 often4559.98 not4560.3 enough4560.53 funding4560.85 to4561.26 support4561.41 as4561.81 many4561.98 teams.4562.22 Many4563.02 of4563.18 our4563.42 students4563.66 miss4564.06 out4564.22 on4564.46 the4564.54 valuable4564.7 experience4565.18 of4565.58 being4565.74 on4566.06 a4566.14 sports4566.3 team4566.54 because4566.86 of4567.1 the4567.18 lack4567.34 of4567.58 options.4567.82 For4568.7 example,4568.94 I4569.34 love4569.5 to4569.74 play4569.82 volleyball,4570.06 but4570.3 I'm4570.46 not4570.62 play4570.94 able4571.34 to4571.66 play4571.82 it4572.14 because4572.3 gateway4572.78 does4573.26 not4573.5 have4573.74 that4573.98 option.4574.14 It4574.89 affects4575.13 my4575.28 physical4575.77 and4576.09 mental4576.16 health4576.49 by4576.97 not4577.2 being4577.45 able4577.69 to4578.01 socialize,4578.16 and4579.2 I4579.28 just4579.45 have4579.69 fun4579.93 playing4580.32 a4580.65 sport.4580.81 Every4581.6 student4581.93 deserves4582.32 a4582.73 fully4582.89 funded4583.2 school4583.69 with4584.01 many4584.16 extracurriculars4584.56 and4585.6 sports4585.85 options,4586.32 including4586.73 students4587.28 like4587.69 me4587.93 attending4588.65 our4589.03 rural4589.41 schools4589.79 in4590.17 Hilton,4590.49 Massachusetts.4590.97
4598.25 SPEAKER354598.25 -4598.25 Education4598.25 is4598.81 crucial4599.05 everywhere,4599.45 really4599.93 no4600.17 matter4600.33 the4600.65 situation.4600.81 The4601.66 future4601.82 of4601.98 our4602.15 species4602.39 and4602.7 civilization4602.86 heavily4603.59 depends4603.98 on4604.3 the4604.47 education4604.63 a4605.1 student4605.19 receives.4605.51 It4606.23 doesn't4606.3 matter4606.55 where4606.78 a4606.94 kid4607.02 goes4607.26 to4607.51 school,4607.59 we4607.9 are4608.15 all4608.3 the4608.47 same.4608.55 We4608.86 all4609.02 have4609.26 very4609.43 high4609.66 amounts4609.82 of4610.06 potential4610.23 in4610.7 the4610.78 future4610.94 and4611.26 don't4611.51 deserve4611.66 to4612.06 be4612.15 held4612.3 back4612.47 because4612.7 of4612.94 insufficient4613.19 funds4613.66 that4613.98 can4614.15 be4614.23 provided4614.39 equally4614.78 for4615.19 all4615.34 schools.4615.51 We4616.27 urgently4616.43 request4616.91 to4617.23 help4617.31 with4617.55 the4617.71 state4617.79 legislature.4618.11 Your4618.91 area4619.23 on4619.47 commission4619.63 has4620.03 suggested4620.19 that4620.51 a4620.75 pot4620.83 of4621.07 60,000,0004621.15 for4622.11 rural4622.27 school4622.51 aid4622.75 is4622.99 necessary4623.07 for4623.55 rural4623.71 schools4624.03 to4624.35 retain4624.43 financial4624.91 stability,4625.63 but4627.55 rural4627.95 school4628.27 aid4628.59 falls4628.75 far4629.15 short4629.39 of4629.63 that4629.79 number4629.95 right4630.19 now.4630.35 We4630.63 stand4630.86 here4631.02 today4631.19 to4631.51 plead4631.66 for4631.98 a4632.1 pot4632.23 of4632.47 only4632.63 30,000,000.4632.86 This4633.74 would4633.9 significantly4634.15 help4634.78 out4634.94 our4635.02 school4635.27 district4635.51 and4635.82 others4636.06 like4636.3 ours.4636.63
4639.66 SPEAKER364639.66 -4639.66 What4639.66 we4639.9 ask4640.06 is4640.3 for4640.47 some4640.7 what4641.34 we4641.59 ask4641.74 is4641.98 what4643.7 we4643.94 ask4644.18 for4644.42 is4644.66 some4644.74 help.4644.9 Not4645.22 only4645.38 for4645.62 me,4645.78 but4645.86 the4646.02 students4646.18 and4646.5 staff4646.66 of4646.9 Gateway4647.06 because4647.38 all4647.78 kids4647.94 deserve4648.26 a4648.58 fully4648.74 funded4648.98 school.4649.38 I4650.02 think4650.18 every4650.42 student4650.66 deserves4651.06 a4651.38 fully4651.46 funded4651.78 school4652.18 for4652.42 a4652.66 good4652.74 education,4652.98 to4653.54 explore4653.7 their4654.02 interests,4654.26 to4654.66 try4654.82 new4655.06 things,4655.22 to4655.7 have4655.86 more4656.1 time4656.69 at4656.93 home,4657.01 to4657.48 being4657.56 on4657.8 a4657.97 bus4658.05 for4658.36 an4659.32 hour4659.48 a4659.89 day,4660.05 to4661.09 play4661.32 sports4661.56 and4662.05 to4662.2 learn,4662.36 in4662.6 order4662.77 to4663.01 14663.24 day4663.4 make4663.65 a4663.8 world4663.89 a4664.2 better4664.28 place.4664.6 We4665.4 would4665.65 love4665.8 to4665.97 see4666.05 students4666.28 have4666.69 an4666.84 equal4667.01 educational4667.32 opportunity4668.05 as4668.6 the4668.77 kids4668.93 who4669.09 live4669.24 in4669.4 suburban4669.78 and4670.1 urban4670.5 areas4670.82 because4671.22 kids4671.54 should4671.78 not4671.94 be4672.18 treated4672.26 differently4672.58 because4672.98 of4673.22 their4673.38 zip4673.62 code.4673.78 We4674.58 are4674.82 rural4675.06 and4675.3 we4675.54 deserve4675.7 the4676.26 same4676.42 opportunities4676.74 as4677.38 everyone4677.54 else.4677.94
4680.82 SPEAKER14680.82 -4680.82 Thank4680.82 you4681.06 very4681.3 much.4681.54 That4681.86 was4682.1 awesome.4682.26 You4682.82 guys4683.06 did4683.22 a4683.46 great4683.62 job.4683.78 That4684.27 was4684.51 great4684.66 teamwork,4685.06 and4685.47 this4685.63 is4685.86 what4685.94 we4686.1 are4686.35 up4686.74 here4686.91 listening4687.47 to4687.86 you.4688.1 We're4688.43 gonna4688.66 be4688.82 a4688.98 team,4689.06 and4689.31 we're4689.47 gonna4689.63 figure4689.86 out4690.1 how4690.27 to4690.35 work4690.51 this4690.74 out4690.91 because4691.15 you4691.78 guys4692.02 are4692.27 our4692.51 future,4692.66 and4693.15 we4693.7 just4693.86 saw4694.19 how4694.43 our4695.15 future4695.39 can4695.7 work4696.02 by4696.35 communicating.4696.66 So4697.39 great4697.63 job.4697.86 Any4698.35 questions?4698.59
4733.19 Thank4733.19 thank4733.51 you4733.67 for4733.91 that4734.07 piece.4734.15
4736.71 Next4736.71 up,4737.03 Sabine4737.99 Vaughn4738.79 Murn.4739.27
4740.55 SPEAKER34740.55 -4740.55 And4740.55 then.4740.79
4741.51 SPEAKER14741.51 -4741.51 And4741.51 then4741.67 Evan4742.23 McKay.4742.87
4756.41 Sabine,4756.41 are4757.69 you4758.01 on?4758.26
4760.95 SPEAKER34760.95 -4760.95 If4760.95 not,4761.03 we'll4761.27 we'll4761.59 call4761.75 her4761.91 again4762.07 after.4762.31
4763.19 SPEAKER14763.19 -4763.19 We'll4763.19 call4763.51 you4763.67 after.4763.83 If4764.15 not4764.31
4765.67 SPEAKER34765.67 -4765.67 Evan4765.67 McKay.4765.99
4766.39 SPEAKER14766.39 -4766.39 Evan4766.39 McKay?4766.79
4771.44 Someone4771.44 lost4771.93 their4772.24 phone4772.48 also4772.89 in4773.84 the4774.01 front.4774.09
4777.6 Oh,4777.6 okay.4777.84 Sorry.4778.64 The4779.13 alright.4779.52
4781.52 SPEAKER34781.52 -4781.52 I'll4781.52 just4781.68 move4782.01 on.4782.16
4785.23 SPEAKER14785.23 -4785.23 Cesar4785.23 Nazzello.4786.19 Cesar4787.15 Nazzello?4787.71 Oh,4788.35 hang4788.59 on.4788.75
4789.79 SPEAKER34789.79 -4789.79 Is4789.79 this4790.03 Evan?4790.11
4790.99 SPEAKER14790.99 -4790.99 Evan?4790.99
4798.31 SPEAKER374798.31 -4798.31 Good4798.31 afternoon.4798.64 To4799.11 the4799.27 esteemed4799.44 members4799.76 of4800.07 the4800.15 legislature4800.48 and4801.11 the4801.44 public,4801.59 my4802.23 name4802.4 is4802.48 Evan4802.72 McKay.4803.03 I'm4803.44 from4803.59 Cambridge.4803.84 I'm4804.64 on4804.88 the4805.03 executive4805.19 committee4805.59 of4805.91 the4805.99 Sierra4806.07 Club,4806.4 and4806.55 I'm4806.72 a4806.8 member4806.88 of4807.11 the4807.19 United4807.35 Auto4807.59 Workers,4807.91 UAW4808.23 local4808.8 54809.19 14809.44 18,4810.31 the4810.95 United4811.11 Automobile4811.51 Aerospace4812.07 and4812.71 Agricultural4813.03 Implement4813.67 Workers4814.07 of4814.47 America.4814.63 I'm4816.15 incredibly4816.39 worried4816.87 about4818.23 the4818.47 state4818.63 of4818.95 our4819.11 budget4819.43 right4819.91 now.4820.07 We4820.55 are4820.79 operating4821.03 under4821.67 the4821.91 context4822.07 of4822.47 extreme4822.71 financial4823.11 precarity,4823.59 given4824.47 the4824.79 Trump4824.95 administration,4825.19 which4826.28 is4826.44 coming4826.6 for4826.93 so4827.32 many4827.48 of4827.64 the4827.8 things4827.89 that4828.13 we4828.2 care4828.36 about,4828.6 health4828.84 care,4829.16 education,4829.8 social4830.44 programs,4831.01 things4832.05 essential4832.36 for4832.76 the4832.93 working4833.09 class4833.4 and4833.72 for4833.97 our4834.28 planet.4834.44 They4835.16 want4835.32 to4835.56 give4835.65 tax4835.89 breaks4836.13 to4836.36 billionaires4836.6 and4837.09 their4837.24 corporations.4837.48 And4838.58 at4838.74 the4838.82 state4838.98 level,4839.22 we4839.46 need4839.7 to4839.86 be4839.94 doing4840.02 as4840.26 much4840.5 as4840.9 possible,4841.14 and4841.54 we4841.78 must4841.94 be4842.18 prepared4842.34 to4842.9 tax4843.06 the4843.38 rich.4843.54 Today,4844.5 I'm4844.82 gonna4845.06 talk4845.22 about4845.46 something4845.7 that4846.02 shouldn't4846.26 have4846.58 ever4846.82 existed4847.06 in4847.86 which4848.02 we4848.26 should4848.42 end4848.58 right4848.9 now4849.06 in4849.22 our4849.38 budget.4849.54 This4850.52 is4850.76 a4850.84 sales4851.07 tax4851.31 loophole4851.64 on4852.11 aircraft4852.35 and4853.15 aircraft4853.4 parts.4853.95 When4854.76 I4854.99 learned4855.15 that4855.56 taxpayers4855.88 were4856.44 subsidizing4856.68 the4857.31 billionaires4857.48 polluting4858.03 our4858.44 planet,4858.6 I4859.4 was4859.56 shocked.4859.72 We4860.44 can4860.6 fix4860.84 this4861.07 right4861.31 now4861.56 in4861.72 our4861.88 budget.4862.03 To4862.95 see4863.11 the4863.19 legislation,4863.43 it's4864.07 s4864.47 194864.87 234865.43 and4866.07 h4866.31 314866.71 23,4867.27 but4868.15 it's4868.39 so4868.63 short,4868.79 I'm4869.19 just4869.43 going4869.67 to4869.83 read4869.99 it.4870.23 Ground4870.95 the4871.43 jet4871.59 the4872.07 jet4872.31 tax4872.55 loophole.4872.87 Section4873.83 64874.31 of4874.63 chapter4874.79 644875.19 h4875.75 of4875.91 the4875.99 general4876.07 laws4876.47 as4876.86 appearing4876.95 in4877.11 the4877.27 20224877.51 official4878.31 edition4878.78 is4879.1 hereby4879.35 amended4879.66 by4879.99 striking4880.15 out4880.47 subsections4880.7 UU4881.35 and4881.59 VV.4881.82 Section4882.63 64883.03 are4883.27 the4883.43 exemptions4883.59 of4883.99 the4884.15 sales4884.31 tax.4884.63 And4885.82 UU4886.06 is4886.63 the4886.78 sales4886.95 of4887.43 repair4887.74 or4888.23 replacement4888.47 parts4888.95 exclusively4889.35 for4889.91 use4890.06 in4890.31 aircraft4890.39 or4890.86 in4891.03 the4891.1 significant4891.19 overhauling4891.82 or4892.23 rebuilding4892.39 of4892.84 aircraft4893 or4893.24 aircraft4893.48 parts4893.96 or4894.28 components4894.44 on4895 a4895.08 factory4895.16 basis.4896.04 VV4896.52 is4897.32 the4897.48 sales4897.56 of4897.96 aircraft.4898.2 Working4899.56 class4899.88 people4900.28 pay4900.68 sales4900.84 tax4901.16 all4901.48 the4901.64 time.4901.72 Disposable4902.52 diapers,4903.16 personal4904.12 hygiene4904.52 products,4904.92 toothpaste4905.4 and4905.96 shampoo,4906.12 baby4907.08 cribs,4907.4 school4907.8 supplies.4908.12 When4908.98 we4909.14 travel4909.22 by4909.69 bicycle,4909.94 car,4910.49 interregional4910.9 bus4911.61 and4911.85 train,4912.01 we4912.57 pay4912.9 sales4913.14 tax.4913.45 But4914.18 when4914.34 a4914.57 rich4914.65 person4914.9 buys4915.3 a4915.53 private4915.69 jet4916.09 and4916.26 private4916.49 jet4916.81 parts,4917.05 they4917.69 do4917.85 so4918.09 without4918.49 paying4919.22 sales4919.53 tax.4919.94 Mass4920.73 budget4920.98 estimates4921.57 this4921.89 tax4921.97 loophole4922.29 costs4922.77 our4923.09 Commonwealth4923.25 an4923.81 estimated4923.97 $27,600,0004924.53 every4926.93 single4927.41 year.4927.97 This4929.01 is4929.25 a4929.33 moment4929.49 when4929.81 vital4930.05 services4930.45 are4931.01 not4931.25 being4931.41 funded,4931.65 and4931.97 we're4932.21 told4932.45 that4932.69 there's4932.85 not4933.17 enough4933.41 money4933.73 for4934.05 good4934.29 things.4934.45 There's4934.85 not4935.17 enough4935.33 money,4935.65 the4936.9 people4937.06 say,4937.3 for4937.85 the4938.09 right4938.34 to4938.49 shelter,4938.73 but4939.06 we4939.3 object4939.45 to4939.77 that.4939.85 There's4940.9 not4941.22 enough4941.45 money4941.69 for4941.94 high4942.26 quality,4942.41 sustainable4942.9 public4943.45 transportation4943.77 for4944.49 so4944.73 many4944.9 good4945.22 things.4945.45 We4946.18 need4946.34 to4946.49 eliminate4946.65 this4947.14 tax4947.3 loophole4947.61 on4947.94 aircraft,4948.18 the4948.65 worst4948.81 and4949.14 most4949.3 environmentally4949.53 destructive4950.34 manner4951.3 of4951.61 travel.4951.77 This4952.4 is4952.56 about4952.64 climate4952.88 justice.4953.36 This4953.76 is4954 about4954.08 environmental4954.32 justice.4954.96 Right4955.36 now,4955.52 our4955.76 tax4955.92 code4956.24 is4956.56 subsidizing4956.88 asthma4957.84 and4958.56 air4958.88 pollution.4959.04 This4959.92 is4960.16 about4960.24 fairness,4960.48 and4960.88 this4961.04 is4961.2 about4961.28 a4961.52 budget4961.6 that4961.92 supports4962.16 working4962.56 class4962.96 people4963.28 instead4963.6 of4964 billionaires.4964.16 There's4965.15 so4965.48 many4965.72 good4966.03 things4966.35 that4966.99 need4967.15 to4967.4 be4967.48 funded.4967.56 We're4967.95 hearing4968.19 all4968.52 about4968.68 them.4968.91 We're4969.15 here4969.31 testifying4969.64 on4970.19 behalf4970.35 of4970.68 the4970.76 good4970.91 things.4971.07 Let's4971.72 stop4972.19 subsidizing4972.52 the4973.48 billionaires4973.64 to4974.19 pollute4974.35 our4974.76 communities4974.91 and4975.4 destroy4975.56 our4975.95 planet.4976.11 Enough4976.84 is4977.15 enough.4977.4 Ground4978.03 the4978.52 jet4978.68 tax4979.07 loophole.4979.4 Thank4979.95 you.4980.19 Thanks,4981.74 Evan.4982.06
4985.02 SPEAKER14985.02 -4985.02 I4985.02 didn't4985.26 know4985.58 that4985.66 about,4985.9 aircraft.4986.7 That's4987.26 very4987.66 you4988.46 learn4988.7 something4988.94 new4989.26 every4989.42 day,4989.66 so4989.82 that4990.06 that4990.38 was,4990.54 that4990.94 was4991.1 good.4991.34 Thank4991.5 you.4991.74 Any4992.06 questions?4992.38
4994.78 SPEAKER34994.78 -4994.78 I4994.78 wanna4995.02 introduce,4995.34 senator4996.3 Jake4996.61 Olivera,4996.85 senator4997.41 from4997.66 Ludlow,4997.82 who4998.22 just4998.38 came4998.53 in.4998.7 Thank4999.1 you.4999.34
5007.11 SPEAKER15007.11 -5007.11 Sabine,5007.11 are5007.67 you5007.83 around?5007.99
5012.15 Anita5012.15 Roman?5012.71
5021.09 Anita,5021.09 are5021.57 you5021.65 there?5021.81
5025.34 Cesar5025.34 Nuzzillo.5025.81 Cesar5027.01 Nuzzillo.5027.81
5036.6 SPEAKER385036.6 -5036.6 Good5036.6 afternoon,5036.92 committee5037.4 members.5037.8 My5038.36 name5038.52 is5038.68 Cesar5038.84 Nuzzolo,5039.24 and5039.88 I5040.12 serve5040.28 as5040.52 the5040.76 chair5040.84 of5041.16 the5041.24 Lunenburg5041.4 Select5042.04 Board.5042.36 I5043.24 made5043.4 the5043.64 long5043.72 trek5043.96 to5044.28 Boston5044.44 this5044.84 morning5045 on5045.32 the5045.4 commuter5045.56 rail5046.12 because5046.52 for5047 the5047.16 second5047.32 year5047.64 in5047.88 a5048.04 row,5048.12 the5048.81 town5048.97 of5049.14 Lunenburg,5049.3 like5049.93 many5050.18 other5050.49 municipalities5050.81 across5051.61 the5051.93 Commonwealth,5052.09 is5052.73 in5052.9 a5053.05 budget5053.14 crisis.5053.53 Last5054.81 year,5055.14 we5055.53 successfully5055.77 passed5056.41 an5056.65 override5056.9 to5057.53 close5057.69 a5058.01 $948,0005058.18 gap5060.01 in5060.26 our5060.49 school5060.65 budget.5060.97 This5061.98 year,5062.14 that5062.54 gap5062.7 is5062.94 $2,000,0005063.26 representing5064.62 8%5065.42 of5066.14 our5066.3 school5066.54 budget,5066.78 and5067.42 we're5067.58 weathering5067.9 those5068.3 cuts5068.54 this5068.94 year.5069.1 That5069.82 means5069.98 we're5070.22 laying5070.46 off5070.78 385071.02 school5071.66 employees.5072.14 That's5073.02 9%5073.42 of5074.22 our5074.38 total5074.54 permanent5075.02 school5075.5 staff.5075.98 All5077.27 of5077.59 these5077.66 cost5077.91 increases,5078.23 health5079.1 insurance,5079.35 school5080.15 transportation,5080.63 out5081.82 of5081.98 district5082.15 placements5082.63 are5083.51 out5083.66 of5083.82 our5083.98 control,5084.23 and5084.78 they5085.02 certainly5085.27 don't5085.74 fit5085.98 within5086.23 the5086.55 confines5086.78 of5087.19 prop5087.35 25087.66 and5087.91 a5088.06 half.5088.15 So5089.02 what5089.26 does5089.42 that5089.58 mean5089.74 for5090.06 municipalities5090.38 like5091.18 Lunenburg?5091.42 Right5092.54 now,5092.7 obviously,5093.1 it5094.06 means5094.22 the5094.54 quality5094.7 of5095.02 public5095.26 education5095.66 and5096.3 the5096.46 commonwealth5096.62 is5097.26 at5097.5 risk.5097.66 But5098.46 it5098.7 also5098.86 means5099.18 each5099.66 year,5099.9 departments5100.54 are5101.18 left5101.42 to5101.98 fight5102.14 over5102.65 an5102.97 increasingly5103.2 small5103.77 amount5104.09 of5104.4 scraps.5104.56 It5105.6 means5105.77 15106.09 group5106.32 in5106.56 town5106.81 is5107.2 pit5107.36 against5107.69 another5108.01 group5108.4 in5108.73 town.5108.81 Do5109.84 we5110.01 level5110.24 fund5110.56 our5110.81 schools5110.97 or5111.52 do5111.69 we5111.84 pave5112.01 our5112.32 roads?5112.48 How5113.28 do5113.44 we5113.6 justify5113.77 an5114.24 increase5114.4 in5114.81 services5114.97 in5115.52 15115.69 department5115.93 when5116.48 another5116.73 department5117.13 has5117.52 to5117.77 cut5117.93 staff.5119.03 It's5119.19 not5119.51 sustainable,5119.83 and5120.55 it's5120.79 leaving5121.03 communities5121.35 deeply5122.07 divided.5122.47 So5123.59 we5123.75 could5123.91 ask5124.15 for5124.31 another5124.55 override5125.03 this5125.59 year,5125.75 but5126.55 people5126.71 are5127.03 already5127.27 stretched5127.67 too5128.31 thin.5128.55 We5129.67 need5129.91 more5130.15 local5130.47 aid5130.79 from5131.03 the5131.27 state.5131.43 The5132.1 chapter5132.43 705132.74 inflation5133.23 adjustment5133.78 would5134.27 be5134.51 an5134.59 extra5134.74 $100,0005135.23 for5136.74 Lunenburg.5136.98 In5138.34 district5138.59 transportation5139.39 funding5140.1 would5140.74 be5140.98 $200,0005141.15 The5143.06 special5143.23 education5143.63 circuit5144.27 breaker5144.66 would5145.23 be5145.39 $190,0005145.63 The5147.99 whole5148.15 child5148.55 grant5148.87 program5149.27 would5149.75 be5149.91 an5150.07 additional5150.31 $240,0005150.87 Municipalities5153.59 need5154.71 this5155.11 funding.5155.43 We5156.15 need5156.39 the5156.55 minimum5156.79 per5157.27 pupil5157.43 funding5157.91 level5158.31 to5158.71 be5158.87 increased5159.03 to5159.43 $1505159.59 We5161.45 need5161.61 more5161.85 unrestricted5162.32 general5163.13 government5163.45 aid.5164.41 Chapter5164.81 705165.2 needs5165.77 to5166.01 be5166.16 cracked5166.32 open,5166.65 as5167.05 I5167.28 keep5167.45 hearing5167.69 people5168.16 say.5168.57 I5169.53 ask5169.77 you5170.01 all5170.16 to5170.57 act5170.73 with5170.97 urgency5171.2 to5171.85 better5172.09 support5172.41 municipalities.5172.81 Thank5173.93 you.5174.16
5176.02 SPEAKER15176.02 -5176.02 Thank5176.02 you.5176.34
5183.38 Paula5183.38 Petrella.5183.86
5187.46 Jerry5187.46 Shea5187.86 is5188.18 next.5188.42
5197.51 Gary5197.51 Shea.5197.91
5204.23 Barbara5204.23 Reardon?5204.79
5211.27 Linda5211.27 Wesson?5211.75
5218.19 What5218.19 is5218.44 that?5218.6 Jennifer5219.48 Wojtizek?5220.35
5225.07 Dean5225.07 Luchier?5225.56
5234.14 Okay.5234.14 Good.5234.54 Hi,5235.98 Dean.5236.3 Hey.5236.94 Good.5237.66
5246.77 SPEAKER395246.77 -5246.77 Chairperson5246.77 and5247.4 distinguished5247.56 members5248.13 of5248.44 the5248.6 House5248.69 Ways5248.84 and5249.09 Means5249.16 Committee,5249.4 thank5249.81 you5250.05 for5250.13 the5250.36 opportunity5250.44 to5251.01 speak5251.09 before5251.32 you5251.56 today.5251.81 I5252.84 hope5253.01 you5253.24 only5253.4 as5253.65 a5253.81 I5254.36 come5254.6 before5254.77 you5255.09 only5255.24 as5255.48 a5255.65 researcher5255.73 who5256.28 witnesses5256.44 a5257.01 growing5257.16 crisis5258.03 that5258.43 threatens5258.75 the5259.07 safety5259.23 of5259.55 communities,5259.63 offers5260.59 integrity5260.99 of5261.47 parole5261.55 oversight5261.95 systems.5262.51 I5264.11 would5264.35 like5264.51 to5264.59 put5264.75 on5264.91 the5265.07 record,5265.23 I've5265.71 been5265.95 a5266.11 field5266.19 parole5266.43 officer5266.75 for5266.99 65267.07 years.5267.31 Anything5268.03 I5268.35 say5268.51 today5268.75 though5268.99 does5269.23 not5269.47 represent5269.63 the5270.11 MPOA5270.27 union5271.07 or5271.73 the5271.89 Massachusetts5272.13 parole5272.77 board.5273.16 I'm5274.28 here5274.44 as5274.77 a5274.93 researcher5275.01 for5275.97 my5276.05 doctoral5276.28 capstone5276.93 from5277.89 Liberty5278.13 University5278.52 in5279.01 public5279.16 administration.5279.48
5282.13 This5282.13 testimony5282.36 centers5282.93 on5283.24 the5283.4 Massachusetts5283.48 parole5283.97 board,5284.28 critical5285.09 understaffing,5285.65 inadequate5287.5 training,5288.14 infrastructure,5289.18 and5290.06 system5290.22 limitations5290.7 that5291.34 compromise5291.58 parole5292.78 ops5293.1 ability5293.42 to5293.82 conduct5293.9 safe5294.7 and5295.02 effective5295.26 supervision.5295.66 Let5297.9 me5298.14 begin5298.3 with5298.54 a5298.7 simple5298.86 truth.5299.18 Staffing5299.93 levels5300.24 at5300.57 the5300.73 Massachusetts5300.89 parole5301.36 board5301.6 are5301.93 not5302.09 just5302.24 inadequate,5302.49 but5303.69 they5303.85 are5304.01 critical.5304.16 After5305.28 interviewing5305.6 with5306.01 parole5306.24 professionals5307.28 across5307.93 85308.32 different5308.49 states,5308.81 it5309.6 shows5309.85 that5310.16 Massachusetts5310.32 parole5310.81 officers5311.05 carry5311.53 out5311.77 a5312.32 unique5312.57 and5313.05 personal5313.2 workload.5313.93 They5316.06 are5316.22 responsible5316.38 not5316.94 just5317.18 for5317.42 supervision,5317.66 but5318.62 also5318.86 mentoring,5319.18 case5319.9 management,5320.14 crisis5320.86 response,5321.34 and5322.3 whether5322.54 acknowledged5323.02 by5323.5 policy5323.74 makers5324.14 or5324.46 not,5324.62 law5325.02 enforcement5325.18 duties.5325.66 When5327.26 parole5327.58 officers5327.82 are5328.14 stretched5328.3 thin,5328.7 the5329.74 ability5329.9 to5330.81 deliver5331.05 quality5331.77 individualized5332.41 supervision5333.13 drastically5334.24 declines.5334.81 Scholarly5335.69 studies5336.16 have5336.56 consistently5336.81 shown5337.36 that5338.01 high5338.24 parole5338.49 caseloads5338.81 lead5339.45 to5339.6 reduced5339.85 supervision,5340.24 effectiveness,5341.28 increased5342.32 recidivism5342.73 rates,5343.36 and5343.92 officer5344.08 Berno5344.32 Wetzel5344.96 2021.5345.52 When5347.52 staffing5347.84 is5348.24 critically5348.32 low,5348.72 officers5348.96 are5349.36 not5349.44 forced5349.68 are5350.64 often5350.8 forced5351.04 to5351.36 triage5351.6 cases5352.24 reducing5352.72 supervision5353.2 to5354.32 manage5354.56 check5354.96 ins5355.2 rather5355.68 than5356 minimum5356.24 rehabilitation.5357.12
5360.14 Furthermore,5360.14 the5360.78 recent5360.94 Mattis5361.26 Court5361.66 decision5361.9 will5362.22 increase5362.45 the5362.78 number5362.94 of5363.26 supervision5363.82 cases5364.3 stretching5364.7 resources5365.1 even5365.82 thinner.5366.06 There's5366.78 approximately5367.1 2505367.57 eligible5368.3 first5368.78 degree5369.02 lifers5369.34 for5369.98 intensive5370.22 supervision.5370.78 Parole5371.82 standards5372.22 that5372.78 equates5373.02 to5373.57 25373.9 normal5374.86 parolees5375.42 compared5376.22 to5376.62 25376.86 15377.18 lifer.5378.06 The5379.02 ration5379.26 is5379.58 not5379.74 feasible5379.98 with5380.3 current5380.54 staff5380.78 and5381.02 potentially5381.1 endanger5381.66 in5382.06 public5382.14 safety5382.54 and5383.18 undermine5383.42 rehabilitation5383.98 goals.5384.86 Despite5386.14 the5386.54 multifaceted5386.78 responsibilities5387.5 that5388.22 parole5388.38 officers5388.62 fulfill,5389.02 including5389.5 supervision,5390.68 arrest,5391.31 transports,5391.64 possible5392.91 use5393.4 of5393.56 force,5393.72 and5394.19 respond5394.44 to5394.99 emergencies.5395.07 Some5396.27 within5396.52 different5396.84 administrations5397.23 in5397.51 the5397.8 state5397.88 have5398.19 labeled5398.35 professionals5399.15 as5400.19 customer5400.44 service,5400.91 not5401.31 law5401.56 enforcement.5401.72 In5402.57 public5402.73 service5402.89 sectors,5403.37 particularly5403.77 in5404.25 agencies5404.49 tasked5405.05 with5405.45 public5405.61 safety,5406.01 organizational5407.05 identity5407.77 is5408.25 crucial5408.41 for5408.73 consistency,5408.97 morale,5409.69 and5410.09 coherent5410.33 strategy,5410.97 Albert5411.85 Witten.5412.17 When5413.21 an5413.45 organization5413.61 lacks5414.33 a5414.65 clear5414.73 identity,5414.97 employees5415.45 often5415.93 experience5416.88 confusion5417.59 regarding5418.39 values,5418.95 culture,5419.51 and5419.84 operational5420.15 directives.5420.64 This5421.59 uncertainty5421.84 can5422.39 undermine5422.64 internal5423.11 cohesion5423.51 and5424.31 the5424.55 trust5424.64 of5424.95 the5425.11 external5425.19 stakeholders,5425.76 including5426.23 community5426.72 members5427.11 on5427.76 the5427.91 agency5428.07 efficiency.5428.55 That5430.41 was5430.57 my5430.81 35430.97 minutes.5431.13 Yeah.5431.85 35432.25 minutes.5432.49 I5432.97 have5433.13 more5433.29 stats5433.45 if5433.77 anyone5433.93 has5434.25 questions.5434.41 I5434.73 know5434.89 I5435.05 gave5435.21 a5435.45 small5435.61 piece5435.85 to5436.17 representative5436.57 Soros,5437.05 but5437.45
5437.85 SPEAKER15437.85 -5437.85 Honestly,5437.85 if5438.17 you'd5438.25 give5438.49 us5438.65 the5438.89 testimony,5439.21 we'd5439.69 love5439.93 to5440.17 take5440.33 Okay.5440.89 Okay?5441.37 No.5442.49 No.5442.73 We5443.05 don't5443.29 read5443.61 enough,5443.85 sir.5444.09 We5444.33 would5444.41 love5444.57 to5444.81 take5444.97 it.5445.05
5445.29 SPEAKER395445.29 -5445.29 Alright.5445.29
5445.91 SPEAKER15445.91 -5445.91 Okay?5445.91 But5446.31 thank5446.55 you5446.78
5446.95 SPEAKER395446.95 -5446.95 very5446.95 much.5447.1 Talk5447.35 and5447.66 send5447.82 it.5448.07 Does5448.47 anyone5448.63 have5448.95 any5449.1 questions5449.27 about5449.59 this?5450.31
5453.27 SPEAKER15453.27 -5453.27 Told5453.27 you5453.51 I5453.59 was5453.66 gonna5453.82 test5453.99
5455.1 SPEAKER395455.1 -5455.1 Thank5455.1 you5455.27 for5455.43 your5455.66 testimony.5455.82 Can5457.03 you5457.19 just5457.35 quickly,5457.51 give5458.31 the5458.47 membership5458.63 here,5459.1 at5460.98 what5461.14 staffing5461.3 levels5461.7 you5462.02 guys5462.18 are5462.42 at5462.66 today5462.82 versus5463.46 what5463.86 you'd5464.02 like5464.26 to5464.38 be5464.5 in5464.66 the5464.82 future?5464.98 So5466.18 currently,5467.7 I5468.9 don't5469.06 know5469.22 the5469.38 exact5469.54 numbers.5469.78 I've5470.18 put5470.42 in5470.58 a5470.74 request5470.82 for5471.06 it.5471.3 I5471.38 just5471.46 haven't5471.62 received5471.94 the5472.18 public5472.42 records.5472.82 But5473.46 because5473.7 I5474.1 work5474.18 for5474.42 parole,5474.5 I5474.9 can5474.98 say,5475.22 over5476.63 the5476.86 last5477.03 35477.27 or5477.59 45477.66 years,5477.82 we've5478.07 lost5478.39 due5478.86 to5479.1 retirements,5479.19 COVID5480.63 mandates,5481.1 and5481.74 other5481.99 things,5482.23 I5482.55 think5482.7 close5482.95 to5483.27 225483.43 parole5483.82 officers,5484.23 and5485.03 we've5485.19 only5485.43 hired5485.66 95486.15 back.5486.39
5489.36 Our5489.36 state5489.68 mandate5490.08 is5490.4 not5491.04 over5491.28 405491.52 cases.5491.84 So5493.68 everyone5494.32 in5494.56 the5494.8 state,5494.96 I5495.28 think5495.36 our5495.52 case5495.76 average5496 is5496.32 roughly5496.48 39.5496.88 I5497.52 have5497.6 requested5497.84 it.5498.24 I5498.48 just5498.64 haven't5498.8 got5499.12 it5499.28 back5499.44 yet.5499.6 So5501.24 after5501.48 40,5501.81 you're5502.6 really5502.84 stretched5503.09 thin.5503.4 Some5503.73 officers5503.97 have5504.36 been5504.52 over5504.69 405504.93 for5505.16 a5505.32 long5505.4 period5505.73 of5505.97 time,5506.05 which5506.2 then5506.52 you5506.69 are5506.93 just5507.16 putting5507.32 no5507.56 fires.5507.65 If5507.97 you5508.13 cover5508.28 a5508.45 big5508.6 district5508.93 and5509.48 you5509.65 have5509.81 to5509.97 go5510.05 town5510.28 in5511.16 15511.32 spot,5511.65 and5511.89 then5512.05 you5512.2 have5512.36 to5512.52 go5512.6 35512.84 hours5513.01 or5513.24 25513.4 hours5513.48 to5513.81 see5513.97 someone5514.13 else,5514.44 that's5515.05 your5515.29 day.5515.37 If5515.53 you5515.69 have5515.77 to5515.93 do5516.01 an5516.17 arrest5516.33 or5516.57 transport,5516.73 depending5517.53 on5517.85 what5517.93 part5518.01 of5518.25 state,5518.33 what5518.65 facility5518.89 goes5519.37 back5519.61 to,5519.77 it5520.01 could5520.09 take5520.25 out5520.41 a5520.65 whole5520.73 day5520.89 of5521.45 work5521.61 that5521.85 could5522.01 be5522.17 accomplished.5522.33 Great.5524.73 Thank5525.05 you.5525.29 Thank5525.53 you5525.69 for5525.77 your5525.93 testimony.5526.09 Thank5526.49 you,5526.73 Chair5526.97 Diggs.5527.13
5529.86 SPEAKER15529.86 -5529.86 Representative5529.86 Zarzauris.5530.26
5531.14 SPEAKER265531.14 -5531.14 Thank5531.14 you,5531.38 chair5531.61 Diggs.5531.86 Real5532.18 quick,5532.41 you5532.74 said5532.9 something5533.14 about5533.45 lifers.5533.86 Oh,5535.22 sorry.5535.45 2455536.02 lifers,5537.14 something5537.53 different.5537.94
5538.74 SPEAKER395538.74 -5538.74 I5538.74 roughly5539.53 I'm5540.82 sorry.5540.98 25541.3 20.5541.53 So5542.18 it's5542.34 2205542.57 eligible5544.32 first5545.12 degree5545.44 lifers.5545.76 When5546.96 that5547.2 comes5547.44 out,5547.68 if5548.24 they're5548.48 released5548.64 supervision,5549.44 there's5550.8 visited5551.76 or5552.32 made5552.64 contact5552.96 with5553.36 at5553.6 least5553.68 45553.92 times.5554.08 25554.4 times5554.56 in5554.8 the5554.96 home,5555.04 25556.4 times5556.64 in5556.96 the5557.12 community,5557.2 office,5557.84 wherever5558.16 it5558.56 might5558.72 be.5558.88 Average5560.94 person5561.34 is5561.65 25561.81 or5561.98 1,5562.22 so5563.09 you're5563.41 doing5563.65 double5563.98 the5564.3 work5564.45 for5564.69 15564.94 person.5565.26 So5565.81 say5566.05 if5566.3 you5566.45 had5566.61 105566.85 intensive5568.94 people5569.41 come5570.3 out5570.45 on5570.69 parole,5570.85 that's5571.57 equivalent5571.81 to5572.3 205572.45 people5572.77 you're5573.09 doing5573.34 the5573.49 work5573.65 for.5573.9
5577.45 SPEAKER265577.45 -5577.45 Thank5577.45 you5577.69 for5577.85 your5578.09 testimony.5578.25 Thank5578.89 you,5578.97 chair.5579.21
5580.01 SPEAKER15580.01 -5580.01 Thank5580.01 you.5580.41 Thank5580.89 you,5581.05 sir.5581.21
5585.85 So5585.85 we5586.09 got5586.25 a5586.49 panel.5586.57 Abigail5588.25 Theron?5589.45 Ripley.5590.52 Ripley.5590.85 Sorry.5591.24 And5592.13 Abigail5592.6 Theron.5593.32 Theron.5593.89
5594.69 SPEAKER35594.69 -5594.69 Blake5594.69 Sekoske.5595.41
5596.13 SPEAKER15596.13 -5596.13 Blake5596.13 Sekoske.5596.6 And5597.97 Cassidy5598.36 Toporoske.5599.32 Toporoske.5600.2
5619.18 Guys,5619.18 just5619.57 speak5620.3 right5620.53 up5620.78 and5620.94 have5622.45 at5622.7 it.5622.85
5625.49 SPEAKER365625.49 -5625.49 Dear5625.49 ways5626.06 and5626.45 means5626.78 committee5627.18 members,5627.74 we5628.61 are5628.78 Cassidy5629.18 Toporowski,5629.82
5632.61 SPEAKER405632.61 -5632.61 Abigail5632.61 Ripley.5633.25 Abigail5634.77 Terian.5635.33 Blake5636.77 Sikaski.5637.09
5640.05 SPEAKER365640.05 -5640.05 From5640.05 Chester5640.45 Elementary5641.01 School5641.81 in5642.21 Gateway5642.45 Regional5643.09 School5643.73 District.5644.13 Our5645.27 school5645.66 is5646.15 a5646.47 beautiful5646.63 and5647.27 wonderful5647.51 place5648.15 to5648.63 learn.5648.78 At5649.74 Chester,5650.06 we5650.78 do5651.03 exciting5651.27 things5651.91 like5652.39 play5652.7 productions,5653.19 hydroponics,5654.55 hatching5655.91 animals,5656.31 and5657.28 hands5657.6 on5657.92 activities5658.4 connected5659.04 to5659.68 our5659.84 curriculums.5660.24 We5661.68 are5662 here5662.24 because5662.64 the5663.28 way5663.52 that5663.76 our5664.24 school5664.64 is5665.12 funded5665.44 is5666.32 putting5666.56 our5667.12 school5667.52 at5668 risk5668.32 again.5668.8 Because5669.94 we5670.34 are5670.66 a5670.9 small5671.22 school5671.78 in5672.57 a5672.81 rural5673.22 regional5673.78 district,5674.66 we5675.7 do5676.02 not5676.34 receive5676.74 enough5677.22 funding5677.61 to5678.66 make5678.81 our5679.14 school5679.45 better.5679.94 Our5680.9 school5681.22 district5681.78 competes5682.41 for5683.02 grants5683.42 just5683.9 to5684.22 fund5684.38 our5684.7 basic5684.94 needs.5685.5 Our5687.9 district5688.22 is5688.86 15689.02 of5689.18 over5689.42 2005689.82 that5690.46 are5690.62 held5690.86 harmless.5691.1 If5692.06 over5692.3 2005692.78 districts5693.58 in5694.14 the5694.3 state5694.46 are5694.86 held5695.02 harmless,5695.34 what5696.14 percentages5696.46 of5697.74 districts5697.98 is5698.95 the5699.27 funding5699.43 formula5699.99 working5700.7 for?5701.19 It5702.39 can't5702.7 be5703.03 more5703.35 than5703.66 50%.5704.06 A5705.51 50%5705.66 grade5706.7 is5707.1 not5707.27 a5707.51 passing5707.66 grade.5708.15 So5708.86 it5709.1 sounds5709.35 like5709.74 your5709.99 funding5710.15 formula5710.7 is5711.27 failing.5711.43 In5712.49 addition,5712.73 every5713.29 year,5713.61 we5713.93 have5714.17 to5714.41 fight5714.57 for5714.89 rural5715.13 school5715.45 aid.5715.77 Rural5716.65 school5717.05 aid5717.45 is5717.77 meant5718.01 to5718.25 provide5718.41 rural5718.89 schools5719.29 with5719.77 money5720.01 they5720.41 need5720.57 to5720.89 function5721.05 since5721.93 it5722.25 costs5722.49 more5722.81 to5723.05 provide5723.21 a5724.09 basic5724.25 education5724.81 at5725.53 a5725.69 rural5725.77 school.5726.17 These5727.06 funds5727.47 are5727.95 not5728.27 extra.5728.59 They5729.39 fund5729.63 staff5729.95 positions5730.35 and5730.99 make5731.15 sure5731.39 we5731.63 have5731.78 basic5732.02 things.5732.35 Every5733.15 year,5733.55 these5733.86 funds5734.19 are5734.51 in5734.66 danger.5734.82 Why5735.86 are5736.02 we5736.19 expected5736.43 to5736.99 make5737.15 huge5737.39 growth5737.78 as5738.1 a5738.27 school5738.43 or5739.1 in5739.34 things5739.42 like5739.74 a5740.06 school5740.14 of5740.54 distinction5740.94 recognition5742.14 and5743.18 be5743.58 told5743.82 that5744.06 we5744.3 are5744.54 not5744.78 worth5745.1 funding5745.42 fully?5745.82
5749.98 SPEAKER405749.98 -5749.98 Our5749.98 teachers,5750.22 our5751.02 staff,5751.42 and5752.2 our5752.52 students5752.84 are5753.4 working5753.72 as5754.11 hard5754.35 as5754.6 we5754.76 can.5754.91 Our5755.8 Chester5756.28 Students5756.99 and5757.4 staff5757.72 have5758.2 been5758.44 up5758.6 to5758.84 some5758.99 amazing5759.4 things,5759.88 including5760.84 hats5761.48 and5761.8 chicks5762.2 and5763.07 trout,5763.4 growing5764.03 many5764.52 different5764.84 plants5765.4 using5765.88 hydroponics5766.44 and5767.71 steam,5767.95 taking5769.39 part5769.95 in5770.35 composting5770.99 with5771.71 Tommy's5772.35 compost,5773.71 making5775.55 maple5776.03 syrup,5776.67 student5777.87 media5778.27 club5778.83 where5779.15 students5779.47 learn5780.11 how5780.51 to5780.75 create5780.83 informational5781.39 videos,5782.19 student5783.43 wide5783.82 hands5784.23 on5784.55 SEL5784.86 day,5785.43 and5785.98 meet5786.3 with5786.78 the5788.06 offer5788.39 author5789.1 of5789.66 the5789.9 book5790.06 Nocturneals.5790.47 Production5791.9 of5792.63 Willy5792.86 Wonka's5793.27 Kids,5793.82 Girls5794.7 on5795.02 the5795.27 Run5795.51 program,5795.82 Mad5797.19 Science5797.59 Night5798.15 spelling5798.94 bee,5799.18 and5799.74 adopt5800.06 a5800.54 cow5801.18 program.5802.38 Instead5803.58 of5804.14 going5804.38 on5804.78 field5805.02 trips,5805.34 we5805.98 have5806.38 people5806.86 come5807.42 to5807.66 us5807.9 because5808.38 bus5809.1 buses5809.58 are5810.46 insanely5810.7 expensive.5811.34 Some5812.85 of5813.09 these5813.18 things5813.57 were5814.38 paid5814.69 for5815.65 by5816.05 grants,5816.45 which5817.34 are5817.73 not5817.97 a5818.3 sustainable5818.61 way5819.34 for5819.65 for5820.3 us5821.57 to5821.81 fund5822.14 a5822.61 school.5822.77 We5824.53 have5824.77 done5825.09 our5825.34 part5825.57 to5825.9 keep5826.14 improving5826.38 Chester5826.94 Elementary5827.34 School.5828.05 Now5828.67 we5828.91 need5829.07 you5829.39 to5829.63 do5829.79 your5830.03 part5830.35 and5830.59 make5830.83 sure5830.99 that5831.39 our5831.87 school5832.11 is5832.51 funded.5832.75
5835.55 SPEAKER365835.55 -5835.55 Rural5835.55 school5836.11 aid5836.75 keeps5837.15 Chester5837.55 and5837.95 other5838.19 schools5838.51 like5838.91 ours5839.07 moving5839.47 forward.5839.71 It's5840.43 really5840.69 hard5840.93 to5841.16 make5841.24 sure5841.41 that5841.73 our5841.97 school5842.2 keeps5842.52 improving5842.85 when5843.41 we5843.65 never5843.81 know5844.05 if5844.28 rural5844.52 school5844.93 aid5845.32 will5846.05 be5846.28 funded,5846.52 how5847.48 much5847.65 will5847.89 we5848.13 get,5848.28 and5848.93 when5849.24 the5849.48 money5849.65 will5849.97 come5850.2 in.5850.44 We5851.24 are5851.48 learning5851.73 about5852.13 how5852.44 budgets5852.6 are5853.09 made.5853.32 And5854.1 the5854.26 way5854.42 rural5854.82 school5855.3 aid5855.86 happens5856.66 each5857.14 year5857.38 makes5857.78 no5858.58 sense5858.82 for5860.02 making5860.18 a5860.58 budget5860.74 that5861.14 works.5861.38 Please5862.18 fix5862.58 this5862.82 because5863.06 we5863.38 love5863.54 our5863.86 school.5864.26 We5864.9 love5865.14 our5865.38 town.5865.62 And5866.53 going5867.01 to5867.34 school5867.57 in5867.9 a5868.14 small5868.3 town5868.69 should5869.41 not5869.57 mean5869.9 that5870.22 you5870.45 get5870.61 less5870.94 of5871.18 an5871.41 education.5871.57 Thank5872.61 you.5872.85 Chester5873.41 Elementary5873.97 School's5874.94 fourth5875.41 grade5875.65 class.5875.97
5879.18 SPEAKER15879.18 -5879.18 You5879.18 got5879.5 you5880.46 got5880.7 you5881.66 guys5881.82 had5882.14 a5882.26
5891.26 I5891.26 I5891.42 won't5891.5 lie.5891.74 They5892.22 had5892.46 a5892.62 said5892.78 hello.5892.94 And5895.44 I5895.69 know5895.84 they5896.01 don't5896.16 know5896.4 that5896.48 movie,5896.65 but5896.97 we5897.2 do.5897.44 Jerry5898.01 Maguire.5898.24 But5898.73
5899.05 SPEAKER415899.05 -5899.05 So5899.05 good5899.36 morning.5899.52 I'm5900.73 actually5900.97 my5901.52 I'm5901.93 honored5902.16 to5902.48 have5902.65 the5902.89 time5902.97 to5903.28 discuss5903.44 this5903.84 shortage5904.09 of5904.48 funding5904.65 with5904.97 the5905.13 rural5905.28 schools.5905.6 I5906.56 am5906.81 Abigail5907.2 Terrian's5907.77 mom5908.32 as5908.65 well.5908.89 I've5909.44 been5909.68 an5909.84 educator5910.16 since5910.72 02/2009.5911.12 I've5912.48 worked5912.72 in5913.04 Springfield,5913.28 Holyoke,5914 and5914.56 now5914.8 Chester.5915.12 Something5916.56 that5916.88 I've5917.12 come5917.28 to5917.6 realize5917.76 is5918.24 the5918.48 needs5918.64 for5918.88 students5919.04 is5919.68 not5919.92 a5920.16 geographical5920.48 thing.5921.2 Like5922.09 many5922.32 of5922.48 our5922.65 urban5922.97 settings,5923.36 Gateway5924.32 also5924.8 has5925.13 many5925.6 English5926.09 language5926.48 learners5926.97 and5927.6 families5927.84 with5928.4 economic5928.8 hardships.5929.36 What5931.84 I've5932.09 seen5932.32 since5932.56 COVID5932.97 across5934.1 the5934.18 board5934.42 in5934.9 talking5935.06 to5935.38 my5935.62 colleagues5935.86 across5936.34 the5936.74 country5936.82 is5937.78 that5938.02 our5938.18 kids5938.42 need5938.74 more5938.98 for5939.38 academic,5939.7 social,5940.42 and5940.9 emotional5941.06 support.5941.7 There's5942.58 no5942.9 substitute5943.22 for5944.1 group5944.26 instruction5944.66 from5945.54 highly5945.86 qualified5946.34 educators.5947.06 So5948.82 here's5948.99 the5949.31 hard5949.47 truth.5949.78 If5950.82 we5951.06 can5951.23 help5951.39 our5951.63 kids5951.78 grow5952.19 emotionally5952.59 and5953.23 academically5953.55 now,5954.27 later5955.23 when5955.63 they5955.78 become5956.02 adults,5956.51 we5957.47 they5957.78 will5957.95 become5958.1 independent5958.59 citizens5959.31 who5960.19 can5960.35 positively5960.66 contribute5961.55 to5962.1 our5962.27 society.5962.59 In5963.92 short,5964 if5964.48 we5964.64 invest5964.88 in5965.36 our5965.6 youth5965.76 now,5966 we5966.8 will5967.04 not5967.2 have5967.52 to5967.76 do5967.84 it5968 when5968.32 they5968.48 are5968.64 adults.5968.8 Thank5970.24 you.5970.48
5971.36 SPEAKER15971.36 -5971.36 Thank5971.36 you.5971.6 I5973.28 I5973.52 can't5973.68 kid5974 you.5974.24 What5975.04 we5975.28 saw5975.44 right5975.6 there5975.84 are5976.08 future5976.24 leaders5976.64 for5977.04 us.5977.2 So,5977.44 our5978.34 our5978.41 future5978.57 is5978.9 looking5979.06 very5979.38 bright5979.61 with5979.85 what5980.26 we5980.49 see,5980.66 and5980.9 and5981.22 we're5981.38 really5981.69 listening5981.94 to5982.34 you.5982.49 And,5982.66 we'll5983.22 do5983.45 our5983.69 work5983.94 to5984.34 figure5984.81 it5985.06 out.5985.14
5986.81 SPEAKER35986.81 -5986.81 Shane,5986.81 thank5987.94 you5988.18 all5988.41 for5988.57 your5988.73 for5988.98 your5989.14 presentation.5989.38 I5990.62 think5990.7 we're5990.86 all5991.18 extremely5991.42 proud,5991.98 of5992.7 you5992.86 guys,5993.1 especially5993.98 that5994.3 you5994.46 guys5994.62 are5994.78 here5994.86 advocating5995.26 for5995.74 your5995.9 community5996.14 and5996.78 advocating5997.1 for5997.66 something,5997.74 as5998.54 important5998.78 as5999.26 education.5999.42 So5999.9 thank6000.14 you6000.3 all6000.46 for6000.62 that.6000.78 Vice6002.06 chair6002.3 Comerford.6002.46
6004.23 SPEAKER66004.23 -6004.23 Thank6004.23 you6004.4 so6004.55 much,6004.64 mister6004.8 chair.6005.27 I6005.84 just6005.99 wanna6006.23 say6006.47 I6006.88 wanna6007.03 affirm6007.35 that6007.76 50%6007.99 is6008.64 not6008.8 a6008.95 passing6009.11 grade.6009.51 And6010.4 right6010.72 now,6010.95 we6011.27 are6011.51 not6011.68 doing6011.99 well6012.23 for6012.55 rural6012.8 schools,6013.19 and6013.51 we6013.76 could6013.91 do6014.15 so6014.55 much6015.35 better.6015.99 16016.72 of6016.95 the6017.03 things6017.19 you6017.43 talked6017.68 about6017.91 was6018.15 predictability.6018.4 That6019.71 seems6019.87 just6020.27 like6020.51 a6020.67 good6020.83 idea.6021.07 Right?6021.47 We6022.03 don't6022.19 give6022.43 that6022.67 to6022.91 rural6023.15 schools,6023.47 and6023.79 we6024.03 certainly6024.19 don't6024.59 give6024.83 them6024.99 enough6025.23 money6025.55 or6026.35 enough6026.67 opportunity6027.07 to6027.71 do6028.51 restructure6028.75 things,6029.47 like6029.79 the6030.19 insanely6030.43 expensive6031.07 transportation,6031.55 which6032.89 you6033.05 mentioned.6033.2 Right?6033.69 So6034.01 we6034.24 could6034.41 do6034.56 so6034.81 much6034.97 better,6035.2 and6035.6 because6035.85 of6036.16 you,6036.24 we6036.49 will.6036.65
6038.56 SPEAKER36038.56 -6038.56 Thank6038.56 you.6038.89 Anita6040.65
6041.05 SPEAKER16041.05 -6041.05 German,6041.05 please.6041.36 Online.6041.53
6045.36 SPEAKER36045.36 -6045.36 Anita6045.36 German,6046.24 who's6046.65 joining6046.89 us6047.2 online?6047.36
6060.27 Let's,6060.27 move6061.07 on.6061.31 David6062.44 Foley,6062.84 Katie6063.23 Murphy.6063.47
6063.8 SPEAKER16063.8 -6063.8 David6063.8 Foley,6064.19 Katie6065.07 Murphy,6065.47 you're6065.88 up6066.03 next.6066.27
6086.94 SPEAKER286086.94 -6086.94 That's6086.94 a6087.26 tough6087.41 crowd6087.66 to6088.06 follow.6088.14 Yeah.6090.38 Good6092.45 good6092.85 afternoon.6093.26 Chairs,6093.98 Diggs.6094.38 Chairs,6094.78 Peiano.6095.1 My6096.06 name6096.22 is6096.38 Katie6096.53 Murphy.6096.78 I'm6097.18 an6097.34 ICU6097.49 nurse6097.98 at6098.22 Brigham6098.38 and6098.61 Women's6098.7 Hospital6099.1 and6099.57 president6099.6
6099.61 SPEAKER16099.61 -6099.61 of6099.61 the6099.64 Massachusetts6099.66
6099.85 SPEAKER286099.85 -6099.85 Nurses6099.85 Massachusetts6101.01 Nurses6101.89 Association,6102.21 representing6102.93 over6103.33 25,0006103.65 members6104.69 across6105.09 the6105.25 state,6105.49 including6106.21 members6106.93 working6107.25 at6107.57 Pappas6107.73 Rehab6108.21 Hospital6108.61 for6109.09 Children6109.33 and6109.97 Poughasset6110.21 Mental6110.85 Health6111.25 Center,6111.49 both6112.28 of6112.52 which6112.6 were6112.93 targeted6113.16 for6113.65 closure6113.89 in6114.44 the6114.6 administration's6114.77 FY6115.81 266116.2 budget6116.85 proposal.6117.32 First,6118.36 I6118.69 want6118.93 to6119.09 express6119.24 our6119.65 strong6119.97 opposition6120.36 to6121.09 any6121.32 closure,6121.65 staff6122.6 reductions,6122.93 or6123.56 cuts6123.73 in6124.05 services6124.2 at6124.77 Bocassette6124.93 Mental6125.81 Health6126.13 Center.6126.52 We6127.18 were6127.34 happy6127.5 to6127.82 hear6127.9 the6128.14 governor6128.3 has6128.7 paused6128.94 these6129.34 plans,6129.58 but6130.14 we6130.38 wanna6130.54 be6130.86 sure6131.02 that6131.34 this6131.5 facility6131.82 and6132.3 its6132.54 services6132.78 are6133.26 maintained6133.5 in6134.38 the6134.46 legislator's6134.7 FY6135.5 266135.9 budget.6136.38 Dave6137.02 will6137.26 be6137.42 talking6137.58 more6137.98 about6138.22 that.6138.54 I6139.5 also6139.66 wanna6139.98 express6140.22 our6140.62 strong6140.86 opposition6141.26 to6141.74 any6141.98 cuts6142.22 to6142.63 DMH6142.78 case6143.51 managers.6143.82 As6144.78 our6145.1 frontline6145.27 nurses6145.82 and6146.23 healthcare6146.39 professionals6146.78 across6147.59 the6147.98 state6148.15 can6148.55 tell6148.7 you,6148.94 we6149.59 remain6149.82 in6150.23 a6150.47 behavioral6150.7 health6151.51 crisis6151.74 that6152.23 is6152.39 overcrowding6152.7 our6153.51 emergency6153.74 departments.6154.47 The6155.43 impact6155.66 of6156.06 these6156.23 proposed6156.47 cuts6157.02 on6157.34 the6157.51 healthcare6157.66 ecosystem6159.4 cannot6160.44 be6160.84 overstated.6161.08 No6161.96 other6162.2 role6162.52 can6162.76 replicate6163 these6163.56 services.6163.8 I'll6164.92 now6165.16 turn6165.4 the6165.64 remainder6165.8 of6166.28 my6166.44 testimony6166.6 to6167.16 the6167.4 proposed6167.56 closure6168.04 of6168.52 the6168.68 Pappas6168.84 Rehab6169.32 Hospital6169.72 for6170.2 children6170.36 and6171.24 potential6171.48 relocation6172.51 of6172.98 students6173.15 to6173.55 locations6173.86 that6174.43 cannot6174.74 and6175.23 will6175.47 not6175.7 provide6176.35 the6176.66 medical,6176.91 rehabilitative,6177.86 educational,6179.06 recreation6179.94 recreational,6181.31 habilitative,6181.94 transitional,6182.91 and6183.55 complimentary6183.86 alternative6184.74 medical6185.47 services6185.86 to6186.82 children6186.98 and6187.55 young6187.7 adults6188.15 with6188.47 multiple6188.55 disabilities.6189.19 This6190.31 is6190.63 not6190.71 acceptable6190.95 for6191.51 these6191.75 children6191.99 or6192.39 their6192.55 families.6192.79 We6193.43 were6193.59 happy6193.75 to6194.07 hear6194.15 the6194.39 governor6194.55 announce6195.03 a6195.35 pause6195.51 to6195.91 this6195.99 closure6196.23 in6196.63 late6196.79 February,6197.03 but6197.83 remain6198.07 very6198.55 concerned6198.87 that6199.35 it6199.51 has6199.59 been6199.91 a6200.15 pause6200.39 in6200.79 name6201.03 only.6201.35 And6202.2 you6202.28 will6202.36 hear6202.52 from6202.6 workers6203.01 today6203.32 at6203.65 that6203.81 facility6204.05 who6204.52 could6204.69 speak6204.93 to6205.16 them.6205.32 I'll6206.2 focus6206.36 on6206.77 the6206.93 future6207.09 of6207.4 Pappas6207.56 and6207.97 how6208.2 you6208.28 can6208.52 help6208.6 with6208.93 that.6209.09 Let6209.73 us6209.97 pause,6210.28 study,6211.01 and6211.48 reimagine6211.81 what6212.77 Pappas6212.93 can6213.4 be.6213.65 We6214.13 are6214.28 asking6214.52 that6214.93 the6215.09 legislature6215.16 protect6216.13 Pappas6216.6 and6217.29 maintain6217.45 services6218.01 there6218.49 while6218.73 we6219.05 explore6219.21 opportunities6219.77 to6221.05 utilize6221.21 the6221.77 existing6222.01 property6222.57 and6223.13 think6223.29 creatively6223.69 about6224.65 how6225.05 we6225.21 can6225.37 provide6225.61 long6226.17 term6226.41 funding6226.73 for6227.37 the6227.61 maintenance6227.77 and6228.17 expansion6228.41 of6229.05 Pappas6229.21 as6229.61 a6229.77 center6229.93 of6230.33 excellence6230.57 for6231.45 the6231.61 care6231.77 of6232.17 disabled6232.76 children6233.16 across6233.56 the6233.95 Commonwealth.6234.11 This6235.16 facility,6235.48 its6236.03 staff,6236.35 and6236.68 the6236.84 programs6236.99 provided6237.56 there6238.11 are6238.52 too6238.76 valuable6238.99 to6239.48 cast6239.72 aside.6240.03 There6240.99 is6241.24 no6241.48 comparable6241.8 setting6242.44 no6243.64 comparable6243.88 programs6244.68 in6245.31 the6245.48 Commonwealth6245.64 to6246.2 replicate6246.35 what6246.99 has6247.16 happened6247.4 at6247.8 what6247.95 is6248.2 provided6248.43 at6248.67 Pappas.6248.91 Thank6250.27 you.6250.51
6253.95 SPEAKER256253.95 -6253.95 Good6253.95 afternoon,6254.27 reps,6254.75 senators,6255.07 chairs,6255.79 Pallano,6256.19 and6256.59 Diggs.6256.67 My6257.07 name6257.15 is6257.31 Dave6257.47 Foley.6257.71 I'm6258.03 the6258.19 president6258.27 of6258.67 SEIU6258.91 Local6259.47 56259.79 06260.03 96260.19 representing6260.51 dedicated6261.23 workers6261.79 who6262.52 serve6262.76 on6262.91 the6263.07 front6263.23 lines6263.4 of6263.72 human6263.88 services6264.19 and6264.68 education6264.91 in6265.48 Massachusetts.6265.72 I6266.76 came6266.91 here6267.07 today6267.31 to6267.55 address6267.72 the6268.11 crisis6268.19 we'll6268.68 be6268.84 facing6268.99 if6269.31 the6269.48 proposed6269.64 budget6270.11 cuts6270.35 for6270.68 f6270.84 y6270.99 266271.23 go6271.8 through6271.95 to6272.27 stand6272.44 with6272.68 the6272.84 workers,6272.99 families,6273.48 and6273.88 patients6274.03 who6274.84 depend6275.07 on6275.48 Pappas6275.72 and6276.83 PCASET6276.99 and6277.87 the6278.11 essential6278.27 case6278.75 management6279.07 services6279.55 provided6280.11 by6280.51 the6280.67 workers6280.75 in6281.07 the6281.23 Department6281.39 of6281.71 Mental6281.87 Health.6282.11 I've6282.99 had6283.23 the6283.39 privilege6283.55 of6284.03 seeing6284.19 firsthand6284.67 the6285.31 impact6285.87 that6286.27 Pappas6286.51 has6286.91 on6287.15 children6287.31 and6287.71 families6287.95 who6288.67 rely6288.83 on6289.23 the6289.31 specialized6289.47 care6290.03 there.6290.27 Pappas6291.03 has6291.35 been6291.59 critical6291.76 resource6292.47 for6292.88 children6293.03 with6293.76 disabilities6293.91 and6294.55 complex6294.8 medical6295.27 needs.6295.59 If6296.23 it6296.4 were6296.47 to6296.72 close,6296.8 families6297.19 would6297.59 be6297.76 forced6297.91 to6298.15 seek6298.31 care6298.64 miles6298.8 away6299.11 from6299.35 home,6299.59 an6299.99 obstacle6300.23 that6300.72 could6300.88 change6301.11 challenge6301.76 unnecessary6302.23 delays6302.88 in6303.27 treatment6303.44 and6304.07 add6304.31 stress6304.47 to6304.8 families6304.95 already6305.44 facing6305.84 difficult6306.33 challenges.6306.57 There's6308.41 so6308.65 much6308.81 to6309.05 say6309.13 about6309.37 Pappas6309.69 and6310.57 how6310.89 special6311.05 and6311.45 irreplaceable6311.77 this6312.41 facility6312.57 is,6313.05 but6313.29 just6313.53 to6313.69 put6313.85 it6314.01 simply,6314.17 the6314.57 care6314.73 and6314.89 education6315.05 that6315.53 Pappas6315.69 provides6316.17 cannot6316.81 be6317.13 replicated6317.37 elsewhere.6317.93 Similarly,6318.65 Pacasset6320.4 has6321.03 been6321.2 an6321.35 integral6321.52 part6321.91 of6322.16 the6322.31 Cape6322.4 community,6322.72 providing6323.52 high6323.99 quality6324.24 mental6324.64 health6324.95 care6325.2 for6325.44 individuals6325.6 seeking6326.24 support.6326.64 Its6327.68 closure6327.99 would6328.31 not6328.56 only6328.72 displace6328.95 vulnerable6329.35 patients,6329.84 but6330.16 it6330.31 would6330.4 exacerbate6330.64 the6331.2 growing6331.35 mental6331.68 health6331.91 crisis6332.16 we're6332.56 seeing6332.8 across6333.03 the6333.44 state.6333.52 Mental6335.51 health6335.83 care6335.91 is6336.31 already6336.55 inaccessible6336.95 for6337.51 so6337.75 many6337.91 and6338.15 closing6338.39 Pacasset's6338.79 mental6339.35 health6339.59 facility6339.83 would6340.39 significantly6340.71 worsen6341.35 the6341.67 problem.6341.75 Pacasset6342.31 is6342.87 often6343.11 the6343.43 only6343.75 option6344.15 for6344.95 the6345.19 uninsured6345.43 and6346.15 under6346.39 insured6346.71 population6347.19 on6347.83 Cape6347.99 Cod6348.31 who6348.87 need6349.03 acute6349.35 mental6349.75 health6350.07 care.6350.39 Private6351.03 hospitals6351.44 are6351.91 often6352.07 unwilling6352.47 to6352.95 take6353.11 these6353.35 patients6353.59 because6354.47 they6354.72 lose6354.95 money.6355.19 Closing6356.15 Picasset6356.55 puts6357.03 this6357.27 whole6357.51 population6357.76 at6358.23 risk.6358.4 We're6360.47 also6360.72 looking6361.03 at6361.35 huge6361.59 cuts6362.07 to6362.84 DMH's6363.08 case6363.8 management6364.12 services,6364.6 reducing6365.32 the6365.72 workforce6365.88 and6366.36 access6366.6 to6367 services6367.16 by6367.88 50%.6368.12 I6369.4 can't6369.64 stress6369.96 enough6370.28 that6370.84 this6371.08 is6371.32 dangerous.6371.48 It6372.92 would6373.08 result6373.24 in6373.56 the6373.72 loss6373.8 of6374.04 a6374.2 compassionate6374.36 and6374.84 skilled6375.08 workforce6375.4 that6375.8 so6376.12 many6376.2 people6376.44 rely6376.76 on6377.16 to6377.32 access6377.7 the6377.94 very6378.1 basic6378.35 things6378.66 we6378.98 all6379.15 deserve,6379.31 food,6380.1 housing,6380.82 ongoing6381.55 support.6382.02 When6383.39 the6383.55 governor6383.7 released6384.1 her6384.43 draft6384.66 budget,6384.98 our6386.02 local6386.27 held6386.66 an6386.98 emergency6387.15 meeting6387.78 for6388.02 the6388.19 workers.6388.35 To6390.23 prep6390.47 for6390.63 that,6390.87 I6391.43 looked6391.67 through6391.91 our6392.15 contract6392.31 and6392.87 I6392.95 got6393.11 up6393.35 to6393.43 speed6393.59 on6393.99 seniority,6396.23 bumping6397.11 rights,6397.51 civil6397.91 service,6398.23 anticipating6398.79 granular6399.51 questions6399.99 from6400.39 the6400.63 workers.6400.71 I6401.19 didn't6401.35 answer6401.67 16402.15 of6402.39 those6402.55 questions.6402.79 What's6404.56 gonna6404.95 happen6405.2 to6405.44 our6405.6 clients?6405.84
6408.4 How6408.4 many6408.72 people6409.03 in6409.44 need6409.6 will6409.91 fall6410.07 through6410.31 the6410.48 enormous6410.64 cracks6411.03 in6411.44 the6411.52 system?6411.6 How6412.56 does6412.8 DMH6413.03 expect6413.68 to6413.99 maintain6414.16 relationships6414.72 with6415.69 the6415.93 clients6416.01 who6416.49 avoid6416.65 us?6416.97 Those6417.37 are6417.61 the6417.77 only6417.93 questions6418.25 this6418.73 workforce6418.97 asked6419.53 at6419.93 that6420.09 meeting.6420.25 We6421.37 have6421.53 3006421.77 feet6422.41 3406422.89 case6423.93 managers6424.25 employed6424.73 right6425.13 now6425.29 with6425.53 the6425.69 Commonwealth6425.77 who6426.65 are6426.81 dedicated6426.97 and6427.61 focused6427.85 on6429.13 building6429.44 relationships6429.84 with6430.4 people6430.65 in6430.97 need,6431.13 connecting6431.52 them6431.93 with6432.16 systems6432.4 and6432.81 services,6432.97 and6433.44 improving6433.69 their6434.16 well-being.6434.4 It's6435.13 the6435.36 lifeblood6435.6 of6436.09 the6436.24 mental6436.4 health6436.73 system6437.05 that6437.36 we're6437.52 so6437.77 proud6437.93 of6438.16 in6438.32 this6438.48 state.6438.65 The6440.16 department6440.4 is6440.89 gonna6441.05 claim6441.28 that6441.6 having6441.84 the6442.4 workforce6442.48 that's6443.81 decimating6443.97 it6444.69 times6444.77 56445.17 won't6446.77 lead6447.09 to6447.33 reduction6447.49 in6447.97 services6448.13 because6448.69 of6448.85 open6449.09 access.6449.41 And6450.53 I6450.69 can6450.85 submit6451.09 the6451.41 rest6451.49 of6451.65 my6451.73 testimony6451.89 in6452.37 writing.6452.53 Thank6452.85 you.6453.01
6453.41 SPEAKER16453.41 -6453.41 Thank6453.41 you.6453.65 We,6454.45 you6455.73 know,6455.97 I6457.03 came6457.2 from6457.44 a6457.68 union,6457.76 so6458.16 I6458.31 definitely6458.48 can6458.88 understand6459.11 and6459.6 all6459.91 the6460.16 bumping,6460.31 we6460.64 wanna6460.8 be6461.11 very6461.28 careful6461.52 and6461.84 we6462.31 wanna6462.48 take6462.72 care6462.95 of6463.03 our6463.28 everybody,6464.24 not6464.8 just6464.95 1.6465.2 We6465.44 wanna6465.6 take6465.84 care6465.99 of6466.16 everybody.6466.31 So6466.72 we're6466.88 gonna6467.03 figure6467.44 out6467.68 what6467.84 we6467.99 can6468.16 do6468.31 and6468.48 you6468.95 know6469.03 that6469.28 we're6469.44 we6469.76 care.6469.91 Thank6470.4 you,6470.72 chair.6470.8 Any6470.95 questions?6471.11
6474.29 Repex?6474.29
6475.73 SPEAKER266475.73 -6475.73 Very6475.73 quickly.6476.05 Thank6476.53 you6476.77 for6476.93 coming.6477.09 There's6477.57 no6477.89 way6478.21 that6479.33 Percasset6479.49 should6480.29 close.6480.61 Agree.6481.25 That6481.73 is6481.89 Cape6482.13 Cod6482.37 and6482.69 the6482.93 islands.6483.09 My6484.29 own6484.53 sister6484.85 was6486.22 boarded6486.45 for6486.85 56487.18 days6487.49 in6488.3 Cape6488.53 Cod6488.85 Hospital6489.09 before6490.05 we6490.3 could6490.45 find6490.69 her6491.01 a6491.18 place6491.26 in6491.81 Avril.6492.14 So6493.65 we6495.18 should6496.22 do6496.45 everything6496.69 we6497.18 can6497.26 to6497.73 keep6497.9 you6498.05 open.6498.3 And6498.77 like6499.09 I6499.26 said6499.41 earlier,6499.65 use6500.61 that6500.77
6508.44 SPEAKER256508.44 -6508.44 rep.6508.44
6511 SPEAKER16511 -6511 Thank6511 you.6511.32
6511.8 SPEAKER286511.8 -6511.8 Thank6511.8 you6512.36 so6512.92 much.6513.48
6514.04 SPEAKER16514.04 -6514.04 Next6514.04 up,6515.48 Ella6515.96 Bradbury,6516.36 Edenhamm,6517.3 Olive6518.73 Paradise.6519.05
6519.94 SPEAKER36519.94 -6519.94 Mister6519.94 chair.6520.26 Somebody6520.57 wants6520.9 to6521.05
6521.3 SPEAKER16521.3 -6521.3 Oh,6521.3 sorry.6521.53 I'm6523.77 my6523.85 dad.6524.01 Yes.6524.41 You6524.65 did.6524.9
6528.41 Rep6528.41 Souza,6528.65 sorry6529.14 about6529.38 that.6529.61
6531.13 SPEAKER426531.13 -6531.13 No6531.13 problem.6531.37 Sorry6531.69 to6531.93 bring6532.01 you6532.25 guys6532.33 back.6532.57
6532.89 SPEAKER286532.89 -6532.89 It'll6532.89 be6533.21
6533.29 SPEAKER426533.29 -6533.29 a6533.29 quick6533.37 1.6533.53 I6533.69 promise.6533.85 Thank6534.73 you6534.97 so6535.13 much6535.29 for6535.53 your6535.61 testimony.6535.77 And6536.41 I6537.29 just6537.45 was6537.85 wondering6538.01 if6538.41 the6538.57 with6538.89 the6539.05 plans6539.21 to6539.53 relocate6539.69 these6540.01 children6540.25 from6540.57 papa6540.81 Pappas6541.21 to6541.61 Western6542.17 Mass,6542.65 Western6543.85 Massachusetts6544.25 Hospital,6544.81 are6545.69 they6545.93 prepared6546.39 to6546.7 offer6546.86 the6547.19 services6547.27 currently6548.06 being6548.39 offered6548.63 at6548.86 Pappas?6549.02 And6549.43 what6549.59 happens6549.74 to6549.98 the6550.15 patients6550.23 who6550.47 are6550.63 currently6550.78 occupying6551.27 the6551.74 unit6551.82 at6552.23 the6552.31 Western6552.47 Mass6552.86 Hospital?6553.1
6554.15 SPEAKER286554.15 -6554.15 Doctor.6554.15 Kevin.6554.55 Yep.6555.02 Thanks6555.91 so6556.31 thanks6556.47 so6556.78 much6556.95 for6557.19 Absousa.6557.35 No.6558.9 Our,6559.14 members6560.42 and6560.82 our6561.06 healthcare6561.22 providers6561.7 at6562.26 Western6562.42 mass6562.9 Massachusetts6563.3 Hospital6564.1 have6564.58 been6564.74 very6564.98 clear6565.3 that6565.62 they6565.86 cannot6566.02 replicate6566.58 the6567.3 services6567.46 that6568.5 have6568.74 been,6569.06 grown6570.1 and6570.42 developed6570.58 at6571.06 Pappas,6571.22 you6572.03 know,6572.19 over6572.43 the6572.66 centuries6572.91 to6573.39 give6573.63 this6573.86 wrap6574.27 around,6574.51 you6576.03 know,6576.27 educational,6576.59 emotional,6577.7 physical,6578.43 education6579.95 to6580.74 the6580.99 children6581.39 and6581.86 young6582.03 young6582.99 adults6583.31 at6583.78 Pappas.6583.95 They6584.35 would6584.51 be6584.74 in6584.99 rather6585.63 than6585.95 being6586.19 on6586.43 a6586.59 campus,6586.82 they6587.86 would6588.1 be6588.18 in6588.42 rooms6588.74 rather6589.14 than6589.54 having6589.7 classrooms6590.18 and6591.22 educational,6591.62 environment6592.82 on6593.54 this6593.7 campus.6593.86 They6594.66 would6594.9 be6595.06 in,6595.3 I6596.02 think,6596.1 16596.5 recreational6596.98 room.6597.78 So6598.5 they6598.9 they6599.22 cannot,6599.7 duplicate6601.14 the6601.78 work6601.94 in6601.95 Western6601.95 Mass6601.96 Hospital.6601.97 And6601.97 your6601.98 the6601.99 other6602 part6602 of6602.01 your6602.01 question,6602.02
6607.49 that6607.49 that's6607.66 currently6607.81 a6608.45 Huntington's6608.61 ward6609.74 at6610.38 Western6610.53 Mass6611.02 Hospital,6611.34 where6611.98 also,6612.3 the6613.57 clients6613.74 have6614.22 been6614.45 there6614.61 for6614.85 an6615.02 extended6615.26 period.6615.81 And6616.45 we6616.7 do6616.85 get6617.1 to6617.26 know6617.26 our6617.27 patients6617.27 and6617.28 our6617.29 clients,6617.3 and6617.3 they6617.31 would6617.31 also6617.32 have6617.33 to6617.34 be6617.41 relocated6617.66 clients,6618.21 and6618.63 they6619.04 would6619.46 also6619.87 have6620.29 to6620.7 be6621.12 relocated.6621.53 In6621.95 both6622.36 in6622.78 both6623.19 cases,6623.61 family6624.03 members6624.44 would6624.86 have6625.27 their6625.69 families,6626.1 in6626.93 different6627.35 parts6627.76 of6628.18 the6628.6 state,6629.01 as6629.43 they've6629.84 been6630.26 talking6630.67 about6631.09 relocating6631.5 some6631.92 of6632.33 the6632.75 Western6633.32 Mass6633.65 clients6634.28 as6635.16 far6635.41 east6635.81 as6636.13 the6636.28 Shattuck.6636.44 And6637.24 then6637.32 the6637.81 people6638.05 the6638.44 children6638.52 who6639.01 are6639.16 at6639.41 Pappas6639.65 out6640.28 to6640.44 Western6640.6 Mass.6641.09 So6641.32 crisscrossing6641.65 the6642.36 state,6642.52 yes,6643.09 would6643.32 affect6643.48 both6643.89 of6644.13 those6644.2 populations.6644.52
6645.73 SPEAKER426645.73 -6645.73 Thank6645.73 you.6645.89 And6646.05 you6646.2 would6646.28 we're6646.52 gonna6646.69 address6646.93 my6647.24 follow-up6647.41 question,6647.81 because6648.13 what6648.42 was6648.58 gonna6648.82 happen6648.9 to6649.14 the6649.3 Western6649.46 Mass6649.78 patients.6650.26 So6650.58 thank6650.82 you6650.98 so6651.06 much.6651.3
6651.86 SPEAKER286651.86 -6651.86 Thank6651.86 you.6652.1 Thanks6652.34 so6652.58 much.6652.74
6653.14 SPEAKER16653.14 -6653.14 I6653.14 also6653.22 asked6653.54 a6653.78 question6653.86 yesterday6654.26 about6654.74 because6655.62 it6655.86 was6656.02 similar6656.34 things6656.74 that6657.14 is6657.62 there6657.86 a6657.98 way6658.1 to6658.34 make6658.5 something6658.66 instead6659.06 of6659.46 making6659.62 it6659.86 so6660.1 big,6660.26 maybe6660.5 we6660.82 mean6660.98 to6661.22 make6661.38 smaller6661.7
6665.39 housing6665.39 situations6666.27 so6667.15 that6667.39 we6667.55 can6667.63 have6667.86 it6668.03 in6668.19 have6668.74 it6668.86 in6668.98 Worcester6669.23 or6669.78 have6669.94 it6670.1 up6670.27 in6670.35 Western6670.51 Mass,6670.98 have6671.47 it6671.59 in6671.7 smaller6672.02 spots6672.43 so6673.06 that6673.23 it's6673.39 not6673.55 so6673.94 big6674.19 and6675.06 we're6675.63 able6675.86 to6676.1 help6676.19 various6676.98 areas.6677.55 You6678.27 know6678.45 what6678.61 I6678.69 mean?6678.77 Find6679.41 a6679.73 happy6680.13 medium6680.45 in6680.85 every6681.01 single6681.25 section6682.93 of6683.57 the6683.73 state.6683.89 So6684.37 we6684.61 can6684.77 have6684.93 16685.17 in6685.33 the6685.49 same6685.65 Western6685.81 part,6686.37 16686.85 in6687.09 the6687.33 middle,6687.73 16688.61 down6688.85 the6689.09 Cape6689.25 or6689.65 Cape6690.05 area6690.37 so6690.85 that6691.09 we6691.17 can6691.33 small6692.07 make6692.23 it6692.64 smaller,6692.8 but6693.19 then6693.35 help6693.99 those6694.4 more6694.8 and6695.11 communicate6695.51 more.6696.07 I6696.8 think6696.95 there's6697.19 gotta6697.51 be6697.84 other6697.91 ways.6698.15
6699.76 SPEAKER436699.76 -6699.76 You6699.76 know,6699.84 thank6699.99 you,6700.23 representative.6700.4
6701.11 SPEAKER286701.11 -6701.11 You6701.11 know,6701.19 we're6701.27 doing6701.51 such6701.84 wonderful6702.07 jobs6702.64 at,6703.11 our6703.59 academic6703.76 medical6704.31 centers6704.8 here6705.35 in6705.59 in6705.86 the6705.94 Commonwealth6706.02 of6706.66 which6706.74 we're6706.98 so6707.22 proud.6707.38 And6708.02 so6708.26 we6708.5 can6708.66 see6708.9 that6709.14 there6709.3 will6709.54 be6709.7 an6709.86 ongoing6710.02 need6710.66 for6710.98 services,6711.3 you6712.82 know,6713.06 that6713.78 that6714.1 that6714.98 affect6715.3 all6715.78 of6715.94 our6716.1 families,6716.26 I6716.82 believe.6716.98 So,6717.7 you6718.02 know,6718.18 you6718.66 can6718.74 see6718.9 that6719.14 how6719.44 important6719.6 it6719.84 is.6720.27 Thank6720.72 you.6720.95
6721.44 SPEAKER16721.44 -6721.44 Thank6721.44 you.6721.68 Anybody6723.44 else?6723.91 Okay.6725.2 You6726.48 did6726.64 a6726.8 great6726.88 job.6727.11 K,6727.99 guys.6728.23 I'm6728.56 sorry.6728.72
6775.31 SPEAKER446775.31 -6775.31 Hello,6775.31 and6775.7 thank6775.94 you6776.1 for6776.27 letting6776.43 us6776.59 speak6776.74 today.6776.98 My6777.63 name6777.78 is6777.94 Eden6778.1 Hahn.6778.34 I6778.66 use6778.82 sheher6779.06 pronouns,6779.39 and6779.78 I'm6779.94 a6780.1 sophomore6780.19 at6780.59 Amherst6780.74 Regional6781.06 High6781.47 School.6781.7
6782.74 SPEAKER456782.74 -6782.74 My6782.74 name6782.9 is6783.06 Ella6783.31 Bradbury.6783.63 I6784.19 use6784.27 sheher6784.51 pronouns,6784.9 and6785.39 I'm6785.47 a6785.63 freshman6785.86 at6786.27 Amherst6786.34 Regional6786.74 High6787.15 School.6787.39 We6788.16 are6788.24 here6788.4 because6788.64 we6788.96 are6789.12 very6789.28 concerned6789.52 about6789.92 the6790.24 lack6790.32 of6790.56 funding6790.72 going6791.12 to6791.36 the6791.52 education6791.68 system,6792.24 especially6792.64 its6793.2 impact6793.44 on6793.76 special6794 education6794.4 students.6794.88 In6795.76 the6795.92 budget6796.08 for6796.4 next6796.56 year,6796.8 we6796.96 are6797.12 facing6797.28 a6797.6 $1,400,0006797.76 deficit6799.28 from6799.68 the6799.84 middle6800.08 and6800.4 high6800.56 schools.6800.8 This6801.59 will6801.74 lead6801.82 to6802.07 a6802.23 loss6802.31 of6802.55 teaching6802.7 positions6803.03 as6803.59 the6803.82 district6803.91 can6804.31 no6804.47 longer6804.63 afford6804.95 them.6805.19 We6805.82 are6805.99 facing6806.15 this6806.47 budget6806.63 crisis6807.03 in6807.43 part6807.59 because6807.82 50%6808.23 of6808.78 the6808.95 property6809.1 in6809.59 Amherst6809.74 is6810.07 not6810.23 taxable6810.55 since6811.35 it6811.59 belongs6811.74 to6812.07 the6812.23 colleges6812.31 and6812.7 universities.6812.95 This6813.89 means6814.05 that6814.17 we6814.29 have6814.53 to6814.69 rely6814.85 on6815.17 a6815.33 small6815.41 tax6815.73 base6815.97 to6816.29 fund6816.45 our6816.69 schools.6816.85 The6817.89 school6818.05 serves6818.37 the6818.69 entire6818.85 community,6819.25 but6819.65 40%6819.89 of6820.37 the6820.53 residents6820.69 are6821.17 footing6821.89 the6822.29 entire6822.45 bill.6822.77 This6823.33 means6823.49 that6823.73 we6823.89 need6823.97 the6824.21 state6824.37 to6824.53 provide6824.69 more6825.09 funding6825.25 because6825.57 local6825.89 funding6826.13 just6826.45 isn't6826.61 enough6826.93 in6827.17 a6827.33 community6827.41 like6827.81 ours.6828.05 With6828.72 these6828.95 proposed6829.03 budget6829.52 cuts,6829.76 teachers6830.07 would6830.4 have6830.48 to6830.64 do6830.8 a6830.88 lot6830.95 more6831.11 work6831.28 to6831.52 help6831.68 each6831.84 student6832.16 as6832.4 there6832.64 would6832.8 be6832.88 more6833.03 for6833.2 each6833.35 to6833.6 manage,6833.76 and6834.07 likely,6834.31 each6834.95 student6835.11 would6835.35 sup6835.68 receive6836.16 less6836.56 support.6836.8 The6837.52 budget6837.76 cuts6837.99 have6838.31 an6838.48 even6838.8 bigger6839.44 impact6839.68 on6840.07 special6840.31 education6840.64 students.6841.11 446841.91 46842.39 percent6842.87 of6843.19 students6843.35 in6843.67 the6843.83 Amherst6843.99 Public6844.39 Schools6844.71 are6845.03 considered6845.27 high6845.67 needs6845.83 students.6846.07 High6846.79 needs6847.03 students6847.27 are6847.67 low6847.83 income6848.07 students,6848.39 ELL6848.87 students,6849.35 and6849.59 students6849.83 with6850.15 disabilities.6850.39 Around6851.35 256851.75 percent6852.31 are6852.63 classified6852.87 as6854.09 students6854.32 with6854.81 disabilities.6855.05 The6855.69 amount6855.93 of6856.16 money6856.32 that6856.57 we6856.73 get6856.81 for6856.97 each6857.13 student6857.28 is6857.53 not6857.69 aligned6857.93 with6858.16 the6858.41 actual6858.49 cost6858.89 needed6859.2 for6859.45 educating6859.77 high6860.32 new6860.49 students.6860.73 There6861.36 are6861.53 tons6861.69 of6861.85 specialized6862.09 programs6862.49 that6862.97 the6863.13 district6863.2 needs6863.6 to6863.85 pay6863.93 for6864.09 to6864.24 meet6864.41 the6864.57 needs6864.73 of6864.97 these6865.13 students.6865.28 This6866.03 includes6866.35 a6866.83 language6866.99 learning6867.31 disability6867.71 program6868.27 and6868.59 an6868.83 intensive6868.91 learning6869.39 needs6869.71 program.6869.95 Putting6870.75 this6870.99 into6871.15 perspective,6871.47 I've6871.95 never6872.11 been6872.35 categorized6872.59 as6872.99 a6873.23 special6873.31 education6873.71 student,6874.11 but6874.43 I6874.67 still6874.75 need6874.99 attention6875.15 from6875.55 every6875.87 single6876.11 16876.43 of6876.59 my6876.67 teachers6876.83 daily6877.55 to6877.95 help6878.11 me6878.35 learn.6878.51 With6879.1 fewer6879.34 teachers,6879.57 less6880.06 learning6880.22 will6880.61 happen.6880.77 I6881.1 hope6881.26 you6881.41 will6881.49 recognize6881.74 the6882.14 unique6882.22 needs6882.61 of6882.77 our6882.94 community6883.1 and6883.49 provide6883.66 the6883.9 funding6884.06 we6884.38 need6884.53 for6884.7 all6884.85 of6884.94 our6885.02 students6885.18 to6885.49 receive6885.66 the6885.98 support6886.14 we6886.53 need.6886.61
6888.14 SPEAKER446888.14 -6888.14 The6888.14 immense6888.38 budget6888.61 cuts6889.02 being6889.26 proposed6889.41 really6889.81 concern6889.98 us6890.3 for6890.45 a6890.57 lot6890.7 of6890.94 reasons,6891.02 but6891.62 for6891.78 me,6891.94 especially6892.5 because6892.74 of6892.98 my6893.06 brother.6893.22 My6893.94 brother6894.1 has6894.42 autism,6894.66 and6895.14 in6895.38 every6895.54 stage6895.7 of6895.94 his6896.02 experience6896.26 in6896.66 the6896.82 public6896.98 education6897.3 system,6897.78 from6898.26 kindergarten6898.58 to6899.06 twelfth6899.14 grade,6899.46 my6899.94 brother6900.1 received6900.42 the6900.62 care6900.82 he6901.14 needed6901.22 free6901.62 of6901.78 charge.6901.94 Whether6902.74 it6903.06 was6903.14 physical6903.38 therapy,6903.78 speech6904.18 therapy,6904.5 or6904.9 help6904.98 with6905.14 assignments,6905.38 there6905.86 was6906.1 never6906.26 a6906.86 doubt6907.1 that6907.35 he6907.43 would6907.66 get6907.82 what6908.06 he6908.23 needed.6908.31 Because6908.86 of6909.27 these6909.35 accommodations,6909.74 he6910.39 is6910.55 now6910.7 successfully6910.86 living6911.35 on6911.66 his6911.82 own6911.98 at6912.15 college.6912.23 My6913.43 friend,6913.59 Lucia,6913.82 a6914.23 junior6914.39 at6914.7 our6914.86 school,6915.02 is6915.27 a6915.43 part6915.51 of6915.66 the6915.74 club6915.91 best6916.23 buddies.6916.39 Every6917.02 meeting,6917.27 she6917.59 complains6917.74 about6918.15 how6918.31 understaffed6918.47 it6918.95 can6919.1 be.6919.19 The6919.65 teachers6919.81 do6919.97 their6920.13 best,6920.37 but6920.69 sometimes6920.85 what6921.25 is6921.49 needed6921.57 is6921.89 more6922.05 resources.6922.29 She6923.17 watches6923.41 these6923.73 paras6923.97 go6924.37 above6924.53 and6924.69 beyond,6924.85 spending6925.25 their6925.57 own6925.73 money6925.89 on6926.13 games6926.37 and6926.61 activities,6926.77 truly6927.49 wanting6927.81 what's6928.13 best6928.29 for6928.53 the6928.61 students.6928.77 If6929.49 even6929.73 just6929.97 16930.21 para6930.37 were6930.69 laid6930.85 off6931.01 due6931.17 to6931.33 budget6931.41 cuts,6931.65 which6931.89 is6932.05 not6932.21 an6932.45 unlikely6932.53 occurrence,6933.01 this6933.81 would6933.98 make6934.14 the6934.22 program6934.38 even6934.77 more6935.01 understaffed6935.18 and6935.65 under6935.81 resourced,6936.05 not6936.53 allowing6936.77 it6937.01 to6937.18 have6937.26 the6937.41 wonderful6937.57 impact6937.98 we6938.3 know6938.45 it6938.61 could.6938.69
6939.73 SPEAKER456939.73 -6939.73 We6939.73 only6939.98 hope6940.3 that6940.53 the6940.77 future6940.94 children6941.34 with6941.73 special6941.9 needs6942.3 and6942.53 disabilities6942.77 can6943.41 access6943.65 the6943.98 help6944.05 they6944.38 need6944.53 through6944.77 high6945.01 school.6945.18 Thank6945.81 you.6946.05
6953.46 SPEAKER466953.46 -6953.46 Good6953.46 afternoon.6953.7 Thank6954.26 you6954.42 for6954.58 letting6954.74 us6954.98 speak6955.22 today.6955.38 My6955.78 name6955.94 is6956.02 Olive.6956.34
6956.74 SPEAKER476956.74 -6956.74 And6956.74 my6956.9 name6957.06 is6957.14 Rose.6957.38 We6957.7 are6957.78 both6957.94 tenth6958.1 graders6958.34 at6958.66 Amherst6958.74 Regional6959.31 High6959.48 School.6959.64 We6960.11 wanna6960.35 talk6960.68 about6960.84 the6961.07 condition6961.15 of6961.48 our6961.64 school6961.8 building6961.95 and6962.19 how6962.35 it's6962.51 affecting6962.68 everyone6963.07 in6963.4 the6963.48 district.6963.64
6965.23 SPEAKER466965.23 -6965.23 When6965.23 I6965.48 was6965.64 in6965.8 middle6965.95 school,6966.19 the6966.51 instrument6966.68 storage6967.15 closet6967.48 next6967.88 to6968.19 the6968.27 band6968.35 room6968.59 was6969.23 always6969.4 overly6969.88 humid.6970.27 Many6971.15 of6971.4 the6971.55 school6971.64 instruments6972.03 had6972.68 been6972.84 damaged6972.99 and6973.48 some6973.72 unplayable6974.11 because6974.96 no6975.12 funds6975.28 exist6975.68 to6976 buy6976.16 a6976.4 dehumidifier,6976.56 let6977.28 alone6977.52 a6977.84 proper6977.92 storage6978.32 area.6978.64 Now6979.68 in6980 high6980.16 school,6980.4 on6980.72 a6980.88 recent6980.96 visit6981.28 to6981.6 my6981.68 band6981.84 teacher's6982.08 office,6982.48 her6983.12 ceiling6983.44 was6983.84 leaking.6984.08 She6984.72 had6984.88 26985.04 different6985.28 bases6985.6 placed6986 under6986.32 the6986.56 leak6986.72 to6986.96 catch6987.12 the6987.36 water.6987.52 I6988.39 believe6988.7 that6989.03 both6989.19 instruments6989.51 and6990.07 music6990.31 teachers6990.7 should6991.03 be6991.19 treated6991.35 with6991.74 respect6992.07 and6992.47 care.6992.7 No6993.51 person6993.74 should6994.15 have6994.39 vases6994.63 brimming6995.19 with6995.51 dirty6995.74 ceiling6996.15 water6996.55 in6996.86 their6996.95 office6997.19 or6997.74 broken6997.99 instruments6998.39 to6998.86 practice6999.03 on6999.51 just7000.04 because7000.28 the7000.44 state7000.76 won't7001.16 fund7001.48 our7001.88 schools.7002.04 In7003 Amherst,7003.16 our7003.8 music7003.96 programs7004.28 are7004.68 very7004.84 special.7005.16 Our7005.96 teachers7006.2 support7006.84 students7007.24 in7007.72 grade7007.88 levels7008.2 across7008.6 the7009 entire7009.16 district.7009.64 They7010.6 do7010.76 this7010.92 knowing7011.24 that7011.56 music7011.72 programs7012.04 are7012.52 often7012.68 the7013 first7013.16 to7013.4 be7013.56 cut.7013.64 These7014.4 programs7014.72 and7015.11 educators7015.35 are7015.91 important7016.07 to7016.4 me7016.56 and7016.72 to7016.95 my7017.2 community.7017.35 They7018.24 deserve7018.48 more7018.88 than7019.11 what7019.35 is7019.52 being7019.76
7019.99 SPEAKER477019.99 -7019.99 provided.7019.99 This7021.68 year,7021.91 my7022.16 history7022.4 teacher,7022.72 mister7023.03 Elliott,7023.35 warned7023.68 people7023.91 against7024.16 eating7024.48 in7024.72 class.7024.88 When7025.44 I7025.68 asked7025.76 why,7025.99 he7026.16 informed7026.32 me,7026.72 it7026.88 was7027.03 because7027.2 he7027.44 had7027.52 found7027.68 a7027.84 dead7027.99 mouse7028.24 hanging7028.48 from7028.72 the7028.95 ceiling.7029.03 I7029.83 wish7029.99 I7030.11 could7030.23 look7030.47 at7030.63 you7030.79 and7030.95 tell7031.11 you7031.27 that7031.43 this7031.59 is7031.67 where7031.83 the7032.07 issue7032.15 ends7032.39 and7032.63 it's7032.79 just7032.95 minor7033.19 inconveniences,7033.51 but7034.39 that7034.63 could7034.79 not7034.95 be7035.11 farther7035.27 from7035.59 the7035.75 truth.7035.91
7038.71 The7038.71 science7038.95 department7039.27 lacks7039.67 the7039.91 stability7040.07 it7040.47 needs7040.63 when7040.87 it7041.03 comes7041.19 to,7041.43 securing7042.41 yearly7042.97 materials.7043.36 Water7043.93 dripping7044.32 into7044.56 the7044.73 middle7044.81 school's7045.05 library7045.45 is7045.77 ruining7045.93 the7046.24 place7046.32 where7046.56 so7046.73 many7046.89 kids7047.05 go7047.28 to7047.45 learn.7047.6 I7048.01 have7048.16 been7048.24 incredibly7048.65 lucky7049.13 to7049.45 go7049.52 to7049.69 a7049.85 school7049.93 that7050.16 has7050.32 teachers7050.56 who7050.97 care7051.13 so7051.36 much7051.52 about7051.69 students,7051.93 specifically7052.32 my7052.81 ninth7053.05 grade7053.2 English7053.36 teacher,7053.69 miss7054.01 Seltzer,7054.24 who7054.81 brought7055.05 us7055.2 here7055.36 today.7055.6 There's7056.07 only7056.39 so7056.63 much7056.71 they7056.87 can7057.03 do7057.19 when7057.35 water7057.51 filled7057.75 garbage7057.99 cans7058.31 ruin7058.55 instruments7058.87 and7059.27 books,7059.43 mold7059.75 covered7059.99 walls,7060.31 and7060.55 wall7060.79 water7061.27 stained7061.59 ceilings7061.91 are7062.31 normalized.7062.47 This7063.35 should7063.51 not7063.67 be7063.83 the7063.99 conditions7064.07 we7064.55 are7064.71 forced7064.87 to7065.27 learn7065.59 learn7065.91 in.7066.15 You7066.71 have7066.79 an7066.95 opportunity7067.19 to7067.75 provide7067.91 us7068.23 with7068.31 better7068.47 conditions7068.71 in7069.03 the7069.19 building.7069.27 And7069.59 on7069.75 behalf7069.83 of7069.86 the7069.88 generations7069.91 to7069.94 come7069.96 into7069.99 these7070.23 very7070.77
7073.26 SPEAKER467073.26 -7073.26 schools,7073.26 please7073.73 help.7074.05 We7075.81 believe7076.3 the7076.53 state7076.69 cares7076.94 really7077.34 cares7077.73 about7078.05 Massachusetts'7078.22 public7079.09 education.7079.49 I7079.98 know7080.45 no7080.94 17081.02 wants7081.18 leaking7081.49 office7081.9 ceilings,7082.14 broken7082.53 band7082.85 instruments,7083.09 cracked7083.65 walls,7083.98 and7084.22 faulty7084.38 roofs.7084.4 Students7084.41 and7084.44 teachers7084.45 alike7084.94 Students7085.38 and7085.62 teachers7085.86 alike7086.26 deserve7086.66 to7086.98 learn7087.06 and7087.3 grow7087.46 in7087.7 an7087.86 environment7088.02 that7088.5 is7088.66 positive,7088.98 safe,7089.46 sanitary,7089.86 and7090.42 stable.7090.58
7091.86 SPEAKER477091.86 -7091.86 This7091.86 is7092.1 why7092.26 we7092.5 wanna7092.66 ask7092.9 you7093.06 to7093.3 rethink7093.38 the7093.78 formula7093.86 for7094.34 school7094.82 funding.7095.14 Provide7095.94 more7096.26 funding7096.5 to7096.9 public7096.98 schools,7097.38 and7097.62 please7097.86 remember,7098.18 this7099.06 funding7099.3 is7099.7 an7099.86 investment7100.02 in7100.82 the7100.99 safety7101.15 and7101.47 care7101.63 of7101.86 everyone7101.95 who7102.35 walks7102.51 through7102.66 the7102.82 doors7102.91 of7103.15 a7103.31 Massachusetts7103.39 public7104.02 school.7104.43 Thank7104.82 you7105.06 so7105.23 much.7105.39
7107.47 SPEAKER17107.47 -7107.47 Great7107.47 job,7107.78 you7108.1 guys.7108.27 You7109.47 know,7109.63 I7109.86 came7109.95 from7110.19 a7110.43 public7110.51 school,7110.91 and7111.23 it's7111.7 very,7112.1 very7112.35 important.7112.66 And7113.15 I7113.63 also7113.86 had7114.19 a7114.35 parent7114.43 that7114.74 made7114.99 me,7115.23 play7116.35 an7116.51 instrument.7116.67 So,7117.23 it's7118.83 a7119.07 lot7119.15 of7119.39 discipline7119.55 right7119.95 there.7120.11 So7120.35 thank7121.15 you.7121.47 Any7121.79 questions?7122.03 Great7124.43 job,7124.75 you7124.91 guys.7125.07
7141.18 Linda7141.18 Wesson?7141.65
7165.56 SPEAKER487165.56 -7165.56 Good7165.56 afternoon,7165.8 chair7166.36 Diggs7166.68 and7167.65 chair7167.97 Peano.7168.28 My7169.66 name7169.82 is7169.98 Linda7170.06 Wesson,7170.54 and7171.18 I7171.5 am7171.66 I7171.9 live7172.06 on7172.3 Cape7172.46 Cod,7172.7 and7173.1 I've7173.34 been7173.5 an7173.66 approved7173.82 court7174.22 transcriber7174.46 now7175.1 for7175.26 over7175.42 267175.66 years.7176.3 I7177.5 will7177.66 not7177.82 bother7177.98 you7178.3 with7178.46 minor7178.62 details.7179.02 I7179.9 will7180.06 keep7180.3 this7180.46 short.7180.7 Respectfully,7181.42 I7182.14 am7182.22 in7182.38 front7182.54 of7182.78 you7182.94 today7183.18 to7183.5 explain7183.66 how7184.06 frustrated7184.56 we7184.88 were7184.95 with7185.27 the7185.35 process.7185.44 The7186.56 joint7186.72 committee7187.03 on7187.35 judiciary7187.52 reported7188.23 out7188.64 our7188.88 bill7188.95 favorably7189.27 to7189.84 ways7190.07 and7190.31 means7190.48 after7190.8 27191.11 extensions.7191.35 We7192.4 were7192.56 not7192.8 informed7193.03 of7193.44 what7193.6 was7193.76 causing7193.91 these7194.31 delays.7194.56 Once7195.44 in7195.68 ways7195.84 and7196.16 means,7196.31 we7196.56 were7196.72 told7196.88 to7197.11 get7197.27 in7197.44 touch7197.6 with7197.91 your7198.07 elected7198.23 officials,7198.72 so7199.54 we7199.7 placed7199.94 numerous7200.34 phone7200.9 calls,7201.06 emails,7201.46 texts7201.94 to7202.26 the7202.34 point7202.42 where7202.74 we7202.9 thought7203.06 we7203.22 were7203.3 harassing7203.54 everybody.7204.1 The7205.86 wait7206.02 was7206.26 excruciating.7206.5 After7207.62 all7208.02 our7208.26 hard7208.42 work,7208.66 time,7208.98 and7209.22 energy,7209.38 we7209.94 were7210.1 devastated7210.26 to7210.82 learn7210.98 that7211.22 we7211.38 had7211.54 to7211.7 refile7211.86 the7212.18 bill7212.34 and7212.58 start7212.74 the7213.06 process7213.14 over7213.62 again.7213.86 We7215.73 can't7215.97 do7216.13 it7216.36 without7216.44 you.7216.85 Please7217.48 include7217.81 us7218.13 in7218.36 the7218.44 budget,7218.6 and7219.41 I7219.56 thank7219.73 you7219.97 for7220.05 your7220.28 time.7220.52
7223.89 SPEAKER497223.89 -7223.89 Hi.7223.89 I'm7224.2 Jerry7224.44 Shea.7224.85 Hopefully,7225.32 I7225.81 was7225.89 on7226.05 the7226.2 list.7226.28 I'm7226.6 also7226.77 an7227.09 approved7227.24 court7227.65 transcriber.7228.05 I'm7229.01 from7229.16 Swamp7229.48 Scott,7229.81 Massachusetts.7230.31 And7231.35 as7231.83 I7232.07 know,7232.55 we7232.79 should7233.03 be7233.19 brief7233.35 and7233.59 I7233.91 will7234.15 be7234.31 brief.7234.47 This7235.19 is7235.43 our7235.59 eighth7235.83 attempt7236.31 since7237.91 19887238.39 to7240.07 get7240.23 a7240.55 page7240.79 rate7241.27 increase.7241.59 It's7243.43 been7243.66 377243.98 years7245.26 without7246.15 a7246.55 raise.7246.63 I'm7247.02 sure7247.19 when7248.06 we7248.22 were7248.39 at7248.7 the7249.02 judiciary7249.26 last7249.9 year7250.15 and7250.39 they7250.55 moved7250.78 it7250.94 up7251.1 to7251.26 ways7251.43 and7251.66 means,7251.74 they7251.98 all7252.22 agreed,7252.47 we7252.94 thought7253.1 we7253.34 had7253.59 it,7253.74 we7254.15 were7254.39 good.7254.63 I7256.64 couldn't7256.8 have7257.12 been7257.2 wrong7257.36 I7257.68 was7257.76 so7258.08 wrong,7258.4 we7258.8 lost.7259.12 So7260.4 my7262 questions7262.32 are,7262.72 what7263.28 did7263.44 we7263.6 do7263.84 wrong?7264.08 You7264.88 know,7264.96 what7265.28 what7265.52 is7265.68 the7265.92 process?7266.08 What7266.56 did7266.72 we7266.88 miss?7267.12 And7267.28 so7267.44 we're7267.68 trying7267.92 to7268.16 learn7268.32 so7269.1 that7269.27 we7269.51 can7269.59 get7269.74 it7269.98 through7270.15 and7270.78 get7270.94 it7271.1 to7271.27 Governor7271.35 Haley7271.74 for7272.06 a7272.23 signature.7272.31 377272.94 years7273.51 is7273.9 too7274.15 long7274.31 to7274.55 wait7274.7 for7275.02 a7275.19 raise7275.27 and7275.51 we7275.74 do7275.9 valuable7276.15 work.7276.63 We7276.86 transcribe7277.1 all7278.23 the7278.55 audio7278.86 hearings7279.27 in7279.66 the7279.82 Commonwealth7279.9 of7280.47 Massachusetts7280.72 in7281.76 the7281.92 courtrooms.7282.08 So,7283.12 you7283.6 know,7283.76 we7283.92 really7284.16 need7284.4 this7284.56 raise7284.8 to7285.2 get7285.36 more7286 people7286.24 involved.7286.64 There's7287.28 only7287.6 717287.84 us7288.4 on7288.64 the7288.72 list.7288.88 And7290 at7290.32 $37290.48 a7290.96 page,7291.04 who's7291.36 gonna7291.68 work7291.92 for7292.16 that?7292.24 We7293.12 need7293.28 a7293.44 rate7293.6 rate7294 increase.7294.32 Thank7295.59 you7295.74 for7295.98 your7296.1 time.7296.23
7297.66 SPEAKER17297.66 -7297.66 Thank7297.66 you7297.98 very7298.15 much.7298.39 377300.55 years7301.19 is7301.59 a7301.66 is7301.78 a7301.9 long7301.98 time7302.23 and,7302.39 you7303.26 know,7303.43 we're7304.23 hearing7304.47 you.7304.78 And,7305.51 we7306.3 didn't7306.55 know,7306.86 but7307.52 I7307.68 think,7307.84 we'll7308.48 listen7308.8 and,7309.52 we'll7310.88 see7311.04 what7311.28 we7311.44 can7311.52 do.7311.68
7312.08 SPEAKER497312.08 -7312.08 I7312.08 appreciate7312.32 that.7312.72 Thank7313.2 you.7313.36 Thank7313.6 you.7313.84
7320.57 SPEAKER17320.57 -7320.57 Anita7320.57 Roman7321.22 should7321.7 be7321.94 on7322.57 virtually.7323.22
7328.49 SPEAKER507328.49 -7328.49 Good7328.49 afternoon.7328.81 Good7330.34 afternoon.7330.57 Cheers,7331.85 Ayano7332.66 and7333.06 cheer.7333.3 My7334.27 name7334.43 is7334.75 Enaida7334.91 Roman,7335.63 and7336.83 I7337.23 am7337.39 the7337.63 president7337.79 and7338.03 CEO7338.27 of7339.63 Amplify7339.71 Latinx.7340.35
7340.91 SPEAKER17340.91 -7340.91 Can7340.91 you7341.07
7341.15 SPEAKER507341.15 -7341.15 hear7341.15 me7341.39 okay?7341.47
7342.43 SPEAKER37342.43 -7342.43 Yes.7342.43 We7342.83 can.7342.99
7344.99 SPEAKER507344.99 -7344.99 Okay.7344.99 Thank7346.27 you.7346.67 And7348.2 I7348.69 am7348.85 here7349.09 representing,7349.48 We7350.69 Are7351.01 ALX,7351.24 formerly7351.89 known7352.36 as7352.69 Amplify7352.93 Latinx.7353.41 And,7354.69 the7355.48 reason,7355.65 for7356.77 my7357.32 time7357.56 here7357.81 this7358.13 afternoon,7358.36 is7359.77 to7359.93 respectfully7360.09 request7360.81 that,7361.45 we7362.09 are7362.33 a7362.65 l7362.73 x7362.97 once7363.53 again7364.01 included7364.41 in,7365.61 the7366.57 budget,7366.81 for7368.17 the7368.81 next7368.97 fiscal7369.21 year.7369.61 Because,7371.13 the7372.14 work7372.3 that7372.61 we're7372.85 doing7373.01 is7373.65 incredibly7374.14 important7374.85 in7375.41 the7375.57 communities7375.73 that7376.45 we7376.61 serve.7376.85 We7377.49 are7377.73 a7377.98 statewide7378.05 business7378.53 organization,7378.94 and,7380.45 we7381.65 serve,7381.98 communities,7382.85 such7384.34 as7384.5 Lawrence7384.74 and7385.38 Springfield7386.1 that7386.74 are7386.9 gateway7387.06 communities7387.46 where,7389.06 majority7390.42 minority,7391.62 communities,7392.42 exist7393.46 because7393.94 they7394.5 provide,7395.46 services7396.66 to7397.14 the7397.49 community,7397.66 like7398.53 small7398.85 businesses,7399.18 micro7399.9 businesses,7400.22 etcetera,7400.69 and7401.26 they7401.34 are7401.57 an7402.3 economic7402.61 engine7403.1 to,7403.66 these7404.38 communities.7404.61 We7405.57 are7405.73 incredibly7405.9 grateful7406.45 to7406.94 senator,7407.1 Adam7408.3 Gomez,7408.69 who7409.1 has,7409.26 sponsored7410.64 it7410.96 in7411.28 the7411.44 past,7411.52 in7412.32 the7412.48 form7412.64 of,7413.04 amendments7414.56 for7415.28 our7415.52 earmark.7416.16 And,7417.2 we7417.92 would7418.16 be7418.4 incredibly7418.64 grateful7419.12 to,7419.68 continue7420.4 to,7420.88 be7421.6 considered,7421.92 because,7423.51 again,7424.78 we7425.19 serve,7425.43 basic7427.19 needs7427.74 for7428.06 the7428.3 community7428.47 in7428.86 terms7429.02 of,7429.26 economic7429.9 development.7430.55 And7432.15 some7432.47 of7432.7 the7432.86 most7432.94 important7433.26 businesses7433.59 that7434.06 we7434.22 serve7434.39 are,7434.78 for7435.02 example,7435.26 child7436.84 care7437.16 providers7438.12 that7438.28 we7438.52 know7438.68 are7439.08 instrumental7439.4 to7440.36 the7440.6 overall7440.84 economic7441.24 development7441.64 of7442.36 of7442.68 the7442.84 Commonwealth.7443 These7444.52 women7444.84 are7445.4 working7445.64 very7446.04 hard.7446.28 We7446.6 help7446.76 them.7447 We7447.8 equip7448.04 them7448.28 with7448.52 strategic7448.76 guidance7449.32 and7450.04 with,7450.52 support7452.04 to7452.84 build7452.99 their7453.15 businesses,7453.31 to7453.8 build7453.95 wealth7454.19 for7454.35 themselves7454.59 and7454.91 for7455.15 their7455.23 families,7455.4 to7456.35 provide7456.51 high7456.91 quality7457.15 childcare7457.55 so7458.03 parents7458.27 can7458.76 go7458.91 back7459.07 to7459.23 work,7459.4 and7460.11 so7460.35 that7460.51 employers,7460.91 can,7462.11 have7463.07 their7463.23 employees7463.47 back7464.03 in7464.27 the7464.35 office,7464.77 with7465.49 the7465.89 knowledge7466.53 that7466.93 their7467.17 children7467.33 are7467.81 being7467.97 well7468.21 taken7468.37 care7468.69 of.7468.85 And,7469.17 last7470.93 year,7471.17 we7471.41 served7471.57 5007471.89 businesses7472.53 over7473.57 5007473.89 businesses,7474.37 not7475.25 just7475.49 in7475.73 child7475.89 care,7476.13 but7476.37 in7476.53 other7476.69 areas7476.93 such7477.25 as7477.49 construction,7477.65 also7478.29 that7478.69 moves7479.01 the7479.33 economy7479.41 and,7480.51 retail,7481.55 personal7482.74 care,7483.23 innovation7485.06 space,7485.7 anywhere7486.35 where,7486.82 Latinos7487.47 are7488.19 starting7488.74 businesses.7489.15 And,7490.43 at7491.86 the7492.02 end7492.1 of7492.27 the7492.35 day,7492.51 it's7492.98 it's7493.31 about,7493.55 supporting7494.94 the7495.26 economy7495.5 so7495.82 we7495.98 can7496.14 advance7496.38 the7496.62 economic7496.86 mobility7497.26 of7497.74 the7497.9 Commonwealth.7498.14 Thank7498.7 you7498.94 for7499.1 your7499.26 time.7499.42
7504.78 SPEAKER37504.78 -7504.78 Senator7504.78 Kennedy.7505.26
7507.19 SPEAKER517507.19 -7507.19 Thank7507.19 you7507.27 so7507.52 much,7507.68 chair,7507.99 and7508.23 and7508.48 thank7508.64 you7508.8 so7508.95 much7509.03 for7509.27 your7509.44 testimony7509.76 and7510.23 the7510.4 work7510.48 you7510.8 do7510.95 to7511.68 amplify7511.84 and7512.48 uplift,7512.8 Latinx7513.76 businesses7514.8 across7515.44 the7515.91 Commonwealth.7516.07 I7517.19 wanna7517.35 ask7517.68 particularly7517.84 as7518.23 you7518.4 mentioned,7518.55 sorry7520.42 about7520.58 that.7520.82 The,7521.22 acknowledgement7522.5 that7523.14 you7523.38 gave7523.62 the7523.94 work7524.1 that7524.26 you7524.42 do7524.66 in7524.82 multiple7524.98 communities7525.46 across7525.94 the7526.42 commonwealth,7526.5 representing7527.94 the7528.58 city7529.14 of7529.46 Worcester.7529.62 I7530.26 know7530.34 that7530.58 you've7530.74 recently,7531.14 engaged7531.86 in7532.26 partnerships7532.42 in7532.9 the7533.06 community,7533.22 and7533.78 I7533.94 wanna7534.1 ask7534.58 specifically,7535.13 what7536.16 you7536.48 do7536.72 to,7537.13 engage7538.4 and7538.89 support7539.2 local7539.69 organizations.7540.16 I'm7541.2 proud7541.44 to7541.76 represent7542.09 the7542.8 LABO,7542.97 the7543.6 Latin7543.84 American7544.09 business7544.48 organization,7544.97 who7545.52 for7545.69 years7545.93 has7546.16 been7546.32 working7546.48 to7546.8 build7546.97 up7547.2 and7547.36 do7547.84 a7547.97 lot7548.09 of7548.32 the7548.4 similar7548.48 work7548.89 that,7549.39 does7550.43 across7550.75 the7551.23 Commonwealth,7551.39 but7552.59 wanna7552.83 talk7553.23 about7553.47 what7553.71 you7553.79 do7554.03 to7554.19 actually7554.35 invest7554.75 and7555.23 build7555.55 in7555.95 the7556.11 the7556.43 organizations7556.67 that7557.47 exist7557.71 in7558.11 our7558.35 communities7558.51 so7559.31 that7559.39 we7559.55 can7559.71 help7559.95 them7560.19 also7560.51 grow7560.99 up7561.23 and7561.47 and7561.71 and7561.95 thrive.7562.19
7564.45 SPEAKER507564.45 -7564.45 Absolutely.7564.45 Thank7564.94 you7565.18 so7565.26 much7565.41 for7565.57 that7565.74 question.7565.9 And7566.3 that,7566.45 that7566.85 is7567.02 something7567.34 that7567.66 is7567.98 incredibly7568.22 important7568.77 to7569.1 us.7569.26 In7569.49 fact,7569.66 when7570.3 we7570.45 go7570.53 into7570.77 any7571.02 community,7571.26 the7571.74 first7571.9 thing7572.14 we7572.3 do7572.45 is7572.7 that7572.85 we7573.1 look7573.74 for7573.98 partners,7574.22 for7574.61 local7574.85 partners7575.18 to7575.66 build7575.9 that7576.14 trust7576.4 because7576.8 that7577.04 is7577.28 incredibly7577.52 important,7578 to7578.72 continue7578.88 expanding7579.28 the7579.68 work.7579.76 So7580.16 what7580.56 we7580.72 wanna7580.88 do7581.28 is,7581.52 build,7582.56 relationships7583.84 everywhere7584.56 we7585.04 go.7585.2 And7585.44 so7585.6 we7585.84 actually,7586 know7586.88 Elizabeth,7587.28 from7588.24 Lavo.7588.48 And7589.44 we7589.6 actually7589.84 recognized7590.32 her7590.88 last7591.03 year,7591.28 in7591.68 our7591.84 ALX7592.07 1007592.48 for7592.95 the7593.11 incredible7593.36 work7593.91 that7594.16 she7594.32 does,7594.48 in7595.2 Worcester.7595.36 And7596.32 we7596.56 welcome7596.8 opportunities7597.2 to7597.76 continue,7597.99 building7598.72 bridges7599.03 with7599.44 her7599.6 and7599.76 with7599.84 others.7600.07 We've7600.56 met7600.8 with,7601.03 of7601.2 course,7601.44 the7602.38 city7602.54 manager7602.94 and7603.58 other,7603.82 business7604.54 leaders,7604.94 and7606.14 particularly7606.3 in7606.94 the7607.1 space7607.26 of7607.82 childcare7608.06 because7608.54 we7608.86 know7609.02 that,7609.26 roughly7610.14 47611.02 out7611.26 of7611.42 every7611.58 10,7611.82 childcare7612.38 providers7612.78 in7613.26 the7613.34 Commonwealth7613.5 is,7614.54 Latina.7615.26 And7616.36 so7616.6 because7616.84 we7617.16 provide7617.32 the,7617.88 culturally7618.6 relevant,7619.24 workshops7620.2 and7620.76 and7621.07 individualized7621.8 training7622.44 for7622.84 these,7622.99 child7623.8 care7624.03 providers,7624.2 the7625.56 city7625.88 manager7626.11 actually7626.6 connected7626.99 us7627.48 with7627.64 somebody,7627.88 who7628.68 does7628.91 that7629.16 work7629.32 so7629.56 that7629.72 we7629.88 can7629.95 continue,7630.11 exploring,7631.48 other7633.64 other,7634.12 you7634.76 know,7635 opportunities7635.4 to,7636.2 to7636.92 provide7637 services7637.4 to7637.88 businesses7638.84 in7639.48 Worcester.7639.64 But7640.76 right7641 now,7641.16 we7641.96 do7642.2 need,7642.44 to7643.24 continue,7643.4 building7644.2 those7644.44 relationships7644.68 because7645.24 primarily,7645.64 our7646.68 focus7646.99 right7647.32 now7647.64 is7647.88 in7648.28 Boston7648.52 Greater7649.24 Boston,7649.64 in7650.44 Lawrence7650.68 and7651.07 the7651.24 Merrimack7651.4 Valley,7651.88 and,7652.99 of7653.32 course,7653.48 in7653.88 the7654.03 Springfield7654.28 area.7654.91 So,7656.11 so,7657.24 yes,7657.48 more7657.88 more7658.2 to7658.44 come7658.6 on7658.76 that.7658.91 We7659.45 just7659.69 continue,7660.09 working7661.05 with7661.45 with7661.61 local7661.85 organizations7662.33 in7663.29 in7663.61 Worcester7663.85 and,7664.41 you7664.89 know,7665.05 and7665.37 across7665.61 the7665.93 state7666.09 wherever7666.33 the7666.89 services7667.05 are7667.53 needed.7667.61
7671.63 And,7671.63 I7672.27 just7672.43 like7672.66 to7672.82 yes.7673.39 I7673.78 just7673.86 like7674.02 to7674.19 add7674.43 before7674.66 I7675.06 conclude,7675.23 that7676.19 we7676.51 I7676.74 respectfully7676.98 request7677.55 that7677.95 $500,0007678.19 is7679.47 included7679.63 in7680.02 line7680.19 item7680.43 7,0087680.91 dash7682.59 117683.15 167683.78 so7684.74 that7684.9 we7685.14 may7685.22 continue7685.38 to7685.78 do7685.94 the7686.1 business7686.26 development7686.66 work7687.06 and7687.3 the7687.54 economic7687.7 development7688.18 work7688.58 that7688.82 we've7688.98 been7689.22 working7689.38 on7689.7 for7690.26 the7690.42 last,7690.58 77691.22 plus7691.54 years.7691.78
7693.3 SPEAKER37693.3 -7693.3 Thank7693.3 you,7693.46 miss7693.62 Romain,7693.86 for7694.34 your,7694.9 your7695.46 testimony,7695.7 all7696.26 the7696.42 incredible7696.58 work7696.98 that7697.22 your7697.3 organization7697.54 does.7698.02 I7698.26 know7698.42 that7698.58 you7698.74 guys7698.9 are,7699.14 in7700.03 Lawrence.7700.27 It's7700.91 been7701.15 great,7701.39 collaborating7702.03 with7702.59 you7702.74 all,7702.91 the7703.63 last7703.7 couple7704.03 years,7704.27 and7704.51 thank7704.66 you7704.82 for7704.91 your7705.06 testimony.7705.23
7708.1 SPEAKER507708.1 -7708.1 Thank7708.1 you.7708.35 Thank7708.59 you7708.74 for7708.82 your7708.99 time.7709.23
7709.63 SPEAKER37709.63 -7709.63 Before7709.63 I7709.95 I7710.19 call7710.35 the7710.51 next7710.66 speaker,7710.91 I7711.15 just7711.23 wanna7711.39 recognize,7711.7 we7712.27 have,7712.43 27712.99 senate7713.15 members7713.55 that,7713.95 have7714.73 joined7715.21 us7715.37 a7715.61 little7715.85 while7716.01 ago,7716.25 senator7716.81 Nick7717.29 Collins,7717.45 and7718.41 also7718.57 senator,7718.89 Michael7719.61 Brady.7719.93 Thank7721.05 you.7721.21 Next,7721.93 we7722.25 have,7722.41 Meg7723.45 Robbins.7723.77 And7724.65 after7725.21 Meg7725.77 Robbins,7726.01 Kira7727.16 Nichols.7727.73 Meg7729.81 Robins7730.05 online?7731.65
7735.89 Seeing7735.89 that7736.28 Meg7737.32 isn't7737.65 here,7737.97 let's7738.6 move7739.01 on7739.24 to7739.57 Kira7740.49 Nichols,7740.81 and7741.05 we'll7741.29 call7741.53 Meg7741.85 Robbins7742.09 a7742.49 little7742.57 later,7742.73 in7743.61 the7743.69 day.7743.85
7748.09 After7748.09 Kira7748.49 Nichols7748.81 is7749.13 gonna7749.29 be7749.61 Michael7749.85 Bachman.7751.61
7759.56 SPEAKER527759.56 -7759.56 Hi.7759.56 My7759.88 name7760.03 is7760.19 Kira7760.44 Nichols,7760.84 and7761.4 I7761.56 am7761.64 currently7761.8 a7762.27 senior7762.44 at7762.76 South7762.91 Hadley7763.15 High.7763.56 I've7764.44 been7764.68 in7764.84 South7764.99 Hadley7765.31 Public7765.72 School7766.04 since7766.36 kindergarten,7766.52 and7767.48 budget7767.72 cuts7768.04 have7768.36 always7768.6 negatively7768.92 impacted7769.56 mine7770.04 and7770.28 my7770.44 peers'7770.6 education,7771.08 and7772.12 the7772.36 proposed7772.52 budget7773 cut7773.32 for7773.56 the7773.64 207773.88 25,7774.2 267774.76 school7775.32 year7775.64 is7775.88 very7776.04 concerning7776.36 to7776.84 me.7777 This7777.8 budget7778.04 cut7778.28 will7778.52 reduce7778.76 access7779.16 to7779.56 resources,7779.72 increase7780.91 class7781.31 sizes,7781.64 and7782.03 limit7782.27 opportunities7782.68 for7783.31 students7783.56 to7784.03 succeed.7784.2 I've7785.16 been7785.4 lucky7785.56 enough7785.95 to7786.27 have7786.35 had7786.6 the7786.76 opportunity7786.99 to7787.64 join7787.8 different7788.03 clubs7788.44 while7788.76 I've7788.99 been7789.16 here7789.4 in7789.64 high7789.8 school,7790.03 but7790.6 many7790.84 other7791.07 students7791.31 will7791.8 not7791.95 have7792.11 that7792.35 same7792.52 opportunity.7792.84 Many7794.21 different7794.53 club7794.85 advisors,7795.17 as7795.65 well7795.81 as7796.05 sports7796.21 coaches,7796.53 are7797.01 being7797.17 cut7797.41 out,7797.57 especially7797.89 in7798.53 the7798.77 music7798.85 department.7799.25 Not7800.13 having7800.37 access7800.69 to7801.09 extracurricular7801.33 activities7802.29 will7802.93 negatively7803.09 impact7803.65 students,7804.13 as7804.77 they7804.93 will7805.17 not7805.33 have7805.57 the7805.73 same7806.2 opportunity7806.52 to7807.16 make7807.24 new7807.56 friends,7807.73 go7808.52 outside7808.77 of7809.16 their7809.32 comfort7809.48 zone,7809.89 and7810.52 become7810.77 a7811.01 well7811.16 rounded7811.4 person.7811.8 This7812.6 will7812.84 also7813.09 negatively7813.4 impact7813.97 college7814.44 bound7814.77 students,7815.09 as7815.48 many7815.73 colleges7816.05 want7816.6 students7816.84 to7817.32 be7817.4 involved7817.56 in7817.97 a7818.13 number7818.2 of7818.44 extracurriculars.7818.69 Too7820.67 many7820.91 teachers7821.23 and7821.55 staff7821.87 members7822.19 are7822.59 losing7822.75 their7823.07 jobs7823.23 with7823.55 this7823.71 budget7823.95 cut.7824.27 When7824.75 I7824.91 was7824.99 in7825.15 elementary7825.47 school,7825.87 I7826.11 needed7826.27 a7826.51 reading7826.67 and7826.99 writing7827.15 interventionist.7827.55 After7828.67 getting7828.99 the7829.23 help7829.39 I7829.63 very7829.79 much7830.03 needed,7830.27 I7830.67 started7830.91 to7831.23 thrive7831.39 in7831.71 school.7831.95 Students7832.8 not7833.19 having7833.44 access7833.76 to7834.07 interventionists7834.4 is7835.03 terrifying7835.27 to7835.91 me.7835.99 Had7836.55 I7836.8 not7836.88 received7837.11 the7837.51 help7837.59 I7837.91 did,7837.99 I7838.72 know7838.8 that7839.03 I7839.44 wouldn't7839.68 be7840.07 here7840.23 where7840.64 I7840.88 am7841.03 right7841.19 now.7841.44 I7841.91 would7841.99 have7842.15 continued7842.4 to7842.88 struggle7843.11 well7843.51 past7843.76 elementary7844.07 school,7844.55 and7844.8 no7845.03 student7845.27 should7845.59 ever7845.84 have7846.07 to7846.31 struggle.7846.47 How7847.46 many7847.62 students7847.86 will7848.26 have7848.5 opportunities7848.82 like7849.54 this7849.78 stolen7849.94 from7850.42 them?7850.66 When7851.54 I7851.78 was7851.86 in7852.02 middle7852.18 school,7852.5 there7852.82 were7852.98 87853.22 teachers7853.38 for7853.78 each7854.02 subject,7854.34 science,7855.22 math,7855.86 English,7856.34 and7856.82 history,7856.98 and7857.46 the7857.62 class7857.78 sizes7858.02 were7858.5 large.7858.74 Now7859.46 about7859.78 47860.02 years7860.26 later,7860.58 there7861.19 will7861.35 only7861.59 be7861.82 67862.15 English7862.39 teachers,7862.7 47863.35 math7863.74 teachers,7864.06 47864.63 science7865.02 teachers,7865.51 and7865.91 47866.15 history7866.47 teachers,7866.94 making7867.43 an7867.74 already7867.98 large7868.31 class7868.7 size7869.02 even7869.51 larger.7869.82 And7870.7 the7870.94 high7871.02 school7871.19 honors7871.51 and7871.91 CP7872.23 classes7872.63 are7873.19 are7873.43 are7873.74 already7873.91 being7874.23 mixed,7874.55 but7874.88 next7875.12 year,7875.36 even7875.6 more7875.92 will7876.16 be.7876.4 Being7876.96 in7877.28 a7877.36 mixed7877.44 honors7877.84 CP7878.16 class7878.56 is7878.88 unfair7878.96 for7879.44 students7879.6 as7880 well7880.16 as7880.4 teachers.7880.64 Teachers7881.52 are7881.92 trying7882 to7882.32 teach7882.4 27882.64 different7882.88 classes7883.2 at7883.6 the7883.76 same7883.92 time,7884.16 and7884.48 students7885.36 are7885.84 learning7886 at7886.32 a7886.48 pace7886.56 that7886.8 isn't7886.96 fit7887.28 for7887.52 them.7887.6 Because7888.32 of7888.64 these7888.72 cuts,7888.96 class7889.36 sizes7889.6 across7890.08 all7890.35 47891.27 schools7892.19 will7892.51 have7892.82 well7892.91 over7893.55 207893.7 students7893.86 per7894.05 17894.23 teacher.7894.41 This7894.59 makes7895.07 learning7895.15 difficult7895.23 for7896.19 every7896.23 student7896.27 because7896.66 they7896.82 will7896.91 not7897.39 receive7897.47 a7897.7 lot7897.78 of7898.03 individualized7898.27 attention7899.63 from7900.1 teachers,7900.51 and7901.15 teachers7901.23 will7901.7 struggle7901.86 with7902.27 grading7902.43 many7902.82 assignments7902.99 on7903.63 time7903.78 and7904.47 also7904.71 keeping7905.03 their7905.35 class7905.59 silent7905.91 and7906.23 focused7906.47 during7906.87 instruction.7907.19 Students7908.31 will7908.71 struggle7908.95 to7909.35 learn7909.43 because7909.83 of7910.07 this,7910.15 and7910.39 state7910.71 testing7911.03 scores7911.43 will7911.91 become7912.07 even7912.39 lower.7912.71 I7913.75 struggled7913.91 in7914.47 classes7914.63 like7915.11 this,7915.27 but7915.51 I7915.75 still7915.99 succeeded.7916.31 How7917.1 many7917.34 students7917.49 will7917.98 fail7918.22 because7918.53 of7918.77 this?7918.94 Why7919.34 should7919.57 students7919.81 have7920.3 to7920.45 be7920.53 in7920.7 a7920.85 class7920.94 that7921.18 isn't7921.41 meant7921.74 for7921.98 them?7922.14 How7922.7 is7922.85 it7923.1 fair7923.26 to7923.57 have7923.74 classes7923.98 much7924.45 larger7924.77 than7925.1 20?7925.34 I7926.38 know7926.53 I7926.7 will7926.77 not7926.94 be7927.1 in7927.18 the7927.34 South7927.49 Hadley7927.74 School7928.14 System7928.38 next7928.7 year,7929.02 but7929.57 this7929.74 budget7929.98 cut7930.38 will7930.61 affect7930.77 my7931.13 younger7931.37 family7932.09 members,7932.41 my7932.97 peers,7933.21 the7933.61 amazing7933.85 staff7934.33 in7934.65 all7934.81 47935.05 schools,7935.37 and7936.09 ultimately7936.41 my7937.21 community7937.53 as7938.01 a7938.17 whole.7938.33 Students7939.05 who7939.61 are7939.77 in7939.93 who7940.09 are7940.49 in7940.65
7940.81 SPEAKER87940.81 -7940.81 school7940.81 now7941.13
7941.69 SPEAKER527941.69 -7941.69 are7941.69 our7941.85 future.7942.09
7944.57 SPEAKER17944.57 -7944.57 Thank7944.57 you7944.89 very7945.13 much.7945.29
7950.73 SPEAKER537950.73 -7950.73 Hello7950.73 there,7951.05 folks.7951.38 My7951.69 name7951.85 is7952.01 Michael7952.26 Beauchmann,7952.57 and7953.22 I7953.45 am7953.61 a7953.85 senior7954.09 from7954.41 South7954.65 Hadley7954.97 High7955.38 School,7955.53 and7956.09 I'm7956.26 moving7956.41 on7956.65 to7956.81 study7956.97 nursing7957.3 right7957.69 here7957.93 in7958.09 Boston7958.26 and7958.97 pursue7959.22 my7959.93 passion7960.79 in7961.43 music.7961.67 Now7963.19 as7963.43 my7963.67 time7963.83 in7964.23 public7964.47 education7964.79 draws7965.75 to7966.07 a7966.31 close,7966.47 I'm7967.27 compelled7967.51 to7967.91 speak7968.07 out7968.39 on7968.63 behalf7968.87 of7969.35 my7969.51 fellow7969.75 students.7970.15 The7971.83 current7971.91 state7972.31 of7972.55 affairs7972.71 poses7973.19 a7973.59 bleak7973.75 outlook7974.07 for7974.39 their7974.63 future,7974.79 and7975.57 it7975.74 is7975.9 imperative7976.06 that7976.78 we7976.94 take7977.1 action7977.34 to7977.66 ensure7977.82 their7978.45 well-being.7978.7 The7980.38 last7980.53 few7980.7 weeks7980.94 have7981.18 been7981.34 very7981.57 emotionally7981.82 driven,7982.38 considering7982.94 the7983.41 fact7983.57 that7983.82 our7983.98 town7984.22 has7984.38 been7984.53 forced7984.7 to7985.02 remove7985.1 nearly7985.74 207986.14 full7986.7 time7986.94 teaching7987.18 positions7987.57 from7988.3 the7988.53 school7988.7 district.7989.02 Additionally,7990.76 programs7991.72 such7992.12 as7992.44 the7992.52 marching7992.68 band7993 in7993.24 Harlequins,7993.4 which7994.04 is7994.28 our7994.44 drama7994.68 club,7995 are7995.8 at7996.04 risk7996.2 of7996.44 being7996.68 entirely7997 eliminated.7997.64 This7999.24 is7999.48 due7999.72 to8000.2 those8000.44 programs8000.76 being8001.32 very8001.56 high8001.88 on8002.04 the8002.12 list8002.28 for8003.32 being8004.65 removed8004.89 over8006.16 other8006.97 groups,8007.84 other8008.4 activities.8009.44 Now,8010.72 however,8010.97 after8011.52 speaking8011.84 at8012.4 local8012.72 school8013.13 committee8013.44 meetings8013.76 about8014.16 how8014.4 detrimental8014.65 music8015.76 cuts8016.24 are,8016.65 I8017.46 pivoted8017.54 my8018.1 approach8018.34 as8018.82 I8018.98 realized8019.14 that8019.54 this8019.7 issue8019.94 was8020.9 not8021.06 about8021.3 me8021.54 or8022.1 my8022.26 passions8022.5 alone,8022.98 but8023.46 about8023.62 us8023.86 as8024.18 an8024.26 educational8024.58 community.8025.22 Sure,8026.66 we8026.9 have8027.06 our8027.3 unique8027.46 paths8028.02 and8028.5 we8028.82 each8028.98 want8029.3 more8029.54 funds8029.78 or8030.18 positions8030.42 allocated8031.14 to8031.62 a8031.78 different8031.86 niche.8032.18 But8033.24 it's8033.4 come8033.56 to8033.88 the8033.95 point8034.03 where8034.44 focusing8034.68 on8034.99 fighting8035.24 for8035.56 our8035.72 own8035.88 paths,8036.11 construction8037.24 will8037.8 only8038.03 slow8038.44 its8038.91 its8039.31 progression8039.64 further.8040.2 But8042.03 there8042.2 is8042.44 a8042.6 common8042.68 theme8042.99 that8043.31 connects8043.48 our8044.03 desperation8044.35 as8045.24 students,8045.48 educators,8045.95 and8046.76 leaders.8046.99 The8048.33 pursuit8048.49 for8048.89 an8049.13 education8049.29 that8049.77 is8050.01 not8050.17 harmed,8050.41 halted,8051.29 limited,8051.77 or8052.57 hindered8052.73 by8053.13 budgetary8053.29 constraints.8053.93 Of8055.45 course,8055.61 with8055.85 the8056.09 presence8056.17 of8056.57 or8057.37 the8057.53 the8057.77 pressure8057.85 to8058.33 educate8058.49 or8059.13 lead8059.45 groups8059.69 with8060.09 lack8060.25 of8060.49 money,8060.65 Emotions8061.59 often8061.98 take8062.31 over8062.55 logical8062.78 thinking,8063.19 leading8063.82 to8064.15 arguments8064.31 or8064.7 disagreements8064.86 between8065.51 parties,8065.9 despite8066.78 us8067.19 all8067.35 being8067.59 on8067.98 the8068.31 same8068.55 side8068.78 of8069.02 the8069.1 battlefield.8069.27 And8070.94 this8071.19 time8071.43 is8071.82 vital8072.06 that8072.7 we8072.94 have8073.1 each8073.35 other's8073.59 support.8074.06 Now8075.77 at8076.01 the8076.17 end8076.25 of8076.41 the8076.49 day,8076.57 my8077.13 request8077.45 to8077.93 the8078.09 legislature8078.25 is8079.05 please8079.29 reevaluate8079.69 the8080.57 outdated8080.65 formula8081.29 designed8082.01 and8082.81 utilized8083.05 distribute8083.61 funding8084.25 to8084.81 school8084.97 districts.8085.29 Consider8086.49 increasing8086.97 state8087.53 funding8087.85 allocated8088.33 to8088.81 towns8088.97 like8089.37 mine,8089.69 as8090.47 it8090.51 is8090.55 impacting8090.86 our8091.34 education8091.59 as8092.39 students8092.63 and8093.1 stripping8093.34 students8093.74 of8094.14 their8094.3 passions.8094.55 Educators,8096.3 students,8097.18 leaders,8097.82 and8098.39 anyone8098.63 else8098.94 who8099.34 may8099.51 find8099.66 themselves8099.9 listening8100.3 to8100.7 this8100.86 speech.8101.18 I've8102.47 said8102.7 it8102.94 once8103.02 and8103.18 I8103.34 will8103.43 set8103.66 set8103.98 I8104.85 will8105.01 say8105.25 it8105.57 1,000,0008105.65 times.8106.45 If8107.49 we8107.65 do8107.81 not8107.97 fight8108.21 this8108.37 fight8108.61 together,8109.01 there8109.81 will8110.05 be8110.13 nothing8110.29 left8110.69 for8111.01 us8111.25 to8111.41 fight8111.57 for.8111.81 Advocate8112.93 for8113.41 each8113.57 other,8113.81 for8114.13 the8114.29 students,8114.53 and8115.09 continue8115.33 providing8115.81 the8116.21 best8116.37 education8116.69 possible.8117.33 Thank8118.37 you8118.61 for8118.77 your8118.93 time8119.01 and8119.25 consideration.8119.41
8121.31 SPEAKER38121.31 -8121.31 Thank8121.31 you.8121.47 If8121.59 you8121.7 guys8121.86 can8122.02 wait8122.27 a8122.59 a8122.7 moment8122.82 when8123.15 the8123.31 senators8123.47 has8123.86 a8124.02 question.8124.1 But8124.43 I8124.59 also8124.66 know8124.91 that8125.06 Colin8125.63 Zranick,8126.1 who's8126.91 also8127.23 part8127.55 of8127.78 the8127.86 group,8128.02 if8128.27 he's8128.43 here8128.59 He's8128.99 he's8129.31 he's8129.7 not8130.1 a8130.43 part8130.51 of8130.63 the8130.74 market.8130.82 Perfect.8131.23 Senator,8133.39 if8133.63 you'd8133.87 like8134.03 to8134.19 ask8134.27 your8134.59 question.8134.83
8135.95 SPEAKER548135.95 -8135.95 Thank8135.95 you,8136.19 mister8136.35 chairman.8136.75 Thank8137.39 you8137.71 to8138.11 the8138.67 students8138.83 of8139.31 South8139.55 Hadley8139.87 for8140.59 being8140.83 such8141.07 strong8141.39 advocates8141.79 on8142.35 behalf8142.51 of8142.91 so8143.07 many8143.31 school8143.63 districts8143.95 in8144.43 Massachusetts8144.51 that8145.69 are8145.93 facing8146.01 serious8146.73 budget8147.36 shortfalls,8147.77 just8148.65 like8148.89 the8149.13 South8149.28 Hadley8149.52 Public8150.01 Schools.8150.32 I8151.05 had8151.2 the8151.28 opportunity8151.52 to8152.16 participate8152.32 in8153.13 your8153.28 walkout8153.52 last8154.09 week,8154.4 along8154.89 with8155.28 representative8155.69 Omar8156.56 Gomez8157.05 from8157.84 East8158.09 Hampton.8158.32 Both8159.21 of8159.37 us8159.53 still8160.01 stood8160.49 shoulder8160.81 to8161.13 shoulder8161.29 with8161.69 each8161.85 18162.01 of8162.25 you8162.33 as8162.97 you're8163.13 highlighting8163.37 this8163.93 very8164.09 important8164.41 issue.8164.81 I8165.53 also8165.69 wanna8165.93 share8166.25 with8166.65 my8166.89 colleagues8167.05 for8167.53 their8167.69 edification.8167.85 The8168.97 students8169.13 presented8169.61 us8170.17 with8170.41 nearly8170.73 a8171.21 thousand8171.45 letters8172.17 from8172.81 South8173.05 Hadley8173.37 residents,8173.85 students,8175.11 faculty8176.15 members,8176.64 administrators.8177.27 I8178.4 see8178.64 some8178.8 waving8179.03 their8179.44 arms8179.76 in8180.15 the8180.31 back8180.4 of8180.64 the8180.8 room8180.88 as8181.19 well.8181.35 Thank8182.07 you8182.31 for8182.8 providing8183.11 these8183.91 heartfelt8184.23 testimonies8184.95 of8185.76 why8185.91 investing8186.15 in8186.88 changing8187.03 the8187.44 chapter8187.59 708188.07 funding8188.47 formula8189.38 is8189.54 so8189.78 essential8190.02 for8190.5 us8190.74 right8190.98 now.8191.22 I8191.94 do8192.18 have8192.42 to8192.58 say,8192.66 following8193.06 the8193.46 walkout8193.7 that8194.1 we8194.34 had,8194.58 we8195.14 listened8195.38 to8195.78 about8195.94 half8196.34 a8196.58 dozen8196.66 student8197.3 speakers,8197.62 including8198.18 yourself,8198.58 Michael,8199.06 and8199.7 it8199.86 was8200.02 incredible.8200.42 I8201.32 remember8201.48 from8201.95 my8202.19 days8202.35 in8202.67 high8202.92 school8203.16 when8203.72 we8203.95 had8204.11 rallies8204.27 in8204.75 in8205.08 the8205.24 auditorium,8205.48 everybody8206.35 was8206.75 speaking8207 over8207.32 18207.56 another.8207.72 Everybody8208.35 was8208.92 either8209.4 making8209.64 fun8209.95 of8210.19 the8210.27 speakers.8210.44 You8211.16 could8211.32 hear8211.56 a8211.8 pin8211.95 drop8212.27 in8213 the8213.24 gymnasium8213.48 of8214.35 South8214.51 Hadley8214.83 High8215.24 School8215.48 because8216.08 it8216.4 shows8216.64 the8217.12 respect8217.36 and8217.76 commitment8218.08 that8218.8 South8219.04 Hadley8219.28 students8219.76 have8220.16 for8220.72 being8220.88 engaged8221.2 in8221.6 the8221.76 political8221.92 process,8222.4 but8223.2 also8223.44 acting8224.4 in8224.8 a8224.88 way8225.04 in8225.52 which8225.68 we8225.92 uphold8226.16 our8226.48 democratic8226.72 values8227.36 by8227.84 doing8228 things8228.32 like8228.56 peaceful8228.72 protests8229.28 and8229.92 speaking8230.17 out8230.48 when8230.73 we8230.97 see8231.13 injustices.8231.44 So8232.32 I8232.56 just8232.65 wanna8232.89 say,8233.13 as8233.36 someone8233.6 who8233.73 is8233.84 proudly8234.4 represents8234.89 South8235.36 Hadley,8235.68 thank8236.4 you8236.65 to8237.05 the8237.2 students,8237.36 thank8238.17 you8238.48 to8238.73 the8238.97 faculty8239.13 and8239.6 staff8239.92 members,8240.25 the8240.65 administration,8240.81 and8242.18 the8242.5 entire8242.74 community8243.14 for8243.7 the8243.94 outpouring8244.1 of8244.5 support.8244.98 Together,8245.62 as8246.02 you8246.26 mentioned,8246.34 Michael,8246.74 we8247.3 can8247.54 impact8248.1 change.8248.58 So8248.9 I8249.14 just8249.22 wanted8249.38 to8249.7 thank8249.86 you8250.1 as,8250.74 as8251.3 a8251.46 member8251.62 who8251.94 represents8252.1 that8252.58 great8252.82 community8253.06 of8253.46 South8253.62 Hadley.8253.86
8254.26 SPEAKER198254.26 -8254.26 Thank8254.26 you,8254.5 senator.8254.58
8256.16 SPEAKER38256.16 -8256.16 Thank8256.16 you.8256.32 And8257.75 if8257.92 there8258.16 was8258.24 anything8258.64 else8259.03 in8259.27 your8259.35 testimony,8259.59 I8260.48 know8260.64 that8260.72 the8260.95 time8261.11 might8261.35 not8261.51 allow8261.67 it,8261.92 please,8262.08 submit,8262.64 the8263.19 written8263.35 testimony.8263.59 We'll8264.08 make8264.24 sure8264.4 to8264.64 share8264.8 it8265.03 with8265.19 the8265.35 committee.8265.51 Thank8266.95 you.8267.19
8268.81 SPEAKER18268.81 -8268.81 Awesome.8268.81 Next,8269.21 we'll8269.45 have8269.53 Jackie8269.77 Johnson.8270.17
8298.75 SPEAKER438298.75 -8298.75 Good8298.75 afternoon8299.07 all.8299.55 I8301.39 bring8301.63 before8301.95 this8302.51 committee8302.75 the8303.39 ruling8303.63 of8304.27 the8304.43 Supreme8304.67 Court8305.15 and8305.63 the8305.79 EFSB8306.03 in8306.99 the8307.15 matter8307.39 of8308.19 the8308.35 proposed8308.59 substation8309.23 to8310.51 be8310.59 immediately8312.06 abutting8312.61 my8313.17 home8313.5 on8313.9 Chute8314.14 Flying8314.45 Hill8314.85 Road8315.09 in8315.33 Centerville.8315.5 Both8317.25 courts8317.58 violated8318.38 the8319.09 laws8319.25 set8320.3 to8320.45 protect8320.61 the8321.09 citizens8321.25 of8321.81 the8321.9 Commonwealth8322.06 when8323.09 they8323.25 issued8323.58 license8324.06 to8324.61 the8324.77 Park8324.93 City8325.25 Wind8325.73 to8326.45 construct8326.69 an8327.33 industrial8327.81 substation8328.53 in8329.65 a8329.81 residential8330.13 neighborhood.8331.33 The8332.69 DP8333.01 clearly8333.89 mandates8334.53 that8335.65 the8335.89 applicant8336.05 must8337.01 meet8337.49 all8337.89 aspects8338.29 of8338.85 pre8339.39 construction8339.63 compliance8340.98 filing8342.02 in8342.74 its8342.9 proposal.8343.23 Park8344.74 City8345.06 Wind8345.39 is8345.86 legally8346.18 mandated8346.82 to8347.55 meet8347.78 and8348.58 provide8348.98 concrete8349.86 proof8350.58 of8351.48 the8351.72 design8351.88 of8352.36 the8352.52 substation8352.76 along8353.56 with8353.96 the8354.2 equipment8354.36 to8354.84 be8355 used,8355.16 but8356.04 they8356.28 did8356.52 not.8356.68 Instead,8358.2 they8359 arbitrarily8359.32 reduced8360.36 the8360.92 sound8361.16 power8361.56 levels8361.96 of8362.36 their8362.6 proposed8362.84 transformers8363.48 to8364.92 present8365.17 legally8365.81 accepted8366.44 decibels.8366.92 Their8368.36 experts8368.76 tweaked8369.4 the8369.81 sound8370.13 level8370.44 design8370.84 specifications8371.56 of8372.52 their8372.68 equipment,8372.92 then8373.97 acknowledged8374.68 that8375.32 the8375.56 tweaking8375.73 was8376.2 aggressive8376.6 and8377.4 arbitrary.8377.73 Why?8379.08 Because8380.52 the8381.08 giant8381.4 sized8381.96 substation8382.76 they8383.48 are8383.72 proposing8383.88 to8384.52 build8384.68 requires8385.8 equipment8386.6 with8387.16 ambient8387.64 sound8388.44 far8389.32 in8389.72 excess8389.88 of8390.84 that8391 which8391.32 is8391.56 legally8391.88 allowed.8392.52 The8393.72 truth8393.95 is,8394.43 the8395.15 equipment8395.48 needed8396.03 for8396.75 the8397.23 massive8397.48 amount8397.95 of8398.27 electricity8398.59 they8399.56 intend8399.8 to8400.27 generate8400.43 would8401.72 be8401.95 a8402.19 clear8402.35 violation8402.83 of8403.4 the8403.56 law.8403.72 The8404.83 town8404.99 of8405.31 Barnstable8405.56 could8406.67 place8406.92 a8407.31 substation8407.4 on8408.11 their8408.35 land.8408.67 Instead,8409.53 they8410.41 also8410.81 gave8412.09 license8412.65 to8413.21 Park8413.45 City8413.77 Wind.8414.17 My8415.13 question8415.37 is,8415.85 when8416.89 the8417.21 law8417.45 violates8418.25 itself,8418.81 who8419.85 will8420.09 stand8420.49 for8420.97 the8421.21 violated?8421.45 Eversource,8423.67 whose8424.88 power8425.19 lines8425.6 also8426 about8426.32 my8426.64 property,8426.88 began8427.52 construction8428 on8428.72 their8428.95 power8429.27 lines8429.6 in8430.24 preparation8430.48 for8431.19 the8431.35 proposed8431.6 industrial8432.16 substation.8432.88 When8434.32 swapping8434.8 out8435.27 their8435.67 wooden8436 poles8436.4 for8436.8 giant8437.03 iron8437.67 poles,8437.92 they8439.11 were8439.35 there8439.75 were8439.99 earthquake8440.31 tremors8440.95 that8441.43 shook8441.75 my8442.07 house8442.23 as8442.95 they8443.19 rammed8443.43 the8443.91 poles8444.15 into8444.55 the8444.87 ground.8444.95 Today,8445.99 I8446.55 have8446.71 cracks8446.95 in8447.35 my8447.51 house8447.67 that8448.31 were8448.55 not8448.79 there8449.03 prior8449.35 to8449.75 the8449.91 erecting8450.07 of8450.55 those8450.71 giant8451.11 iron8451.59 poles.8451.91 When8453.15 the8453.39 electromagnetic8453.63 frequency8454.66 is8455.15 at8455.39 its8455.63 peak8455.78 in8456.02 the8456.18 summer,8456.34 my8456.74 calls8456.98 are8457.31 jammed8457.55 and8457.94 I8458.18 have8458.26 to8458.42 find8458.58 spots8458.98 in8459.31 my8459.55 home8459.63 on8460.34 the8460.58 steps8460.74 between8461.15 the8461.55 steers8461.7 to8462.18 make8462.42 and8462.66 receive8462.9 phone8463.39 calls.8463.7 I8464.9 never8465.06 thought8465.47 noise8465.78 would8466.18 be8466.34 a8466.5 problem8466.66 because8467.06 noise8467.39 is8467.7 everywhere.8467.86 However,8468.96 when8469.36 Eversource8469.68 began8470.32 construction8470.8 of8471.28 their8471.52 new8471.84 poles,8472.16 I8472.88 was8472.96 awakened8473.28 at8473.76 5AM8474 in8474.72 the8474.8 mornings8474.96 by8475.52 bright8475.76 lights8476.08 flooding8476.96 into8477.36 my8477.68 bedroom,8477.92 booming8478.8 noise,8479.36 talking,8480.08 vehicle8481.04 engines,8481.6 and8482.08 other8482.32 noises.8482.64
8485.58 We8485.58 want8485.82 clean8486.23 energy,8486.63 but8487.82 we8488.31 must8488.55 be8488.86 wise.8489.1 Let's8490.15 not8490.55 rip8490.86 out8491.1 the8491.26 pages8491.42 of8491.82 history8491.98 that8492.47 taught8492.7 us8492.94 how8493.18 to8493.42 govern8493.58 and8493.98 what8494.15 laws8494.47 to8494.86 write.8495.02 For8495.76 example8496 No.8496.64 The8496.88 slave8497.12 trade8497.6 taught8497.92 us8498.24 that8498.96 and8499.52 the8499.76 Nazis8500 taught8500.64 us8500.96 that8501.6 unbridled8502 passion8502.8 without8503.6 justice8504.08 destroys8504.88 lives.8505.52
8506.72 SPEAKER18506.72 -8506.72 Thank8506.72 you.8506.96 We're8507.92 hearing8508.24 you.8508.56 We're8509.5 hearing8509.74 you8509.94 now.8510.14 Thank8510.69 you.8511.01 Thank8512.53
8514.85 SPEAKER268514.85 -8514.85 you,8514.85 chair8515.01 Diggs.8515.33 And8515.66 to8515.82 the8515.98 committee8516.14 members,8516.61 thank8517.01 you8517.17 for8517.42 indulging8517.74 me8518.3 at8518.61 least.8518.77 But8520.22 this8520.45 is8520.69 serious8520.93 on8521.5 Cape8521.66 Cod.8521.98 I,8523.09 again,8523.53 thank8523.85 you8523.93 for8524.25 coming8524.49 all8524.73 the8524.97 way8525.05 from8525.37 Cape8525.69 Cod.8526.01 I've8526.73 been8526.89 to8527.13 your8527.29 home.8527.45 I've8528.33 seen8528.57 exactly8528.89 what8529.37 you're8529.53 talking8529.69 about.8530.09 And,8530.97 I8532.65 feel8532.81 your8533.13 passion8533.45 and8534.09 the8534.25 pain.8534.41 So8535.97 this8536.68 committee8536.92 will8537.4 do8537.73 what8537.81 we8538.05 can8538.2 do,8538.44 and,8539.4
8543.4 just8543.4 know8543.73 that8543.97 you're8544.28 being8544.6 heard.8545 And8546.52 as8546.76 far8547 as8547.17 the8547.56 court8547.89 case8548.28 and8549 what8549.4 to8549.56 do8549.81 after8549.97 that,8550.28 we'll8551.08 have8551.24 to8551.36 talk8551.48 further8552.04 offline.8552.44 Thank8554.04 you.8554.28 Thank8554.68 you,8554.92 chair.8555.16
8557.24 SPEAKER18557.24 -8557.24 Thank8557.24 you,8557.4 Jackie.8557.72
8567.44 Victoria8567.44 Hill.8567.76 Victoria8568.7 Hill.8569.63 Victoria8570.56 Hill.8571.13
8577.13 SPEAKER38577.13 -8577.13 I8577.13 see8577.2 none.8577.52 Imunbusiani.8579.4
8582.84 SPEAKER18582.84 -8582.84 Sorry.8582.84
8589.56 SPEAKER38589.56 -8589.56 And8589.56 then8589.72 next,8589.96 Tom8590.28 Pinter.8590.52
8591.64 SPEAKER18591.64 -8591.64 Next8591.64 will8591.96 be8592.2 Tom8592.36 Pinter.8592.84
8608.32 SPEAKER558608.32 -8608.32 Good8608.32 afternoon.8608.56 Thank8609.04 you.8609.36
8614.32 All8614.32 right.8614.56 Good8616.56 afternoon8616.8 Chairs8618 Payano8618.56 and8619.12 Chair8619.44 Diggs,8619.76 Vice8621.2 Chairs8621.44 and8621.84 esteemed8621.92 members8622.24 of8622.56 the8622.64 joint8622.85 committee8623.1 on8623.5 ways8623.74 and8623.98 means,8624.14 including8624.85 Senator8625.5 O'Connor,8626.06 Representative8627.1 Sabadosa8627.74 and8628.38 Representative8628.61 Marcy8629.9 who8630.38 also8630.53 serve8630.85 on8631.26 the8631.5 permanent8631.74 commission8632.22 on8632.94 the8633.1 status8633.26 of8633.66 persons8633.82 with8634.22 disabilities.8634.38 My8636.03 name8636.19 is8636.43 Iman8636.67 Buzian8636.99 Sayedee8637.47 and8637.87 I8638.03 serve8638.19 as8638.51 the8638.67 Executive8638.83 Director8639.31 of8639.63 the8639.79 Commission,8639.95 an8641.39 independent8641.55 state8642.19 agency8642.43 created8642.91 by8643.23 statute8643.39 under8644.03 Massachusetts8644.59 General8645.39 Law8645.79 Chapter8646.19 38646.67 Section8646.99 74.8647.47 I'm8648.82 here8649.06 today8649.3 with8649.77 doctor8650.33 Chris8650.66 White,8650.98 vice8651.38 chair8651.61 of8651.85 the8652.02 commission8652.1 and8652.5 CEO8652.74 of8653.22 Road8653.38 to8653.61 Responsibility.8653.77 We8655.85 appreciate8656.1 the8656.66 opportunity8656.74 to8657.3 provide8657.45 us8658.17 the8658.9 opportunity8659.14 to8659.85 testify8660.02 today8660.66 on8661.3 the8661.38 governor8661.53 fiscal8662.02 year8662.33 268662.66 budget8663.82 proposal8664.06 and8664.62 the8664.86 continued8665.02 role8665.42 of8665.74 the8665.9 Commission8666.06 in8666.62 protecting,8666.78 preserving8667.82 and8668.22 promoting8668.46 the8668.94 quality8669.1 of8669.74 life8669.98 choices8670.22 for8671.18 people8671.42 with8671.66 disabilities.8671.98 We8673.74 strongly8673.9 support8674.38 the8674.86 Governor's8675.02 FY8675.58 268675.9 budget8676.46 proposal8676.86 to8677.58 include8677.74 $150,0008678.58 18680.17 hundred8680.33 and8680.58 508680.74 thousand8680.98 dollars8681.45 in8681.69 line8681.85 item8682.09 88682.82 hundred-three8683.06
8685.61 to8685.61 support8685.77 the8686.17 Commission's8686.33 administration.8686.98 These8688.42 funds8688.74 are8689.14 critical8689.38 to8690.33 produce8690.58 data8691.06 informed8691.38 reports8691.77 and8692.17 recommendations8692.33 that8693.22 help8693.45 us8693.69 guide8693.85 policy8694.51 making8694.75 and8695.31 resource8695.55 allocations,8696.11 maintaining8697.31 our8697.87 subcommittees8698.11 on8698.83 disability8698.99 employment,8699.63 workforce8700.59 supports,8701.15 and8701.87 long8702.11 term8702.27 services8702.59 and8703.07 supports8703.31 and8703.55 health8703.79 equity.8704.03
8708.95 We8708.95 also8709.19 ask8710.08 for8710.4 your8710.56 support8710.72 for8711.19 line8711.43 item8711.67 158712.48 998712.95 dash8713.67 128714.4 118714.8 with8716.56 the8716.8 amount8716.88 of8717.27 $200,000,8717.51 which8719.75 is8720 shared8720.23 across8720.56 48720.95 permanent8721.19 commissions8721.67 including8722.16 ours,8722.72 as8723.44 well8723.68 as8723.76 the8723.92 commission8724.08 on8724.48 the8724.64 status8724.72 of8725.12 African8725.36 Americans,8725.76 the8726.72 commission8726.88 on8727.28 the8727.52 status8727.6 of8727.84 Latinos8728.16 and8728.72 Latinas,8728.96 and8729.76 the8730 commission8730.08 on8730.48 the8730.64 status8730.72 of8731.04 black8731.28 men8731.52 and8731.68 boys.8731.84 With8732.88 this8733.12 funding,8733.36 the8733.92 commissions8734.16 can8734.72 maintain8735.04 the8735.44 operational8735.6 capacities8736.24 needed8737.27 to8737.43 focus8737.67 on8738.07 systemic8738.23 changes8738.7 and8739.02 expand8739.19 access8739.58 to8739.91 opportunity8740.15 throughout8740.94 the8741.27 Commonwealth.8741.5 So8743.19 who8743.43 we8743.58 are8743.75 and8743.91 what8744.07 we8744.23 do.8744.39 The8745.5 commission8745.75 is8746.15 mandated8746.31 to8746.86 study,8747.02 support,8747.67 report,8749.02 and8749.35 advise8749.5 on8750.07 matters8750.23 that8750.63 impact8750.86 the8751.35 lives8751.43 of8751.59 people8751.67 with8752.07 disability8752.23 in8752.71 the8753.27 Commonwealth.8753.43 We8755.59 have,8755.91 to8756.63 carry8756.79 out8757.11 this8757.27 work,8757.59 we8757.99 have8758.15 38758.87 subcommittees,8759.27 which8760.15 are8760.39 disability8760.63 employment,8761.27 workforce8761.83 supports,8762.39 and,8762.79 again,8762.95 long8763.67 term8763.91 services8764.15 and8764.63 supports8764.79 and8765.11 health8765.27 equity.8765.51 In8767.38 your8767.45 reports8767.77 in8768.17 front8768.25 of8768.49 you,8768.57 you8768.9 can8769.06 see8769.3 our8769.53 fiscal8769.77 year8770.17 258770.42 impact8770.98 and8771.3 our8771.45 fiscal8771.69 year8772.01 268772.25 priorities.8772.98 The8774.17 following8774.33 major,8774.81 areas8775.85 of8776.25 focus8776.42 for8776.81 '258777.22 will8778.09 shape8778.33 our8778.65 f8778.81 y8778.98 268779.22 strategy.8779.77 Number8781.26 18781.58 is8781.66 the8781.98 benefit8782.14 cliff8782.54 and8782.94 employment,8783.1 dissensitatives.8785.5 Sorry.8786.62 I'm8787.34 a8787.5 little8787.58 nervous.8787.9 With8789.34 the8789.58 leadership8789.82 of8790.3 secretary8790.54 Lauren8791.1 Jones8791.42 and8791.66 the8791.82 undersecretary8791.98 Josh8792.94 Cutler8793.18 at8793.66 the8793.82 executive8793.98 office8794.46 and8794.78 of8795.1 labor8795.26 and8795.58 workforce8795.74 development,8796.22 we8797.07 partnered8797.31 with8797.7 the8797.86 department8798.02 of8798.42 economic8798.83 research8799.39 to8800.34 examine8800.58 how8800.99 benefit8801.15 cliffs8801.55 impact8801.86 the8802.27 economic8802.42 mobility8802.99 of8803.39 people8803.55 with8803.78 disabilities.8804.02 Building8805.15 on8805.55 this8805.7 analysis,8805.86 we8806.34 brought8806.58 together8806.83 key8807.23 partners8807.47 including8807.86 the8808.34 executive8808.5 office8808.91 of8809.23 labor8809.39 and8809.63 workforce8809.78 development,8810.19 Massability,8811.15 and8812.19 Commonwealth8812.35 core8813.39 as8813.79 other8814.03 workforce8814.59 stakeholders8815.15 to8815.79 explore8815.95 coordinated8816.43 solutions8817.07 to8817.87 improve8818.11 benefit8818.51 counselling,8818.91 transitional8819.71 supports,8820.43 and8820.83 more8820.99 flexible8821.23 inclusive8821.71 employment8822.19 structures.8822.67
8827.16 Our8827.16 second8827.31 focus8827.72 of8828.35 area8828.59 is8829 advancing8829.23 Massachusetts8829.72 as8830.35 a8830.43 model8830.59 employer.8830.92 Pursuing8831.56 to8832.03 our8832.19 statutory8832.43 duty8832.92 to8833.31 examine8833.48 the8833.88 status8833.95 of8834.27 Commonwealth8834.43 model8834.92 employer8835.23 plan,8835.64 we8836.11 partnered8836.35 again8836.83 with8837.16 DER,8837.4 to8838.51 review8838.67 executive8839 branch8839.4 employment8839.72 data.8840.19 And8840.91 that8841.15 revealed8841.39 that8841.79 while8842.03 long8842.35 term8842.59 employees8842.91 with8843.23 disabilities8843.39 are8844.03 retained,8844.19 there8844.75 is8844.99 a8845.15 need8845.23 to8845.39 improve8845.55 recruitment8845.95 pipelines8846.43 promoting8846.91 representation8847.47 across8848.59 Secretariat8848.99 and8849.71 open8849.95 the8850.11 doors8850.27 for8850.59 early8850.83 career8851.07 disabled8851.55 workers.8852.03 So8852.92 in8853.17 f8853.32 y8853.56 26,8853.73 we8854.2 will8854.36 continue8854.6 to8855 track8855.08 trends8855.4 and8855.73 support8855.89 the8856.2 adoption8856.36 of8856.76 best8856.92 practices8857.17 across8857.73 the8858.05 agencies.8858.28 A8859.73 full8859.97 copy8860.2 of8860.52 these8860.68 reports8860.92 have8861.4 been8861.56 included8861.73 in8862.2 your8862.36 packets8862.6 that8863 were8863.08 sent,8863.32 via8863.89 email,8864.2 and8864.84 we8865 also8865.16 have8865.56 these8865.72 reports8865.88 on8866.28 our8866.44 commission's8866.68 website.8867.16 Our8868.92 third8869.08 pillar8869.4 is8870.12 disability8870.6 employment8871.16 and8871.56 workforce8871.8 supports8872.28 subcommittee8872.92 works.8873.96 And8874.36 this8874.68 spring,8875 these8875.4 28875.64 subcommittees8875.88 will8876.44 cohost8876.68 a8877.08 statewide8877.24 event8877.72 focused8878.49 on8878.73 youth8878.97 and8879.36 young8879.52 adults8879.84 with8880.08 disabilities8880.41 and8881.28 inclusive8881.52 employment8882.08 pathways8882.57 built8883.44 around8883.69 the8883.92 theme8884.17 theme8884.49 of8884.81 elevating8885.05 youth8885.6 voices,8885.84 disability8886.57 employment,8887.2 and8887.6 inclusive8887.84 workforce.8888.33 We8889.28 are8889.44 partnering8889.6 with8890 the8890.25 Massachusetts8890.41 Inclusive8891.05 Concurrent8891.52 Enrollment8892 Initiatives,8892.65 folks8894.45 so8894.69 that8894.85 we8895.01 are8895.25 able8895.49 to8895.81 target8895.97 rural8896.61 geographic8897.09 areas8897.65 as8898.05 well8898.21 as8898.45 urban.8898.61 Our8900.61 third8900.93 and8901.17 fourth8901.33 pillar8901.65 are8902.37 related8902.93 to8903.33 promoting8903.57 inclusive8904.29 workplaces.8904.77 By8906.01 way8906.25 of8906.33 doing8906.42 that,8906.65 the8906.9 commission8907.14 focused8907.45 on8907.85 a8908.09 national8908.17 disability8908.73 employment8909.3 month8909.85 every8910.49 October,8910.81 and8911.22 you're8911.38 all8911.61 welcome8911.85 to8912.09 join8912.25 us.8912.57 And8913.3 we,8913.53 use8914.33 that8914.57 time8914.81 to8915.06 celebrate,8915.22 nearly8916.49 2008916.9 stakeholder8917.45 to8918.36 uplift8918.44 and8919.08 advance8919.24 employer8919.8 inclusive8920.68 practices.8921.24 In8922.52 f8922.76 y8922.92 26,8923.16 we8923.64 will8923.8 continue8923.96 promoting8924.44 this8925 guide8925.24 that8925.64 is8925.8 on8925.96 our8926.12 website8926.28 and8927.32 convene8927.56 small8927.96 to8928.2 midsize8928.36 businesses8928.84 formed8929.4 in8929.64 partnership8929.88 with8930.28 Disability8930.52 Inn.8931.16 Fourth,8932.48 following8933.03 the8933.43 commission8933.59 wide8934 consensus8934.32 in8935.03 late8935.27 208935.59 24,8935.83 we8936.4 designated8936.64 health8937.35 equity8937.67 and8938.08 community8938.32 living8938.8 as8939.59 our8939.75 second8939.92 pillar.8940.32 We8940.95 are8941.11 now8941.27 integrating8941.59 into8942.4 our8942.88 long8943.11 term8943.27 services8943.59 and8944 support8944.16 and8944.48 health8944.64 equity,8944.88 which8945.64 has8945.88 several8946.12 focus8946.68 key8947.08 areas8947.4 on8947.96 our8948.2 report.8948.36 This8949.64 spring,8949.88 again,8950.28 we8950.6 are8950.76 very8950.92 busy,8951.16 the8951.72 subcommittee8951.88 will8952.44 host8952.6 an8952.92 informational8953.08 hearing8953.64 on8953.96 health8954.12 equity8954.36 with8954.76 participation8955 from8955.64 health8955.88 equity8956.2 experts,8956.68 providers,8957.4 disabled8958.52 individuals,8959.08 and8959.56 state8959.8 health8960.04 officials.8960.36 This8961.27 hearing8961.51 offers8961.75 a8962.55 critical8962.78 opportunity8963.19 to8963.67 confront8963.91 long8964.39 standing8964.63 disparities8965.02 and8965.83 hear8965.99 directly8966.31 from8966.63 subject8966.86 matter8967.19 experts8967.59 and8967.91 folks8968.07 with8968.31 lived,8968.55 experience.8969.27 Lastly,8970.86 we8971.51 are8971.67 looking8971.83 to8972.07 expand8972.23 subcommittee8972.63 memberships8973.27 by8973.91 way8974.07 of8974.31 creating8974.47 an8974.78 ad8974.94 hoc8975.19 policy8975.51 for8975.99 commission8976.15 members.8976.55 We8977.96 would8978.04 invite8978.28 non8978.76 commissioners8979 as8979.64 ad8979.88 hoc8980.12 members,8980.28 including8980.76 individuals8981.16 with8981.64 lived8981.8 experience8982.12 and8982.68 specific8982.92 expertise.8983.48 This8984.6 policy8984.84 will8985.24 allow8985.4 us8985.64 to8985.8 invite8985.96 to8986.36 invite8986.52 and8986.84 elevate8987.08 new8987.64 voices,8988.36 within8989.58 key8990.06 working8990.39 groups,8990.7 including8991.1 our8991.67 LTSS8991.9 disability8992.63 employment8993.26 and8993.74 workforce8993.9 subcommittee8994.31 supports.8994.94 Thank8996.31 you8996.55 for8996.7 your8996.86 time,8997.02 and8997.18 I8997.34 welcome8997.5 all8997.82 of8997.98 your8998.06 questions.8998.31
9000.47 SPEAKER19000.47 -9000.47 Thank9000.47 you.9000.7 Any9002.06 questions?9002.39
9006.71 All9006.71 set.9006.95 Thank9007.11 you.9007.27
9007.59 SPEAKER559007.59 -9007.59 Thank9007.59 you9007.75 so9007.91 much.9007.99
9018.77 SPEAKER19018.77 -9018.77 Kate9018.77 Adams.9019.09
9032.17 SPEAKER569032.17 -9032.17 Good9032.17 afternoon,9032.41 Chair9032.97 Paiano,9033.29 Chair9033.93 Diggs,9034.25 and9034.73 distinguished9035.05 members9035.61 of9036.17 the9036.41 committee.9036.57 My9037.53 name9037.69 is9037.85 Kate9038.01 Adams.9038.33 I'm9038.81 the9038.97 senior9039.21 public9039.53 policy9039.93 manager9040.41 at9040.89 the9041.13 Greater9041.21 Boston9041.53 Food9042.01 Bank.9042.33 I'm9043.37 here9043.69 on9044.09 behalf9044.33 of9044.97 the9045.13 6009045.28 community9046.56 food9047.05 providers9047.28 we9047.76 serve9048 all9048.32 across9048.56 Eastern9048.97 Massachusetts,9049.36 as9050.25 well9050.4 as9050.65 the9050.89 other9051.44 39051.68 food9052 banks9052.32 in9052.73 the9052.89 state.9053.05 We9054.97 respectfully9055.28 urge9055.92 your9056.25 support9056.48 for9057.05 55,500,0009057.52 investment9059.79 in9060.75 the9060.91 Massachusetts9061.23 Emergency9061.95 Food9062.59 Assistance9062.83 Program,9063.55 otherwise9064.19 known9064.59 as9064.83 NEFAF.9064.99 That's9066.11 line9066.59 item9066.83 D9067.31 a9067.55 R25110105.9067.79 From9073.07 20209073.39 to9074.03 2023,9074.19 food9075.94 pantry9076.26 use9076.75 rose9077.06 80%9077.78 across9078.83 the9079.31 state.9079.47 80%.9080.26 Now9081.7 we're9081.94 facing9082.26 a9082.83 $3,500,0009083.06 loss9084.75 in9085.06 federal9085.39 funding9085.94 for9086.58 the9086.98 food9087.15 banks,9087.47 to9088.67 purchase9088.83 food,9089.23 as9089.86 well9090.1 as9090.34 potential9091.02 cuts9091.42 to9091.74 other9091.98 federal9092.3 nutrition9092.7 programs9093.26 that9094.06 would9094.3 create9094.62 unprecedented9095.18 strain9095.9 upon9096.7 our9096.94 network.9097.1
9099.66 MEFAP9099.66 is9100.14 a9100.38 309100.54 year9100.94 old9101.1 proven9101.58 and9102.14 essential9102.38 safety9102.94 net,9103.34 currently9103.92 funding9104.24 309104.95 of9105.59 all9105.75 the9106 food9106.08 distributed9106.4 by9107.35 our9107.83 coalition.9108.16 Unlike9109.67 many9110.08 other9110.31 federal9110.64 programs,9111.03 MIFAP9112 ensures9112.48 that9112.95 all9113.27 residents,9113.59 regardless9114.31 of9114.8 immigration9114.95 status,9115.51 age,9116.49 background,9117.21 can9117.93 access9118.17 nutritious9118.57 food9119.13 with9119.37 dignity.9119.53 That's9120.65 elders,9121.13 veterans,9121.85 children,9122.89 working9123.61 families.9124.01 Mefap9125.29 also9125.77 strengthens9126.17 our9126.81 economy.9127.05 Last9128.48 year,9128.72 over9129.11 half9129.44 of9129.6 the9129.75 MIFAP9130 funds9130.56 supported9130.95 Massachusetts9131.6 based9132.48 farmers,9132.95 fishermen,9133.92 food9134.72 producers,9135.03 feeding9136.24 people9136.64 while9137.11 supporting9137.44 local9138.16 jobs9138.48 and9138.8 local9138.95 businesses.9139.27 In9141.27 the9141.52 past9141.68 39141.92 years,9142.16 we've9142.48 tripled9142.72 the9143.19 amount9143.27 of9143.67 fresh9143.91 produce9144.15 distributed9144.63 through9145.43 Mefap.9145.59 We're9146.47 committed9146.71 to9147.03 providing9147.83 healthy,9148.15 nourishing9148.71 food9149.27 to9149.67 those9149.75 in9149.99 need.9150.15 We9151.51 have9151.67 an9151.91 opportunity9152.07 to9152.71 protect9152.87 our9153.35 most9153.51 vulnerable9153.83 neighbors,9154.31 boost9155.03 our9155.27 economy,9155.51 and9156.07 invest9156.23 in9156.63 a9156.79 program9156.95 that9157.43 works.9157.59 On9158.3 behalf9158.45 of9158.77 the9158.93 Greater9159.01 Boston9159.33 Food9159.73 Bank,9159.9 the9160.22 Food9160.38 Bank9160.61 Coalition9160.85 of9161.5 Massachusetts,9161.65 and9163.57 the9163.73 constituents9163.98 that9164.61 we9164.77 serve9164.93 in9165.25 every9165.57 single9165.81 city9166.22 and9166.45 town9166.61 in9166.93 Massachusetts,9167.17 I9168.14 urge9168.3 your9168.53 full9168.77 support9169.01 for9169.42 the9169.57 55,500,0009169.73 NEFAP9172.14 request.9172.61 And9173.01 I9173.25 I9173.42 share9173.9 my9174.06 deep9174.22 gratitude9174.46 with9174.94 the9175.1 legislature9175.34 for9175.9 your,9176.06 continued9177.02 support9177.58 of9177.82 food9177.98 security9178.3 and9178.94 this9179.1 program9179.34 for9180.06 Massachusetts.9180.3 Thank9181.1 you.9181.34
9182.62 SPEAKER19182.62 -9182.62 Thank9182.62 you.9182.86 You9184.14 know,9184.3 my9184.54 my9185.18 wife,9185.5 works9187.1 for9187.34 elder9187.5 services9187.9 and,9188.38 down9189.66 the9189.9 cape,9190.06 we9190.3 do9190.38 a9190.61 lot9190.69 of9192.85 meals9193.02 on9193.34 wheels,9193.58 and9194.69 that's9194.94 so,9195.26 so9195.5 important.9195.74 So9196.3 we9197.5 know9197.66 that9197.9 we9198.22 need9198.38 to9198.61 take9198.69 care9198.94 of9199.1 our9199.26 elders,9199.42 our9199.9 youth,9200.06 whoever9201.12 needs9201.36 help.9201.76 So,9202.08 thank9203.68 you.9203.84 You9204.16 have9204.24 any9204.4 questions?9204.56
9206.16 SPEAKER39206.16 -9206.16 Vice9206.16 chair9206.48 Commerford.9206.72
9208.48 SPEAKER69208.48 -9208.48 Thank9208.48 you9208.72 so9208.88 much,9209.04 mister9209.28 chair.9209.6 Thank9209.92 you9210.08 for9210.32 your9210.48 testimony9210.72 and9211.28 the9211.44 work9211.52 of,9211.76 of9212.16 course,9212.32 the9212.56 Greater9212.72 Food9213.04 Greater9213.6 Boston9213.92 Food9214.24 Bank,9214.4 but9214.64 all9214.8 the9214.96 food9215.04 banks9215.2 across9215.58 the9215.91 Commonwealth.9215.99 The9217.5 the9217.99 the9218.23 number,9218.47 55,000,000,9218.86 will9220.39 that9220.63 account9220.94 for9221.26 the9221.5 TFAP9221.75 cut9222.31 from9222.63 the9222.86 federal9222.94 government?9223.42 So9224.63 our9225.02 data9225.26 team9225.58 landed9225.83 upon9226.23 that9226.55 number9226.7 just9227.18 based9227.42
9227.75 SPEAKER569227.75 -9227.75 on9227.75 the9227.83 increase9228.19 in9228.51 food9228.75 insecurity9228.99 we9229.63 saw9229.87 in9230.19 the9230.35 past9230.43 39230.75 years.9230.99 We9232.11 landed9232.59 on9232.99 that9233.15 number9233.23 even9233.63 before9233.87 we9234.35 knew9234.59 of9234.83 these9234.99 federal9235.31 food9235.71 cuts.9235.95 So9236.27 to9237.39
9237.55 SPEAKER69237.55 -9237.55 to9237.55 be9237.71 Now9237.95 that9238.19 you've9238.35 now9238.99 that9239.23 we're9239.39 receiving9239.79 the9240.19 blows9240.35 from9240.99 the9241.15 federal9241.31 government,9241.71 you9242.26 know,9242.42 blow9242.67 after9242.75 blow,9243.23 including9243.63 the9244.02 local9244.18 farm9244.5 to9244.75 school,9244.9 funding9246.18 and9246.58 also9246.9 some9247.31 local9247.7 farm9248.67 to9248.9 the9249.06 food9249.23 bank9249.47 funding9249.78 right9250.18 through9250.42 federal9250.67 grants9251.06 different9251.47 from9251.78 TFAP,9252.1 different9252.67 from,9252.98 of9253.55 course,9253.7 the9253.94 state's9254.1 MFAP.9254.58 Does9256.4 559256.56 still9257.28 seem9257.68 like9258 a9258.24 reasonable9258.32 number?9258.96
9260.16 SPEAKER569260.16 -9260.16 So9260.16 to9260.48 be9260.72 honest,9260.88 55.59261.28 won't9262.48 won't9262.96 solve9265.44 the9265.92 problem.9266.08 We9267.04 could9267.28 use9267.44 a9267.76 hundred9267.84 million9268.16 dollars9268.56 to9269.04 really9269.28 fill9269.75 the9269.99 gap.9270.23 We9270.47 recognize9270.78 that9271.19 there9271.34 are9271.58 several,9271.75 requests9272.94 from9273.5 other9273.91 food9274.23 security9274.47 organizations.9275.02 559276.47 is9277.02 is9277.26 a9277.99 significant9278.47 increase9279.1 from9279.5 last9279.75 year9279.99 and,9280.31 that's9280.94 about9281.34 10.9281.67 Right?9281.99
9282.47 SPEAKER69282.47 -9282.47 What's9282.47 that?9282.63 109283.1 north9283.34 of9283.67 last9283.91 year.9284.15
9284.78 SPEAKER439284.78 -9284.78 Yeah.9284.78
9285.8 SPEAKER69285.8 -9285.8 Yeah.9285.8 But9286.44 it9286.68 does9286.84 I9287.24 think9287.32 it's9287.48 just9287.72 important9287.96 for9288.36 us9288.44 to9288.68 understand9288.84 it9289.24 does9289.48 not9289.88 It9290.52 does9290.6 not.9290.76 Fill9291 the9291.64 federal9291.88 gap.9292.6 Yes.9293.16 And9294.04 it9294.28 and9294.68 when9294.92 you9295.08 add9295.24 the9295.56 local9295.64 farm9296.04 to9296.28 school,9296.44 that9296.76 gap9297 gets9297.24 even9297.48 bigger.9297.72 I9298.04 just9298.28 think9298.44 it's9299.23 important9299.47 for9299.94 us9300.1 to9300.35 understand9300.42 that9300.83 even9301.07 10,000,0009301.23 seems9301.94 like9302.1 a9302.35 lot.9302.42 However,9304.02 it9304.42 is9304.67 not9304.91 sufficient.9305.31 It9306.19 wasn't9306.35 sufficient9306.67 before9307.15 the9307.86 federal9308.02 cuts.9308.5 And9308.99 now9309.15 that9309.39 the9309.55 federal9309.7 government9310.02 is9310.42 rolling9310.58 back9310.91 food9311.15 security9311.47 support9311.94 in9312.27 the9312.42 form9312.5 of9312.75 TFAP9313.53 and9313.61 other9313.93 grants,9314.17 it9314.73 is9314.97 woefully9315.21 insufficient.9315.93
9316.57 SPEAKER569316.57 -9316.57 Yes.9316.57 Thank9317.05 you9317.29 for9317.45 raising9317.61 that,9317.85 chair9318.09 Comerford.9318.33 As9318.89 a9319.05 former9319.13 food9319.53 banker,9319.69 you9320.09 understand.9320.33 So9320.97 I9321.13 thank9321.21 you.9321.45
9321.85 SPEAKER69321.85 -9321.85 I9321.85 love9322.01 MeFAP.9322.33 I9322.81 think9322.89 it's9323.05 a9323.21 really9323.37 important9323.61 program,9324.01 and9324.33 I9324.57 appreciate9324.73 the9325.13 commitment9325.29 to9325.69 local9325.85 farmers9326.17 as9326.65 part9326.73 of9326.97 it.9327.05 Yes.9327.21 Thank9327.37 you9327.53 very9327.69 much.9327.93
9329.33 SPEAKER39329.33 -9329.33 I9329.33 just9329.5 wanna9329.74 concur9329.98 on9330.3 the9330.45 the9330.69 vice9330.77 chair's9331.09 statement.9331.5 I9332.38 wanna9332.45 thank9332.69 you9332.85 for9333.01 your9333.17 your9333.42 your9333.74 testimony.9333.9 I9335.09 I9335.33 think,9335.5 you9335.98 know,9336.14 it's9336.3 it's9336.45 19336.53 of9336.69 these9336.77 things9337.01 where9337.25 a9337.58 lot9337.66 of9337.82 individuals9337.98 don't9338.61 understand9338.85 the9339.5 amount9339.66 of9339.9 food9339.98 insecurity9340.3 that9340.94 that9341.09 exists,9341.33 in9342.3 our9342.45 region,9342.69 that9343.88 it's9344.28 people9344.68 that9344.92 are9345.16 working9345.24 and9346.28 they9346.6 can't9346.84 meet,9347.08 enough.9347.96 There's9348.68 a9348.92 lot9349 of9349.24 individuals9349.32 that9349.8 I9350.04 come9350.12 into9350.28 contact9350.52 with9350.92 that,9351.72 just9352.84 need9353.24 something9353.64 extra.9354.12 And,9355.08 you9355.84 know,9356 sometimes9356.33 they're9357.52 a9358.08 little9358.25 embarrassed9359.13 at9360.17 the9360.33 fact9360.48 that9360.81 they9361.05 need9361.28 something9361.6 more.9361.92 And9362.17 I9362.33 think9362.4 that,9362.65 thanks,9363.36 to9364.4 the9364.73 Greater9364.89 Boston9365.2 Food9365.6 Bank9365.84 and9366.08 the9366.25 other9366.33 food9366.56 banks9366.81 across,9367.13 the9368.18 the9368.66 Commonwealth,9368.9 smaller9369.94 organizations9370.42 that9371.22 are9371.38 more,9371.62 you9372.82 know,9373.14 tied9373.7 to,9374.26 at9375.22 least9375.38 the9375.54 communities9375.7 that9376.18 I9376.42 represent,9376.5 have9377.54 been9377.7 able9377.94 to9378.34 partner9378.82 and9379.78 basically9380.5 deliver9381.06 services9381.62 and9382.42 make9382.82 sure9382.98 that9383.72 not9383.88 just9384.03 the9384.19 elderly,9384.35 but9385.64 that9386.75 even9386.92 able-bodied9387.4 individuals9388.03 that9388.59 are9388.83 are9389.08 working,9389.31 99390.19 to9390.51 fives9390.67 and9391.08 are9391.23 are9391.56 not,9391.64 making9392.59 do9393 and,9393.23 you9394.35 know,9394.51 perhaps9394.92 could9395.56 be,9395.72 on9396.44 food9396.76 stamps,9397 but9397.32 food9397.56 stamps9397.88 the9398.2 most9398.36 that9398.68 you9398.76 can9398.84 get9399 on9399.16 food9399.32 stamps9399.56 is9399.96 a9400.2 little9400.36 over9400.6 $2509400.92 per9402.28 individual,9402.52 which9403.32 amounts9403.64 to9404.04 less9404.2 than9404.36 $109404.6 a9405.08 day.9405.24 So,9406.2 you9407.24 know,9407.4 essentially9407.64 helps9408.12 feed9409.05 those9409.2 individuals.9409.52 So9409.92 thank9410.08 you9410.32 so9410.48 much9410.65 for,9410.89 coming9411.68 here9412 and,9412.4 speaking9413.2 to9413.6 that9413.76 and9414 speaking9414.16 to,9414.56 the9415.36 the9415.52 the9415.76 working9415.92 families9416.24 that9416.73 we9416.97 have9417.13 in9417.28 in9417.44 Massachusetts.9417.68
9418.89 SPEAKER569418.89 -9418.89 Thank9418.89 you9419.13 so9419.28 much,9419.44 chair9419.68 Payano.9419.92 You9420.32 have9420.48 such9420.65 incredible9420.97 community9421.87 food9422.19 providers9422.43 in9422.75 your9422.99 district9423.15 and9423.55 and9423.87 around9424.19 the9424.51 room.9424.67 So9424.91 thank9425.07 you9425.23 for9425.39 your9425.55 understanding9425.71 and9426.11 attention9426.27
9426.75 SPEAKER369426.75 -9426.75 to9426.75 the9426.83 issue.9426.91
9429.23 SPEAKER19429.23 -9429.23 Steve9429.23 Lewoods?9429.63 Oh.9431.07
9433.79 I'm9433.79 sorry.9433.95
9437.15 SPEAKER109437.15 -9437.15 That's9437.15 fine.9437.47 I9437.7 I9437.78 sorry,9438.1 Kate.9438.83 I9438.99 just9439.07 wanna9439.23 acknowledge9439.55 all9440.02 the9440.27 great9440.43 work9440.75 you9440.91 do9441.07 with9441.15 the9441.31 Greater9441.39 Boston9441.7 Food9442.02 Bank,9442.27 and9442.43 it's9442.67 in9442.83 my9442.99 district.9443.15 And9444.02 I9444.19 just9444.27 wanna9444.5 also9444.75 acknowledge9444.99 the9445.47 efficiency9445.7 of9446.35 the9446.5 operations.9446.67 So9447.23 you're9447.47 just9447.63 you're9447.94 doing9448.27 a9448.5 lot9448.58 with9448.83 the9449.5 monies9449.74 that9450.06 you9450.22 are9450.38 getting.9450.62 It's9450.86 not9451.02 like9451.26 you're9451.42 throwing9451.66 it9451.9 away.9452.06 I9452.46 just9452.62 want9452.86 19453.18 specific9453.42 question.9453.82 That9454.22 is9454.38 just9454.62 to9454.86 give9454.94 people9455.1 an9455.34 idea9455.42 and9455.74 kind9455.78 of9455.82 what,9456.54 Senator9456.94 Priyana9457.34 was9457.74 saying,9457.9 there9458.06 are9458.22 a9458.3 lot9458.38 of9458.54 people9458.62 that9458.86 are9458.94 food9459.1 insecure9459.34 even9459.66 though9459.9 they9459.98 may9460.14 be9460.3 working9460.38 full9460.7 time.9460.86 Do9461.26 you9461.34 have9461.42 a9461.66 number9461.74 of9462.06 Massachusetts9462.3 residents9463.02 that9463.5 may9463.66 benefit9463.98 that9464.38 just9464.83 the9465.07 count,9465.15 the9465.7 number9465.86 of9466.26 individual9466.58 or9466.99 clients9467.15 that9467.55 would9467.78 benefit9467.94 on9468.26 a9468.42 daily9468.58 basis9468.83 from9469.15 food9469.39 banks?9469.55
9470.19 SPEAKER569470.19 -9470.19 Yes.9470.19 So9470.42 we9470.58 measure9470.75 it9471.07 on9471.15 a9471.31 monthly9471.39 basis9471.78 how9472.19 many9472.34 individuals9472.58 are9473.07 coming9473.23 to9473.47 our9473.63 network9473.86 of9474.19 6009474.58 community9475.23 food9475.7 providers.9475.94 And9476.95 that9477.27 number9477.43 is9478.47 600,0009478.95 coming9480.47 to9480.79 our9481.91 our9482.07 food9482.39 pantries9482.71 every9483.35 month.9483.67 That9484.79 is9485.03 the9485.51 same9485.67 as9485.99 it's9486.15 been9486.39 since9486.63 the9486.87 peak9487.03 of9487.19 the9487.35 pandemic.9487.51 It9488.07 really9488.15 has9488.39 not9488.63 slowed9488.79 down.9489.03 Across9489.73 the9490.05 state,9490.13 it's9490.36 around9490.68 850,0009491 every9493.48 month.9493.73 Thank9495.48 you.9495.73
9499.08 SPEAKER19499.08 -9499.08 Steve.9499.08
9502.71 SPEAKER39502.71 -9502.71 And9502.71 then9502.87 up9503.11 next9503.35 after9503.75 is9504.23 Tom9504.39 Pinto.9504.63
9509.59 SPEAKER579509.59 -9509.59 Thank9509.59 you9509.83 to9509.99 the9510.15 chairs,9510.23 especially9510.55 my9510.95 friend9511.11 chair9511.35 Diggs,9511.59 members9512.15 of9512.47 the9512.63 committee.9512.79 My9513.11 name9513.27 is9513.43 Steve9513.51 Liebowitz.9513.75 I'm9514.23 a9514.39 member9514.47 of9514.71 the9514.79 Brewster9514.87 School9515.27 Committee.9515.51 And,9516.55 timing9517.27 is9517.67 exquisite.9517.91 I9518.55 am9519.1 involved9519.27 in9519.67 a9519.83 lot9519.91 of9520.07 food9520.15 policy9520.39 areas9520.78 also.9521.35 I'm9522.47 going9522.63 to9522.86 try9522.94 and9523.19 boat9523.43 race9523.58 through9523.91 about9524.15 49524.63 different9524.94 items,9525.27 and9526.23 provide9526.39 additional,9526.78 written9527.58 testimony,9527.91 on9529.27 these.9529.5 The9530.07 first9530.23 is9530.39 school9530.63 meals9530.86 for9531.19 all.9531.35 It9531.58 it9531.96 was9532.04 great9532.2 to9532.44 see9532.64 that9532.84 in,9533 House9534.44 19534.68 that9535 the9535.24 governor9535.4 is9535.72 continuing9535.88 support9536.44 for9536.84 this.9536.92 19538.84 in9539.16 39539.4 students9539.8 in9540.44 Massachusetts9540.76 face9541.56 food9541.8 security.9542.04 What9543.4 we've9543.64 been9543.88 able9544.04 to9544.28 do9544.44 in9544.6 terms9544.76 of9545 feeding9545.24 over9545.72 100,0009545.96 more9546.76 students9547 in9548.17 Massachusetts9548.33 is9549.22 admirable.9549.61 I9551.14 asked9551.3 the9551.45 committee9551.69 to9552.09 take9552.33 a9552.73 good9552.98 look9553.22 at9553.38 that9553.53 number9553.69 as9554.09 to9554.33 what9554.81 we9555.14 need9555.3 to9555.45 do9555.53 in9555.69 order9555.85 to,9556.17 continue9557.45 this9558.01 progress.9558.25 And9559.38 we9559.61 also9559.85 can't9560.17 disassociate9560.49 food9561.3 policy9561.53 from9562.17 public9563.26 health9563.58 policy9563.82 also.9564.3 A9565.18 study9565.26 from9565.5 Tufts9565.74 University9565.98 indicated9567.1 that,9567.66 residents9568.86 of9569.26 Massachusetts9569.5 save9570.06 about9570.38 $152,000,0009570.62 a9572.46 year9572.54 in9572.78 health9573.1 costs,9573.34 just9574.54 because9574.78 of9575.1 school9575.26 meals9575.58 for9575.9 all.9576.06 The9577.75 second9577.92 area9578.23 I9578.56 want9578.64 to9578.88 talk9578.95 about9579.11 is,9579.27 Massachusetts9579.83 Fresh9580.56 Grants.9580.88 That9582.15 started9582.4 under9582.72 ARPA9583.03 money.9583.35 The9583.92 legislature9584.15 has9584.72 been9584.88 kind9585.03 enough9585.27 to9585.51 continue9585.75 that.9586.31 And9586.8 what9586.95 that's9587.11 done9587.43 is,9587.92 enabled9589.19 students9589.67 to9590.23 not9590.64 only9590.8 have9591.03 access9591.27 to9591.83 more9592.07 local9592.31 food,9592.71 but9593.27 get9593.43 some9593.59 really9593.83 hands9594.07 on9594.31 experiential9594.63 work9595.19 with9595.51 both9595.67 agriculture9595.99 and9596.87 aquaculture,9597.35 throughout9598.79 the9599.19 commonwealth.9599.27 There's9600.31 an9600.55 ask9600.71 for9601.11 level9601.83 funding,9602.15 $750,0009602.55 for9604.79 that.9605.03 Just9606.24 this9606.48 past9606.73 week,9606.97 I9607.36 believe9607.52 299607.92 districts9608.48 just9608.97 got9609.2 fresh9609.52 grants9609.84 including,9610.24 Dennis9611.44 Yarmouth,9611.84 as,9613.2 as9614 1.9614.24 So9615.44 I9615.92 definitely9616.08 urge9616.65 the,9617.05 the9617.52 committee9617.6 to9618.08 continue9618.4 support9618.89 for9619.36 that9619.52 program.9620
9621.88 SPEAKER539621.88 -9621.88 Third9621.88 thing9622.04 I9622.2 want9622.44 to9622.52
9622.6 SPEAKER579622.6 -9622.6 talk9622.6 about9622.76 is9623 the9623.08 Healthy9623.16 Initiatives9623.48 Program,9624.12 more9624.68 broader9624.92 reach.9625.4 Seeking9627.88 to9628.36 have9628.68 full9629.08 funding9629.4 for9629.8 that9629.96 at9630.2 $25,000,0009630.36 for9631.48 the9631.64 next9631.8 fiscal9632.04 year.9632.44 As9633.72 you9633.95 may9634.03 be9634.35 aware,9634.51 the9635.8 funding9636.03 in9636.51 the9636.75 current9636.83 fiscal9637.15 year9637.48 resulted9637.8 in9638.19 significant9638.75 cuts9639.48 to9640.35 this9640.51 program9640.83 in9641.48 December.9641.8 Where9642.92 depending9643.23 on9643.64 the9643.8 size9643.88 of9644.11 the9644.27 family,9644.35 19644.75 got9645 between9645.31 209645.72 and9646.27 $809646.51 a9647.07 month,9647.15 in9648.17 access9648.33 to9648.89 local,9649.37 local9650.09 produce.9650.49 That9651.69 was9651.85 cut9652.01 to9652.33 a9652.65 base9652.81 of9653.13 $209653.21 regardless9654.01 of9654.65 family9654.81 size.9655.21 That9655.85 has9656.09 been9656.25 a9656.49 significant9656.73 impact9657.37 in9657.85 a9658.01 very9658.25 difficult9658.57 time9659.05 right9659.37 now9659.61 to9659.93 SNAP9660.25 recipients9660.57 and9661.63 a9661.94 significant9662.02 impact9662.99 to9663.78 farmers9664.02 that9664.42 support9664.67 this9664.99 program.9665.23 I9666.02 have9666.26 read9666.42 and9666.91 spoken9667.31 to9667.7 a9668.42 number9668.58 of9669.06 folks,9669.23 farmers9670.1 who9670.42 have9670.58 been9670.75 involved9670.83 in9671.23 this9671.39 program,9671.63 and9672.99 the9673.31 impact9673.47 is9674.18 significant9674.99 to9675.78 them.9675.94 We9676.73 really9676.97 need9677.13 to9677.45 bolster9677.69 this9678.17 program9678.41 back9678.89 up,9679.13 to9680.17 the9680.33 full9680.49 funding9680.73 that9681.13 is9681.37 received9681.53 in9682.01 prior9682.17 years.9682.65 The9684.49 last9684.81 item9685.05 I'd9685.45 like9685.61 to9685.85 talk9686.01 about9686.17 is9686.41 the9686.57 Mass9686.81 Food9687.13 Trust.9687.45 This9688.57 is9688.81 a9688.97 program9689.13 that9689.61 has9689.85
9692.9 and9692.9 you'll9693.14 get9693.38 my9693.53 written9693.69 testimony9693.93 on9694.57 that.9694.73 Thank9695.06 you9695.3 very9695.53 much9695.69 to9696.01 the9696.17 Thanks.9696.33
9696.73 SPEAKER19696.73 -9696.73 Thanks,9696.73 Steve.9697.22 Next9698.42 up9698.73 is9698.98 Tom9699.22 Pinto.9699.53 And9701.45 after9701.77 that9702.09 will9702.33 be9702.57 Sarah9702.9
9715.23 Neville.9715.23
9720.56 SPEAKER279720.56 -9720.56 Alright.9720.56 Thank9721.2
9721.44 SPEAKER589721.44 -9721.44 you.9721.44 Alright.9721.92 Hello.9722.33 And,9722.73 thank9723.2 you9723.36 for9723.52 the9723.76 opportunity9723.92 to9724.48 address9724.65 you9724.89 today.9725.05 My9725.84 name9726 is9726.17 Tom9726.41 Pinto.9726.73 I'm9727.44 a9727.6 third9727.76 third9728.56 generation9728.89 Plymouthian,9729.44 born9730.41 and9730.65 raised.9730.89 After9731.44 attending9731.76 Curry9732.17 College,9732.48 I9733.05 returned9733.2 to9733.52 Plymouth9733.68 to9734.08 teach9734.25 fifth9734.48 grade9734.73 in9735.05 Plymouth9735.13 public9735.6 schools.9736.46 I'm9736.86 married9737.1 to9737.5 a9737.74 Plymouth9737.82 Teacher,9738.22 and9738.86 we9739.02 raise9739.34 our9739.9 29740.14 boys9740.3 in9740.62 Plymouth9740.7 who9741.1 also9741.26 attend9741.58 Plymouth9741.82 public9742.22 schools.9742.54 I9743.66 serve9743.82 as9744.06 the9744.3 president9744.38 of9744.86 the9745.02 Education9745.18 Association9745.9 of9746.46 Plymouth9746.62 and9746.94 Carver.9747.18 We're9747.9 an9748.14 active9748.38 union9748.7 with9749.1 over9749.26 1,2009749.5 members9750.14 of9750.46 teachers,9750.62 administrative9751.49 assistants,9752.13 and9752.52 para9752.69 educators,9753 who9753.89 also9754.05 could9754.36 be9754.44 referred9754.84 to9755.08 as9755.25 ESPs.9755.57 I'm9756.84 an9757 elected9757.17 Plymouth9757.65 Town9758.05 Meeting9758.28 member9758.6 and9758.92 a9759.08 member9759.17 of9759.41 the9759.49 North9759.65 Plymouth9759.89 steering9760.2 committee.9760.6 As9761.41 you9761.65 can9761.81 probably9761.97 tell,9762.36 I'm9762.69 deeply9762.92 committed9763.33 to9763.65 my9763.81 community.9763.97 The9765.26 issue9765.5 I'm9765.66 here9765.98 to9766.3 address9766.46 is9767.1 the9767.26 cost9767.5 of9767.82 transportation9768.14 for9769.18 our9769.34 schools.9769.58 This9771.02 is9771.26 a9771.34 common9771.5 issue9771.9 faced9772.3 by9772.62 many9772.78 communities9773.1 throughout9773.66 the9773.98 Commonwealth.9774.14 The9775.26 state9775.5 has9775.82 not9776.06 reimbursed9776.3 these9777.02 costs9777.26 in9777.58 over9777.82 209778.06 years.9778.46 I9779.9 want9780.06 to9780.38 speak9780.53 to9780.93 the9781.09 issue9781.25 of9781.58 school9781.74 transportation9782.22 from9783.09 a9783.25 platform9783.42 that9783.9 I'm9784.06 very9784.3 familiar9784.53 with,9784.93 how9785.74 it9786.06 impacts9786.3 the9786.77 town9786.93 of9787.17 Plymouth.9787.33 Plymouth,9788.45 America's9789.25 hometown,9789.9 is9790.45 unique.9790.69 It9791.83 covers9791.99 over9792.47 a9792.79 hundred9792.95 square9793.27 miles.9793.67 It9794.23 is9794.39 the9794.55 largest9794.71 land9795.19 mass9795.43 town9795.67 in9795.99 the9796.15 Commonwealth.9796.31 It9797.43 encompasses9797.75 a9798.31 network9798.39 of9798.71 roads9798.87 that9799.19 are9799.35 both9799.43 paved9799.83 in9800.15 dirt.9800.39 Our9801.67 elementary9801.99 school9802.63 routes9802.95 are9803.43 anywhere9803.67 from9804.15 49804.39 to9804.71 219804.87 miles.9805.51 179806.57 out9807.52 of9807.76 the9807.84 249808 elementary9808.57 bus9809.13 routes9809.36 are9809.68 over9809.92 109810.17 miles,9810.33 and9810.97 all9811.28 but9811.6 19811.84 take9812.17 over9812.49 209812.73 minutes9813.05 to9813.36 complete.9813.44 Half9814.81 of9815.05 the9815.28 elementary9815.44 bus9816.25 routes9816.49 take9816.89 over9817.13 409817.44 minutes9817.76 to9818.08 complete.9818.17 At9819.28 Plymouth9819.7 North9820.02 High9820.18 School,9820.5 the9820.82 average9821.06 route9821.46 is9821.78 369822.02 minutes9822.58 long9822.9 with9823.38 39823.7 being9823.94 close9824.18 to9824.5 an9824.66 hour.9824.82 At9825.7 Plymouth9825.94 South9826.34 High9826.58 School,9826.82 the9827.3 average9827.54 route9827.94 is9828.18 429828.5 minutes9828.98 long9829.38 with9829.78 79830.18 taking9830.5 nearly9830.82 an9831.22 hour.9831.46 I9832.28 am9832.52 sharing9832.6 these9833.08 numbers9833.33 to9833.73 highlight9833.89 the9834.28 extent9834.44 of9834.92 our9835.08 busing9835.25 issue.9835.73 As9836.68 you9836.92 can9837.08 imagine,9837.33 with9838.28 the9838.52 amount9838.6 of9838.92 distance9839.08 to9839.41 cover,9839.57 the9840.05 cost9840.2 is9840.44 overwhelming.9840.68 Busing9842.2 the9842.52 students9842.68 of9843.08 Plymouth9843.17 is9843.73 budgeted9843.97 for9844.36 school9844.6 year9844.84 f9845.17 y9845.41 '269845.65 at9846.4 a9846.64 liver9846.72 little9847.2 over9847.52 $10,600,000.9847.84 We9850.64 need9850.96 your9851.2 help.9851.52 Plymouth9853.76 may9854.24 be9854.48 extreme,9854.64 but9855.12 towns9855.36 across9855.68 the9856.08 Commonwealth9856.16 are9856.88 facing9856.96 similar9857.36 problems9857.84 meeting9858.58 their9858.83 school's9859.23 transportation9859.63 needs.9860.26 Another9861.23 year9861.63 cannot9862.02 go9862.42 by9862.58 without9863.39 financial9863.78 help9864.34 for9864.67 school9864.98 transportation.9865.47 I9866.83 am9867.06 proud9867.31 that9867.78 the9868.02 MTA9868.18 is9869.06 supporting9869.31 enact9870.18 ensuring9870.42 full9870.98 reimbursement9871.23 for9872.1 in9872.34 district9872.5 school9872.98 transportation9873.39 costs.9874.02 And9874.85 my9875.09 own9875.25 state9875.49 legislators,9875.81 Michelle9876.45 Badger9876.93 and9877.33 Kathleen9877.57 Archer,9878.05 have9878.69 presented9878.93 an9879.41 act9879.65 eliminating9880.05 predatory9880.61 transportation9881.41 pricing9882.05 of9882.45 school9882.61 districts,9882.85 and9883.49 an9883.65 act9883.81 requiring9884.21 equitable9885.01 funding9885.49 for9885.97 non9886.21 regional9886.45 school9887.01 districts9887.25 with9887.86 high9888.02 transportation9888.5 costs.9889.15 I9890.42 strongly9890.67 urge9891.31 that9892.42 the9892.99 committee9893.15 includes9893.94 in9894.42 their9894.5 budget9894.75 a9895.23 solution9895.39 in9895.94 line9896.18 with9896.67 these9896.91 proposals.9897.15 Imagine9898.75 what9899.47 we9899.63 could9899.86 use9900.1 that9900.73 $10,600,0009900.97 to9902.57 support9902.73 education9903.13 to9903.53 students.9903.69 What9904.57 goals9904.73 could9905.05 we9905.21 accomplish?9905.37 What9906.49 achievements9906.73 could9907.21 be9907.37 made?9907.53 Thanks9907.93 for9908.17 everything9908.33 you9908.65 do,9908.73 and9908.89 thanks9909.05 for9909.29 your9909.45 consideration.9909.61
9911.45 SPEAKER19911.45 -9911.45 Thank9911.45 you.9911.77 We9913.41 hear9913.57 you.9913.73 I9914.13 mean,9914.2 Plymouth,9915.25 I9915.49 know9915.73 Plymouth9915.97 goes9916.36 4959916.76 to9917.73 Route9917.81 3.9918.13 It's9918.28 it's9918.69 amazing9918.92 how9919.33 big9919.49 Plymouth9919.97 is.9920.28 It's9920.52 a9920.6 large9920.69 community.9921 We9921.49 understand.9921.57
9922.2 SPEAKER589922.2 -9922.2 Yeah.9922.2 I9922.44 appreciate9922.6 it.9923 Thank9923.17 you9923.33 for9923.41 hearing9923.57 me.9923.73
9928.86 SPEAKER19928.86 -9928.86 Sarah9928.86 Neville?9929.66
9939.18 Linda9939.18 Woodland?9940.22
9951.17 Paul9951.17 Hufney.9951.58
9959.93 Melissa9959.93 Vidier?9960.97
9966.49 Hi,9966.49 Melissa.9966.81
9975.7 SPEAKER599975.7 -9975.7 Hello,9975.7 all.9976.18 Thank9976.91 you9977.15 for9977.39 allowing9977.55 me9977.94 to9978.1 speak9978.18 today.9978.5 When9979.63 I9979.86 wrote9980.02 this,9980.26 it9980.5 said9980.67 good9980.91 morning,9981.15 so9981.63 that9981.86 was9982.02 wishful9982.18 thinking9982.67 on9982.99 my9983.15 part.9983.31
9985.94 Good9985.94 afternoon.9986.26 My9986.58 name9986.82 is9986.9 Melissa9987.14 Verdier.9987.54 I'm9988.42 the9988.66 president9988.82 of9989.22 the9989.38 educational9989.54 association9990.34 of9990.82 Worcester,9991.06 an9992.1 educators9992.42 union9992.98 of9993.38 over9993.54 3,3009993.78 members.9994.66 I've9995.7 been9995.94 a9996.1 special9996.18 educator9996.58 in9997.06 Worcester9997.22 for9997.7 over9997.86 209998.18 years.9998.58 I9999.1 have9999.27 29999.43 children9999.59 in9999.99 the10000.07 Worcester10000.23 public10000.55 schools,10000.94 110002.15 of10002.39 whom10002.47 is10002.63 on10002.86 an10002.94 IEP.10003.19 The10003.91 Worcester10004.07 public10004.39 schools10004.7 is10005.02 made10005.19 up10005.27 of10005.43 a10005.59 very10005.67 diverse10005.99 population10006.55 of10007.02 students,10007.19 which10007.83 includes10008.15 rather10008.63 large10008.94 populations10009.51 of10009.99 both10010.15 English10010.63 language10010.94 learners10011.35 and10011.67 special10011.91 education10012.31 students.10012.94 Last10013.83 year,10014.07 the10014.23 Worcester10014.47 public10014.71 schools10015.03 was10015.35 forced10015.51 to10015.75 cut10015.91 their10016.07 budget10016.23 by10016.63 $22,000,00010016.87 due10018.55 to10018.71 insufficient10018.95 funding,10019.67 resulting10020.55 in10020.95 the10021.11 cuts10021.27 of10021.59 almost10021.83 20010022.15 positions.10022.79 The10023.83 department10023.99 hit10024.47 the10024.63 hardest10024.79 with10025.43 special10025.59 education.10025.99 Special10027.32 education10027.64 service10028.19 providers10028.59 have10029 caseloads10029.24 much10029.8 larger10030.11 than10030.75 previously10031.08 experienced.10031.8 Add10032.92 to10033.16 that10033.32 incoming10033.8 referrals10034.43 and10035.24 it's10035.48 making10035.72 providing10036.27 services10036.92 next10037.48 to10037.72 impossible.10037.88 There10039.46 are10039.54 many10039.78 education10040.02 bills10040.58 under10040.9 consideration10041.22 by10041.78 the10042.02 state10042.18 legislator10042.58 legislature,10043.78 which10044.9 could10045.3 greatly10045.46 benefit10045.78 the10046.18 students10046.34 of10046.58 the10046.74 Worcester10046.9 Public10047.3 Schools.10047.62 The10048.42 biggest10048.58 fix10048.9 would10049.22 come10049.38 from10049.62 fixing10049.86 the10050.18 chapter10050.34 7010050.74 inflation10051.14 rate.10051.54 The10052.11 Worcester10052.35 Public10052.75 Schools10053 lost10053.4 out10053.72 on10053.88 millions10054.03 of10054.43 dollars10054.59 in10055.32 funding10055.56 because10056.03 of10056.35 a10056.51 4.5%10056.67 inflation10058.35 rate10058.92 cap10059.24 while10059.8 the10060.03 inflation10060.27 was10060.75 at10061 78%.10061.24 We've10062.75 still10063.08 not10063.32 made10063.56 up10063.8 those10063.95 deficits.10064.19 The10065.38 failure10065.54 to10065.94 make10066.1 up10066.26 the10066.42 difference10066.58 in10067.06 the10067.22 following10067.38 years10067.78 has10068.18 caused10068.42 greater10068.82 deficits10069.14 in10069.62 Worcester.10069.86 In10070.74 fact,10070.9 last10071.22 year,10071.54 with10071.94 a10072.18 1.3%10072.26 of,10074.02 per10074.74 pupil10074.98 increase,10075.54 when10077.57 the10077.81 district10078.05 was10078.44 planning10078.68 for10079 more10079.25 around10079.49 a10079.81 5,10079.89 we10080.2 lost10080.36 about10080.68 $15,000,000.10081 A10083.41 few10083.57 other,10083.81 mentioned10084.6 would10085.25 be10085.49 the10085.73 whole10085.89 child10086.2 grant,10086.52 the10087.25 special10087.41 education10087.81 circuit10088.44 breaker,10088.84 and10089.44 the10089.6 reimbursement10089.84 for10090.48 in10090.72 district10091.04 school10091.36 transportation.10091.76 I10093.2 mirror10093.44 what10093.84 Tom10094.16 had10094.56 just10094.72 said10094.96 about10095.2 in10095.6 district10095.76 transportation.10096.8 Worcester10097.84 has10098.24 taken10098.4 our10098.72 transportation10099.04 in10099.92 house,10100.08 which10100.88 has10101.12 cause10101.44 has10101.92 caused10102.77 some10103.33 savings10103.66 for10104.06 us,10104.3 but10104.53 we're10104.77 also10105.01 not10105.25 seeing10105.5 any10105.74 reimbursement10106.06 from10106.69 the10106.85 state.10107.01 We10107.82 have10107.98 a10108.14 very10108.3 large10108.69 fleet,10109.09 I10109.5 call10109.66 it,10109.82 of10110.06 midsize,10110.3 buses,10111.66 and10112.14 those10112.38 are10112.61 staffed10112.77 with10113.17 drivers10113.42 and10113.98 monitors10114.3 to10114.85 provide10115.01 door10115.42 to10115.58 door10115.74 transportation10116.14 for10116.69 our10116.94 special10117.24 education10117.56 students.10118.2 Special10119.24 education10119.56 obviously10120.6 hits10121.08 really10121.32 hard10121.56 and10122.12 home10122.52 for10122.76 me10122.92 as10123.16 a10123.32 special10123.48 educator10123.8 for10124.28 over10124.44 2010124.68 years.10125 So10125.64 I10125.96 urge10126.12 you10126.44 to10126.84 please10127.08 consider10127.4 the10127.88 needs10128.04 of10128.28 our10128.44 students10128.6 in10129 the10129.08 Worcester10129.24 Public10129.64 Schools,10130.04 my10130.78 children,10131.02 when10132.31 you're10132.47 considering10132.7 the10133.18 educational10133.34 budget10133.99 and10134.31 legislative10134.47 priorities.10135.1 Thank10136.7 you.10136.94
10138.23 SPEAKER110138.23 -10138.23 Thank10138.23 you.10138.55 Any10141.02 questions?10141.26
10144.07 All10144.07 set.10144.31
10152.1 Keith10152.1 Miken?10153.14
10161.52 Michelle10161.52 Nelson10163.05 Mu10163.92 will10164.48 be10164.65 next.10164.89
10173.84 SPEAKER6010173.84 -10173.84 Good10173.84 afternoon.10174.16 My10175.04 name10175.2 is10175.36 Keith10175.52 Michon10175.84 Junior,10176.24 and10176.72 I10176.88 serve10176.96 as10177.2 president10177.36 of10177.76 the10177.84 Fall10178 River10178.16 Educators10178.48 Association,10179.04 represent10180.24 our10180.64 region10180.88 on10181.2 the10181.36 MTA10181.44 board10181.84 of10182.08 directors,10182.16 and10182.96 teach10183.12 secondary10183.44 mathematics10184.08 in10185.06 the10185.22 Fall10185.38 River10185.61 Public10185.93 Schools.10186.25 I'm10187.45 here10187.69 today10187.85 to10188.17 speak10188.33 to10188.81 the10188.98 importance10189.14 of10189.61 maintaining10189.77 and10190.33 strengthening10190.57 the10191.38 Commonwealth's10191.61 commitment10192.33 to10192.65 equitable10192.9 education.10193.38 The10194.73 chapter10194.98 7010195.3 formula,10195.77 along10196.33 with10196.57 the10196.73 Student10196.81 Opportunity10197.22 Act,10197.77 has10198.53 demonstrated10198.93 that10199.49 Massachusetts10199.73 is10200.61 serious10200.77 about10201.17 providing10201.49 a10201.97 fair10202.05 and10202.29 equitable10202.53 public10203.33 education10203.73 for10204.21 all10204.37 students.10204.61 I10205.73 wanna10205.89 commend10206.13 the10206.45 legislature,10206.53 advocacy10207.97 organizations,10208.61 educators,10209.57 and10210.21 community10210.37 members10210.85 whose10211.25 work10211.49 has10211.73 brought10211.97 us10212.21 to10212.37 this10212.53 point10212.69 and10213.3 for10213.45 your10213.61 ongoing10213.85 commitment10214.42 to10214.9 funding10215.06 this10215.38 formula.10215.53 However,10216.73 we10217.77 must10217.93 also10218.17 acknowledge10218.58 the10219.06 imperfections10219.22 that10219.93 remain10220.17 in10220.66 the10220.73 formula10220.9 and10221.69 how10221.85 those10222.09 flaws10222.33 are10222.66 playing10222.81 out10223.14 on10223.38 the10223.45 ground.10223.61 The10225.22 SOA10225.38 has10225.85 been10226.01 transformative10226.25 has10227.45 had10227.61 a10227.85 transformative10228.01 impact10228.73 on10229.1 the10229.18 Fall10229.34 River10229.5 Public10229.74 Schools.10230.06 It10230.78 has10230.94 allowed10231.1 us10231.42 to10231.58 increase10231.74 vital10232.14 special10232.46 education10232.78 supports,10233.42 expand10234.38 social10234.86 emotional10235.26 services10235.82 for10236.38 students,10236.62 and10237.34 raise10237.66 educator10238.06 wages,10238.54 helping10238.94 us10239.26 better10239.5 compete10239.74 in10240.14 a10240.22 challenging10240.38 labor10240.86 market.10241.18 These10242.31 are10242.47 meaningful10242.7 gains,10243.26 but10243.91 high10244.15 inflation10244.39 has10244.86 eroded10245.1 the10245.58 real10245.67 value10245.99 of10246.47 these10246.55 increases.10246.86 We10247.91 are10248.07 currently10248.23 about10248.7 $10,000,00010249.02 short10250.31 of10250.78 projected10251.02 funding.10251.58 Even10252.55 more10252.94 concerning,10253.19 special10254.07 education10254.47 and10255.1 transportation10255.12 costs10255.14 have10255.15 risen10255.17 at10255.19 an10255.2 even10255.22 higher10255.23 rate10255.25 than10255.26 inflation.10255.47
10260.24 Sustainability10260.24 of10260.8 the10260.84 progress10260.85 we've10260.87 made.10260.88 Now10261.8 is10262.72 not10262.8 the10263.16 time10263.52 to10263.88 roll10264.24 back10264.32 supports10264.4 for10264.88 students.10265.36 That's10266.48 why10266.64 I10267.04 stand10267.12 in10267.36 support10267.6 of10268 MTA's10268.08 proposals10268.48 to10269.04 strengthen10269.12 the10269.68 chapter10269.76 7010270.25 formula10270.49 and10271.2 stabilize10271.52 education10272.17 funding.10272.73 Make10273.92 the10274.25 technical10274.41 fix10274.89 to10275.28 chapter10275.44 7010275.76 to10276.25 ensure10276.41 funding10276.73 keeps10277.13 pace10277.44 with10277.68 inflation10277.84 over10278.41 time.10278.65 Create10279.84 a10280.25 410280.33 year10280.56 funding10280.81 schedule10281.2 to10281.76 reach10281.92 full10282.56 reimbursement10282.81 for10283.52
10283.68 SPEAKER110283.68 -10283.68 in10283.68
10283.84 SPEAKER6010283.84 -10283.84 district10283.84 transportation,10285.06 increase10285.7 special10286.18 education10286.58 circuit10287.06 breaker10287.38 reimbursement10287.78 rate10288.5 from10289.06 75%10289.38 to10290.34 90%10290.58 while10291.22 lowering10291.46 the10291.86 eligibility10292.02 threshold10292.74 for10293.22 expenses10293.38 under10293.94 the10294.26 program.10294.42 These10295.46 proposals10295.78 would10296.42 provide10296.66 much10297.06 needed10297.3 relief10297.62 and10298.33 stability10298.58 to10299.14 districts10299.3 like10299.69 Fall10299.85 River10300.17 and10300.58 ensure10300.81 that10301.22 the10301.38 gains10301.53 we've10301.85 made10302.09 can10302.66 be10302.81 sustained10302.98 and10303.53 built10303.77 upon.10304.01 Incorporating10304.9 these10305.53 proposals10305.77 into10306.25 the10306.5 f10306.66 y10306.81 2610307.06 budget10307.61 is10308.42 the10308.58 fastest10308.73 and10309.3 most10309.45 effective10309.69 way10310.58 to10310.81 address10310.98 the10311.38 funding10311.45 challenges10311.85 facing10312.5 our10312.9 schools.10313.06 I10314.2 urge10314.36 you10314.6 to10314.84 adopt10315 them10315.4 and10315.64 continue10316.04 moving10316.84 us10317.08 forward,10317.4 a10318.12 truly10318.28 equitable10318.68 education10319.24 system10319.8 for10320.12 all10320.36 students10320.6 in10321 the10321.08 commonwealth.10321.24 Thank10322.12 you10322.36 for10322.52 your10322.68 time10322.84 and10323.24 your10323.48 continued10323.72 commitment10324.28 to10325 public10325.16 schools.10325.56 Thank10327.24 you.10327.56
10329.02 SPEAKER310329.02 -10329.02 Thank10329.02 you10329.27 so10329.5 much10329.58 for,10329.99 for10331.02 your10331.19 testimony.10331.5 I10332.07 think,10332.15 you10332.39 know,10332.47 the10332.63 issue,10332.78 of10333.75 inflation10333.99 is10334.47 an10334.63 issue10334.78 that's10335.1 affecting10335.35 all10336.15 of10336.31 us.10336.47 I10338.23 I10338.63 know10338.7 that,10338.94 you10339.75 know,10339.91 last10341 year10341.32 when10341.48 we10341.72 began10341.88 talking10342.28 about10342.52 that10343.16 this10343.32 issue,10343.56 might10344.6 come10344.68 up,10344.92 you10346.68 saw10347.08 more10347.4 and10347.56 more10347.72 people,10347.96 you10348.36 know,10348.52 speak10348.76 on10349 it.10349.16 Every10349.72 community10349.96 that10350.36 I10350.6 go10350.68 to10350.92 is10351.48 a10352.12 topic10352.28 of10352.6 conversation.10352.84 I10354 wanna10354.08 thank10354.25 you10354.48 for10354.65 your10354.81 advocacy10355.05 because10355.44 I10355.68 think,10355.76 speaking10356.97 on10357.92 that10358.08 allows,10358.48 and10359.76 ensures10360 that,10360.81 folks10362.89 making10363.2 decisions10363.52 are10364 this10364.25 is10364.56 top10364.73 of10364.97 mind,10365.05 and10366 so10366.25 that10366.4 people10366.65 understand10367.05 the10367.76 importance10367.92 and10368.48 how10368.65 it10368.89 affects10369.05 the,10370.1 education,10370.82 of10372.18 our10372.34 youth.10372.5 I10373.06 think10373.14 there's10373.3 a10373.54 lot10373.62 of10373.78 communities10373.94 that10374.5 are10374.74 struggling,10375.14 because10376.42 of10376.74 this,10376.9 and10377.06 it's10377.3 something10377.46 that10377.94 we10378.66 need10378.9 to,10379.06 we10379.62 need10379.78 to10379.94 work10380.1 on.10380.26 So10380.42 I10380.58 wanna10380.66 thank10380.9 you10381.14 for10381.3 for10381.46 your10381.62 testimony.10381.86
10385.01 SPEAKER110385.01 -10385.01 Thank10385.01 you.10386.28 Zara10386.53 Usman.10387.01
10408.52 Okay.10408.52 Leah10409.56 Ramachandra10410.68
10413.32 Chandran.10413.32 Sorry.10414.03
10419.4 John10419.4 Cohn.10419.8
10421.72 SPEAKER310421.72 -10421.72 So,10421.72 mister10421.95 vice10422.27 chair,10422.44 I10422.6 know10422.75 that,10422.92 Leila10423.4 was,10423.95 virtual.10424.68 So10425.24 Leila,10425.4 if10425.72 you're10425.98 not10426.22 able10426.3 to10426.62 go10426.78 online,10426.94 if10427.34 you10427.78 can,10428.22 send10429.1 us10429.42 a10429.58 message10429.66 so10429.98 we10430.22 can10430.3 get10430.46 back10430.62 to10430.78 you10430.94 afterwards.10431.1
10432.14 SPEAKER110432.14 -10432.14 Perfect.10432.14 Thank10432.54 you.10432.78
10435.26 SPEAKER310435.26 -10435.26 Jonathan10435.26 Cohen.10436.06
10436.86 SPEAKER110436.86 -10436.86 Jonathan10436.86 Cohen.10437.58
10445.43 SPEAKER310445.43 -10445.43 And10445.43 after10445.67 Jonathan,10446 we10446.4 have10446.56 Bathsadi10446.8 Sibong10447.92 Ghazai.10448.8
10452.7 SPEAKER6110452.7 -10452.7 Okay.10452.7 Thank10454.7 you10454.94 all10455.1 for10455.34 spending10455.5 your10455.9 entire10456.14 day10456.54 here.10456.78 It's10458.3 been10458.46 a10458.62 long10459.5 1.10459.74
10461.02 SPEAKER110461.02 -10461.02 So,10461.02
10461.26 SPEAKER6110461.26 -10461.26 yeah,10461.26 thank10461.42 you10461.66 all.10461.82 My10461.98 name10462.14 is10462.22 Jonathan10462.38 Cohn.10462.78 I'm10463.1 the10463.26 policy10463.42 director10463.74 at10464.06 Progressive10464.22 Massachusetts.10464.7 We're10465.66 a10465.82 statewide10465.98 grassroots10466.38 advocacy10466.94 group,10467.58 with10468.42 chapters10468.67 around10469.15 the10469.39 state10469.55 fighting10469.78 for10470.1 a10470.26 more10470.34 equitable,10470.58 just,10470.98 sustainable,10471.23 and10471.63 democratic10471.86 commonwealth.10472.34 So10473.55 as10473.78 we10474.02 contemplate10474.18 the10474.82 daunting10474.98 anxiety10475.78 inducing10476.34 catastrophic10476.82 possibility10477.55 of10478.1 steep10478.26 cuts10478.5 to10478.74 the10478.82 federal10478.98 budget,10479.31 as10480.02 the10480.26 Republicans10480.42 in10480.9 DC10481.06 attempt10481.55 to10481.78 take10481.86 an10482.02 ax10482.18 to10482.34 health10482.5 care,10482.67 education,10482.9 infrastructure,10483.47 and10484.13 so10484.29 much10484.45 more,10484.85 we10485.25 need10485.41 to10485.57 be10485.65 prepared10485.81 in10486.13 Massachusetts10486.37 to10487.01 protect10487.09 our10487.41 essential10487.57 services.10487.97 We10488.85 need10489.01 to10489.09 continue10489.25 to10489.65 do10489.73 what10489.89 we10490.13 are10490.21 doing,10490.37 and10490.69 we10490.85 also10491.01 need10491.33 to10491.49 be10491.57 doing10491.65 much10491.89 more.10492.13 To10493.41 that10493.57 to10493.89 that10494.05 end,10494.29 I10494.53 urge10494.77 you10494.93 to10495.09 embrace10495.25 progressive10495.65 sources10496.13 of10496.45 revenue10496.61 as10497.09 well10497.33 as10497.49 to10497.65 tap10497.73 into10497.97 the10498.13 rainy10498.29 day10498.61 fund10498.77 as10499.09 needed.10499.33 On10500.68 the10500.76 firmer10500.92 point10501.32 about10501.73 the10501.97 rainy10502.05 day10502.36 fund,10502.52 like10503.48 many10503.73 of10503.97 us,10504.05 I10504.28 have10504.44 had10504.6 the10504.68 experience10504.84 of10505.32 holding10505.48 an10505.73 umbrella10505.89 while10506.36 walking10506.6 in10506.84 the10507 rain.10507.17 The10507.65 rain10507.81 gets10508.05 heavier10508.36 and10508.68 heavier,10508.84 but10509.4 I10509.56 think10509.65 it's10510.05 not10510.36 that10510.52 bad10510.68 yet10511.08 while10511.4 getting10511.65 fully10511.89 soaked.10512.2 Let's10513.04 not10513.2 be10513.52 that10513.76 person.10513.92 When10515.2 it's10515.44 when10515.76 it10516 starts10516.08 pouring10516.4 as10516.8 it10516.96 might10517.12 later10517.28 this10517.68 year,10517.92 don't10518.32 be10518.56 afraid10518.72 to10518.96 take10519.04 out10519.2 an10519.36 umbrella.10519.6 But10520.72 beyond10520.96 that,10521.36 I10521.68 want10521.92 to10522.08 urge10522.24 that10522.48 the10522.64 money10522.8 isn't10523.04 there10523.36 is10523.68 a10523.84 difficult10523.92 argument10524.4 to10524.8 stomach10524.88 in10525.2 a10525.36 state10525.44 as10525.68 affluent10525.84 as10526.24 Massachusetts.10526.4 Indeed,10527.77 our10528.25 state's10528.49 GDP10528.81 is10529.44 higher10529.69 than10529.93 that10530.17 of10530.33 the10530.41 count10530.57 that10530.97 of10531.13 countries10531.36 like10531.77 Sweden10531.93 and10532.33 Belgium,10532.57 despite10533.77 our10534.17 smaller10534.33 population.10534.73 We10535.6 have10535.77 great10536.01 wealth10536.25 in10536.49 this10536.65 state,10536.81 and10537.28 that10537.52 great10537.69 wealth10537.93 is10538.33 is10538.41 why10538.49 the10538.65 fair10538.81 share10539.05 amendment10539.28 has10539.69 been10539.85 able10540.01 to10540.17 deliver10540.25 as10540.73 much10540.89 as10541.05 it10541.2 has.10541.28 Has.10541.97 You10542.45 have10542.61 many10542.77 tools10543.01 at10543.25 your10543.41 disposal10543.65 to10544.13 raise10544.29 necessary10544.53 funds10545.09 such10545.81 as,10545.97 but10546.29 not10546.45 limited10546.61 to10546.93 ensuring10547.17 that10547.65 kind10547.97 of10548.13 large10548.61 global10549.01 corporations10549.41 like10549.97 Amazon10550.21 and10550.61 Apple10550.77 are10551.17 paying10551.25 their10551.49 fair10551.65 share10551.89 and10552.53 not10552.61 offshoring10552.93 all10553.33 their10553.49 money10553.57 in10553.89 places10553.97 like10554.23 the10554.39 Bermuda10554.55 and10554.86 the10555.02 Cayman10555.1 Islands,10555.42 which10555.9 have10556.06 nice10556.31 weather,10556.55 but10556.86 that's10556.94 not10557.18 where10557.26 their10557.42 money10557.5 needs10557.82 to10557.98 be10558.06 on10558.23 vacation.10558.39 Similarly,10559.58 as10560.78 you're10561.02 kind10561.5 of10561.67 seeking10561.82 as10562.39 you're10562.55 likely10562.86 to10563.18 seek10563.26 every10563.58 opportunity10563.82 to10564.47 trim10564.63 our10564.86 state's10565.02 investments,10565.42 I10566.15 would10566.31 urge10566.47 you10566.7 to10566.78 first10566.86 do10567.18 the10567.34 same10567.42 to10567.67 the10567.74 state's10567.9 corporate10568.23 tax10568.55 breaks10568.86 to10569.35 evaluate10569.51 whether10569.83 or10570.15 not10570.23 they10570.47 deliver10570.63 upon10571.03 any10571.27 goal10571.51 at10571.75 all.10571.83 The10572.87 kind10573.19 of10573.35 aforementioned10573.43 sales10574.07 tax10574.31 exemption10574.55 for10574.95 private10575.11 jets10575.43 is10575.67 but10575.83 110575.99 of10576.15 many10576.31 examples.10576.63 It10577.87 kind10578.15 of10578.39 shows10578.55 a10578.79 lack10578.87 of10579.11 regard10579.27 for10579.51 the10579.67 most10579.75 vulnerable10579.99 populations10580.39 to10580.95 countenance10581.11 cuts10581.51 to10581.75 mental10581.91 health10582.15 caseworkers10582.39 and10583.03 cuts10583.19 to10583.43 assistance10583.59 the10583.99 needy10584.07 families,10584.47 but10585.19 also10585.41 like10585.57 to10585.73 not10585.89 countenance10586.13 cuts10586.69 to10587.17 to10587.49 the10587.57 tax10587.73 giveaways10587.97 given10588.44 to10588.69 large10588.84 estates10589.17 and10589.41 day10589.65 traders10589.81 past10590.28 210590.6 years10590.76 ago.10591 I10592.76 have10592.84 a10593.08 long10593.25 list10593.49 of10593.73 things10593.81 that10594.05 I10594.2 will10594.28 go10594.52 through10594.6 that10594.84 I'll10595 send10595.17 in10595.41 a10595.49 follow-up10595.57 document10595.97 shouting10596.52 out10596.92 things10597.08 that10597.33 people10597.49 have10597.73 noted10597.89 before,10598.2 like10598.84 committing10599 to10599.41 deliver10599.82 on10599.98 the10600.14 promise10600.3 of10600.62 the10600.7 Student10600.86 Opportunity10601.18 Act10601.74 and10602.06 fully10602.22 fund10602.46 our10602.7 public10602.86 schools10603.26 and10603.58 addressing10603.82 how10604.46 inflation10604.7 has10605.26 caused10605.42 the10605.66 problem10605.74 and10606.06 delivering10606.3 that10606.7 value10606.86 in10607.1 full,10607.26 building10607.9 on10608.22 the10608.38 investments10608.54 in10609.1 higher10609.26 education10609.58 that10610.3 you10610.38 made,10610.54 last10611.34 session10611.58 with10611.9 making,10612.06 free10612.78 free10613.32 community10613.64 college10613.88 to10614.19 build10614.35 on10614.6 that10614.75 to10614.92 provide10615 the10615.24 supports10615.4 needed10615.8 so10616.11 that10616.27 can10616.44 everybody10616.92 gets10617.32 a10617.56 high10617.64 quality,10617.72 experience10618.68 and10619.08 a10619.24 debt10619.32 free10619.56 experience10619.8 with10620.52 with10620.92 faculty10621.08 and10621.48 pay10621.64 receiving10621.95 the10622.35 with10622.6 faculty10622.75 and10623.16 staff10623.32 receiving10623.56 the10623.88 pay10623.95 they10624.11 deserve,10624.27 continuing10625.08 the10625.4 investments10625.64 in10626.03 early10626.19 education10626.52 and10627 childcare,10627.16 make10628.47 it10628.59 like,10629.03 investing10629.27 in10629.67 kind10629.83 of10629.91 access10630.07 access10631.51 to10631.83 counsel10632.07 and10632.71 making10632.87 sure10633.19 that10633.35 our10633.51 right10633.59 to10633.83 the10633.91 shelter10634.07 is10634.55 more10634.79 than10635.03 just10635.19 a10635.51 nominal10635.67 phrase.10636.31 So10637.51 thank10637.75 you.10637.99 Thank10638.39 you.10638.71 My10640.07 110640.15 parting10640.71 comment10641.03 that10642.2 I10642.28 make10642.44 a10642.6 request10642.76 is10643.08 that10643.24 I10643.48 know10643.56 some10643.81 of10643.89 you10644.05 have10644.2 done10644.36 this10644.52 in10644.68 hearings10645 that10645.4 you10645.56 run10645.81 if10646.13 to10646.36 provide10646.44 people10646.76 who10647.08 are10647.24 testifying10647.48 the10648.05 speaking10648.2 order,10648.68 ahead10649.97 of10650.13 the10650.36 event.10650.52 It10650.92 makes10651.08 your10651.4 lives10651.65 easier.10651.97 It10652.44 makes10652.6 our10653.08 lives10653.32 easier10653.65 and10654.28 helps10654.44 the10654.68 day10654.84 run10655 smoothly.10655.24 But10655.89 thank10656.05 you10656.28 all10656.44 for10656.6 so10656.78 much10657.02 for10657.18 spending10657.26 your10657.5 time10657.74 here10657.98 today.10658.06
10659.34 SPEAKER310659.34 -10659.34 Thank10659.34 you,10659.58 Jonathan.10659.82 So,10660.54 we're10661.1 told10661.34 that10661.58 Nelson10661.9 Mui10662.46 is10662.86 here,10663.02 and10663.9 then10664.06 afterwards,10664.38 we'll10665.02 we10665.26 have10665.42 a10665.58 panel,10665.66 from,10666.86 from10667.9 Batsari,10668.22 as10668.7 I10668.86 mentioned10668.94 before,10669.26 Jessica10669.58 Tang,10670.14 Eric10670.84 Berg,10671.17 and10671.65 Lee10671.81 Nav,10672.52 after.10673.48
10676.13 Nelson10676.13 Mui,10676.6 I10677 think10677.17 he's10677.4 joining10677.56 us10677.89 virtually.10678.05
10680.68 I'm10680.68 here.10681 Great.10682.05
10683.24 SPEAKER6210683.24 -10683.24 Can10683.24 you10683.4 hear10683.56 me?10683.81
10684.52 SPEAKER310684.52 -10684.52 Good10684.52 morning.10684.68
10686.49 SPEAKER6210686.49 -10686.49 Good10686.49 afternoon.10686.73 Good10687.61 afternoon,10687.85 joint10688.73 committee10689.13 of10689.69 ways10689.85 and10690.09 means.10690.25 Thank10691.37
10691.53 SPEAKER3910691.53 -10691.53 you10691.53 for10691.69 the10691.77
10692.01 SPEAKER6210692.01 -10692.01 opportunity,10692.01 for10693.61 me10693.77 to10693.93 testify10694.17 to10694.65 this10694.73 committee10694.97 on10695.45 such10695.61 a10696.33 important10696.41 topic.10696.89 My10698.97 name10699.13 is10699.28 Nelson10699.52 Moy.10700 I10700.33 am10700.48 the10700.81 town10701.05 administrator10701.36 for10701.92 the10702.08 town10702.25 of10702.48 Townsend.10702.56 Townsend10703.84 is10704.33 a10704.65 small10704.81 rural10705.2 town10706 with10706.56 approximately10706.89 9,10010707.52 residents10708.97 in10709.6 Middlesex10709.84 County.10710.4 Townsend10712.02 along10712.42 with10712.82 Ashby10712.98 and10713.3 Pepperl10713.46 are10713.94 part10714.02 of10714.26 the10714.34 North10714.5 Middlesex10714.74 School10715.38 District.10715.62 And10716.98 I10717.3 am10717.46 here10717.62 today10717.94 to10718.26 advocate10718.42 for10718.98 additional10719.38 funding10719.94 to10720.42 be10720.5 to10720.74 be10721.54 provided10721.7 to10722.1 the10722.26 North10722.74 Middlesex10723.06 School10723.78 District10724.02 as10724.73 well10724.97 as10725.05 changes10725.28 to10725.77 the10725.93 regional10726.01 school10726.49 district10726.81 formula.10727.28 Our10728.73 district10728.97 has10729.44 seen10729.69 a10729.93 steady10730.08 decline10730.49 in10730.81 enrollment10731.13 over10731.85 the10732.08 years,10732.33 which10732.97 has10733.2 resulted10733.52 in10734.01 minimal10734.25 increases10734.73 on10735.85 a10736.08 per10736.25 pupil10736.49 basis.10736.97 Numerous10738.41 mandates10738.81 that10739.37 are10739.53 now10739.69 fully10739.93 funded10740.17 have10740.89 put10741.05 a10741.29 tremendous10741.53 financial10742.17 burden10742.65 on10743.13 the10743.29 310743.45 towns,10743.77 which10744.65 has10744.89 resulted10745.13 in10745.69 the10745.93 decline10746.09 in10746.49 town10747.13 services,10747.53 reduction10748.73 in10749.21 much10749.45 needed10749.61 capital10750.09 spending,10750.73 below10752.27 average10752.75 wages10753.15 for10753.63 employees.10753.94 And10754.99 that's10755.15 just10755.39 to10755.78 name10755.94 a10756.42 few,10756.58 impacts,10757.31 of10758.67 the10758.91 insufficient10759.15 school10759.94 funding.10760.19 Currently,10762.02 almost10762.91 60%10763.31 of10763.94 Townsend's10764.1 operating10764.67 budget10765.23 is10765.7 for10765.94 the10766.1 school10766.35 budgets.10766.58 As10768.08 a10768.32 result10768.48 of10768.8 the10768.96 insufficient10769.28 school10769.92 funding,10770.16 Townsend10771.2 has10771.68 tried10771.84 the10772.16 last10772.32 couple10772.56 years10772.96 to10773.28 get10773.44 a10773.68 prop10773.84 210774.08 and10774.32 a10774.4 half10774.48 override10774.72 pass10775.28 without10776.16 success.10776.56 Townsend10778 is10778.48 trying10778.72 again10779.12 with10779.52 the10779.76 upcoming10779.92 FY10780.4 2610780.8 budget10781.81 to10782.05 get10782.36 a10782.52 prop10782.77 210783.08 and10783.33 a10783.41 half10783.49 override10783.81 passed.10784.2 This10785.65 override10785.97 would10786.6 result10786.77 in10787.17 a10787.25 permanent10787.41 increase10787.97 to10789.01 our10789.17 tax10789.41 levy.10789.81 Many10791.65 towns10792.05 and10792.28 residents10792.44 who10793.08 are10793.25 either10793.57 senior10794.48 citizens10794.72 or10795.52 or10796.4 on10796.72 a10796.96 fixed10797.12 income,10797.52 would10799.84 see10800.16 a10800.64 increase10800.8 to10801.2 their10801.36 tax10801.6 levy,10801.92 which10802.56 would10802.88 be10803.12 a10803.52 financial10803.6 burden10804.16 on10804.72 them,10804.88 which10806.4 might10806.72 force10806.96 them10807.2 to10807.44 make10807.6 difficult10807.84 choices,10808.24 ranging10810.01 from10810.42 having10811.38 to10811.93 choose10812.25 to10812.65 pay10812.81 their10813.06 heating10813.69 or10814.09 electricity10814.33 bill,10814.98 buying10816.58 groceries,10816.9 or10817.53 even10817.77 paying10818.09 for10818.42 a10818.81 much10818.98 needed10819.14 medication.10819.61 So10821.06 I10821.22 urge10821.53 the10821.85 joint10822.76 committee10823.16 of10823.4 way10823.64 ways10824.2 and10824.6 means10824.84 to10825.64 consider10825.8 Townsend's10826.36 request.10826.92 Thank10827.8 you10828.04 for10828.2 your10828.44 time10828.6 and10828.84 consideration10829.08 today.10829.8
10832.04 SPEAKER310832.04 -10832.04 Thank10832.04 you.10832.36 Any10833.16 questions?10833.48 Mister10835.36 chair,10835.6 no10835.86 no10836.12 questions.10836.37 I10836.63 just10836.89 wanna10837.14 thank10837.4 Nelson10837.65 for,10837.91 his10838.42 testimony10838.68 and,10838.93 the10839.44 great10839.6 work10839.84 that10840.08 he's10840.25 doing,10840.49 in10841.28 Townshend.10841.44 Thank10842.08 you.10842.25
10843.84 SPEAKER6210843.84 -10843.84 Thank10843.84 you.10844.08
10844.73 SPEAKER310844.73 -10844.73 And,10844.73 next10845.36 we10845.69 have,10845.92 Batsadi,10846.49 Jessica,10847.52 Eric,10848.25 and10848.65 Lee.10848.89
10851.99 SPEAKER6310851.99 -10851.99 Jessica10851.99 had10852.47 to10852.71 go10852.79 to10853.11 her10853.35 next10853.51 publication,10853.91 so10854.39 it'll10854.63 just10854.87 be10855.11
10855.27 SPEAKER3610855.27 -10855.27 the10855.27 310855.35 of10855.59 us.10855.75 Okay.10856.71
10858.39 SPEAKER310858.39 -10858.39 Hi.10858.39 So10858.55 so10859.03 what10859.19 what10859.51 I'll10859.67 say10859.83 is,10860.07 the10860.47 the10860.71 panel10860.87 again,10861.27 there's,10861.75 there's10862.39 610862.71 minutes.10862.95 And10863.67 if10863.83 there's10863.92 anything10864.07 extra,10864.64 you10865.43 guys10865.59 are10865.92 more10866.07 than,10866.31 more10867.11 than10867.27 able10867.43 to10867.67 send10867.75 us,10867.92 some10868.23 written10868.48 testimony.10868.8
10869.51 SPEAKER6310869.51 -10869.51 Thank10869.51 you.10869.75 Thank10870.07 you,10870.23 chairs10870.48 and10870.95 members10871.19 of10871.75 the10871.92 committee.10871.99 My10872.31 name10872.48 is10872.64 Vatsadise10872.72 Sivanheim.10873.43 I'm10873.92 a10873.99 refugee10874.15 immigrant10874.64 and10875.43 a10875.67 mother10875.75 of10876.07 210876.31 young10876.56 kids10876.88 that10877.11 keep10877.35 me10877.75 very10878.15 energized10879.03 throughout10879.35 the10879.91 day.10879.99 I'm10880.55 also10880.79 the10881.03 director10881.19 of10881.59 MASHA,10881.75 the10882.15 Massachusetts10882.23 Education10882.87 Justice10883.43 Alliance.10883.75 We're10884.15 a10884.31 statewide10884.47 organization10885.03 that10885.83 fights10886.07 for10886.39 public10886.55 education.10886.87 And10887.83 our10887.99 coalition10888.31 members10888.87 are10889.59 organizations10889.83 that10890.55 are10890.79 led10890.87 by10891.11 students,10891.35 parents,10891.75 and10892.15 community10892.31 members,10892.79 and10893.11 educators.10893.35 I10895.41 gave10895.65 my10895.81 son10895.97 a10896.2 credit10896.28 card10896.68 a10897.17 few10897.25 months10897.41 ago,10897.73 and10898.76 he10898.92 gets10899.17 money10899.41 to10899.81 do10899.97 chores.10900.28 110901.65 of10901.89 the10901.97 requirements10902.52 is10903.33 to10903.49 invest10903.73 in10904.6 a10904.92 bucket10905.08 for10905.49 community10905.81 and10906.36 family,10906.6 and10907 the10907.17 other10907.33 110907.65 is10907.89 to10908.13 invest10908.82 in10909.06 a10909.14 bucket10909.3 that10909.78 builds10910.18 for10910.5 the10910.74 future.10910.9 And10913.3 I10913.54 think10913.62 that10913.78 this10914.02 is10914.26 true10914.34 when10914.58 you10914.82 pass10914.98 the10915.22 Student10915.38 Opportunity10915.86 Act.10916.66 We10917.7 made10917.94 some10918.34 great10918.82 progress10919.22 in10919.78 trying10919.94 to10920.18 get10920.34 more10920.5 equitable10920.66 funding10921.14 to10921.46 our10921.62 communities,10921.78 but10922.66 now10922.82 collect10923.25 our10923.57 collective10923.81 action10924.28 is10925.49 under10925.81 threat.10926.36 Students,10927.25 families,10927.81 and10928.36 our10928.52 school10929 communities10929.41 are10929.97 feeling10930.13 the10930.76 tremendous10930.92 stress10931.49 caused10931.89 by10932.2 the10932.36 federal10932.52 cuts10932.92 and10933.08 attacks10933.33 that10933.81 you've10933.89 heard10934.13 today,10934.44 and10935.41 they10935.57 continue10935.81 to10936.28 struggle10936.52 to10937.38 keep10937.54 up10937.7 with10937.94 the10938.1 rising10938.26 costs.10938.74 While10939.7 we10939.86 don't10940.02 know10940.26 yet10940.42 the10940.66 full10940.82 harm10941.14 that10941.46 is10941.7 gonna10941.86 happen10942.18 to10942.58 all10942.9 of10943.06 us10943.22 in10943.38 our10943.54 communities,10943.78 we10944.26 do10944.5 know10944.74 this,10944.9 that10945.54 we10945.78 as10946.02 Massachusetts10946.34 must10947.62 address10947.94 this10948.34 crisis10948.5 now.10949.06 So10949.83 I10950 present10950.08 with10950.56 you10950.72 410951.27 critical10951.67 solutions.10952.23 First10953.11 is10953.35 fixing10953.59 the10954.4 chapter10954.56 7010955.03 gap.10955.51 This10956.56 is10956.8 to10957.03 cover10957.75 the10958.08 465,000,00010958.23 shortfall.10960.23 Districts10961.27 across10961.67 The10962 States10962.15 are10962.48 being10962.64 forced10962.88 to10963.19 make10963.43 painful10963.67 cuts.10964.23 You10964.92 heard10965.16 from10965.48 laying10965.72 off10966.04 educators10966.44 to10967.16 key10967.96 staffs,10968.36 eliminating10969.24 essential10970.04 programs10970.52 as10971 you10971.24 heard10971.4 from10971.64 our10971.8 students,10972.04 including10973 the10973.48 arts10973.64 and10973.88 musics10974.12 and10974.44 advanced10974.68 placement.10975.16 Second,10976.12 we10976.52 need10976.68 to10976.92 fix10977.08 the10977.32 charter10977.48 school10977.88 tuition10978.2 reimbursement.10978.68 Every10979.58 single10979.9 year,10980.14 we10980.38 lose10980.61 significant10980.93 funds10981.5 when10982.22 a10982.38 student10982.45 goes10982.85 to10983.25 a10983.98 charter10984.14 school.10984.53 And10985.5 that10987.09 impacts10987.5 critical10988.53 programs10989.01 and10989.58 students,10989.82 like10990.45 students10990.93 with10991.33 disabilities,10991.58 English10992.3 language10992.69 learners,10992.72
10992.74 SPEAKER110992.74 -10992.74 who10992.74 are10992.76 less10992.79 likely10992.81 to10992.83 attend10992.85 charter10992.88 schools.10992.9 You10992.92 heard10992.95
10992.97 SPEAKER6310992.97 -10992.97 from10992.97 the10992.99 students10993.01 and10993.58
11004.7 renovated,11004.7 and11005.18 sustainable,11005.34 powerful11006.06 buildings.11006.62 We11008.24 also11008.4 must11008.8 expand11009.11 community11009.75 schools11010.24 so11011.03 that11011.19 we11011.35 provide11011.67 support11012.64 for11013.03 the11013.27 whole11013.43 child.11013.67 These11014.24 are11014.56 critical11014.72 investments,11015.19 and11015.59 you'll11015.75 hear11016.08 from,11016.48 my11017.43 colleagues11017.59 about11018.24 others11018.56 as11018.95 well.11019.11
11022.1 SPEAKER6411022.1 -11022.1 Thank11022.1 you.11022.34 Good11022.9 afternoon,11023.14 members11023.7 of11024.1 the11024.18 joint11024.26 committee.11024.58 My11025.22 name11025.38 is11025.54 Eric11025.7 Berg.11026.02 I'm11026.34 a11026.5 2511026.58 year11027.06 elementary11027.46 teacher11027.94 and11028.18 currently11028.34 serving11028.66 as11028.98 president11029.14 of11029.62 the11029.7 Boston11029.78 Teachers11030.1 Union.11030.5 We11032.26 were11032.42 stunned11032.66 when11033.14 we11033.38 found11033.54 out11033.78 in11034.02 the11034.18 proposed11034.34 budget11034.94 that11035.1 Boston11035.26 Public11035.58 Schools11035.98 was11036.38 slated11036.53 for11036.85 a11037.02 net11037.18 cut11037.5 in11037.74 school11037.98 funding11038.3 for11038.61 f11038.85 y11039.02 2611039.26 at11039.9 a11040.06 time11040.14 when11040.38 our11040.61 enrollment11040.77 is11041.26 finally11041.5 beginning11041.98 to11042.38 increase.11042.61 Boston11043.5 is11044.06 nearly11044.22 alone11044.61 in11045.02 seeing11045.18 a11045.42 net11045.58 decrease,11045.82 and11046.38 this11046.53 is11046.69 because11046.85 the11047.58 slight11047.74 growth11048.14 in11048.38 chapter11048.53 7011048.94 funding,11049.34 which11049.66 is11049.9 barely11050.16 over11050.48 1%,11050.64 is11051.44 more11051.6 than11051.84 offset11052 by11052.48 a11052.64 significant11052.88 decrease11053.44 in11053.92 charter11054.16 school11054.56 tuition11054.88 reimbursement.11055.36 Here's11056.4 how11056.64 that11056.8 inequity11057.04 can11057.6 be11057.76 fixed.11057.92 First,11058.88 we11059.28 are11059.52 asking11059.68 that11060.08 the11060.32 state11060.48 fully11060.8 fund11061.12 charter11061.52 school11061.92 tuition11062.16 reimbursement11062.56 in11063.2 Boston.11063.36 Boston11064.27 currently11064.68 sends11065.16 all11065.64 of11065.8 its11065.88 state11066.11 aid11066.44 to11066.6 education11066.75 and11067.4 more11067.64 to11068.27 fund11068.44 charter11068.68 schools11069 in11069.32 our11069.4 city.11069.56 We're11070.11 asking11070.44 that11070.75 the11071 existing11071.16 formula11071.56 be11072.11 correctly11072.27 applied11072.68 so11073.08 that11073.24 Boston11073.4 does11073.8 not11074.03 suffer.11074.19 Second,11075.24 with11076.03 the11076.27 rising11076.43 cost11076.75 of11076.99 special11077.23 education11077.55 and11078.03 increasing11078.27 cuts11078.75 to11079.07 our11079.15 state11079.31 from11079.55 the11079.79 federal11079.95 government,11080.27 now11080.91 more11081.15 than11081.39 ever,11081.55 we11081.79 need11081.87 to11082.03 fully11082.19 fund11082.51 the11082.75 special11082.91 education11083.23 circuit11083.79 breaker11084.19 program.11084.51 While11085.47 considered11085.71 wealthy11086.27 for11086.67 chapter11086.83 7011087.15 purposes,11087.63 city11088.49 of11088.65 Boston11088.81 serves11089.28 a11089.52 student11089.69 population11090.08 that11090.65 is11090.89 more11091.05 like11091.2 that11091.44 of11091.6 a11091.77 gateway11091.92 city.11092.33 Nearly11092.89 22%11093.28 of11094.25 our11094.41 50,00011094.65 students11095.36 are11095.77 on11095.85 an11096 IEP.11096.25 Another11097.52 pressing11097.92 issue,11098.25 as11098.57 you've11098.73 heard,11098.89 is11099.13 the11099.28 rising11099.44 cost11099.85 of11100.17 transportation.11100.41 The11101.86 complexity11102.1 of11102.66 transportation11102.9 issues11103.54 in11103.86 Boston11104.02 include11104.42 serving11104.82 homeless11105.22 students11105.62 in11106.1 and11106.26 out11106.42 of11106.58 the11106.66 district,11106.82 out11107.54 of11107.78 district11107.86 special11108.34 ed11108.66 placements,11108.82 in11109.46 district11109.62 transportation11110.26 for11110.98 students11111.14 with11111.86 IEPs,11112.18 and11112.74 transportation11112.98 for11113.86 all11114.1 students11114.34 in11114.74 BPS,11114.98 charter,11115.62 and11116.1 parochial11116.34 schools.11116.9 A11118.23 fully11118.47 funded11118.78 program11119.18 like11119.58 those11119.82 of11120.06 the11120.23 past11120.39 would11120.7 play11120.94 a11121.1 significant11121.26 role11121.82 in11122.06 assisting11122.31 Boston11122.78 and11123.18 other11123.26 districts.11123.5 Boston11124.86 is11125.26 the11125.42 largest11125.58 district11125.9 in11126.31 the11126.47 state,11126.55 and11126.78 while11127.02 we're11127.18 moving11127.42 in11127.67 the11127.82 right11127.9 direction,11128.15 we11128.7 can't11128.78 do11129.1 it11129.26 alone.11129.42 K11130.7 1211130.94 education11131.42 was11132.53 funded11132.77 minimally11133.25 in11133.81 the11133.97 FSA11134.13 surplus,11134.61 so11135.17 we11135.41 need11135.49 to11135.65 fully11135.81 fund11136.05 charter11136.45 reimbursement,11136.85 special11137.73 ed11138.13 circuit11138.29 breaker,11138.69 and11139.01 transportation11139.25 to11140.13 allow11140.37 our11140.61 students11140.85 to11141.25 continue11141.41 to11141.89 flourish.11142.05 Thank11142.93 you11143.17 again11143.33 for11143.73 the11143.89 opportunity11144.05 to11144.69 speak.11144.85
11148.92 SPEAKER6511148.92 -11148.92 Good11148.92 afternoon,11149.25 members11149.97 of11150.28 the11150.36 committee11150.52 on11151 ways11151.17 and11151.4 means.11151.56 My11151.89 name11151.97 is11152.2 Lee11152.36 Nave.11152.6 I'm11152.92 an11153.08 Austin11153.25 resident,11153.56 BTU11154.13 staffer,11154.68 and11155.08 a11155.25 father11155.4 of11155.65 2,11155.81 including11156.36 a11156.76 411156.92 year11157.08 old11157.25 who11157.4 is11157.56 a11157.73 K11157.81 111157.97 student11158.2 at11158.52 the11158.68 Gartner11158.84 Pilot11159.25 Academy11159.56 in11159.97 Austin,11160.13 who11160.87 is11161.03 in11161.11 a11161.27 full11161.35 inclusion11161.75 classroom.11162.15 He11163.27 has11163.43 an11163.51 IEP11163.75 with11164.15 speech11164.39 delay11164.71 and11165.03 a11165.19 secondary11165.35 diagnosis11166.15 of11166.71 autism.11166.87 He11167.67 has11167.83 a11167.99 wonderful11168.15 teacher,11168.47 a11168.87 paraprofessional,11168.95 a11169.75 learning11169.91 specialist,11170.23 as11170.71 well11170.87 as11171.11 a11171.27 speech11171.43 speech11171.75 pathologist11172.23 for11172.95 his11173.11 speech11173.27 delay.11173.51 When11174.36 he11174.44 first11174.6 attended11174.92 the11175.17 Gartner,11175.41 now11175.81 211175.97 211176.28 years11176.6 ago,11176.92 he11177.41 had11177.56 a11177.89 vocabulary11178.13 so11178.84 small,11179.08 he11179.56 rarely11179.73 made11180.13 more11180.36 than11180.52 311180.76 word11181.08 sentences.11181.48 He11182.52 knew11182.76 about11182.92 2011183.25 words11183.48 in11183.73 total.11183.89 Now11184.68 he11184.92 both11185.17 fortunately11185.41 and11186.05 unfortunately11186.28 knows11187 thousands11187.33 of11187.73 words11187.89 and11188.32 uses11188.48 them11188.8 all11189.04 quite11189.28 frequently.11189.52 As11190.8 a11190.96 parent,11191.04 my11191.68 top11191.84 priority11192.08 is11192.48 my11192.64 child's11192.8 welfare.11193.12 As11193.84 a11193.96 union11194.08 organizer11194.56 for11195.04 the11195.2 largest11195.36 school11195.68 district11195.92 in11196.24 the11196.32 commonwealth,11196.48 my11197.2 job11197.36 is11197.6 to11197.76 advocate11197.84 for11198.16 our11198.32 educators11198.48 so11198.96 that11199.12 they11199.28 can11199.36 deliver11199.52 the11199.92 best11200 outcomes11200.32 possible11200.8 for11201.12 our11201.28 students.11201.52 In11202.4 my11202.56 child's11202.8 classroom,11203.11 he11203.59 is11203.67 blessed11203.83 to11204.08 have11204.16 a11204.32 fully11204.4 inclusive11204.64 classroom11205.03 with11205.44 the11205.59 services11205.67 he11206.08 needs.11206.32 However,11206.72 funding11207.19 issues11207.52 with11207.83 the11208 special11208.08 education11208.4 circuit11208.88 breaker11209.19 formula11209.52 would11210.24 potentially11210.48 harm11210.95 not11211.27 only11211.44 my11211.67 child's11211.83 needs,11212.16 but11212.4 those11212.56 of11212.8 the11212.88 2211213.03 percent11213.44 of11213.67 BPS11213.83 students11214.24 with11214.48 IAPs.11214.72 We11215.84 need11215.92 our11216.16 classroom11216.4 to11216.72 be11216.88 fully11217.04 funded11217.2 to11217.52 meet11217.6 the11217.76 needs11217.84 of11218.08 our11218.16 students11218.32 whom11218.72 need11219.12 us11219.36 the11219.6 most.11219.76 When11220.4 with11220.8 the11220.96 attacks11221.12 on11221.52 public11221.68 education11221.92 from11222.32 the11222.56 federal11222.64 government11222.96 with11223.28 massive11223.52 funding11223.84 cuts11224.16 already11224.56 occurring11224.8 and11225.2 more11225.28 looming,11225.52 it11226.08 is11226.16 time11226.32 we11226.56 utilize11226.72 the11227.2 entire11227.36 toolbox11227.68 at11228.16 this11228.32 level11228.48 of11228.88 state11228.96 government11229.28 to11229.91 fully11229.99 fund11230.31 special11230.55 education11230.94 services11231.42 for11231.75 our11231.91 young11231.99 people.11232.23 Thank11233.1 you.11233.34
11234.94 SPEAKER611234.94 -11234.94 Thank11234.94 you11235.19 very11235.42 much11235.67 for11235.91 that11236.07 testimony,11236.31 and11237.34 all11237.58 of11237.75 your11237.91 commitment.11238.31 Any11239.19 questions11239.5 from11239.99 the11240.23 committee?11240.63 I11242.54 don't11242.78 see11242.94 any,11243.18 but11243.34 your11243.58 testimony11243.9 together,11244.46 demonstrates11245.58 how11246.14 complex11246.38 this11247.42 issue11247.66 is.11248.06 Right?11248.54 And11248.86 then11249.1 just11249.26 as11249.5 you11249.66 said11249.74 so11249.98 beautifully,11250.14 it's11250.62 just11250.86 it's11251.1 gonna11251.26 take11251.58 the11251.74 entire11251.98 toolbox11252.54 to11253.74 fix11253.9 education11254.3 funding.11254.86 Thank11255.26 you11255.5 for11255.66 calling11255.9 for11256.14 it.11256.38 Thank11257.13 you.11257.36 Okay.11258.48 Next11258.81 up11259.13 I'm11259.6 just11259.84 pinch11260.08 hitting,11260.32 by11260.65 the11260.81 way.11260.97
11263.52 Next11263.52 up,11263.84 we11264 have,11264.16 Lisa,11264.89 Geisbond.11266.08
11269.3 After11269.3 Lisa,11269.7 Jessica11270.1 Corwin,11270.66 Brad11271.86 Morgan,11272.34 and11272.98 Kim11273.22 Craven.11273.7
11278.34 Did11278.34 I11278.5 pronounce11278.66 your11279.06 name11279.3 correctly,11279.62 Lisa?11280.1
11281.1 SPEAKER1611281.1 -11281.1 I11281.1 was11281.19 gonna11281.42 say11281.83 thank11282.15 you11282.31 for11282.55 pinch11282.86 hitting11283.19 and11283.5 for11283.75 pronouncing11284.07 my11284.78 last11285.02 name11285.26 correctly.11286.15 That's11286.63 a11286.86 rare11287.1 occurrence.11287.83 I11289.26 should11289.5 So11291.34 good11291.83 afternoon,11292.23 Senator11294.59 Commerford11295.07 and11295.87 Senator11296.67 Paolo.11297.31 Is11297.95 he11298.11 still11298.27 here?11298.43 No.11298.75 They're11299.31 both11299.63 here.11299.79
11300.11 SPEAKER611300.11 -11300.11 Both11300.11 the11300.35 chairs11300.43 are11300.75 here.11300.83 They11300.99 just11301.15 were11301.39 pulled11301.55 out11301.79 for11302.03 a11302.19 second,11302.35 but11302.67 with11302.91 the11303.15 the11303.47 entire11303.55 committee11303.87 is11304.19 listening.11304.35
11304.91 SPEAKER1611304.91 -11304.91 Okay.11304.91 Thank11305.31 you11305.55 for11305.79 the11305.95 opportunity11306.11 to11306.83 speak11306.99 to11307.31 you11307.39 all11307.63 today.11308.27 My11308.67 name11308.83 is11308.99 Lisa11309.31 Geisbond.11309.63 I'm11310.75 the11310.99 executive11311.23 director11311.7 of11312.1 Citizens11312.35 for11312.83 Public11313.15 Schools,11313.47 which11313.94 is11314.19 a11314.35 statewide11314.67 public11315.31 education11315.63 advocacy11316.43 organization.11317.23 CPS11319.15 is11319.78 111319.94 of11320.19 1511320.35 organizations11321.07 in11322.02 United11322.35 for11322.96 our11323.36 Future,11323.44 which11325.12 has11325.36 identified11325.6 at11326.32 least11326.48 411326.8 high11327.28 priority11327.68 school11328.48 funding11328.72 gaps11329.12 that11329.44 need11329.6 to11329.76 be11329.92 addressed11330.16 during11330.48 what11330.72 is11330.88 a,11331.6 as11331.84 you've11332 heard11332.24 so11332.56 far11332.8 today,11333.04 full11333.44 scale11333.76 crisis11334.16 that11334.64 affects11334.88 every11335.6 district11335.92 and11336.48 school11336.72 in11337.12 the11337.28 Commonwealth.11337.44 111338.9 critical11339.3 area11339.85 that11340.17 could11340.42 be11340.66 ameliorated11340.9 if11341.61 we11341.77 applied11341.93 these11342.33 funding11342.58 fixes11343.06 is11343.61 the11343.85 current11344.09 mental11344.98 and11345.38 behavioral11345.61 health11346.25 crisis.11346.66 This11347.93 crisis11348.33 cuts11348.9 across11349.14 every11350.5 group11350.82 of11351.06 students11351.3 and11351.85 families11352.01 by11352.82 income,11353.06 race,11353.85 ethnicity,11354.52 language11355.32 ability,11355.8 and11356.84 whether11357.08 they11357.4 have11357.56 special11357.72 learning11358.12 needs11358.68 or11359 not.11359.16 Talk11360.12 to11360.36 any11360.68 teacher11361.16 or11361.56 paraprofessional11361.8 and11362.76 you'll11362.92 hear11363.24 countless11364.04 stories11364.68 of11365.24 students11365.4 whose11365.96 dysregulation11366.36 and11368.27 trauma11368.52 disrupts11369.56 their11370.11 own11370.35 learning,11370.59 those11371.64 of11371.95 their11372.19 classmates,11372.52 and11373.32 taxes11373.72 the11374.27 strength11374.52 and11375.08 patience11375.32 of11376.44 those11376.59 working11376.92 to11377.32 educate11377.48 them.11377.95 Just11379.08 111379.48 story11379.8 that11380.19 touched11380.59 my11381 heart11381.16 deeply11382.06 was11382.38 that11382.7 of11382.86 a11383.02 sixth11383.18 grade11383.42 student11383.74 whose11384.62 mother11384.94 was11385.26 recently11385.5 murdered11386.06 and11387.42 her11387.74 father11387.98 was11388.38 the11388.62 prime11388.78 suspect.11389.1 Imagine11391.02 the11391.42 trauma11391.66 this11392.14 girl11392.46 is11392.86 dealing11393.02 with11393.42 and11394.02 how11394.27 it11394.35 might11394.5 affect11394.75 her11395.07 ability11395.31 to11395.7 learn11395.86 and11396.19 thrive11396.42 in11396.75 school.11396.99 There's11398.5 a11398.83 lot11398.91 of11399.15 focus11399.23 on11399.78 how11399.94 we11400.19 are11400.42 still11400.67 trying11401.39 to11401.63 recover11401.78 from11402.19 the11402.35 learning11402.5 loss11402.91 that11403.23 stemmed11403.47 from11403.86 the11404.02 COVID11404.19 pandemic.11404.58 But11405.7 look11406.1 behind11406.35 the11406.75 test11406.91 scores11407.23 that11408.97 represent11409.13 lost11409.61 learning11410.17 in11410.57 math11410.81 and11411.05 reading,11411.29 and11411.61 you'll11411.85 often11412.09 find11412.41 mental11412.73 health11413.05 and11413.37 behavioral11413.61 health11414.25 issues11414.65 that11415.69 underlie11416.09 students'11416.73 difficulty11417.37 in11418.41 catching11418.65 up.11418.97 The11419.77 crisis11419.93 is11420.49 real,11420.65 and11421.29 so11421.53 are11421.69 the11421.93 facts11422.01 about11422.41 what11422.65 is11422.89 required11423.13 to11424.06 address11424.3 it11424.61 in11424.85 terms11424.93 of11425.17 resources11425.33 to11425.98 fix11426.22 these11426.53 yawning11427.09 funding11427.57 gaps.11427.9 First11429.09 on11429.41 the11429.65 list11429.73 of11430.14 United11430.38 for11430.77 our11431.01 Future11431.25 priorities11431.57 is11432.22 fixing11432.53 the11433.41 inflation11433.73 gap11434.38 because11434.93 as11435.57 a11436.39 letter11436.55 that11436.87 we11437.03 wrote11437.35 states,11437.75 the11438.23 operational11438.47 costs11439.11 for11439.43 school11439.67 districts11439.99 continue11440.55 to11441.19 soar11441.43 at11442.63 a11442.87 rate11442.95 that11443.67 state11443.91 education11444.31 funding11444.79 does11445.27 not11445.43 offset.11445.67 Fixing11447.03 this11447.35 gap11447.59 would11447.83 help11448.07 fund11448.31 staffing11448.63 in11449.19 terms11449.35 of11449.59 counselors11450.44 and11451.08 other11451.33 support11452.44 people11452.84 to11453.17 identify11453.56 and11454.36 address11454.6 mental11455.97 and11456.28 behavioral11456.44 health11456.92 needs11457.25 of11457.48 students.11457.65 It's11458.92 true11459.25 that11459.56 the11459.89 crisis11459.97 is11460.52 real11460.76 and11461.08 daunting,11461.33 but11461.81 I11461.97 personally11462.05 witnessed11463.33 the11463.81 miraculous11463.97 growth11464.68 that11465.32 can11465.56 occur11465.8 when11466.36 students11466.68 suffering11467.08 mental11467.48 and11467.88 behavioral11468.04 health11468.52 challenges11468.84 get11470.04 the11470.2 supports11470.44 that11470.92 they11471.16 need.11471.32 We11472.2 are11472.52 a11472.68 wealthy11472.84 state.11473.24 Let's11473.64 marshal11474.04 our11474.44 resources11474.68 so11475.4 that11475.64 all11475.88 of11476.04 our11476.2 students11476.36 can11476.92 thrive.11477.16 And11478.04 thank11478.28 you11478.44 again.11478.68
11481.13 SPEAKER311481.13 -11481.13 Thank11481.13 you11481.44 so11481.68 much,11481.76 Lisa,11482.08 for11482.49 for11482.73 your11482.97 testimony.11483.28 I11484.25 see11484.33 there's11484.49 no11484.65 other11484.89 quest11485.05 is11485.44 there11485.52 questions?11485.68 No?11486.49 We11487.52 will11487.68 move11487.92 on.11488.17 Thank11488.41 you.11488.65 With,11489.44 Jessica11490.17 Corwin.11490.81 And,11492.34 after11493.22 Jessica,11493.62 we'll11494.02 have,11494.26 Brad11494.9 Morgan.11495.46
11498.9 SPEAKER6611498.9 -11498.9 Thank11498.9 you11499.14 for11499.3 the11499.46 opportunity11499.62 to11500.18 speak11500.26 today.11500.58 My11500.9 name11501.06 is11501.22 Jessica11501.38 Corwin.11501.86 I'm11502.26 a11502.42 proud11502.58 public11502.82 school11503.14 parent,11503.46 teacher,11503.86 and11504.18 the11504.34 chair11504.42 of11504.66 the11504.74 Sunderland11504.9 School11505.38 Committee.11505.62 I'm11506.56 here11506.8 today11506.88 to11507.27 join11507.35 the11507.51 chorus11507.59 sounding11508.15 the11508.48 urgency11508.64 of11509.35 rural11509.51 school11509.75 aid,11510.07 fully11510.4 funding11510.56 rural11511.03 school11511.35 aid11511.59 at11511.83 $60,000,00011511.99 as11512.95 recommended11513.11 by11513.51 the11513.67 legislative11513.83 commission11514.31 on11514.72 the11514.8 fiscal11514.95 health11515.27 of11515.51 rural11515.67 school11515.99 districts11516.23 in11516.64 2022.11516.8 In11518.31 addition11518.48 to11518.8 the11518.88 challenges11519.03 that11519.43 all11519.59 public11519.83 schools11520.07 across11520.4 the11520.72 Commonwealth11520.8 share,11521.35 rural11521.59 schools11522.07 schools11522.37 face11522.69 an11522.85 additional11523.01 reality.11523.49 Because11524.29 of11524.61 our11524.69 low11524.85 enrollment,11525.09 we11525.57 are11525.73 not11525.81 able11525.97 to11526.13 achieve11526.29 the11526.61 same11526.69 efficiencies11526.93 of11527.49 scale11527.65 as11528.29 our11528.45 suburban11528.61 and11529.01 urban11529.17 counterparts.11529.49 A11530.69 public11530.85 school11531.17 requires11531.49 a11531.81 superintendent,11531.97 a11532.61 business11532.77 manager,11533.17 a11533.65 director11533.81 of11534.13 special11534.29 education,11534.61 a11535.09 principal,11535.33 a11535.81 school11535.97 secretary,11536.37 a11536.85 school11537.01 nurse,11537.25 and11537.73 a11537.94 school11538.1 custodian11538.35 regardless11538.91 of11539.23 whether11539.39 it11539.63 serves11539.7 60011540.02 students11540.5 or11540.83 10011540.99 students.11541.47 Because11542.5 of11542.83 this,11542.91 the11543.15 commission11543.31 found11543.63 that11543.86 it11544.02 costs11544.1 on11544.35 average11544.5 17%11544.83 more11545.63 per11545.86 student11546.02 to11546.35 provide11546.5 a11546.83 basic11546.91 education11547.31 in11547.7 a11547.86 small11548.02 school11548.27 district11548.42 compared11548.83 to11549.15 larger11549.31 school11549.63 systems.11549.86 That11550.81 difference11551.05 rises11551.37 to11551.69 23%11551.93 more11552.73 cost11553.05 per11553.29 student11553.53 for11553.77 a11554.01 basic11554.09 education11554.41 if11555.13 that11555.29 small11555.53 school11555.77 district11556.01 is11556.33 also11556.49 regional11556.73 as11557.21 most11557.45 of11557.69 us11557.85 already11558.17 are.11558.57 This11559.61 difference11559.85 is11560.17 not11560.33 yet11560.49 accounted11560.73 for11561.13 in11561.29 chapter11561.45 7011561.77 funding11562.17 formulas.11562.57 Rural11563.59 schools11563.83 advocates11564.07 are11564.56 already11564.8 pushing11565.03 for11565.35 the11565.59 inclusion11565.67 of11566.07 a11566.23 rurality11566.4 or11566.95 sparsity11567.11 factor11567.67 in11568.07 the11568.23 next11568.31 chapter11568.56 7011568.88 overhaul.11569.35 But11569.92 in11570.07 the11570.23 meantime,11570.4 rural11570.88 aid11571.19 is11571.43 not11571.51 just11571.75 a11571.92 Band11572 Aid.11572.23 It's11572.56 an11572.8 emergency11573.03 life11573.59 vest11573.92 for11574.4 many11574.56 of11574.8 our11574.95 districts.11575.11 Rural11576.21 communities11576.53 have11577.01 already11577.17 regionalized11577.49 our11578.53 schools.11578.69 We've11579.01 closed11579.33 buildings,11579.57 reduced11580.13 services11580.53 and11580.93 programming,11581.09 and11581.49 cut11581.65 costs.11581.97 The11582.77 reason11582.93 that11583.17 I11583.25 ran11583.49 for11583.73 school11583.89 committee11584.21 in11584.61 the11584.77 first11584.93 place11585.09 is11585.41 that11585.49 rural11585.73 towns11586.05 pay11586.29 1811586.53 of11586.85 the11586.93 lowest11587.09 2011587.41 average11587.73 teacher11587.97 salaries11588.37 in11588.69 the11588.77 state.11588.93 Many11590.25 towns11590.49 have11590.81 repeatedly11590.97 passed11591.44 overrides11591.84 simply11592.33 to11592.57 remain11592.81 operational11593.2 and11593.6 some11593.84 are11594.08 now11594.17 pushing11594.33 up11594.57 against11594.73 the11594.97 levee11595.13 ceiling11595.44 meaning11595.92 that11596.25 they11596.33 have11596.49 nowhere11596.73 else11597.05 to11597.2 go.11597.36 The11598.17 very11598.33 real11598.57 fear11598.81 is11599.05 that11599.13 these11599.28 districts11599.52 will11599.92 have11600.08 to11600.25 start11600.41 cutting11600.65 the11600.89 few11601.05 remaining11601.2 programs11601.6 that11602 keep11602.17 students11602.41 engaged,11602.89 then11603.95 families11604.19 with11604.51 means11604.75 will11605.07 abandon11605.23 their11605.63 public11605.79 schools11606.11 as11606.35 a11606.59 result11606.67 and11606.99 districts11607.23 will11607.63 enter11607.79 a11608.11 so11608.19 called11608.27 death11608.59 spiral11608.91 with11609.31 no11609.55 known11609.71 exit.11610.03 In11611.23 case11611.39 you're11611.63 already11611.79 mentally11612.03 critiquing11612.59 my11613.07 plea11613.23 for11613.47 help,11613.71 please11614.11 know11614.35 that11614.51 further11614.75 regionalization11615.15 is11615.79 not11615.95 a11616.19 viable11616.27 option11616.67 for11617.07 many11617.23 of11617.47 our11617.55 districts.11617.71 Some11618.67 of11618.82 our11618.98 rural11619.06 districts11619.39 are11619.86 already11620.02 maximally11620.26 geographically11620.98 regionalized11621.63 with11622.18 6,11622.42 7,11622.75 or11623.06 811623.23 towns11623.63 coming11624.02 together11624.34 to11625.15 operate11625.39 a11625.7 very11625.78 small11626.02 number11626.34 of11626.58 schools.11626.75 They11627.31 have11627.47 students11627.63 who11627.94 spend11628.02 an11628.34 hour11628.42 each11628.75 direction11628.9 on11629.23 the11629.39 bus11629.55 each11629.78 day,11630.02 which11630.34 is11630.58 a11630.75 serious11630.82 equity11631.23 issue.11631.55 These11632.42 students11632.66 aren't11632.98 able11633.22 to11633.46 participate11633.78 in11634.26 after11634.5 school11634.74 programs,11635.06 including11635.46 sports,11635.86 because11636.18 there11636.42 hasn't11636.58 been11636.74 a11636.98 late11637.06 bus11637.38 for11637.62 decades.11637.86 They11638.74 can't11638.9 do11639.14 homework11639.3 on11639.62 the11639.78 bus11639.86 because11640.1 rural11640.42 cell11640.82 signals11641.06 don't11641.46 exist11641.62 on11642.02 the11642.1 entire11642.18 bus11642.58 route11642.9 and11643.3 teenagers11643.54 can't11644.18 work11644.42 after11644.66 school11644.9 jobs11645.22 because11645.54 of11645.78 time11645.94 in11646.49 transit.11646.65 Add11647.52 this11647.6 to11647.69 the11647.77 bare11648.08 bones11648.33 curricular11648.97 offerings11649.13 that11649.6 rural11649.69 districts11649.92 are11650.33 struggling11650.49 to11650.97 afford11651.13 and11651.6 it's11651.85 easy11652 to11652.33 see11652.41 why11652.49 rural11652.73 students11653.05 are11653.44 being11653.52 left11653.77 behind.11654.08 The11655.05 Governor11655.2 has11655.6 recommended11655.85 only11656.41 level11656.73 funding11656.97 rural11657.36 aid11657.69 at11657.92 $16,000,00011658.17 in11659.13 FY26.11659.28 Accounting11660.56 for11660.88 inflation,11661.12 that's11661.6 roughly11661.76 only11662.08 a11662.32 quarter11662.48 of11662.8 the11662.96 need11663.12 that11663.52 your11663.68 own11663.92 legislative11664.16 commission11664.64 identified11665.04 in11665.6 2022.11665.76 Because11667.12 every11667.44 student11667.68 in11668 the11668.16 Commonwealth11668.24 deserves11668.8 a11669.12 high11669.2 quality11669.36 education,11669.76 please11670.4 prioritize11670.72 the11671.28 full11671.36 funding11671.52 of11671.84 rural11671.92 aid11672.24 at11672.4 $60,000,00011672.56 in11673.68 FY11673.84 26.11674.24 Thank11674.72 you.11674.96
11676.45 SPEAKER311676.45 -11676.45 Thank11676.45 you11676.61 very11676.85 much,11677.01 school11677.33 committee11677.5 woman,11677.81 Corwin.11678.45 Yes.11680.93 Vice11681.65 chairman11681.9 Comford.11682.22
11683.33 SPEAKER611683.33 -11683.33 I11683.33 I11683.45 just11683.58 wanted11683.81 to11684.06 acknowledge11684.22 your11684.69 work11684.85 in11685.09 Sunderland,11685.25 which11685.73 has11685.9 been11686.06 exemplary,11686.3 but11686.85 your11687.01 statewide11687.25 effort11687.9 to11688.69 try11688.93 to11689.17 name11689.98 and11690.38 concretize11690.61 the11692.02 specific11692.18 needs11692.74 of11693.06 rural11693.22 schools11693.62 are11694.02 is11694.34 really11694.58 unparalleled,11694.98 and11695.94 I'm11696.1 so11696.26 grateful.11696.5 What11697.54 we're11697.78 hearing11698.02 today11698.26 is11698.66 very11698.82 interesting.11699.14 Right?11699.54 Because11699.78 in11700.1 for11700.34 some11700.58 districts,11700.82 getting11702.42 the11702.74 inflation11702.9 factor11703.54 would11704.26 be11704.5 the11704.74 money11704.9 shot.11705.22 Right?11705.46 That's11705.7 what11705.94 they11706.1 need.11706.34 Right?11706.9 But11707.4 that11707.56 that's11707.8 not11707.88 what11708.11 a11708.35 rural11708.51 district11708.83 needs.11709.23 In11709.4 fact,11709.56 the11709.72 inflation11709.88 factor11710.27 won't11710.67 do11710.83 anything11711.07 for11711.64 rural11711.88 or11712.19 declining11712.43 enrollment11713.07 schools.11713.56 And11714.27 that's11714.43 why11714.75 we11714.99 need11715.15 to11715.48 look11715.72 at11715.88 this11716.03 comprehensively11716.35 as11717.72 a11717.95 state,11718.11 which11718.67 is11718.83 what11719.07 I11719.23 hope11719.4 we11719.56 get11719.72 done11719.95 really11720.19 soon.11720.51 Thank11720.83 you.11721.07
11721.48 SPEAKER6711721.48 -11721.48 Thank11721.48 you.11721.72 Senator11721.95 Comerford.11722.35
11725.72 SPEAKER111725.72 -11725.72 If11725.72 anyone11725.88 needs11726.36 any11726.76 ASL11727.16 translation,11728.28 please11729.08 let11729.48 us11729.64 know,11729.8 and11731.8 we'll11732.04 move11732.2 you11732.44 right11732.6 up.11732.84
11735.73 Next,11735.73 we're11736.06 gonna11736.22 have11736.53 Brad11736.85 Morgan,11737.25 and11738.77 on11739.01 deck11739.25 is11739.58 Kim11740.06 Craven.11740.38
11769.65 SPEAKER6811769.65 -11769.65 Good11769.65 afternoon11769.97 to11770.36 the11770.52 house11770.6 ways11770.84 ways11771.17 and11771.33 means.11771.57 Thank11771.73 you11771.97 for11772.05 having11772.28 me11772.6 here11772.76 today,11773 and11773.17 I11773.33 appreciate11773.49 the11773.89 opportunity11774.05 to11774.6 speak.11774.76 My11775.42 name11775.58 is11775.66 Brad11775.9 Morgan.11776.22 I'm11776.62 currently11776.86 in11777.1 my11777.26 seventh11777.34 year11777.66 as11777.9 a11778.06 superintendent11778.14 of11778.86 the11779.02 North11779.1 Middlesex11779.34 Regional11779.82 School11780.3 District.11780.54 I'm11781.34 here11781.5 today11781.74 to11782.06 advocate11782.22 for11782.7 additional11782.86 school11783.34 funding11783.58 for11783.9 NM11784.06 and11784.46 other11784.62 like11784.86 districts.11785.1 I'm11785.5 sure11785.66 you've11785.9 heard11786.06 from11786.3 many11786.46 of11786.86 those11787.02 like11787.26 districts11787.5 today.11787.98 The11789.34 current11789.69 funding11789.94 formula11790.17 for11790.58 regional11790.82 schools,11791.14 especially11791.53 those11792.09 with11792.33 little11792.58 to11792.82 no11792.9 commercial11793.22 tax11793.61 base,11793.85 does11794.58 not11794.82 come11794.98 remotely11795.22 close11795.69 to11796.25 adequately11796.5 addressing11796.98 the11797.45 needs11797.61 of11797.85 our11798.02 students.11798.17 The11799.06 formula11799.22 continues11799.77 to11800.25 to11800.58 be11800.74 based11800.9 primarily11801.22 on11801.77 enrollment11801.94 rather11802.78 than11803.02 student11803.18 needs.11803.58 And11804.38 proposition11804.54 211805.1 and11805.26 a11805.42 half11805.58 does11805.74 not11805.98 provide11806.14 enough11806.46 funding11806.7 for11807.1 our11807.34 annual11807.42 budget11807.82 drivers,11808.14 all11808.94 of11809.1 which11809.26 are11809.58 more11809.74 than11809.9 double11810.06 prop11810.54 211810.86 and11810.94 a11811.06 half.11811.18 These11811.98 include11812.22 health11812.62 insurance,11812.86 transportation,11813.82 and11814.7 collective11814.86 bargaining11815.26 agreements.11815.82 In11816.89 addition,11817.13 special11817.52 education11818 and11818.48 multilingual11818.65 costs11819.28 continue11820.08 to11820.56 increase11820.73 exponentially11821.28 and11822.48 are11822.73 well11822.89 beyond11823.13 our11823.44 means.11823.6 For11824.08 f11824.32 y11824.48 2511824.73 alone,11825.28 we11825.92 are11826.08 already11826.25 close11826.56 to11826.81 $2,000,00011826.97 over11828.08 budget,11828.4 mostly11828.97 due11829.36 to11829.52 out11829.68 of11829.76 district11829.92 placements.11830.32 Both11831.64 of11831.8 these11831.88 are11832.28 both11832.36 federally11832.68 and11833.08 state11833.4 mandated.11833.72 For11834.84 f11835.08 y11835.32 25,11835.56 we11836.36 reduced11836.68 our11837 budget11837.16 by11837.56 $1,000,00011837.72 in11839.16 order11839.32 for11839.64 it11839.8 to11839.88 be11840.04 passed11840.2 by11840.44 our11840.68 311840.76 member11841 communities.11841.96 Excuse11842.6 me.11843 This11843.74 was11843.9 accomplished11844.22 with11844.85 a11845.09 reduction11845.17 of11845.66 1711845.9 staff11846.77 members11847.09 from11847.42 our11847.66 general11847.74 education11848.14 staff,11848.61 only11849.09 general11849.33 education11849.74 staff.11850.3 For11851.09 f11851.33 y11851.5 26,11851.82 we11852.53 are11852.77 looking11852.93 at11853.17 a11853.33 nominal11853.5 2.25%11854.06 increase,11855.58 well11856.48 below11856.72 level11857.2 services.11857.52 And11858.32 to11858.48 get11858.72 there,11858.88 we11859.36 must11859.52 reduce11859.84 by11860.4 another11860.56 2011861.36 to11862 2311862.24 additional11862.8 staff,11863.44 as11864.16 well11864.24 as11864.48 cuts11864.64 from11864.88 curriculum,11865.12 technology,11866.08 and11866.96 maintenance.11867.2 This11869.17 will11869.42 result11869.58 in11869.98 class11870.14 sizes11870.45 of11870.77 2811870.93 to11871.5 33,11871.65 k11872.69 to11872.93 12.11873.17 Without11875.17 the11875.58 override,11875.81 and11876.85 this11877.01 does11877.25 require11877.5 an11877.9 override,11878.14 the11878.53 2.25%,11878.61 our11879.81 class11880.06 sizes11880.3 will11880.69 go11880.85 to11881.01 3511881.25 to11882.22 42.11882.38 My11883.95 question11884.11 to11884.51 each11884.67 of11884.91 you11884.99 is11885.55 would11885.79 you11885.95 send11886.19 your11886.35 child11886.59 to11887.47 a11887.63 district11887.79 that11888.19 has11888.35 class11888.59 sizes11888.91 like11889.31 NM,11889.55 whether11890.19 the11890.51 override11890.67 passes11890.99 or11891.47 not?11891.63 What11892.43 is11892.67 most11892.83 glaring11893.07 for11893.79 NM11894.03 in11894.35 particular11894.51 is11895.39 that11895.55 from11895.71 02/200111895.95 to11897.47 f11897.79 y11898.03 25,11898.27 NM11899.86 has11900.19 seen11900.43 a11900.83 2.5%11901.07 increase11902.51 in11902.91 total11903.07 in11903.39 chapter11903.55 78,11904.02 whereas11905.07 the11905.47 state11905.63 average11905.86 for11906.27 that11906.51 same11906.67 2411907.15 year11907.7 period11908.02 is11908.58 75%.11908.83 NM11910.58 was11910.83 2.5.11911.07 The11912.75 Commonwealth11912.91 of11913.39 Massachusetts11913.63 continues11914.35 to11914.75 find11914.91 money11915.15 money11915.55 for11915.71 other11915.87 emergencies,11916.19 yet11916.83 the11917.07 state11917.15 continues11917.87 to11918.35 not11918.43 adequately11918.67 fund11919.23 public11919.47 education11919.87 and11920.59 is11920.83 falling11920.99 short11921.31 of11921.63 meeting11921.79 the11922.03 needs11922.11 of11922.43 our11922.51 children,11922.67 our11923.47 future.11923.71 In11924.95 closing,11925.11 I11925.43 would11925.59 like11925.75 to11925.99 address11926.07 a11926.4 quote11926.48 made11926.72 by11926.95 governor11927.11 Healy11927.43 in11927.83 a11927.99 press11928.07 release11928.31 on11928.64 April11928.8 1,11929.11 where11929.43 she11929.67 stated,11929.92 at11931.35 a11931.59 time11931.67 when11931.92 students11932.07 are11932.48 still11932.64 struggling11932.88 to11933.27 recover11933.43 from11933.75 the11933.99 pandemic,11934.15 we11935.11 need11935.27 to11935.51 be11935.67 doing11935.83 everything11936.07 we11936.56 can11936.72 to11937.03 address11937.27 learning11937.59 loss11938.59 and11938.83 the11939.07 youth11939.23 mental11939.47 health11939.79 crisis.11940.19 While11941.39 this11941.63 was11941.87 a11942.03 reaction11942.11 to11942.51 the11942.59 federal11942.75 government's11943.07 dismantling11943.55 of11944.11 the11944.19 Department11944.35 of11944.75 Education,11944.91 the11945.79 governor11946.03 does11946.51 not11946.75 model11946.91 the11947.47 behavior11947.71 she11948.11 expects11948.27 from11948.59 the11948.75 federal11948.83 government.11949.23 I11950.13 know11950.28 I'm11950.52 not11950.6 alone11950.84 in11951.25 my11951.49 reasoning11951.65 for11952.13 supporting11952.28 the11952.6 millionaires11952.76 tax.11953.33 We11954.52 all11954.76 thought11954.92 it11955.08 was11955.25 to11955.41 help11955.49 public11955.73 education.11956.05 If11956.84 we11957.08 continue11957.25 down11957.73 this11957.97 path,11958.2 it11958.68 is11958.84 a11959 path11959.08 of11959.33 failure.11959.49 I11960.36 urge11960.6 you11960.84 to11961 focus11961.17 what11961.57 is11961.73 within11961.97 your11962.2 control.11962.44 Thank11963.25 you.11963.57 Thank11964.61 you.11964.69
11967.49 SPEAKER311967.49 -11967.49 Can11967.49 we11967.81 clear11967.97
11971.65 SPEAKER611971.65 -11971.65 it?11971.65 Can11971.94
11972.23 SPEAKER111972.23 -11972.23 we11972.23 Any11972.8 questions?11973.09 Yes.11973.97
11977.33 Rapooms?11977.33
11980.92 SPEAKER311980.92 -11980.92 What,11980.92 towns11982.05 and11982.44 cities11982.68 do11983.17 you11983.33 serve?11984.84
11985.17 SPEAKER6811985.17 -11985.17 So11985.17 North11985.57 Middlesex11985.81 Regional11986.2 School11986.6 District11986.84 is11987.41 Pepperell,11987.81 Townsend,11988.36 and11988.84 Ashby.11989 You're11990.52 welcome.11990.68
11997.15 SPEAKER111997.15 -11997.15 Rub11997.15 Scottsdale.11997.55
12000.67 Oh,12000.67 yeah.12000.83
12001.31 SPEAKER6812001.31 -12001.31 Thank12001.31 you12001.55 for12001.63 the12001.79 opportunity.12001.95 I12002.43 appreciate12002.59 your12002.91 time.12003.07
12013.33 SPEAKER312013.33 -12013.33 Kim12013.33 Craven?12013.58
12015.09 SPEAKER4912015.09 -12015.09 Yes.12015.09
12015.58 SPEAKER312015.58 -12015.58 Yes.12015.58 Thank12015.82 you.12016.06
12016.69 SPEAKER6912016.69 -12016.69 Thank12016.69 you,12016.85 mister12017.09 chairman12017.42 and12017.82 members12017.98 of12018.3 the12018.45 committee12018.53 for12018.85 this12019.09 opportunity12019.33 to12019.9 speak12020.06 to12020.3 you12020.45 today.12020.61 My12021.59 name12021.75 is12021.99 Kim12022.23 Craven12022.39 and12022.87 I12023.03 am12023.19 a12023.35 member12023.43 of12023.83 the12024.07 school12024.23 committee12024.47 for12024.87 the12025.03 North12025.19 Middlesex12025.51 District.12026.15 I'm12027.27 also12027.51 the12027.83 cochair12027.99 of12028.55 the12028.71 economic12028.95 development12029.43 group,12030.07 which12030.55 is12030.79 612030.95 communities12031.27 in12031.75 the12031.91 first12032.07 Middlesex12032.31 District.12032.87 And12033.82 I12033.98 am12034.14 a12034.22 member12034.45 of12034.69 the12034.77 board12034.94 of12035.18 directors12035.25 of12035.66 our12035.82 food12036.06 bank,12036.3 and12036.85 I've12036.94 worked12037.18 in12037.42 the12037.58 public12037.74 safety12037.98 field12038.38 for12038.77 4012039.02 years.12039.25 I'm12040.53 here12040.77 today12041.1 to12041.66 act12041.9 to12042.22 ask12042.69 you12043.02 and12043.9 urge12044.22 you12044.53 to12045.1 act12045.25 on12045.66 the12045.82 real12045.98 and12046.38 growing12046.53 harm,12047.02 ironically,12047.9 caused12049.4 by12049.88 the12050.12 hold12050.28 harmless12050.76 policy12051.48 in12052.52 our12052.68 state's12053 education12053.64 funding12054.36 formula.12054.84 What12056.36 started12056.68 as12057.16 a12057.4 well12057.56 meaning12057.8 provision12058.2 to12058.84 protect12059.08 the12059.48 districts12059.72 has12060.76 become12061 a12061.4 barrier12061.56 to12062.36 equitable12062.68 funding.12063.32 Its12064.83 consequences12065.24 now12066.03 extend12066.6 far12067.08 beyond12067.4 the12067.8 classroom.12067.95 In12069.48 many12069.72 of12069.95 our12070.11 towns,12070.35 the12071.24 cost12071.4 of12071.72 level12071.95 funding12072.27 the12072.6 schools12072.76 has12073.64 become12073.88 a12074.19 burden12074.35 of12074.76 the12074.92 local12075.08 task12075.48 bears12075.88 either12076.68 through12077 cuts12077.24 or12078.11 additional12078.35 taxes12078.92 and12079.96 operational12080.28 overrides.12080.92 These12082.28 are12082.52 not12082.68 extras12082.92 that12083.4 we're12083.56 trying12083.88 to12084.36 fund.12084.6 We're12085.56 talking12085.96 about12086.28 retaining12087 the12087.4 basics.12087.64 Teachers,12088.52 programs,12089.32 and12090.28 keeping12090.52 class12090.92 sizes12091.24 manageable.12091.96 In12093.14 our12093.38 district,12093.61 Ashby,12094.49 Townsend12094.9 and12095.22 Pepperell,12095.38 we12096.57 will12096.81 have12096.98 lost12097.22 10%12097.77 of12098.9 the12099.06 teachers.12099.22 That's12100.33 4012100.65 positions12100.98 in12101.77 212102.01 years.12102.17 The12103.61 district12103.85 is12104.41 also12104.65 left12105.06 with12107.06 the12107.38 task12107.54 of12108.18 leaving12108.42 a12108.82 school12108.98 empty.12109.62 It's12111.06 the12111.3 only12111.46 school12111.78 in12112.26 our12112.5 community,12112.58 Ashby.12113.22 It12114.58 will12114.74 be12115.22 unoccupied12115.46 next12116.58 year.12116.82 It's12117.86 going12118.18 to12118.42 require12118.66 extensive12119.14 busing12119.7 in12120.1 our12120.26 district.12120.42 Our12121.38 district12121.54 is12122.1 8012122.43 square12122.67 miles.12122.99 The12125.23 cost12125.55 to12126.19 get12126.27 North12126.51 Middlesex12126.83 back12127.47 to12127.94 the12128.1 basics12128.27 is12129.47 1,900,000.012129.7 in12131.07 the12131.15 supplemental12131.31 budget.12132.02 And12133.55 to12133.7 stay12133.94 a12134.19 leader12134.35 in12135.94 the12136.18 commonwealth12136.34 and12137.22 in12137.46 our12137.62 communities,12137.78 we12138.58 need12138.82 your12138.98 help.12139.22 Further,12140.18 research12141.3 shows12141.86 that12142.26 a12142.5 downward12142.66 spiral12143.7 in12144.34 education12144.58 is12146.1 a12146.34 true12146.5 predictor12146.82 of12147.59 increases12147.83 in12148.31 crime.12148.56 We12149.92 need12150.07 to12150.31 preserve12150.48 our12150.95 ranking12151.11 as12151.51 112151.67 of12151.8 the12151.92 safest12152.07 states12152.56 in12152.8 our12152.95 nation.12153.19 For12154.31 perspective,12154.72 if12155.59 just12155.83 112156.15 child12156.48 falls12156.88 through12157.27 the12157.51 cracks12157.59 because12158.48 of12158.8 a12159.11 reduced12159.35 educational12159.92 effort,12160.64 it12161.36 will12161.52 cost12161.76 more12162.16 in12162.56 corrections12162.8 housing12163.36 and12163.92 lost12164.16 productivity12164.48 in12165.68 1012165.92 years12166.16 than12167.04 changing12167.28 our12167.6 budget12167.76 formula.12168.16 I12169.68 also12169.84 predict12170.24 that12170.8 the12170.96 cumulative12171.04 cuts12171.68 will12172.32 further12172.56 burden12173.12 our12173.6 unemployment12173.68 and12174.95 our12175.19 food12175.27 pantries12175.67 as12176.24 you12176.48 heard12176.56 from12176.88 the12177.03 Greater12177.11 Boston12177.43 Food12177.83 Bank.12178.08 Because12179.27 of12179.59 the12179.67 funding12179.83 need,12180.24 we're12180.64 putting12180.8 pressure12181.27 on12181.75 our12182 municipal12182.16 budget.12182.72 Many12183.67 across12184 the12184.4 state12184.56 are12185.03 seeking12185.19 overrides.12185.59 When12186.72 it12186.95 happens12187.11 at12187.83 the12188 expense12188.16 of12189.44 our12189.52 core12189.76 services,12190 our12190.88 communities12191.12 crumble.12191.68 Cuts12192.8 to12193.28 essential12193.52 services12194 at12194.64 senior12194.88 centers,12195.36 libraries,12196.24 recreation12197.12 departments,12197.76 and12198.32 in12198.56 public12198.64 safety12198.96 cause12200.64 a12201.36 downward12201.52 spiral.12202.08 This12202.64 pits12202.88 education12203.2 against12204 others.12204.4 While12205.16 investments12205.4 in12205.88 the12206.03 Commonwealth12206.11 are12206.75 occurring12206.92 everywhere,12207.32 this12208.27 is12208.51 truly12208.75 the12209.32 most12209.48 important12209.8 1.12210.27 You,12211.95 our12212.27 elected12212.51 officials,12213 can12213.64 make12213.8 the12214.03 change12214.27 the12215.88 change12216.11 for12216.35 our12216.59 future.12216.75 Thank12217.32 you.12217.56
12218.67 SPEAKER112218.67 -12218.67 Thank12218.67 you.12219 Rep12220.92 rep12221.64 Scottsdale.12222.12
12224.76 SPEAKER7012224.76 -12224.76 Thank12224.76 you,12225 mister12225.24 chair.12225.72 There12226.76 has12227.16 been12227.64 a12227.88 lot12228.04 of12228.28 testimony12228.44 today12229.24 about12229.88 the12230.28 education12230.52 funding12231.32 crisis12231.88 that12232.6 impacts12233.08 our12233.64 towns.12234.06 You12235.33 heard12235.81 from12236.22 112236.45 of12236.69 my12236.85 towns,12237.09 North12237.57 Middlesex.12237.9 I12238.93 have12239.25 312239.73 school12240.14 districts,12240.53 Lunenburg12241.17 and12242.3 Groton12242.45 and12242.85 Dunstable12243.09 will12243.65 also12243.9 be12244.22 testifying12244.45 today.12245.33 These12247.16 cuts12247.64 are12248.36 really12248.6 crippling12249.08 our12249.88 schools,12250.2 and12250.84 they12251 are12251.24 going12251.48 to12251.8 impact12252.04 the12252.68 future12252.84 of12253.32 our12253.56 children12253.8 and12254.44 their12254.68 education12255.08 and12255.88 their12256.12 future.12256.44 I12257.8 am12257.96 so12258.2 grateful12258.44 for12259 the12259.16 students12259.4 who12259.96 came12260.28 here12260.6 today12260.92 from12261.32 all12261.64 across12261.8 the12262.38 commonwealth12262.45 and12263.17 from12263.42 my12263.66 district.12263.9 Thank12264.85 you12265.09 for12265.42 making12265.66 that12266.14 effort.12266.45 And12267.73 I12268.06 especially12268.3 appreciated12269.09 hearing12269.81 people12270.45 say12270.93 as12271.5 they're12271.73 commenting12272.06 on12272.93 the12273.09 effect12273.25 to12273.81 their12273.98 particular12274.45 district,12275.09 students12275.66 were12276.22 recognizing12276.45 that12278.02 they12278.26 are12278.34 not12278.5 the12278.82 only12278.98 district12279.38 that12279.78 are12280.02 in12280.18 this12280.42 boat,12280.66 that12281.06 it12281.22 is12281.38 affecting12281.62 districts12282.26 across12282.9 the12283.38 Commonwealth.12283.54 23212285.06 districts12286.74 out12287.3 of12287.54 31612287.7 to12289.3 be12289.54 exact.12290.1 And12290.43 as12290.58 a12290.99 couple12291.15 of12291.55 people12291.63 have12292.02 commented,12292.27 that12293.07 really12293.39 is12293.86 a12294.27 failing12294.51 grade.12294.99 So12296.35 to12296.67 all12296.83 of12296.99 you12297.15 in12297.39 the12297.55 First12297.63 Middlesex,12297.94 which12298.75 is12298.99 where12299.23 Project12299.7 212300.19 1112300.43 started,12300.99 Project12301.55 212301.94 1112302.1 plus12302.63 is12302.95 an12303.03 effort12303.35 to12303.67 build12303.83 a12304.15 statewide12304.39 coalition12305.11 so12305.83 that12306.07 we12306.31 can12306.47 stand12306.79 united12307.27 and12307.91 we12308.15 can12308.31 work12308.63 on12308.87 these12309.03 issues,12309.43 both12310.07 on12310.55 the12310.71 funding12310.95 side,12311.51 which12312.55 is12312.79 critical12313.11 for12313.67 right12313.91 now12314.23 in12314.95 this12315.11 budget12315.35 season12315.91 and12316.39 for12316.55 our12316.79 schools12317.03 for12317.59 this12317.75 coming12318.09 year,12318.5 and12319.38 on12319.77 the12320.09 very12320.25 fundamental,12320.81 the12322.09 education,12322.33 budget12323.77 review12324.17 commission,12324.73 because12325.22 if12325.69 we12325.85 don't12326.17 fix12326.65 these12327.22 formulas12327.61 at12328.5 the12328.65 source,12328.81 we12330.09 are12330.33 going12330.5 to12330.81 have12330.98 this12331.22 problem12331.69 over12332.01 and12332.25 over.12332.41 So12332.73 thank12333.05 you12333.29 for12333.53 your12333.77 advocacy12334.09 and12334.81 your12335.05 efforts12335.29 in12335.77 coming12336.01 here12336.33 today.12336.57
12349.31 SPEAKER3412349.31 -12349.31 Chuck?12349.31
12351.95 SPEAKER7112351.95 -12351.95 Yes.12351.95 Yes.12352.35 I12354.11 think12354.27 I12354.51 am.12354.67 Good12356.43 afternoon.12356.75 My12358.19 name12358.35 is12358.59 Charles12358.75 Wachowicz.12359.24 I'm12360.55 a12360.79 proud12360.95 grandfather12361.35 to12361.99 212362.23 students12362.47 in12363.03 the12363.19 North12363.35 Middlesex12363.67 Regional12364.23 School12364.71 District,12364.95 and12365.91 I12366.15 serve12366.31 on12366.95 the12367.11 Peperol's12367.27 select12368.07 board.12368.47 It12369.67 is12369.83 an12369.99 honor12370.15 to12370.47 be12370.63 here12370.79 on12371.03 behalf12371.19 of12371.51 our12371.67 town12371.83 in12372.87 our12373.03 school12373.27 district.12373.59 I12374.8 come12374.95 to12375.19 you12375.35 today12375.51 with12376.56 a12376.8 sense12376.88 of12377.11 urgency.12377.27 This12378.88 is12379.11 a12379.19 critical12379.43 moment12379.83 for12380.16 our12380.4 schools12380.56 and12381.51 I12381.75 have12381.92 312382.16 specific12382.72 requests12383.35 I12384.56 respectfully12384.88 ask12385.51 you12385.75 to12386 consider.12386.08 First,12387.11 fix12388.82 the12389.38 funding12389.62 formula.12390.42 For12392.1 more12392.34 than12392.5 a12392.74 decade,12392.9 it12393.78 has12394.02 been12394.18 widely12394.34 acknowledged12394.82 that12395.46 this12395.7 formula12395.94 is12396.42 broken.12396.66 The12397.78 consequences12398.02 are12399.06 now12399.22 undeniable12399.7 and12400.82 unsustainable.12401.06 In12403.06 PEPPOL,12403.22 our12404.25 town's12404.5 education12405.06 costs12405.69 have12406.02 continued12406.25 to12406.74 grow12406.9 and12407.61 now12407.85 represent12408.18 63%12408.74 of12409.61 our12409.77 total12409.94 budget.12410.25 To12411.38 absorb12411.61 these12412.1 cost12412.33 increases,12412.66 PEPPOL12413.61 has12414.25 reduced12415.06 town12415.53 services,12415.85 deferred12417.41 infrastructure12418.13 investment,12419.09 and12420.21 repeated12420.53 proposition12421.25 212421.89 and12422.13 a12422.21 half12422.37 overrides.12422.61 Meanwhile,12424.61 since12426.29 02/2015,12426.61 North12428.53 Middlesex12428.85 has12430.17 received12430.4 only12430.97 $1,300,00012431.52 in12433.28 additional12433.52 state12434 owned.12434.4 That12435.76 is12436.08 just12436.25 a12436.81 hundred12436.97 and12437.28 $30,00012437.44 a12439.13 year12439.36 or12441.52 $4112442.71 a12443.83 year12443.99 per12444.95 student12445.19 per12445.91 year.12446.15 Let12447.35 that12447.67 sink12447.99 in.12448.23 We're12449.35 funding12449.83 every12450.47 student12450.87 at12451.75 only12452.07 $4112452.63 a12454.55 year.12454.71 If12457.08 the12457.32 new12457.48 formula12457.72 isn't12458.11 implemented12458.44 by12459.08 fiscal12459.32 27,12459.8 our12461.08 district12461.32 may12462.03 be12462.27 forced12462.44 to12462.75 make12462.92 even12463.16 deeper12463.4 cuts12463.8 to12464.19 staff12464.44 and12464.92 curriculum,12465.16 cuts12466.52 that12467.16 will12467.32 be12467.56 devastated12467.72 to12468.44 our12468.6 students.12468.83 I12470.6 ask12470.76 that12471 the12471.32 legislature12471.4 assign12472.84 the12473.16 executive12473.4 office12473.88 of12474.2 education12474.44 and12475.56 secretary12476.28 Tottweiler12477.08 the12478.12 responsibility12478.28 for12479.24 developing12479.4 a12479.96 new12480.12 equitable12480.52 k12481.08 through12481.32 1212481.56 formula12481.96 with12482.72 a12482.88 plan12483.11 to12483.19 be12483.51 in12483.67 place12483.75 for12484 fiscal12484.23 27.12484.64
12488.48 Second,12488.48 increase12488.88 direct12489.51 school12489.92 aid.12490.31 Many12491.83 across12492.23 the12492.56 Commonwealth12492.72 have12493.59 called12493.83 for12494.16 additional12494.4 educational12494.95 funding.12495.51 We12496.93 ask12497.17 that12497.49 the12497.65 budget12497.81 prioritize12498.21 direct12499.49 aid12499.97 to12500.21 schools12500.37 with12501.41 a12501.65 specific12501.81 focus12502.37 on12503.09 addition12503.41 an12503.81 additional12504.05 funding12504.69 of12505.17 students12505.33 of12506.05 a12506.21 hundred12506.37 and12506.61 $5012506.85 and12508.21 fully12508.53 fund12508.93 the12509.33 student12509.57 transportation.12510.05 These12511.74 investments12512.15 that12512.78 go12513.02 straight12513.26 to12513.5 the12513.67 classroom12513.82 where12514.86 they12515.1 are12515.26 needed12515.42 the12515.74 most.12515.9 Third,12517.9 adopt12519.5 an12519.82 early12519.98 agreement12520.31 on12520.86 the12521.02 education12521.18 budget.12521.67 School12523.18 districts12523.5 need12524.23 certainty.12524.55 An12526.02 early12526.18 agreement12526.58 gives12527.14 them12527.46 time12527.62 to12527.94 plan,12528.1 prepare,12529.54 and12531.38 most12531.7 importantly,12532.1 protect12533.3 the12533.94 students12534.18 from12534.58 disruption.12534.82 Without12536.66 it,12537.95 the12538.27 budgets12538.43 are12539.16 being12539.56 developed12540.19 in12540.75 blind12541 and12541.72 are12541.95 forced12542.11 to12542.43 make12542.59 the12543.48 most12543.64 difficult12543.95 cuts12544.43 first.12544.83 In12545.72 closing,12545.95 I12547.56 urge12547.88 you,12548.92 act12549.24 with12549.56 urgency.12549.8 Fix12551.72 the12552.2 formula.12552.44 Fund12553.88 all12554.28 k12554.76 through12555.08 1212555.4 schools12555.72 equitably12556.2 and12557.56 give12557.88 our12558.12 districts12558.28 the12558.84 clarity12558.92 that12559.4 they12559.56 need.12559.72 The12560.92 decision12561.16 you12561.56 make12561.8 here12562.04 will12563.1 shape12563.25 the12563.66 future12563.74 of12564.06 education12564.3 for12564.94 the12565.1 children12565.25 of12565.66 the12565.74 Commonwealth.12565.9 Thank12567.42 you12567.58 for12567.82 your12568.06 time,12568.22 your12569.25 service,12569.58 and12570.38 your12570.61 thoughtful12570.94 consideration.12571.33
12572.77 SPEAKER112572.77 -12572.77 Thank12572.77 you.12573.02 Any12574.3 questions?12574.61
12578.46 Thank12578.46 you.12578.7
12579.1 SPEAKER312579.1 -12579.1 Thank12579.1 you,12579.34 Peter.12579.58
12579.82 SPEAKER112579.82 -12579.82 You're12579.82 welcome.12580.14 Peter12581.18 Weller?12581.5
12587.1 After12587.1 that,12587.5 Matthew12587.82 Nugent?12588.22 Nugent?12590.22 Sorry.12590.86
12594.22 SPEAKER7212594.22 -12594.22 Thank12594.22 you,12594.45 representative12595.5 Diggs,12596.06 senator12596.77 Pallano,12597.33 members12598.22 of12598.61 the12598.69 joint12598.85 committee12599.17 for12599.82 the12600.06 opportunity12600.22 to12600.85 speak12600.94 with12601.25 you12601.5 today.12601.74 I12602.69 drove12602.94 here12603.33 from12603.74 Western12603.9 Massachusetts12604.38 because12605.73 our12605.97 public12606.21 schools12606.61 are12607.25 in12607.49 crisis,12607.81 and12608.53 we12608.77 need12608.93 your12609.17 help.12609.41 Without12610.61 additional12611.09 state12611.57 aid12611.97 in12612.29 next12612.53 year's12612.77 budget,12613.09 I12613.97 fear12614.13 we12614.53 will12614.77 not12614.93 be12615.17 able12615.25 to12615.57 provide12615.73 all12616.53 students12616.85 with12617.75 the12617.92 well12618.08 rounded,12618.4 high12619.11 quality12619.35 education12619.92 they12620.95 deserve.12621.19 In12622.4 my12622.64 2012622.88 years12623.19 as12623.59 a12623.75 high12623.92 school12624.15 English12624.48 and12624.95 journalism12625.27 teacher12625.83 in12626.15 South12626.4 Hadley,12626.72 I've12627.67 never12627.92 seen12628.23 a12628.48 budget12628.64 this12629.19 devastating.12629.51 1912630.64 positions12631.11 cut,12631.75 including12632.54 classroom12633.02 teachers,12633.5 reading12634.38 specialists,12634.78 a12635.42 music12635.66 teacher,12636.06 and12636.46 more.12636.7 In12637.74 my12637.9 hometown12638.14 of12638.7 Belchertown,12638.86 the12640.06 story12640.22 is12640.62 the12640.86 same,12641.02 only12641.9 worse.12642.3 3012643.42 proposed12643.98 staff12644.54 cuts,12644.86 a12645.74 premature12645.9 school12646.61 closing,12647.01 the12647.98 elimination12648.14 of12648.85 our12649.01 award12649.25 winning12649.58 elementary12649.98 band12650.69 and12651.09 music12651.33 programs,12651.74 and12652.69 ballooning12653.01 class12653.66 sizes12654.06 at12655.01 every12655.33 level.12655.9 Tomorrow12657.17 night,12657.74 my12658.55 daughter12658.71 will12659.19 sing12659.51 in12659.91 a12660.07 public12660.23 chorus12660.71 concert.12661.35 At12662.47 the12662.63 end12662.71 of12662.87 the12662.95 month,12663.11 she'll12663.83 play12664.07 trumpet12664.31 in12664.79 the12664.95 band.12665.11 These12666.07 opportunities12666.39 have12667.43 nurtured12667.59 her12667.99 creativity12668.23 and12669.51 confidence,12669.91 but12671.69 they12671.94 will12672.1 not12672.33 exist12672.5 for12673.06 her12673.3 younger12673.38 sister12673.77 if12674.66 these12674.82 cuts12675.14 go12675.53 through.12675.77 Even12677.3 more12677.69 devastating,12678.1 an12679.22 exceptional12679.45 elementary12680.33 teacher12680.9 who12681.77 helped12682.02 my12682.33 daughter12682.58 learn12683.06 to12683.38 read12683.61 is12684.42 on12684.66 the12684.82 chopping12684.98 block.12685.45 She12686.43 isn't12686.59 being12686.91 let12687.23 go12687.47 because12688.19 she12688.51 failed12688.75 our12689.15 kids.12689.39 She's12690.43 being12690.75 let12691.15 go12691.47 because12692.11 the12692.59 state's12692.83 funding12693.55 formula12694.11 has12695.15 failed12695.47 our12696.43 schools.12697.23 So12698.91 what12699.15 do12699.39 we12699.55 do?12699.71 We12700.67 start12700.91 by12701.23 asking,12701.47 what12702.34 kind12702.58 of12702.75 education12702.98 do12703.78 we12703.94 want12704.1 for12704.42 our12704.58 children?12704.83 Let12706.02 this12706.34 be12706.58 the12706.91 year12706.98 we12707.55 rise12707.86 to12708.1 the12708.26 moment.12708.42 Let's12709.39 take12709.7 a12710.02 more12710.1 thoughtful12710.42 look12710.83 at12711.23 our12711.47 struggling12711.63 districts12712.26 and12713.06 come12713.22 up12713.46 with12713.78 a12713.94 better12714.1 plan12714.42 to12714.82 help12714.9 them.12715.14 Let's12716.1 adjust12716.42 chapter12716.9 7012717.3 so12718.02 it12718.26 properly12718.42 accounts12718.98 for12719.38 increased12719.7 costs12720.18 at12720.98 the12721.14 local12721.3 level.12721.7 Let's12722.66 sufficiently12723.06 fund12723.7 special12724.02 education12724.42 so12725.53 we12725.66 can12725.77 meet12726.09 the12726.33 unique12726.5 learning12726.9 needs12727.3 of12727.77 all12728.01 students,12728.33 and12729.45 let's12729.69 provide12730.01 our12730.42 districts12730.66 with12731.45 the12731.69 transportation12731.85 support12732.74 they12733.45 desperately12733.77 require.12734.5 Let12735.85 us12736.09 keep12736.33 the12736.58 promise12736.74 of12737.69 a12737.85 great12738.01 public12738.42 education12738.9 for12740.13 every12740.37 student12740.85 in12741.73 every12741.97 corner12742.37 of12743.33 the12743.49 Commonwealth.12743.65 Thank12744.77 you.12745.09
12748.21 SPEAKER112748.21 -12748.21 Thank12748.21 you.12748.45 Any12749.57 question?12749.89
12753.41 Thank12753.41 you.12753.65 We're12753.97 hearing12754.2 you.12754.44
12761.08 Matthew12761.08 Newgan?12761.49
12762.05 SPEAKER312762.05 -12762.05 Then12762.05 Carla12762.2 Lima.12762.6
12765.17 SPEAKER112765.17 -12765.17 Then12765.17 Carla12765.41 Lima?12765.97
12783.83 SPEAKER7312783.83 -12783.83 Thanks12783.83 chair12784.23 Diggs12784.55 and12785.02 chair12785.83 Paianno12786.15 for12788.23 this12788.39 opportunity12788.63 to12789.26 speak12789.42 before12789.75 the12790.07 ways12790.23 and12790.47 means12790.63 committee12790.86 in12791.83 support12792.07 of12792.39 responsible12792.63 funding12793.97 for12794.37 Massachusetts12794.69 public12795.41 education.12795.81 My12797.65 name12797.81 is12797.97 Matthew12798.13 Nugent,12798.61 and12799.73 my12799.97 residence12800.21 is12800.61 in12800.77 Beverly.12800.93 I12802.61 come12802.85 here12803.01 today12803.33 to12804.13 testify12804.37 for12805.01 important12805.25 legislation12805.73 to12807.17 fix12807.33 the12807.65 chapter12807.89 7012808.37 inflation12809.86 adjustment12810.18 for12811.23 the12811.39 fiscal12811.55 year12811.94 02/192612813.15 budget.12814.18 Specifically,12815.55 the12816.34 bill12816.5 number12816.75 is12817.07 h12817.31 612817.86 7812818.18 and12819.86 its12820.1 companion12820.34 on12820.91 the12820.99 senate12821.15 side12821.55 is12822.83 s12823.07 312823.63 88.12824.02 These12826.25 bills12826.49 are12826.81 sponsored12827.05 by12827.45 representative12827.69 Orlando12828.33 Ramos12828.89 of12830.09 Springfield12830.33 and12831.77 senator12832.01 Robin12832.49 Kennedy12832.89 of12834.33 Worcester,12834.49 respectively.12835.53 Provisions12837.85 within12838.42 this12838.74 legislation12839.06 aim12839.69 to12839.85 address12840.09 challenging12840.5 periods12840.98 of12841.38 excessive12841.53 inflation12842.01 and12843.14 effectively12843.3 ensure12843.85 school12844.33 districts12844.74 receive12845.22 over12846.33 time12846.58 the12847.45 level12847.53 of12847.85 funding12848.01 in12848.9 real12849.22 dollars12849.53 intended12850.62 to12850.86 the12851.1 Student12851.34 Opportunity12851.82 Act.12852.54 I12853.74 encourage12853.98 committee12854.46 members12854.86 to12855.18 remember12855.42 our12856.3 Commonwealth's12856.46 crucial12857.26 role12857.74 as12859.5 a12859.74 cradle12859.82 of12860.22 public12860.38 education12860.7 in12862.22 the12862.38 nation12862.54 and12863.02 to12863.26 recall12863.42 Massachusetts12863.9 sustaining12865.52 commitment12866.08 to12867.2 educational12867.52 excellence12868.08 from12868.57 its12868.81 founding12869.05 forward.12870.25 This12872.25 legacy12872.57 echoes12873.13 across12873.44 the12873.84 hallowed12873.92 grounds12874.41 of12874.73 the12874.81 State12874.97 House.12875.28 Just12876.49 steps12876.73 from12877.13 here12877.36 on12877.6 the12877.76 front12877.84 lawn12878.17 stands12879.3 a12879.54 statue12879.78 of12880.1 Horace12880.34 Mann,12880.74 nationally12882.02 renowned12882.5 for12882.9 his12883.06 promotion12883.3 of12883.78 public12883.94 education.12884.26 The12886.02 civic12886.26 and12886.58 architectural12886.74 landmark12887.38 State12888.02 House12888.26 Building12888.5 itself12888.98 is12890.42 the12890.66 creation12890.74 of12891.14 Charles12891.3 Bulfinch,12891.7 who12893.05 is12893.28 an12893.36 alumnus12893.6 of12894.08 Boston12894.17 Latin12894.65 School,12895.05 a12896.17 public12896.41 school12896.81 with12897.2 an12897.44 especially12897.6 long12898.17 and12899.2 distinguished12899.44 history.12900.17 I12901.6 respectfully12901.84 ask12902.56 the12902.89 members12903.05 of12903.36 this12903.52 committee12903.76 to12904.97 responsibly12905.2 renew12906 the12907.24 venerable12907.32 Massachusetts12907.96 commitment12908.76 to12909.16 public12909.4 education12909.72 by12911.08 advancing12911.32 h12912.2 612912.52 7812912.76 and12913.96 s12914.28 312914.52 8812914.84 during12916.04 this12916.36 session.12916.6 Thank12917.48 you.12917.8
12920.77 SPEAKER112920.77 -12920.77 Thank12920.77 you.12921.01 No12921.58 questions.12921.73
12924.77 Any12924.77 question?12925.09 Thank12927.25 you,12927.58 hon.12927.73 Thanks.12928.06 Carla12929.01 Lima12929.17 and12929.9 Lindsay12930.14 Lucas.12930.61 Carla12931.73 Lima?12932.22
12942.77 SPEAKER7412942.77 -12942.77 Good12942.77 afternoon,12943.01 representatives12944.69 and12945.41 senator.12945.65 Thank12947.58 you12947.91 so12947.99 much12948.15 for12948.39 having12948.55 me12948.86 here12949.02 today.12949.19 I12949.83 represent12950.07 a12950.86 mother12951.02 of12952.15 a12952.31 child12952.39 at12952.78 Ashby12953.02 Elementary12953.51 School.12954.07 You've12954.94 just12955.19 heard12955.35 the12955.67 superintendent12955.83 earlier12956.55 today,12956.86 Brad12957.35 and12957.91 Kim,12958.23 speaking12959.02 in12959.43 regards12959.58 to12960.07 the12960.23 funding12960.39 issue12960.78 in12961.66 our12961.74 district.12961.9 Ashby12963.34 Elementary12963.82 is12964.38 the12964.54 only12964.7 school12965.58 in12966.14 our12966.3 entire12966.62 town.12966.94 There12968.3 are12968.62 no,12968.78 middle12969.9 schools12970.22 or12970.78 high12971.1 schools12971.34 in12971.66 our12971.82 town,12972.06 only12973.02 k12973.5 through12973.74 4,12973.98 which12974.22 is12974.46 Ashby12974.62 Elementary.12975.1
12977.99 I12977.99 have12978.15 a12978.31 first12978.47 grader,12978.7 Daniel,12979.19 who12979.51 attends12979.75 Ashby12980.23 Elementary12980.7 today,12981.19 a12981.91 school12982.07 that12982.47 has12982.63 become12982.86 a12983.75 second12983.91 home12984.31 to12984.63 him.12984.7 There's12986.55 something12986.86 truly12987.19 special12987.67 about12988.07 rural12988.39 education.12988.7 It's12990.97 the12991.21 sense12991.29 of12991.69 safety,12991.85 connection,12992.81 and12993.53 the12993.77 lasting12993.93 friendships12994.49 that12995.21 grow12995.53 in12996.33 a12996.57 close12996.73 knit12997.05 community.12997.37 That's12999.13 why12999.45 my12999.61 husband12999.77 and13000.09 I13000.33 chose13000.65 to13000.97 relocate13001.85 to13002.49 Ashby.13002.73 We13003.77 knew13004.01 it13004.33 was13004.49 a13004.73 place13004.81 where13005.61 our13005.93 son13006.09 could13007.28 thrive13007.52 both,13008 academically13009.05 and13009.84 emotionally.13010.17 Our13012.32 son13012.48 has13012.73 struggled13012.89 with13013.28 separation13013.52 anxiety13014 since13015.13 the13015.44 pandemic,13015.6 being13017.13 forced13017.36 to13017.76 stay13017.92 home,13018.08 not13018.48 attending13018.65 a13019.05 pre13019.2 k13019.44 education.13019.92 We13021.36 initially13021.6 tried13022.08 enrolling13022.4 him13022.8 in13022.96 a13023.04 private13023.2 school13023.52 for13023.76 kindergarten,13024 which13024.64 we13024.88 did,13025.04 but13025.6 it13025.84 wasn't13025.92 really13026.24 the13026.48 right13026.64 choice13026.8 for13027.12 him.13027.28 So13029.44 we13029.6 were13029.76 in13029.92 a13030.08 search13030.24 for13030.48 where13030.72 it13030.96 would13031.12 be13031.28 the13031.52 perfect13031.68 fit13032.08 for13032.32 our13032.48 son13032.72 to13033.04 thrive13033.28 and13033.76 grow13034 in13034.4 a13034.56 close13034.72 knit13034.96 community.13035.2 We13036.26 landed13036.42 in13036.67 Ashby13036.9 where13037.39 we13037.55 found13037.7 it13037.94 very13038.18 comforting.13038.98
13041.55 We13041.55 met13041.7 with13041.94 missus13042.18 C,13042.5 the13042.82 principal13042.98 at13043.47 Ashby13043.63 Elementary.13044.02 She13045.78 warmly13046.02 embraced13046.5 us13046.98 into13047.31 that13047.7 school.13048.1 And13049.52 when13049.76 we13050 walked13050.16 in,13050.4 Daniel13050.88 looked13051.2 at13051.44 me13051.52 and13051.68 he13051.76 said,13051.92 mom,13052.32 this13052.88 is13053.12 where13053.2 I13053.36 want13053.52 to13053.76 go.13053.84 And13054.8 we13055.04 knew13055.2 right13055.44 away13055.6 that13056.72 sealed13056.96 the13057.28 deal13057.44 for13057.68 us.13057.84 Since13059.2 enrolling,13059.6 he's13060.08 blossomed.13060.32 He13061.6 now13061.84 plays13062.08 with13062.4 friends,13062.64 participates13063.81 in13064.36 events,13064.6 and13065.08 has13065.33 gained13065.49 social13065.89 confidence13066.36 that13067.08 I13067.33 had13067.49 never13067.73 seen13068.05 before.13068.36 Academically,13070.13 his13071.81 growth13072.13 has13072.36 been13072.6 extraordinarily.13073.17 He13075.08 entered13075.41 the13075.97 school13076.13 unable13076.6 to13077 read,13077.17 even13077.73 though13077.97 we13078.2 did13078.44 pay13078.77 for13078.93 private13079.32 school.13079.64 We13081.72 were13081.96 very13082.2 unsure13082.44 if13082.84 he13083 would13083.08 be13083.32 able13083.4 to13083.64 catch13083.72 up13083.96 with13084.12 the13084.28 first13084.44 graders,13084.68 but13085.88 we13086.04 still13086.28 made13086.52 that13086.76 choice13087 to13087.32 not13087.48 hold13087.72 him13087.88 back13088.12 and13088.44 enroll13088.68 him13089 in13089.24 first13089.4 grade.13089.64 His13091.16 teacher,13091.4 Ms.13091.8 Francis,13092.12 and13093.02 the13093.27 title13093.43 113093.75 teacher,13093.99 miss13094.39 Redder,13094.63 joined13095.83 forces13096.15 to13096.7 help13096.86 him13097.02 keep13098.07 up13098.39 with13098.55 the13098.7 rest13098.78 of13099.02 the13099.1 class.13099.19 613100.63 months13100.94 into13101.27 his13101.58 first13101.75 grade13101.91 learning,13102.23 I13102.63 can13102.78 tell13102.94 you13103.19 that13104.07 he's13104.31 able13104.55 to13104.78 read13104.94 213105.19 full13105.35 books13105.58 every13105.99 night,13106.31 and13106.7 he13106.86 loves13107.1 it.13107.43 Another13109.6 benefit13109.92 of13110.32 living13110.48 close13110.8 to13111.04 school13111.2 is13111.6 being13111.84 able13112 to13112.24 bring13112.4 him13112.64 warm13112.88 lunch13113.12 every13113.52 day.13113.68 Our13115.36 son13115.6 has13115.84 gluten13116.16 and13116.56 dairy13116.72 sensitivity,13117.12 which13117.92 the13118.16 school13118.4 has13118.72 very13119.04 limited13119.28 options13119.84 for.13120.4 So13121.69 we're13121.94 fortunate13122.17 enough13122.74 that13123.06 I've13123.38 already13123.45 had13123.85 warm13124.02 lunch13124.25 every13124.66 day.13124.98
13127.94 I'll13127.94 end13128.17 now,13128.42 but13128.74 I13128.98 have13129.06 fully13129.38 submitted13129.69 my13130.17 full13130.33 statement13130.58 to13130.98 you13131.14 guys13131.3 to13131.61 read.13131.77 Please13132.33 reconsider13132.74 as13133.38 our13133.53 school13133.77 is13134.25 being13134.5 closed13134.82 for13135.22 next13135.45 year.13135.77 Thank13136.64 you13136.88 so13137.12 much.13137.28
13137.68 SPEAKER113137.68 -13137.68 Thank13137.68 you13137.84 for13138
13141.76 doctor13141.76 Nia13142.24 Wilson?13142.48
13154.25 And13154.25 also,13154.57 if13155.14 there's13155.3 anybody13155.53 that13156.01 needs13156.25 ASL,13156.9 they're13157.85 gonna13158.17 be13158.42 leaving13158.81 at13159.93 03:00.13160.25 You13161.61 would13161.77 say?13161.93 They're13163.72 gonna13163.96 be13164.12 leaving13164.36 early,13164.6 so13164.92 please,13165.16 if13165.4 there's13165.56 anyone13165.8 that13166.2 needs13166.36 any13166.6 special13166.84 help,13167.16 please13167.4 let13167.96 us13168.12 know.13168.28 Rep13169.16 Cruz13169.4 is13169.72 in13169.88 the13169.96 house.13170.12 Just13170.36 wanna13170.68 let13171.08 you13171.32 know.13171.4
13175.82 SPEAKER1213175.82 -13175.82 Good13175.82 afternoon,13176.06 Chairman13176.61 Peano13177.09 and13177.74 Chairman13177.98 Diggs13178.38 and13178.77 members13178.93 of13179.33 the13179.42 committee.13179.58 Thank13180.77 you13180.93 for13181.09 the13181.25 opportunity13181.42 to13181.98 present13182.14 today.13182.53 My13183.82 name13183.98 is13184.14 doctor13184.38 Naya13184.69 Wilson.13185.01 I'm13185.42 the13185.58 hands13185.82 on13186.14 defense13186.45 program13187.09 manager13187.58 at13188.06 Justice13188.3 for13188.77 Housing13188.93 Incorporated.13189.42 I'm13191.71 speaking13191.79 on13192.11 behalf13192.35 of13192.67 our13192.75 executive13192.99 director13193.47 and13194.19 founder,13194.43 Leslie13194.91 Creedle.13195.31 She's13195.95 on13196.51 the13196.67 ground13196.83 right13197.23 now13197.39 dealing13198.27 with13198.67 a13198.83 crisis,13198.99 so13199.47 I'm13199.79 humbly,13199.95 replacing13201.31 her.13201.87 We13203.39 are13203.63 asking13203.87 the13204.43 joint13204.59 committee13204.99 to13205.47 support13205.71 the13206.19 Justice13206.35 for13206.83 housing13207.06 mission13208.33 in13209.06 helping13209.22 returning13209.69 citizens.13210.25 We13211.45 respectfully13211.77 request13212.57 earmarked13213.14 funding13213.61 for13214.57 justice13214.73 for13215.14 housing13215.3 in13215.77 line13216.01 item13216.33 700413217.22 dash13219.3 913219.61 013219.85 313220.17 413220.42 In13221.06 the13221.22 amount13221.46 of13221.7 $750,00013222.02 Justice13224.98 for13225.3 housing13225.54 is13225.86 a13226.02 grassroots13226.18 organization13226.82 that13227.94 provides13228.18 housing13228.66 justice13229.06 and13230.1 family13230.34 reunification13230.82 for13232.02 justice13232.26 impacted13232.74 individuals.13233.3 Most13235.14 organizations13235.53 provide13236.42 113237.06 service,13237.45 either13238.42 policy,13238.74 advocacy,13240.17 or13241.06 direct13241.3 service.13241.77 Housing13243.22 is13243.61 such13243.85 a13244.02 huge13244.17 issue13244.58 that13245.14 in13245.38 order13245.61 to13245.94 be13246.02 successful,13246.25 we13247.38 had13247.61 to13247.77 tackle13247.94 it13248.33 from13248.66 every13248.98 angle.13249.38 We13250.4 use13250.56 policy13250.96 to13251.52 change13251.84 laws13252.16 and13252.4 dismantle13252.72 systems.13253.28 We13254.64 use13254.88 advocacy13255.12 to13255.76 lift13256 up13256.24 the13256.32 voices13256.48 of13256.88 our13257.04 constituents13257.28 and13258.64 to13258.8 educate13259.04 those13259.52 who13259.84 oppose13260 us13260.4 and13260.64 those13260.88 who13261.12 don't13261.28 understand13261.52 us.13262.08 We13263.2 provide13263.44 housing,13263.84 a13264.48 critical13264.65 resource13265.13 providing13265.68 generational13266.25 wealth13266.97 and13267.28 equity.13267.52 As13269.28 you13269.6 may13269.76 know,13270 formerly13271.05 incarcerated13271.52 people13272.32 are13272.81 1013272.97 times13273.28 more13273.6 likely13273.84 to13274.25 be13274.32 homeless13274.56 than13275.13 general13275.36 citizens.13275.68 Due13276.9 to13277.14 CORI13277.3 background13277.7 checks,13278.26 formerly13278.74 incarcerated13279.22 peace13279.86 people13280.34 face13280.74 intense13281.06 barriers13281.62 to13282.74 building13282.9 to13283.94 rebuilding13284.1 their13284.66 lives13284.9 and13285.3 safe13287.22 housing13287.54 is13288.18 the13288.5 first13288.58 step.13288.98 Our13290.42 hands13290.75 on13291.07 defense13291.31 program13291.7 provides13292.19 support13292.58 for13293.31 voucher13293.7 denials13294.27 and13294.91 terminations.13295.15 We13296.02 we13296.27 help13296.58 our13297.15 constituents13297.39 to13298.02 appeal.13298.19 We13299.39 do13299.63 eviction13299.86 prevention,13300.42 landlord13301.47 mitigation,13302.1 and13304.07 reasonable13304.31 accommodations.13305.03 We've13306.39 had13306.71 a13306.87 huge13307.03 success13307.35 rate13307.75 of13307.99 9713308.15 percent,13308.79 and13309.51 we've13309.75 housed13309.99 over13310.31 30013310.63 formerly13311.19 incarcerated13311.59 people13312.23 through13312.63 our13312.79 HOD13313.03 program.13313.51 Additionally,13314.87 we13315.59 have13315.75 a13315.91 2%13315.99 recidivism13316.55 rate13317.27 versus13318.06 the13318.45 3013318.69 plus13319.1 percent13319.58 recidivism13320.06 rate13320.61 in13320.85 Massachusetts13321.1 keeping13321.82 our13322.22 communities13322.38 safer.13322.94 Hands13324.61 on13324.85 defense13325.1 is13325.42 a13325.58 replicable13325.66 model13326.3 that13326.69 is13326.85 scalable.13327.1 We13328.14 are13328.3 working13328.45 with13328.77 organizations13329.02 across13329.82 the13330.22 state13330.38 to13330.77 train13330.94 in13331.8 our13332.04 HOD13332.44 participatory13333.16 defense13333.96 model.13334.52 Supporting13336.2 reentry13336.68 programming13337.4 is13337.96 fiscally13338.12 responsible13338.68 and13339.48 saves13339.64 taxpayers13340.04 money.13340.6 By13341.8 successfully13342.04 housing13342.76 people13343.16 who13343.48 are13343.56 formerly13343.72 incarcerated,13344.2 we're13344.84 saving13345.08 tax13345.4 payers13345.81 tax13346.2 payer13346.6 money13346.92 in13347.17 shelters13347.32 and13347.97 in13348.2 prison13348.36 costs.13348.84 So13349.73 I13349.97 thank13350.13 you13350.36 for13350.6 this13350.84 opportunity13351.08 to13351.73 speak13351.81 and13352.13 welcome13352.44 any13352.84 questions.13353.08
13355.24 SPEAKER113355.24 -13355.24 Thank13355.24 you.13355.4 No13357.56 questions.13357.73 Any13358.52 questions?13358.84
13362.73 SPEAKER1213362.73 -13362.73 Thank13362.73 you13362.89 so13363.05 much.13363.29
13366.73 SPEAKER113366.73 -13366.73 Oh.13366.73
13369.77 SPEAKER1213369.77 -13369.77 We're13369.77 also13370.01 gonna13370.33 do13370.57 written13370.81 testimony.13371.13 How13372.85
13373.09 SPEAKER313373.09 -13373.09 much,13373.09 is13373.66 the13373.9 request?13374.14
13375.25 SPEAKER1213375.25 -13375.25 $750,00013375.25
13377.09 SPEAKER3913377.09 -13377.09 Thank13377.09 you.13377.33
13377.5 SPEAKER1213377.5 -13377.5 For13377.5 the13377.58 scalable13377.74 model.13378.22
13379.01 SPEAKER1113379.01 -13379.01 Thank13379.01 you.13379.25
13385.9 SPEAKER113385.9 -13385.9 Lindsay13385.9 Lucason.13386.38
13390.59 Jana13390.59 Brennan.13391.07
13398.19 And13398.19 up13398.43 next13398.67 is13398.99 Lacey13399.15 McCabe.13399.71
13412.17 SPEAKER7513412.17 -13412.17 Good13412.17 afternoon.13412.41 Thank13413.05 you13413.2 for13413.36 the13413.6 opportunity13413.68 to13414.49 speak13414.65 today13414.97 on13415.36 behalf13415.6 of13415.84 the13416.12 Wachusett13416.28 Regional13416.76 School13417.32 District.13417.56 My13418.52 name13418.68 is13418.84 Jana13419.08 Brennan.13419.4 I13419.88 am13420.04 a13420.2 parent13420.28 in13420.6 Holden,13420.84 a13421.32 school13421.56 committee13421.88 member,13422.2 and13422.6 the13422.76 chair13422.92 of13423.16 our13423.32 business13423.48 and13423.8 finance13423.96 subcommittee.13424.44 I'm13425.8 here13425.96 today13426.28 to13426.76 add13427 my13427.24 voice13427.48 of13427.88 support13428.12 for13428.91 Senator13429.07 Lewis's13429.63 bill13430.02 s13430.34 40013430.58 to13431.23 re13431.47 examine13431.7 the13432.1 chapter13432.27 7013432.75 funding13433.23 formula13433.63 and13434.34 the13434.58 f13434.75 y13434.99 2613435.23 budget13435.78 enhancements13436.19 recommended13437.07 to13437.63 this13437.78 committee13438.02 by13438.42 Mars,13438.75 Masbo,13439.23 and13439.7 MASS,13439.94 which13441.46 include13441.78 fully13442.26 funding13442.66 circuit13442.98 breaker13443.38 reimbursements13443.86 and13444.9 regional13445.14 transportation,13445.62 a13446.82 correction13446.98 in13447.38 the13447.54 interest13447.7 rate13448.02 calculation,13448.26 and13449.06 raising13449.3 the13449.62 per13449.78 pupil13450.02 minimum13450.42 aid.13450.9 Chapter13452.1 seventy's13452.58 formula13453.14 works13453.7 well13454.1 for13454.5 vocational13454.82 schools13454.83 and13454.83 urban13454.84 districts,13454.85 but13454.85 has13454.86 a13454.87 negative13454.87 effect13454.88 on13454.89 districts13454.89 like13454.9 Wachusett.13455.06 But13457.19 has13457.35 a13457.59 negative13457.67 effect13458.16 on13458.56 districts13458.8 like13459.19 Wachusett.13459.43 The13460.88 base13461.03 formula13461.35 not13462 only13462.24 funds13462.56 us13462.88 lower13463.11 than13463.67 many13464 of13464.24 the13464.4 state's13464.56 wealthiest13464.88 districts,13465.51 but13466.08 lower13466.32 than13466.56 all13466.8 the13467.03 other13467.11 central13467.43 mass13467.83 regionals.13468.16 But13469.7 we13469.94 are13470.18 the13470.42 largest13470.66 regional13471.14 in13471.62 the13471.78 state13471.94 and13472.26 the13472.5 2013472.66 fifth13473.06 largest13473.38 district13474.02 in13474.42 the13474.66 state.13474.82 For13475.94 the13476.18 second13476.34 year13476.66 in13476.9 a13476.98 row,13477.06 this13477.46 broken13477.7 formula13478.1 has13478.74 us13478.9 in13479.06 held13479.22 harmless13479.54 along13480.1 with13480.34 23113480.5 other13481.7 districts.13482.1 This13483.92 lack13484.17 of13484.41 funding13484.57 puts13484.97 a13485.2 huge13485.36 financial13485.68 burden13486.25 on13486.57 what13486.81 you13486.97 said13487.13 513487.36 towns,13487.76 not13488.65 only13488.81 to13489.13 cover13489.2 the13489.52 state13489.68 minimum13489.92 requirement,13490.41 but13491.2 to13491.44 cover13491.6 the13491.84 quote13492 unquote13492.25 discretionary13492.81 spending13493.6 needed13494 to13494.33 make13494.49 our13494.65 schools13494.89 function.13495.28 For13496.43 the13496.67 proposed13496.83 f13497.23 y13497.47 2613497.71 budget,13498.27 WRSD13498.91 received13499.63 only13500.11 a13500.43 1.37%13500.59 increase13502.03 in13502.43 state13502.67 aid,13502.99 while13503.71 mandating13503.95 a13504.59 4.4913504.75 average13505.95 increase13506.35 to13506.75 our13506.91 513507.23 towns.13507.47 The13508.67 last13508.83 213509.08 fiscal13509.31 years,13509.72 our13510.03 student13510.27 population13510.67 has13511.23 slightly13511.56 decreased,13512.03 but13512.92 the13513.08 cost13513.23 of13513.48 our13513.64 level13513.8 services13514.11 have13514.67 only13514.92 increased.13515.31 Our13516.19 dip13516.51 in13516.67 population13516.92 for13517.56 a13517.8 district13517.88 our13518.27 size13518.51 is13519.08 not13519.23 enough13519.4 to13519.72 garner13519.88 any13520.35 overall13520.67 efficiencies13521.15 and13521.8 savings,13522.03 yet13522.97 our13523.21 additional13523.37 funding13523.93 has13524.41 dropped13524.57 by13524.89 millions13525.05 of13525.45 dollars.13525.61 What13527.29 you13527.53 said13527.69 staffing13527.93 levels13528.41 are13528.89 well13529.05 below13529.29 that13529.61 of13529.85 the13530.01 state13530.17 average13530.49 and13531.05 all13531.29 of13531.45 our13531.61 DART13531.77 peers,13532.09 and13532.57 our13532.81 students13532.97 suffer13533.37 for13533.77 it.13533.93 Our13534.73 MCAS13534.97 numbers13535.45 still13535.85 have13536.17 recovered13536.33 post13537.05 COVID.13537.45 School13538.42 committees13538.67 proposed13539.23 f13540.02 y13540.18 2613540.42 budget13540.98 is13541.47 comprised13541.63 of13542.02 level13542.34 services13542.75 and13543.31 a13543.63 modest13543.78 increase13544.26 to13544.67 staff13544.9 to13545.63 increase13545.78 these13546.18 gaps13546.42 in13546.75 student13546.9 achievement.13547.31 If13548.58 it13548.75 does13548.9 not13549.06 pass,13549.39 we13549.94 will13550.18 have13550.34 to13550.58 make13550.67 significant13550.98 teacher13551.7 cuts13552.1 further13552.42 harming13552.82 our13553.23 students.13553.39 I13554.53 urge13554.69 this13554.93 committee,13555.25 our13555.65 state13555.89 legislator,13556.13 and13556.69 the13556.85 governor13557.01 to13557.41 not13557.65 decimate13557.89 our13558.37 school13558.53 and13558.85 town13559.09 services.13559.49 Fully13560.69 fund13561.09 our13561.33 obligations13561.57 to13562.13 circuit13562.37 breaker13562.69 and13563.01 regional13563.17 transportation.13563.65 These13565.17 will13565.41 not13565.57 cover13565.81 what13566.13 our13566.37 district13566.53 needs13566.93 to13567.25 operate,13567.41 but13567.89 it'll13568.13 be13568.29 a13568.45 lifeline13568.61 until13569.09 chapter13569.57 7013570.14 can13570.3 be13570.45 reexamined13570.85 and13571.98 be13572.14 equitable13572.3 for13572.93 all.13573.09 Thank13573.81 you13574.06 very13574.3 much13574.53 for13574.77 your13574.85 time.13575.09
13576.53 SPEAKER113576.53 -13576.53 Thank13576.53 you.13576.85
13587.39 Lacey13587.39 McCabe.13587.87
13593.15 SPEAKER313593.15 -13593.15 Coming13593.15 up.13593.63 And13594.11 after13594.35 was13594.67 Rebecca13594.91 Wex13595.39 Wexner.13595.87
13597.31 SPEAKER113597.31 -13597.31 Rebecca13597.31 Wexner13597.95 is13598.99 next.13599.23 Okay.13599.71
13608.99 SPEAKER7613608.99 -13608.99 Good13608.99 afternoon,13609.23 representative13609.8 Diggs13610.43 and13610.99 senator13611.23 Paolo,13611.64 and13612.19 to13612.35 all13612.51 the13612.67 members13612.75 of13613.07 the13613.23 joint13613.31 committee.13613.64 Thank13614.43 you13614.67 for13614.83 the13614.99 opportunity13615.15 to13615.64 testify13615.8 here13616.43 today.13616.59 My13617.71 name13617.87 is13618.03 Lacey13618.19 McCabe,13618.59 and13618.99 I13619.15 am13619.31 here13619.39 both13619.71 as13620.11 the13620.27 chair13620.35 of13620.59 the13620.83 Groton13620.99 Dunstable13621.31 Regional13621.79 School13622.19 School13622.91 Committee,13623.07 as13623.55 well13623.71 as13623.95 the13624.91 parent13625.15 of13625.47 213625.63 kids13625.79 in13626.03 the13626.19 Groton13626.35 Dunstable13626.59 School13627.15 District.13627.39 Today,13628.59 I13628.99 want13629.07 to13629.31 express13629.47 how13629.87 dire13630.19 the13630.43 financial13630.67 situation13631.23 is13631.71 in13632.19 Groton13632.35 Dunstable,13632.67 and13633.47 impress13633.63 upon13634.02 you13634.35 the13634.58 urgent13634.75 need13635.15 for13635.39 immediate13635.63 action13636.1 and13636.58 increased13636.83 support13637.31 from13637.94 the13638.19 state13638.27 of13638.51 Massachusetts.13638.67 Specifically,13640.51 I13641.07 am13641.23 asking13641.39 this13641.7 committee13641.94 to13642.43 increase13642.58 funding13642.99 in13643.47 the13643.63 following13643.7 areas13644.19 and13645.07 to13645.23 support13646.25 the13646.57 following13646.89 proposed13647.21 pieces13647.69 of13648.09 legislation.13648.33 First,13650.09 I13650.65 urge13650.89 you13651.13 to13651.29 support13651.45 funding13651.77 the13652.09 special13652.25 education13652.65 circuit13653.13 breaker13653.45 reimbursement13653.69 at13654.41 90%13654.49 and13655.53 lowering13655.77 the13656.17 eligibility13656.33 threshold.13657.05 H13658.73 613659.21 913659.61 113659.93 s13660.17 413660.41 30.13660.73 Second,13661.91 please13662.7 support13663.02 increasing13663.5 the13663.91 regional13664.06 transportation13664.63 reimbursement13665.18 to13665.83 the13665.99 full13666.15 100%,13666.39 h13667.91 613668.23 913668.55 713668.86 s13669.58 313669.99 213670.23 8.13670.55 Third,13671.67 fund13672.23 sliding13672.55 scale13672.86 mental13673.26 health13673.5 supports13673.75 for13674.23 all13674.47 districts,13674.7 h13676.14 513676.46 413676.7 413677.14 s13677.58 313677.98 613678.3 9.13678.54 And13679.18 finally,13679.5 please13679.98 support13680.22 increasing13680.7 the13681.1 charter13681.26 school13681.58 reimbursement.13681.9 H13682.94 513683.42 713683.74 713684.06 s13684.46 389.13684.78 In13686.7 order13686.94 to13687.18 provide13687.34 context13687.82 for13688.3 our13688.46 financial13688.62 needs,13689.1 in13690.05 f13690.28 y13690.36 2513690.68 due13691.33 to13691.56 failed13691.65 overrides13692.05 in13692.68 both13692.84 of13693.08 our13693.17 member13693.33 towns,13693.65 Groton13694.68 Dunstable13695 was13695.48 forced13695.65 to13695.97 make13696.05 $2,700,00013696.28 worth13697.89 of13698.2 reductions13698.28 at13699.08 our13699.25 school13699.4 system.13699.73 Each13700.92 of13701.17 those13701.33 reductions13701.56 represents13702.2 lost13702.76 opportunities13703.17 for13703.73 our13703.97 students.13704.13 As13705.88 113706.04 of13706.28 my13706.36 fellow13706.52 school13706.76 committee13707 members13707.4 often13707.72 says,13708.04 a13708.44 child13708.6 is13709 only13709.24 in13709.56 third13709.72 grade13710.04 once.13710.36 They13711.8 have13711.96 113712.2 chance13712.52 at13712.76 each13713 grade13713.16 and13713.56 at13713.8 each13713.88 stage13714.2 of13714.44 learning13714.6 and13714.92 development.13715.08 By13716.36 continuously13716.6 stripping13717.32 away13717.64 resources13717.96 and13718.52 opportunities13718.68 from13719.32 our13719.56 district,13719.72 it13720.2 will13720.28 no13720.52 longer13720.6 be13721 a13721.17 place13721.25 that13721.65 students13721.89 want13722.28 to13722.44 go,13722.6 and13723.33 it13723.57 will13723.65 take13723.81 many13723.97 years13724.2 to13724.44 rebuild13724.68 what13725.08 has13725.25 been13725.49 lost,13725.65 if13726.05 that13726.2 is13726.28 even13726.52 possible.13726.84 The13728.13 heartbreaking13728.28 truth13728.84 is13729.17 that13729.33 after13729.49 a13729.81 certain13729.89 point,13730.2 many13730.6 children13730.84 will13731.25 be13731.41 unreachable.13731.57 This13733.7 year13734.02 for13734.26 our13734.42 FY13734.66 '2613734.98 budget,13735.46 we13735.78 are13735.94 once13736.18 again13736.42 in13736.74 a13736.9 position13736.98 of13737.38 requiring13737.54 an13738.02 override13738.18 to13738.66 fund13738.82 our13739.06 budget.13739.22 Without13740.34 successful13740.74 overrides13741.38 in13741.78 both13741.94 towns,13742.26 we13742.66 will13742.82 be13743.06 forced13743.14 to13743.54 make13743.62 another13743.86 $1,600,00013744.26 in13746.02 cuts.13746.18 What's13747.72 worse,13748.03 projections13748.44 for13748.92 next13749.16 year13749.4 already13749.72 show13750.11 that13750.35 our13750.6 expected13750.83 increase13751.32 will13751.72 exceed13751.88 the13753.08 town's13753.24 ability13753.56 to13753.95 pay,13754.03 and13754.6 municipal13754.83 leadership13755.4 has13755.88 already13756.03 indicated13756.44 to13756.92 us13757 that13757.24 they13757.32 would13757.48 not13757.64 support13757.88 seeking13758.6 an13759 override13759.16 next13759.64 year.13759.88 Once13760.48 again,13760.72 we13760.96 would13761.28 be13761.6 in13761.76 a13762 position13762.08 of13762.4 needing13762.56 to13762.88 make13762.96 significant13763.6 cuts13764.24 for13764.56 the13764.72 third13764.88 year13765.12 in13765.28 a13765.52 row.13765.6 I13766.88 recognize13767.2 that13767.68 these13767.84 matters13768.08 are13768.4 not13768.56 easy13768.8 and13769.2 that13769.36 there13769.6 are13769.84 many13770.08 matters13770.72 that13771.76 need13772.08 your13772.32 attention.13772.48 I13774.69 ask13774.92 that13775.17 in13775.33 your13775.49 deliberations,13775.73 you13776.36 remember13776.6 and13777 you13777.08 consider13777.25 the13777.73 needs13777.89 of13778.52 the13778.77 communities13778.92 of13779.33 both13779.49 Groton13779.73 and13780.13 Dunstable,13780.36 and13781.17 the13781.41 2,30513781.65 current13783.25 students,13783.57 and13784.05 35113784.28 employees13785.57 of13786.41 the13786.57 Groton13786.65 Dunstable13786.89 Regional13787.37 School13787.85 District.13788.09 They13788.57 are13788.73 counting13788.97 on13789.29 you.13789.45
13790.89 SPEAKER113790.89 -13790.89 Thank13790.89 you13791.21
13791.29 SPEAKER7613791.29 -13791.29 for13791.29 your13791.53 time13791.61 and13791.85 consideration.13792.01
13795.61 SPEAKER6613795.61 -13795.61 Hi13795.61 there.13795.77
13796.65 SPEAKER6713796.65 -13796.65 I'm13796.65 Rebecca13797.05 Wexner.13797.53 I'm13798.01 here13798.17 as13798.41 a13798.65 concerned13798.73 citizen,13799.21 a13799.77 pediatric13799.85 psychologist,13800.61 and13801.42 most13801.74 importantly,13802.06 a13802.61 mother13802.85 to13803.17 313803.42 school13803.66 aged13803.9 children13804.14 in13804.53 the13804.69 Groton13804.77 Dunstable13805.17 Regional13805.66 School13805.98 District.13806.22 The13807.25 term13807.5 commonwealth13807.9 is13808.77 meant13808.93 to13809.17 signal13809.33 a13809.74 community13809.9 founded13810.45 on13810.77 serving13811.01 the13811.33 public13811.5 good.13811.9 Massachusetts13812.53 is13813.5 113813.66 of13813.82 only13813.98 413814.3 states13814.92 to13815.24 retain13815.48 this13815.96 signifier,13816.2 indicating13817.24 its13817.8 commitment13818.04 to13818.52 the13818.68 well-being13818.84 of13819.4 all13819.56 of13819.8 its13819.96 citizens.13820.2 It's13821.08 time13821.32 that13821.56 the13821.72 legislature13821.88 live13822.52 up13822.76 to13822.84 that13823 name13823.16 and13823.72 move13823.96 to13824.12 fund13824.28 the13824.52 special13824.68 education13825 circuit13825.56 breaker,13825.88 sliding13826.6 scale13827 mental13827.24 health13827.56 supports13827.8 to13828.2 all13828.28 districts,13828.52 to13829.24 fund13829.4 regional13829.64 transportation13830.19 at13830.75 100%13831 and13832.03 increase13832.27 per13832.67 pupil13832.83 spending13833.24 so13833.64 that13833.88 the13834.03 well-being13834.11 of13834.51 our13834.67 youngest13834.83 citizens13835.24 is13835.72 fully13835.88 supported.13836.11 These13837.16 investments13837.48 would13837.95 provide13838.27 an13838.59 additional13838.83 estimated13839.32 $1,200,00013840.11 to13841.56 Groton13841.76 and13841.84 Dunstable,13841.92 essentially13842.88 closing13843.44 our13843.76 budget13843.92 deficit13844.32 and13844.72 providing13844.88 additional13845.28 and13845.92 preventing13846.08 additional13846.64 devastating13847.28 cuts13847.92 this13848.08 fall,13848.32 not13849.04 to13849.28 mention13849.36 the13849.68 relief13849.76 offered13850.16 to13850.4 districts13850.56 across13850.96 the13851.28 state.13851.44 In13852.32 Groton13852.48 and13852.8 Dunstable,13852.88 as13853.68 Lacey13853.76 mentioned,13854.16 the13854.4 community13854.56 has13854.96 rejected13855.2 overrides13855.68 communicating13856.32 their13856.88 refusal13857.04 to13857.52 take13857.7 on13857.94 any13858.1 additional13858.42 funding13858.83 burden13859.23 as13859.63 a13859.78 result13859.86 of13860.1 the13860.19 statewide13860.34 structural13860.83 funding13861.23 shortfalls.13861.63 We've13862.58 been13862.83 forced13862.99 to13863.31 reduce13863.47 the13863.78 district13863.86 budget13864.26 by13864.58 over13864.75 $2,000,00013864.99 thus13866.02 eliminating13866.34 2713866.99 positions,13867.7 including13868.34 teachers,13868.83 counselors,13869.7 social13870.5 workers,13870.83 and13871.31 nurses.13871.55 We've13872.44 seen13872.6 increases13873.08 in13873.56 class13873.8 size,13874.04 decreases13874.76 in13875.24 student13875.48 services,13875.8 and13876.52 diminished13876.76 staff13877.24 morale.13877.64 My13878.36 youngest13878.6 daughter13879.16 no13879.64 longer13879.8 enjoys13880.2 school13880.76 because13881.32 her13881.72 class13881.88 size13882.28 is13882.52 so13882.76 large13883 and13883.56 the13883.72 behavioral13883.88 needs13884.44 in13884.68 the13884.76 room13884.92 exceed13885.24 the13885.64 capacity13886.03 of13886.43 any13886.67 single13886.92 teacher.13887.24 Yet13888.03 despite13888.35 their13888.75 best13888.92 intentions,13889.24 there13890.11 is13890.35 no13890.59 additional13890.92 staff13891.48 to13891.88 support13892.03 either13892.51 the13892.83 teacher13893.08 or13893.8 my13893.95 child.13894.19 So13895 my13895.24 813895.48 year13895.64 old13895.88 is13896.11 learning13896.35 that13897 when13897.24 you13897.48 need13897.64 help,13897.95 nobody13898.59 is13899.08 there13899.24 to13899.56 help13899.72 you.13899.88 And13900.74 it'll13900.82 only13901.22 get13901.46 worse.13901.78 With13902.26 expected13902.5 increases13902.98 in13903.46 school13903.62 assessments,13903.94 the13904.58 district13904.82 faces13905.14 continued13905.54 budget13906.02 deficits13906.42 and13907.14 elimination13907.38 of13907.94 2613908.1 additional13908.9 positions,13909.54 which13910.1 would13910.34 be13910.5 catastrophic13910.66 for13911.3 our13911.54 school,13911.78 our13912.42 town,13912.66 and13913.22 each13913.46 of13913.62 our13913.78 students.13913.94 This13914.86 is13915.1 an13915.19 unsustainable13915.67 path.13916.55 Our13917.42 schools13917.67 are13918.07 our13918.31 children's13918.47 community,13918.94 and13919.75 not13919.99 only13920.23 are13920.7 we13920.78 telling13921.02 our13921.34 children13921.58 that13922.23 they13922.47 do13922.63 not13922.78 deserve13923.1 to13923.58 have13923.67 a13923.91 fully13924.07 funded13924.39 community,13924.78 we13925.58 are13925.75 allowing13925.99 these13926.47 communities13926.7 to13927.26 fail,13927.42 in13928.23 turn,13928.47 setting13929.11 the13929.35 stage13929.51 for13929.91 our13930.15 towns13930.39 to13931.11 fail.13931.35 The13932.39 students13932.55 of13932.87 Graton13933.03 and13933.43 Dunstable13933.51 deserve13933.99 access13934.39 to13934.79 a13934.95 high13935.11 quality13935.35 education13935.91 without13936.63 the13937.03 uncertainty13937.27 of13937.83 annual13938.07 budget13938.47 shortfalls.13938.79 I13939.67 ask13939.91 for13940.15 your13940.31 leadership13940.55 in13941.35 addressing13941.59 these13941.99 urgent13942.23 issues13942.55 in13942.95 the13943.03 budget13943.19 to13943.85 ensure13943.94 that13944.26 students13944.5 across13944.82 the13945.22 Commonwealth13945.38 have13946.33 the13946.58 have13946.9 the13947.14 community13947.3 that13947.77 they13948.02 deserve.13948.26 Thank13949.06 you.13949.3
13951.77 SPEAKER7613951.77 -13951.77 We'd13951.77 welcome13952.1 any13952.42 questions13952.66 from13953.06 the13953.14 committee13953.3 as13953.69 well.13953.77
13956.19 SPEAKER113956.19 -13956.19 Yes.13956.19 Ruth13956.75 Cazdell.13956.99
13959.15 SPEAKER7013959.15 -13959.15 Thank13959.15 you13959.31 again,13959.55 mister13959.95 chair.13960.35 Thank13961.07 you13961.31 for13961.55 coming13961.79 to13962.11 testify.13962.43 So13963.23 just13963.63 so13963.95 the13964.11 committee13964.35 knows,13964.83 Dunstable13965.87 is13966.75 113967.07 of13967.23 my13967.39 213967.71 towns13967.95 of13968.43 3,00013968.75 people.13969.79 Carla13971.19 from13971.59 Ashby13971.92 is13972.4 the13972.64 other13972.8 town13973.11 of13973.43 3,00013973.67 people.13974.48 So13975.59 they13975.99 are13976.4 the13976.56 face13976.8 of13977.43 what13977.99 this13978.95 funding13979.19 issue13979.83 looks13980.72 like,13981.03 and13981.43 and13981.67 the13981.92 crisis13982.07 is13982.64 really13982.88 real.13983.19 And13983.59 just13983.99 to13984.31 to13985.21 give13985.37 you13985.53 a13985.61 little13985.85 taste13986.25 for13986.65 Groton13986.97 Dunstable13987.53 over13988.33 the13988.57 last13988.73 1513989.13 years,13989.69 state13990.89 aid13991.21 has13991.61 gone13991.93 up13992.17 about13992.57 $500,00013992.89 and13994.73 district13995.13 costs13995.77 have13996.25 gone13996.57 up13996.81 $15,000,00013997.55 When14000.34 I14000.5 was14000.58 talking14000.82 to14001.15 the14001.31 Massachusetts14001.47 Association14002.34 of14002.98 School14003.23 Committees14003.63 and14004.1 they14004.34 happened14004.58 to14004.9 pick14005.06 Groton14005.31 Dunstable14005.78 as14006.42 an14006.66 example,14006.82 they14007.55 said14007.78 they14008.1 don't14008.34 think14008.58 they14009.51 can14009.67 ever14010.07 dig14010.63 out14011.03 of14011.19 that14011.43 hole14011.67 that14012.63 hold14013.03 harmless14013.43 has14014.23 put14014.55 them14014.71 in.14014.95 So14015.19 as14015.43 someone14015.67 else14015.99 said14016.31 earlier,14016.63 hold14017.19 harmless14017.51 is14018.31 really14018.55 anything14019.51 but,14020.07 and14020.39 we14020.63 absolutely14020.95 have14021.67 to14021.83 look14021.99 at14022.15 the14022.31 school14022.47 funding14022.79 formula14023.35 to14023.91 fix14024.07 this.14024.39 Thank14026.5 you.14026.81 Thank14028.81
14029.14 SPEAKER114029.14 -14029.14 you.14029.14
14029.77 SPEAKER1114029.77 -14029.77 Thank14029.77 you.14030.01 Emily14032.01 Slater.14032.33
14033.14 SPEAKER114033.14 -14033.14 Emily14033.14 Slater.14033.61
14034.17 SPEAKER314034.17 -14034.17 And14034.17 then14034.42 Diane14035.14 Hewitt.14035.61
14036.25 SPEAKER114036.25 -14036.25 And14036.25 then14036.42 Diane14036.73 Hewitt.14037.14
14047.35 Diane14047.35 Hewitt.14047.83
14061.31 SPEAKER7714061.31 -14061.31 Good14061.31 afternoon.14061.56 I'm14062.03 Diane14062.27 Hewitt14062.67 from,14063.15 Groton,14064.11 Massachusetts.14064.51 And,14065.31 I14065.88 think14065.95 I'm14066.19 going14066.43 to14066.67 be14066.83 echoing14067.07 everything14067.72 that14068.27 has14068.51 been14068.75 said,14069 but14069.31 not14069.94 as14070.18 eloquently14070.58 as14071.3 our14071.62 students14071.86 have14072.34 been14072.5 able14072.74 to14072.98 do14073.14 for14073.38 us14073.7 this14073.86 afternoon.14074.02 That14074.58 was14074.74 masterful14075.54 and14076.26 great14076.66 lesson14077.3 in14077.7 civics14077.94 education.14078.34 My14080.18 husband14080.34 and14080.74 I14080.9 have14081.06 lived14081.22 in14081.46 Groton14081.62 for14082.02 nearly14082.42 5014082.9 years.14083.3 We're14083.78 both14084.1 retired14084.5 educators.14084.98 He14086.16 was14086.31 a14086.72 guidance14086.95 director14087.43 in14088.08 upper14089.11 elementary14089.51 and,14090.4 middle14091.67 school14092 children.14092.56 And14093.59 I14093.83 spent14094.16 my14094.48 career14094.95 in14095.51 higher14095.75 ed14096 in14096.48 student14096.72 advocacy14097.11 and14098.31 academic14098.8 affairs.14099.35 Both14100.48 of14100.64 our14100.72 children14100.96 attended14101.44 Groton14101.84 Dunstable14102.24 Schools,14102.96 and14103.28 we14103.52 now14103.76 have14104 214104.24 young14104.48 grandchildren14104.8 enrolled14105.68 at14106.48 the14106.56 elementary14106.8 level.14107.36 I'm14108.48 writing14108.72 to14109.36 you14109.6 or14110.16 excuse14110.32 me.14110.64 I'm14110.88 speaking14111.12 to14111.44 you14111.52 to14111.84 express14112.5 our14112.83 deepest14113.15 concern14113.63 and14114.1 distress14114.34 about14114.83 the14115.06 fiscal14115.23 crisis14115.63 facing14116.58 our14116.98 district.14117.15 And14118.18 all14118.58 of14118.83 those14119.06 other14119.39 communities14120.83 in14121.47 project14121.63 214122.1 11,14122.34 which14122.83 is14123.06 actually14123.23 much14123.63 more14123.86 than14124.1 214124.26 11,14124.5 who14125.38 all14125.62 continue14125.94 to14126.34 be14126.5 severely14126.82 underfunded14127.38 by14128.02 the14128.26 state14128.34 of14128.58 Massachusetts.14128.82 This14130.1 inequity14130.42 and14131.06 funding14131.3 is14131.78 hollowing14132.1 out14132.58 our14132.82 schools14132.98 in14133.94 Groton14134.1 and14134.5 Dunstable.14134.66 In14135.86 2025,14136.18 chapter14137.38 7014137.86 monies14138.26 dropped14138.74 to14139.06 just14139.22 23%.14139.54 With14141.27 inflation,14141.6 the14142.24 outmoded14142.56 cap14143.11 of14143.52 prop14143.75 214144.16 and14144.4 a14144.56 half,14144.64 and14145.35 the14145.52 reduction14145.67 of14146.24 state14146.48 funding14146.8 as14147.44 representative14148.4 Scarsdale14149.11 just14149.67 said,14149.92 we're14150.16 in14150.4 a14150.56 deep14150.72 hole14150.95 and14151.35 we14151.6 can't14151.83 climb14152.24 out.14152.56 Proposing14153.9 yearly14154.62 prop14155.18 214155.5 and14155.66 a14155.82 half14155.98 overrides14156.22 is14156.94 not14157.18 the14157.58 answer.14157.82 Last14158.62 year,14158.94 our14159.26 community14159.5 rejected14160.06 an14160.54 override14160.78 for14161.34 the14161.5 schools14161.66 resulting14162.62 in14163.18 the14163.34 elimination14163.5 of14164.22 2414164.46 full14165.34 time14165.58 positions.14165.9 This14167 is14167.24 now14167.4 affecting14167.88 every14168.59 school,14168.83 every14169.8 department,14170.11 and14170.92 every14171.24 child.14171.56 The14172.43 negative14172.59 impacts14173.08 include14173.64 increased14174.19 class14174.67 sizes,14175 the14175.95 reduction14176.11 of14176.67 course14176.92 offerings,14177.24 and14178.27 the14178.51 lack14178.67 of14178.92 critical14179.08 assistance14179.56 in14180.19 math14180.43 and14180.67 reading14180.92 instruction.14181.32 No14182.4 librarians14183.04 on14183.76 the14183.92 elementary14184.16 level,14184.72 and14185.28 the14185.52 cutting14185.68 of14186 health14186.24 care14186.48 and14186.72 guidance14186.96 staff.14187.52 This14188.56 year,14188.8 the14189.12 district14189.28 is14189.84 asking14190.08 for14190.56 only14190.88 a14191.36 modest14191.44 override14192.08 that14192.56 will14192.8 just14193.12 level14194 fund14194.4 services14194.72 and14195.6 reinstate14196 just14197.03 214197.27 of14197.75 the14197.92 2414198.31 positions14198.95 we14199.51 lost14199.75 last14200.16 year.14200.4 Without14201.35 the14201.92 override,14202.56 we14203.19 will14203.35 lose14203.59 another14204.08 1614204.72 full14205.43 time14205.67 staff.14206.08 This14206.95 means14207.19 in14207.59 214207.83 years,14208.08 we14208.48 will14208.64 have14208.88 lost14209.11 a14209.43 total14209.59 of14210 4014210.24 full14211.03 time14211.35 employees14211.67 or14212.66 11%14212.98 of14213.94 the14214.18 district14214.98 staff.14215.46 This14216.34 is14216.58 so14216.74 unacceptable.14217.22 I14218.66 respectfully14218.98 and14219.78 very14220.02 urgently14220.42 request14221.06 that14221.54 the14221.7 legislature14221.86 immediately14223.14 provide14223.86 supplemental14224.42 funding14225.06 to14225.46 Groton14225.62 Dunstable14226.02 and14227.03 the14227.16 other14227.27 hold14227.75 harmless14228.16 districts.14228.64 Further,14229.92 as14230.48 was14230.72 made14230.95 abundantly14231.27 clear14231.92 in14232.24 the14232.4 recent14232.56 Amherst,14233.11 Massachusetts14233.67 hearing14234.48 on14234.8 March14235.51 24,14236.07 the14236.64 leadership14236.88 for14237.51 creating14237.75 more14238.31 equitable14238.64 funding14239.19 for14239.59 a14240.09 more14240.33 equitable14240.57 funding14241.37 formula14241.85 must14242.65 come14242.97 from14243.21 the14243.45 legislature.14243.61 Please14244.73 stand14245.05 up.14245.37 Do14245.85 your14246.09 job.14246.33 Our14246.97 children,14247.21 my14247.93 grandchildren,14248.25 and14249.05 our14249.29 communities14249.45 are14250.17 all14250.33 counting14250.57 on14250.89 you.14251.05 Thank14251.53 you.14251.77
14252.41 SPEAKER114252.41 -14252.41 Thank14252.41 you.14252.73
14257.75 John14257.75 Crowell?14257.92 John14258.1 Crowell?14258.28
14258.47 SPEAKER314258.47 -14258.47 And14258.47 then14258.63 Sherry14258.78
14262.47 SPEAKER2614262.47 -14262.47 Haber?14262.47
14265.91 SPEAKER314265.91 -14265.91 John14265.91 Crowell14266.23 isn't14266.63 here.14266.94
14267.99 SPEAKER114267.99 -14267.99 Go14267.99 ahead,14268.15 Sherry.14268.47
14273.62 Next,14273.62 it14274.02 will14274.18 be14274.42 a14274.58 panel14274.66 with14274.98 Hannah,14275.22 Madison14276.74 Press.14277.22
14280.18 Thank14280.18 you.14280.42 Thank14280.9 you14281.14 for14281.22 the14281.46 opportunity14281.62 to14282.18 speak14282.26 today.14282.58 My14282.9 name14283.06 is14283.22 Sherry14283.38 Haber,14283.62 and14284.02 I'm14284.18 a14284.26 member14284.42 of14284.58 the14284.74 Wachusett14284.82 Regional14285.38 School14285.78 District14286.02 Committee,14286.34 the14287.14 largest14287.3 regional14287.7 school14288.1 district14288.34 in14288.74 the14288.82 state14288.98 in14289.3 geography14289.54 and14290.02 population,14290.26 serving14291.38 6,70014291.78 students14292.82 across14293.22 514293.7 towns.14293.94 I'm14294.93 here14295.09 to14295.17 advocate14295.49 for14295.89 removing14296.13 regional14296.53 schools14296.93 from14297.25 hold14297.49 harmless14297.73 status,14298.21 increasing14298.77 per14299.25 pupil14299.49 amount14299.81 for14300.05 hold14300.29 harmless14300.53 districts,14300.93 fully14301.81 funding14302.05 regional14302.45 transportation,14302.93 and14303.57 the14303.73 revision14303.89 of14304.21 the14304.37 funding14304.53 formula.14304.85 I14305.81 strongly14305.97 support14306.45 Senator14306.77 Lewis's14307.25 bill14307.57 s14307.81 400,14307.97 which14308.45 aims14308.69 to14308.93 address14309.09 the14309.41 enormous14309.49 inequities14309.89 built14310.84 into14311 the14311.24 current14311.4 funding14311.72 system,14312.12 but14312.52 immediate14312.76 action14313.24 is14313.64 needed14313.8 to14314.12 prevent14314.28 further14314.6 damage14314.92 to14315.4 the14315.48 majority14315.64 of14316.12 the14316.2 districts14316.36 in14316.76 the14316.92 state.14317 This14318.12 year,14318.28 our14318.52 chapter14318.76 7014319.08 funding14319.48 increase14319.88 is14320.28 only14320.44 1.37%,14320.68 and14322.44 our14322.6 average14322.84 minimum14323.16 local14323.56 contribution14323.96 increased14324.68 by14325.16 4.49%.14325.4 Enrollment14327.44 decreased14328.08 by14328.48 only14328.8 1.8,14329.2 which14330.32 does14330.64 not14330.8 offer14330.96 any14331.36 opportunities14331.76 for14332.4 savings.14332.56 It14333.84 averages14334.08 114334.64 student14334.88 per14335.28 every14335.52 314335.76 classrooms,14336 not14336.96 enough14337.12 to14337.44 offset14337.6 rising14338.08 costs14338.4 in14338.72 providing14338.88 even14339.36 level14339.68 services.14340.08 While14341.31 large14341.47 city14341.87 districts14342.19 can14342.59 move14342.83 students,14342.99 our14343.47 regional14343.71 district14344.03 must14344.51 educate14344.75 its14345.23 K-eight14345.47 students14346.19 in14346.59 their14346.75 own14347.07 towns.14347.15 Regional14348.51 transportation14348.99 costs14349.63 have14349.95 also14350.11 risen14350.35 sharply.14350.75 Only14351.63 114351.95 company14352.19 bids14352.67 for14352.91 our14353.15 contract14353.31 with14353.71 the14353.87 long14354.03 distance14354.27 to14354.67 cover,14354.83 further14355.48 driving14356.2 our14356.52 cost.14356.76 It14358.04 is14358.2 critical14358.36 to14358.68 fund14358.84 regional14359.08 transportation14359.56 at14360.2 100%.14360.36 WRSD14362.04 has14362.68 done14362.92 what14363.08 it14363.24 can14363.32 to14363.64 stretch14363.72 resources.14364.04 In14365.08 f14365.32 y14365.48 25,14365.72 we14366.36 maintained14366.6 a14367 level14367.16 service14367.4 budget,14367.8 making14368.42 strategic14368.74 allocations14369.38 and14369.94 holding14370.18 714370.58 bargaining14370.9 units14371.38 to14371.78 a14371.94 2.5%14372.1 increase.14373.14 We14374.1 are14374.26 already14374.5 below14374.9 the14375.22 state14375.38 average14375.62 in14375.94 percentage14376.1 of14376.5 teachers,14376.66 administrators,14377.38 support14378.34 staff,14378.74 clerical,14379.3 and14379.94 tech.14380.18 There14380.69 is14380.93 nothing14381.09 left14381.49 to14381.81 cut.14381.89 To14383.01 offset14383.25 the14383.65 extreme14383.81 burden14384.13 to14384.45 our14384.61 towns,14384.69 we14385.01 have14385.17 committed14385.33 $500,00014385.73 in14387.01 excess14387.17 funds,14387.57 but14387.89 this14388.13 is14388.29 not14388.45 sustainable.14388.61 Our14390.45 students14390.69 are14391.09 already14391.25 suffering.14391.65 MCAS14392.45 scores14392.85 are14393.25 down14393.41 significantly,14393.65 with14394.45 over14394.69 half14394.93 of14395.34 students14395.5 in14395.74 grade14395.98 314396.3 to14396.46 814396.7 not14397.02 meeting14397.26 expectations14397.66 in14398.3 ELA,14398.54 a14399.5 20%14399.58 increase14400.38 in14400.86 614401.02 years.14401.34 With14402.54 33%14402.86 not14403.82 meeting14404.06 ELA14404.46 expectations14404.94 at14405.5 our14405.66 high14405.82 school,14405.98 we're14406.22 sending14406.46 graduates14406.78 into14407.26 the14407.5 world14407.66 unprepared.14407.98 In14409.59 this14409.67 funding14409.91 crisis,14410.31 instead14410.63 of14410.95 hiring14411.11 reading14411.59 interventionists,14411.91 we're14412.79 going14413.03 to14413.19 be14413.27 forced14413.43 to14413.67 cut14413.83 teachers14414.07 and14414.47 increase14414.71 class14415.11 sizes.14415.35 We14416.31 cannot14416.47 provide14416.79 adequate14417.27 education14417.75 with14418.23 this14418.39 financial14418.63 strain.14419.11 The14420.15 current14420.31 foundation14420.63 budget14421.19 indicates14421.67 that14422.15 it14422.31 costs14422.47 only14422.79 $13,16014423.03 to14425.2 educate14425.44 a14425.76 student14425.84 in14426.16 Wachusett,14426.4 lower14427.52 than14427.76 90%14427.92 of14428.64 the14428.8 rest14428.88 of14429.12 the14429.2 state.14429.36 We14430.16 receive14430.32 far14430.72 less14430.96 per14431.2 student14431.36 compared14431.76 with14432.08 both14432.24 our14432.48 DART14432.64 peers14432.96 and14433.68 other14433.92 local14434.16 regional14434.48 districts.14434.96 While14435.92 it's14436.16 clear14436.4 from14436.88 former14437.12 success14437.52 that14437.92 regionalization14438.08 can14439.04 save14439.28 money14439.6 and14440.36 still14440.52 provide14440.76 a14441.24 solid14441.4 education,14442.36 it14443.24 has14443.4 a14443.64 limit,14443.72 and14444.36 that14444.6 limit14444.76 has14445.16 been14445.4 reached.14445.56 Under14446.76 the14447.08 existing14447.24 formula,14447.64 73%14448.2 of14449 districts,14449.24 including14449.72 82%14450.2 of14450.92 regional14451.08 districts,14451.56 are14451.96 in14452.12 hold14452.28 harmless.14452.52 Though14453.69 its14454.01 intent14454.17 to14454.41 protect14454.57 districts14454.97 from14455.37 losing14455.53 funding,14455.85 and14456.49 it14456.65 does14456.81 for14457.13 some,14457.29 it14457.93 has14458.09 created14458.33 a14458.73 massive14458.81 financial14459.21 burden14459.69 for14460.01 us14460.17 that14460.41 our14460.65 towns14460.81 cannot14461.05 endure.14461.53 At14462.89 a14463.05 minimum,14463.21 I14463.61 ask14463.77 that14463.93 you14464.09 maintain14464.33 or14464.73 increase14464.89 the14465.29 f14465.45 y14465.69 '2014465.85 '514466.17 '114466.49 014466.65 '414467.21 dollar14467.45 per14468.01 pupil14468.33 funding14468.73 and14469.05 urge14469.29 you14469.45 to14469.61 reconvene14469.77 the14470.25 k14470.33 to14470.57 1214470.73 funding14470.97 review14471.29 committee14471.61 in14471.93 f14472.17 y14472.25 2614472.57 to14473.45 address14473.61 the14473.93 failure14474.09 of14474.49 the14474.57 funding14474.73 formula.14475.05 Thank14475.85 you.14476.09
14476.73 SPEAKER214476.73 -14476.73 Thank14476.73 you.14476.97
14479.99 The14479.99 panel14480.15 with14480.55 Madison14480.79 Press.14481.43 Chris14482.23 Little.14482.55 Chris14483.43 Little.14483.83
14487.51 Okay.14487.51 Move14487.99 on.14488.23 Mandy14488.63 Gilman.14489.03 Mandy14489.99 Gilman?14490.63
14495 SPEAKER314495 -14495 Mhmm.14495 Next14495.08 will14495.4 be14495.64 Glenn14495.8 Yapwell.14496.12
14509.13 SPEAKER414509.13 -14509.13 Hello.14509.13 I've14509.85 brought14510.09 my14510.33 colleagues14510.49 from14510.89 Lunenburg14511.13 up14511.61 with14511.69 me.14511.93 We're14512.09 here14512.33 together.14512.49 Thank14514.57 you14514.81 so14515.13 much,14515.21 for14515.93 taking14516.25 for14516.97 listening14517.21 and14517.85 hearing14518.09 from14518.41 us.14518.65 I'm14518.89 here14519.05 today14519.29 as14519.61 a14519.77 concerned14519.93 parent14520.33 from14520.73 the14521.43 Lunenburg14521.59 Public14521.67 School14521.99 District.14522.15 I14522.63 have14522.79 214522.95 boys,14523.19 age14523.59 914523.83 and14524.15 7,14524.31 who14525.19 attend14525.35 Lunenburg14525.67 Public14526.15 Schools.14526.47 Lunenburg14527.35 is14527.99 a14528.15 small14528.23 town14528.55 in14528.87 North14529.11 Central14529.35 Mass.14529.75 We14530.07 have14530.23 approximately14530.47 1,60014531.19 students14531.91 in14532.31 our14532.47 school14532.63 district,14532.87 and14533.36 we14533.6 are14533.68 getting14533.76 killed14534.24 by14534.8 the14534.96 current14535.12 chapter14535.36 7014535.76 formula.14536.08 We14537.36 are14537.52 also14537.68 not14537.92 a14538.08 regional14538.24 school,14538.64 so14538.88 we14539.12 do14539.2 not14539.36 get14539.52 any14539.68 funding14539.92 for14540.24 our14540.48 transportation.14540.64
14543.2 I'm14543.2 basically14543.44 here14544 because14544.24 my14544.64 kids14544.8 deserve14545.04 the14545.44 kind14545.52 of14545.68 education14545.84 that14546.4 all14546.56 kids14546.72 around14547.2 the14547.44 state14547.6 deserve14548.08 and14548.83 the14549.95 funding14550.11 formula14550.43 is14550.83 really14550.99 killing14551.23 us.14551.55 We14552.11 actually14552.43 were14552.67 the14552.91 successful14553.07 we14553.63 had14553.79 a14553.95 successful14554.03 override14554.59 last14554.91 year,14555.15 and14555.31 we14555.47 are14555.63 again14555.79 looking14556.11 at14556.43 another14556.59 214557.55 and14557.71 a14557.87 half14557.95 million14558.11 dollar14558.51 deficit.14558.83
14561.39 Our14561.39 recently14561.55 approved14561.95 budget14562.27 cuts14562.67 over14563.15 3814563.39 positions.14563.87 This14564.51 amounts14564.75 to14565.07 9.5%14565.31 of14567.31 the14567.47 district's14567.63 total14568.11 permanent14568.43 staff.14568.99 The14570.11 governor's14570.35 budget14570.75 included14571.07 in14571.39 a14571.55 hundred14571.71 and14571.95 $20,00014572.19 increase14573.23 in14573.79 chapter14573.95 7014574.43 money14574.75 for14574.99 us.14575.23 Our14575.76 health14575.92 insurance14576.16 costs14576.72 alone14577.12 went14577.6 up14577.92 $450,00014578.08 our14580.88 special14581.12 ed14581.52 out14581.76 of14581.92 displacements14582.08 went14583.36 up14583.68 $606,00014583.92 and14586.4 our14586.56 transportation14586.88 costs14587.52 went14587.84 up14588.08 $280,00014588.32 So14590.14 when14590.3 the14590.46 state14590.62 gives14590.86 us14591.1 an14591.26 extra14591.42 $100,00014591.82 it14594.62 really14594.86 does14595.02 nothing14595.26 to14595.74 address14595.9 the14596.22 concerns14596.38 that14597.02 my14597.26 kids14597.42 are14597.66 facing.14597.82 I'm14598.78 going14598.94 to14599.1 let14599.18 the14599.34 school14599.5 committee14599.74 members14600.06 on14600.3 either14600.46 side14600.7 of14600.86 me14600.94 talk14601.1 a14601.34 little14601.42 bit14601.58 more,14601.74 but14601.9 I14602.06 want14602.22 to14602.38 leave14602.46 you14602.7 with14602.86 a14603.02 few14603.1 things.14603.26 My14604.42 914604.5 year14604.74 old14604.98 went14605.3 to14605.54 kindergarten14605.7 during14606.26 COVID14606.58 and14607.14 first14607.46 grade,14607.7 and14608.26 he14608.74 has14609.54 taken14609.7 a14609.86 long14610.02 time14610.18 to14610.42 get14610.5 him14610.66 to14610.82 read.14610.9 He14611.54 really14611.86 has14612.82 struggled.14613.22 And14614.26 without14614.42 the14614.74 supports14614.98 that,14615.7 my14616.35 school14616.51 district14616.75 is14617.15 able14617.31 to14617.55 fund,14617.71 I14618.43 don't14618.59 know14618.75 that14618.91 we14618.99 would14619.23 be14619.39 where14619.55 we14619.71 are14619.87 today.14620.11 He14620.75 also14620.91 has14621.15 a14621.27 lot14621.39 of14621.55 anxiety14621.71 and14622.27 he14622.51 has,14622.67 there's14623.23 social14623.55 workers14623.87 in14624.27 our14624.43 schools.14624.67 In14626.03 particular,14626.19 there's14626.67 a14626.83 social14626.91 worker14627.15 at14627.55 Turkey14627.71 Hill14628.11 who14628.43 is14629.12 going14629.2 to14629.32 be14629.44 cut14629.52 next14629.76 year,14630 which14630.24 is14630.4 at14630.52 the14630.64 elementary14630.8 school14631.2 he's14631.44 in.14631.6 And14632.08 so,14632.24 you14632.4 know,14632.64 he14632.88 talks14633.12 very14633.52 favorably14633.76 of14634.32 this14634.4 staff14634.64 member.14634.88 This14635.76 staff14635.92 member14636.16 will14636.48 no14636.56 longer14636.72 be14636.96 there14637.12 next14637.28 year.14637.52 You14639.36 know,14639.52 we14639.68 are14639.92 not14640.08 asking14640.48 for14640.88 frills.14641.12 Another14643.12 parent,14643.52 we've14644.22 been14644.3 meeting14644.54 with14644.7 our14644.94 legislators14645.18 who've14645.66 been14645.9 wonderful,14646.14 but14646.46 another14646.7 parent14646.94 uses14647.34 the14647.58 story14647.74 that14648.06 when14648.62 she,14648.86 works14649.34 in14649.58 the14649.66 school14649.82 district,14650.06 we14650.7 have14650.94 our14651.1 principals14651.34 cleaning14652.06 up14652.46 vomit14652.62 off14652.94 the14653.1 floor.14653.26 We14653.74 do14653.9 not14654.06 have14654.3 enough14654.46 maintenance14655.26 staff14655.82 to14656.38 take14656.54 care14656.7 of14656.94 our14657.02 buildings.14657.18 And,14658.44 you14658.6 know,14658.76 the14658.92 principals14659.08 and14659.4 vice14659.56 principals14659.8 do14660.12 what14660.28 needs14660.44 to14660.68 be14660.76 done14660.92 to14661.24 have14661.4 a14661.56 school14661.64 environment14661.96 that's14662.52 safe14662.76 and14663 happy14663.24 and14663.48 healthy14663.64 for14664.04 our14664.2 kids,14664.28 but14665 they14665.24 shouldn't14665.4 be14665.64 asked14665.8 to14665.96 do14666.04 that.14666.2 So14666.76 thank14667.16 you.14667.48
14671.54 SPEAKER514671.54 -14671.54 Hi.14671.54 My14672.58 name14672.82 is14672.98 Laura14673.3 Brozovsky.14673.7 I14674.42 am14674.58 from14674.82 Lunenburg14674.98 as14675.7 well,14675.86 and14676.1 I14676.34 am14676.5 a14676.66 member14676.74 of14677.06 the14677.14 Lunenburg14677.3 School14677.78 Committee.14678.1 I14678.5 am14678.66 also14678.82 the14679.14 parent14679.3 of14679.62 314679.86 school14680.1 aged14680.34 children.14680.74 Like14682.82 Mandy14683.14 said,14683.54 Lunenburg14683.86 is14684.58 struggling.14684.82 Our14685.92 schools14686.16 are14686.88 at14687.28 a14687.52 $2,000,00014687.6 deficit14688.4 this14688.88 year.14689.12 That14690.16 is14690.4 8%14690.72 of14691.2 our14691.36 budget.14691.52 And14692.16 that14692.4 is14692.56 after14692.88 passing14693.28 a14693.76 million14693.92 dollar14694.32 override14694.72 last14695.28 year14695.52 that14695.84 passed14696.24 by14696.8 less14697.44 than14697.69 a14697.93 hundred14698.09 votes.14698.41 Every14699.45 penny14699.77 of14700.09 that14700.25 override14700.57 went14701.37 into14701.69 the14701.93 schools.14702.17 We14703.53 anticipate14703.85 needing14705.53 another14705.85 override14706.25 next14706.97 year.14707.21 This14708.25 year,14708.49 we14708.81 are14708.97 looking14709.21 at14709.69 cutting14709.93 almost14710.33 10%14710.81 of14711.53 our14711.69 staff14711.93 with14712.38 the14712.62 shortage14712.78 we14713.1 have.14713.42 We14714.06 are14714.22 a14714.46 small14714.7 town.14715.02 We14715.58 have14715.74 a14715.9 lot14715.98 of14716.22 economic14716.38 diversity.14716.94 Some14718.22 of14718.46 our14718.62 neighbors14718.78 cannot14719.26 sustain14719.82 continuous14720.46 overrides14721.18 year14721.74 after14721.98 year.14722.3 We're14723.26 also14723.58 a14723.9 small14724.06 school14724.38 district,14724.78 and14725.26 we14725.5 cannot14725.74 sustain14726.14 cuts14726.62 of14727 this14727.24 magnitude14727.4 to14727.96 the14728.12 school14728.28 budget.14728.52 Our14729.24 school14729.56 budget14729.72 costs14730.2 are14730.44 rising14730.68 far14731.08 more14731.32 than14731.48 proposition14731.72 214732.2 and14732.36 a14732.52 half14732.6 can14732.84 keep14733 up14733.16 with.14733.32 Overrides14733.64 alone14734.2 are14734.68 not14734.84 the14735 solution.14735.24 When14736.44 inflation14736.76 outpaces14737.4 chapter14738.04 70,14738.44 the14739 town14739.16 has14739.48 to14739.72 shoulder14739.96 a14740.36 compounding14740.6 amount14741.16 of14741.56 the14741.72 cost14741.88 each14742.28 year.14742.52 It's14743.86 unsustainable.14744.26 We14745.46 have14745.62 a14745.78 structural14745.94 deficit14746.58 that14746.98 cannot14747.22 be14747.54 resolved14747.78 through14748.26 local14748.58 revenue14748.9 alone.14749.38 Small14750.66 districts14750.98 like14751.54 ours14751.78 are14752.26 especially14752.5 vulnerable.14753.14 We14754.1 do14754.26 not14754.5 have14754.74 room14754.98 to14755.3 absorb14755.54 cuts14756.02 without14756.34 directly14756.74 impacting14757.38 students.14757.94 I14759.5 know14759.74 that14760.14 this14760.38 is14760.62 a14760.78 complicated14760.94 problem.14761.66 I'm14762.94 here14763.26 today14763.5 because14764.22 I14764.62 want14764.7 to14764.94 remind14765.1 you14765.5 that14765.9 there14766.22 are14766.46 real14767.66 students,14768.06 very14768.7 real14769.02 students14769.42 who14769.74 are14769.98 being14770.14 affected14770.38 by14770.86 the14771.1 budget14771.26 issues.14771.58 They14773.19 cannot14773.35 wait14773.83 years14774.07 for14774.39 a14774.63 student14774.79 for14775.35 a14775.59 solution.14775.83 They14776.71 are14776.87 being14777.11 affected14777.59 today.14778.15 We14778.87 need14779.03 help14779.35 now.14779.91 So14781.67 I'm14782.15 asking14782.47 you14783.43 to14783.67 number14783.99 1,14784.31 prioritize14785.83 education14786.79 funding14787.27 in14787.67 Massachusetts.14787.83 I14789.06 know14789.22 I'm14789.38 supposed14789.54 to14789.86 be14790.02 specific14790.18 and14790.58 that14790.82 is14790.98 a14791.06 very14791.22 broad14791.46 ask.14791.86 But14793.06 public14793.38 education14793.7 for14794.26 children14794.5 has14794.98 been14795.14 a14795.3 core14795.38 value14795.7 of14796.02 Massachusetts14796.18 for14796.98 25014797.22 years.14798.26 Please14799.86 recommit14800.74 to14801.3 that14801.46 value,14801.7 not14802.34 with14802.58 your14802.74 words,14802.98 but14803.52 with14803.76 concrete14804 budgetary14804.56 action.14805.28 Also,14807.52 2,14808.56 consider14810 the14810.48 chapter14810.64 7014811.04 inflation14811.44 adjustment,14812.08 increase14813.04 minimum14813.44 aid,14813.84 make14814.32 sure14814.48 that14814.72 all14814.96 schools14815.2 can14815.52 continue14815.76 to14816.24 provide14816.4 quality14817.03 public14817.67 education14817.99 that14818.55 we've14818.71 relied14818.95 on14819.35 in14819.51 the14819.67 past.14819.75 3,14821.99 our14823.19 transportation14823.67 costs14824.31 and14824.71 many14824.87 other14825.19 suburban14825.51 and14825.99 rural14826.07 transportation14826.47 costs14827.11 have14827.43 been14827.67 increasing.14827.99 There14830.03 is14830.27 no14830.43 state14830.75 funding14830.99 for14831.39 non14831.63 regional14831.87 school14832.35 transportation.14832.75 Please14834.03 consider14834.27 budgetary14834.75 assistance.14835.31 Please14836.75 consider14837.15 house14837.55 bill14837.87 3914838.11 7614838.59 for14839.23 competitive14839.39 bidding14839.87 for14840.19 bus14840.35 transportation.14840.67 That's14841.71 been14841.87 an14841.99 issue14842.11 of14842.51 ours14842.59 that14842.83 we14843.07 do14843.23 not14843.31 have14843.47 competitive14843.79 bids14844.27 when14844.59 it14844.75 comes14844.83 to14845.07 bus14845.23 transportation.14845.55 For14847.63 our14848.11 out14848.51 of14848.75 district14848.91 placement14849.31 costs14849.71 can14850.11 be14850.27 financially14850.43 difficult14851.07 for14851.79 small14852.11 districts14852.51 with14852.91 smaller14853.15 budgets14853.55 like14854.03 ours14854.27 when14854.59 there14854.75 are14854.91 unexpected14855.15 move14855.87 ins,14856.11 and14857.14 it14857.46 can14857.62 wreak14857.86 havoc14858.02 on14858.5 our14858.66 carefully14858.9 managed14859.3 budgets,14859.7 especially14860.18 when14860.66 we14860.9 are14861.06 on14861.3 such14861.54 razor14861.86 thin14862.26 margins.14862.58 And14864.58 the14864.9 budget14865.06 is14865.54 so14866.42 carefully14866.74 balanced,14867.22 and14867.94 we14868.1 need14868.26 to14868.5 carry14868.66 that14868.98 cost14869.14 in14869.46 our14869.62 local14869.78 budget14870.1 and14870.75 wait14870.91 for14871.07 reimbursement.14871.23 So14872.11 please14872.35 consider14872.59 a14873.23 circa14873.31 break14873.71 it14873.95 reimbursement14874.35 or14875.15
14875.27 SPEAKER614875.27 -14875.27 a14875.27 more14875.39 timely14875.63 reimbursement14876.11 system.14876.75
14877.79 SPEAKER514877.79 -14877.79 We're14877.79 doing14877.95 as14878.27 much14878.43 as14878.67 we14878.75 can14878.91 locally,14879.15 but14879.63 we14879.87 need14879.95 your14880.19 help14880.35 too.14880.67 Please14881.71 make14882.03 education14882.27 our14882.75 priority.14882.91 Thank14883.47 you.14883.71
14884.98 SPEAKER214884.98 -14884.98 We14884.98 definitely14885.06 hear14885.54 you.14886.34 Sorry14886.42 that14886.74 that14887.14 was14887.46 all14887.62 you14887.78 guys'14887.94 time.14888.26
14888.74 SPEAKER714888.74 -14888.74 That's14888.74 alright.14889.06 Oh.14889.46 No.14889.94 You're14890.1 good.14890.26
14890.5 SPEAKER814890.5 -14890.5 I14890.5 didn't14890.58 know.14890.9 I'm14891.06 sorry.14891.22
14891.78 SPEAKER214891.78 -14891.78 That's14891.78 alright.14892.02 I14892.34 mean,14892.42 that's14892.74 why14892.9 we14893.14 said14893.3 614893.62 614894.18 minutes14894.5 for14894.9 committee.14895.3
14895.94 SPEAKER314895.94 -14895.94 I14895.94 like14896.1 quick14896.34 speed.14896.66 Sorry.14897.14
14897.7 SPEAKER914897.7 -14897.7 You're14897.7 good.14898.02 Thank14898.54
14898.7 SPEAKER214898.7 -14898.7 you.14898.7 But14898.94 we14899.18 we14899.42 get14899.58 it.14899.82 We14899.98 we14900.3 totally14900.54 understand14900.94 what14901.42 you're14901.58 saying,14901.74 and14901.98 we're14902.62 we're14902.86 listening14903.02 to14903.42 you.14903.58 But14903.66 I14903.98 there14904.46 are14904.78 some14904.86 questions.14905.1
14907.42 SPEAKER1014907.42 -14907.42 Thank14907.42 you,14907.58 mister14907.74 chair.14908.14 Just14908.46 to14908.7 point14908.94 out,14909.26 you14909.82 had14910.14 heard14910.38 previously14910.7 from14911.42 my14911.66 214911.82 regional14912.14 schools.14912.7 Lunenburg14913.26 is14913.98 a14914.14 a14914.44 comprehensive14914.68 school.14915.24 The14916.36 whole14916.52 harmless14917 minimum14917.8 aid14918.36 district14918.76 designation,14919.4 it14920.44 doesn't14920.68 work14921.08 for14921.48 any14921.72 of14922.04 them.14922.2
14924.68 SPEAKER1114924.68 -14924.68 Sorry.14924.68 That14925.4 was14925.56 right.14925.72
14926.28 SPEAKER514926.28 -14926.28 And14926.28 we14926.44 don't14926.6 qualify14926.92 for14927.48 rural14927.64 either.14928.05 No.14928.45 We're14928.61 not14928.69 rural14928.93 either.14929.25 So14929.73 none14930.21 of14930.37 the14930.53 specials14930.61 none14931.65 of14931.89 the14932.01 special14932.13 designations.14932.85
14933.73 SPEAKER1214933.73 -14933.73 If14933.73
14933.85 SPEAKER314933.85 -14933.85 you14933.85 could14933.97 speak,14934.29 look.14935.09 If14935.41 you14935.65 could14935.73 please14935.97 speak14936.37 to14936.69 the14936.85 mic.14936.93
14937.89 SPEAKER514937.89 -14937.89 We're14937.89 not14938.21 we're14938.53 not14938.77 a14938.93 rural14939.09 district14939.57 either.14940.05 So14941 none14941.4 of14941.64 the14941.8 special14941.88 designations14942.36 would14943.48 apply,14943.72 but14944.12 we14944.36 are14944.52 also14944.68 still14945.08 struggling.14945.4
14947.88 SPEAKER214947.88 -14947.88 No.14947.88 We14948.2 we14948.44 understand,14948.68 and14949.4 we're14949.64 we're14949.88 listening.14950.12 So14950.84 thank14951.08 you.14951.32
14958.45 Elijah14958.45 De14959.49 Jesus?14959.73 De14960.69 Souza.14960.93 I'm14961.33 sorry.14961.49
14976.66 Glenn14976.66 McLeod14977.06 after14977.62 this.14977.94
14986.43 SPEAKER1314986.43 -14986.43 You14986.43 guys14986.51 mind14986.75 if14987.07 I14987.23 stand?14987.39
14988.03 SPEAKER214988.03 -14988.03 You14988.03 can14988.19
14988.35 SPEAKER1314988.35 -14988.35 stand.14988.35 Good14989.47 afternoon,14989.79 committee14990.27 members.14990.67 How14991.95 do14992.11 you14992.27 do14992.43 today?14992.59 Wonderful.14994.25 Wonderful.14994.81 So14995.37 my14995.61 name14995.69 is14995.85 Elijah14996.01 Sousa,14996.49 and14996.89 I14997.05 represent14997.21 citizens14998.09 against14998.65 Eversource.14999.13 I'll15000.25 speak15000.57 a15000.81 little15000.89 bit15001.13 upon15001.69 that15002.01 in15002.25 a15002.41 minute.15002.49 But15002.81 before15003.13 I15003.53 digress15003.77 to15004.33 that,15004.57 I15005.05 just15005.21 wanna,15005.45 you15005.77 know,15005.93 speak15006.09 about15006.33 the15006.57 elephant15006.73 in15007.13 the15007.29 room.15007.37 As15008.34 I15008.42 drove15008.66 in15008.98 today,15009.14 you15009.78 know,15009.94 I15010.1 was15010.18 reading15010.42 the15010.66 local15010.82 paper,15011.14 and15011.46 there15011.86 was15012.02 a15012.26 lot15012.34 of15012.42 conversation15012.58 about15013.86 the15014.34 federal15014.66 government15015.06 cutting15016.02 funds,15016.5 and15017.46 especially15017.78 in15018.26 the15018.58 education15018.82 sector.15019.3 And15019.62 we've15019.78 sat15020.02 here15020.26 for15020.77 quite15020.93 some15021.05 time15021.17 and15021.57 in15021.73 speaking15021.89 on15022.21 listening15022.61 to15023.01 a15023.13 lot15023.25 of15023.41 these15023.49 concerned15023.65 citizens15023.97 about15024.69 those15025.01 specific15025.25 funds.15025.73 But15026.61 let's15026.85 be15027.17 clear15027.81 here.15028.21 It15028.85 is15029.09 not15029.25 that15029.49 the15029.65 federal15029.81 government15030.21 is15030.61 cutting15030.85 funds.15031.17 These15032.45 funds15032.69 that15033.41 are15033.65 being15033.97 withheld15034.29 are15035.26 a15035.5 consequence15035.58 of15036.38 the15036.62 disobedience15036.86 by15037.9 the15038.22 state15038.7 administration,15039.18 by15040.22 this15040.38 administration,15040.7 particularly15041.18 Maura15041.58 Healey15041.9 and15042.14 this15042.22 legislature,15042.38 because15043.26 there15043.58 are15043.74 some15043.9 federal15044.06 mandates15044.46 that,15045.42 you15045.82 know,15045.9 need15046.38 to15046.62 be15046.78 followed15047.02 to15047.58 be15047.74 able15047.9 to15048.14 get15048.22 these15048.46 funds15048.62 and15048.86 have15049.02 access15049.26 to15049.58 these15049.74 funds.15049.9 And15050.72 so15051.12 let's15051.52 be15051.76 clear.15052 These15052.72 funds15053.04 are15053.36 not15053.52 being15053.68 cut.15053.92 There15054.48 are15054.64 consequences15054.8 to15055.76 the15056 state15056.24 not15056.88 following15057.2 federal15057.68 mandate15057.92 mandates15058.4 similar15059.2 to15059.84 how15060.08 in15060.32 these15060.56 cities15060.8 and15061.04 towns,15061.28 when15061.84 the15062 cities15062.16 and15062.48 towns15062.64 don't15063.04 abide15063.36 by15064.16 the15064.4 state's,15064.56 you15065.04 know,15065.2 mandates,15065.44 these15066.17 citizen15066.49 towns15066.81 also15067.13 get15067.45 cut15067.61 by15067.85 funds.15068.01 So15068.33 let15068.65 let's15068.89 be15069.13 clear15069.29 about15069.61 the15069.77 paradigms15070.01 of15070.81 what15070.97 happens15071.21 in15071.53 these15071.69 situations,15071.93 you15072.57 know,15072.81 because15072.97 when15073.53 these15073.77 things15074.01 are15074.25 happening,15074.41 there15075.05 are15075.29 real15075.45 citizens15075.77 that15076.57 are15076.81 having15077.69 a15078.01 really15078.17 difficult15078.49 time15078.89 with15079.59 their15079.83 professions,15080.07 whether15080.47 it's15080.71 teachers,15081.03 whether15081.43 it's15081.75 employees.15081.99 And15082.63 so15082.87 these15083.27 these15083.59 political15083.91 games15084.31 these15084.79 political15085.03 theater15085.43 games15085.75 that15086.23 get15086.39 played15086.55 within15086.87 the15087.11 administration,15087.27 they15087.99 try15088.15 to15088.39 vilify15088.55 the15089.11 federal15089.19 government.15089.59 Let's15090.07 be15090.39 clear15090.55 here.15090.79 This15090.95 is15091.11 the15091.27 system15091.43 that15091.75 we15091.91 work15092.07 in.15092.31 This15092.55 is15092.79 a15092.87 political15092.95 paradigm15093.43 that15093.91 we15094.07 work15094.23 in.15094.39 Okay?15094.55 And15095.28 whether15095.52 there15095.92 is,15096.16 you15096.72 know,15096.8 someone15097.12 with15097.44 the15097.68 d15097.76 in15098 front15098.08 of15098.32 their15098.4 name15098.56 in15098.88 the15098.96 federal15099.12 government,15099.44 whether15099.84 there's15100.08 somebody15100.24 with15100.64 an15100.8 arm15100.96 in15101.36 front15101.52 of15101.6 their15101.68 name15101.84 in15102.16 the15102.24 federal15102.32 government,15102.56 those15103.12 laws15103.68 are15104.4 set,15104.64 and15104.88 they15105.04 need15105.28 to15105.44 be15105.52 followed15105.68 by15106.16 the15106.4 legislature15106.56 whether15107.28 we15107.52 like15107.68 it15107.92 or15108 not.15108.16 Because15108.4 that15108.72 is15108.88 the15109.04 system15109.2 of15109.52 democracy15109.68 that15110.36 we15110.6 have15110.76 in15111.16 this15111.4 great15111.56 country15111.8 and15112.2 in15112.44 this15112.6 great15112.76 state,15113 and15113.4 we15113.56 can't15113.8 sit15114.2 here15114.36 and15115.24 pretend15115.48 that15116.44 when15116.76 the15117.08 other15117.24 party15117.48 is15117.88 in15118.04 power,15118.2 we15118.92 can15119.08 just15119.24 avoid15119.72 these15120.6 federal15120.92 mandates.15121.4 So15122.28 let's15122.44 be15122.68 fair,15122.84 guys,15123.08 okay,15123.4 in15123.72 that15123.88 respect.15124.12 And15124.7 so15124.86 with15125.18 that,15125.5 I'm15125.82 gonna15126.06 digress15126.3 back15127.1 onto15127.42 Citizens15128.46 Against15128.86 Eversource.15129.18 And15129.66 so15129.74 when15130.06 I15130.3 initially15130.38 started15130.94 Citizens15131.34 Against15131.74 Eversource,15132.06 I15132.54 thought,15132.7 wow.15132.94 This15133.18 is15133.42 the15133.5 big15133.66 bad15133.9 corporation.15134.14 This15134.78 is15134.94 Eversource15135.18 coming15135.74 after15135.98 us,15136.22 coming15136.38 after15136.62 our15136.94 funds.15137.1 But15137.5 when15137.74 you15137.9 really15138.14 research,15138.46 you15138.94 find15139.18 out15139.42 that15139.66 they're15139.91 allowed15140.15 to15140.27 be15140.39 in15140.55 a15140.79 monopoly.15140.95 Right?15141.59 And15142.39 we're15142.63 gonna15142.87 branch15143.11 out.15143.35 This15143.59 is15143.75 not15143.83 just15144.07 about15144.23 Eversource.15144.39 It15145.03 is15145.19 about15145.43 IOUs15145.99 or15146.55 investor15146.95 operated15147.75 utilities.15148.23 Right?15148.87 And15149.19 so15149.35 we're15149.51 talking15149.75 about15149.99 Unitil.15150.15 We're15150.55 talking15150.71 about15150.95 National15151.11 Grid.15151.43 We're15151.67 talking15151.83 about15151.99 Eversource.15152.15 We're15152.71 talking15152.87 about15153.11 Liberty15153.35 Utilities,15153.75 which15154.07 is15154.31 a15154.47 415154.63 primary15155.1 IOUs15155.9 in15156.38 the15156.54 state.15156.7 And15157.26 what15157.58 happens15157.82 is15158.22 they15158.86 are15158.94 regulated15159.18 by15159.66 the15159.82 DPU,15159.9 the15160.3 Department15160.46 of15160.78 Public15160.94 Utilities.15161.18 But15161.98 here's15162.62 a15162.86 clincher,15162.94 because15163.26 for15163.5 a15163.66 while15163.74 there,15163.98 I15164.38 was,15164.46 you15164.7 know,15164.86 you15165.5 know,15165.66 going15166.14 after15166.38 the15166.62 DPU,15166.78 but15167.18 the15167.34 reality15167.5 is15167.98 it15168.3 is15168.46 this15168.78 legislature15169.26 that15170.68 sets15170.84 law15171.4 and15171.88 that15172.12 law15172.28 that's15172.52 then15172.84 gets15173.08 passed15173.32 on15173.56 to15173.72 the15173.8 DPU,15173.96 their15174.52 lawyers15174.76 take15175.16 apart15175.4 and15175.96 requesting15177 some15177.56 additional15177.88 time15178.44 given15178.92 the15179.32 fact15179.48 I'm15179.72 representing15179.88 33,00015180.44
15181.56 SPEAKER1415181.56 -15181.56 members.15181.56
15181.72 SPEAKER215181.72 -15181.72 I'm15181.72 sorry.15181.88 You15182.36 wanted15182.76 to15183.08 talk15183.24 about15183.48 it,15183.64 but15183.8 I15183.96 will15184.04 say15184.36 this.15184.52 I'm15185.46 sorry15185.7 that,15187.7 you15187.86 know,15188.02 I15188.18 I15188.5 take15188.66 a15188.82 little15188.98 bit15189.22 of15189.38 offense15189.54 that15190.82 because15191.06 I15191.22 I'm15191.46 a15191.54 state15191.78 representative,15192.1 and15192.98 I'm15193.14 working15193.38 for15193.78 my15193.94 people15194.18 locally.15194.9 And15195.46 I'm15195.7 sure15195.86 everybody15196.1 that's15196.58 up15196.82 here15196.98 cares15197.62 about15197.94 what's15198.26 going15198.5 on.15198.74 Absolutely.15199.22 So15199.7 to15199.86 go15200.02 ahead15200.18 and15200.5 say15200.66 that15201.54 we're15201.78 not15201.94 caring,15202.18 that's15202.58 not15202.9 that's15203.06 not15203.38 the15203.62 case.15203.7 No.15204.1 But15204.42 that's15204.58 what15204.82 you15204.98 implied.15205.14
15205.7 SPEAKER1315205.7 -15205.7 No.15205.7 No.15205.86 The15206.02 the15206.1
15206.34 SPEAKER215206.34 -15206.34 That's15206.34 what15206.58 you15206.82 implied.15206.98 So15207.46 I'm15208.18 letting15208.34 you15208.58 I'm15208.82 letting15208.9 you15209.22 know15209.38 well,15209.74 I'm15210.18 letting15210.42 you15210.66 know15210.82 that15211.06 we15211.22 are15211.38 caring,15211.62 and15212.18 I'm,15212.42 you15212.66 know,15212.74 I'm15213.06 not15213.22 liking15213.38 to15213.86 hear15213.94 about15214.1 kids15214.9 schooling15215.78 getting15216.26 cutted15216.66 and15217.22 all15217.62 that.15217.86 So15218.1 we're15218.34 gonna15218.5 figure15218.74 out15219.06 a15219.22 way.15219.3 But15220.58 you15220.82 did15220.98 not15221.22 come15221.46 and15221.62 just15221.86 talk15222.1 about15222.42 what15223.03 your15223.35 issue15223.51 was.15223.83 You15224.07 just15224.31 said15224.47 you15224.79 wanted15225.03 to15225.43 talk15225.51 about15225.67 how15226.39 there's15226.55 a15227.03 mandates15227.19 and15227.75 all15227.91 that15228.07 stuff15228.23 under15228.47 there.15228.71 Effect15228.95 But15229.35 but15229.83 the15230.07 problem15230.15 is15230.47 you15230.63 should15230.79 have15230.95 talked15231.11 about15231.43 what15231.99 you15232.15 wanted15232.31 to15232.63 talk15232.71 about.15232.95 You15233.19 wanted15233.35 to15233.59 make15233.75 sure15233.83 that15234.07 you15234.39 you15234.55 put15234.71 something15234.95 else15235.27 out15235.59 there.15235.75 There's15236.37 a15236.53 difference.15236.61
15237.09 SPEAKER1315237.09 -15237.09 Well,15237.09 I15237.25 I15237.33 think15237.57 it's15237.97
15238.21 SPEAKER215238.21 -15238.21 Does15238.21 anyone15238.37 have15238.77 a15239.09 question?15239.17
15241.17 SPEAKER1315241.17 -15241.17 Will15241.17 anybody15241.49 concede15241.89 some15242.29 time15242.45
15242.77 SPEAKER1515242.77 -15242.77 to15242.77 me15242.85 within15243.01 the15243.33 Thank15243.49 you.15243.73
15243.97 SPEAKER1315243.97 -15243.97 So15243.97 that15244.05 I15244.21 can15244.29 finish15244.45 my15244.77
15245.25 SPEAKER1615245.25 -15245.25 Time15245.25 is15245.49 up.15245.65 Please15245.89 remove15246.29 yourself15246.61 from15246.93
15249.65 SPEAKER215249.65 -15249.65 Glenn15249.65 McGloyd.15249.89
15262.68 Oh,15262.68 stop15262.92 it.15263.24
15266.91 Glenn?15266.91
15272.19 SPEAKER315272.19 -15272.19 Glenn15272.19 Mcno15272.67 Kirk15273.63 McLeod?15273.87
15277.26 Next15277.26 is,15277.5 Lara15278.3 Brozalski.15278.7
15283.26 Laura15283.26 Brozalski15283.58 is15284.06 not15284.14 here.15284.3 Andrea15286.38 Pancholi.15287.1
15292.17 Judith15292.17 Lewin15293.05 Mater.15293.45 Donna15294.73
15298.01 Grady.15298.01
15300.65 We15300.65 have15300.89 a15301.05 panel15301.21 with15301.61 Jennifer15301.85 Loud15302.33 and15302.73 Michael15302.97 Murphy.15303.37
15312.83 Jennifer?15312.83 Donna15313.95 Grady.15314.27 Donna15314.99 Grady.15315.31 Okay.15315.79 So,15316.11 after,15316.67 after15317.39 Donna,15317.87 we'll15318.27 have15318.51 Jennifer15318.83 and15319.31 Michael.15319.55 Thank15319.79 you15320.03 so15320.19 much,15320.35 Donna.15320.59
15322.63 SPEAKER1715322.63 -15322.63 Thank15322.63 you15322.87 so15323.03 much15323.11 to15323.35 the15323.51 committee15323.67 for15324.07 the15324.15 time15324.31 today.15324.63 I15324.95 appreciate15325.19 it.15325.51 My15326.15 name15326.31 is15326.47 Donna15326.63 Grady,15327.03 and15327.35 I'm15327.51 a15327.67 proud15327.83 3615328.71 veteran15329.51 public15329.99 school15330.31 educator.15330.71 I15331.43 teach15331.67 kindergarten.15331.99 It's15333.03 not15333.27 it's15334.36 not15334.52 what15335.08 I15335.24 do,15335.4 it's15335.64 who15335.88 I15336.04 am.15336.2 I'm15337.48 here15337.72 to15337.96 talk15338.12 about15338.28 the15338.6 biggest15338.76 missing15339.24 piece15339.64 of15340.04 the15340.2 budget15340.36 puzzle,15340.76 the15341.4 students.15341.64 Most15343.24 talk15343.96 about15344.2 money.15344.52 As15344.76 you've15344.92 heard,15345.16 we15345.4 know15345.56 money15345.8 is15346.12 an15346.28 issue,15346.44 not15347 a15347.24 surprise.15347.32 But15349.18 few15349.42 talk15349.74 about15349.9 the15350.14 children,15350.3 about15350.86 the15351.1 students.15351.26 Every15352.14 penny,15352.38 every15352.86 dollar15353.1 impacts15353.74 a15354.62 student15354.94 and15355.5 a15355.74 family.15355.9 Students15357.26 don't15357.66 come15357.9 to15358.14 us15358.3 in15358.46 a15358.62 vacuum.15358.78 Each15359.82 day,15360.14 they15360.38 come15360.54 to15360.78 us15360.94 full15361.18 of15361.34 hopes15361.5 and15362.4 dreams15362.72 with15363.6 unique15363.92 personalities,15364.4 various15365.92 family15366.48 structures,15366.96 strengths,15367.92 skills,15368.48 and15368.88 challenges.15369.2 Our15370.56 job15370.8 is15371.12 to15371.36 work15371.52 for,15371.76 care15372.8 for,15373.12 educate15374.16 every15374.72 student15375.04 in15375.62 whatever15375.78 form15376.1 and15376.5 whatever15376.74 manner15377.06 they15377.46 come15377.62 to15377.86 us.15378.1 We've15379.14 seen15379.46 an15379.7 increase15379.86 in15380.26 students15380.42 unable15380.98 to15381.38 name15381.54 or15381.86 even15382.1 control15382.42 their15382.98 own15383.14 emotions.15383.38 Students15384.58 with15384.9 anxiety,15385.22 depression,15386.18 and15387.3 aggressive15387.54 behavioral15388.1 concerns.15388.74 As15389.79 young15390.03 as15390.43 415390.67 or15391.39 315391.63 and15391.87 as15392.19 old15392.27 as15392.51 22.15392.83 When15394.11 our15394.35 students15394.51 arrive,15394.91 they15395.31 need15395.55 and15395.87 deserve15396.03 trained15396.59 professionals.15397.23 Professionals15398.51 who15399.07 know15399.31 how15399.55 children15399.71 grow15400.19 and15400.43 develop15400.67 cognitively,15401.23 biologically,15402.75 physically,15403.79 physiologically,15405.2 socially,15406.4 and15407.04 emotionally.15407.36 The15408.64 classroom15408.88 educator15409.44 is15410.16 but15410.4 115410.8 person15411.2 on15411.68 any15411.84 student's15412.24 team.15412.72 There15413.76 are15414 speech15414.16 and15414.48 language15414.64 pathologists,15415.52 special15416.56 educators,15416.96 occupational15418.85 and15419.33 physical15419.65 therapists,15420.21 van15420.93 and15421.25 bus15421.41 drivers,15421.65 cafeteria15422.77 workers,15423.49 custodial15424.21 staff,15424.93 secretaries,15425.49 nurses,15427.01 librarians,15427.73 counselors,15428.93 mental15430.05 health15430.45 professionals,15430.69 educational15432.14 support15432.78 professionals,15433.34 and15434.22 subject15434.54 specific15435.18 educators.15436.06 For15437.42 many15437.66 years,15437.98 under15438.38 underfunded15439.34 budgets15440.38 have15441.02 decimated15441.34 our15442.06 student15442.3 facing15442.7 staff.15443.18 We've15444.49 stopped15444.81 asking15445.13 if15445.53 we're15445.61 supporting15446.01 students15446.41 to15446.89 become15447.05 critical15447.45 thinkers,15447.93 confident15449.45 and15450.01 self15450.09 aware15450.33 individuals,15450.73 empathetic15451.53 and15452.25 productive15452.49 citizens,15453.05 reflective15454.65 and15455.29 innovative15455.53 problem15456.17 solvers.15456.57 The15457.77 whole15458.01 child15458.33 grant15458.73 provides15459.21 funding15459.61 for15460.09 districts15460.41 to15460.89 hire15461.05 more15461.45 student15461.93 facing15462.33 critical15463.61 staff,15464.25 such15464.81 as15465.05 nurses,15465.37 librarians,15466.09 counselors,15467.37 social15468.09 workers,15468.49 and15468.89 psychologists.15469.13 The15470.84 whole15471.08 child15471.4 grant15471.72 asks15472.2 you15472.52 for15472.92 a15473.16 commitment15473.24 to15474.12 appropriate15474.44 student15475.16 to15475.64 staff15475.88 ratios.15476.28 This15478.12 grant15478.36 will15478.84 help15479.08 focus15479.32 on15479.8 providing15480.04 grants15480.44 to15480.84 communities15481 who15481.56 need15481.72 the15482.04 most15482.2 support15482.52 for15483 the15483.32 most15483.48 children.15483.8 A15485.13 budget15485.29 is15485.77 a15486.01 moral15486.17 document,15486.73 a15487.45 reflection15487.69 of15488.25 what15488.33 we15488.57 as15488.89 a15489.13 society15489.21 value.15489.85 My15491.21 ask15491.45 for15491.69 this15491.93 body15492.17 is15493.21 to15493.45 support15494.09 fully15494.97 funding15495.45 the15496.01 whole15496.25 child15496.49 grant.15496.89 Our15498.04 children15498.36 and15498.92 our15499.16 future15499.4 are15500.04 worth15500.28 it.15500.6
15503.96 SPEAKER315503.96 -15503.96 Thank15503.96 you15504.2 so15504.36 much,15504.44 Donna.15504.76 If15505.48 there15505.64 are15506.44 any15506.52 questions,15506.76 thank15508.2 you15508.44 so15508.6 much15508.76 for15509.08 for15509.32 your15509.56 testimony.15509.72
15510.68 SPEAKER1715510.68 -15510.68 Thank15510.68 you15510.84 so15511 much.15511.24
15511.64 SPEAKER315511.64 -15511.64 And15511.64 up15511.8 next,15512.04 we15512.2 have15512.28 a15512.44 panel,15512.52 Jennifer15513.08 Loud15513.56 and15513.88 Michael15514.04 Murphy.15514.36
15517.32 Okay.15517.32 Since15519.16 we15520.28 are15520.52 gonna15520.68 be15520.92 moving15521.16 on15521.48 to15521.88 our15522.12 next15522.94 section,15523.1 we15523.58 are15523.74 struggling15524.06 along15524.54 here.15524.94 So15526.22 far,15526.46 we15526.94 have15527.18 heard15527.58 from15528.78 over,15529.18 8015530.38 people,15530.7 or15531.66 8015531.9 people15532.14 that,15532.46 were15532.78 on15533.02 the15533.1 list.15533.26 Now15533.5 we're15533.74 moving15533.9 on15534.14 to15534.3 higher15534.46 ed.15534.7 Melissa15535.18 Santos.15535.74
15540.91 Michael15540.91 Hanigan.15541.55 Or15542.43 is15542.83 Melissa15543.07 walking15543.71 by?15544.03
15546.27 SPEAKER1515546.27 -15546.27 All15546.27 right.15546.43 So,15546.59
15547.95 SPEAKER315547.95 -15547.95 Michael15547.95 Hanigan.15548.35
15552.86 And15552.86 after15553.18 Michael,15553.58 we15554.3 will15554.54 have15554.7 Ray15554.94 Roberts.15555.26
15564.3 SPEAKER1815564.3 -15564.3 Good15564.3 afternoon.15564.54 My15565.82 name15565.98 is15566.3 Michael15566.54 Hannigan,15566.86 and15567.74 I15568.22 am15568.38 the15569.34 current15569.42 student15569.74 senate15570.14 president15570.38 at15570.86 Greenfield15571.02 Community15571.58 College.15571.9 And15573.1 at15574.14 the15574.3 age15574.46 of15574.7 42,15574.78 I15575.58 returned15575.74 to15576.14 school15576.3 after15577.02 years15577.34 of15577.66 working15577.82 as15578.22 a15578.38 custodian15578.54 and15579.1 a15579.26 dishwasher.15579.34 And15581.39 I15581.63 had15581.79 the15581.95 privilege15582.03 of15582.35 testifying15582.51 before15583.63 this15583.95 committee15584.11 last15584.51 year15584.75 to15585.07 share15585.23 how15585.63 the15586.59 access15586.75 to15587.15 free15587.39 community15587.71 college,15588.03 the15588.43 mass15588.51 reconnect15588.83 program,15589.31 had15589.71 changed15589.87 the15590.19 course15590.27 of15590.43 my15590.59 life.15590.75 And15591.63 I've15592.35 seen15592.59 firsthand15592.83 how15593.31 the15593.47 expansion15593.63
15594.19 SPEAKER215594.19 -15594.19 of15594.19 this15594.27
15594.43 SPEAKER1815594.43 -15594.43 program15594.43 to15596.06 students15596.46 of15596.78 all15596.94 ages15597.18 has15597.66 transformed15597.9 our15598.38 campuses.15598.62 It's15599.74 opened15599.98 a15600.22 door15600.3 to15600.54 higher15600.62 ed15600.86 to15601.1 thousands15601.26 of15601.58 people15601.74 who15602.22 never15602.38 thought15602.7 it15602.86 would15602.94 be15603.1 possible,15603.18 including15604.38 many15604.78 of15605.02 my15605.1 classmates.15605.26 But15606.46 I'm15606.78 here15606.94 today15607.18 to15607.5 say,15607.74 access15608.22 alone15608.86 is15609.26 not15609.42 enough.15609.58 Across15610.86 Massachusetts,15611.34 we're15612.38 seeing15612.7 students15612.94 fake15613.42 forced15613.82 to15614.14 make15614.3 impossible15614.54 choices15615.1 between15615.66 staying15616.54 in15616.86 school15617.02 and15617.66 meeting15617.9 their15618.22 basic15618.38 needs.15618.78 I've15620.14 heard15620.38 from15620.54 classmates15620.78 living15621.34 in15621.66 shelters,15621.82 living15622.87 in15623.11 their15623.19 cars,15623.51 in15623.99 the15624.23 attics15624.39 of15624.71 friends,15624.95 just15625.59 to15625.83 stay15625.91 in15626.15 school.15626.31 I've15627.35 seen15627.59 students15627.75 going15628.15 hungry15628.47 for15628.79 days,15628.95 trying15629.67 to15629.91 hold15629.99 it15630.23 all15630.31 together15630.55 while15631.03 attending15631.27 classes15631.75 and15632.15 working15632.39 low15632.79 wage15633.11 jobs.15633.43 And15634.77 I've15635.01 seen15635.09 the15635.41 panic15635.57 that15635.89 sets15636.13 in15636.37 when15636.85 our15637.17 SNAP15637.25 benefits15637.49 are15637.97 suddenly15638.13 reduced15638.53 or,15639.17 suddenly15640.05 reduced15640.53 or15640.93 cut15641.09 off,15641.33 and15642.29 the15642.61 deep15642.77 uncertainty15643.09 that15643.65 creates.15643.89 And15645.73 I've15646.62 seen15646.86 our15647.02 campus15647.66 food15648.14 pantries15648.38 act15648.94 as15649.26 the15649.42 115649.58 thing15649.82 keeping15650.14 some15650.46 of15650.7 us15650.78 enrolled.15650.94 Without15652.54 that15652.94 support,15653.18 many15653.74 of15653.98 us15654.14 would15654.22 have15654.38 no15654.62 choice15654.78 but15655.02 to15655.26 drop15655.34 out.15655.58 At15656.62 Greenfield15656.86 Community15657.34 College,15657.74 our15658.46 food15658.62 pantry15658.86 is15659.26 constantly15659.5 packed.15659.98 And15660.9 these15661.22 scenes15661.46 aren't15661.7 unique15661.94 to15662.26 Greenfield.15662.34 It's15663.14 a15663.38 statewide15663.54 issue.15664.02 Right15664.98 now,15665.22 4415665.54 %15666.1 of15666.5 public15666.74 college15667.06 and15667.46 community15667.62 college15668.1 students15668.58 in15668.9 Massachusetts15669.06 are15669.78 facing15669.94 food15670.18 insecurity.15670.42 And15671.38 in15671.62 rural15671.78 areas15672.1 like15672.5 Franklin15672.74 County,15673.14 that15673.46 number15673.62 is15673.86 even15674.02 higher.15674.34 And15675.89 food15676.13 security15676.53 and15676.93 housing15677.17 instability15677.57 are15678.21 preventing15678.37 students15678.69 from15679.01 completing15679.17 their15679.57 education15679.73 they15680.21 fought15680.45 so15680.77 hard15680.93 to15681.17 begin.15681.33 Massachusetts15682.93 has15683.65 made15683.81 the15684.05 bold15684.21 and15684.45 necessary15684.61 investment15685.25 in15685.65 free15685.81 community15686.05 college.15686.45 Now15687.22 we15687.38 need15687.62 to15687.7 make15687.78 sure15687.94 that15688.18 every15688.42 dollar15688.66 we15688.98 spend15689.14 leads15689.46 to15689.7 a15689.86 diploma15690.02 and15690.58 not15690.82 just15690.98 a15691.14 student15691.22 ID15691.62 card.15691.94
15694.74 What15694.74 I'm15694.9 asking15695.06 you15695.46 to15695.94 do15696.1 is15696.26 include15696.5 $2,000,00015696.9 in15697.7 the15697.78 state15697.94 budget15698.18 to15698.5 fund15698.66 the15698.9 hunger15699.06 free15699.38 campus15699.54 initiative,15699.94 a15700.76 statewide15700.84 effort15701.48 led15701.88 by15702.12 students15702.36 to15703.32 provide15703.56 food15703.96 pantries15704.2 and15704.68 wrap15704.92 around15705.16 services15705.4 on15705.8 every15706.04 public15706.28 college15706.6 and15707 university15707.16 campus.15707.72 And15708.52 this15708.68 is15708.92 line15709.32 item15709.56 140O3.15710.04
15716.18 So15716.18 free15716.42 community15716.66 college15716.98 has15717.3 opened15717.38 the15717.62 door,15717.7 but15717.94 if15718.1 we15718.26 want15718.34 students15718.5 to15718.82 walk15718.98 through15719.14 it15719.3 and15719.46 cross15719.7 the15719.94 stage15720.1 at15720.42 graduation,15720.58 we15721.06 have15721.3 to15721.46 support15721.54 them15721.86 every15722.1 step15722.34
15722.5 SPEAKER1415722.5 -15722.5 of15722.5 the15722.58
15722.74 SPEAKER1815722.74 -15722.74 way.15722.74 So15723.7 thank15724.02 you15724.26 for15724.42 your15724.58 time,15724.82 and15725.22 thank15725.46 you15725.7 for15726.02 your15726.26 continued15726.5 investment15726.98 in15727.46 the15727.62 future15727.78 of15728.02 Massachusetts15728.18 students.15728.82
15730.84 SPEAKER315730.84 -15730.84 Thank15730.84 you15731.08 so15731.24 much,15731.32 Michael.15731.56 As15731.96 a15732.28 former15732.44 student15732.92 government15733.24 president,15733.64 I15734.12 appreciate15734.36 the15734.84 work15734.92 that15735.16 you're15735.32 doing15735.48 in15735.8 your15735.88 campus.15736.12 I15737.08 learned15737.32 a15737.72 lot,15737.88 you15738.2 know,15738.36 back15738.68 when15738.92 I15739.08 was15739.16 younger,15739.4 how15740.52 to15740.68 organize15740.92 from15741.56 from15741.88 MassPerk15742.28 and,15742.84 appreciate15744.21 the15744.61 work15744.69 that15744.93 you15745.01 do.15745.17 And15745.33 I15745.49 think15745.57 I15745.73 I15746.05 meet,15746.21 a15747.09 lot15747.25 of15747.41 individuals15747.65 that15748.85 115750.29 of15750.53 the15750.61 things15750.77 that15751.01 a15751.89 lot15752.05 of15753.17 our15753.41 community15753.65 doesn't15754.13 don't15754.61 know15755.09 is15755.33 sort15755.57 of,15755.65 food15756.37 insecurity.15756.69 And15757.78 sometimes15758.02 you're15758.42 looking15758.58 at15758.82 a15758.98 kid15759.06 that's15759.3 going15759.46 to15759.7 college15759.86 and15760.5 you're15760.74 thinking,15760.9 this15761.94 this15762.34 person15762.66 is15763.3 fine15763.54 when15763.94 in15764.34 actuality,15764.42 they,15765.86 they15766.58 are15766.82 not.15766.98 So,15767.14 thank15767.54 you15767.78 for15768.02 your15768.18 advocacy,15768.42 and15769.38 representing,15769.62 individuals15771.29 that,15771.85 are15772.97 are15773.29 disempowered.15773.37
15776.33 SPEAKER215776.33 -15776.33 And15776.33 we15776.57 also15776.73 know15777.13 that,15777.37 you15778.49 know,15778.73 having15779.37 food15779.77 in15780.01 your15780.25 stomach15781.13 gives15782.17 you15782.33 energy15782.57 to15783.05 be15783.21 able15783.37 to15783.61 think.15783.69 So15784.09 we15784.41 know15784.57 that15784.73 it15785.05 is15785.21 important,15785.45 and15786.38 will15786.54 listen15786.78 to15787.1 you.15787.26 So15787.42 we15787.58 thank15787.74 you.15787.9 Thank15788.3 you.15788.7
15799.42 Ray15799.42 Roberts.15799.66
15803.71 SPEAKER1915803.71 -15803.71 Hey.15803.71 Hi.15804.11 My15804.83 name15804.99 is15805.15 Ray15805.39 Roberts.15805.63 Good15806.91 afternoon15807.15 to15807.47 everyone,15807.63 and15807.87 thank15807.95 you15808.11 for15808.27 allowing15808.35 me15808.67 to15808.83 speak15808.91 today.15809.15 I15809.87 am15810.03 currently15810.19 a15810.51 freshman15810.59 at15810.99 the15811.15 University15811.23 of15811.63 Massachusetts15811.79 Amherst,15812.35 and15812.83 I15812.99 live15813.15 in15813.39 Amherst.15813.55 I'm15814.19 speaking15814.51 today15814.75 to15815.07 share15815.23 my15815.55 support15815.71 for15816.11 the15816.27 $2,000,00015816.51 for15817.23 hunger15817.39 free15817.71 campus15817.87 initiative,15818.27 which15818.99 is15819.23 line15819.47 item15819.71 715820.11 115820.43 015820.67 015820.91 dash15821.31 4003.15821.55 I'm15823.31 speaking15823.55 on15823.87 behalf15824.03 of15824.43 both15824.59 myself15824.83 and15825.39 MassPerg15825.71 students,15826.27 UMass15826.67 Amherst15827.07 chapter.15827.47 We15828.27 are15828.43 a15828.59 student15828.75 run15829.07 student15829.39 funded15829.79 campus15830.11 organization15830.59 that15831.39 advocates15831.63 for15832.11 public15832.35 interest15832.67 issues15833.07 affecting15833.55 college15833.95 students.15834.19 This15834.99 funding15835.31 is15835.63 incredibly15835.87 important15836.35 to15836.75 us15836.91 because15837.31 college15837.71 students15838.03 experience15838.43 food15838.91 insecurity15839.15 at15839.79 disproportionate15839.95 rates.15840.67 According15841.65 to15841.89 recent15842.13 statewide15842.45 research15842.93 that15843.25 was15843.41 also15843.57 mentioned15843.81 by15844.05 the15844.21 previous15844.37 speaker,15844.77 4415845.41 percent15846.05 of15846.45 community15846.61 college15847.09 and15847.49 public15847.65 university15848.05 students15848.61 in15849.25 Massachusetts15849.41 were15850.21 food15850.37 insecure15850.61 at15851.17 some15851.33 point15851.57 last15851.81 year.15852.05 This15853.25 funding15853.49 would15853.81 enable15853.97 public15854.37 colleges15854.69 and15855.17 universities15855.33 to15856.05 take15856.21 steps15856.37 to15856.81 end15856.89 hunger15856.97 on15857.21 campus15857.73 by15858.25 expanding15858.49 student15858.89 enrollment15859.21 in15859.53 federal15859.69 nutrition15860.09 programs15860.57 like15860.97 SNAP,15861.29 increasing15861.85 participation15862.41 in15862.97 dining15863.21 hall15863.45 meal15863.69 swipe15863.93 programs,15864.25 and15864.65 more.15864.81 With15865.93 an15866.09 uncertain15866.33 future15866.81 of15867.13 federal15867.29 education15867.69 funding,15868.17 it15868.73 is15868.89 even15869.13 more15869.37 critical15869.53 that15869.93 we15870.09 use15870.25 state15870.41 funding15870.73 to15871.13 support15871.29 students15871.69 now.15872.09 We15872.93 applaud15873.09 the15873.57 governor15873.81 and15874.13 legislator's15874.45 previous15875.81 investment15876.21 in15877.01 free15877.17 community15877.41 college15877.89 for15878.21 the15878.29 commonwealth15878.45 and15879.65 we15879.81 encourage15880.05 them15880.45 to15880.61 continue15880.77 support15881.33 students15881.65 by15882.45 including15882.61 $2,000,00015883.09 for15883.81 the15883.89 hunger15884.05 free15884.85 campus15885.09 initiative15885.49 in15886.19 the15886.35 fiscal15886.43 year15886.67 2015887.07 2615887.31 budget.15887.79 Thank15888.27 you.15888.51
15891.23 SPEAKER215891.23 -15891.23 Thank15891.23 you.15891.55 Any15892.35 questions?15892.67
15897.79 SPEAKER315897.79 -15897.79 Max15897.79 Fundran.15898.35
15900.11 SPEAKER215900.11 -15900.11 Max15900.11 Fundran?15900.43
15917.13 SPEAKER315917.13 -15917.13 I15917.13 believe15917.29 your15917.61 your15917.77 mic15918.09 might15918.25 not15918.41 be15918.57 on.15918.81
15920.89 SPEAKER2015920.89 -15920.89 Is15920.89 it15921.13 good15921.21 now?15921.45
15921.85 SPEAKER315921.85 -15921.85 Yes.15921.85 Thank15922.17 you.15922.49
15923.05 SPEAKER2115923.05 -15923.05 Thank15923.05 you.15923.29 Thank15923.85 you15924.09 for15924.25 the15924.41 opportunity15924.65 to15925.21 speak15925.37 today.15925.61 My15926.09 name15926.25 is15926.41 Max15926.57 Bondren.15926.89 I'm15927.45 a15927.61 student15927.77 at15928.25 UMass15928.33 Boston,15928.65 and15929.13 I'm15929.29 an15929.45 advocate15929.61 for15930.09 student15930.33 basic15930.81 needs.15931.13 I'm15932.25 here15932.41 to15932.57 voice15932.73 my15933.05 strong15933.21 support15933.61 for15934.09 $2,000,00015934.33 in15935.37 funding15935.61 for15936.49 the15936.65 hunger15936.81 free15937.13 campus15937.37 initiative,15937.85 line15938.89 item15939.21 715939.77 115940.39 015940.79 015941.03 415941.43 015941.91 015942.15 3,15942.47 a15943.43 vital15943.67 initiative15944.07 that15944.55 addresses15944.79 115945.19 of15945.43 the15945.51 most15945.67 pressing15945.99 and15946.47 overlooked15946.71 barriers15947.35 to15948.31 student15948.47 success15948.95 in15949.35 Massachusetts.15949.59 Right15951.19 now,15951.43 nearly15951.91 half15952.31 of15952.55 students15952.71 at15953.25 our15953.41 public15953.65 colleges15953.97 and15954.37 universities15954.61 experience15955.49 food15955.97 insecurity.15956.29 This15957.49 means15957.73 thousands15958.05 of15958.53 students15958.69 are15959.49 showing15959.73 up15959.97 to15960.13 class15960.29 hungry,15960.61 skipping15961.25 meals,15961.73 and15962.61 living15962.77 with15963.09 the15963.25 chronic15963.41 stress15963.89 of15964.21 not15964.37 knowing15964.61 where15964.85 their15965.09 next15965.25 meal15965.49 will15965.73 come15965.97 from.15966.13 This15966.92 is15967.08 unacceptable15967.24 for15968.76 a15968.92 place15969.08 that15969.32 is15969.56 the15969.72 hub15969.96 for15970.44 higher15970.68 education.15971 And15972.44 it's15972.52 not15972.76 just15973 an15973.32 individual15973.48 crisis.15974.12 It's15974.76 a15975 systemic15975.24 1,15975.8 and15976.28 it's15976.44 115976.68 we15976.92 can15977.08 solve15977.24 with15977.48 the15977.72 right15977.8 investment.15978.04 To15979.46 support15979.62 students15980.18 who15980.66 chose15980.82 the15981.14 commonwealth,15981.3 there15982.1 needs15982.34 to15982.66 be15982.74 the15982.9 right15982.98 support15983.22 system15983.62 in15984.02 place,15984.26 such15985.06 as15985.3 helping15985.54 eligible15985.86 students15986.34 enroll15986.9 in15987.22 SNAP15987.38 or15987.86 WIC,15988.26 creating15989.46 on15989.86 campus15990.1 EBT15990.74 SNAP15991.3 vendors,15991.62 building15992.87 partnerships15993.11 with15993.83 food15994.07 pantries15994.39 and15994.95 food15995.19 recovery15995.51 organizations,15996.23 and15997.59 funding15997.83 anti15998.39 stigma15998.71 and15999.27 awareness15999.51 campaigns.16000.15 To16001.35 bring16001.51 these16001.83 programs16002.07 to16002.63 life16002.79 and16003.11 to16003.35 scale16003.51 them16003.75 across16003.99 campuses,16004.47 we16005.11 need16005.35 to16005.59 increase16005.83 funding.16006.31 Colleges16007.52 want16008.08 to16008.32 do16008.48 this16008.64 work.16008.8 They16009.76 see16010.08 the16010.32 need16010.48 for16010.64 it16010.96 firsthand.16011.12 But16012.16 without16012.4 adequate16012.8 resources,16013.44 their16014.16 hands16014.4 are16014.64 tied.16014.88 With16015.84 proper16016.16 investment,16016.64 they16017.52 can16017.68 hire16017.92 staff,16018.32 build16018.8 infrastructure,16019.28 and16020.18 expand16020.42 outreach16020.9 to16021.38 support16021.7 more16022.02 students16022.34 more16023.06 effectively.16023.3 This16024.82 is16025.06 a16025.14 smart16025.38 investment.16025.78 When16026.74 students16026.98 are16027.38 fed,16027.54 they16027.94 are16028.1 more16028.34 likely16028.5 to16028.9 perform16029.06 well16029.54 and16030.66 graduate.16030.98 That16032.18 strengthens16032.58 our16033.14 workforce,16033.38 boosts16034.33 our16034.81 economy,16035.05 and16035.61 fulfills16035.85 the16036.41 promise16036.57 of16037.05 public16037.45 higher16037.93 education16038.25 as16039.37 a16039.53 pathway16039.69 to16040.17 opportunity,16040.41 not16041.77 a16042.17 place16042.25 where16042.65 students16042.89 are16043.53 left16043.69 to16044.01 fend16044.17 for16044.41 themselves.16044.57 I16045.93 urge16046.25 you16046.57 to16046.89 support16047.13 our16047.88 ask16048.2 of16048.28 $2,000,00016048.52 for16049.64 the16049.8 hunger16049.96 free16050.28 campus16050.52 initiative.16051 Let's16051.88 give16052.2 our16052.44 public16052.6 colleges16053 and16053.48 universities16053.72 the16054.84 resources16055.08 that16055.8 they16055.96 need16056.12 to16056.52 ensure16056.76 that16057.08 no16057.32 student16057.56 in16057.88 Massachusetts16058.12 has16059.4 to16059.64 choose16059.8 between16060.2 their16060.52 education16060.76 and16061.88 their16062.04 next16062.28 meal.16062.6 Thank16063.62 you16063.78 for16063.94 your16064.18 time16064.34 and16064.66 your16064.9 commitment16065.14 to16065.54 student16065.78 success.16066.18
16069.22 SPEAKER216069.22 -16069.22 Thank16069.22 you.16069.86
16080.07 Sarah16080.07 Woodcomb.16080.39
16081.59 SPEAKER316081.59 -16081.59 And16081.59 after16081.83 is16082.23 Phyllis16082.39 Keenan.16082.71
16083.91 SPEAKER216083.91 -16083.91 Phyllis16083.91 Keenan16084.31 is16084.79 next.16085.03 After16085.91 Phyllis.16087.35 I'm16088.63 sure16088.79 after16089.11 Sarah.16089.51
16102.71 SPEAKER2216102.71 -16102.71 No.16102.71 Now16103.65 it's16103.97 on?16104.13 Okay.16104.45 Thanks16105.65 for16105.97 having16106.21 me16106.53 here16106.69 today.16106.85 My16108.61 name16108.77 is16108.93 Sarah16109.17 Whitcomb.16109.41 I'm16109.89 a16110.05 licensed16110.21 psychologist16110.61 and16111.57 associate16111.81 director16112.37 of16112.69 research16112.85 and16113.25 evaluation16113.41 for16114.05 Boston16114.21 Children's16114.69 Hospital,16115.17 neighborhood16116.44 partnerships16116.92 program.16117.48 I'm16118.52 also16118.68 the16118.92 codirector16119.16 of16119.72 the16119.8 Birch16120.04 Center16120.36 at16120.76 UMass16121 Boston.16121.56 Boston16122.92 Children's16123.32 Hospital16123.64 is16124.04 116124.28 of16124.44 the16124.52 executive16124.76 members16125.24 of16125.64 the16125.72 children's16125.88 mental16126.36 health16126.68 campaign,16127 advocating16128.44 for16128.92 policy,16129.16 systems16129.72 and16130.12 practice16130.44 solutions16130.84 to16131.32 ensure16131.48 all16131.88 children16132.12 in16132.44 Massachusetts16132.68 have16133.56 access16133.88 to16134.28 resources16134.52 to16135.16 prevent,16135.4 diagnose16136.12 and16136.84 treat16137.16 mental16137.48 health16137.72 issues16138.04 in16138.44 a16138.6 timely,16138.76 effective16139.32 and16139.88 compassionate16140.12 way.16140.76 Neighborhood16142.28 partnerships16142.68 is16143.24 a16143.4 school16143.48 based16143.72 behavioral16144.12 health16144.52 program16144.76 at16145.08 Boston16145.24 children's16145.72 having16146.52 partnered16146.84 with16147.32 Boston16147.56 public16147.88 schools16148.2 across16148.68 more16149 than16149.24 2216149.48 years,16149.96 to16151.24 prevent16151.48 and16151.8 respond16152.04 to16152.36 student16152.6 behavioral16152.92 health16153.4 needs.16153.72 So16155.32 esteemed16155.96 members16156.36 of16156.84 this16157.08 committee,16157.32 here's16158.12 what16158.44 we16158.68 know.16158.84 Children16159.72 are16160.12 less16160.28 able16160.52 to16160.76 engage16161 in16161.32 learning16161.48 at16161.88 school16162.04 if16162.44 behavioral16162.6 health16163.16 concerns16163.4 are16163.8 present.16164.04 Massachusetts16165.32 data16166.12 show16166.6 our16167.17 preschoolers16167.33 are16168.05 316168.29 times16168.53 as16168.93 likely16169.09 to16169.41 be16169.57 expelled16169.73 for16170.13 dysregulated16170.37 behavior16171.17 than16171.89 their16172.13 K-twelve16172.37 counterparts.16172.93 According16174.61 to16175.01 recent16175.49 youth16175.97 risk16176.29 behavior16176.61 survey,16177.17 3416177.73 percent16178.29 of16178.61 our16178.85 Massachusetts16179.01 high16179.65 schoolers16179.81 felt16180.37 sad16180.69 or16181.01 hopeless16181.17 in16181.65 the16181.81 last16181.89 216182.21 weeks.16182.37 2016183.59 percent16183.91 have16184.31 engaged16184.47 in16184.87 self16185.03 injury16185.35 in16185.75 the16185.91 last16185.99 year.16186.31 We're16187.35 seeing16187.67 alarming16188.07 increases16188.63 in16189.03 suicidality,16189.35 particularly16190.31 among16191.35 minoritized16192.07 populations.16192.79 Insufficient16194.55 resources16195.11 lead16195.67 to16196.09 youth16196.25 with16196.41 serious16196.65 needs16197.05 languishing16197.53 in16198.09 our16198.33 hospital16198.49 ERs.16199.13 Nowhere16200.97 is16201.37 the16201.61 youth16201.69 crisis16202.01 more16202.49 evident16202.73 than16203.29 in16203.53 our16203.61 schools16203.85 where16204.57 teachers,16204.97 our16205.69 first16205.93 line16206.17 of16206.41 defense,16206.65 are16207.45 experiencing16207.77 incredible16208.49 burnout16208.97 rates.16209.45 Nearly16210.44 8016210.84 percent16211.16 of16211.4 teachers16211.64 engage16212.12 in16212.44 thoughts16212.68 of16212.92 leaving16213.08 the16213.32 profession16214.04 at16214.76 some16214.92 point16215.16 during16215.4 the16215.72 year.16215.88 So16216.92 now16217.16 add16217.64 a16217.96 shortage16218.04 of16218.52 behavioral16218.76 health16219.24 providers16219.48 to16220.04 an16220.2 increased16220.36 teacher16220.68 workload16221.08 and16221.56 the16221.8 crisis16221.88 becomes16222.36 even16222.84 clearer.16223.16 A16224.63 Birch16224.79 center16225.11 scan16225.43 of16225.75 commonwealth16225.99 schools16226.55 continues16227.03 to16227.43 show16227.59 that16227.75 schools16227.91 with16228.23 the16228.47 most16228.55 economic16228.87 need,16229.35 often16230.95 have16231.35 the16231.59 fewest16231.67 behavioral16232.07 health16232.55 providers16232.79 employed.16233.43 And16234.63 as16234.87 a16235.03 researcher,16235.27 psychologist16235.91 and16236.63 former16236.79 teacher16237.11 with16237.51 2716237.75 years16238.31 experience16238.63 in16239.19 my16239.35 field,16239.59 I16240.3 know16240.46 that16240.62 students16240.78 are16241.18 more16241.42 likely16241.66 to16241.98 access16242.14 and16242.7 complete16242.78 behavioral16243.34 health16243.82 treatment16244.06 when16244.46 it's16244.7 offered16244.86 at16245.26 school.16245.42 But16246.46 we16246.7 cannot16246.78 do16247.18 so16247.34 without16247.58 strategic16247.98 investments16248.62 to16249.26 support16249.5 efficient16250.06 workforce16250.54 development16251.1 strategies,16251.74 build16252.85 consistent16253.17 and16253.73 coordinated16253.97 professional16254.69 learning16255.17 for16255.57 educators,16255.89 and16256.93 expand16257.25 capacity16257.89 for16258.45 the16258.69 effective16258.85 coordination16259.33 and16260.13 implementation16260.45 of16261.09 school16261.33 behavioral16261.65 health16262.13 in16262.53 partnership16262.77 with16263.33 community16263.57 based16264.05 providers.16264.37 We16265.83 know16265.99 what16266.23 must16266.39 be16266.63 done,16266.79 but16267.03 we16267.19 need16267.35 a16267.51 commonwealth16267.67 strategy16268.23 to16268.71 be16268.87 effective16269.03 and16269.43 efficient.16269.67 So16270.47 as16270.71 you16270.87 build16270.95 the16271.19 budget16271.27 for16271.67 the16271.83 fiscal16271.99 year16272.31 ahead,16272.47 I16272.79 urge16273.03 you16273.19 to16273.43 prioritize16273.59 student16274.31 mental16274.71 health.16275.03 It16275.67 is16275.83 good16275.99 for16276.23 our16276.39 children16276.55 and16277.03 assured16277.27 an16277.75 investment16277.91 for16278.39 the16278.63 commonwealth.16278.71
16281.88 SPEAKER216281.88 -16281.88 Thank16281.88 you.16281.96 Mental16283.64 health16284.04 is16284.28 a16284.44 big16284.6 big16285.08 big16285.96 issue16286.2 and16286.68 we16287.4 care16287.56 about16287.8 our16288.12 kids.16288.28 And16288.92 we16289.16 care16289.32 about16289.48 we16289.96 don't16290.12 know16290.28 if16290.44 they're16290.6 always16290.76 kids,16291.16 whatever.16291.72 We16292.36 care16292.6 about16292.84 mental16293 health.16293.4 So16293.64 we16294.04 will16294.2 definitely16294.36 keep16294.92 an16295.16 eye.16295.32 Anybody16296.36 else?16296.84 Anything16297.24 else16297.56 to16297.8 say?16297.96 Thank16299.08 you16299.4 so16299.56 much.16299.72 Thank16299.88 you.16299.96 Jillis16300.84 Keenan?16301.16
16309 Jay16309 Nakai16309.24 is16309.88 next.16310.2
16312.96 SPEAKER1016312.96 -16312.96 Hello.16312.96 Thank16313.76 you16314 for16314.24 listening16314.8 to16315.28 all16315.52 of16315.68 our16315.84 talk16316.16 on16316.4 education16316.64 today.16317.2 I16317.68 am16317.84 gonna16318 talk16318.24 on16318.4 higher16318.64 education.16318.96 I16319.44 am16319.6 Phyllis16319.76 Keenan.16320.16 I'm16320.8 an16320.96 adjunct16321.12 math16321.52 professor16321.84 and16322.24 I16322.4 live16322.48 in16322.64 Amherst.16322.88 I16324.02 teach16324.1 mostly16324.58 developmental16324.9 math.16325.46 It's16325.78 that16326.02 math16326.18 that16326.42 you16326.66 take16326.74 when16326.98 you16327.14 didn't16327.3 get16327.78 placed16328.02 into16328.34 college16328.66 math.16329.06 And16329.54 for16329.62 most16329.86 students,16330.1 they16330.66 really16330.9 struggle16331.14 with16331.54 it.16331.7 They16331.94 have16332.18 mental16332.34 health16332.66 issues,16332.9 they16333.7 have16333.86 math16334.1 anxiety,16334.42 and16335.62 they've16335.94 struggled16336.26 with16336.66 math.16336.9 Some16337.14 have16337.38 learning16337.54 disabilities.16337.94 What16339.47 happens16339.63 through16340.27 my16340.59 courses16340.75 that16341.23 I16341.47 teach16341.55 is16342.03 that16342.19 students16342.43 learn16342.99 the16343.39 math,16343.47 and16344.19 they16344.43 learn16344.67 that16345.07 they16345.31 can16345.47 learn,16345.71 and16346.67 they16346.91 have16347.07 the16347.31 confidence16347.55 to16348.35 be16348.51 able16348.67 to16348.83 go16348.91 forward.16349.15 And16349.95 for16350.19 some16350.35 students,16350.67 it's16351.07 the16351.31 first16351.39 time16351.63 they've16351.87 really16352.19 felt16352.67 that16353.15 somebody16353.39 taught16353.95 them16354.44 math16354.76 in16355 a16355.24 way16355.32 they16355.48 could16355.64 learn16355.88 it.16356.12 Without16356.76 math,16357.24 students16357.64 cannot16358.12 progress16359.16 through16359.88 college.16360.2 They16360.76 miss16361 out16361.24 on16361.4 many16361.56 things16361.8 in16362.12 life.16362.28 As16363.48 adjunct16363.8 faculty,16364.28 we16364.84 teach16365 75%16365.32 of16366.37 the16366.45 courses16366.53 in16367.01 this16367.17 state.16367.33 We're16367.97 often16368.29 the16368.61 first16368.77 professors16369.17 that16369.89 students16370.13 access16370.85 at16371.41 the16371.65 colleges.16371.81 Yet,16373.01 we16373.41 teach16373.73 more16374.21 than16374.37 1,16374.61 course.16375.57 We16376.13 might16376.37 teach16376.53 several16376.85 courses.16377.17 Often,16377.89 we16378.21 teach16378.37 at16378.69 multiple16378.85 colleges16379.25 and16379.73 have16379.89 other16380.13 jobs.16380.37 So16381.24 we16381.4 can't16381.56 commit16381.8 the16382.2 time16382.36 to16383.4 the16383.56 students16383.72 that16384.12 they16384.28 need16384.44 or16384.76 commit16385 to16385.4 the16385.48 college16385.64 itself16386.04 because16386.6 we're16387.24 busy16387.56 going16387.96 off16388.2 to16388.36 another16388.52 job.16388.92 And16389.64 this16389.8 really16390.12 does16390.44 affect16390.68 the16391 student16391.16 success.16391.56 I16392.84 want16393 to16393.24 tell16393.32 you16393.48 about16393.64 116393.88 student,16394.12 a16394.91 former16395.07 student16395.39 of16395.71 mine.16395.87 He16396.43 came16396.67 online,16396.91 to16398.67 a16398.83 tutoring16398.99 session.16399.55 And16400.75 he16401.15 had16401.39 been16401.63 in16402.27 my16402.43 class16402.67 and16403.23 he16403.55 had16403.71 taken16403.87 it,16404.19 he16404.35 was16404.51 urged16404.67 to16404.99 take16405.15 developmental16405.39 math.16405.95 Just16406.35 take16406.59 116406.83 course16407.07 and16407.63 I16407.97 won't16408.05 pester16408.29 you16408.61 about16408.85 going16409.09 to16409.33 college16409.41 anymore,16409.73 was16410.21 what16410.45 his16410.69 GED16411.01 teacher16411.57 told16411.89 him.16412.13 Well,16413.01 by16413.33 the16413.49 end16413.57 of16413.89 the16413.97 course,16414.05 what16414.69 he16414.93 said16415.09 to16415.41 me16415.57 is16416.05 that16416.37 he16417.01 understood16417.25 math16417.89 and16418.53 he16418.69 knew16418.85 he16419.09 could16419.25 do16419.49 math.16419.73 And16420.78 he16420.94 also16421.26 had16421.66 changed16421.9 the16422.3 way16422.46 he16422.7 saw16423.02 himself.16423.42 He16424.46 saw16424.7 himself16425.02 as16425.5 somebody16425.66 who16425.98 could16426.22 learn,16426.46 who16427.26 could16427.42 go16427.58 to16427.82 college,16427.98 and16428.78 more16429.1 importantly,16429.34 he16430.7 realized16430.94 he16431.66 could16431.9 have16432.06 a16432.3 dream,16432.46 he16433.2 could16433.36 have16433.6 a16433.72 goal,16433.84 and16434.88 he16435.2 could16435.44 achieve16435.68 it.16436 He's16436.88 now16437.12 in16437.36 physical16437.6 therapy16438 school.16438.48 He16439.44 had16439.68 gone16439.92 through16440.64 from16441.04 developmental16441.36 math16442 through16442.48 516442.8 more16443.12 math16443.44 courses,16443.68 calculus,16444.24 all16445.36 the16445.52 biology,16445.68 the16446.24 chemistry,16446.4 the16446.96 the16447.11 physics.16447.27 He16447.51 got16447.59 his16447.83 associate16448.15 degree,16448.63 his16448.95 bachelor's16449.27 degree.16450.55 His16450.87 dream16451.19 is16451.67 to16451.91 be16451.99 a16452.15 physical16452.31 therapist16452.79 in16453.67 his16453.83 community16454.07 here16454.63 in16454.79 Massachusetts.16455.03 And16456.63 while16457.11 we16457.35 are16457.51 talking,16457.75 his16458.39 daughter16458.63 came16459.03 on.16459.35 She16459.99 was16460.15 about16460.47 7,16460.71 816461.03 years16461.19 old16461.43 and16462.12 she16462.36 said,16462.52 I16463.16 like16463.48 girl16463.8 math16464.12 teachers.16464.44 I'm16465.4 good16465.72 in16465.96 math.16466.12 I16466.68 just16466.84 can't16467.08 do16467.32 this16467.56 116467.8 problem.16468.12 In16469.96 community16470.2 colleges,16470.76 we16471.48 change16471.72 students16472.12 and16472.92 we16473.24 change16473.4 families16473.88 and16474.76 we16475 change16475.16 communities.16475.48 I'm16477.21 calling16477.45 on16477.85 the16478.01 legislature16478.17 today16478.97 to16479.69 invest16479.93 in16480.25 community16480.49 colleges16481.05 and16481.77 fund16482.09 adjunct16482.49 faculty16482.89 wages16483.45 and16483.93 working16484.09 conditions16484.57 in16485.69 your16485.85 budget,16486.09 and16486.89 to16487.05 elevate16487.29 mass16487.93 educate.16488.25 Thank16489.53 you.16489.77
16491.61 SPEAKER216491.61 -16491.61 Thank16491.61 you.16491.85 So16494.09 I16494.33 have16494.41 Cape16494.65 Cod16494.89 Community16495.13 College16495.45 in16496.01 a16496.17 in16496.41 on16496.81 The16497.05 Cape,16497.13 and16497.45 we,16497.77 we16498.89 love16499.05 our16499.29 we16499.61 love16499.77 our16499.93 community16500.17 college.16500.57 So16500.89 thank16501.05 you16501.21 for16501.45 what16501.61 you16501.77 do.16501.93 Any16502.57 questions?16502.81
16505.46 Jay16505.46 Nakai?16505.94
16514.9 Colleen16514.9 Avikian?16516.26
16520.6 Angelina.16520.6 She16521.16
16524.44 left.16524.44 Angelina16525.16 Avegano.16526.36 Yes.16527.24 Emery16529.64 Spooner.16530.12 Emery16531.24 Spooner.16531.72
16536.47 Stacy16536.47 Hodges16537.11 is16537.59 next.16537.75
16547.61 SPEAKER2316547.61 -16547.61 Hi.16547.61 Good16547.85 afternoon.16548.09 My16548.89 name16549.05 is16549.21 Emery16549.37 Spooner.16549.85 I'm16550.81 a16551.13 part16551.45 time16551.69 coordinator16552.09 of16552.89 the16553.13 dish16553.45 food16553.77 pantry16554.01 at16554.57 Bunker16554.73 Hill16555.05 Community16555.29 College,16555.77 and16557.69 a16557.93 proud16558.01 union16558.33 member16558.65 of16558.97 the16559.13 Massachusetts16559.29 Community16560.01 College16560.41 Council16560.81 and16561.29 the16561.45 MTA.16561.95 We16562.67 had16562.91 about16563.15 2516563.47 people16563.95 here16564.35 today16564.67 for16565.15 most16565.31 of16565.63 the16565.71 day16565.79 over16566.03 there16566.27 in16566.43 that16566.51 corner.16566.75 And16569.23 so16569.55 since16570.19 Mass16570.59 Educate,16570.91 we16571.31 have16571.55 seen16571.71 an16572.67 increase16572.91 in16573.47 use16573.71 of16573.95 the16574.11 pantry16574.27 of16574.83 over16575.07 1300%.16575.47 I16579.16 want16579.24 to16579.48 say16579.56 that16579.72 116579.96 more16580.12 time,16580.28 1300%16581.48 more16582.84 students16583.16 are16584.2 coming16584.36 into16584.68 the16585 pantry16585.16 every16585.64 single16585.88 day.16586.2 And16587.56 that's16587.72 only16587.96 since16588.2 2023.16588.52 Our16590.29 clients16590.53 include16590.85 students,16591.33 faculty,16591.89 and16592.29 staff,16592.53 and16592.85 on16593.09 our16593.25 busiest16593.41 days,16593.81 we16594.05 serve16594.29 over16594.61 60016595.01 clients16595.49 in16595.97 a16596.13 single16596.21 day.16596.53
16599.09 And16599.09 in16599.25 this16599.41 current16599.65 cost16599.97 of16600.21 living16600.37 crisis,16600.69 our16601.73 community16601.97 colleges16602.37 need16602.93 the16603.17 staffing,16603.33 wages,16603.89 and16604.29 resources16604.45 to16605.04 adequately16605.28 support16605.84 our16606.16 students.16606.4 We16607.6 need16607.84 the16608 wages16608.16 to16608.64 support16608.8 a16609.12 dignified16609.28 life16609.84 to16610.32 retain16610.48 the16610.96 staff16611.12 necessary16611.52 to16612.08 solve16612.32 problems16612.56 like16613.44 the16613.68 food16613.84 bank16614.08 cuts16614.4 that16615.12 will16615.28 make16615.52 accessing16615.84 basic16616.56 needs16616.96 even16617.28 more16617.52 difficult16617.76 for16618.16 vulnerable16618.4 students.16619.12
16621.89 Basic16621.89 needs16622.21 services16622.53 in16622.85 community16623.09 colleges16623.49 are16623.89 a16624.05 crucial16624.13 safety16624.53 net16624.85 for16625.09 keeping16625.25 working16625.65 class16625.97 students16626.29 enrolled.16626.77 In16628.61 my16628.77 personal16629.01 experience,16629.49 I've16630.61 been16630.85 a16631.01 non16631.17 benefited16631.49 part16632.21 time16632.45 employee,16632.77 managing16634.63 a16635.03 program16635.19 that16635.67 serves16635.83 approximately16636.23 2,00016636.87 households16637.59 a16638.47 year16638.63 with16638.87 only16639.11 116639.35 other16639.51 professional16639.83 staff16640.39 member.16640.71 I'm16642.87 leaving16643.11 my16643.43 position16643.59 next16644.07 week,16644.31 in16645.51 part16645.75 because16646.15 I16647.59 cannot16647.75 sustain16648.47 doing16648.87 this16649.11 work16649.35 at16649.75 this16649.91 level,16650.15 because16652.23 the16652.55 wages16652.71 and16652.95 benefits16653.11 are16653.51 not16653.59 available16653.83 to16654.31 me16654.39 to16654.63 stay16654.71 on16654.95 full16655.11 time.16655.35 Our16656.87 educators16657.19 and16657.83 support16658.07 staff16658.39 implore16658.79 you16659.19 to16659.51 elevate16660.15 the16660.55 investment16660.63 in16661.11 mass16661.35 educate16661.91 so16663.12 community16663.36 college16663.84 workers16664.16 can16664.56 afford16664.72 to16665.04 support16665.2 our16665.52 students16665.68 the16666.08 way16666.24 that16666.4 they16666.64 deserve.16666.88 So16667.92 please16668.08 support16668.32 h16668.96 216669.2 116669.52 816669.76 516670 s16670.8 116671.28 316671.52 616671.84 516672.16 and16672.4 provide16672.56 wage16673.04 equity16673.28 now.16673.76 We16674.64 need16674.88 this16675.12 to16675.44 keep16675.6 our16675.84 community16675.92 colleges16676.48 running,16677.41 to16678.13 continue16678.45 to16679.09 support16679.25 students.16679.65 I'd16681.73 also16681.89 like16682.21 to16682.37 ask16682.53 you16682.77 to16682.93 fund16683.01 MFAP16683.25 to16683.97 maintain16684.21 food16684.61 access.16684.93 We16685.25 get16685.49 over,16685.81 6016686.69 of16687.49 our16687.65 food16687.81 from16687.97 the16688.21 food16688.37 bank,16688.61 and16688.85 that's16689.01 facing16689.33 federal16689.65 cuts.16690.13 And16691.23 to16691.39 also16691.71 fund16692.03 the16692.27 hunger16692.43 free16692.75 campus16692.99 initiative.16693.47 Thank16694.43 you16694.67 very16694.75 much16694.99 for16695.15 your16695.31 time.16695.47
16697.23 SPEAKER216697.23 -16697.23 Thank16697.23 you.16697.55
16701.47 Stacy16701.47 Harjes.16702.43
16708.53 SPEAKER2416708.53 -16708.53 Alright.16708.53 Well,16708.93 thank16709.33 you16709.49 very16709.65 much16709.89 for16710.21 this16710.45 opportunity.16710.69 I'm16712.45 gonna16712.69 share16712.93 my16713.25 story,16713.41 and16713.81 I16714.05 hope16714.21 that16714.45 you16714.69 keep16714.93 me16715.09 in16715.33 mind16715.49 as16716.05 you16716.29 consider16716.45 both16717.01 the16717.25 wage16717.57 equity16717.89 and16718.29 public16718.45 higher16718.85 education16719.09 and16720.05 the16720.21 adjunct16720.37 bill16720.85 of16721.09 rights.16721.25 My16722.19 name16722.35 is16722.59 Stacy16722.75 Hargis.16723.07 I'm16723.63 a16723.79 proud16723.95 tenured16724.27 professor16724.83 at16725.23 Middlesex16725.47 Community16726.03 College16726.43 in16726.91 Lowell16727.15 and16727.55 Bedford.16727.71 Hello,16728.67 reps.16729.07 I16731.47 have16731.63 a16731.79 passion16731.95 for16732.27 entrepreneurship,16732.51 our16733.55 students,16733.71 and16734.79 I16735.03 truly16735.11 believe16735.67 in16736.15 the16736.31 role16736.39 that16736.71 community16736.87 colleges16737.27 play16737.91 both16738.31 for16738.63 economic16739.11 justice,16739.59 but16740.95 also16741.19 for16741.59 uplifting16741.75 our16742.39 communities.16742.47 Our16744.23 faculty16744.39 workload16744.95 includes16745.75 516746.31 classes16746.55 a16746.95 semester,16747.11 but16748.26 work16748.42 goes16748.66 beyond16749.06 teaching16749.46 time,16749.86 prepping,16750.18 and16750.74 grading.16750.9 This16751.86 also16752.1 includes16752.42 meetings16752.9 with16753.38 students,16753.62 which16754.26 include16754.5 everything16754.9 from16755.3 academics16755.7 to16756.66 mental16756.9 health16757.3 issues.16757.54 We16759.54 also16759.7 do16760.1 work16760.26 for16760.5 the16760.66 college16760.74 and16761.3 our16761.54 departments.16761.7 In16762.91 a16763.15 normal16763.31 semester,16763.71 the16764.35 workload16764.51 is16764.99 38.516765.31 hours16766.35 a16766.59 week.16766.75 So16767.47 I16767.79 started16767.95 in16768.43 201416768.59 at16769.63 almost16769.87 $49,00016770.27 as16771.63 an16771.79 assistant16772.03 professor,16772.51 and16773.15 I16773.39 have16773.47 a16773.63 master's16773.79 degree.16774.27 That16776.26 was16776.5 almost16776.66 a16776.98 $12,00016777.22 pay16778.26 cut16778.58 from16778.9 the16779.06 nonprofit16779.3 job16779.94 I16780.18 left16780.5 running16780.9 a16781.3 small16781.38 business16781.7 center.16782.02 And16782.82 I16782.98 recognized16783.22 this16783.78 pay16784.1 cut,16784.26 but16784.58 I16784.74 figured,16784.98 oh,16785.46 the16785.78 work16786.02 life16786.26 balance16786.66 that16787.22 will16787.38 emerge16787.62 will16788.18 be16788.42 worth16788.58 it.16788.82 However,16789.88 the16790.52 living16790.68 wage16791 in16791.24 Lowell16791.4 in16791.72 201416791.96 was16792.68 roughly16792.92 60,000.16793.32 I16794.44 was16794.52 forced16794.76 to16795.08 get16795.16 a16795.32 second16795.48 job16795.8 waiting16796.2 tables16796.6 in16797.16 order16797.4 to16797.64 cover16797.8 living16798.12 costs16798.44 for16798.68 a16798.92 few16799 years,16799.24 and16799.96 eventually,16800.12 I16800.68 was16800.84 able16801 to16801.24 take16801.4 on16801.64 more16801.8 classes16802.04 as16802.68 an16802.84 adjunct.16803.08 At16804.57 times,16804.73 I16805.29 had16805.45 to16805.69 take16805.77 at16806.09 least16806.25 516806.65 classes16806.89 a16807.45 semester16807.61 additional.16808.89 So16809.61 if16809.93 116810.09 professor16810.41 is16810.81 full16811.05 time16811.29 with16811.53 516811.77 classes,16812.01 I16812.41 was16812.65 basically16812.81 doing16813.37 216813.85 full16814.17 time16814.41 jobs.16814.57 Today,16815.93 to16816.74 reach16816.9 a16817.14 living16817.22 wage16817.54 of16817.78 almost16817.94 86,00016818.42 in16819.3 Middlesex16819.54 County16820.1 in16820.42 a16820.58 household16820.66 with16821.14 216821.3 adults16821.54 and16821.94 216822.1 kids,16822.34 given16823.14 my16823.54 salary16823.7 now16824.18 even16824.66 after16824.98 1016825.7 years,16826.02 I16826.74 still16826.9 have16827.22 to16827.46 work16827.62 an16827.86 additional16828.1 $12,00016828.66 just16830.02 to16830.26 reach16830.42 the16830.74 living16830.9 wage.16831.3 In16833.32 fact,16833.56 at16834.04 last16834.2 poll,16834.6 76%16835.08 of16836.36 all16836.6 m16836.84 triple16837.08 c16837.48 full16838.04 time16838.36 faculty16838.6 have16839.16 to16839.32 work16839.48 a16839.64 second16839.72 job.16840.12 That16841.64 once16841.96 inviting16842.28 life16842.84 work16843.08 balance16843.32 disappears16843.88 in16844.52 reality.16844.68 It's16846.14 simple.16846.38 We16846.78 shouldn't16847.02 have16847.42 to16847.58 work16847.66 216848.14 jobs16848.46 to16848.94 be16849.1 able16849.26 to16849.42 work16849.58 at16849.74 a16849.9 community16850.06 college16850.46 and16851.18 be16851.42 able16851.58 to16851.74 take16851.82 care16852.06 of16852.22 our16852.38 families.16852.54 I16853.58 work16853.74 weekends16853.98 and16854.38 night.16854.62 I16854.94 miss16855.1 meaningful16855.34 time16855.82 with16856.06 my16856.3 family.16856.46 I16857.66 take16857.82 shortcuts16858.14 to16858.62 my16858.86 health16859.02 and16859.26 wellness,16859.42 and,16860.05 obviously,16860.29 those16860.77 are16861.01 gonna16861.09 have16861.33 a16861.45 lasting16861.57 impact.16861.97 I'm16863.17 having16863.41 doubts16863.73 about16864.05 if16864.21 it's16864.37 worth16864.61 keeping16865.09 this16865.41 up16865.65 even16866.29 though16866.61 I16866.93 absolutely16867.33 love16868.13 what16868.45 I16868.61 do.16868.77 The16870.05 fact16870.21 is16870.45 the16870.69 state16870.85 broke16871.17 its16871.49 our16871.97 our16872.05 promise16872.21 to16872.77 us16872.93 to16873.44 keep16873.6 us16873.84 in16873.92 the16874.12 7016874.32 fifth16874.72 fifth16875 percentile16875.28 of16876.08 pure16876.16 state16876.4 community16876.64 college16877.04 wages,16877.36 so16878.16 I16878.4
16878.48 SPEAKER2516878.48 -16878.48 feel16878.48
16878.72 SPEAKER2416878.72 -16878.72 unappreciated,16878.72 underfunded,16879.92 and16880.8 under16881.04 resourced.16881.36 As16882.48 Mass16882.72 Educate16882.96 shows16883.52 its16883.76 success,16884 our16884.64 silent16884.8 crisis16885.36 highlights16886.04 its16886.36 extreme16886.76 challenges,16887.16 including16887.88 the16888.44 inability16888.6 to16889.16 hire16889.32 and16889.56 retain16889.72 talented16890.2 educators.16890.68 I16891.8 implore16892.04 you16892.44 to16892.76 consider16893 our16893.4 unique16893.64 situation16894.2 that16894.84 community16895 colleges16895.4 are16896.04 in16896.2 as16896.84 you16897.08 look16897.32 to16897.64 elevate16897.72 the16898.2 investment16898.36 in16898.84 Mass16899 Educate16899.24 and16900.44 support16900.68 a16901.16 future16901.32 supplemental16901.88 bill16902.6 that16903.24 will16903.4 help16903.64 give16903.8 us16903.96 a16904.2 116904.36 time16904.6 wage16904.92 adjustment16905.16 to16905.88 keep16906.04 that16906.28 promise.16906.52 Thank16907.16 you.16907.4
16907.88 SPEAKER216907.88 -16907.88 Thank16907.88 you.16908.12 Hang16908.28 on.16908.52 Hold16908.76 on.16909 Rep16909.08 Rep16909.8 Howard?16910.04
16913.72 SPEAKER2616913.72 -16913.72 Thank16913.72 you,16913.96 mister16914.2 chairman.16914.6 Thank16915.93 you16916.17 so16916.33 much,16916.49 professor16916.81 Haggis,16917.29 for16917.77 being16918.01 here16918.25 today16918.49 to16918.73 testify16918.97 and16920.25 for16920.97 sharing16921.29 your16921.77 personal16922.25 story.16922.73 So16923.29 as16923.93 a16924.17 proud16924.33 alum16924.73 of16925.29 Minnesota16925.45 Community16925.85 College,16926.17 mister16926.49 chairman,16926.81 I16927.29 also16927.53 love16927.93 Minnesota16928.59 Community16929.07 College.16929.47 So16929.87 thank16930.03 you16930.27 again16930.35 so16930.75 much16930.91 for16931.15 being16931.31 here.16931.55 And,16931.99 without16932.83 educators16933.55 like16934.19 you,16934.43 I16934.99 wouldn't16935.15 be16935.55 where16935.79 I16936.03 am16936.19 today.16936.43 So16937.79 thank16938.03 you.16938.35
16938.99 SPEAKER2416938.99 -16938.99 Thank16938.99 you.16939.23
16940.67 SPEAKER316940.67 -16940.67 Professor16940.67 Harjes,16941.15 I16941.71 I16941.95 I16942.19 wanna16942.27 second,16942.59 what16943.31 my16943.55 my16943.71 colleague16944.24 from,16945.28 the16945.68 other16945.84 great16946.08 city16946.32 from16946.64 the16946.72 Merrimack16946.8 Valley16947.36 said,16947.68 thank16948.08 you,16948.24 not16948.8 just16948.96 for16949.12 the16949.2 work16949.28 that16949.52 you're16949.68 doing,16949.76 but16950 for16950.16 your16950.32 advocacy,16950.56 on16951.84 this16952.08 issue.16952.24 I16952.64 think,16952.72 it's16953.68 it's16953.84 something16954.08 that16954.48 needs16955.04 to16955.36 be16955.52 told,16955.6 more,16956.4 because16956.96 a16957.17 lot16957.33 of16957.49 individuals16957.65 there's16958.45 a16958.69 feeling16958.77 out16959.01 there16959.17 that16959.41 if16959.49 you're16959.65 a16959.81 professor,16959.97 you're16960.93 making,16961.17 like,16961.33 a16961.49 million16961.65 dollars16961.97 or16962.29 something.16962.37 You16962.93 know,16963.01 I16963.09 don't16963.17 think16963.33 anyone16963.57 understands16963.97 the16964.45 work,16964.53 that16965.17 is16965.33 done,16965.49 especially16965.73 in16966.13 the16966.29 community16966.37 colleges16966.85 where,16967.33 you16968.45 are16968.69 a16969.09 little16969.17 bit16969.41 more16969.65 on16970.05 the16970.21 ground,16970.45 and16971.89 dealing,16972.05 with,16973.25 a16973.81 lot16973.89 more16974.13 issues16974.45 than,16975.01 I16975.81 think16975.89 that16976.21 some16976.37 of16976.53 our,16976.69 our16977.33 other16977.41 schools16977.81 where16978.29 you16978.61 have16978.85 a16979.33 lot16979.49 more,16979.73 wealthier,16980.69 students.16981.89 So16982.29 thank16982.53 you,16982.77 and16982.93 and16983.09 thank16983.25 you16983.41 for16983.57 your16983.65 advocacy.16983.81 And16986.08 next,16986.4 we16986.88 have16987.2 Joe16987.52 Nardoni.16988.16
16991.52 Oh,16991.52 I'm16991.76 I'm16992 sorry.16992.16 So,16992.48 the16993.04 the16993.36 other,16993.76 representative,16995.04 from16995.92 Lowell16996.24 on16996.56 this16996.64 committee,16996.8 has16997.84 a16998.08 question16998.32 for16998.64
16998.83 SPEAKER1516998.83 -16998.83 for16998.83 you.16999.07
16999.31 SPEAKER1116999.31 -16999.31 Of16999.31 course.16999.39 Thank16999.63 you,16999.79 senator.16999.95 I17000.99 think17001.23 I17001.39 know17001.55 the17001.71 answer17001.87 to17002.19 the17002.27 question,17002.43 but17002.99 in,17003.39 you17003.95 know,17004.11 in17004.75 light17004.91 of17005.23 the17005.71 free17005.95 community17006.27 college17006.75 that17007.23 is17007.47 being17007.63 offered,17007.87 we17008.27 see17008.51 a17009.31 significant17009.55 increase17010.27 of17010.91 students17011.31 returning17011.95 back.17012.51 I'm17014.01 gonna17014.17 presume17014.49 that,17015.21 the17016.57 salaries17016.89 that17017.37 are17017.53 being17017.61 offered17017.85 is17018.33 an17018.49 impediment17018.65 to17019.45 hiring17019.69 more17020.49 teachers,17021.61 professors.17022.41 Excuse17023.05 me.17023.37 So17024.81 do17025.05 you17025.21 think17025.29 should17025.69 a17026.48 supplemental17026.72 be17027.76 presented17028.24 that17028.72 will17028.96 that17029.6 will17029.84 bring17030.16 up17030.56 that17030.8 pay17031.04 bring17032.72 pay17033.04 equity17033.28 and,17033.76 because17034.56 that's17034.88 the17035.12 obstacle17035.28 right17035.76 now.17036 We17036.48 have17036.64 students,17036.8 and17038.08 and17038.4 a17038.64 list,17038.8 but17039.76 we17041.03 we17041.35 can't17041.67 let17042.15 them17042.39 in17042.55 because17042.71 there's17042.95 not17043.19 enough17043.27 professors17043.59 as17044.31 they17044.55 understand17044.71 it17045.11 from17045.27 your17045.67 boss,17045.91 miss17046.23 assistant.17046.47
17047.67 SPEAKER2417047.67 -17047.67 Yes.17047.67 That's17047.91 true.17048.15 In17048.47 fact,17048.63 recently,17049.35 we've17049.91 had17050.23 our17050.63 fourth17051.03 search17051.75 failure17052.07 in17052.63 the17052.79 nursing17053.03 department,17053.51 and17054.34 that's17054.42 a17054.54 common17054.66 thing.17055.14 We17055.46 can't17055.7 hire17056.1 people17056.5 that17056.9 actually17057.06 can17057.94 talk17058.34 about17058.74 the17059.06 discipline17059.22 that17059.78 they're17060.02
17060.26 SPEAKER1117060.26 -17060.26 we're17060.26 trying17060.5 to17060.74 hire17060.82 for.17061.14 And17062.66 I'm17062.9 sure17063.06 it's17063.3 not17063.46 just17063.62 specific17064.02 to17064.42 nursing.17064.66 No.17064.82
17065.3 SPEAKER2417065.3 -17065.3 It's17065.3 across17065.7 the17066.1 board.17066.18
17066.74 SPEAKER1117066.74 -17066.74 Absolutely.17066.74 Thank17068.72 you,17068.88 mister17069.04 chairman.17069.44
17070.96 SPEAKER317070.96 -17070.96 Thank17070.96 you,17071.2 chair.17071.36 You17071.68 brought17072 up17072.24 something.17072.32 Do17072.72 you17072.96 have17073.12 to17073.36 be17073.44 a17073.68 certified17073.92 teacher17074.64 to17075.2 teach17075.68 nursing17076.08 or17076.8 something17077.28 like17077.68 that?17077.84
17078.24 SPEAKER2417078.24 -17078.24 So17078.24 depending17078.48 on17078.88 what17078.96 discipline17079.2 you're17079.76 in,17080 you17080.32 may17080.56 need17080.8 certain17081.2 credentials.17081.6 Like,17082.16 in17082.32 the17082.48 nursing17082.64 field,17083.04 you17083.28 have17083.44 to17083.67 have17083.83 certain17083.99 things.17084.79 For17085.11 everyone17085.35 else17085.67 to17085.91 be17086.07 a17086.23 full17086.31 time17086.55 faculty17086.79 member,17087.27 you17087.51 do17087.75 have17087.91 to17088.07 have17088.15 at17088.39 least17088.55 a17088.79 master's.17088.95 I17090.15 do17090.31 want17090.55 to17090.71 also17090.87 point17091.19 out17091.35 that17091.59 because17091.83 I17092.15 have17092.23 to17092.39 work17092.55 217092.87 jobs,17093.03 I17093.51 can't17093.75 move17094.07 forward17094.39 in17094.79 my17094.95 educational17095.11 journey,17096.55 and17096.87 I17097.11 can't17097.19 get17097.43 a17097.59 PhD,17097.83 which17098.47 would17098.79 just17099.03 benefit17099.27 my17099.67 students17099.91 because17100.31 I'm17100.63 working17100.95 too17101.35 much.17101.43
17103.99 SPEAKER317103.99 -17103.99 Thank17103.99 you.17104.31 Thank17104.71 you,17104.87 chair.17105.11 Thank17105.51 you17105.75 so17105.91 much.17106.07
17106.39 SPEAKER2417106.39 -17106.39 Thank17106.39 you.17106.55
17107.03 SPEAKER317107.03 -17107.03 Next,17107.03 we17107.27 have17107.43 Joe17107.67 Nardoni.17107.91 And17109.63 after17109.95 Joe,17110.51 we17110.83 have17111.07 Carmen17111.39 Rondash.17111.95
17118.35 SPEAKER2717118.35 -17118.35 Senator17118.35 Payano,17118.91 representative17119.71 Diggs,17120.27 and17121.04 members17121.28 of17121.6 the17121.76 committee,17121.84 thank17122.16 you17122.32 for17122.48 having17122.64 me17122.88 here.17123.12 I17123.44 am17123.6 Joe17123.84 Nardone.17124.08 I17124.64 am17124.72 the17124.96 vice17125.04 president17125.36 of17125.76 the17125.84 Massachusetts17126 Community17126.72 College17127.12 Council.17127.52 We17128.24 represent17128.48 5,00017129.04 workers17130.16 at17130.64 the17130.8 community17130.96 colleges.17131.52 We17132.88 are17133.12 the17133.36 hardest17133.6 working17134 faculty17134.56 and17134.96 professional17135.12 staff17135.68 in17136 public17136.08 higher17136.56 ed.17136.8 We17137.44 invest17137.68 our17138.08 very17138.24 lives17138.48 in17138.8 our17138.96 students'17139.12 growth,17139.52 success,17140 and17140.48 well-being.17140.64 And17141.68 in17141.92 spite17142.08 of17142.4 that,17142.56 a17143.12 silent17143.36 crisis17143.76 that17144.24 Stacy17144.48 just17144.96 told17145.2 you17145.44 about17145.6 threatens17146.08 mass17146.56 reconnect17146.8 and17147.44 mass17147.6 educate,17147.92 which17148.4 we17148.73 love,17148.97 but17149.53 we17149.85 cannot17150.25 do17150.57 justice17150.81 to17151.29 it17151.45 because17151.77 of17152.49 the17153.21 substandard17153.53 wages17154.25 our17154.73 members17154.89 receive17155.29 and17155.61 the17155.77 damage17155.93 it17156.33 does17156.49 to17156.73 their17156.89 lives17157.05 and17157.85 our17158.09 students'17158.25 living17158.73 conditions.17159.05 We17159.93 will17160.17 deliver17160.41 to17160.81 your17161.05 offices17161.29 today17161.85 the17162.25 numbers17162.49 that17162.81 describe17163.22 this17163.54 crisis17163.7 in17164.34 full.17164.5 I17165.22 will17165.46 talk17165.62 about17165.86 a17166.1 few17166.18 of17166.42 them.17166.5 Salaries17167.38 of17167.86 community17167.94 college17168.42 full17168.82 professors17169.06 with17169.54 at17169.7 least17169.86 a17170.18 master's17170.34 degree17170.82 averaged17171.62 $68,30917172.02 a17174.34 year.17174.5 That's17175.22 over17175.62 $86,00017175.94 less17177.7 than17178.19 a17178.43 full17178.51 professor17178.91 in17179.23 the17179.47 UMass17179.63 system.17180.11 Our17180.99 work17181.15 is17181.39 unfairly17181.71 undervalued17182.35 because17183.31 we17183.87 teach17184.11 the17184.51 underrepresented.17184.83 As17186.67 a17186.91 result,17187.07 and17187.71 this17187.95 goes17188.11 right17188.43 along17188.59 with17188.91 what17189.07 you17189.23 heard17189.39 about17189.63 students17189.87 in17190.35 college,17190.51 4517191.73 percent17192.29 of17192.61 our17192.85 professional17193.09 staff17193.57 members,17193.89 that's17194.21 our17194.45 full17194.69 time17194.93 professional17195.33 staff17195.89 members,17196.21 and17198.05 3517198.37 percent17198.93 of17199.25 our17199.41 full17199.57 time17199.81 faculty17200.13 members17200.61 suffer17201.33 from17201.73 food17202.05 insecurity.17202.77 Our,17204.45 Over17205.93 6017206.25 percent17206.65 of17206.89 our17207.05 members17207.21 have17207.53 117207.77 or17208.01 more17208.09 job17208.33 in17208.73 addition17208.81 to17209.13 teach17209.45 to17209.77 any17210.01 adjunct17210.33 teaching17210.73 they17211.05 may17211.21 perform.17211.45 And17212.17 these17212.41 numbers17212.65 should17213.05 be17213.29 0.17213.53 Because17214.97 they're17215.37 not,17215.61 I'm17215.77 gonna17215.93 tell17216.17 you17216.33 about17216.49 217216.73 of17216.89 my17216.97 colleagues.17217.21 Brian,17218.34 a17218.74 former17218.98 marine17219.3 who17219.7 served17219.86 in17220.18 Afghanistan17220.42 and17220.98 helps17221.14 veterans17221.46 returning17222.02 to17222.34 college.17222.58 He17223.22 loves17223.38 his17223.7 job,17223.86 but17224.18 he's17224.42 a17224.58 single17224.74 dad.17225.06 And17225.62 the17225.86 salary17226.02 he17226.42 earns17226.58 isn't17226.9 enough17227.14 to17227.46 support17227.62 his17228.02 217228.18 boys.17228.42 So17228.74 he17228.82 is17228.98 forced17229.14 to17229.46 work17229.62 as17229.94 a17230.18 bouncer.17230.34 He17232.02 put17232.5 his17232.74 body17233.06 on17233.3 the17233.54 line17233.62 for17233.94 us17234.18 over17234.5 there,17234.74 and17235.3 now17235.46 he17235.7 has17235.86 to17236.1 come17236.18 back17236.34 and17236.58 put17236.82 his17236.98 body17237.22 on17237.54 the17237.7 line17237.78 here17238.18 for17238.66 his17238.82 kids.17239.06 What17239.94 does17240.1 he17240.34 say17240.5 to17240.74 his17240.9 sons17240.98 when17241.3 they17241.46 ask17241.62 him17241.86 where17241.94 he17242.26 got17242.34 those17242.58 bruises17242.9 on17243.3 his17243.46 face?17243.7 And17244.91 he17245.15 still17245.31 doesn't17245.87 have17246.19 enough17246.35 money17246.67 to17247.39 afford17247.63 Christmas17247.95 or17248.43 a17248.67 vacation.17248.83 This17250.27 is17250.51 simply17250.75 unconscionable.17251.23 There's17252.99 also17253.31 Jonathan,17253.63 a17254.11 professor17254.27 at17254.67 Middlesex,17254.83 who17255.39 is17255.55 chronically17255.63 overworked17256.19 teaching17256.75 1017257.15 courses17257.31 per17257.79 semester.17258.03 And17258.64 you17258.8 just17258.96 heard17259.12 from17259.36 Stacy17259.6 what17259.92 that17260.16 means.17260.32 When17261.28 you17261.44 teach17261.6 writing17261.92 courses,17262.24 it17262.64 means17262.8 that17263.12 you're17263.68 reading17264.4 2,000,00017265.2 words17266.48 a17266.96 semester17267.2 of17268 student17268.24 writing.17268.64 I17269.52 don't17269.76 know17269.92 how17270.16 he17270.4 does17270.64 it.17270.8 I17271.16 literally17271.32 don't,17271.72 because17272.04 when17272.36 I17272.6 teach17272.68 my17272.92 full17273.08 load17273.32 of17273.56 517273.72 writing17274.04 classes17274.36 a17274.76 semester,17274.92 I'm17275.64 reading17275.88 those17276.12 1,000,00017276.44 words,17277.16 and17277.56 it17277.72 kills17277.96 me.17278.36 And17279.16 so17279.32 when17279.48 I17279.72 ask17279.8 him17279.96 what17280.12 he's17280.28 doing,17280.36 how17280.6 he's17280.76 doing,17280.92 he17281.24 says,17281.4 he's17281.64 tired.17281.88 Of17282.84 course,17283.08 he17283.32 is.17283.48 I'm17284.64 afraid17284.88 he17285.2 will17285.36 leave17285.52 us17285.76 too17285.92 soon,17286.16 117286.56 way17286.8 or17287.04 the17287.28 other.17287.44 I'm17288.08 sure17288.32 his17288.56 partner17288.8 worries17289.2 about17289.52 this17289.76 too.17290 When17290.72 we17290.96 work17291.12 so17291.44 hard17291.6 to17291.84 make17292 ends17292.16 meet,17292.48 we17292.8 can't17292.88 progress17293.2 in17293.6 our17293.76 careers17294 or17294.72 in17294.88 helping17295.12 our17295.52 students17295.68 the17296.08 way17296.24 we17296.4 know17296.56 that17296.72 they17296.8 needed17297.04 to17297.36 be17297.44 helped.17297.6 That17298.35 damages17298.59 our17299.07 students'17299.31 potential17299.71 for17300.11 success.17300.35 So17301.15 I'm17301.31 asking17301.55 you17301.87 here17302.03 to17302.35 elevate17302.59 and17303.31 math17303.39 educate.17303.71 Follow17304.75 through17305.07 on17305.39 math17305.63 educate17305.95 and17306.35 math17306.51 reconnect17306.67 by17307.15 including17307.31 language17307.79 and17308.27 funding17308.43 in17308.83 the17308.99 f17309.15 y17309.39 2617309.55 budget17310.19 that17310.75 compensate17310.99 our17311.63 labor17311.79 fairly17312.11 and17312.51 allow17312.67 us17312.91 to17313.2 attract17313.28 the17313.6 workforce17313.76 we17314.24 need17314.4 so17314.96 our17315.2 students17315.36 can17315.76 succeed.17316.08 Invest17316.96 in17317.36 us,17317.6 the17318.24 real17318.48 people17318.8 you17319.12 you17319.44 will17319.68 hear17319.84 from17320.08 and17320.32 have17320.48 been17320.64 hearing17320.88 from17321.12 lately17321.44 who17322.08 devote17322.24 themselves17322.64 every17323.2 day17323.52 to17323.76 making17323.92 a17324.24 difference17324.4 in17324.8 students'17324.96 lives17325.44 and17326.08 without17326.32 whom17326.72 the17327.28 colleges17327.52 would17328.16 not17328.4 exist.17328.64
17329.28 SPEAKER217329.28 -17329.28 Thank17329.28 you.17329.52
17329.68 SPEAKER1517329.68 -17329.68 I'd17329.68 be17329.84
17329.92 SPEAKER2717329.92 -17329.92 happy17329.92 to17330.16 answer17330.4 any17330.8 other17331.04 questions17331.28 you17331.68 have17331.84 about17332.08 our17332.72 situation.17332.88
17334.64 SPEAKER217334.64 -17334.64 No17334.64 questions.17334.96 Thank17335.76 you17336 very17336.24 much.17336.48
17339 Carmen17339 Rondash.17339.56 Carmen17340.12 Rondash.17340.68
17341.56 SPEAKER317341.56 -17341.56 Yeah.17341.56 George.17341.72 Darissa17342.2 Rodriguez.17342.68
17343.72 SPEAKER217343.72 -17343.72 Duddy17343.72 Sotelidis?17344.2 Rodriguez.17345.24
17349.32 SPEAKER317349.32 -17349.32 I'll17349.32 I'll17349.64 I'll17349.96 say17350.04 the17350.28 name,17350.36 you17350.6 know,17350.68 because17350.84 I17351.08 I17351.24 can17351.32 roll17351.48 my17351.72 r's.17351.88 Jairisa17353.15 Rodriguez17353.79 will17354.43 be17354.59 up17354.75 next.17354.91
17361.79 SPEAKER2817361.79 -17361.79 Thank17361.79 you17362.03 everyone17362.19 here.17362.59 Thank17362.91 you17363.07 for17363.23 everyone17363.39 still17363.87 remaining17364.11 in17364.51 the17364.59 gallery17364.67 after17364.99 a17365.23 long17365.31 day,17365.55 and17365.71 thank17366.09 you17366.25 to17366.41 our17366.49 ASL17366.73 interpreters.17367.45 Hi.17369.05 I'm17369.29 Carmen17369.53 Rondash.17369.85 I'm17370.97 an17371.21 m17371.37 triple17371.61 c17371.93 member17372.25 at17372.65 Bunker17372.81 Hill17373.05 Community17373.29 College.17373.61 I'm17374.41 also17374.57 the17374.81 special17374.97 program17375.29 coordinator17375.69 for17376.17 students17376.33 who17376.65 are17376.81 parents.17376.89 I17378.34 myself17378.58 personally17379.06 am17379.78 a17379.94 single17380.02 dad17380.26 to17380.5 417380.66 kids17380.82 and17381.22 a17381.38 domestic17381.54 violence17381.86 survivor.17382.18 My17384.1 job17384.34 is17384.82 hard.17385.06 So17386.18 far17386.42 this17386.66 year,17386.9 I've17387.14 helped17387.38 417388.02 students17388.34 leave17388.98 leave17389.3 abusive17389.54 relationships.17390.02 I've17391.3 helped17391.46 117391.78 student17392.02 move17392.34 into17392.5 a17392.74 new17392.82 house17392.98 after17393.22 spending17393.62 1617393.94 months17394.18 in17394.42 a17394.58 shelter.17394.74 And17395.54 I've17395.78 helped17395.94 countless17396.18 students17396.66 who17396.98 struggle17397.14 with17397.46 food17397.62 insecurity.17397.78 I17399.38 personally17399.62 struggle17400.02 with17400.26 food17400.42 insecurity.17400.66 The17401.86 lunch17402.1 that17402.34 I17402.5 had17402.66 today17402.82 was17403.06 what17403.3 I've17403.46 eaten17403.62 so17403.86 far17404.1 today.17404.26 I17405.14 appreciate17405.38 it17405.78 from17406.02 the17406.26 union.17406.42 I17407.62 will17407.86 be17408.02 hungry17408.18 later.17408.58
17411.03 The17411.03 funding17411.27 that17411.67 goes17411.83 to17412.15 our17412.47 food17413.11 pantries17413.35 on17413.75 campus17413.91 is17414.71 incredibly17414.95 helpful17415.35 to17415.67 our17415.75 students.17415.91 It17416.55 means17416.79 a17417.03 lot17417.11 to17417.27 them.17417.43 Our17418.31 faculty17418.55 and17418.95 our17419.11 staff17419.19 also17419.75 need17420.07 it.17420.31 I17421.03 use17421.27 it.17421.51 I17422.07 need17422.23 SNAP.17422.55 I17423.96 use17424.12 ABCD17424.52 for17425.32 fuel17425.64 assistance.17425.96 Globe17427.48 Santa17427.8 helps17428.44 me17428.68 with17428.84 Christmas.17429 I17430.28 have17430.52 a17430.68 lot17430.76 of17431 need.17431.16 It's17432.12 hard.17432.44 I17433.88 do17434.12 love17434.76 my17435.08 career.17435.24 There17437.13 is17437.29 no17437.37 fairy17437.61 tale17437.93 that17438.17 gets17438.33 you17438.49 to17438.57 where17438.73 I17438.89 am.17438.97 There17439.21 is17439.37 no17439.53 happy17439.69 story.17440.01 But17441.45 from17442.33 what17442.57 I've17442.73 gone17442.89 through,17443.13 I'm17443.45 in17443.69 a17443.85 really17443.93 unique17444.17 position17444.49 to17444.89 help17444.97 our17445.21 students.17445.37 These17446.41 are17446.65 students17446.81 who17447.21 are17447.37 incredibly17447.53 at17448.09 risk17448.25 of17448.74 not17448.9 completing17449.14 their17449.62 degrees.17449.86 They17451.46 struggle.17451.7 Some17452.34 of17452.58 them17452.74 are17452.9 first17452.98 generation17453.22 students17453.7 and17454.9 they17455.14 have17455.3 a17455.46 child17455.54 or17456.1 they're17456.34 caring17456.5 for17456.82 an17456.98 elderly17457.14 parent17457.7 or17458.18 they're17458.42 caring17458.58 for17458.9 a17459.14 disabled17459.22 sibling.17459.7 These17460.74 students17461.06 are17461.54 incredible.17461.78 They17463.34 are17463.5 so17463.74 resilient17464.06 and17464.62 their17464.86 stories17465.1 blow17465.9 you17466.14 away.17466.3 I17466.7 could17466.86 talk17467.1 for17467.34 hours17467.58 about17467.98 them.17468.22 I'm17468.94 incredibly17469.18 proud17469.66 of17469.9 them.17470.06 They17471.02 do17471.26 so17471.5 much.17471.66 These17473.34 students,17473.58 they17474.3 will17474.54 be17474.86 our17475.02 nurses.17475.18 They17475.66 will17475.82 be17475.98 our17476.14 cardiac17476.3 sonographers.17476.7 They17477.42 will17477.58 be17477.74 our17477.82 early17477.98 childhood17478.22 educators.17479 They17479.8 are17480.04 incredible.17480.28 Please17481.48 invest17482.84 in17483.16 them17483.32 and17483.88 invest17484.2 in17484.44 our17484.68 our17485.08 community17485.64 college17486.12 staff.17486.84 It17488.52 is17488.68 a17488.84 very17489 effective17489.64 means17490.28 of17491 developing17491.24 our17491.64 commonwealth.17491.8 I17493.2 know17493.44 the17493.76 ways17494 and17494.32 means17494.4 you17495.52 have17495.68 a17495.84 hard17495.92 job.17496.64 I17496.88 take17497.04 417497.2 kids17497.44 to17497.68 the17497.84 supermarket.17498 I17498.8 have17498.88 to17499.04 do17499.12 ways17499.36 and17499.6 means.17499.68 There17500.56 is17500.72 no17500.96 way17501.12 I17501.52 have17501.68 the17501.84 means17502 to17502.24 buy17502.4 everything17502.64 they17502.96 want17503.12 as17503.36 a17503.52 snack.17503.6 I've17504.4 got17504.64 to17504.8 trim.17504.96 I've17505.28 got17505.44 to17505.68 bargain.17505.84 I've17506.24 got17506.32 to17506.56 make17506.64 agreements.17506.8 I've17507.28 got17507.36 to17507.52 make17507.6 deals.17507.76 I've17508.08 got17508.24 to17508.4 kick17508.56 the17508.69 can17509.03 down17509.36 the17509.69 road17510.02 sometimes.17510.35 I17510.68 know17511.02 what17511.35 you17511.68 have17512.01 to17512.34 do17512.67 is17513.01 hard.17513.34 Please.17513.67 It's17514 been17514.33 a17514.66 long17515 time,17515.33 since17515.99 the17516.32 handshake17516.65 agreement17516.98 and17517.32 since17517.65 so17517.98 so17518.31 many17518.64 of17518.97 the17519.31 other17519.64 things17519.97 that17520.3 my17520.63 my17520.96 peers17521.3 have17521.63 talked17521.96 about.17522.29 It's17522.62 been17522.95 very17523.29 important.17523.62 I'm17524.03 here17524.27 for17524.59 wage17524.83 equity17525.15 in17525.55 higher17525.71 ed,17526.03 the17526.43 adjunct17526.59 bill17526.99 of17527.15 rights.17527.31 Also,17528.03 please17528.27 consider17528.59 me17528.99 in17529.07 the17529.23 future,17529.31 with17530.51 the17530.83 increase17531.63 from17532.03 the17532.27 fair17532.43 share17532.67 act17532.99 towards17533.39 a17533.79 117533.95 time17534.11 pay17534.35 increase17534.51 as17534.91 well.17535.07 And17535.39 I'm17535.63 available17535.87 for17536.35 any17536.51 questions.17536.75
17539.12 SPEAKER217539.12 -17539.12 Carmen,17539.12 thank17539.6 you.17539.76 Your17541.84 testimony,17542.16 you're17543.84 that's17545.04 real.17545.36 And,17546.56 you17547.76 know,17547.92 us17548.24 being17548.48 up17548.72 here,17548.88 we17549.28 we17549.68 we17550.56 care17550.64 about17550.96 what's17551.2 going17551.44 on17551.76 and17551.92 what17552.24 you're17552.56 saying.17552.8 You17555.26 know,17555.42 I17555.5 come17555.74 from17555.9 similar17556.86 things17557.34 that17557.98 have17558.14 happened17558.3 to17558.54 me.17558.78 That's17559.26 why17559.58 I'm17559.98 really17560.22 sitting17560.62 in17560.94 this17561.1 chair.17561.34 I'm17562.38 not17562.46 gonna17562.62 get17562.94 involved17563.1 with17563.5 it,17563.66 but17563.74 just17564.06 know17564.3 that17564.46 our17565.5 thoughts17565.82 are17566.38 with17566.54 you17566.78 and17566.94 we17567.18 are17567.26 trying17567.5 to17567.82 figure17567.98 out17568.22 ways17568.38 to17568.94 help17569.18 all,17570.03 not17570.43 just17570.67 117571.15 side17571.39 or17571.71 the17571.87 other.17572.03 It's17572.35 all17572.67 about17572.83 helping17573.15 all17573.71 encompassing.17573.95 So17575.07
17576.27 SPEAKER317576.27 -17576.27 so17576.27 senator17576.51 Miranda17576.83 has17577.23 a17577.39 question.17577.47
17578.83 SPEAKER2917578.83 -17578.83 I17578.83 had17578.99 more17579.15 of17579.39 a17579.47 comment.17579.55 Thank17579.95 you17580.19 for17580.35 your17580.51 testimony.17580.75 Just17581.47 to17581.71 bring17581.87 it17582.03 to17582.19 light,17582.35 1417582.83 years17583.55 ago,17583.95 I17584.43 also17584.59 taught17585.04 at17585.28 Bunker17585.36 Hill17585.84 Community17586.08 College.17586.4 I'm17586.8 the17586.96 senator17587.12 from17587.92 Boston.17588.08 I17588.48 taught17588.72 entrepreneurship,17589.04 and17589.76 I17589.92 had17590 to17590.16 have17590.24 317590.56 jobs,17590.8 just17592.64 to17592.88 be17593.04 able17593.12 to17593.68 make17593.84 enough17594.16 to17594.96 live17595.12 in17595.36 the17595.52 city17595.6 of17595.92 Boston17596 and17596.48 buy17596.64 food.17596.8 So17597.04 I17597.2 definitely17597.28 understand17597.68 your17598.16 struggle17598.4 and17599.41 definitely17599.57 will17600.05 be17600.21 supporting.17600.37 I17600.93 have17601.09 Roxbury17601.33 Community17601.81 College17602.29 in17603.17 my17603.33 district,17603.49 and17604.05 I17604.29 know17604.37 many17604.69 students17605.01 that17605.57 leave17605.81 from17606.13 the17606.85 southern17607.01 part17607.41 of17607.65 the17607.73 city17607.89 that17608.13 I17608.37 represent17608.53 from17609.01 Hyde17609.25 Park17609.49 all17609.81 the17609.97 way17610.05 to17610.61 the17610.77 South17610.93 End17611.17 who17611.41 go17611.65 to17611.81 Bunker17611.97 Hill17612.37 because17612.61 it's17612.85 just17613.01 a17613.25 phenomenal,17613.49 institution17615.11 as17615.59 well.17615.83 So17615.99 I17616.15 just17616.23 wanna17616.31 thank17616.63 you17616.79 for17617.03 what17617.19 you're17617.35 doing.17617.59 Adjunct17618.31 professors,17618.79 associate17619.43 professors,17620.07 lecturers17621.19 are17621.91 not17622.07 often17622.39 taken17622.87 care17623.19 of,17623.43 and17623.67 we17623.83 have17624.07 to17624.23 do17624.31 a17624.47 better17624.63 job.17624.87 Thank17625.91 you.17626.07
17629.35 SPEAKER317629.35 -17629.35 Thank17629.35 you,17629.67 sir.17629.91 Thank17630.55 you17630.79 all.17630.95 Next,17631.43 we17631.67 have17631.83 Darissa17632.07 Rodriguez.17632.55
17635.19 Thank17635.19 you.17635.43 Thank17635.67 you.17635.91
17639.91 Thank17639.91 you,17640.23 Darissa.17640.47 And17640.95 then,17641.19 after17641.75 Darissa,17642.07 Abigail17642.55 Raymond.17643.03
17646.83 SPEAKER2517646.83 -17646.83 Okay.17646.83 Buenatale,17647.55 everyone.17648.27 Thank17648.83 you17649.07 for17649.23 pronouncing17649.39 my17649.95 r's.17650.19 My17652.19 name17652.35 is17652.51 Darissa17652.75 Rodriguez,17653.23 and17654.11 I17654.43 am17654.67 a17655.39 classified17655.63 staff17656.27 member17656.59 from17656.91 the17657.15 University17657.31 of17657.87 Massachusetts17658.03 Boston.17658.83 We17659.72 are17659.88 considered17660.04 the17660.52 higher17660.68 ed17661 ESPs,17661.4 and17662.04 we17662.28 would17662.44 be17662.6 the17662.76 equivalent17663 of17663.56 what17663.72 you17663.88 think17664.04 of17664.28 when17664.84 you17664.96 think17665.08 of17665.32 pre17665.48 k17665.64 to17665.8 1217666.04 ESPs,17667.32 the17668.12 paras,17668.36 the17668.84 bus17669.08 drivers,17669.32 the17669.88 food17670.12 service.17670.36 We17670.92 actually17671.24 have17671.64 that17671.88 in17672.2 higher17672.52 ed17672.84 as17673.08 well.17673.24 And17674.04 117674.28 of17674.36 the17674.52 things17674.6 that17674.84 I17675 first17675.24 wanna17675.48 touch17675.72 on17676.04 is17676.68 that17676.84 117677.64 of17677.72 the17677.88 things17677.96 that17678.2 I17678.36 always17678.52 say17678.76 is17679 we17679.64 need17679.88 to17680.04 stop17680.2 isolating17681.32 the17682.12 217682.36 and17682.84 thinking17683.08 of17683.56 pre17684.04 k17684.2 to17684.44 1217684.6 in17684.92 higher17685.16 ed.17685.48 When17686.11 we're17686.27 talking17686.35 about17686.75 public17687.07 education,17687.55 we17688.59 really17688.83 should17689.15 be17689.39 thinking17689.63 of17690.11 pre17690.43 k17690.67 to17690.99 1617691.23 because17692.19 public17692.59 education17692.99 should17693.79 be17694.03 a17694.27 right17694.43 for17694.67 everyone.17694.99 And17695.87 if17696.03 we17696.27 make17696.51 it17696.75 free17696.99 for17697.95 pre17698.35 k17698.59 to17698.83 12,17699.07 it17699.82 really17700.06 should17700.46 be17700.7 free17700.94 for17701.34 those17701.58 that17701.82 want17702.22 to17702.7 look17702.86 for17703.18 higher17703.5 ed17703.9 education.17704.22 And17705.1 not17705.34 everybody17705.58 does,17706.14 but17706.78 if17706.94 they17707.18 want17707.34 it,17707.58 it17707.98 should17708.3 be17708.54 an17708.78 option.17708.94 And17709.74 that's17709.9 why17710.22 I'm17710.38 here17710.62 today17710.86 to17711.58 speak17711.82 on17712.22 the17712.54 need17712.7 for17713.26 a17713.66 true17713.82 free17715.1 and17715.42 debt17715.74 free17715.98 higher17716.38 education17716.78 beyond17718.14 just17718.78 community17719.9 colleges.17720.46 As17721.9 a17722.06 UMass17722.3 employee,17722.78
17723.74 SPEAKER3017723.74 -17723.74 I17723.74 see17723.9 a17724.14
17724.22 SPEAKER2517724.22 -17724.22 lot17724.22 of17724.38 our17724.54 students17724.78 that17725.58 are17725.74 struggling.17726.06 I17726.94 am17727.1 117727.42 that17728.14 donates17728.54 constantly17729.26 to17730.13 our17730.29 food17730.45 pantry17730.77 because17731.33 I17731.73 also17731.89 see17732.21 the17732.37 need17732.53 of17732.77 our17733.01 students17733.17 and17733.89 those17734.21 staff17734.53 members17734.85 and17735.57 everyone17736.61 on17737.09 campus17737.33 who17737.97 needs17738.21 those17738.53 services.17738.77 But17739.81 a17740.13 lot17740.21 of17740.45 our17740.61 students17740.85 are17741.49 working17741.73 217742.37 and17742.85 317743.17 jobs17743.41 on17744.14 top17744.38 of17744.62 being17744.94 full17745.58 time17745.82 students17746.22 just17747.02 to17747.26 make17747.42 ends17747.9 meet.17748.22 And17748.86 this17749.1 year,17749.34 UMass17749.82 introduced,17750.78 if17751.34 you17751.5 make17751.58 $75,00017751.9 adjusted17753.66 gross17754.14 income17754.46 or17754.86 less,17755.02 you17755.5 can17755.66 go17755.82 for17756.06 free.17756.3 That17756.86 is17757.1 still17757.34 not17757.66 enough17757.9 because17758.97 a17759.53 lot17759.61 of17759.85 our17760.01 students17760.25 are17760.81 working17761.05 multiple17761.37 jobs,17761.85 are17762.81 married,17762.97 have17764.01 multiple17764.57 incomes.17765.13 They17765.77 are17766.01 not17766.17 meeting17766.41 that17766.81 threshold.17767.05 And17767.93 it's17768.09 important17768.41 that17769.21 we17769.45 are17769.61 taking17769.85 care17770.25 of17770.49 everyone17771.22 throughout.17772.34 As17772.74 a17772.98 leader17773.14 in17773.7 the17773.86 state,17774.1 as17775.3 a17775.46 leader17775.62 in17776.1 the17776.34 country17776.58 for17776.98 public17777.22 education,17777.62 it's17778.5 important17778.82 that17779.54 we17779.86 also17780.42 set17780.9 the17781.14 standard17781.38 of17782.02 what17782.26 a17782.74 true17783.24 and17783.48 free17784.44 debt17784.76 free17785.08 public17785.4 education17785.8 looks17786.68 like17787 through17787.64 pre17788.76 k17789 all17789.8 the17790.04 way17790.12 to17790.44 16.17790.68 And17791.56 it's17791.72 important17791.96 that17792.36 we're17792.52 doing17792.76 our17793.08 due17793.24 diligence17793.56 to17794.2 make17794.28 sure17794.52 that17794.76 those17795.16 that17795.48 choose17795.72 to17796.04 want17796.2 to17796.52 get17796.68 a17796.84 higher17797 education17797.32 are17798.4 able17798.56 to17798.88 do17798.96 it.17799.12 Because17799.76 by17800.16 attaining17800.4 a17800.88 higher17800.96 education,17801.36 that17802.56 is17802.8 a17802.96 way17803.04 of17803.44 liberation.17803.76 That17804.8 is17805.04 a17805.28 way17805.36 for17805.68 a17805.92 lot17806 of17806.16 our17806.32 students17806.56 to17807.2 break17807.44 the17807.76 chain17807.92 of17808.4 poverty17808.64 and17809.44 try17809.76 to17810 provide17810.24 something17810.72 better17811.12 for17811.44 themselves,17811.6 their17812.72 family,17813.04 and17813.95 then17814.11 be17814.91 able17815.15 to17815.39 do17815.47 better17815.79 for17816.35 the17816.59 community17816.75 in17817.31 which17817.55 they17817.79 reside.17818.11 Because17818.83 our17819.23 students17819.47 not17820.19 only17820.43 live17820.83 here,17821.15 they17821.79 go17821.95 to17822.19 school17822.35 here,17822.75 and17823.07 they17823.31 wanna17823.47 stay17823.87 here,17824.11 and17824.59 we17824.83 need17824.99 to17825.23 make17825.31 that17825.55 available17825.79 for17826.43 everyone.17826.67 Thank17827.47 you.17827.71
17830.5 SPEAKER217830.5 -17830.5 Thank17830.5 you.17830.82 Okay.17831.54
17835.78 Abigail17835.78 Raymond.17836.42
17841.22 Liz17841.22 Espinosa17841.7 is17842.42 next.17842.66
17850.74 SPEAKER3117850.74 -17850.74 Good17850.74 morning.17851.06 Oh,17851.46 good17851.94 evening,17852.18 actually.17852.5 I17854.1 have17854.26 good17854.5 morning17854.66 written17854.98 here,17855.22 but17855.46 good17855.7 evening,17855.94 members17856.18 of17856.5 the17856.66 committee.17856.82 I'm17857.47 grateful17857.71 to17858.11 be17858.19 given17858.27 the17858.67 opportunity17858.83 to17859.39 testify17859.55 today.17860.03 My17860.83 name17860.99 is17861.15 Abigail17861.31 Raymond,17861.79 and17862.19 I17862.35 represent17862.51 the17862.83 University17862.99 of17863.47 Massachusetts17863.63 Boston17864.27 as17864.67 its17864.83 current17864.99 student17865.31 trustee.17865.63 I'm17866.83 here17867.07 in17867.31 support17867.47 of17867.87 greater17868.03 investment17868.43 in17869.07 greener17869.31 and17869.71 healthy17869.87 public17870.27 colleges,17870.67 the17871.59 deferred17871.75 maintenance17872.15 needs17872.63 that17873.11 affect17873.27 universities17873.67 all17874.39 over17874.63 the17874.79 Commonwealth,17875.03 and17875.91 debt17876.15 free17876.39 public17876.71 higher17877.03 education.17877.35 The17878.87 first17879.03 act17879.35 surrounding17879.59 deferred17879.99 maintenance17880.39 addresses17880.87 the17881.35 strain17881.51 of17881.91 capital17882.15 debt17882.63 and17883.19 services17883.35 on17883.99 college17884.15 budgets17884.55 and17885.11 to17885.35 the17885.43 students17885.71 who17886.03 often17886.11 bear17886.51 the17886.75 brunt17886.91 of17887.39 additional17887.63 fees.17888.11 The17888.99 existence17889.15 of17889.71 buildings17889.79 that17890.35 are17890.51 outdated,17890.75 dilapidated,17891.47 and17892.27 unaddressed17892.51 by17893.15 deferred17893.39 maintenance17893.71 contribute17894.51 significantly17895.15 to17895.79 health17895.95 and17896.27 safety17896.51 risks,17896.91 energy17897.47 costs,17897.95 and17898.27 global17898.51 climate17898.91 change.17899.23 The17900.21 second17900.29 act17900.69 on17900.93 debt17901.17 free17901.49 public17901.73 higher17902.13 education17902.37 affirms17903.17 that17903.57 all17903.81 students17904.05 should17904.77 have17904.93 the17905.17 opportunity17905.33 to17905.89 attend17906.13 college17906.61 without17907.09 going17907.41 into17907.65 debt.17907.97 Both17909.01 acts17909.33 take17909.65 into17909.89 account17910.13 student17910.53 well-being,17910.93 where17911.49 students17911.73 should17912.21 be17912.37 able17912.45 to17912.69 learn17912.85 and17913.17 study17913.41 in17913.43 safe17913.45
17913.47 SPEAKER3217913.47 -17913.47 and17913.47 functional17913.49 conditions,17913.51 and17913.53 not17913.55 be17913.57 beholden17913.59
17913.61 SPEAKER3117913.61 -17913.61 to17913.61 working17913.63 excessive17913.65 hours,17913.9
17919.1 between17919.1 their17919.42 studies17919.66 just17920.06 to17920.3 barely17920.38 cover17920.86 their17921.1 tuition.17921.26 My17922.86 personal17923.1 connection17923.42 to17923.9 the17923.98 first17924.22 act17924.46 comes17924.78 from17924.94 my17925.1 experience17925.26 as17925.82 a17925.98 student17926.3 learning17926.62 in17926.94 buildings17927.18 in17927.74 need17927.82 of17928.14 deferred17928.46 maintenance.17928.7 My17928.73 317928.75 years17928.78 at17928.8 UMass17928.82 Boston17928.85 have17928.87 always17928.9 been17928.92 amongst17928.94 construction.17929.19 My17929.79 317929.95 years17930.11 at17930.43 UMass17930.59 Boston17931.07 have17931.47 always17931.71 been17932.03 amongst17932.27 construction.17932.67 Developments17933.87 are17934.43 seemingly17934.59 ubiquitous17935.23 on17935.87 my17936.03 campus17936.19 through17936.59 non17936.91 functioning17937.23 automatic17937.87 doors,17938.35 safety17939.15 tape17939.63 antiquated17940.03 buildings,17940.75 and17941.47 windowless17941.71 classrooms.17942.27 I17943.43 know17943.51 that17943.75 students17943.99 that17944.31 attend17944.55 my17944.87 institution17945.11 every17945.75 day17945.99 are17946.23 demoralized17946.47 when17947.19 attending17947.43 classes17947.91 in17948.31 buildings17948.47 like17948.87 Wheatley17949.11 that17949.75 were17949.99 constructed17950.15 in17950.71 the17950.79 seventies.17950.95 Even17952.39 when17952.71 conducting17952.87 campus17953.35 tours,17953.75 these17954.31 buildings17954.47 are17954.87 the17955.03 first17955.19 to17955.43 be17955.59 avoided17955.67 in17956.15 favor17956.39 of17956.87 our17956.95 newer17957.03 ones.17957.35 Half17959.01 of17959.17 the17959.33 buildings17959.41 on17959.81 my17959.97 campus17960.05 do17960.53 not17960.69 reflect17960.93 the17961.25 tuition17961.41 that17961.81 students17962.05 pay17962.45 and17962.85 are17963.09 not17963.25 an17963.41 environment17963.65 that17964.13 promotes17964.29 student17964.61 retention17965.01 and17965.65 affected17965.89 learning.17966.37 This17967.33 is17967.57 the17967.65 reality17967.81 for17968.13 many17968.29 universities.17968.61 Not17969.73 all17969.97 academic17970.21 buildings17970.77 are17971.17 pristine17971.33 cathedrals17971.81 of17972.45 learning.17972.69 Oftentimes,17973.5 students17974.06 are17974.54 provided17974.7 with17975.1 a17975.26 mix.17975.34 On17976.06 117976.22 hand,17976.38 there17976.7 are17976.94 the17977.1 newly17977.26 furnished17977.58 classrooms17978.06 with17978.62 sleek17978.86 and17979.26 modern17979.34 elements17979.74 that17980.46 are17980.7 then17980.78 juxtaposed17981.1 of17981.74 older17981.9 worn17982.3 down17982.62 rooms17982.86 with17983.18 buildings17983.42 struggling17983.82 with17984.3 structural17984.54 instability.17985.1 In17986.38 the17986.54 end,17986.7 student17987.02 tuition17987.34 is17987.74 increased17988.06 and17988.54 used17988.78 in17989.1 order17989.26 to17989.5 fund17989.66 these17989.9 projects.17990.14 Projects17991.1 that17991.5 these17991.74 students17991.98 may17992.38 never17992.54 get17992.78 to17993.02 see17993.1 completed17993.42 in17993.82 their17993.98 417994.14 years17994.38 of17994.7 enrollment17994.86 in17995.42 that17995.5 institution.17995.74 This17997.42 is17997.58 also17997.74 how17998.06 both17998.3 issues17998.62 intertwine.17999.02 In17999.85 the18000.09 failing18000.25 infrastructure18000.65 of18001.13 colleges18001.37 to18001.77 the18001.93 debt18002.09 accrued18002.41 by18002.81 students.18003.05 Despite18003.85 the18004.09 wealth18004.25 of18004.57 Massachusetts,18004.65 the18005.45 cost18005.69 to18006.01 attend18006.09 public18006.41 colleges18006.81 is18007.53 increasing18007.77 faster18008.25 than18008.73 any18008.89 other18009.13 state.18009.37 At18010.25 the18010.41 same18010.57 time,18010.81 state18011.37 investment18011.69 in18012.09 public18012.25 higher18012.57 education18012.81 has18013.37 fallen18013.69 in18014.25 the18014.41 past18014.57 2018014.97 years,18015.37 forcing18015.91 schools18016.23 like18016.71 my18016.95 campus18017.19 to18018.07 take18018.23 on18018.39 heavy18018.63 debt18018.95 to18019.19 repair18019.35 buildings.18019.67 At18020.79 the18021.03 same18021.11 time,18021.43 this18021.83 debt18022.07 has18022.23 led18022.39 to18022.63 an18022.71 increase18022.95 in18023.27 student18023.43 debt18023.75 by18024.07 more18024.23 than18024.39 30%.18024.63 No18026.15 student18026.39 should18026.71 have18026.95 to18027.03 work18027.19 several18027.43 jobs18027.75 just18028.16 to18028.32 barely18028.48 cover18028.8 their18029.12 tuition18029.28 and18029.6 at18029.76 the18029.92 same18030.08 time18030.24 have18030.48 to18030.6 learn18030.72 and18030.96 work18031.12 in18031.28 the18031.44 conditions18031.6 that18032.16 their18032.32 tuition18032.4 is18032.88 meant18032.96 to18033.2 repair.18033.28 From18034.08 someone18034.24 who18034.56 represents18034.8 a18035.2 state18035.28 school18035.52 and18035.76 who18035.92 herself18036.08 is18036.48 a18036.56 student18036.72 at18037.04 a18037.12 state18037.28 university,18037.52 I'm18038.24 calling18038.48 upon18038.72 you18039.04 to18039.2 invest18039.28 greater18039.6 f18040 y18040.16 2618040.32 funds18040.8 into18041.12 campus18041.36 infrastructure18041.76 and18042.56 debt18042.8 free18043.04 college18043.2 to18043.52 better18043.72 improve18043.96 student18044.28 success18044.6 in18044.92 the18045 Commonwealth.18045.16 Thank18045.72 you18045.96 for18046.12 your18046.28 time18046.44 and18046.6 consideration.18046.76
18048.44 SPEAKER318048.44 -18048.44 Thank18048.44 you,18048.68 student18049.56 trustee,18049.88 Raymond,18050.68 for,18051.56 your,18052.68 formal18053.16 testimony.18053.64 It's18054.28 been18054.44 great,18054.68 not18055.24 just18055.48 hearing18055.64 from18055.88 you,18056.12 but18056.28 hearing18056.52 from18056.84 other18057 student18057.24 advocates,18057.56 from18058.59 across18058.83 the18059.23 Commonwealth,18059.47 standing18060.59 up18060.99 and,18061.23 speaking18062.99 about18063.31 this,18063.55 really,18064.03 really18064.27 important18064.59 issue.18064.99
18065.87 SPEAKER2918065.87 -18065.87 Thank18065.87 you.18066.11
18070.83 SPEAKER318070.83 -18070.83 Next,18070.83 we18071.15 have18071.31 Liz18071.55 Espinosa.18071.87
18080.03 SPEAKER3318080.03 -18080.03 Thank18080.03 you.18080.27 Good18080.51 afternoon18080.75 and18081.07 gracias.18081.31 Thank18082.99 you18083.23 for18083.39 giving18083.71 us18084.03 the18084.19 opportunity18084.35 to18084.91 be18085.15 heard.18086.03 It's18086.96 great.18087.2 So18087.84 I18088 just18088.08 wanna18088.24 preface18088.56 this,18088.96 that18089.12 I18089.36 was18089.44 thinking18089.52 about18089.84 a18090.08 title18090.16 for18090.56 my18091.28 testimony18091.52 I've18092.4 been18092.56 teaching18092.8 in18093.12 the18093.28 state18093.36 of18093.52 Massachusetts.18093.68
18094.16 SPEAKER218094.16 -18094.16 Can18094.16 you18094.32 move18094.56 up18094.72 towards18094.8 the18095.2 mic,18095.28 please?18095.44
18095.76 SPEAKER3418095.76 -18095.76 Closer.18095.76 Yeah.18096.56
18097.92 SPEAKER3318097.92 -18097.92 I18097.92 just18098.08 wanna18098.32 preface18099.04 my18099.68 testimony18099.92 by18100.64 thinking18100.8 about18101.12 a18101.36 title18102.12 because18102.52 I've18102.92 been18103.16 teaching18103.32 in18103.72 the18103.88 state18103.96 of18104.2 Massachusetts18104.28 for18104.92 over18105.16 1518105.32 years.18105.72 I'm18106.68 a18106.76 title18106.92 518107.24 higher.18107.56 My18108.6 family18108.84 are18109.32 immigrants18109.56 from18110.04 Costa18110.2 Rica.18110.6 And18112.2 I'm18112.6 a18112.76 public18112.92 ed18113.32 brat,18113.72 which18114.67 means18114.91 I18115.15 probably18115.39 have18115.71 seen18115.79 the18116.11 good,18116.19 bad,18116.43 and18116.67 the18116.83 ugly18116.91 of18117.31 the18117.39 California18117.63 system18118.27 and18119.07 also18119.23 as18119.63 an18119.79 educator18119.95 in18120.75 the18120.99 department18121.15 of18121.55 English18121.79 at18122.43 Northern18122.59 Essex18122.91 Community18123.31 College.18123.71 I'm18124.75 also18124.99 the18125.23 department18125.39 chair.18125.95 We18126.75 have18126.91 918127.15 full18127.47 time18127.71 faculty,18128.03 total18129.15 of18130.03 3018130.11 English18130.91 faculty.18131.39 So18132.11 if18132.35 you18132.43 do18132.51 the18132.75 math,18132.91 you18133.15 know,18133.23 there's18133.39 a18133.63 lot18133.71 of18133.95 adjunct18134.27 faculty18134.91 in18135.31 the18135.47 English18135.63 department.18136.03 And18136.75 I'm18136.99 the18137.15 only18137.23 Latina.18137.63 So18138.19 it's18138.35 always18138.51 tricky18138.75 having18139.71 a18140.03 voice.18140.19 So18140.51 thank18140.75 you.18140.99
18143.77 Maybe18143.77 the18144.25 title18144.41 would18144.81 be18145.05 to18146.01 request18146.33 that18146.89 we18147.13 think18147.69 creatively,18148.09 have18149.69 courage18150.01 in18150.49 that18150.65 creative18150.89 thinking,18151.53 and18152.65 have18153.05 all18153.53 of18153.85 you18153.93 in18154.57 front18154.73 of18154.97 me18155.13 and18155.69 folks18155.93 possibly18156.33 behind18156.81 me18157.13 realize18157.96 that18158.52 there's18158.6 so18158.84 much18159 talent18159.32 that18160.36 the18160.6 Commonwealth18160.76 has.18161.4 And18162.6 I18162.76 teach18163 American18163.4 literature,18163.88 so18164.28 I'm18164.44 always18164.6 thinking18164.84 about18165.08 the18165.32 legacies18165.48 of18166.04 talents18166.28 and18166.68 diversities18166.92 of18167.64 thinkers18167.8 and18168.2 leaders18168.44 when18169.16 it18169.4 comes18169.48 to18169.8 public18169.96 education18170.36 and18171.51 sustainability18171.75 in18172.87 regards18173.11 to18173.59 sustaining18173.83 a18174.31 quality18174.47 of18174.79 life18174.95 that18175.27 has18175.43 dignity18175.67 and18176.31 respect18176.71 for18177.35 all18177.59 folks18177.83 of18178.15 all18178.31 walks18178.47 of18178.79 life.18178.95 And18179.91 I18180.07 just18180.23 wanna18180.47 encourage18180.71 that18181.19 because18181.67 a18181.99 lot18182.07 of18182.23 us,18182.39 including18182.63 myself,18183.11 knock18183.99 on18184.23 people's18184.39 doors.18184.87 That18185.67 takes18185.99 courage.18186.31 You18187.11 guys18187.27 have18187.43 courage18187.67 with18187.99 all18188.15 these18188.31 committees,18188.55 complex18189.19 pressures.18189.83
18192.87 Right?18192.87 So,18193.03 that's18193.51 the18193.83 possible18194.31 title18194.71 that18195.03 I18195.19 was18195.27 thinking18195.43 of.18195.75 So,18196.31 today,18196.63 I,18196.95 Lisa18197.19 Espinosa18197.51 of18198.07 Northern18198.15 Essex18198.47 Community18198.79 College,18199.03 request18199.43 that18199.67 you18199.83 invest,18200.07 y18201.8 20,18202.12 618202.68 funds18203.72 to18204.2 provide18204.6 green18204.92 and18205.24 healthy18205.4 public18206.12 colleges18206.36 and18206.84 universities18207 and18207.56 address18207.72 deferred18208.04 maintenance18208.44 at18209.16 Northern18209.4 Essex18209.72 and18210.28 beyond.18210.6 As18211.4 a18211.64 community18211.8 college18212.44 educator18212.76 in18213.24 rural18213.48 Massachusetts,18214.36 who18216.52 also18216.68 teaches18217 at18217.56 Lawrence.18217.88 Funding18218.68 green18219.08 and18219.32 healthy18219.48 infrastructure18219.88 guarantees18220.52 a18220.92 safe18221 space18221.32 and18221.48 educational18221.64 facilities18222.2 for18222.68 optimal18222.84 learning.18223.24 Such18224.04 funding18224.36 brings18224.68 both,18225 alleviation18225.8 and18226.44 hope.18226.68 Alleviation18227.08 because18227.72 our18228.04 public18228.2 ed18228.68 institutions18228.92 are18229.64 oases18229.88 of18230.6 traditional18230.76 public18231.82 education18232.14 and18232.78 hope18232.94 to18233.18 protect18233.82 its18234.38 nestled18234.62 green18235.1 spaces18235.5 throughout18236.06 the18236.22 Commonwealth18236.38 while18237.26 attending18237.58 to18238.3 maintenance18238.62 needs.18239.18 I18240.22 just18240.38 wanna18240.54 let18240.78 you18240.94 know18241.1 that,18241.34 this18242.54 actual18243.26 bill18243.74 on18244.06 trying18244.22 to18244.54 support18244.92 green18245.24 and18245.64 healthy18245.8 facilities18246.44 in18247.08 our18247.32 public18247.72 higher18248.2 ed18249.08 institutions18249.16 is18250.68 really18250.76 valuable18251.08 because18251.72 I've18251.96 seen18252.2 stories18252.6 and18253.08 examples18253.4 where18253.88 we18254.12 wouldn't18254.28 have,18254.6 let's18255.24 say18255.4 an18255.56 elevator18255.8 work18256.36 for18256.6 about18256.76 a18257 month18257.16 or18257.4 2.18257.48 And18258.18 then,18258.58 suddenly18259.22 we18259.62 come18259.7 up18259.86 with18260.1 a18260.18 lot18260.26
18260.3 SPEAKER3518260.3 -18260.3 of18260.3 things.18260.34 I've18260.58 always18260.82
18261.06 SPEAKER3318261.06 -18261.06 been18261.06 kinda18261.22 curious18261.46 on18261.86 how18262.02 we18262.18 can18262.26 honor18263.06 the18263.46 facilities18263.62 and18264.18 other18264.34 students'18264.58 quality18264.98 of18265.94 education.18266.18 Thank18266.66 you18266.9 so18267.06 much.18267.14
18267.38 SPEAKER218267.38 -18267.38 Thank18267.38 you.18267.62 And18268.58 I18268.82 liked18268.98 I18269.3 liked18269.46 the18269.94 way18270.1 you18270.42 came18271.78 around18272.02 another18272.34 way.18272.66 Good.18273.16 And18273.56 and18273.96 had18274.04 us18274.12 think18275.16 a18275.48 little18275.56 bit18275.72 more18275.88 about,18276.12 you18277.4 know,18277.64 we're18277.8 not18277.96 not18278.2 everyone18278.36 we're18278.92 all18279.16 different,18279.32 and18279.64 we18279.88 all18280.04 come18280.28 up18280.76 different18280.92 ways.18281.32 And18281.72 and18282.04 and18282.28 you18282.52 were18282.68 able18282.84 to18283.16 express18283.48 that.18283.96 So18284.44 it18284.76 was18284.92 awesome.18285.08
18285.24 SPEAKER3618285.24 -18285.24 I18285.24 teach18285.32
18285.56 SPEAKER3318285.56 -18285.56 at18285.56 Evan18285.64 Essex.18285.96 I18286.28 teach18286.44 at18286.6 Lawrence,18286.99 and18287.31 we18287.55 really18287.71 need18287.87 to18288.03 talk18288.19 to18288.43 each18288.51 other.18288.67 I18288.83 I18289.07 I'm18289.23 not18289.31 a18289.47 camp18289.63 person,18289.95 and18290.43 I'm18290.59 not18290.67 a18290.83 divisive18290.91 person,18291.39 and18291.87 I18292.03 don't18292.19 choose.18292.35 I18293.15 love18293.31 the18293.55 whole18293.63 family.18293.87
18295.39 SPEAKER318295.39 -18295.39 Well,18295.39 thank18295.55 thank18295.79 you18295.95 very18296.11 much,18296.35 professor18296.67 Espinosa.18297.23 As18297.87 you're18297.95 you're18298.11 you18298.43 deal18298.59 with,18298.83 kids18299.31 are,18299.63 youth18300.46 that18300.62 are18300.78 in18300.94 my18301.1 district,18301.34 we18302.06 appreciate18302.3 the18302.78 work18302.94 that,18303.1 you18303.98 do,18304.14 ensuring,18304.78 you18305.5 know,18305.66 118306.14 of18306.26 the18306.38 things18306.46 that18306.62 we18306.78 always18306.94 talk18307.18 about,18307.42 especially,18307.66 once18308.7 we've18308.94 made18309.26 community18309.66 colleges18310.14 free18310.54 is18311.26 that,18311.42 community18312.38 colleges,18312.86 you18313.42 know,18313.5 a18313.9 great18314.06 way18314.38 that18314.62 folks18314.78 can,18315.1 enter,18316.1 the18316.98 middle18317.14 class18317.46 and18317.78 are18318.02 able18318.18 to18318.42 get,18318.74 you18319.06 know,18319.14 good18319.38 careers,18319.62 but18320.02 we18320.42 had18320.5 to18320.58 take18320.66 care18320.9 of18321.06 the18321.14 whole18321.22 kid.18321.46 So,18321.7 thank18322.5 you18322.74 for18322.98 for18323.22 for18323.62 your18323.78 advocacy.18324.02
18324.9 SPEAKER3318324.9 -18324.9 You're18324.9 welcome.18325.06 I'm18325.38 also18325.54 on18325.78 the18325.86 AI18326.1 task18326.34 force18326.58 and18326.9 I18327.06 worry18327.14 about18327.46 a18327.7 lot18327.94 of18328.1 pressures18328.34 outside18328.98 the18329.38 college18329.46 that18329.86 tells18330.28 me18330.52 that18330.68 privatization18331.24 likes18332.12 to18332.44 kinda18332.52 go18332.76 in18332.84 there18333 and18333.16 I18333.32 hope18333.4 that18333.64 we18333.88 continue18334.2 to18334.6 honor18334.76 public18335.08 ed.18335.4 Thank18335.56 you.18335.72
18335.8 SPEAKER3718335.8 -18335.8 Thank18335.8 you.18335.88
18338.52 SPEAKER318338.52 -18338.52 Moving18338.52 on18338.92 to18339.08 health18339.24 care.18339.48 Louis18339.88 Bellows.18340.2
18343.08 Louis18343.08 Bellows.18343.4
18347.64 We18347.64 are18347.88 now18348.28 moving18348.44 on18348.76 to18348.92 health18349.16 care.18349.4 Michelle18351.08 Schulz.18352.28
18355 SPEAKER3818355 -18355 Hello?18355 Hi.18355.96
18356.28 SPEAKER318356.28 -18356.28 Is18356.28 that18356.36 is18356.52 that18356.68 Louis?18356.92 Yeah.18358.53 Alright.18359.09 Great,18359.41 Louis.18359.65 So,18360.53 after18361.01 Louis,18361.33 Michelle18361.97 Chulz18362.37 will18362.85 be18362.93 up18363.09 next.18363.25 Go18364.05 ahead,18364.21 Louis.18364.45 You18364.69 have18364.85 about18365.01 318365.25 minutes.18365.49
18369.17 SPEAKER3818369.17 -18369.17 Let18369.17 me18369.33 okay.18370.29 Thank18371.33 you18371.57 so18371.73 much,18371.97 chair18372.29 people18372.61 of18372.93 the18373.01 ways18373.17 and18373.57 means18373.73 committee18374.13 and18374.77 state18375.01 representatives18375.41 for18376.37 the18376.53 opportunity18376.77 to18377.33 testify18377.49 about18378.45 my18378.77 experience18378.93 at18379.57 Pappas18379.81 Rehabilitation18380.45 Hospital18381.33 for18381.81 children.18381.97 My18383.5 name18383.66 is18383.82 Luis18383.9 Bellos,18384.38 and18385.18 I18385.34 have18385.5 Duchenne's18385.66 muscular18386.22 dystrophy.18386.54 I18387.5 have18387.66 been18387.82 a18387.98 resident18388.06 at18388.54 Pappas18388.78 for18389.18 318389.34 years,18389.5 and18390.14 in18390.38 that18390.54 time,18390.7 I18390.94 have18391.18 learned18391.34 how18391.58 to18391.82 flourish18391.9 into18392.46 an18392.78 independent18392.94 adult18393.42 who18393.82 knows18394.06 what18394.3 they18394.46 wanna18394.62 do18394.86 with18395.02 their18395.18 future.18395.34 Before18395.98 I18396.38 came18396.46 to18396.7 Pappas,18396.86 after18397.68 being18397.92 at18398.16 children's18398.32 for18398.64 a18398.88 long18398.96 time18399.12 recovering18399.68 from18400.16 the18400.32 flu,18400.48 I18401.28 was18401.36 a18401.6 high18401.68 school18401.92 junior18402.16 with18402.8 no18402.96 direction18403.2 of18403.52 where18403.68 I18403.84 wanted18403.92 to18404.24 go18404.32 in18404.4 life.18404.64 Now18405.52 I18405.84 will18406 be18406.16 graduating18406.32 soon,18406.88 and18407.36 I18407.6 know18407.68 what18407.84 I18408 want18408.16 with18408.4 my18408.56 wife.18408.8 I18409.87 want18410.03 to18410.19 live18410.27 in18410.59 the18410.67 community18410.83 independently,18411.23 be18412.43 active18412.67 in18412.99 the18413.07 community,18413.23 and18413.95 have18414.27 a18414.43 job18414.51 where18414.75 I'm18414.91 making18415.07 money.18415.31 I18416.27 have18416.51 been18416.67 able18416.83 to18417.07 do18417.15 this18417.39 because18417.79 I've18418.11 been18418.35 given18418.43 this18418.75 important18418.99 care18419.47 for18419.95 loving18420.11 staff18420.51 at18420.83 Pappas18420.99 that18421.79 care18421.95 about18422.19 the18422.43 patients18422.51 they18422.91 help.18423.15 Pappas18424.07 is18424.47 a18424.63 special18424.79 place18425.19 that18425.67 provides18425.91 life18426.31 changing18426.55 care18426.95 and18427.59 creates18427.83 a18428.15 community18428.23 where18428.87 both18429.11 parents18429.27 and18429.67 residents18429.75 feel18430.23 safe.18430.47 Being18431.43 at18431.67 Pappas18431.91 has18432.63 also18432.87 allowed18433.27 me18433.59 to18433.83 improve18434.07 my18434.39 relationships18434.63 with18435.11 my18435.27 parents18435.43 by18436.14 making18436.46 them18436.78 become18437.02 my18437.26 parents18437.42 again18437.82 and18438.3 not18438.54 my18438.78 caregivers.18438.86 I18440.06 have18440.22 also18440.38 made18440.7 lasting18441.1 friendships18441.58 with18442.38 many18442.62 of18442.94 the18443.02 other18443.1 patients18443.34 here.18443.74 I18444.46 can18444.62 relate18444.86 with18445.1 them18445.26 so18445.5 well18445.66 because18446.14 they18446.54 too18446.7 are18447.18 dealing18447.34 with18447.74 the18447.9 same18447.98 things18448.22 I18448.54 am.18448.7 Pappas18450.07 is18450.39 the18450.63 beating18450.79 heart18451.11 of18451.27 Massachusetts18451.51 and18452.39 provides18452.63 lifeblood18453.11 to18453.67 the18453.75 disabled18453.91 community.18454.31 Pappas18455.19 is18455.59 like18455.75 the18455.99 human18456.15 body18456.39 where18456.95 the18457.35 nurses18457.43 of18457.91 the18457.99 heart18458.15 that18458.55 provide18458.79 blood18459.19 to18459.35 the18459.51 vital18459.59 organs.18459.99 The18460.63 teachers18460.87 of18461.27 the18461.35 brain18461.51 who18462.07 teach18462.23 the18462.47 students18462.63 to18462.95 excel18463.11 and18463.59 push18463.83 themselves18464.07 to18464.55 be18464.71 more.18464.95 The18466.12 therapies18466.28 and18466.76 recreation18467 staff18467.56 are18468.12 the18468.28 muscles18468.44 that18468.84 propel18468.92 us18469.32 forward18469.56 to18470.04 achieve18470.12 great18470.52 things.18470.76 Finally,18471.8 the18472.6 caregivers18472.76 of18473.32 the18473.4 bones18473.56 to18474.12 give18474.2 us18474.44 the18474.6 support18474.68 to18475.08 function18475.16 each18475.56 day.18475.8 These18476.52 elements18476.76 come18477.24 together18477.48 to18478.12 create18478.2 strong,18478.6 independent,18479 and18479.64 responsible18479.8 graduates18480.36 for18480.84 the18480.92 future.18481 Without18482.01 Pappas,18482.41 I18482.97 wouldn't18483.13 be18483.37 who18483.53 I18483.69 am18483.85 today,18484.01 and18484.49 that18484.73 is18484.89 why18484.97 it18485.21 is18485.29 important18485.45 for18485.77 it18485.93 to18486.01 stay18486.09 open18486.33 so18486.89 we18487.13 can18487.29 continue18487.45 to18487.85 provide18487.93 the18488.25 care18488.41 and18488.57 support18488.73 that18489.29 allows18489.53 disabled18489.93 children18490.25 to18490.65 flourish18490.73 and18491.29 ultimately18491.45 teaches18491.93 them18492.33 to18492.65 be18492.81 defined18492.97 by18493.37 their18493.53 abilities18493.69 and18494.33 not18494.49 their18494.73 disabilities.18494.89 Thank18495.93 you.18496.17
18498.87 SPEAKER218498.87 -18498.87 Thank18498.87 you.18499.19 Great18499.43 job.18499.75 Keep18502.07 doing18502.39 what18502.63 you're18502.79 doing.18502.95 Looking18503.35 forward18503.67 to18503.91 seeing18504.07 what18504.31 you're18504.47 gonna18504.55 do18504.87 next.18505.03
18507.91 I18507.91 think18508.07 we18508.31 have18508.47 give18508.87 me18509.03 a18509.19 second.18509.27
18511.83 Questions?18511.83 All18514.28 set.18514.44 Michelle18516.04 Scholes?18516.6
18520.6 SPEAKER3818520.6 -18520.6 Thank18520.6 you.18520.84
18528.14 SPEAKER218528.14 -18528.14 Hi.18528.14 Hi,18528.54 Michelle.18528.78
18529.18 SPEAKER3918529.18 -18529.18 I'm18529.18 remote18529.34 as18529.74 well.18529.98 Hi.18531.1 Are18531.34 you18531.5 able18531.58 to18531.82 see18531.9 me18532.06 yet?18532.22
18532.7 SPEAKER218532.7 -18532.7 Yes.18532.7 We18532.86 can18533.1 hear18533.26 you.18533.42
18534.54 SPEAKER3918534.54 -18534.54 Okay.18534.54 Hi.18535.02 My18535.5 name18535.66 is18535.9 Michelle18536.14 Schultz,18536.78 and18537.66 I18537.98 am18538.14 the18538.3 mother18538.54 of18538.78 Eric18538.94 who18539.26 was18539.34 born18539.5 with18539.74 spina18539.98 bifida18540.3 and18540.78 is18540.94 a18541.1 paraplegic.18541.26 From18542.72 203218543.24 to18544.48 2017,18544.64 Eric18545.6 attended18545.84 MHS,18546.64 also18547.28 known18547.52 as18547.76 Pappas,18547.92 rehabilitation18548.4 hospital18549.12 for18549.6 children.18549.76 I'm18551.12 not18551.36 here18551.52 today18551.84 because18552.16 of18552.56 poor18552.8 care18553.04 or18553.44 dissatisfaction18553.76 with18554.96 Pappas.18555.2 I'm18555.81 here18556.05 because18556.21 governor18556.61 Maura18557.09 Healy18557.33 and18557.65 doctor18557.89 Robbie18558.13 Goldstein18558.45 want18559.41 to18559.65 close18559.73 this18560.05 vital18560.21 facility18560.61 against18561.65 the18561.97 clear18562.05 wishes18562.37 of18562.77 the18562.93 children18563.09 and18563.49 family18563.65 it18564.05 serves.18564.21 Doctor18565.09 Goldstein18565.41 believes18566.05 that18566.37 disabled18566.61 children18567.01 are18567.41 better18567.57 off18567.81 at18568.05 home18568.13 with18568.37 their18568.61 families,18568.77 but18569.68 that18569.92 doesn't18570 reflect18570.4 reality18570.8 for18571.36 many18571.6 of18571.92 us.18572 Families18572.64 like18573.12 mine18573.36 often18573.6 live18573.84 in18574.08 rural18574.24 towns,18574.56 like18575.36 Clarksburg,18575.6 Pittsville,18576.4 Orange,18577.28 and18577.68 Savoy,18577.84 where18578.72 housing18578.96 is18579.36 more18579.52 affordable,18579.76 but18580.8 services18581.04 are18581.68 scarce.18582.08 In18582.76 Clark18583.08 in18583.32 Clarksburg,18583.56 we18584.12 have18584.28 no18584.44 public18584.6 transportation.18585 The18586.2 next18586.36 town18586.68 has18587 a18587.16 bus18587.4 route18587.56 and18587.88 no18588.04 accessible18588.28 sidewalks18588.84 to18589.4 get18589.48 to18589.64 it.18589.88 Eric's18590.6 medical18591 care18591.4 is18591.72 mostly18591.96 out18592.36 of18592.52 state,18592.68 and18593.24 Massachusetts18593.48 won't18594.28 provide18594.44 PT18594.84 118595.24 transportation18595.48 access18596.36 across18596.84 state18597.24 lines.18597.56 This18598.39 makes18598.71 access18599.03 to18599.51 care18599.67 incredibly18600.07 hard.18600.63 Our18601.75 local18601.99 infrastructure18602.39 falls18603.35 short18603.59 falls18604.47 far18604.87 short18605.11 of18605.43 ADA18605.59 standards.18606.07 Restaurants18606.79 are18607.35 inaccessible,18607.51 curb18609.27 cuts18609.51 and18609.75 sidewalks18609.91 are18610.47 missing,18610.63 and18611.27 there's18611.43 no18611.75 ADA18611.99 coordinator18612.55 in18613.11 our18613.27 town.18613.43 A18614.25 bowling18614.49 alley18614.81 added18615.05 a18615.37 ramp18615.53 only18615.77 after18616.09 1518616.41 years18616.73 of18617.13 advocacy.18617.21 The18618.41 message18618.57 to18618.97 kids18619.05 like18619.37 Eric18619.61 is,18619.93 you18620.25 don't18620.49 belong18620.73 here.18621.05 Before18621.93 attending18622.33 MHS,18622.89 Eric18623.77 received18624.09 just18624.49 118624.73 hour18624.97 of18625.21 school18625.37 based18625.77 physical18626.01 therapy18626.49 each18626.89 week.18627.21 Local18627.81 clinics18628.05 refused18628.53 to18628.93 treat18629.09 him18629.33 because18629.49 he18629.81 was18629.97 too18630.53 complicated.18630.77 In18632.45 our18632.69 community,18632.93 there18633.57 were18633.73 no18633.89 occlusive18634.05 sports,18634.61 no18635.09 other18635.33 kids18635.49 in18635.73 wheelchairs,18635.89 no18636.53 peers18636.77 he18637.17 could18637.33 relate18637.49 to,18637.73 which18637.97 was18638.13 socially18638.37 isolating.18638.93 Gave18640.63 him18640.79 what18641.11 our18641.35 community18641.51 could18641.91 not,18642.15 consistent18642.55 therapy,18643.19 medical18643.75 care,18644.15 education,18644.87 social18645.75 connection,18646.23 and18646.63 belonging.18646.87 Doctor18647.99 Goldstein18648.39 continues18649.11 to18649.51 express18649.67 concerns18649.99 regarding18650.47 building18650.95 safety18651.35 at18651.75 Pappas,18651.99 but18652.8 according18652.96 to18653.52 EHS18654.32 218655.04 318655.36 018655.6 1,18655.84 facility18656.8 and18657.28 program18657.36 existing18657.92 conditions18658.4 and18658.88 assessments18659.12 were18659.6 rated18659.76 fair18660.16 to18660.32 good18660.48 in18660.72 202318660.88 for18661.68 the18661.84 buildings.18661.92 Officials18663.52 argue18664 that18664.32 low18664.48 admissions18664.72 justify18665.2 closing18665.84 Pappas,18666.32 but18666.72 that18666.96 decline18667.12 is18667.68 artificial,18667.84 caused18668.66 by18668.9 the18668.98 state18669.22 closing18669.62 buildings18669.94 and18670.42 stopping18670.66 new18671.06 admissions.18671.3 The18672.34 need18672.5 hasn't18672.74 gone18673.06 away.18673.3 In18673.54 fact,18673.7 it's18673.94 grown.18674.26 I18675.14 believe18675.22 yesterday18675.62 that18676.34 doctor18676.5 Goldstein18676.82 said18677.38 the18677.62 need18677.78 is18678.02 about18678.26 10,00018678.58 students18679.46 or18680.02 children18680.34 in18680.82 the18680.98 state18681.06 of18681.38 Massachusetts.18681.54 I18683.21 ask18683.45 you18683.69 to18683.85 fully18684.01 fund18684.33 fiscal18684.65 year18685.05 2018685.37 2618685.69 budget18686.17 line18686.57 item18686.97 418687.37 518687.69 918687.93 018688.25 dash18688.57 018688.89 918689.21 118689.45 518689.61 and18690.25 include18690.49 strong18690.89 protective18691.37 language18691.93 to18692.81 prevent18692.89 closure,18693.29 excuse18694.09 me,18694.41 or18694.57 reduction18694.73 of18695.21 services18695.37 at18695.85 Papa's.18696.01 Please18697.16 listen18697.4 to18697.64 the18697.88 families18697.96 living18698.36 this18698.68 reality18698.84 every18699.4 day,18699.64 not18700.04 just18700.28 the18700.52 theories18700.68 of18700.92 policy18701.08 makers.18701.48 Thank18702.68 you18702.92 for18703.08 your18703.24 time18703.4 and18703.72 commitment18703.88 to18704.36 all18704.52 children,18704.76 no18705.56 matter18705.72 where18705.96 they18706.12 live18706.28 or18706.52 how18706.76 they18706.92 move18707.24 through18707.4 the18707.56 world.18707.8 Thank18709.48 you.18709.72
18711 SPEAKER218711 -18711 Thank18711 you18711.24 very18711.48 much.18711.72
18719.05 Next,18719.05 we18719.45 have18719.61 Caitlin18720.49 Hogan18721.45 Oregon.18722.33
18731.67 Is18731.67 that18731.83 a18732.07 group?18732.23 Okay.18733.83 So18736.23 you18736.47 guys18736.63 have18736.79 618737.03 minutes,18737.27 okay?18737.67
18738.07 SPEAKER618738.07 -18738.07 Great.18738.07 Thank18738.39 you.18739.03
18743.87 Members18743.87 of18744.27 the18744.35 joint18744.59 committee18744.83 on18745.31 ways18745.47 and18745.71 means,18745.87 my18746.35 name18746.51 is18746.75 Caitlin18746.91 Horrigan18747.31 and18747.71 I18747.83 have18747.95 been18748.03 a18748.27 teacher18748.35 at18748.67 Pappas18748.83 for18749.31 1318749.63 years18749.95 and18750.75 a18751.07 member18751.15 of18751.47 SAIU18751.71 local18752.43 518752.75 018752.99 9.18753.23 I'm18753.99 testifying18754.31 about18755.03 the18755.27 governor's18755.43 proposal18755.91 to18756.47 close18756.63 Pappas.18757.03 The18758.07 proposed18758.31 placements18758.87 for18759.43 our18759.67 students18759.91 fail18760.71 to18761.03 match18761.35 the18761.67 specialized18761.91 care18762.63 and18763.27 unique18763.51 community18763.91 Pappas18764.47 provides.18765.03 Under18766.24 the18766.4 Americans18766.8 with18767.2 Disabilities18767.52 Act,18768.16 students18768.64 are18769.04 entitled18769.2 to18769.6 a18769.84 free18770.08 appropriate18770.56 public18771.2 education18771.6 until18772.16 age18772.64 22.18772.96 Since18774.16 the18774.48 closure18774.64 announcement,18775.04 the18775.68 administration18775.84 has18776.64 plans18776.88 to18777.28 discharge18777.52 students18778.16 with18778.89 minimal18779.13 input18779.61 from18780.01 education18780.25 and18780.65 clinical18780.89 care18781.29 teams,18781.53 sometimes18782.25 without18782.73 proper18783.05 education18783.45 plans18784.01 in18784.33 place.18784.49 These18785.61 students18785.85 are18786.33 being18786.49 pushed18786.73 out18787.13 because18787.45 the18787.69 administration18787.85 believes18788.57 they18789.05 don't18789.21 belong18789.45 here,18789.85 but18790.33 then18790.57 where18790.73 do18790.97 they18791.13 belong?18791.37 Residential18793.06 special18793.54 education18794.02 placements18794.58 are18795.14 scarce,18795.46 expensive,18796.42 and18797.22 often18797.54 unable18798.1 to18798.5 meet18798.66 our18798.98 students'18799.14 medical18799.62 needs.18800.1 This18801.06 cost18801.38 will18801.7 be18801.86 transferred18802.02 to18802.58 local18802.74 school18803.14 districts,18803.46 which18804.02 could18804.26 be18804.5 detrimental18804.74 to18805.7 communities18806.18 across18806.5 the18806.9 commonwealth18807.14 for18807.62 the18807.86 foreseeable18808.1 future.18808.58 These18809.78 concerns18810.1 are18810.58 being18810.74 ignored18811.22 in18812.1 favor18812.34 of18812.74 reducing18812.9 the18813.38 census18813.54 and18814.02 closing18814.26 the18814.82 hospital.18815.06 The18816.26 focus18816.5 on18816.82 our18816.98 diminishing18817.14 student18817.7 census18818.02 is18818.5 misleading.18818.74 Since18820.11 the18820.43 announcement18820.59 of18820.91 the18821.15 closure18821.31 in18821.63 January,18821.79 Pappas18822.43 leadership18822.83 has18823.39 plowed18823.71 forward18824.19 with18824.75 urgent18825.07 discharges18825.55 with18826.51 absolutely18826.83 no18827.71 pause.18828.03 The18828.99 administration18829.23 is18829.95 working18830.11 on18830.43 discharging18830.67 patients18831.23 while18831.55 stifling18831.87 and18832.51 disregarding18832.75 professional18833.9 opinions18834.14 and18834.62 safety18834.78 concerns18835.34 about18835.82 the18836.14 suggested18836.86 placements.18837.34 Other18838.54 placements18838.78 are18839.26 being18839.42 pressured18839.66 to18840.06 accept18840.22 our18840.54 students18840.78 even18841.5 though18841.66 they18841.9 simply18842.14 do18842.62 not18842.78 have18843.02 the18843.18 openings18843.34 available18843.82 for18844.38 our18844.54 medically18844.7 complex18845.18 population.18845.74 But18846.86 the18847.27 administration18847.43 doesn't18848.23 care18848.63 about18848.87 these18849.11 gaps.18849.43 They18850.15 care18850.55 about18851.03 118851.35 less18851.75 patient18852.15 on18852.63 the18852.79 census.18852.95 Potential18854.15 placements18854.63 are18855.11 hearing18855.27 messages18855.51 about18855.99 urgent18856.23 placement18856.63 needs18857.11 and18857.27 imminent18857.51 closures.18857.99 This18859.03 is18859.19 what18859.35 placement18859.59 decisions18860.07 are18860.55 being18860.71 based18861.03 on,18861.35 not18861.75 what's18862.07 best18862.54 for18862.7 the18862.86 student.18862.94 Pappas18864.14 has18864.62 been18864.7 helping18864.94 students18865.34 for18865.82 over18866.06 a18866.54 century.18866.78 This18867.98 fight18868.3 is18868.62 not18868.78 just18869.02 for18869.26 today's18869.42 students,18869.9 but18870.54 for18870.86 future18871.1 generations18871.58 across18872.14 the18872.62 commonwealth.18872.78 It's18873.9 a18874.14 unique,18874.38 irreplaceable18875.1 resource18876.06 for18876.38 a18876.62 specialized18876.78 population.18877.5
18890.78 I'm18890.78 asking18890.94 you18891.42 to18891.58 hold18891.74 Pappas18892.14 and18892.62 DPH18892.86 leadership18893.42 accountable18894.06 to18894.46 the18894.62 governor's18894.78 call18895.26 for18895.5 a18895.66 pause18895.74 to18896.7 plan18896.86 the18897.58 plan18897.66 to18897.9 close18898.06 Pappas,18898.46 including18899.1 ensuring18899.58 a18900.06 restoration18900.22 of18901.02 past18901.18 practices18901.5 related18902.22 to18902.54 discharges18902.78 and18903.42 admissions.18903.66 Thank18904.86 you18905.1 for18905.42 reprioritizing18906 the18906.5 best18906.99 interest18907.49 of18907.98 our18908.28 students18908.58 and18908.88 other18909.04 vulnerable18909.36 individuals18910 in18910.48 the18910.64 commonwealth.18910.72
18911.84 SPEAKER3618911.84 -18911.84 Thank18911.84 you.18911.92 Members18912.76 of18913.6 the18914.44 joint18915.28 committee18915.6 on18915.64 ways18915.68 and18916.32 means,18916.4 my18917.36 name18917.52 is18917.76 Catherine18918 Brewer,18918.48 and18919.11 I'm18919.35 a18919.43 teacher18919.59 at18919.91 Pappas18920.07 Rehabilitation18920.55 Hospital18921.27 for18921.75 Children18921.91 and18922.47 a18922.71 member18922.79 of18923.11 SEIU18923.35 Local18923.99 518924.31 018924.55 9.18924.71 I'm18925.67 here18925.83 to18926.07 testify18926.23 on18926.71 the18926.79 governor's18926.95 proposal18927.43 to18927.91 close18928.07 Pappas18928.31 and18928.87 the18929.11 impact18929.35 of18929.83 the18929.99 so18930.23 called18930.39 pause18930.71 announced18931.43 on18931.91 February18932.07 25.18932.72 I18933.78 will18933.94 provide18934.02 insights18934.58 into18935.06 our18935.38 community18935.54 and18936.18 explain18936.42 why18936.82 our18937.06 program18937.22 does18937.7 not18937.86 align18938.02 with18938.42 the18938.66 proposed18938.74 future18939.22 placements18939.62 for18940.42 our18940.66 students18940.9 and18941.46 residents.18941.7 Since18943.14 the18943.46 announcement18943.62 of18944.02 the18944.18 plan18944.26 to18944.5 close18944.66 Pappas,18944.98 I've18945.54 heard18945.7 firsthand18945.94 the18946.5 struggles18946.58 families18947.14 and18947.54 caregivers18947.7 face18948.34 as18948.99 they18949.15 are18949.31 forced18949.47 to18949.79 make18949.87 the18950.11 impossible18950.27 decision18950.83 of18951.39 finding18951.55 a18951.87 suitable18952.03 community18952.51 program18953.07 that's18953.71 available18954.03 for18954.51 their18954.67 child18954.91 or18955.63 taking18955.79 their18956.11 son18956.35 or18956.51 daughter18956.67 home.18956.99 To18958.03 clarify,18958.19 this18958.75 pause18958.99 has18959.71 brought18959.95 no18960.19 relief18960.43 to18960.75 the18960.91 anxiety18961.07 that18961.63 families18961.79 are18962.27 experiencing18962.51 as18963.56 the18963.8 pressure18963.88 to18964.28 expedite18964.6 discharges18965.16 has18965.88 only18966.2 intensified.18966.6 I18968.28 fully18968.52 understand18968.84 the18969.4 demands18969.56 of18969.96 caring18970.12 for18970.36 a18970.6 child18970.76 with18971.08 complex18971.32 medical18971.8 conditions18972.28 because18973.08 for18973.48 2918973.72 years,18974.2 I've18974.52 had18974.68 the18974.84 privilege18975 of18975.4 growing18975.48 up18975.8 alongside18976.22 my18976.62 younger18976.86 sister,18977.1 Erin,18977.58 whose18978.14 challenges18978.46 closely18979.1 resemble18979.58 those18980.06 of18980.3 my18980.38 students.18980.62 My18982.14 sister18982.38 requires18982.7 full18983.26 assistance18983.5 with18984.3 all18984.54 daily18984.78 activities,18985.26 including18986.3 toileting,18986.94 dressing,18987.82 and18988.38 feeding.18988.62 She18989.93 can18990.09 walk18990.33 short18990.65 distances,18990.89 but18991.53 uses18991.69 a18992.01 wheelchair18992.17 for18992.65 longer18992.89 travel.18993.29 As18994.41 a18994.57 nonverbal18994.73 communicator,18995.37 Erin18996.01 relies18996.33 on18996.81 facial18997.05 expressions,18997.45 gestures,18998.49 and18999.21 vocalizations.18999.37 Due19001.13 to19001.37 her19001.53 seizure19001.69 disorder,19002.09 119002.65 of19002.89 my19003.05 parents19003.13 sleeps19003.61 with19004.01 her19004.25 each19004.49 night.19005.21 Our19006.49 home19006.73 was19006.89 adapted19007.13 for19007.61 her19007.77 to19007.93 live19008.01 with19008.25 my19008.41 parents19008.57 on19009.05 the19009.13 First19009.29 Floor.19009.61 And19010.33 after19010.57 the19010.89 pandemic,19011.13 when19011.69 day19012.01 programs19012.25 were19012.81 no19012.97 longer19013.21 feasible,19013.53 my19014.41 mom19014.57 retired19014.97 from19015.53 her19015.77 career19016.09 as19016.9 an19017.06 occupational19017.3 therapist19017.94 to19018.9 become19019.06 a19019.46 full19019.62 time19019.86 caregiver.19020.34 This19021.7 only19021.94 scratches19022.26 the19022.66 surface19022.82 when19023.22 describing19023.46 the19023.94 assistance19024.1 required19024.58 for19024.98 students19025.14 like19025.54 ours.19025.78 And19026.5 in19026.66 reality,19026.9 it's19027.38 not19027.54 realistic19027.78 for19028.5 most19028.74 of19028.9 the19029.06 families19029.22 we19029.62 serve.19029.78 Some19031 of19031.16 our19031.24 students19031.48 come19031.88 from19032.12 single19032.28 parent19032.6 homes19032.92 surviving19033.48 on19033.96 119034.12 income,19034.44 while19035.16 others19035.48 may19035.88 not19035.96 have19036.2 accessible19036.44 living19036.92 arrangements.19037.24 How19038.92 do19039.16 families19039.32 manage19039.8 when19040.28 their19040.44 child19040.6 becomes19040.92 sick19041.4 or19041.64 faces19041.88 a19042.2 medical19042.28 emergency19042.68 without19043.32 easy19043.72 access19044.12 to19044.44 familiar19044.68 doctors19045.16 and19045.56 nurses?19045.72 What19046.91 are19047.07 families19047.23 expected19047.71 to19048.03 do19048.19 when19048.35 they19048.51 need19048.67 to19048.83 bring19048.91 their19049.15 child19049.39 to19049.79 clinical19050.03 appointments19050.51 amid19051.07 transportation19051.47 uncertainty?19052.27 This19053.79 also19054.03 doesn't19054.35 take19054.67 into19054.83 account19055.15 that19055.47 for19055.71 many19055.87 of19056.19 our19056.27 students,19056.51 they19057.31 don't19057.55 have19057.87 a19058.03 home19058.19 to19058.59 return19058.75 to.19059.23 Pappas19060.29 is19061.01 their19061.25 home.19061.49 Our19062.61 students'19062.85 bedrooms19063.25 are19063.73 personalized19063.97 with19064.53 belongings19064.69 that19065.25 are19065.41 theirs,19065.57 and19066.05 they19066.21 spend19066.37 weekends19066.61 enjoying19067.17 recreational19067.49 programs19068.21 and19068.53 outings19068.77 with19069.17 friends.19069.33 Nurses,19070.45 therapists,19070.93 and19071.41 other19071.65 members19071.81 of19072.21 their19072.29 team19072.45 have19072.77 become19073.01 like19073.25 family19073.57 with19074.32 whom19074.4 they19074.72 celebrate19074.88 holidays,19075.44 birthdays,19076.16 and19076.72 other19076.96 important19077.2 milestones.19077.68 Pappas19079.12 provides19079.6 an19080 environment19080.16 where19080.64 children19080.8 are19081.2 surrounded19081.36 by19082 peers19082.16 with19082.56 similar19082.72 experiences,19083.2 fostering19084.32 a19084.8 sense19084.88 of19085.12 belonging19085.28 and19085.76 understanding,19086.08 while19087.15 receiving19087.39 care19087.79 from19088.03 staff19088.27 members19088.59 who19088.91 lead19089.15 each19089.39 day19089.63 with19089.87 compassion,19090.19 empathy,19090.91 and19091.23 respect.19091.39 Families19092.59 can19093.07 find19093.23 comfort19093.47 in19093.79 knowing19094.03 their19094.27 children19094.51 are19094.91 safely19095.07 supported19095.55 by19096.03 individuals19096.19 who19096.83 treat19096.99 them19097.23 as19097.39 their19097.55 own.19097.71 No19098.75 parent19098.99 dreams19099.31 of19099.55 having19099.71 their19099.95 child19100.11 admitted19100.43 to19100.83 last19102.99 resort.19103.15 Nevertheless,19104.27 families19105.07 and19105.39 caregivers19105.55 frequently19106.27 express19106.83 how19107.23 their19107.39 children19107.55 have19107.95 not19108.19 just19108.27 adapted,19108.59 but19109.07 survived19109.31 since19110.11 receiving19110.43 care19110.91 at19111.07 Pappas.19111.23 This19112.35 is19112.59 what19112.67 makes19112.91 Pappas19113.23 exceptional19113.71 and19114.27 why19114.51 it's19114.67 unlike19114.83 any19115.23 other19115.39 program19115.71 in19116.11 the19116.27 state.19116.35 I19117.39 urge19117.63 the19117.79 committee19117.95 to19118.35 fully19118.51 fund19118.83 Pappas19119.07 for19119.47 another19119.55 year,19119.87 ensuring19120.27 at19120.67 least19120.83 4019121.07 beds19121.39 are19121.63 maintained19121.79 for19122.19 children19122.35 719122.83 to19123.15 2219123.31 and19124.03 explore19124.27 innovative19124.75 solutions19125.39 to19125.87 preserve19126.03 the19126.51 unique19126.59 quality19126.83 of19127.23 services,19127.39 education,19128.35 and19128.83 community.19129.07 Thank19129.71 you19129.87 so19130.11 much.19130.35
19131.39 SPEAKER219131.39 -19131.39 We19131.39 hear19131.63 you.19131.87 And19133.01 we,19133.33 you19133.57
19136.57 SPEAKER319136.57 -19136.57 know,19136.57
19139.57 SPEAKER219139.57 -19139.57 family19139.57 members19140.05 that19140.85 go19141.01 through19141.25 this19141.49 is19141.97 brutal.19142.21 And,19143.41 this19145.58 this19146.25 house19146.49 cares19146.81 and19147.69 senate19147.85 cares19148.33 about19149.05 you,19149.37 and19149.77 we're19150.01 trying19150.25 to19150.57 do19150.73 what19151.13 we19151.29 can,19151.45 and19151.69 we're19151.93 we're19152.17 hearing19152.41 you.19152.81 Is19152.97 there19153.13 any19153.29 questions?19153.53
19155.53 SPEAKER319155.53 -19155.53 Thank19155.53 you,19155.85 chair19156.09 Diggs.19156.33 Powerful19156.89 testimony.19157.45
19158.73 SPEAKER1619158.73 -19158.73 Thank19158.73 you.19158.97
19159.51 SPEAKER319159.51 -19159.51 Thank19159.51 you.19159.67 Very19159.83 powerful.19160.15 We19160.79 should19161.03 not19161.19 be19161.43 closing19161.51 that19162.39 facility.19162.71 Yesterday,19163.83 we19164.39 talked19164.55 about19164.87 a19165.19 working19165.27 group.19165.67 Do19165.99 you19166.15 know19166.23 anything19166.31 about19166.71 the19166.95 status19167.11 of19167.59 a19168.15 working19168.31 group?19168.71
19170.07 SPEAKER619170.07 -19170.07 Yes.19170.07 The19170.39 first19170.55 meeting19170.79 is19171.19 scheduled19171.35 for19171.83 the19171.99 April19172.23 16.19173.12
19175.28 SPEAKER319175.28 -19175.28 Who19175.28 is19175.36 on19175.68 this19175.92 group19176.16 and19176.4 how19176.64 many19176.8 people?19177.04
19178.32 SPEAKER619178.32 -19178.32 I'm19178.32 not19178.4 sure19178.64 of19178.88 the19179.04 exact,19179.28 members.19180.48 I19181.04 do19181.2 know19181.36 our19181.6 unions19181.76 will19182.16 be19182.4 involved.19182.56 I19183.28 do19183.6 know19183.84 1,19184.08 thing19185.04 that19185.28 has19185.92 been19186.16 brought19186.4 up.19186.64 A19186.88 concern19187.04 is19187.52 that19187.68 there19187.92 are19188.08 not19188.32 any19188.56 workers19189.12 from19190 Pappas19190.24 Pappas19191.17 on19191.41 the19191.57 committee.19191.81 It's19192.53 just19192.77 our19193.17 union19193.33 represent.19193.89
19195.17 SPEAKER1519195.17 -19195.17 Okay.19195.17
19197.57 SPEAKER319197.57 -19197.57 Thank19197.57 you.19198.05 And19198.21 thank19198.37 you,19198.61 chair.19198.77
19202.61 SPEAKER219202.61 -19202.61 Thank19202.61 you,19202.85 guys.19203.09
19205.95 SPEAKER2919205.95 -19205.95 Excuse19205.95 me.19206.35
19207.79 SPEAKER4019207.79 -19207.79 I19207.79 had19207.95 texted.19208.11 I19208.51 have19208.67 a19208.75 question.19208.83 Senator.19209.15
19209.79 SPEAKER219209.79 -19209.79 Oh,19209.79 I'm19210.03 sorry.19210.27 Thank19211.07 you.19211.31 I19211.47 didn't19211.55 see19211.87 you.19212.03
19217.3 SPEAKER4019217.3 -19217.3 Just19217.3 wanted19217.54 to19217.78 thank19217.94 you19218.26 guys19218.42 for19218.66 your19218.9 testimony.19219.22 Just19220.18 a19220.42 quick19220.66 question.19220.9 How19222.1 as19222.82 of19223.06 how19223.3 recent19223.62 were19224.02 those19224.26 discharges?19224.5 I19225.06 don't19225.14 know19225.3 if19225.46 you19225.54 can19225.7 give19225.86 that19226.02 information,19226.18 but19226.66 if19226.82 you19226.9 can,19227.06 as19227.38 of19227.54 how19227.7 recent19227.86 were19228.26 some19228.5 of19228.66 those19228.82 discharges19229.06 made?19230.1
19231.57 SPEAKER619231.57 -19231.57 Yes.19231.57 So19231.81 typically,19232.21 students19233.57 are19234.45 stay19234.85 at19235.09 Pappas19235.33 depending19235.89 on19236.29 their19236.45 treatment19237.49 plan19238.05 until19238.37 they're19238.69 age19238.93 22.19239.25 But19239.73 since19239.97 the19240.29 closure,19240.45 the19241.25 discharges19241.57 the19242.45 announcement19242.61 of19243.01 the19243.17 closure19243.25 in19243.57 January,19243.73 the19244.29 discharges19244.37 have19245.09 accelerated.19245.49 Thank19247.03 you.19247.35 Thank19249.43
19249.67 SPEAKER4019249.67 -19249.67 you19249.67 guys19249.75 for19250.07 being19250.31 here.19250.55 I19250.87 agree19251.03 with19251.35 Rep.19251.51 X.19251.83 This19252.15 hospital19252.47 should19253.03 not19253.27 be19253.43 closing,19253.67 and19254.15 a19254.47 lot19254.55 of19254.71 the19254.95 decisions19255.19 being19255.83 made19256.07 around19256.39 mental19256.63 health19257.03 in19257.43 my19257.59 very19258.57 short19258.73 term19259.21 being19259.53 here19259.93 have19260.33 me19260.65 very19261.05 concerned,19261.61 very19262.73 alarming,19263.05 and19263.77 I'm19264.65 with19264.81 you19265.05 guys.19265.21 And19266.01 hopefully,19266.25 we19266.65 can19266.81 find19266.97 a19267.21 way19267.37 to19267.61 to19267.93 fix19268.17 this19268.41 because19268.57 that19268.81 hospital19268.97 absolutely19269.53 should19270.09 not19270.33 be19270.49 closing.19270.65 So19271.05 thank19271.29 you,19271.53 guys.19271.69
19272.25 SPEAKER3619272.25 -19272.25 Thank19272.25 you.19272.49 Thank19273.6 you.19273.84
19275.12 SPEAKER219275.12 -19275.12 Derek19275.12 Jenkins19275.52 and19276.72 then19276.96 Dustin19277.2 Messler.19278.96
19288.16 On19288.16 Zoom?19288.48 Okay.19289.92 Derek?19290.56
19300.24 Derek,19300.24 you19300.72 there?19300.88
19310.16 Hang19310.16 on19310.48 119310.64 second.19310.8 I19311.2 think19311.28 he's19311.52 she19312.72 texted19312.96 me.19313.36
19319.11 SPEAKER1119319.11 -19319.11 Yeah.19319.11 You19319.43 can19319.59 buy19319.75 stuff19319.99
19320.31 SPEAKER1419320.31 -19320.31 for19320.31 welding,19320.47
19320.95 SPEAKER1119320.95 -19320.95 start19320.95 using19321.19 this19321.51 part.19321.75
19322.79 SPEAKER4119322.79 -19322.79 Yes.19322.79
19325.59 SPEAKER219325.59 -19325.59 Derek,19325.59 we19325.99 think19326.07 we19326.31 hear19326.47 you.19326.71
19334.81 LAS,19334.81 he's19335.37 in19335.53 the19335.69 waiting19335.85 room.19336.17
19339.13 He's19339.13 on?19339.45
19342.23 Derek,19342.23 I19342.55 think19342.71 you're19342.79 on19343.03 mute.19343.19
19354.85 There19354.85 you19355.09 go.19355.25
19358.05 SPEAKER1419358.05 -19358.05 Hi.19358.05 Sorry19358.21 about19358.53 that.19358.69 I19358.85 was19358.93 in19359.17 the19359.25 waiting19359.41 room.19359.73
19364.53 SPEAKER219364.53 -19364.53 You're19364.53 all19364.77 set.19364.93 Go19365.17 ahead.19365.33
19366.21 SPEAKER1419366.21 -19366.21 Okay.19366.21 Hi.19366.61 Chairman19367.33 Micheletz,19368.12 chairman19368.76 Rodriguez,19369.16 and19370.12 members19370.28 of19370.6 the19370.68 joint19370.76 committee.19371.08 My19372.36 name19372.44 is19372.68 Derek19372.76 Jenkins.19373 I'm19373.48 a19373.64 licensed19373.72 independent19374.36 clinical19374.92 social19375.4 worker,19375.72 and19376.44 I've19376.68 worked19376.84 in19377.08 the19377.24 mental19377.32 health19377.64 field19377.96 for19378.28 nearly19378.76 1519379.08 years,19379.48 including19379.8 the19380.28 last19380.44 719380.68 as19381.55 a19381.71 case19381.95 manager,19382.27 DMH19383.15 case19383.55 manager19383.79 in19384.19 Lindt.19384.43 I'm19385.47 here19385.63 today19385.79 because19386.11 I19386.23 want19386.35 you19386.59 to19386.67 understand19386.83 what19387.55 will19387.71 be19387.95 lost19388.11 if19388.43 these19388.67 cuts19389.31 go19389.71 through,19389.95 to19390.67 DMH19390.91 case19391.31 management.19391.55 They're19392.11 not19392.35 just19392.59 jobs,19392.83 but19393.81 there's19394.13 cuts19394.37 to19394.69 people's19394.85 lifelines.19395.25 When19396.13 I19396.37 think19396.45 of19397.25 people19397.33 served,19397.65 I19397.97 think19398.05 of19398.21 a19398.37 619398.53 year19398.69 old19398.85 woman19399.01 from19399.33 our19399.49 site,19399.73 who19400.37 will19400.61 proudly19400.77 tell19401.25 anybody19401.49 who19401.81 listens19402.05 for19402.69 even19402.93 a19403.17 second19403.25 that19403.57 she's19403.65 been19403.89 out19404.05 of19404.21 the19404.29 hospital19404.37 for19404.85 3519405.09 years.19405.57 She19408.01 lives19408.17 with19408.41 serious19408.57 mental19409.13 illness19409.61 and19410.01 calls19410.33 our19410.57 our19411.37 office19411.61 probably19412.17 weekly,19413.05 sometimes19413.53 multiple19413.93 times19414.25 a19414.57 day.19414.73 She19414.97 knows19415.21 everybody19415.45 by19415.85 name.19416.09 She19417.29 sends19417.53 handwritten19417.85 cards19418.41 to19419.29 every19419.45 single19419.69 case19420.01 manager19420.33 and19420.89 when19421.13 her19421.29 paranoia19421.69 flares19422.41 up,19422.81 she19423.49 calls,19424.45 she19425.73 calls19425.89 someone19426.37 who19426.69 knows19426.77 her19427.09 and19427.33 that's19427.49 her19427.73 connection,19427.97 that's19428.37 her19428.53 treatment,19428.69 and19429.09 it19429.25 keeps19429.33 her19429.49 well.19429.73 Another19429.97 person19430.29 served19431.25 by19431.57 our19431.73 team19431.89 was19432.13 chronically19432.37 homeless,19432.85 living19433.89 with19434.21 on19434.61 the19434.69 streets19434.85 with19435.17 untreated19435.41 schizophrenia19435.89 and19436.61 heart19436.77 failure.19436.93 He19437.92 was19438.16 seen19438.4 as19438.88 unwilling,19439.04 by19440 many19440.24 providers,19440.56 but19441.04 DMH19442 case19442.48 management,19442.72 is19443.92 building19444.08 relationships19444.56 over19445.12 time.19445.36 So19445.6 we19445.84 started19446.08 with19446.48 Subway19446.72 sandwiches,19447.2 and19448.64 then19448.88 we19449.12 helped19449.28 him19449.52 get19449.76 a19449.92 snap19450.08 card,19450.32 and19450.88 we19451.04 connected19451.2 him19451.6 to19451.76 medical19451.84 care19452.16 and19452.76 helped19452.84 him19453 move19453.16 into19453.4 DMH19453.72 housing.19454.12 He19454.52 now19454.68 is19455.32 stably19455.48 housed,19455.88 managing19456.36 his19456.84 health,19457 and19457.48 recently19457.72 celebrated,19458.36 his19460.12 birthday19460.36 with19460.76 some19461.08 of19461.24 his19461.4 estranged19461.56 children19462.04 that19462.68 he's19462.84 now19463 connected19463.24 with.19463.56 He19464.28 likely19464.52 would19464.84 have19465 died,19465.24 without19466.2 those19466.68 consistent19467 human19467.96 touch19468.2 points.19468.6 We're19470.12 being19470.36 told19470.68 that19470.92 we19471 can19471.16 offer19471.32 more19471.64 flexible19471.88 care19473.08 with19473.32 50%19473.64 fewer19474.36 case19474.68 managers,19475.08 but19475.56 flexible19475.88 has19477.08 really19477.32 become19477.64 code19478.04 for19478.36 burned19478.6 out.19478.92 You19479.56 can't19479.72 do19480.12 more19480.36 with19480.6 less.19480.84 You19481.86 can't19482.02 replace19482.26 trusted19482.66 relationships19483.14 with19483.78 a19484.02 revolving19484.18 door19484.74 of19484.98 unfamiliar19485.14 faces19485.78 and19486.82 providers.19487.06 After19488.02 similar19488.5 cuts19488.98 in19489.3 02/2009,19489.46 '119490.9 of19491.06 our19491.22 clients19491.38 was19492.02 removed19492.34 from19492.82 case19493.06 management19493.38 and19494.45 put19494.57 on19494.69 a19495.01 wait19495.17 list.19495.97 During19496.05 that19496.37 time,19496.53 they19496.85 attempted19497.09 suicide.19497.49 These19498.85 aren't19499.09 hypotheticals.19499.41 This19500.13 is19500.29 what19500.37 happens19500.61 when19501.17 continuity19501.57 of19502.13 care19502.29 is19502.53 broken.19502.77 Research19503.81 shows19504.53 that19504.85 long19505.09 term19505.33 case19505.57 management19505.89 not19506.37 only19506.61 reduces19506.77 hospitalizations19507.17 and19508.13 improves19508.37 engagement19508.85 and19509.99 lowers19510.23 crisis19510.63 cost.19511.11 Meanwhile,19512.31 community19513.03 behavioral19513.43 health19513.83 centers,19514.07 the19514.71 proposed19514.95 alternative19515.35 are19515.91 are19516.15 still19516.31 stabilizing19516.71 and19517.35 experiencing19517.59 very19518.15 high19518.39 staff19518.63 turnover,19518.95 and19520.39 that19520.55 kind19520.71 of19520.95 turnover19521.03 leads19521.67 to19521.91 worse19522.07 outcomes19522.39 and19522.87 broken19523.03 trust.19523.43
19527.52 I19527.52 urge,19527.76
19530.48 the19530.48 committee19530.64 to19531.12 reject19531.28 these19531.6 harmful19531.84 shortsighted19532.24 cuts,19532.96 preserve19533.36 the19533.76 community19533.92 based19534.32 care19534.64 that19534.8 works,19535.04 and19535.84 hold19536.08 this19536.4 administration19537.49 accountable19538.13 to19538.61 DMH's19538.85 mission,19539.41 and19540.29 protect19540.53 the19540.93 relationships19541.17 and19541.73 safety19541.97 nets19542.45 that19542.93 keep19543.17 people19543.41 alive.19543.73 Flexibility19545.49 is19546.13 code19546.29 for19546.53 fewer19546.69 services,19547.09 fewer19547.65 staff,19547.97 and19548.37 lower19548.53 standards.19548.93 That's19549.73 not19550.05 innovation.19550.37 It's19551.01 just19551.25 neglect.19551.73
19553.61 SPEAKER219553.61 -19553.61 Thank19553.61 you.19553.93 Rep19554.25 Holmes,19554.49 got19554.81 a19554.97 question?19555.05 Derek,19556.17 are19557.45 you19557.61 able19557.77 to19557.93 hear19558.01 me19558.17 okay?19558.33
19559.21 SPEAKER1419559.21 -19559.21 I19559.21 can.19559.37
19559.85 SPEAKER1519559.85 -19559.85 Alright.19559.85 So19560.25 couple19561.61 questions.19561.93 Were19562.57 you19562.81 employed19564.09 through19564.73 COVID19564.97 in19565.53 this19565.69 role?19565.93
19567.05 SPEAKER1419567.05 -19567.05 Yes.19567.05
19567.85 SPEAKER1519567.85 -19567.85 Were19567.85 you19568.09 considered19568.33 an19568.89 essential19569.13 employee?19569.61
19571.69 SPEAKER1419571.69 -19571.69 I19571.69 was.19571.85
19574.17 SPEAKER1519574.17 -19574.17 So19574.17 yesterday,19574.57 this19575.37 is19575.53 just19575.77 so19576.01 compelling19576.25 to19576.65 me19576.73 because19576.89 I19577.13 think19577.21 it's19577.37 insane19577.61 that19578.01 all19578.25 of19578.41 us19578.57 non19579.13 essential19579.45 employees19580.01 are19580.49 back19580.65 at19580.81 work,19580.89 but19581.13 we're19581.29 about19581.53 to19581.85 fire19582.01 people19582.68 we19582.92 consider19583.24 essential19583.72 employees.19584.2 And19585.32 I've19585.48 said19585.72 often19586.04 or19586.52 I've19586.68 said19586.84 it19588.36 is19588.6 clear19588.68 the19589.88 difference19590.04 between19590.44 an19590.76 essential19590.84 person19591.32 through19591.88 COVID19592.2 when19593 we19593.24 had19593.4 people19593.64 we19594.84 learn19595.16 garbage19595.88 workers,19596.44 people19597.79 who,19598.03 in19599.39 grocery19599.55 stores19600.03 and19600.43 like19600.59 yourself,19600.75 we19601.47 we19601.79 clearly19601.87 knew19602.19 who19602.43 was19602.59 important19602.83 during19603.47 COVID.19603.79 So19604.67 it's19604.99 my19605.47 challenge19605.63 around19606.03 this19606.35 is,19606.67 1,19607.23 we19607.47 called19607.63 you19607.87 essential.19608.11 We19608.59 forced19608.75 you19608.99 to19609.15 work.19609.31 And19610.11 now19610.27 when19610.67 everyone19610.91 is19611.31 back19611.39 to19611.63 work19611.71 you're19611.95 now19612.27 being19612.67 laid19612.91 off19613.23 or19613.63 they19613.87 consider19613.95 to19614.43 be19614.59 laid19614.75 off.19614.91 How19615.71 many19616.03 people19616.35 are19616.67 you19616.83 helping19616.99 today?19617.39 What19618.11 is19618.27 your19618.51 case19618.67 load?19618.91
19620.59 SPEAKER1419620.59 -19620.59 My19620.59 case19620.83 load19621.07 is19621.47 currently19621.63 1819622.6 people19622.92 and19623.48 it19623.8 ranges19623.96 typically19624.36 between19624.84 2019625.56 and19625.96 25.19626.04
19626.92 SPEAKER1519626.92 -19626.92 Alright.19626.92 So19627.16 so19627.48 we're19628.36 looking19628.68 at19629 and19629.24 then19629.4 finally19629.72 my19630.12 last19630.28 question19630.6 was19630.92 yesterday,19631.24 the19632.12 commissioner19632.36 said19632.84 there19633 were19633.16 133,19633.32 but19634.36 then19634.6 some19635.16 others19635.4 said19635.72 there19635.96 were19636.12 17719636.2 Any19638.15 sense19638.31 of19638.63 whether19638.79 or19638.95 not19639.03 it's19639.19 a19639.35 33,19639.43 a19640.11 hundred19640.23 and19640.55 719640.71 77?19641.35 Do19641.91 you19642.07 know19642.15 how19642.31 many19642.39 of19642.55 your19642.63 colleagues19642.79 are19643.19 gonna19643.27 be19643.51 laid19643.59 off?19643.83
19644.95 SPEAKER1419644.95 -19644.95 I19644.95 think19645.11 we're19645.27 just19645.43 as,19645.75 confused19646.39 as19646.87 we19646.95 as19647.27 you19647.51 are.19647.75 We've19647.91 heard19648.15 we've19648.55 heard19648.87 both19649.11 numbers.19649.35
19650.44 SPEAKER1519650.44 -19650.44 Alright.19650.44 So19650.92 no19651.16 matter19651.24 what19651.48 it's19651.64 about19651.8 2019652.04 to19652.36 2519652.52 and19653.08 it's19653.24 2019654.04 to19654.36 25.19654.52 People19656.12 will19656.44 be19656.6 in19656.76 serving.19656.92 It's19657.32 gonna19657.4 be19657.64 13319657.8 to19658.76 17719658.92 people19660.04 being19660.28 laid19660.52 off19660.76 so19661.24 somewhere19661.56 between19661.96 2,504,00019663.41 clients19665.73 you're19666.21 serving.19666.37 Is19666.77 that19666.93 right?19667.09
19667.81 SPEAKER1419667.81 -19667.81 Yeah.19667.81 Thousands19668.13 of19668.53 clients.19668.77 Correct.19669.25 Yeah.19669.65 Across19669.89 the19670.21 Massachusetts.19670.37
19671.41 SPEAKER1519671.41 -19671.41 Appreciate19671.41 it.19671.89 Thank19672.05 you.19672.29 Thank19672.69 you19672.93 for19673.09 your19673.33 service.19673.49
19675.65 SPEAKER1419675.65 -19675.65 Thank19675.65 you.19675.89
19677.09 SPEAKER219677.09 -19677.09 Hal19677.09 Subin.19677.41
19692.82 SPEAKER919692.82 -19692.82 Good19692.82 afternoon.19693.14 My19694.58 name19694.82 is19694.98 Hal19695.14 Shubin.19695.46 I'm19695.86 the19696.02 chair19696.18 of19696.42 the19696.5 committee19696.66 that19697.06 runs19697.22 the19697.46 Belmont19697.54 Farmers19698.1 Market.19698.58 I'm19699.62 testifying19699.78 today19700.5 in19700.9 support19701.14 of19701.54 full19701.7 funding,19701.94 $25,000,00019702.9 for19704.18 HIP,19704.42 the19705.14 Healthy19705.3 Incentives19705.7 Program.19706.42 Line19707.59 item19707.83 44001004.19708.31 Our19712.55 market19712.87 hosts19713.27 over19713.67 5019714.07 small19714.47 businesses19714.87 and19715.35 family19715.59 farms,19716.07 creating19716.95 a19717.51 great19717.59 community19717.83 event19718.31 in19718.63 the19718.79 center19718.87 of19719.27 town.19719.35 Food19720.53 assistance19720.77 for19721.73 our19722.05 neighbors19722.21 facing19722.69 food19723.01 insecurity19723.33 is19724.45 119724.69 of19724.93 the19725.09 most19725.17 important19725.41 parts19725.97 of19726.37 that.19726.45 Our19727.81 food19727.97 assistance19728.29 program19728.85 has19729.25 219729.49 parts.19729.65 First,19730.13 we19730.93 double19731.09 SNAP19731.57 benefits19731.89 and19732.37 farmers19732.61 market19733.09 nutrition19733.49 program19733.97 coupons.19734.53 In19735.75 the19735.99 202419736.15 season,19737.03 that19738.07 helped19738.39 local19738.71 families19739.11 stretch19739.67 their19739.99 food19740.23 budgets19740.47 by19740.95 $29,00019741.19 The19744.15 other19744.31 part19744.47 of19744.71 our19744.87 program19745.03 is19745.51 the19745.75 instant19745.91 rebates19746.31 on19746.87 produce19747.03 that19747.59 HIP19747.75 provides.19748.07 We19749.35 always19749.59 have19749.75 a19750.07 good19750.15 selection19750.39 of19750.79 farmers,19751.03 and19751.43 last19751.59 season19751.91 they19752.31 reported19752.47 over19753.03 $28,00019753.27 in19755.19 HIP19755.35 sales.19755.67 We19757.51 fund19757.83 the19758.07 matching19758.23 program19758.63 through19759.11 donations19759.43 and19759.91 sponsorships,19760.23 but19760.95 the19761.11 instant19761.27 rebates19761.67 are19762.07 funded19762.31 by19762.71 the19762.79 Commonwealth.19762.95 That19764.81 benefit19765.13 used19765.69 to19765.93 be19766.09 4019766.41 to19766.89 $8019767.05 per19767.69 month19767.85 depending19768.17 on19768.65 household19768.81 size,19769.29 but19769.61 it19769.85 was19769.93 cut19770.65 to19770.81 just19771.05 $2019771.45 for19772.25 everyone19772.49 in19773.37 December.19773.61 It's19775.29 hard19775.53 to19775.77 know19775.93 what19776.17 the19776.33 impact19776.49 of19776.89 that19777.05 will19777.29 be19777.45 when19777.61 we19777.77 open19777.93 the19778.25 market19778.33 in19778.73 June,19778.89 but19779.21 winter19779.98 farmers19780.3 markets19780.78 have19781.18 reported19781.58 decreased19782.3 sales19782.86 and19783.42 fewer19783.66 shoppers.19783.98 Some19785.34 farmers19785.66 are19786.14 cutting19786.38 staff19786.78 and19787.5 thinking19787.74 about19788.14 dropping19788.46 out19788.86 of19789.1 markets,19789.26 and19790.38 that19790.54 would19790.78 reduce19790.94 access19791.74 to19792.22 fresh19792.46 fruits19792.7 and19793.02 vegetables19793.18 in19793.38
19804.69 attendance,19804.69 which19805.17 will19805.49 affect19805.65 the19806.05 vitality19806.21 of19806.85 the19806.93 market19807.09 and19807.76 hurt19807.92 all19808.16 of19808.48 our19808.56 vendors.19808.8 We19810.56 know19810.8 that19810.96 more19811.12 than19811.36 half19811.52 of19811.68 our19811.84 shoppers19812.08 go19812.56 to19812.72 the19812.8 stores19812.96 in19813.36 town19813.52 on19813.76 market19814 days,19814.32 so19815.12 having19815.44 fewer19815.76 shoppers19816.16 may19816.64 affect19816.8 those19817.2 small19817.52 businesses19817.84 as19818.48 well.19818.64 But19820.24 most19820.64 importantly,19821.04 cuts19822.4 to19822.8 hip19822.96 mean19823.95 that19824.27 our19824.59 shoppers19824.91 have19825.39 less19825.71 fresh19826.03 produce19826.35 at19826.91 home19827.15 for19827.39 their19827.55 families.19827.87 No19829.47 119829.71 should19829.95 have19830.19 to19830.43 struggle19830.59 to19831.15 get19831.23 enough19831.39 food19831.79 on19832.03 their19832.19 table.19832.43 Please19833.79 restore19834.19 this19834.75 important19835.07 program19835.95 to19836.51 full19836.75 funding.19836.99 And19838.4 I'll19838.56 leave19838.72 you19838.96 with19839.12 a19839.28 comment19839.44 from19839.76 a19840 shopper19840.16 who19840.56 depends19840.88 on19841.36 SNAP19841.76 and19842.24 HIP.19842.48 The19843.76 HIP19843.92 and19844.16 Match,19844.48 she19844.96 said,19845.2 have19845.76 allowed19846 us19846.4 to19846.56 eat19846.72 better19846.96 than19847.36 we19847.52 could19847.76 otherwise.19848 Thank19849.12 you.19849.36
19851.84 SPEAKER219851.84 -19851.84 Thank19851.84 you.19852.08
19855.56 SPEAKER319855.56 -19855.56 Next,19855.56 we19856.04 have19856.28 Sarah19856.84 Gomez19857.16 and19857.72 Nicole19857.96 Zahn.19858.36
19860.12 SPEAKER219860.12 -19860.12 Sarah19860.12 Gomez.19860.52 Nicole19861.72 Zahn.19862.84 It's19863.4 a19863.48 panel.19863.64 It's19864.28 a19864.44 panel.19864.52
19870.34 I19870.34 think19870.42 they're19870.58 both19870.74 virtual.19871.06
19882.11 SPEAKER319882.11 -19882.11 Go19882.11 ahead.19882.27
19883.47 SPEAKER4219883.47 -19883.47 Okay.19883.47 Hi.19884.59 My19884.99 name19885.15 is19885.39 Nicole19885.63 Zahn.19886.03 Thank19886.43 you19886.59 today19886.83 to19887.23 chairman19887.47 Diggs19887.87 and19888.51 chairman19888.75 Galliano19889.39 for19890.03 letting19890.27 us19890.59 speak19890.83 today,19891.07 and19892.27 to19892.51 all19892.67 the19892.91 committee19893.07 for19893.63 the19893.87 dedication19894.03 you19894.67 have19894.83 for19895.23 hearing19895.55 us19895.87 out.19896.03 We're19897 here19897.24 to19897.48 talk19897.56 about19897.8 the19898.04 governor's19898.2 proposal19898.76 to19899.32 eliminate19899.56 the19899.96 50%19900.12 of19900.76 case19900.92 management19901.16 from19901.72 the19901.88 Department19902.04 of19902.36 Mental19902.52 Health19902.76 as19903.08 you19903.24 just19903.4 heard19903.64 from19903.88 Derek.19904.12 I19905.72 am19905.88 a19906.2 member19906.6 of19907.16 SEIU19907.48 and19908.28 I19908.52 am19908.6 a19908.84 case19908.92 manager19909.24 for19909.72 3019909.96 years19910.28 with19910.63 the19910.79 Department19911.03 of19911.11 Mental19911.35 Health19911.75 in19911.99 Lawrence.19912.31 Proudly,19913.67 I19914.15 might19914.31 add,19914.55 we19915.67 cover19915.91 1519916.31 cities19916.87 and19917.35 towns19917.51 in19917.91 that19918.07 area.19918.23 We19918.95 travel19919.19 about19919.59 319920.07 5019920.71 miles19921.11 to19921.67 see19921.99 our19922.23 folks19922.47 in19922.79 their19922.95 community.19923.19 On19924.07 a19924.23 daily19924.31 basis,19924.71 I19925.19 connect19925.27 with19925.67 people19925.83 with19926.76 resources19927.08 to19927.96 get19928.36 them19928.6 resources19928.92 and19929.64 make19930.04 referrals,19930.28 for19931.72 critical19931.96 services,19932.44 but19932.84 that's19933.08 pretty19933.32 simplistic19933.64 of19934.12 what19934.2 I19934.44 really19934.6 do.19934.84 What19935.32 I19935.48 truly19935.64 do19935.96 and19936.12 what19936.2 I19936.36 really19936.52 enjoy19936.76 have19937.16 been19937.4 doing19937.56 for19937.88 3019938.04 years19938.36 is19938.6 connecting19938.76 with19939.24 people19939.4 who19939.72 come19939.88 to19940.12 us,19940.28 people19940.86 who19941.18 are19941.26 struggling19941.5 to19942.06 accept19942.22 that19942.94 they've19943.1 developed19943.5 a19943.98 brain19944.14 disorder19944.46 and19945.18 need19945.34 to19945.58 learn19945.66 how19945.9 to19946.14 navigate19946.3 life19946.78 in19947.34 a19947.5 different19947.66 way,19947.98 in19948.54 a19948.7 different19948.94 support19949.34 system19949.82 that19950.22 they19950.46 have19950.62 to19950.86 develop,19950.94 and19951.42 we19951.58 are19951.74 lucky19951.9 to19952.3 be19952.46 a19952.62 part19952.7 of19952.94 that.19953.02 People19953.73 who19954.05 haven't19954.29 found19954.77 someone19955.09 trusted19955.57 with19956.21 whom19956.37 they19956.61 shared19956.85 their19957.25 deepest19957.49 fears,19957.89 people19958.77 who19959.09 know19959.33 I19959.73 hear19959.97 them19960.21 and19960.77 will19960.93 walk19961.09 with19961.33 them19961.49 during19961.81 those19962.21 times19962.53 of19962.93 need.19963.17 That19963.89 needs19964.13 to19964.37 take19964.53 more19964.77 than19965.01 319965.17 or19965.41 619965.57 months19965.81 to19966.13 develop19966.29 that19966.77 trust.19967.01 At19968.03 other19968.19 times,19968.35 my19968.83 job19969.07 is19969.31 picking19969.55 up19969.79 a19969.95 person19970.03 on19970.43 a19970.51 sidewalk19970.59 in19971.15 a19971.23 city19971.39 and19971.95 bringing19972.11 them19972.43 to19972.59 a19972.75 respite19972.91 program19973.31 so19973.71 they19973.87 aren't19974.03 unhoused19974.43 while19975.15 I19975.47 find19975.63 longer19975.87 term19976.27 housing,19976.51 which19977.15 is19977.31 what19977.47 I19977.63 did19977.79 yesterday19978.03 during19978.59 my19978.83 job.19978.99 This19980.2 is19980.44 how19980.6 the19980.84 proposed19981.08 changes19981.64 to19982.52 case19982.68 management19983 services19983.64 will19984.2 negatively19984.36 impact19985 the19985.48 people19985.56 we19985.88 serve.19986.12 A19986.84 50%19987 reduction19987.72 in19988.2 case19988.28 management19988.52 will19989.32 create19989.56 wait19989.96 list19990.2 for19990.52 race19990.68 mental19991 health19991.32 services19991.64 that19992.6 are19992.84 already19993.08 short19993.72 staffed,19994.12 both19994.97 in19995.21 the19995.29 community19995.61 with19996.09 vendors19996.33 that19996.73 we19996.97 are19997.13 paying19997.29 for19997.61 as19997.93 well19998.09 as19998.49 with19998.81 case19999.13 management.19999.53 The20000.41 behavioral20000.57 health20001.21 community20001.53 partnership20002.01 and20002.89 the20003.05 behavioral20003.13 health20003.77 line,20004.09 as20004.57 well20004.81 as20004.97 crisis20005.21 mobile20005.69 services20006.01 that20006.57 you20006.73 have20006.89 heard20007.05 about20007.37 are20007.86 not20008.18 affecting20008.34 it20008.82 and20008.98 are20009.3 not20009.46 working.20009.78 If20010.5 you20010.74 need20010.82 more20011.06 details20011.3 or20012.02 questions20012.1 around20012.66 that,20012.9 we're20013.14 happy20013.38 to20013.7 answer20013.86 those.20014.1 If20014.98 the20015.22 proposed20015.38 changes20015.86 go20016.34 through,20016.58 case20017.22 managers20017.54 that20018.18 were20018.42 already20018.66 left20019.06 over20019.3 will20019.7 need20019.86 to20020.1 close20020.26 existing20020.82 long20021.46 term20021.7 relationships20022.02 with20022.74 clients20023.04 as20023.44 Derek20023.52 mentioned,20024 and20024.72 we20024.88 will20025.04 have20025.2 to20025.44 lose20025.6 those20025.84 connections20026.32 with20026.88 people.20027.12 We20027.84 already20028 are20028.32 working20028.56 under20028.88 an20029.2 open20029.36 access20029.84 system.20030.24 We20030.96 are20031.12 covering20031.28 shifts,20031.76 each20032.16 120032.4 of20032.56 us20032.72 case20032.88 managers20033.2 and20033.68 supervisors20033.84 to20035.05 for20035.85 anybody20036.09 that20036.49 walks20036.73 into20036.97 our20037.21 office20037.45 during20037.69 business20038.01 hours,20038.49 we20038.73 are20038.97 there20039.13 to20039.37 meet20039.53 them20039.85 and20040.25 to20040.57 any20040.65 calls20040.97 that20041.21 come20041.45 in.20041.61 We20042.17 are20042.33 doing20042.57 that20042.81 already,20043.05 and20043.45 we're20043.69 be20043.85 we're20044.17 being20044.33 asked20044.65 to20044.89 do20044.97 that20045.21 with20045.37 less20045.69 case20045.93 managers20046.25 in20046.81 the20046.97 future.20047.05 We20048.09 may20048.25 be20048.49 facing20048.65 cuts20049.13 to20049.45 Medicaid20049.61 funding20050.17 at20051.08 the20051.24 federal20051.4 level,20051.88 and20052.36 in20052.6 the20052.68 past20052.84 when20053.08 such20053.32 cuts20053.56 had20053.88 happened20054.04 to20054.6 Massachusetts,20054.92 we've20055.56 had20055.8 to20056.04 reduce20056.2 or20056.6 suspend20056.84 MassHealth20057.32 services.20057.88 If20058.92 MassHealth20059.24 eliminates20059.72 medical20060.6 transportation20061.32 for20062.68 our20062.92 people,20063.08 We,20063.81 as20063.97 case20064.13 managers,20064.45 have20065.01 always20065.25 picked20065.57 up20065.81 the20065.97 slack20066.13 to20066.61 make20066.77 sure20066.93 that20067.17 we20067.33 are20067.49 available20067.73 to20068.13 transport20068.37 people20068.85 to20069.25 their20069.49 psychiatric20069.81 appointments,20070.53 which20071.41 will20071.65 leave20072.21 us20072.45 with20072.77 less20072.93 to20073.17 be20073.33 able20073.49 to20073.73 do20073.81 with20074.45 less20074.77 case20075.09 managers.20075.41 Right20076.57 now,20076.81 with20077.13 the20077.37 current20077.53 climate20077.93
20078.49 SPEAKER220078.49 -20078.49 Thank20078.49 you.20078.65 Increase20078.97 Sorry.20079.61 I20079.77 would20079.93 have20080.09 it.20080.25 I20080.49 cut20080.57 you20080.81 off.20080.97
20081.69 SPEAKER4220081.69 -20081.69 Got20081.69 it.20081.93
20082.17 SPEAKER220082.17 -20082.17 Thank20082.17 you20082.41 very20082.49
20082.65 SPEAKER4220082.65 -20082.65 much20082.65 for20083.13 listening.20083.29 I20083.77 appreciate20083.93 for20084.41 your20084.57 time.20084.73
20085.77 SPEAKER320085.77 -20085.77 And20085.77 please20086.01 feel20086.33 free20086.57 to20086.81 to20087.05 submit,20087.37 the20088.33 rest20088.41 of20088.65 your20088.81 testimony,20088.97 in20090.17 writing.20090.33 Next,20091.51 we20091.91 have20092.15 Sarah20092.47 Gomez.20092.87
20105.48 Okay.20105.48 So20105.8 it20106.04 seems20106.2 like,20106.44 Sarah,20107 might20108.2 not20108.44 be20108.6 able20108.76 to20109 join20109.08 us20109.32 online,20109.56 so20109.88 we'll20110.12 we'll20110.36 go20110.6 back,20110.76 to,20111.48 to20112.12 her.20112.28 Dustin20112.92 Metzler.20113.48
20126.22 SPEAKER820126.22 -20126.22 I20126.22 have20126.46 320126.7 children.20127.02 The20128.14 eldest20128.3 is20129.42 an20129.98 honor20130.22 student20130.54 at20130.86 Springfield20131.02 Central20131.58 High.20131.98 The20133.1 youngest20133.42 is20133.74 a20133.9 precocious20134.06 preschooler20134.62 in20135.26 the20135.34 dual20135.42 language20135.74 program20136.14 at20136.46 Hureina20136.7 Community20137.26 School.20137.66 The20138.94 middle20139.1 child20139.42 is20139.74 currently20139.9 attending20140.22 the20140.62 SEIS20140.78 school20141.5 at20141.82 Evolutions,20141.98 an20143.1 intensive20143.34 residential20143.82 treatment20144.3 program20144.78 administered20145.18 by20145.66 the20145.82 Department20145.9 of20146.3 Mental20146.38 Health.20146.7
20148.08 SPEAKER220148.08 -20148.08 Can20148.08 you20148.32 move20148.48 the20148.88 mic20149.04 forward,20149.36 please,20149.68 please?20149.92
20150.24 SPEAKER820150.24 -20150.24 Okay.20150.24 Thank20150.48 you.20150.72 The20151.6 governor's20151.76 budget20152.16 would20152.56 shutter20152.72 that20153.12 program.20153.36 Our20155.04 daughter's20155.2 mental20155.6 health20155.92 profile20156.24 is20156.72 complex.20156.96 She20158.16 struggles20158.48 with20158.88 depression,20159.04 anxiety,20159.76 ADHD,20160.64 gender20162.06 dysphoria,20163.1 disordered20163.34 eating,20163.82 and20164.22 episodes20164.46 of20164.86 psychosis.20165.02 Her20166.22 primary20166.54 diagnosis20166.94 is20167.58 post20167.74 traumatic20167.98 stress20168.46 disorder.20168.78 Prior20170.06 to20170.3 my20170.54 daughter's20170.62 placement20170.94 at20171.34 Evolutions,20171.5 she20172.14 had20172.3 been20172.46 hospitalized20172.62 2720173.26 times.20173.98 Last20175.22 year,20175.46 she20175.7 attended20175.94 less20176.26 than20176.58 620176.74 weeks20176.98 of20177.22 school.20177.38 We20178.66 maintained20178.98 220179.62 small20179.86 adjacent20180.34 apartments20180.82 so20181.78 that20181.94 the20182.26 ones20182.34 she20182.58 occupies20182.74 can20184.1 remain20184.34 free20184.74 of20186.66 sharps,20186.98 cords,20187.62 medicine,20188.37 and20189.01 anything20189.09 our20189.41 daughter20189.65 could20189.97 easily20190.13 use20190.45 to20190.77 enter20190.85 life.20191.17 It20192.45 also20192.69 serves20193.01 as20193.73 a20193.89 place20193.97 for20194.21 her20194.37 siblings20194.53 to20195.01 retreat20195.25 when20196.29 their20196.53 sister20196.77 is20197.09 self20197.25 harming20197.49 or20197.89 suicidal.20198.05 My20199.81 husband20199.97 and20200.37 I20200.53 sleep20200.69 in20200.93 the20201.09 living20201.25 room,20201.49 so20202.5 we20202.74 will20202.9 know20202.98 if20203.14 she20203.3 leaves20203.46 in20203.78 the20203.86 middle20203.94 of20204.18 the20204.26 night20204.34 to20205.22 try20205.38 to20205.62 jump20205.78 off20206.02 a20206.18 bridge20206.26 or20206.66 run20206.82 into20207.06 traffic20207.3 again.20207.78 As20209.94 serious20210.26 as20210.74 her20210.9 symptoms20211.06 are,20211.62 with20212.42 proper20212.66 treatment,20213.06 the20213.62 prognosis20213.78 is20214.58 hopeful.20214.74 Emma20216.9 is,20217.38 in20218.8 the20218.96 words20219.12 of20219.36 her20219.52 teachers20219.76 and20220.24 care20220.48 team,20220.88 kind,20221.84 respectful,20222.88 funny,20224.64 creative,20225.76 and20226.48 grateful.20226.72 The20228.4 first20228.64 time20228.88 I20229.12 spoke20229.36 with20229.68 her20229.84 after20230.24 she20230.48 was20230.64 admitted20230.8 to20231.2 evolution,20231.36 she20232.4 told20232.64 me,20232.88 this20233.92 is20234.08 a20234.32 good20234.4 place.20234.72 I20236 think20236.08 I20236.4 can20236.56 get20236.72 better20236.96 here.20237.28 For20238.96 the20239.2 first20239.28 time20239.6 in20239.84 almost20240.08 220240.4 years,20240.64 she's20241.6 attending20242 school20242.48 regularly.20242.8 She's20244.24 a20244.56 strong20244.8 writer.20245.28 In20247.41 residential20247.65 treatment,20248.29 she20248.69 is20248.93 working20249.09 towards20249.41 the20249.81 future20249.97 while20250.45 healing20250.69 from20251.09 the20251.33 past.20251.49 Finally,20252.85 she20253.73 has20253.89 enough20254.21 safety,20254.53 stability,20255.41 and20256.37 support20256.69 to20257.17 build20257.33 the20257.57 skills20257.73 and20258.13 strength20258.29 to20258.69 manage20258.85 her20259.25 conditions.20259.41 We20261.63 used20261.87 to20262.03 live20262.11 in20262.35 Texas.20262.51 Another20264.27 ex20264.75 Texan20265.07 once20265.95 remarked20266.35 to20266.75 me,20266.83 in20267.55 Texas,20267.87 they20268.27 don't20268.51 treat20268.83 mental20269.23 health.20269.71 They20270.43 adjudicate20270.75 it.20271.39 We20272.91 chose20273.15 to20273.55 transplant20273.79 our20274.43 family20274.67 to20276.07 Massachusetts20276.39 because20277.51 it's20277.75 a20278.07 refuge20278.23 for20278.87 LGBTQ20279.11 youth20280.15 and20281.27 because20281.51 the20281.91 mental20282.07 health20282.39 infrastructure20282.79 the20283.59 Commonwealth20283.75 has20284.39 created20284.63 is20285.43 unparalleled20285.91 in20287.03 The20287.19 United20287.43 States.20287.83 So20289.76 I20290 would20290.16 like20290.32 to20290.64 thank20290.72 you20291.04 legislators20291.36 and20293.12 my20293.36 fellow20293.6 Massachusetts20294.08 taxpayers.20294.96 Y'all20296.72 are20297.12 saving20297.28 my20297.6 baby's20297.76 life.20298.32
20301.62 Please20301.62 continue20301.94 to20302.42 fund20302.66 the20303.06 DMH20303.14 residential20303.7 services20304.9 for20305.46 children20305.7 and20306.18 adolescents.20306.34 The20308.5 knee20308.66 is20308.98 very20309.14 much20309.38 there,20309.7 and20310.58 thank20310.82 you20311.06 for20311.3 remaining20311.46 a20311.86 beacon20311.94 of20312.34 democracy20312.5 in20313.14 these20313.3 dangerous20313.62 times.20314.18 I'm20314.9 so20315.14 grateful20315.38 to20315.86 be20316.02 here.20316.26
20322.34 SPEAKER4320322.34 -20322.34 Hello.20322.34 My20323.3 name20323.54 is20323.94 Ulrich,20324.26 and20325.14 I20325.46 would20325.62 just20325.78 like20326.02 to20326.18 say20326.34 that20327.27 my20328.07 sister20328.23 is20328.63 a20328.79 very20328.95 bright20329.19 and20329.75 wonderful20329.91 person.20330.63 She's20331.83 kind,20332.15 annoying20333.43 sometimes20333.75 as20334.31 siblings20334.71 often20335.43 are,20335.83 but20336.71 kind.20337.03 And20339.03 she20339.35 has20339.51 a20339.83 lot20339.91 to20340.23 bring20340.39 to20340.71 our20340.87 community.20341.03 But20342.93 her20343.09 trauma20343.33 and20343.89 her20344.05 experiences20344.37 have20345.01 stolen20345.25 her20345.65 from20345.89 me20346.05 and20346.37 our20346.69 family.20346.93 This20348.85 is20349.17 our20349.25 chance20349.49 to20349.97 get20350.05 her20350.29 back.20350.53 So20351.49 please,20351.73 I20352.85 would20353.01 ask20353.25 you20353.57 reconsider20354.37 these20355.33 cuts20355.65 to20356.8 mental20357.12 health20357.52 organizations.20358 Thank20360.4 you.20360.56
20361.92 SPEAKER220361.92 -20361.92 Thank20361.92 you.20362.24 Your20364.24 testimony20364.56 is20365.12 heartfelt.20365.6 We're20366.32 listening.20366.56
20369.85 SPEAKER320369.85 -20369.85 No.20369.85 I20370.25 I20370.33 would20370.49 just20370.65 add20370.89 to20371.05 that,20371.29 extremely20371.77 powerful.20372.41 Thank20372.89 you20373.13 so20373.45 much20373.77 for20374.01 both20374.17 of20374.41 you20374.57 for20374.73 your20374.97 courage,20375.21 to20376.49 to20376.65 speak20377.13 out,20377.45 on20378.41 this,20378.65 in20379.37 incredible20379.61 issue20380.41 and,20381.05 helping20382.09 us,20382.49 helping20383.05 us20383.37 lead20383.69 within20384.32 your20384.72 community20384.88 on20385.44 it20385.52 as20385.76 well.20385.92
20387.36 SPEAKER2920387.36 -20387.36 Thank20387.36 you20387.6 all.20387.92
20389.04 SPEAKER520389.04 -20389.04 Thank20389.04 you.20389.28
20397.44 SPEAKER220397.44 -20397.44 Sharita20397.44 Rainey.20398.16
20406.26 SPEAKER320406.26 -20406.26 And20406.26 after,20406.58 we20406.9 have20407.06 a20407.3 a20407.54 a20407.7 panel.20407.78 I20408.18 believe20408.26 they're20408.58 online.20408.82 Alana20409.38 Stanley,20409.86 Colleen20410.9 DeGowan.20411.78
20418.11 And20418.11 Robert20418.43 Conlon.20418.91
20424.19 SPEAKER4420424.19 -20424.19 Good20424.19 evening.20424.51 Hi.20425.07
20429.79 I'm20429.79 here20430.03 representing20430.43 the,20430.91 Roxbury20431.71 Main20432.19 Streets20432.43 and20432.99 our20433.39 surrounding20433.63 businesses,20434.11 districts,20434.91 and20435.31 highlight20436.11 a20436.59 matter20436.75 of20436.99 urgent20437.15 importance,20437.55 the20438.91 current20439.07 state20439.47 and20439.79 the20440.11 future20440.27 of20440.67 Nubian20440.83 Square.20441.31 Nubian20442.7 Square20443.18 is20443.58 not20443.74 just20443.98 a20444.3 neighborhood20444.46 hub.20445.02 It's20445.98 Boston's20446.38 Second20447.1 largest20447.42 economic20447.98 center20448.62 following20449.34 only20449.98 downtown20450.38 crossing.20450.86 It20452.38 has20452.54 long20452.78 served20453.18 as20453.82 commercial20454.82 culture20455.3 and20456.02 transit20456.34 acre20456.9 for20457.46 Roxbury20457.7 and20458.26 beyond.20458.42 Yet20459.46 despite20459.78 its20460.26 historic20460.58 and20460.98 economic20461.62 significance,20462.18 Nubian20463.22 Square20463.7 continues20464.02 to20464.5 suffer20464.66 from20465.46 underinvestment,20465.7 poor20466.9 infrastructure,20467.22 and20468.26 economic20468.58 stagnation.20469.14 Sidewalks20470.85 are20471.33 in20471.49 despair.20471.73 Storefronts20472.29 sit20472.93 vacant.20473.25 Public20474.21 spaces20474.53 that20475.01 should20475.17 welcome20475.41 residents20475.81 and20476.21 visitors20476.37 alike20476.93 feel20477.33 neglected.20477.57 And20478.93 too20479.17 many20479.33 of20479.57 our20479.73 small20479.89 businesses20480.13 are20480.69 barely20480.85 holding20481.17 on20481.57 without20482.29 the20482.69 resources20482.85 or20483.41 structural20483.65 support20484.21 they20485.25 need20485.49 to20485.73 thrive.20485.89 These20487.08 conditions20487.4 are20487.88 not20488.04 the20488.2 result20488.36 of20489.08 lack20489.32 of20489.56 potential.20489.8 They're20490.6 results20490.84 of20491.4 lack20491.8 of20492.04 funding20492.2 and20492.68 long20492.92 term20493.16 strategic20493.56 investment.20494.2 Today,20495.48 I20495.8 respectfully20495.88 ask20496.84 the20497.16 committee20497.32 to20497.72 consider20497.88 making20498.2 a20498.6 significant20498.76 fine20499.32 finding20499.9 excuse20500.38 me,20500.7 significant20501.02 funding20501.5 commitment20501.9 to20502.3 Nubian20502.46 Square,20502.86 120503.82 that20503.98 reflects20504.22 its20504.78 importance20505.02 in20505.58 the20505.74 city's20505.82 economic20506.22 ecosystem20506.78 and20507.82 the20508.06 needs20508.22 of20508.46 the20508.62 community20508.78 it20509.26 serves.20509.42 This20510.38 funding20510.62 would20511.02 be20511.18 used20511.34 to20511.66 rebuild20512.3 crumbling20512.78 infrastructures20513.34 and20514.22 public20514.46 spaces,20514.86 improve20515.84 safety20516.32 and20516.72 accessibility,20517.12 provide20518.4 technical20519.12 assistance20519.6 and20520 support20520.16 to20520.48 small20520.64 business,20520.96 revitalize20521.84 vacant20522.56 properties,20523.04 and20524 encourage20524.32 entrepreneurship,20525.12 celebrate20527.12 and20527.52 preserve20527.68 the20528.08 culture20528.24 identity20528.72 of20529.28 the20529.44 neighborhood.20529.6 We20530.64 are20530.8 not20530.88 asking20531.2 for20531.52 charity.20531.68 We20532.16 are20532.4 asking20532.56 for20532.8 equity,20533.92 for20534.48 Nubian20534.64 Square20535.04 to20535.44 receive20535.6 the20536.32 kind20536.56 of20536.88 forced20537.12 investment20537.52 that20538.32 has20538.56 transport20538.88 transformed20539.84 other20540.56 districts20540.8 throughout20541.28 Boston.20541.68 We're20543.29 confident20543.61 with20544.25 the20544.41 right20544.57 support,20544.81 Nubian20545.21 Square20545.61 can20545.93 be20546.09 a20546.25 vibrant,20546.41 inclusive20546.97 engine20547.85 of20548.33 economic20548.57 activity20549.13 and20549.61 community20549.85 pride.20550.41 We're20550.97 ready20551.29 to20551.53 partner,20551.69 plan,20552.41 and20552.97 execute,20553.21 but20554.09 we20554.33 need20554.49 your20554.65 help20554.89 to20555.13 begin.20555.21 Thank20556.16 you20556.32 again20556.48 for20556.8 your20557.04 time,20557.2 for20557.52 the20557.68 leadership,20557.76 and20558.24 for20558.48 your20558.64 commitment20558.8 to20559.6 a20559.76 more20559.92 balanced20560.16 and20560.64 just20560.72 economic20561.12 future20561.6 for20562 all20562.16 of20562.32 Boston.20562.4
20568.48 SPEAKER320568.48 -20568.48 May20568.48
20568.56 SPEAKER2920568.56 -20568.56 I20568.56 make20568.64 a20568.72 comment?20568.96 Thank20569.28 you20569.52 for20569.68 coming20569.84 out20570.16 today20570.4 and20570.72 testifying.20570.96 I20571.68 represent20571.84 Nubian20572.4 Square,20572.88 lifelong20573.76 Roxbury20574.4 woman,20575.12 and20575.52 we've20575.76 been20576 making20576.16 a20576.48 lot20576.56 of20576.8 investments.20576.96 So20577.44 I20577.6 really20577.76 appreciate20578.08 your20578.96 testimony,20579.2 particularly20580.72 regarding20581.36 that20582.35 Nubian20582.43 Square20582.91 used20583.31 to20583.55 be20583.71 120584.03 of20584.19 the20584.35 busiest20584.51 districts20585.15 actually20586.11 in20586.51 the20586.59 Commonwealth20586.75 and20587.39 in20587.55 the20587.71 city20587.79 of20588.11 Boston.20588.27 But20589.15 over20589.39 the20589.63 decline20589.79 post20590.67 the20591.07 sixties,20591.39 it20592.99 hasn't20593.15 been20593.55 that,20593.79 but20593.95 it's20594.19 on20594.35 its20594.51 way20594.67 in20594.91 upswing20595.07 up.20595.63 I20596.28 had20596.36 a20596.48 question20596.6 about20597.08 which20597.4 organization20597.72 so20598.44 there's20598.6 a20598.84 a20599.32 bunch20599.4 of20599.64 organizations20599.8 working20600.44 in20600.76 Nubian20600.92 Square20601.24 right20601.56 now,20601.72 the20601.88 Nubian20602.12 Square20602.44 Task20602.76 Force,20603.08 Roxbury20603.64 Main20604.28 Streets.20604.6 There's20604.92 some20605.16 development20605.4 coming20606.12 to20606.76 Nubian20606.92 Square,20607.48 including,20607.88 Franklin20608.84 Cummings20609.32 Tech.20609.8 Just20610.39 wondering20610.63 if20610.87 you're20611.11 just20611.19 a20611.35 concerned20611.51 citizen20611.91 or20612.23 if20612.47 you're20612.55 part20612.87 of20613.19 a20613.27 collective20613.43 organization.20613.91
20614.63 SPEAKER4420614.63 -20614.63 Oxbridge20614.63 Main20615.11 Street.20615.35
20615.75 SPEAKER2920615.75 -20615.75 Awesome.20615.75 Thank20616.47 you.20616.71 Appreciate20616.95 that.20617.51 Thank20618.15 you.20618.31
20622.23 SPEAKER220622.23 -20622.23 Rep20622.23 Holmes?20622.55
20624.72 SPEAKER1520624.72 -20624.72 Alright.20624.72 So20625.2 same20626.4 thing20626.56 to20626.8 senator.20626.88 Are20627.36 you20627.6 asking20627.76 for20628.64 the20630.16 Roxbury20630.4 Main20630.96 Streets20631.2 to20631.44 get20631.6 money?20631.92 What20632.24 what20632.48 exactly20632.72 are20633.28 are20633.52 you20633.76 asking?20633.92 I'm20634.24 just20634.48 we20635.12 all20635.36 Yeah.20635.6 I20635.92 guess,20636.08 we'll20636.32 share20636.64 that20636.96
20637.76 SPEAKER4420637.76 -20637.76 Right.20637.76
20638.08 SPEAKER1520638.08 -20638.08 We20638.08 we20638.16 agree20638.48 Nubian20638.88 needs20639.36 to20639.52 become20639.68 a20640 lot20640.08 more,20640.4 but20640.72 what20641.52 what20641.84 are20642 you20642.16 asking20642.24 for20642.64 in20642.8 the20642.88 budget?20643.04
20643.68 SPEAKER4420643.68 -20643.68 Right.20643.68 And,20643.92 on20644.72 behalf20644.88 of20645.2 Roxbury20645.36 Main20645.76 Street,20646 so20646.24 I20646.32 have20646.4 some,20646.48 support20647.36 in20647.76 helping20648 to20648.56 get,20650.02 you20650.34 know,20650.5 Nubian20650.82 Square20651.3 back20651.7 to20651.94 where20652.02 it20652.34 used20652.58 to20652.82 be.20652.9
20653.22 SPEAKER1520653.22 -20653.22 So20653.22 the20653.46 Main20653.62 Streets20653.78 itself?20654.1
20654.66 SPEAKER4420654.66 -20654.66 Yes.20654.66
20654.98 SPEAKER1520654.98 -20654.98 Okay.20654.98 Thank20655.22 you.20655.38
20655.78 SPEAKER320655.78 -20655.78 Thank20655.78 you.20655.94
20659.3 SPEAKER220659.3 -20659.3 Alana20659.3 Stanley?20659.78
20662.61 SPEAKER320662.61 -20662.61 So20662.61 this20662.77 is20662.85 a20663.33 pan20663.41 this20663.81 is20664.13 a20664.21 panel.20664.37 So20665.01 it's20665.17 Alana20665.41 Stanley,20665.89 Colleen20666.69 DeGohan,20667.17 and20668.45 also20668.69 120669.65 moment20670.05
20671.57 SPEAKER4120671.57 -20671.57 Robert20671.57 Conlin.20671.89
20672.61 SPEAKER320672.61 -20672.61 Robert20672.61 Conlin.20673.01 Now20673.81 I20673.93 would20674.05 say20674.29 that20674.45 the20674.69 because20674.77 it's20675.09 a20675.25 panel,20675.33 there's,20675.97 620677.01 minutes,20677.25 that20678.76 that20678.92 is20679.16 on.20679.32 And20679.72 if20680.12 there20680.44 is20681.08 any20681.32 further20681.56 testimony20682.04 on20682.76 top20683 of20683.16 the20683.24 620683.4 minutes20683.64 that20683.96 you20684.12 would20684.2 like,20684.44 to20685.08 share20685.24 with20685.48 us,20685.64 we20685.8 will20685.96 always20686.2 accept20686.52 written20687.16 testimony.20687.56 Thank20688.12 you.20688.36
20690.55 SPEAKER4120690.55 -20690.55 Good20690.55 afternoon,20690.87 committee20691.35 members20691.67 and20691.99 chairs.20692.15 My20692.55 name20692.71 is20692.79 Alana20693.03 Stanley.20693.43 I'm20693.91 a20694.07 member20694.15 of20694.47 the20694.55 M20694.71 and20694.95 A,20695.03 and20695.19 I've20695.35 been20695.51 a20695.67 nurse20695.75 at20695.99 Pacasset20696.07 Mental20696.47 Health20696.71 Center20696.95 since20697.27 02/201620697.59 working20698.39 on20698.71 the20698.79 inpatient20698.95 unit20699.43 as20699.67 well20699.83 as20699.99 the20700.15 partial20700.31 hospital20700.55 program.20700.95 I20701.75 think20701.83 it's20702.07 important20702.23 to20702.71 shine20702.82 a20703.06 light20703.14 on20703.22 the20703.38 type20703.46 of20703.78 treatment20703.86 Pacasset,20704.26 the20704.82 only20704.9 state20705.14 hospital20705.38 on20705.78 The20705.86 Cape,20706.02 is20706.26 able20706.42 to20706.74 to20706.98 provide.20707.22 We20708.02 treat20708.26 the20708.5 most20708.66 vulnerable20708.98 of20709.46 the20709.54 mental20709.7 health20710.02 population.20710.26 We20711.3 treat20711.54 those20711.78 who20712.1 are20712.18 uninsured20712.34 and20712.9 under20713.14 insured.20713.38 We20714.02 treat20714.18 those20714.42 who20714.66 find20714.82 themselves20715.06 on20715.46 the20715.62 expedited20715.78 list,20716.34 a20716.74 list20716.82 that20717.2 prioritizes20717.52 those20718.16 who20718.4 have20718.64 been20718.8 boarding20718.96 in20719.28 emergency20719.36 departments20719.84 for20720.32 extended20720.56 amounts20720.96 of20721.28 time20721.36 just20721.84 waiting20722.08 for20722.32 an20722.48 inpatient20722.64 bed.20723.04 This20723.68 vulnerable20724 population20724.48 is20725.04 often20725.36 passed20725.76 over20726.08 by20726.4 private20726.56 hospitals20726.96 due20727.44 to20727.68 difficult20727.76 or20728.16 violent20728.24 behavior20728.72 and20729.31 those20729.47 who20729.71 may20729.79 have20729.95 a20730.19 history20730.27 of20730.51 being20730.75 resistant20731.23 to20731.71 treatment20731.87 and20732.19 require20732.35 more20732.75 in-depth,20732.99 treatment20733.87 to20734.27 stabilize20734.43 to20735.63 stabilize20735.87 and20736.27 be20736.43 determined20736.59 discharge20736.99 ready.20737.47 The20738.19 average20738.43 length20738.67 of20738.91 stay20739.15 on20739.39 our20739.55 inpatient20739.63 unit20740.19 is20740.51 4720740.67 days.20741.15 Most20741.63 private20741.87 hospitals,20742.19 including20742.67 Cape20743.07 Cod20743.31 Hospital,20743.55 is20743.95 520744.19 to20744.35 720744.51 days.20744.83 The20745.45 Cassette20745.61 also20746.01 plays20746.33 an20746.65 essential20746.81 role20747.21 in20747.45 diverting20747.61 those20748.01 who20748.25 would20748.41 otherwise20748.65 end20749.05 up20749.29 in20749.37 long20749.53 term20749.69 care.20749.93 With20750.65 this20750.89 extended20751.13 length20751.53 of20751.77 treatment,20751.93 we're20752.33 able20752.57 to20752.73 work20752.81 on20753.05 so20753.13 much20753.29 more20753.53 than20753.69 medication20753.85 adjustments.20754.33 We20754.81 have20754.97 the20755.13 time20755.29 to20755.45 form20755.61 therapeutic20755.85 relationships,20756.41 facilitate20757.13 family20757.69 meetings,20758.01 provide20758.49 educate20758.97 education20759.37 and20759.93 understanding,20760.17 work20761.1 with20761.26 the20761.42 court20761.5 systems,20761.9 outside20762.38 providers,20762.86 and20763.34 community20763.5 supports.20763.98 We20764.62 have20764.78 the20765.26 ability20765.58 to20765.98 connect20766.06 patients20766.38 to20766.78 community20766.94 resources20767.42 before20767.9 they20768.22 discharge20768.38 to20768.94 ensure20769.1 that20769.34 they20769.5 have20769.66 the20769.82 best20769.9 chance20770.14 of20770.38 stability20770.54 and20771.02 success.20771.18 Closing20772.14 Pekasset20772.54 will20773.02 cut20773.26 the20773.42 available20773.58 beds20773.98 on20774.22 The20774.3 Cape20774.46 almost20774.7 in20775.02 half.20775.18 The20775.68 Cape20775.84 is20776.16 already20776.32 suffering20776.72 from20777.12 a20777.28 lack20777.36 of20777.6 mental20777.68 health20778 resources.20778.24 Pekasset20779.12 plays20779.6 a20779.84 vital20779.92 role20780.24 in20780.56 servicing20780.72 the20781.12 Southeast.20781.28 There20782.16 were20782.32 7020782.56 people20782.88 boarding20783.2 in20783.52 southeastern20783.6 mass20784.24 emergency20784.56 departments20785.04 in20785.52 January.20785.68 This20786.48 demand20786.64 for20787.04 this20787.69 demand20787.93 for20788.17 our20788.41 mental20788.49 health20788.73 services20788.97 is20789.61 increasing20789.85 as20790.41 our20790.57 resources20790.73 are20791.21 being20791.37 taken20791.61 away.20791.85 Closing20792.57 closing20793.37 Picasset20793.77 and20794.17 cutting20794.33 case20794.65 management20794.89 services20795.29 will20795.77 be20795.93 devastating20796.09 to20796.57 our20796.73 community20796.89 community.20797.53 How20798.33 can20798.49 we20798.73 knowingly20798.89 allow20799.45 this20799.77 high20800.09 risk20800.25 vulnerable20801.03 population20801.67 to20802.15 decompensate20802.39 without20803.11 access20803.51 to20803.83 appropriate20803.99 care?20804.39 Eliminating20805.03 accessible20805.75 mental20806.23 health20806.55 care20806.71 will20806.95 only20807.11 put20807.35 more20807.67 strain20807.91 on20808.23 our20808.39 emergency20808.55 part20809.11 departments.20809.43 Substance20810.71 abuse20811.03 and20811.35 homelessness20811.51 will20812.07 increase.20812.23 Without20812.71 proper20813.03 treatment,20813.34 this20813.74 population20813.98 will20814.46 be20814.62 funneled20814.7 through20815.02 our20815.18 court20815.34 system20815.66 and20815.9 ultimately20816.14 end20816.54 up20816.7 in20816.86 overcrowded20817.1 jails20817.66 where20817.9 they20818.06 do20818.22 not20818.46 belong20818.62 and20818.86 it20819.1 could20819.18 have20819.34 been20819.5 diverted.20819.66 We20820.46 were20820.62 encouraged20820.86 with20821.26 the20821.42 governor's20821.5 announcement20821.9 to20822.38 pause20822.54 possible20822.94 closure20823.26 of20823.66 Picasset.20823.74 We20824.46 were20824.62 encouraged20824.78 with20825.18 the20825.34 governor's20825.42 plan20825.82 to20826.06 formulate20826.22 a20826.7 work20826.78 group20826.94 to20827.18 take20827.34 a20827.5 deeper20827.58 dive20827.9 and20828.14 look20828.3 into20828.46 the20828.7 real20828.86 data.20829.02 But20829.77 where20829.85 is20830.17 this20830.33 work20830.49 group?20830.73 Why20830.97 has20831.13 this20831.29 not20831.45 come20831.61 to20831.77 fruition?20831.85 I20832.73 now20832.89 worry20833.13 that20833.37 this20833.53 pause20833.77 was20834.09 only20834.17 announced20834.41 to20834.81 silent20834.89 the20835.37 very20835.45 vocal,20835.69 community20836.65 on20837.37 The20837.53 Cape20837.61 that's20837.85 outraged20838.09 by20838.57 these20838.73 cuts.20838.97 I20839.53 urge20839.69 you20840.01 to20840.17 ask20840.25 these20840.49 questions.20840.73 What20841.45 is20841.61 the20841.77 backup20841.93 plan?20842.33 Take20842.89 a20843.13 step20843.21 back20843.45 and20843.69 look20843.85 look20844.35 at20844.51 what20844.67 this20844.75 will20844.99 do20845.15 to20845.39 other20845.55 services.20845.79 Talk20846.35 to20846.59 those20846.75 who20846.91 work20847.07 in20847.23 the20847.31 front20847.47 lines20847.63 of20847.87 the20848.03 emergency20848.19 departments20848.67 in20849.07 the20849.23 court20849.39 system.20849.63 Listen20850.03 to20850.27 the20850.43 families20850.51 that20851.15 fear20851.31 about20851.95 what20852.19 will20852.35 happen20852.43 to20852.75 their20852.91 loved20853.07 ones20853.23 dealing20853.55 with20853.79 mental20854.03 health20854.27 issues.20854.51 This20855.07 is20855.31 so20855.39 much20855.55 more20855.79 than20855.95 a20856.11 line20856.27 item20856.51 on20856.75 a20856.91 budget.20856.99 These20857.52 are20857.68 human20857.92 lives20858.16 and20858.4 struggling20858.64 families20859.04 we're20859.36 talking20859.6 about.20859.84 We20861.04 have20861.28 worked20861.44 so20861.76 hard20861.92 to20862.24 combat20862.32 the20862.72 stigma20862.88 of20863.36 of20863.6 associated20864.48 with20865.04 mental20865.2 health.20865.52 These20865.84 cuts20866.24 will20866.56 only20866.72 take20866.96 us20867.12 backwards20867.28 and20867.68 counteract20867.84 what20868.24 we've20868.4 all20868.64 worked20868.8 for20869.04 heart20869.28 so20869.52 hard20869.76 for20869.92 and20870.16 what20870.24 this20870.48 population20870.64 deserves.20871.28 Thank20871.92 you.20872.24
20880.17 SPEAKER320880.17 -20880.17 Thank20880.17 you.20880.41 And20881.05 and20881.45 next20881.77 person20882.09 on20882.41 the20882.57 panel.20882.65
20900.48 Colleen20900.48 or20900.96 Robert,20901.12 are20901.44 you20901.68 on?20901.84
20911.52 Colleen20911.52 or20911.92 Robert,20912.08 if20912.32 you20912.4 can20912.48 take20912.64 yourself20912.88 off20913.28 mute,20913.44 and20913.76 then20913.92 that20914.16 way20914.4 we20916.59 know20916.75 who20917.07 you20917.23 are20917.39 and20917.55 we'll20917.79 zoom20917.95 in20918.19 on20918.35 you.20918.43
20923.79 Alright.20923.79 We20924.75 will20924.91 be20925.07 moving20925.23 on.20925.55
20929.78 SPEAKER3520929.78 -20929.78 Alma20929.78
20933.86 SPEAKER220933.86 -20933.86 Arech.20933.86
20970.81 SPEAKER4520970.81 -20970.81 Hello.20970.81 My20971.37 name20971.53 is20971.69 Michelle20971.93 Sweeney20972.41 and20972.81 I've20973.05 been20973.21 a20973.37 physical20973.45 therapist20973.77 at20974.25 the20974.37 Pappas20974.49 Rehab20974.97 Hospital20975.29 for20975.69 Children20975.85 for20976.57 2720976.89 years.20977.45 Pappas20978.65 is20979.05 not20979.21 just20979.45 a20979.61 children's20979.77 hospital.20980.25 It20980.97 is20981.13 truly20981.29 a20981.69 mecca20981.77 for20982.17 caring20982.33 with20982.65 children20982.81 and20983.37 young20983.53 adults20983.77 with20984.17 disabilities.20984.33 It's20985.36 a20985.52 program20985.68 that20986.08 offers20986.32 unique20987.04 services20987.36 for20987.92 the20988.08 most20988.24 severely20988.48 disabled20989.04 children20989.52 in20989.92 the20990.16 Commonwealth.20990.24 Daily20991.44 therapy20991.84 services20992.48 sorry,20993.68
20994 SPEAKER4620994 -20994 he20994 thinks20994.16 he's20994.4 a20994.64
20994.72 SPEAKER4520994.72 -20994.72 lapdog20994.72 2420996.24 hour20996.72 nursing20997.04 care,20997.52 medical20998.72 care20999.28 on-site20999.6 without21000.08 the21000.4 need21000.56 to21000.72 travel21000.88 for21001.42 hours21001.74 to21001.78 Boston21001.82 hospitals21002.46 that21003.26 consists21003.5 of21004.3 not21004.54 just21004.7 primary21005.02 care,21005.34 but21005.58 behavioral21005.82 health,21006.3 and21007.02 multiple21008.94 specialties21009.34 like21009.98 neurology,21010.22 pulmonology,21010.86 cardiology,21011.74 and21012.38 psychiatry.21012.54 Add21013.67 to21013.83 that21013.91 a21014.23 full21014.31 size21014.55 swimming21014.87 pool21015.19 with21015.43 a21015.59 021015.67 entry21015.91 roll21016.39 in21016.63 ramp,21016.79 an21017.43 accessible21017.67 gymnasium21018.23 with21019.11 our21019.35 own21019.51 bowling21019.83 alley,21020.15 radio21020.63 station,21021.11 and21021.59 accessible21022.07 gaming21022.63 cafe,21023.11 an21024.15 indoor21024.39 equestrian21024.87 arena,21025.43 and21026.12 a21026.28 fully21026.52 accessible21026.76 school21027.4 program21027.64 that21027.96 you've21028.12 already21028.44 heard21028.76 about.21028.92 These21029.8 services21030.04 cannot21030.52 be21030.92 replicated21031.08 at21031.64 the21031.8 Western21031.96 Mass21032.28 Hospital.21032.6 Not21033.4 only21033.56 does21033.8 their21033.96 campus21034.12 not21034.6 include21034.84 any21035.32 of21035.48 these21035.56 services,21035.8 it21036.52 is21036.76 located21036.92 321037.48 plus21037.72 hours21038.04 from21038.44 the21038.6 specialty21038.76 care21039.32 centers21039.48 in21039.96 Boston,21040.12 which21040.82 have21041.06 served21041.22 as21041.62 the21041.7 gold21041.94 standard21042.26 of21042.66 care21042.82 for21043.3 children21043.54 with21043.86 disabilities.21044.18 On21045.38 in21045.62 January,21045.86 the21046.66 governor21046.82 and21047.22 commissioner21047.38 announced21047.94 the21048.26 devastating21048.42 commit21048.98 decision21049.46 to21049.86 close21050.02 Pappas.21050.42 We21051.14 know21051.3 that21051.54 the21051.7 children21051.86 in21052.18 the21052.34 Commonwealth21052.5 who21052.98 need21053.14 our21053.38 services21053.54 have21054.1 not21054.26 suddenly21054.42 disappeared.21054.98 There21056.09 are21056.25 children21056.49 across21056.81 the21057.13 state21057.29 who21057.61 would21057.69 benefit21057.93 greatly21058.33 from21058.65 coming21058.89 to21059.13 Pappas,21059.29 and21060.01 we21060.25 should21060.33 not21060.57 be21060.73 denying21060.89 them21061.29 that21061.45 opportunity.21061.69 In21062.65 reflecting21062.89 over21063.37 what21063.61 I21063.77 wanted21063.93 to21064.33 say21064.41 today,21064.65 I21065.29 remembered21065.45 121065.93 of21066.17 my21066.25 former21066.41 patients,21066.81 a21067.61 young21067.85 girl21068.09 with21068.33 multiple21068.57 medical21069.05 diagnoses21069.53 who21070.17 came21070.43 to21070.59 us21070.75 from21070.91 121071.23 of21071.39 our21071.47 state's21071.63 islands.21072.03 Before21073.31 her21073.79 admission21073.95 to21074.35 Pappas,21074.59 her21075.39 mother21075.63 told21075.95 us21076.19 that21076.59 on21076.99 average,21077.23 she21077.55 would21077.71 spend21077.95 421078.51 to21078.83 621078.99 months21079.47 every21080.19 year21080.59 admitted21080.99 to21081.39 Boston21081.55 Children's21081.95 Hospital.21082.35 Each21083.47 admission21083.79 required21084.35 ferries,21084.91 ambulances,21085.79 cars,21086.59 and21087.31 countless21087.55 hours21088.03 missed21088.59 work,21088.91 school,21089.55 and21090.03 life.21090.19 The21091.39 first21091.63 year21091.95 she21092.19 spent21092.43 with21092.67 us,21092.91 she21093.31 spent21093.55 less21093.87 than21094.11 421094.43 weeks21094.67 at21095.19 Boston21095.43 Children's21095.91 Hospital.21096.31 Forget21097.75 the21098.07 small21098.23 fortune21098.63 that21099.51 being21099.83 with21100.07 Pappas21100.31 saved21100.79 the21101.11 state21101.27 and21102.31 think21102.63 about21102.87 the21103.19 increase21103.35 in21104.07 the21104.23 quality21104.31 of21104.71 life21104.95 for21105.35 her21105.59 and21105.99 for21106.31 her21106.55 family.21106.79 There21107.67 is21107.91 truly21108.07 no21108.47 dollars21108.63 and21108.95 cents21109.19 that21109.87 you21110.03 can21110.19 place21110.27 on21110.67 that.21110.83 Pappas21111.95 provides21112.43 these21112.83 children21112.99 with21113.47 the21113.63 daily21113.71 care21114.03 they21114.35 need21114.51 to21115.15 keep21115.39 them21115.63 from21115.87 being21116.19 these21116.51 worst21116.75 case21117.07 scenarios,21117.39 while21118.35 also21118.59 giving21118.91 them21119.23 the21119.63 full21119.87 experience21120.19 of21120.59 being21120.75 a21121.07 child.21121.23 For21122.03 over21122.27 a21122.59 century,21122.67 Pappas21123.84 has21124.24 always21124.4 been21124.72 much21124.88 more21125.2 than21125.36 a21125.52 medical21125.68 facility.21126.08 It's21126.56 a21126.8 community21126.96 where21127.44 these21127.6 children21127.76 are21128.16 given21128.32 every21128.64 service21128.88 and21129.28 every21129.44 opportunity21129.84 to,21130.64 as21131.12 our21131.36 mission21131.6 statement21131.92 says,21132.4 achieve21133.04 the21133.36 optimal21133.6 level21134 of21134.24 independence21134.48 in21135.12 all21135.28 aspects21135.52 of21136.08 their21136.16 life.21136.4 Pappas'21137.45 camp21138.01 campus21138.73 in21139.13 Canton21139.29 should21140.09 not21140.41 be21140.65 closed.21140.81 It21141.61 should21141.85 be21142.01 invested21142.25 in21142.73 for21143.05 all21143.29 of21143.45 the21143.61 service21143.77 it21144.25 does21144.41 and21145.05 could21145.29 provide21145.61 in21146.01 the21146.17 future.21146.33 Medical21147.29 care,21147.77 behavioral21148.49 health21149.21 care,21149.45 these21150.18 are21150.42 very21150.82 real21151.14 needs21151.46 of21151.78 our21151.94 unwavering21152.18 desire21152.74 to21153.14 be21153.22 there21153.38 for21153.54 the21153.78 future21153.86 of21154.26 our21154.34 children.21154.5 We21155.3 look21155.54 forward21155.78 to21156.18 you21156.5 investing21156.82 in21157.3 Pappas21157.46 and21157.94 helping21158.1 us21158.42 create21158.66 a21159.62 landmark21159.78 center21161.22 of21161.62 excellence21161.78 for21162.34 children.21162.5
21166.05 SPEAKER2621166.05 -21166.05 Hello.21166.05 I'm21167.33 very21167.49 nervous.21167.81 This21168.61 is21168.93 my21169.01 first21169.17 time,21169.49 you21169.97 know,21170.21 look21170.53 at21170.69 you21170.85 guys.21171.01 I21171.89 only21172.05 see21172.37 you21172.45 guys21172.61 on21172.85 TV.21173.01
21176.05 Actually,21176.05 I21176.69 drove21176.85 221177.25 hours21177.49 to21177.81 get21178.05 here21178.21 and,21179.3 park21180.34 over21180.58 there21180.82 for21180.98 $40,21181.22 but21181.86 that's21182.02 okay.21182.34 That's21182.98 just21183.22 that's21183.54 not21183.86 in21184.02 the21184.18 record.21184.26 Okay?21184.66 But21186.98 okay.21187.3 My21188.5 name21188.66 is21188.9 Alma21189.14 Elish21189.54 and21190.66 I'm21190.9 a21191.14 parent.21191.3 My21192.83 son's21193.07 name21193.47 is21193.79 Billy21193.95 Alish,21194.35 and21194.75 he's21194.91 a21195.15 resident21195.31 of21195.87 Pappas21196.03 Rehab.21196.51 It21198.35 was21198.59 the21198.75 summer21198.91 of21199.23 2021199.47 16.21199.71 Billy's21201.07 brother,21201.47 Joey,21201.95 just21203.31 graduated21203.55 from21204.35 high21204.67 school.21204.91 It21206.13 was21206.29 the21206.53 happiest21206.69 time21207.25 of21207.49 our21207.65 lives.21207.81 221209.49 weeks21209.65 later,21209.97 their21211.17 father21211.49 had21211.89 a21212.13 heart21212.21 attack21212.53 and21213.57 end21213.89 up21214.05 in21214.21 a21214.45 coma21214.61 for21215.09 1921215.41 months,21215.81 and21217.49 later21217.73 he21218.13 died.21218.37 At21220.01 this21220.17 point,21220.41 Billy,21220.81 who21221.37 has21221.61 cerebral21221.93 palsy,21222.41 was21223.29 in21223.53 and21223.85 out21223.93 of21224.17 Boston21224.33 Children's21224.81 Hospital.21225.29 From21226.65 Boston21226.97 Children's21227.45 Hospital,21227.93 he21229.05 was21229.21 transferred21229.45 to21230.01 a21230.17 facility21230.33 here21230.89 in21231.13 Boston.21231.29 It21233.01 was21233.17 a21234.05 lockdown21234.21 facility,21234.77 hoping21235.73 this21236.13 facility21236.37 was21237.65 a21237.89 good21238.05 fit21238.29 for21238.53 Billy.21238.69 I'm21241.01 sorry.21241.25 I'm21241.57 so21241.81 nervous.21241.97 I21243.81 left21244.05 him21244.29 there21244.53 for21244.77 221245.01 weeks21245.25 and21246.21 came21246.45 back21246.69 to21246.85 visit21247.09 Billy.21247.49 Billy21248.75 told21248.99 me21249.39 that21249.63 he21249.79 hasn't21250.03 eaten21250.43 in21250.75 321250.99 days21251.23 to21252.19 find21252.43 out21252.75 they21253.31 forgot21253.55 to21253.95 feed21254.19 him.21254.51 The21256.51 staff21256.75 did21257.15 not21257.31 know21257.63 that21257.95 Billy21258.19 could21258.59 talk,21258.75 so21259.95 I21260.19 abruptly21260.35 took21260.91 him21261.15 out21261.31 of21261.55 the21261.71 place21261.79 and21262.61 Billy21262.85 ended21263.17 back21263.57 at21264.13 Boston21264.29 Children's21264.85 Hospital21265.33 for21265.89 months21266.13 and21266.85 nowhere21267.17 to21267.57 go.21267.73 Finally,21269.17 they21269.65 were21269.89 able21270.05 to21270.37 place21270.53 Billy21270.93 at21271.41 Papa's21271.65 Rehab.21272.13 He21273.17 had21273.33 been21273.57 there21273.81 since21274.13 2016.21274.45 Billy21276.39 was21276.71 able21276.95 to21277.19 learn21277.43 how21278.07 to21278.31 read21278.55 and21278.87 write,21279.11 math21280.63 and21280.95 speech.21281.27 They21282.79 off21283.19 offered21283.59 occupational21284.95 therapies,21285.67 PT,21286.23 swimming,21286.87 and21287.67 he21287.91 had21288.07 end21288.39 up21288.63 having21288.79 friends21289.11 there,21289.51 which21289.75 is21289.91 really21290.07 good,21290.31 you21290.63 know,21290.79 especially21291.03 for21291.75 for21292.04 a21292.12 special21292.28 child,21292.84 you21293.24 know.21293.48 On21295.16 January21295.4 22,21296.21 doctor21297.88 Jabbar21298.36 called21298.92 me21299.16 and21299.72 asked21299.96 me21300.2 to21300.44 attend21300.68 a21301 town21301.16 hall21301.48 meeting21302.04 at21302.76 Papa's.21303 What21304.63 I21304.79 heard21304.95 there21305.35 disturbed21305.83 me21306.31 deeply.21306.55 Commissioner21308.63 doctor21309.51 Goldstein21309.91 claimed21311.67 that21311.99 disabled21312.31 children21312.79 are21313.59 better21313.75 off21314.07 home21314.95 with21315.27 their21315.51 families.21315.75 That21317.11 doesn't21317.35 reflect21317.75 the21318.23 reality21318.47 of21319.03 many21319.27 parents21319.51 and21319.99 guardians,21320.23 especially21321.35 for21321.99 those21322.23 who21322.55 rely21322.71 on21323.03 critical21323.27 care,21323.83 education,21324.79 community21326.07 that21327.19 Pappas21327.43 provide.21327.91 And21329.69 even21329.93 more21330.17 alarming,21330.57 we21331.37 learned21331.61 that21331.93 the21332.73 plan21332.97 was21333.37 to21333.61 move21333.77 these21334.01 children21334.33 to21335.21 a21335.45 facility21335.61 that21336.49 houses21336.73 sex21337.53 offenders.21337.93 That21340.25 is21340.41 unthinkable,21340.73 especially21343.08 for21343.48 the21343.72 kids21343.88 who21344.2 could21344.36 not21344.6 talk.21344.84 I'm21346.2 so21346.44 fortunate21346.68 that21347.32 my21347.56 son21347.72 could21348.04 talk.21348.28 It21350.2 is21350.44 just21350.68 that21350.92 a21351.16 policy21351.32 error21351.88 is21352.44 a21352.68 betrayal21352.84 of21353.4 trust.21353.56 At21354.86 the21355.02 end21355.1 of21355.34 the21355.5 day,21355.66 many21356.3 of21356.54 you21356.7 will21357.42 go21357.66 home21357.82 to21358.22 your21358.38 families,21358.62 to21359.74 your21359.82 normal21360.06 routines.21360.78 But21361.9 for21362.14 the21362.3 children21362.54 and21362.94 families21363.18 who21363.82 rely21363.98 on21364.38 Pappas,21364.54 that21365.42 is21365.66 our21365.9 lives.21366.22 And21367.55 many21367.71 of21368.11 us,21368.27 this21368.75 is21368.99 a21369.15 life21369.31 and21369.63 death21369.87 situation.21370.35
21371.79 SPEAKER221371.79 -21371.79 Thank21371.79 you.21372.03
21373.79 SPEAKER2621373.79 -21373.79 How21373.79 Can21374.11 I21374.27 just21374.35 finish?21374.67 No.21375.39 Okay.21377.07 Just21377.39 121377.63 more.21377.79
21378.11 SPEAKER221378.11 -21378.11 No.21378.11 I'm21378.93 sorry.21379.17
21379.73 SPEAKER3221379.73 -21379.73 Please21379.73 for21379.97
21380.29 SPEAKER2621380.29 -21380.29 the21380.29 love21380.45 of21380.61 God.21380.69 I21380.93 drove21381.09 to21381.33
21381.49 SPEAKER221381.49 -21381.49 the21381.49 office.21381.57 I21381.81 said,21381.97 that's21382.69 okay.21382.93 We21383.25 told21383.49 hey,21383.73 you21383.97 know21384.13 something?21384.21 You21384.61 wanna21384.69 give21384.93 us21385.09 your21385.25 testimony?21385.49 We'd21385.97 love21386.13 to21386.37 have21386.45 it.21386.69 But21386.85 we're21387.17 we're21387.89 truly21388.13 listening21388.45 to21388.85 you.21389.01
21389.49 SPEAKER2621389.49 -21389.49 Absolutely.21389.49 And21389.97
21390.13 SPEAKER221390.13 -21390.13 we're21390.13 feeling21390.37 you.21390.69 Okay?21390.85 We21391.17 understand21391.41 what's21391.89 going21392.29 on.21392.53 Okay?21393.01
21393.49 SPEAKER2621393.49 -21393.49 So21393.49 I21393.97 just21394.13 hope21394.45 that21395.14 you're21395.22 gonna21395.38 reconsider.21395.7 There's21397.06 a21397.38 lot21397.46 of21397.62 kids21397.78 that21398.1 need21398.34 you21398.66 guys.21398.82
21399.54 SPEAKER221399.54 -21399.54 Thank21399.54 you.21399.62
21400.18 SPEAKER2621400.18 -21400.18 I21400.18 know21400.26 you21400.5 will21400.58 do21400.74 your21400.9 job21401.06 to21401.46 the21401.54 best21401.7 that21401.94 you21402.1 can.21402.26 Always.21402.74 That's21403.06 all21403.3 it21403.46 is.21403.54 Of21403.86 course.21404.1 This21404.5 is21404.74 Massachusetts.21404.98 What21405.7 are21405.86 you21406.02 talking21406.18 about?21406.5
21407.38 SPEAKER221407.38 -21407.38 Any21407.38 other21407.7 place?21408.02
21409.06 SPEAKER2621409.06 -21409.06 Thank21409.06 you.21409.3
21410.18 SPEAKER221410.18 -21410.18 Thank21410.18 you.21410.5 You21411.7 got21411.86 a21412.02 question?21412.18 Yes.21412.74 Rep21413.86 Howard.21414.26
21416.74 SPEAKER2621416.74 -21416.74 If21416.74 you21416.9 don't21417.06 know21417.22 the21417.46 answer,21417.62 that's21417.86 okay.21418.26 Prior21419.14 to21419.7 the21420.02 announcement21420.34 of21421.14 the21421.3 potential21421.46 closing21422.18 of21422.74 Pappas,21423.06 did21424.02 did21424.92 case21425.08 managers,21425.48 parents,21426.6 clients21427.88 were21429 ever21429.24 consulted?21429.64
21432.28 SPEAKER4521432.28 -21432.28 Prior21432.28 to21432.68 about21432.92 the21433.16 closure?21433.32
21433.96 SPEAKER2621433.96 -21433.96 About21433.96 the21434.08 closure.21434.2
21435 SPEAKER4521435 -21435 We21435 it21435.24 was21435.48 it21435.72 was21435.88 completely21436.52 it21437.24 took21437.48 the21437.64 breath21437.8 away21438.28 from21438.68 me21438.84 when21438.92 we21439.21 found21439.29 out.21439.53 We21439.61 had21439.85 no21440.09 idea.21440.33 No.21440.73
21441.05 SPEAKER2621441.05 -21441.05 So21441.05 you21441.21 were21441.37 never21441.53 consulted21441.85 as21442.49 as21442.81 far21442.97 as21443.29 you21443.37 know?21443.53 We21443.69 were21443.93 blindsided.21444.09 We21445.29 were21445.53 so21445.69 shocked21446.01 that21447.05 because21447.37 they21447.77 were21447.93 talking21448.09 to21448.57 us,21448.81 specifically21449.37 to21450.25 me,21450.41 that21450.81 they21451.05 keep21451.13 saying,21451.37 oh,21451.69 we21451.85 have21451.93 to21452.09 do21452.25 this.21452.33 We21452.57 have21452.73 to21452.89 do21452.97 that.21453.13 But21453.63 you21453.87 know21454.03 what?21454.19 They21454.35 have,21454.51 you21454.83 know,21454.99 really,21455.31 good21456.43 plans21456.75 in21457.39 place.21457.55 So21458.19 everybody21458.43 was21458.91 happy,21459.23 even21459.79 the21460.11 staff.21460.27 And21460.99 to21461.23 blindside21461.47 us21462.03 like21462.27 this,21462.51 this21462.99 is21463.23 really21463.39 insulting21463.95 and21464.51 a21464.67 slap21464.83 on21465.15 the21465.31 face.21465.47 I21466.11 mean,21466.27 just21466.43 be21466.75 honest,21466.91 you21467.31 know?21467.47
21468.35 SPEAKER4521468.35 -21468.35 At21468.35 at21469.07 this21469.23 time21469.47 last21469.79 year,21470.11 our21470.59 leadership21470.91 team21471.47 actually21471.71 presented21472.11 us21472.51 with21472.75 a21472.91 521473.07 year21473.31 growth21473.63 plan.21473.95 They21475.07 had21475.39 a21476.11 a21476.27 thought21476.43 to21476.67 make21476.91 our21477.15 hospital21477.71 a21478.19 center21478.35 of21478.67 excellence,21478.75 for21480.2 pediatric21480.36 care.21480.92 So21481.4 not21481.72 only21481.96 to21482.36 continue21482.6 the21483 care21483.08 that21483.32 we21483.48 do21483.64 currently,21483.88 but21484.52 to21484.68 build21484.92 a21485.24 behavioral21485.48 health21485.96 unit21486.28 where21486.6 we21486.84 could21486.92 help21487.16 alleviate21487.4 the21487.96 pediatric21488.12 patients21488.68 that21489.08 are21489.24 sitting21489.4 in21489.64 EDs21489.88 right21490.36 now21490.6 and21491.48 also21491.88 to21492.28 even21492.52 eventually21493 at21493.64 the21493.8 end21493.88 of21494.04 that21494.2 521494.36 years21494.52 create21494.95 a21495.03 behavioral21495.27 health21495.75 emergency21495.99 department21496.71 of21497.35 our21497.51 own21497.67 where21497.91 pea21498.15 families21498.47 could21498.87 come21499.11 and21499.27 they21499.43 could21499.59 filter21499.83 into21500.23 our21500.47 new21500.71 unit.21500.95 We,21501.67 you21502.07 know,21502.23 we21502.79 have21502.95 so21503.59 much21503.83 to21504.15 give21504.23 that21505.03 for21505.27 the21505.43 Commonwealth21505.51 and21506.07 we21506.31 have21506.47 the21506.71 space21506.79 and21507.71 we21507.79 have21507.95 the21508.11 ability,21508.27 and21508.67 we21508.91 have21508.99 the21509.23 staff21509.39 that21509.71 are21509.87 absolutely21510.27 wanting21511.31 to21511.63 make21511.79 that21511.95 happen.21512.19
21512.59 SPEAKER2621512.59 -21512.59 Yeah.21512.59 Thank21512.99 you.21513.15 I21513.31 wanted21513.55 to21513.79 know21513.95 that.21514.19 Thank21514.43 you21514.51 very21514.75 much21514.91 for21515.15 the21515.31 clarity21515.47 for21516.19 your21516.27 application.21516.43
21518.59 SPEAKER221518.59 -21518.59 Thank21518.59 you.21518.91
21520.27 SPEAKER3821520.27 -21520.27 Erin21520.27 Moler.21521.7
21521.95 SPEAKER221521.95 -21521.95 Erin21521.95 Moler.21522.27
21549.8 SPEAKER4721549.8 -21549.8 Good21549.8 afternoon.21550.2 My21551.63 name21551.79 is21551.87 Erin21552.11 Molnar,21552.51 and21553.39 I'm21553.55 here21553.71 as21553.95 a21554.11 parent21554.19 of21554.59 a21554.83 921554.91 year21555.15 old,21555.23 Tay,21555.63 who21556.51 currently21556.83 resides21557.31 at21557.63 321557.87 Rivers,21558.11 the21558.99 only21559.15 DMH21559.47 clinical21560.11 intensive21560.67 residential21561.47 treatment21562.11 program21562.51 in21562.83 the21562.99 state,21563.15 which21564.27 is21564.51 proposed21564.67 to21565.07 be21565.23 eliminated21565.47 for21566.11 fiscal21566.27 year21566.67 2021566.99 26.21567.39 Until21568.83 621569.31 weeks21569.55 ago,21569.87 Tay21570.35 had21570.59 been21570.75 hospitalized21570.99 at21571.55 child21571.79 psychiatric21572.19 units21572.99 521573.55 times21573.87 in21574.19 the21574.35 past21574.51 year21574.83 and21575.07 a21575.15 half21575.23 for21576.46 mental21576.7 health21577.02 and21577.26 behavioral21577.58 challenges21578.06 that21578.62 cause21578.78 near21579.1 constant21579.42 emotional21579.9 dysregulation21580.38 resulting21581.98 in21582.3 both21582.46 self21582.86 harm21583.18 and21583.58 outward21583.9 focused21584.46 aggression.21584.86 The21586.54 admissions21586.78 started21587.26 coming21587.58 closer21587.9 and21588.46 closer21588.62 together.21589.1 Applying21590.5 for21590.82 DMH21591.14 services21591.7 was21592.42 not21592.66 mentioned21592.98 until21593.54 Tay's21594.02 fourth21594.5 hospital21594.98 stay.21595.54 I21596.58 now21596.82 realize21597.06 that21597.46 should21597.62 have21597.78 happened21598.02 long21598.58 before.21598.9 Tay21600.1 was21600.42 home21600.58 from21600.82 hospital21601.06 stay21601.62 number21602.02 421602.42 just21602.74 621603.06 days21603.3 before21603.7 their21604.02 therapist21604.26 had21604.82 to21604.98 call21605.14 an21605.38 ambulance21605.46 during21606.1 a21606.18 session,21606.5 and21607.3 we21607.54 were21607.7 headed21607.86 for21608.1 inpatient21608.34 stay21608.98 number21609.46 5.21609.86 This21611.86 time,21612.1 while21612.42 Tay21612.66 boarded21612.9 the21613.38 ER,21613.54 I21614.02 found21614.18 321614.5 Rivers21614.74 myself21615.3 by21616.1 Googling21616.34 and21616.74 clicking21616.98 through21617.3 pages21617.54 of21617.94 programs21618.1 that21618.66 didn't21618.9 help21619.22 921619.54 year21619.78 olds.21620.02 The21621.4 only21621.48 option21621.88 I21622.2 found21622.28 other21622.6 than21622.84 321623.08 Rivers21623.24 was21623.64 a21623.8 network21623.96 of21624.44 private21624.68 residential21625.16 schools21625.72 where21626.12 only21626.36 121626.76 branch21627 accepted21627.56 children21628.04 1021628.52 in21629.96 Orange21630.2 County,21630.52 California.21630.92 Our21632.6 options21632.84 were21633.08 Belchertown,21633.4 Massachusetts21634.04 or21635.4 California.21635.72 Having21637.88 had21638.28 my21638.52 child21638.68 boarded21639.08 at21639.4 the21639.56 ER21639.72 now21640.12 521640.36 times21640.6 awaiting21641.16 an21641.72 inpatient21641.96 bed21642.52 at21642.92 times21643.16 for21643.4 close21643.64 to21643.88 a21644.12 week,21644.2 I21645.16 imagine21645.4 that21645.8 321646.04 Rivers21646.2 must21646.6 be21646.84 overwhelmed21647.16 with21647.88 referrals21648.12 and21648.68 a21648.84 long21649 wait21649.24 list.21649.48 Getting21651.37 Tay21651.69 into21652.01 321652.33 rivers21652.57 took21653.05 521653.29 weeks.21653.69 When21654.89 Tay21655.21 finally21655.45 arrived21655.93 at21656.25 321656.41 rivers,21656.65 I21656.97 was21657.13 shocked21657.37 to21657.69 learn21657.93 that21658.33 the21658.49 program21658.65 was21659.05 less21659.29 than21659.53 half21659.77 full,21660.17 even21661.05 though21661.37 kids21661.53 continue21661.93 to21662.41 sit21662.57 in21662.81 ER21663.05 hallways21663.45 awaiting21664.33 care.21664.89 While21666.8 hospitalized,21667.12 Tay21667.92 called21668.16 home21668.4 daily,21668.72 sobbing.21669.68 Now21671.12 every21671.44 time21671.76 I21672 answer21672.16 their21672.48 calls,21672.72 I21673.12 hear21673.28 a21673.52 happy,21673.68 hi,21674.64 mama.21674.88 So21675.44 I21675.84 have21676 equestrian.21676.32 With21678.32 the21678.48 support21678.72 of21679.04 321679.28 rivers,21679.52 we21680.12 are21680.2 confident21680.44 that21680.92 when21681 Tay21681.24 comes21681.56 home21681.72 this21682.04 time,21682.28 there21682.6 will21682.84 be21683 no21683.16 more21683.32 merry-go-round21683.56 of21684.36 ER21684.68 boarding21685 and21685.4 inpatient21685.64 treatment.21686.2 Parents21687.64 like21687.96 me21688.12 across21688.36 the21688.68 state21688.84 are21689.88 not21690.04 told21690.36 DMH's21690.84 residential21691.72 programs21692.6 even21693.16 exist.21693.48 It21694.99 would21695.23 be21695.39 a21695.55 disservice21695.71 to21696.19 the21696.35 families21696.51 of21696.91 Massachusetts21697.15 if21697.95 the21698.11 budget21698.19 for21698.59 those21698.75 programs21699.07 is21699.55 slashed21699.71 because21700.27 our21700.59 representatives21700.75 believe21701.47 believe21701.95 our21702.43 children21702.67 don't21703.07 need21703.31 it.21703.47 DMH21704.75 is21705.23 being21705.39 told21705.63 that21705.87 underutilized21706.11 services21706.99 means21707.55 there21707.87 is21708.03 no21708.19 need.21708.43 And21709.7 I'm21709.86 here21710.02 to21710.18 tell21710.34 you21710.5 that21712.1 there21712.42 is21712.66 a21712.98 great21713.14 need,21713.38 but21714.18 there21714.34 is21714.5 a21714.74 communication21714.9 disconnect21715.86 within21716.34 the21716.66 system.21716.82 I21718.26 respectfully21718.5 ask21719.3 you21719.54 to21719.78 help21719.94 fix21720.18 that21720.5 system21720.74 so21721.14 that21721.3 access21721.62 to21721.94 deeply21722.18 needed21722.58 DMH21722.9 services21723.46 and21724.58 referrals21724.82 to21725.3 the21725.46 CIRT21725.7 are21726.42 made21726.66 clearly21726.9 available21727.38 to21727.86 kids21728.02 in21728.26 crisis.21728.5 I'm21729.7 so21729.78 glad21730.02 we21730.26 found21730.42 321730.74 rivers21730.98 for21731.3 Tay,21731.54 but21731.78 I21731.94 know21732.02 there21732.18 are21732.42 families21732.5 like21732.9 mine21733.06 across21733.38 the21733.7 state21733.86 who21734.1 are21734.26 struggling,21734.42 and21735.14 it21735.38 shouldn't21735.54 be21735.86 on21736.02 them21736.1 to21736.34 hunt21736.5 down21736.74 these21736.9 supports21737.22 on21737.62 Google.21737.78 Thank21738.5 you21738.74 for21738.9 your21739.06 time.21739.22
21739.7 SPEAKER221739.7 -21739.7 Thank21739.7 you.21740.58 Oh,21741.46 got21741.78 a21742.02 question.21742.1 Representative21742.74 Odoza.21743.22
21744.98 SPEAKER4821744.98 -21744.98 Thank21744.98 you21745.14 so21745.54 much21745.7 for21746.1 for21746.42 staying21746.82 this21747.54 time21747.94 to21748.42 share21748.66 your21748.82 story.21749.06 It21749.46 really21749.62 does21750.1 matter.21750.42 And21750.74 I21750.9 have21751.46 just21751.62 a21751.78 very21751.86 simple21752.18 question21752.71 if21752.87 you21753.03 don't21753.11 mind21753.35 asking21753.67 answering.21754.23 Where21755.11 in21755.43 the21755.59 Commonwealth21755.67 do21756.23 you21756.39 live?21756.47
21757.27 SPEAKER4721757.27 -21757.27 Rutland,21757.27 Massachusetts.21757.59 And21758.55 where21758.71 is21758.95 Rutland,21759.11 Massachusetts?21759.59 It's21761.11 about21761.51 2021761.99 minutes21762.23 from21762.55 the21762.79 center21762.95 of21763.27 Worcester,21763.43 right21763.91 over21764.07 the21764.31 Airport21764.47 Hill.21764.87
21765.19 SPEAKER4821765.19 -21765.19 And21765.19 has21765.27 it21765.51 been21765.67 difficult21765.91 for21766.31 you21766.39 to21766.63 get21766.71 to21766.87 321767.03 Rivers?21767.27
21768.74 SPEAKER4721768.74 -21768.74 Easier21768.74 than21769.22 Orange21769.46 County,21769.78 California.21770.1 Thank21771.06 you.21771.22
21772.02 SPEAKER3521772.02 -21772.02 Yeah.21772.02
21772.34 SPEAKER4821772.34 -21772.34 I21772.34 appreciate21772.66 it.21773.06 Thank21773.3 you.21773.46
21780.58 SPEAKER221780.58 -21780.58 Is21780.58 Athena21780.74 Mueller?21781.54
21787.73 SPEAKER321787.73 -21787.73 And21787.73 then21787.97 afterwards,21788.45 we21789.01 have21789.17 a21789.49 panel21789.65 of21789.97 Pamela21790.37 Hooks,21790.85 Tina21791.41 Champaign21791.89 Cutchens,21792.45 Courtney21793.33 Shello,21793.81 and21794.37 Chantelle21794.61 Gooden.21795.41 So21795.89 we're21796.13 ready.21796.37
21799.47 SPEAKER4921799.47 -21799.47 Hello.21799.47 My21799.87 name21800.11 is21800.19 Athena.21800.51 I'm21801.15 currently21801.39 1321801.79 years21802.19 old,21802.43 and21803.07 my21803.31 921803.55 year21803.71 old21803.87 sibling21804.11 Tay21804.51 is21804.91 a21805.15 student21805.31 at21805.71 321805.87 rivers21806.11 in21806.35 Belcher21806.51 Town.21806.91 Growing21807.71 up21808.03 with21808.27 Tay21808.43 has21808.59 been21808.83 a21808.99 long21809.07 term21809.31 challenge21809.63 considering21810.11 their21810.67 mental21810.83 health21811.15 issues.21811.47 It's21812.47 taken21812.79 a21813.03 long21813.11 time21813.43 to21813.67 get21813.75 them21813.91 into21814.07 321814.39 Rivers.21814.63 During21815.59 hospital21815.99 visits,21816.55 I21816.95 would21817.11 often21817.27 overhear21817.59 my21818.07 parents'21818.23 phone21818.55 calls,21818.87 hearing21819.91 my21820.23 921820.39 year21820.63 old21820.79 sibling21821.03 crying21821.43 their21821.91 eyes21822.15 out21822.55 every21822.79 day.21823.11 However,21824.61 since21825.25 my21825.57 sibling21825.73 has21826.05 been21826.21 in21826.45 the21826.61 only21826.69 residential21827.09 mental21827.73 health21828.05 school21828.37 taking21829.65 kids21829.97 their21830.37 age21830.53 in21830.85 the21831.01 state,21831.17 I21832.21 have21832.37 heard21832.61 many21832.85 more21833.25 happy21833.57 calls21833.89 where21834.37 I've21834.61 only21834.85 visited21835.17 them21835.57 once,21835.81 but21836.56 they21836.88 love21836.96 the21837.28 school21837.44 and21837.68 has21838.24 already21838.48 had21838.88 made21839.12 a21839.44 massive21839.6 positive21840.88 impact21841.44 on21841.84 my21842.08 siblings'21842.24 mental21842.72 health.21843.12 Much21844 more21844.24 in21844.48 about21844.72 a21844.96 month21845.12 than21845.52 the21845.76 now21845.92 several21846.16 months21846.56 they21846.88 have21847.04 now21847.28 accumulated21847.68 in21848.88 hospital.21849.2 However,21850.45 while21851.01 I21851.33 wish21851.41 they21851.65 had21851.81 gotten21851.97 in21852.29 sooner,21852.53 I21853.25 well21853.41 understand21853.81 how21854.29 long21854.53 it21854.77 takes21854.93 to21855.17 be21855.33 admitted21855.49 to21855.89 these21855.97 schools.21856.29 With21857.57 the21857.81 current21857.97 amount21858.29 of21858.53 DMH21858.69 case21859.25 workers21859.49 already,21860.05 I21861.01 fear21861.17 how21861.41 much21861.57 longer21861.81 it21862.05 would21862.13 take21862.29 with21862.53 half21863.28 the21863.6 case21863.68 workers.21864 I21865.12 say21865.28 this21865.52 on21865.68 behalf21865.84 of21866.16 all21866.4 siblings21866.64 of21867.04 children21867.12 with21867.52 mental21867.76 health21868 issues.21868.32 Living21869.2 with21869.52 them21869.68 as21869.92 much21870.16 as21870.4 we21870.56 care21870.72 is21870.96 hard,21871.12 and21872.16 we21872.4 as21872.64 their21872.8 family21873.04 want21873.84 them21874 to21874.16 get21874.32 the21874.48 help21874.56 they21874.88 need21875.04 as21875.2 efficiently21875.44 as21875.92 possible.21876.08 Because21877.15 if21877.39 we21877.55 can21877.79 keep21878.35 our21878.59 struggling21878.75 family21879.23 members21879.55 safe,21879.87 especially21880.19 those21880.59 who21880.83 struggle21880.99 with21881.31 regulation,21881.47 like21882.11 my21882.43 sibling,21882.67 we21883.47 can21883.63 also21883.79 keep21884.11 our21884.27 family21884.43 safe.21884.83
21892.48 SPEAKER221892.48 -21892.48 Thank21892.48 you.21892.8
21905.27 SPEAKER321905.27 -21905.27 Okay.21905.27 So21905.59 do21905.83 you21905.91 know21905.99 which21906.23 which21906.47 ones?21906.63
21911.11 So21911.11 it21911.27 sounds21911.51 like,21911.67 you21911.91 know,21912.07 we21912.23 have,21912.31 421913.19 people21913.43 listed21913.75 on21914.07 this21914.23 panel,21914.39 but,21914.71 if21915.75 whoever21916.07 the21916.47 first21916.55 221916.79 are,21917.03 Pamela21917.27 Hooks21917.83 and21918.65 Tina.21918.89 There's21919.37 a21919.69 person21919.77 that's21920.09 on21920.25 the21920.49 list.21920.57 Okay.21921.85 And21922.25 they're21922.49 in21922.65 your21922.81 first21922.97 panel?21923.21
21934.56 And,21934.56 I'm21936.56 guessing21936.8 the21937.12 second21937.28 group21937.52 is21937.84 Courtney21938 and21938.32 Chantelle.21938.56 Okay.21939.76 Great.21940.08 And21940.32 if21940.48 if21940.72 you21940.88 guys21940.96 wanna21941.28 maybe21941.6 sit21941.84 up21942 front,21942.08 so21942.48 that21942.64 way21942.88 you21943.36 guys21943.44 are21943.68 ready,21943.84 to21944.48 come21944.64 in,21944.88 when21945.36 the,21945.52 this21945.84 panel21946 is21946.4 done.21946.56 And21947.04 remember,21947.28 you21947.6 have21947.76 621947.92 minutes.21948.16 Anything,21948.72 after,21949.84 you21950.56 can21950.72 always21950.88 submit21951.12 written21951.52 testimony.21951.84 Thank21952.48 you.21952.64
21953.28 SPEAKER5021953.28 -21953.28 I21953.28 think21953.36 that21953.68 means21953.76 the21954.08 pressure's21954.24 on21954.64 me.21954.8 My21956.32 name21956.56 is21956.72 Pamela21956.88 Hooksager.21957.36 I'm21958.16 the21958.32 executive21958.56 director21959.04 of21959.44 the21959.52 Parent21959.6 Professional21960.15 Advocacy21960.71 League,21961.27 also21961.75 known21961.99 as21962.31 POW.21962.55 We're21963.11 a21963.35 nonprofit21963.51 providing21964.39 non21964.95 clinical21965.27 peer21966.15 support21966.63 for21967.35 caregivers21967.67 raising21968.55 children21969.27 with21969.75 mental21969.99 health21970.47 challenges.21970.95 We21972.15 are21972.47 and21973.78 represent21974.02 the21974.74 families21974.9 affected21975.46 by21975.94 the21976.18 proposed21976.42 cuts21976.9 to21977.62 DMH21977.86 Children,21978.5 Youth21978.9 and21979.22 Family21979.46 Services.21980.02 I21981.78 am21981.94 also21982.18 a21982.5 passionate21982.66 mother21983.3 of21984.02 a21984.18 2721984.34 year21985.38 old21985.54 daughter21985.86 who21986.58 is21986.9 alive21987.3 today21987.94 because21989.32 of21989.48 the21989.64 services21989.96 she21990.52 got21990.76 from21991.08 DMH.21991.4 The21993.24 number21993.4 of21993.72 kids21993.88 and21994.2 parents21994.44 that21995 need21995.16 your21995.4 help21995.64 is21996.28 growing.21996.6 Last21997.72 year,21998.12 Powell21998.84 supported21999.24 over22000.2 60022001.54 caregivers22003.06 who22003.86 were22004.02 brand22004.34 new22004.74 to22004.98 Pal.22005.22 We22006.18 had22006.58 over22006.9 6,00022007.38 contacts22008.5 with22009.78 parents22010.18 and22010.66 caregivers22010.98 of22011.54 children.22011.78 So22013.06 far22013.3 this22013.62 year,22013.94 with22014.42 322014.66 months22014.98 left22015.3 in22015.62 the22015.78 year,22015.94 that22016.91 number22017.15 has22017.55 already22017.87 climbed22018.19 to22018.83 over22019.07 a22019.47 thousand22019.71 new22020.27 families.22020.59 The22021.79 acuity22022.03 of22022.51 these22022.67 children22022.99 is22023.71 higher22024.11 and22024.91 more22025.15 frightening22025.39 than22025.87 we've22026.11 anything22026.51 we've22026.91 ever22027.23 seen.22027.47 Wait22028.51 lists22028.75 continue22029.23 to22029.71 be22029.87 long22030.11 and22031.1 truly22031.34 accessible22032.06 services22032.94 scarce.22033.9 Where22035.34 would22035.66 you22035.9 turn22036.14 if22037.74 your22038.06 422038.3 year22038.54 old22038.78 tried22039.1 to22039.34 jump22039.58 from22040.22 a22040.54 second22040.7 story22041.1 loft22041.58 because22042.46 his22042.86 life22043.1 is22043.42 too22043.66 hard?22043.98 Or22045.8 maybe22046.12 your22046.44 1022046.84 year22047.08 old22047.24 who22047.96 destroys22048.36 your22049.08 home22049.32 and22050.12 threatens22050.44 to22050.92 kill22051.08 their22051.32 sibling22051.72 is22052.84 sent22053.16 home22053.56 from22054.28 the22054.52 ED22054.84 because22055.96 inpatient22056.52 psych22057.32 unit22057.56 won't22058.44 take22058.76 a22059 kid22059.16 who's22059.4 aggressive.22059.72 Or22061.61 maybe22061.85 you22062.17 have22062.33 a22062.49 1422062.65 year22063.05 old22063.21 that22064.49 has22064.65 been22064.89 to22065.05 the22065.29 ED22065.45 522066.33 times22066.73 in22067.05 622067.29 months22067.61 and22068.73 can't22069.05 get22069.45 out22069.69 of22069.85 bed22069.93 for22070.25 school22070.49 because22071.53 they22072.01 want22072.33 to22072.65 die.22072.81 These22074.42 stories22074.66 are22075.3 not22075.54 unusual.22075.78 They22077.14 happen22077.46 every22077.94 day22078.18 to22078.9 families22079.06 in22079.54 the22079.7 Commonwealth.22079.86 They22081.3 happen22081.62 to22082.18 your22082.42 constituents.22082.82 Maybe22084.58 they22084.98 even22085.22 happen22085.54 to22085.86 you.22086.02 For22087.69 most22087.85 of22088.25 these22088.33 families,22088.65 DMH22089.93 is22090.73 not22090.97 the22091.37 solution22091.61 of22092.33 first22092.65 resort.22092.97 It22094.09 is22094.25 their22094.57 last22094.97 hope22095.45 in22096.33 a22096.57 long22096.73 line22097.13 of22097.37 disappointments22097.69 for22098.81 their22099.05 child22099.37 and22099.93 family.22100.17 Cutting22101.81 funds22102.21 and22102.93 closing22103.25 programs22103.73 or22104.85 scaling22105.17 back22105.57 on22105.89 programs22106.21 and22106.93 services22107.25 will22108.37 inflict22108.69 enduring22109.73 and22110.77 possibly22111.17 irreversible22111.97 harm22112.93 on22113.81 our22113.97 most22114.21 vulnerable22114.61 children,22115.65 their22116.74 siblings,22117.06 and22118.34 their22118.58 caregivers.22118.82 The22120.82 cuts22121.14 will22121.7 send22122.02 122122.74 message22123.38 to22124.5 children,22124.74 you22126.26 are22126.82 not22127.06 a22127.3 priority.22127.46 We22128.98 do22129.7 not22129.86 care.22130.18 These22131.93 kids22132.25 need22132.89 your22133.37 help22133.77 and22134.57 protection.22134.89 Without22136.65 it,22137.05 I22138.17 can22138.33 assure22138.57 you22139.05 that22140.33 kids22140.73 in22141.21 your22141.45 community22141.77 and22143.21 across22143.53 the22144.17 state22144.41 will22145.63 die.22146.11 Maybe22147.63 their22148.11 parents22148.35 too.22148.99 Please22150.51 reject22150.99 the22151.47 cuts22151.63 to22152.43 DMHCYF22152.75 and22154.75 restore22155.07 funding22155.71 to22156.27 the22156.43 fiscal22156.51 2522156.99 levels.22157.79 Thank22158.63 you.22158.87
22161.59 SPEAKER5122161.59 -22161.59 Good22161.59 evening.22161.83 My22162.23 name22162.47 is22162.55 Lydia22162.79 Todd,22163.35 and22163.67 I22163.83 serve22164.07 as22164.39 executive22164.71 director22165.27 of22165.75 n22165.99 s22166.15 NFI22166.47 Massachusetts.22167.03 We22168.47 operate22168.71 222169.27 intensive22169.51 residential22170.23 treatment22170.79 programs22171.27 that22171.75 serve22171.99 young22172.39 people22172.63 who22173.35 have22173.51 been22173.75 caught22174.07 in22174.31 this22174.47 revolving22174.79 door22175.27 of22175.59 emergency22175.91 room22176.39 boarding,22176.71 psych22177.43 hospital22177.83 placement,22178.31 back22179.03 home,22179.27 and22179.59 around22179.83 again.22180.23 Without22181.11 our22181.59 services,22181.75 those22182.87 youth22183.11 will22183.35 continue22183.51 to22183.91 cycle22184.15 through22184.47 expensive22184.87 and22185.43 disruptive22185.67 hospital22186.31 placements.22186.79 Yesterday,22188.05 the22188.53 DMH22188.69 commissioner22189.25 testified22189.81 that22190.45 IRTPs22190.77 are22191.57 underutilized.22191.81 This22193.17 is22193.49 not22193.89 due22194.61 to22194.93 lack22195.09 of22195.41 need,22195.57 but22196.05 to22196.29 other22196.45 phenomena,22196.85 including22197.57 admissions22198.13 being22198.85 closed22199.17 for22199.83 continuing22199.99 care22200.63 units22200.95 and22201.67 the22201.83 clunky22201.99 referral22202.55 process.22203.11 Parents22204.15 tell22204.55 us22204.79 it22204.95 now22205.11 takes22205.35 422205.67 to22205.91 822206.07 months22206.39 for22206.87 a22207.19 referral.22207.27 Hospitals22208.23 report22208.87 a22209.19 minimum22209.35 of22209.83 10022210.15 days.22210.79 They22211.75 cannot22211.99 wait22212.47 that22212.71 long22212.95 to22213.27 free22213.43 up22213.67 a22213.91 bed.22214.15 So22214.91 many22215.15 ceased22215.63 making22216.11 referrals22216.59 to22217.15 our22217.31 programs.22217.55 The22218.59 commissioner22218.83 also22219.39 stated22219.63 that22220.03 utilization22220.27 was22220.91 low22221.23 because22221.87 of22222.19 staffing,22222.51 but22223.23 we22223.39 in22223.55 fact22223.79 have22224.03 been22224.19 staffed22224.43 at22224.83 9022225.07 to22225.47 95%22225.71 for22226.83 over22227.15 a22227.47 year.22227.63 Now22228.56 that22228.72 the22228.96 continuing22229.2 care22229.76 units22230.08 are22230.48 coming22230.64 back22230.88 online22231.2 and22231.92 DMH22232.16 has22232.8 begun22233.12 to22233.52 streamline22233.76 the22234.24 application22234.48 process,22235.12 referrals22235.76 are22236.32 up22236.56 again.22236.88 Community22238.08 services22238.56 alone22239.04 cannot22239.52 provide22239.84 for22240.24 youth22240.4 who22240.64 are22240.8 at22241.04 such22241.28 risk22241.6 of22241.84 harm.22242.08 Mental22243.14 health22243.38 needs22243.7 have22243.94 only22244.18 increased22244.58 and22244.98 especially22245.22 for22245.78 the22246.02 third22246.26 to22246.9 half22247.14 of22247.62 the22247.78 youth22247.94 we22248.26 serve22248.42 in22248.74 our22248.9 programs22249.22 who22250.02 are22250.1 non22250.34 binary,22250.66 transgender,22251.62 or22252.5 gender22252.74 fluid.22253.14 DMH22254.18 invested22254.82 time22255.38 and22255.54 money22255.78 to22256.18 relocate22256.34 us22256.98 at22257.57 their22257.89 request22258.21 in22258.77 02/202222259.25 and22260.85 ensure22261.09 we22261.41 had22261.65 a22261.81 facility22261.89 that22262.45 could22262.61 serve22262.93 every22263.49 gender.22263.89 Given22264.85 all22265.17 of22265.33 this,22265.41 it22265.65 is22265.81 irresponsible22265.97 to22266.93 take22267.09 this22267.33 resource22267.65 offline.22268.37 It22269.66 would22269.82 take22270.14 years22270.46 to22270.86 stand22271.1 up22271.34 such22271.5 a22271.74 program22271.9 from22272.3 scratch.22272.62 Please22273.42 restore22273.82 funding22274.3 for22274.78 these22274.94 essential22275.26 programs22275.74 and22276.54 hold22276.78 the22277.02 system22277.18 accountable22277.66 for22278.14 a22278.38 reasonable22278.54 referral22279.1 process.22279.66 Thank22280.38 you.22280.62
22285.27 SPEAKER5222285.27 -22285.27 Good22285.27 evening,22285.59 everyone.22285.91 My22286.39 name22286.55 is22286.63 Tina22286.87 Champagne.22287.27 And22287.91 I'm22288.15 the22288.47 CEO22288.87 for22289.27 Cutchens22289.51 Programs22289.99 for22290.31 Children22290.47 and22290.87 Families.22291.03 We22291.43 are22291.59 located22291.75 proudly22292.63 in22293.19 Western22293.43 Massachusetts.22293.91 I22295.19 am22295.35 we22295.75 have22296.07 the22296.39 CIRT22296.71 program22297.43 and22297.91 we've22298.15 been22298.39 we've22298.63 had22299.02 this22299.18 program22299.54 for22299.9 3222300.14 years.22300.62 A22301.82 couple22301.9 of22302.14 years22302.22 ago,22302.38 we22302.7 moved22302.86 the22303.18 program.22303.34 We've22303.74 all22303.98 been22304.14 through22304.38 staffing22304.78 issues.22305.18 We've22305.58 bought22305.82 we've22306.06 both22306.54 moved22307.1 our22307.42 programs22307.66 for22308.14 the22308.3 betterment22308.46 of22309.1 our22309.26 children22309.34 and22309.74 families.22309.9 Underutilized22310.78 does22311.74 not22311.98 mean22312.46 that22312.78 there22312.94 is22313.26 no22313.5 need.22313.82 And22314.7 we've22314.78 met22315.02 with22315.1 hospital22315.58 systems22315.98 and22316.7 DMH22316.94 to22317.74 to22318.06 uncover22318.38 this22319.34 issue22319.66 with22319.98 the22320.22 referral22320.38 process.22320.86 And22321.5 so22321.66 I22321.98 beg22322.14 you22322.46 to22322.7 dig22323.1 deeper22323.42 and22323.98 to22324.14 save22324.3 our22324.62 programs.22324.78
22326.22 SPEAKER222326.22 -22326.22 Thank22326.22 you.22326.54
22328.3 SPEAKER322328.3 -22328.3 Senator22328.3 Kennedy.22328.7
22330.85 SPEAKER5322330.85 -22330.85 Thank22330.85 you22331.09 so22331.33 much22331.49 both22331.89 for22332.21 your22332.37 testimony22332.77 today22333.25 and22333.49 and22333.57 the22333.73 work22333.81 you22333.97 did.22334.13 I22334.25 think22334.37 there's22334.53 been22334.77 a22335.01 lot22335.09 of22335.25 conversation22335.41 around22336.13 Pappas22337.01 and22337.49 POCASET22337.81 and,22338.61 our22339.49 IRTPs22339.65 and22340.45 the22340.69 potential22340.85 threats22341.25 with22341.57 the22341.81 closure,22341.89 I22342.29 don't22342.37 think22342.53 has22342.77 had22342.97 enough,22343.21 conversations.22344.25 So22344.89 I22345.05 appreciate22345.29 what22345.93 you're22346.09 bringing22346.25 forward.22346.57 And22346.81 I22347.05 I22347.21 wanna22347.37 highlight22347.77 too22348.17 in22348.49 particular22348.65 and22349.13 and22349.37 thank22349.53 you,22349.77 as22350.89 the22351.13 the22351.37 unique22351.53 programs22352.01 that22352.49 you22352.65 offer22352.89 that22353.29 provide22354.25 affirming22354.73 care22355.29 for22356.2 young22356.84 residents22357.32 of22357.72 our22357.88 commonwealth22358.12 that22358.6 we22358.76 know22358.92 face22359.24 very22359.72 targeted22359.96 attacks22360.52 at22360.84 this22361 time.22361.24 And22361.48 so22361.72 I22362.36 want22362.6 to22362.76 acknowledge22362.92 that.22363.4 And,22363.64 just22364.92 wanna22365.16 if22365.8 you22365.88 can22366.04 speak22366.2 a22366.36 little22366.52 bit22366.68 because22366.84 we22367.16 had22367.32 this22367.48 conversation22367.72 yesterday22368.36 with22368.68 the22368.92 commissioners22369.08 and22369.48 and22369.72 the22369.96 secretary,22370.04 around22372.44 consensus22372.68 and22373.24 closures22373.48 as22373.96 a22374.12 result22374.2 of22374.52 that.22374.68 And22375.16 I22375.32 know22375.4 in22375.56 past22375.64 conversations,22375.96 we've22376.6 talked22376.84 about22377.08 just22377.96 a22378.08 little22378.2 bit22378.44 speak22378.6 to22378.84 what22379 the22379.16 investment22379.4 that22380.04 the22380.28 state22380.44 has22381.08 made22381.32 to22381.88 your22382.04 facilities,22382.28 that22383.64 would22383.8 be22384.04 lost22384.2 in22384.81 just22385.05 and22385.11 you22385.13 mentioned22385.45 in22385.77 2022.22386.01 So22386.89 not22387.13 decades22387.37 ago,22387.77 but22388.01 in22388.17 recent22388.33 time.22388.65 And22389.37 and22389.45 can22389.61 you22389.77 just22389.85 talk22390.01 a22390.25 little22390.33 bit22390.57 about22390.73 that22390.97 cost22391.13 that22391.37 that's22391.53 been22391.77 invested?22392.01 And22392.41
22393.93 SPEAKER5122393.93 -22393.93 Absolutely.22393.93 We're22394.57 located22394.81 in22395.29 a22395.37 state22395.53 facility,22395.85 and22396.41 it22396.65 was22396.89 fully22397.13 renovated22397.53 for22398.25 us22398.49 to22398.81 to22399.13 go22399.53 there22399.77 and22400.64 serve22400.96 this22401.28 population22401.6 safely22402.16 with22402.56 individual22402.88 bedrooms,22403.44 individual22404 bathrooms.22404.64 It22405.68 took22405.92 probably22406.32 a22406.72 year22406.8 and22407.04 a22407.12 half22407.28 to22407.52 complete22407.68 those22408.08 renovations.22408.4 I22409.12 don't22409.28 know22409.44 the22409.68 total22409.84 cost22410.16 because22410.48 that22410.72 would22410.88 be,22411.12 the22411.6 on22411.84 the22412 Commonwealth's22412.16 books.22412.8 But,22413.62 for22414.1 example,22414.5 not22415.22 the22415.54 non22415.7 barricadeable22416.1 doors22416.9 alone22417.46 that22417.86 are22418.02 required22418.18 to22419.3 serve22419.62 a22419.94 group22420.1 of22420.34 young22420.42 people22420.74 who22421.06 are22421.22 at22421.38 such22421.46 risk22421.78 of22422.02 harm22422.18 to22422.42 themselves22422.58 so22422.98 we22423.22 could22423.38 enter22423.54 their22424.26 rooms22424.5 cost22425.06 about22425.38 $10,00022425.62 apiece,22426.58 and22426.9 I22427.14 believe22427.22 that22427.7 we22428.02 have22428.18 4522428.9 of22429.54 those.22429.7 So22430.1 that's22430.34 just22430.66 an22430.98 example22431.14 of22431.7 the22431.86 investment22432.02 that22432.58 was22432.74 made22432.9 in22433.7 this22433.86 program.22434.18 And,22435.06 also,22435.22 even22435.86 though22436.1 these22436.26 are22436.5 the22436.66 deepest22436.74 end22437.3 youth22437.54 in22437.94 the22438.1 system,22438.34 this22439.38 affects22439.7 upstream22440.5 all22441.3 the22441.54 way22441.62 because22441.94 if22442.26 the22442.42 hospitals22442.58 can't22443.22 unclog22443.54 the22444.57 kids22444.81 that22445.13 can't22445.29 stabilize22445.61 over22446.49 to22446.81 us22446.97 for22447.37 more22447.69 permanent22448.01 stability,22448.65 then22449.45 that22449.69 backs22449.85 up22450.09 the22450.33 emergency22450.49 departments22451.05 and22451.53 we're22451.69 gonna22451.93 be22452.41 right22452.57 back22452.89 to22453.05 this22453.29 huge22453.61 ed22454.09 boarding22454.81 crisis22455.21 that22455.53 we22455.69 had22455.85 a22456.09 few22456.17 years22456.33 ago.22456.65 Our22458.2 situation22458.44 is22459 a22459.16
22459.24 SPEAKER5222459.24 -22459.24 little22459.24 bit22459.48 different.22459.72 Our22461.16 property22461.48 is22462.36 122462.92 that22463.24 it22463.64 does22463.8 not22463.96 belong22464.2 to22464.52 the22464.6 Commonwealth.22464.76 And22465.96 so22466.2 we22466.52 invested,22467 we22467.56 took22467.8 out22467.96 loans,22468.28 we22468.68 we22469 also22469.4 were22469.72 able22469.96 to22470.2 re22470.36 receive22470.76 an22471.16 FCF22471.4 loan,22472.12 with22473.22 a22473.46 letter22473.61 of22474.65 partnership22474.97 from22475.53 DMH22475.77 that22476.33 this22476.97 was22477.22 a22477.38 program22477.46 that22477.93 they22478.1 wanted,22478.33 and22479.22 also22479.46 millions22480.49 of22480.89 dollars22481.06 out22481.38 of22481.53 our22481.69 own22481.85 pockets22482.1 as22482.49 well.22482.65 And22482.97 so,22483.22 you22483.77 know,22483.93 we're22484.1 all22484.42 in22484.57 at22485.06 approximately22485.38 4,600,000,22486.18 if22488.53 you22488.61 consider22488.69 the22489.17 loans22489.33 and22489.65 everything22489.81 else.22490.13 This22490.53 is22490.77 not22490.93 state22491.25 owned.22491.49 So22492.13 again,22492.29 we22492.61 made22492.85 this22493.09 investment,22493.33 as22494.61 part22494.93 of22495.09 our22495.25 partnership22495.57 with22496.29 DMH22496.61 and22497.17 for22497.49 the22497.65 children22497.89 and22498.21 families22498.37 of22498.77 the22498.85 Commonwealth.22499.01
22500.21 SPEAKER5322500.21 -22500.21 Thank22500.21 you22500.45 so22500.69 much.22500.85 And22501.01 I22501.17 appreciate22501.33 you22501.81 also22501.97 raising22502.29 I22502.77 don't22502.85 think22503.01 we22503.17 paid22503.33 had22503.57 enough22503.81 of22504.21 conversation22504.37 around22504.85 some22505.17 of22505.33 the22505.49 bureaucratic22505.73 challenges22506.37 with22506.85 referrals22507.17 and22507.73 application22507.97 processes22508.77 and22509.41 how22510.13 that22510.29 is22510.53 also22510.77 impacting22511.17 the22511.73 census.22511.89 And22512.37 I'm22513.25 hopeful22513.33 that22513.73 at22513.97 this22514.05 time22514.21 when22514.45 we're22514.69 looking22515.01 at,22515.41 a22515.97 tougher22516.13 budget22516.53 year22516.93 ahead22517.17 that22517.41 we22517.57 can22517.73 also22517.89 be22518.13 more22518.37 strategic22518.93 and22519.49 thoughtful22519.65 and22520.03 innovative22520.43 around22520.99 how22521.39 we're22521.55 bringing22522.19 our22522.59 agencies22522.75 together,22523.39 state22523.87 agencies,22524.19 to22525.39 fill22525.55 beds22525.79 and22526.27 without22526.75 eliminating22527.31 facilities22528.35 altogether,22528.99 but22529.47 to22529.71 better22529.79 get22530.51 people22530.83 that22531.15 need22531.39 access22531.63 to22531.95 beds22532.11 into22532.43 them22532.59 and22532.75 into22532.91 programs.22533.23 So22533.63 thank22533.79 you.22533.95 Thanks.22534.83
22539.37 SPEAKER2622539.37 -22539.37 Thanks.22539.37 Representative22539.53 Pelosi.22540.1
22540.57 SPEAKER4822540.57 -22540.57 Thank22540.57 you.22540.81 And22540.97 I22541.13 grateful22541.77 that22542.33 senator22542.49 Kennedy22542.97 raised22543.45 these22543.77 questions22544.01 because22544.49 I22544.73 think22544.81 it's22544.97 really22545.21 important22545.45 to22545.93 understand22546.17 what22546.81 the22546.97 state22547.21 investment22547.45 and22547.93 what22548.1 your22548.25 investment22548.49 has22549.06 been22549.21 in22549.45 light22549.69 of22549.93 this22550.1 partnership22550.58 that22550.98 has22551.22 existed22551.38 for.22551.78 I22552.18 think22552.26 you22552.5 mentioned22552.66 decades22553.14 now22554.26 and22554.66 it's22556.58 continually22557.3 frustrating22557.94 to22558.42 hear22558.5 this22558.66 conversation22558.9 about22559.38 the22559.7 referral22559.78 process22560.26 because22560.58 what22560.9 I've22561.06 heard22561.22 in22561.46 the22561.54 testimony22561.7 today22562.42 is22562.66 a22563.41 tremendous22563.49 amount22564.21 of22564.61 need.22564.93 And22565.33 I22565.81 just22565.97 want22566.21 to22566.45 go22566.61 back22566.77 to22567.01 some22567.17 of22567.25 the22567.41 the22567.73 the22568.05 parents22568.13 and22568.53 and22568.69 siblings22568.93 who22569.25 have22569.41 spoken,22569.57 about22570.69 what22571.09 a22571.49 godsend22571.57 your22572.29 facilities22572.61 have22573.65 been22573.97 to22574.21 them.22574.37 And22574.61 so,22574.85 you22575.54 know,22575.78 if22576.26 worst22576.5 case22576.74 scenario22577.06 happens22577.54 and22578.66 these22579.06 disclosures22579.62 go22580.42 through,22580.66 in22582.02 your22582.26 to22582.58 your22582.74 mind,22582.9 where22583.38 do22583.7 these22583.86 children22584.18 go?22584.74 What22585.38 what's22585.62 available22585.94 to22586.5 them22586.66 and22586.82 and22587.06 what22587.14 does22587.3 that22587.54 mean22587.7 for22587.94 the22588.02 families22588.18 where22588.58 these22588.82 children22589.06 to22589.46 return22589.62 back22589.86 home22590.09 without22590.33 the22590.57 care22590.81 that22591.05 they22591.21 need?22591.45
22592.01 SPEAKER5222592.01 -22592.01 Sure.22592.01 For22592.41 our22592.65 program,22592.89 there22593.29 is22593.53 no22593.77 other.22594.01 You22595.37 heard22595.61 yesterday22595.85 that22596.33 there's22596.49 community22596.81 services.22597.29 These22598.01 kids22598.17 don't22598.49 come22598.73 to22598.89 us22599.13 because22599.29 the22599.61 community22599.77 services22600.33 are22600.89 being22601.45 effective22601.77 due22602.25 to22602.49 their22602.57 level22602.81 of22603.13 need.22603.29 There's22603.53 no22603.85 offense22604.49 to22604.81 community22604.97 services22605.45 and22605.85 I'm22606.09 very22606.25 grateful22606.49 that22606.89 we've22606.97 expanded22607.37 upon22607.93 our22608.25 community22608.49 services.22608.97 But22610.01 for22610.17 the22610.41 kids22610.57 that22611.05 go22611.21 to22611.45 the22611.61 CIRT,22611.77 ages22612.97 622613.53 to22613.77 12,22614.01 youngest,22615.05 most22615.69 vulnerable,22616.01 kids22616.57 with22616.81 the22616.97 highest22617.26 level22617.67 of22617.78 need22617.9 in22618.14 the22618.31 state.22618.39 There22618.7 is22618.86 nowhere22619.18 else22619.67 for22619.98 them22620.14 to22620.31 go22620.39 but22620.63 back22620.78 to22621.02 the22621.18 emergency22621.26 rooms22621.82 and22622.39 back22622.63 to22622.86 the22623.02 hospitals.22623.26
22625.82 SPEAKER5122625.82 -22625.82 The22625.82 plan22626.06 for22626.39 the22626.63 IRTPs22626.78 is22627.67 there22627.9 are22628.14 222628.31 other22628.54 IRTPs.22628.94 122629.74 serves22629.98 right22630.47 now22630.63 biological22631.04 boys22631.52 and22631.84 122632 serves22632.24 biological22632.64 girls.22633.36 One's22633.76 in22634.16 Taunton,22634.32 one's22634.8 in22635.04 Tewkesbury.22635.2 And22636.24 the22636.4 plan22636.56 would22636.8 be22636.96 that22637.12 they22637.28 would22637.44 relocate22637.76 the22638.56 youth22638.72 to22639.12 122639.44 or22639.92 the22640.16 other22640.32 of22640.56 those22640.8 programs.22641.2 And22642.56 the22642.72 commissioner,22642.88 tells22644.33 us22644.65 that22644.89 obviously22645.53 those22646.01 programs22646.33 would22646.73 have22646.89 to22647.06 learn22647.14 how22647.45 to22647.53 reconfigure22647.77 themselves22648.41 to22649.37 serve22649.53 the22649.85 needs22650.1 of22650.57 transgender,22650.97 non22651.69 binary,22652.01 and22652.57 gender22652.73 fluid22653.06 youth.22653.93 We've22654.89 got22655.22 a22655.53 rich22655.69 history22656.33 of22656.89 this.22657.06 We've22657.29 been22657.45 doing22657.61 it22657.85 for22658.01 2022658.18 years22658.49 and22658.81 have22659.14 good22659.57 expertise22659.81 in22660.29 working22660.45 with22660.85 that22661.33 population22661.57 and22662.13 their22662.29 families.22662.53 So22662.93 I'm22663.17 sure22663.33 there22664.05 would22664.21 be22664.37 hiccups22664.53 along22665.09 the22665.41 way,22665.49 even22665.97 though22666.21 I22666.45 know22666.53 the22666.77 provider22666.93 that22667.41 runs22667.65 those22667.97 programs22668.21 is22668.77 outstanding.22668.93
22672.54 SPEAKER5022672.54 -22672.54 I22672.54 just22672.7 wanted22672.94 to22673.1 add22673.26 quickly.22673.5 You22673.82 asked22674.06 where22674.38 the22674.7 kids22674.86 would22675.18 go.22675.34 They're22676.38 gonna22676.7 go22676.94 to22677.18 EDs22677.34 and22677.9 places22678.06 like22678.54 that,22678.7 and22678.94 then22679.1 they're22679.34 gonna22679.58 discharge22679.74 them22680.3 home22680.54 to22681.42 their22681.58 families22681.82 because22682.38 there's22682.7 no22683.1 place22683.26 for22683.58 them22683.74 to22683.98 go.22684.06 And22684.56 then22684.8 we're22684.88 gonna22685.04 end22685.36 up22685.52 not22685.68 only22685.92 with22686.08 the22686.24 kids22686.32 back22686.64 in22686.8 the22686.96 EDs,22687.2 but22687.84 the22688.08 parents22688.32 as22688.72 well.22688.96
22690.72 SPEAKER5122690.72 -22690.72 And22690.72 we22690.96 also22691.12 now22691.44 have22691.76 more22692 kids22692.32 than22692.72 could22692.96 could22693.44 be22693.76 moved.22693.92 So22694.4 that22694.56 that22694.88 creates22695.2 another22695.6 complexity22696.08 because22696.8 we22697.12 went22697.28 up22697.52 400%22697.68 in22698.64 referrals22699.41 after22700.21 this22700.53 issue22700.85 was22701.17 brought22701.33 to22701.57 light22701.73 in22701.97 the22702.13 February.22702.29
22707.65 SPEAKER5222707.65 -22707.65 Yeah.22707.65 We22707.97 at22708.29 the22708.45 end22708.53 by22708.85 the22708.93 end22709.09 of22709.17 the22709.33 week,22709.41 we'll22709.65 be22709.81 at22709.97 822710.61 kids.22710.85 So22711.87 822712.11 out22712.43 of22712.51 1222712.67 beds22712.99 will22713.31 be22713.39 full.22713.55 And22713.87 that's22714.03 just22714.19 since22715.47 we've22715.71 been22715.95 able22716.11 to22716.35 uncover22716.59 these22717.15 issues22717.47 and22717.95 and22718.27 work22718.59 together22718.83 with22719.79 the22720.03 hospital22720.27 associations,22720.75 with22721.63 DMH22722.11 also,22722.67 and22723.97 together22724.36 as22724.85 a22725.08 unit,22725.16 we've22725.56 just22725.81 started22726.12 to22726.36 scratch22726.6 the22726.93 surface.22727.08 We've22727.72 also22727.89 talked22728.2 to22728.44 DCF22728.6 because22729.24 if,22729.56 you22730.28 know,22730.44 if22730.76 we,22731.01 do22732.12 have22732.36 less22732.68 of22732.93 a22733.08 need,22733.24 they22733.97 may22734.2 possibly22734.36 need22734.93 some22735.08 beds22735.32 also22735.56 for22735.89 their22736.12 highest22736.36 level22736.76 needs22737.56 in22737.68 the22737.8 state.22738.04 And22738.36 maybe22738.52 there22738.84 could22739 be22739.16 an22739.24 interagency22739.48 contract.22740.36 But22741.16 to22741.64 take22741.8 down22742.04 these22742.2 programs22742.52 and22743.48 what22743.64 it22743.88 costs,22744.04 what22744.44 invest,22744.76 you've22745.24 heard22745.4 how22745.64 staffing22745.96 is22746.36 hard22746.52 across22746.76 the22747.16 board22747.32 everywhere,22747.8 to22749.56 take22749.88 these22750.12 teams22750.44 down22750.76 and22751 to22751.24 take22751.4 these22751.64 programs,22751.96 the22752.83 physical22752.91 infrastructure,22753.63 you22754.27 can't22754.43 just22754.67 pop22754.91 that22755.15 back22755.31 up22755.55 again.22755.71 It22756.43 just22756.59 doesn't22756.83 work22757.15 that22757.39 way.22757.63
22762.19 SPEAKER222762.19 -22762.19 Thank22762.19 you.22762.43 Courtney22763.31 and22763.79 Shantel.22763.95
22766.84 Chantal.22766.84 Chantal22768.28 will22768.84 put22769 in.22769.16
22776.04 SPEAKER3022776.04 -22776.04 Alright.22776.04 We22776.52 will22776.68 jump22776.84 right22777.08 in.22777.32 Thank22777.48 you22777.64 for22777.72 your22777.96 patience.22778.04 My22778.92 name22779.08 is22779.24 Courtney22779.4 Chantal.22779.72 I'm22780.12 the22780.28 director22780.36 of22780.76 government22780.84 relations22781.24 at22781.72 the22781.88 Massachusetts22781.96
22784.47 I'm22784.47 here22784.87 to22785.11 comment22785.27 on22785.59 behalf22785.75 of22785.91 the22785.99 children's22786.15 mental22786.55 health22786.79 campaign.22787.03 Thank22787.99 you22788.23 for22788.39 the22788.55 opportunity22788.63 to22789.03 testify22789.11 before22789.59 you22789.83 today.22789.99 As22792.23 we22792.39 approach22792.63 the22792.95 twentieth22793.11 anniversary22793.51 of22794.07 the22794.23 campaign,22794.39 it's22794.87 been22795.19 essential22795.43 to22795.83 reflect22795.99 on22796.39 the22796.55 progress22796.63 we've22797.03 made22797.27 as22797.43 as22797.7 a22797.74 Commonwealth.22797.78 We22798.66 have22798.82 seen22799.14 significant22799.46 improvements22800.02 in22800.5 the22800.66 behavioral22800.82 health22801.3 system22801.54 over22802.02 the22802.26 last22802.34 222802.58 decades.22802.74 But22803.62 despite22803.86 this22804.1 progress,22804.34 a22806.18 glaring22806.42 gap22806.9 remains22807.14 between22807.86 the22808.26 growing22808.42 demand22808.9 for22809.3 services22809.46 and22810.02 the22810.18 ability22810.5 of22811.06 our22811.22 system22811.38 to22811.78 provide22811.94 it.22812.26 Nearly22813.58 half22813.9 of22813.98 our22814.14 youth22814.3 experience22814.7 psychological22815.1 distress,22815.66 yet22816.22 only22816.46 122816.62 in22816.86 422817.02 children22817.34 receive22818.14 the22818.62 mental22818.7 health22819.02 care22819.34 they22819.5 need.22819.66 The22820.62 reality22820.86 is22821.34 while22821.66 there's22821.82 been22822.14 an22822.3 investment22822.46 in22823.02 community22823.18 based22823.58 services,22823.82 many22824.94 of22825.18 our22825.42 most22825.5 vulnerable22825.74 children,22826.22 those22826.78 with22827.02 serious22827.26 and22827.66 persistent22827.82 mental22828.46 health22828.92 needs,22829.16 still22829.48 don't22829.72 have22829.96 access22830.12 to22830.44 the22830.6 care22830.68 they22830.92 desperately22831.08 need.22831.48 The22832.68 campaign22832.92 is22833.32 deeply22833.48 concerned22833.88 by22834.36 the22834.52 approximately22834.76 $23,500,00022835.4 the22837.08 department22837.24 of22837.56 mental22837.72 health22838.04 supports22838.28 cut22838.84 to22839.08 the22839.32 department22839.4 of22839.72 mental22839.8 health22840.12 supports22840.44 for22840.84 children22841 and22841.32 adolescents.22841.48 This22842.72 proposed22842.88 cut22843.36 would22843.68 severely22843.92 limit22844.48 access22844.8 to22845.28 life22845.44 saving22845.68 interventions,22846.08 treatment,22846.88 and22847.36 community22847.52 based22847.92 care,22848.24 and22848.88 undermine22849.12 our22849.68 ability22849.84 to22850.4 support22850.64 the22850.96 thousands22851.12 of22851.44 children22851.6 and22851.92 families22852.08 who22852.56 rely22852.72 on22853.04 these22853.2 services22853.36 every22853.84 day.22854.08 These22855.29 cuts22855.53 would22855.69 also22855.85 disproportionately22856.25 impact22857.05 specialized22857.45 programs22858.01 including,22858.49 as22858.97 you22859.21 just22859.37 heard,22859.61 the22860.25 only22860.49 existing22860.73 facility22861.21 in22861.61 the22861.77 state22861.93 with22862.17 beds22862.33 for22862.65 622862.89 to22863.05 1222863.21 year22863.45 old22863.61 children22863.77 locating22864.65 in22865.29 Belchertown.22865.45 This22866.73 is22866.97 the22867.05 only22867.29 1222867.61 bed22867.93 staff22868.25 secure22868.49 unit22868.89 for22869.13 those22869.29 latency22869.45 age22869.93 aged22870.19 children22870.35 run22870.47 by22870.6 Cutchins.22870.91 There's22871.87 no22872.27 other22872.51 option22872.75 available22873.15 to22873.71 families22873.87 requiring22874.43 residential22874.83 care22875.39 for22875.71 young22875.95 children.22876.27 The22877.39 cuts22877.63 would22878.03 also22878.27 target22878.6 the22878.99 program22879.07 in22879.39 Westborough22879.56 as22880.11 you22880.19 just22880.35 heard,22880.51 the22881.07 most22881.23 centrally22881.47 located22881.95 IRTP22882.51 program22883.07 for22883.47 adolescents22883.71 and22884.68 the22885 only22885.24 existing22885.48 residential22885.8 program22886.36 in22886.6 the22886.76 state22886.92 with22887.16 the22887.32 capacity22887.4 to22887.88 support22888.2 transgender22888.68 youth.22889.32 As22890.2 you22890.44 heard22890.52 the22890.68 secretary22890.84 mention22891.4 in22891.72 her22891.96 comments22892.12 yesterday,22892.6 transgender22894.52 youth22895.08 already22895.48 face22895.8 staggering22896.12 challenges.22896.52 In22897.32 fact,22897.48 nationally,22897.96 studies22898.68 have22899 shown22899.38 that22899.7 gender22899.78 diverse22900.02 youth,22900.42 their22901.78 suicide22902.02 attempts22902.5 amongst22902.74 gender22903.06 diverse22903.3 youth22903.54 increased22903.78 by22904.1 as22904.34 much22904.42 as22904.58 7222904.74 percent22905.38 in22905.86 states22906.1 with22906.42 anti22906.66 trans22906.98 policies.22907.3 Fortunately,22908.42 Massachusetts22909.14 has22909.86 been22910.02 a22910.42 leader22910.58 for22910.9 a22911.06 long22911.14 time22911.38 in22911.54 protecting22911.7 these22912.1 youth,22912.34 but22912.5 without22912.66 these22912.98 specialized22913.14 programs22913.62 and22914.02 services,22914.18 we22915.15 risk22915.31 abandoning22915.55 these22916.03 vulnerable22916.11 children.22916.59 Gender22917.47 affirming22917.79 care22918.35 isn't22918.75 just22919.07 about22919.23 medical22919.55 transition.22919.95 It22920.83 includes22921.07 the22921.47 full22921.55 continuum22921.87 of22922.27 behavioral22922.43 health22922.91 support,22923.15 including22923.55 crisis22923.95 care22924.35 and22924.59 residential22924.91 treatment.22925.47 As22926.91 you22927.07 do22927.15 the22927.21 difficult22927.28 work22927.34 to22927.4 balance22927.47 the22927.63 I22929.58 urge22929.82 you22930.06 to22930.22 consider22930.3 the22930.78 families22930.86 that22931.34 have22931.42 had22931.58 to22931.74 wait22931.82 for22932.06 days,22932.3 weeks22932.7 or22933.02 even22933.26 months22933.42 in22933.66 emergency22933.82 departments22934.3 desperately22934.94 trying22935.5 to22935.74 access22935.9 appropriate22936.3 care22936.78 for22937.02 their22937.18 children.22937.42 I22938.14 ask22938.38 you22938.54 to22938.7 think22938.78 about22938.94 the22939.1 parents22939.26 who22939.66 have22939.74 to22939.9 navigate22940.06 a22940.31 complex22940.54 web22941.1 of22941.34 insurance22941.5 regulations22942.06 and22942.62 state22942.78 agency22943.02 rules22943.5 to22944.14 find22944.3 even22944.54 the22944.7 most22944.86 basic22945.1 of22945.42 services.22945.58 While22946.62 beds22946.94 are22947.26 underutilized,22947.5 the22948.38 proposed22948.54 cuts22949.02 are22949.34 not22949.5 a22949.74 reflection22949.9 of22950.46 a22950.62 lack22950.7 of22950.94 need.22951.18 Rather,22951.82 it22952.22 is22952.38 a22952.54 result22952.62 of22952.94 a22953.1 complex22953.26 array22953.58 of22953.82 challenges22953.98 facing22954.46 our22954.78 behavioral22954.94 health22955.42 system.22955.58 Let22956.46 us22956.7 be22956.86 clear.22957.02 A22958.07 budget22958.23 is22958.56 not22958.79 just22958.95 a22959.11 financial22959.27 document.22959.75 It's22960.23 a22960.47 statement22960.63 of22960.95 our22961.11 values.22961.27 And22961.91 our22962.15 values22962.31 must22962.63 reflect22962.87 our22963.11 commitment22963.19 to22963.59 ensuring22963.75 that22964.07 every22964.15 child22964.31 has22964.79 access22964.95 to22965.19 the22965.35 care22965.43 they22965.59 need22965.67 to22965.83 thrive.22965.99
22972.24 SPEAKER5422972.24 -22972.24 Good22972.24 afternoon,22972.56 esteemed22973.2 committee22973.6 members.22974 My22974.72 name22974.88 is22975.04 Chantelle22975.2 Gooden,22975.68 and22976.08 I22976.24 am22976.32 the22976.48 director22976.64 of22977.04 behavioral22977.2 health22977.68 advocacy22978 and22978.48 policy22978.64 at22979.12 Boston22979.28 Children's22979.68 Hospital,22980.16 a22980.96 member22981.12 organization22981.52 of22982.24 the22982.32 Children's22982.48 Mental22982.96 Health22983.28 Campaign.22983.6 Thank22984.56 you22984.72 for22984.88 granting22985.11 me22985.43 the22985.68 opportunity22985.92 to22986.47 testify22986.72 before22987.19 you22987.6 today22987.76 on22988.47 a22988.64 matter22988.79 of22989.03 critical22989.27 importance22989.83 to22990.39 the22990.56 well-being22990.72 of22991.19 our22991.35 children22991.6 and22991.99 families.22992.31 I22993.19 want22993.35 to22993.68 bring22993.76 to22993.99 your22994.15 immediate22994.31 attention22994.88 the22995.27 proposed22995.43 f22996.56 y22996.72 2622997.03 budget22997.68 cuts22998.07 of22998.47 approximately22998.72 $6,700,00022999.51 to23001.15 vital23001.31 home23001.71 and23001.87 community23002.03 based23002.59 services23002.91 and23003.79 supports23004.03 provided23004.43 by23004.91 the23005.07 Department23005.31 of23005.63 Mental23005.79 Health.23006.11 This23006.83 includes23007.07 a23007.47 significant23007.71 $5,200,00023008.43 reduction23009.87 to23010.27 flexible23010.51 supports23011.07 and23011.79 an23011.95 additional23012.19 $1,500,00023012.75 cut23014.19 to23014.44 the23014.68 program23014.85 of23015.16 assertive23015.4 community23015.96 treatment23016.44 for23016.93 youth23017.08 or23017.64 PACT23017.89 Y.23018.28 The23019.89 urgency23020.2 of23020.68 this23020.85 issue23021.08 is23021.32 illustrated23021.64 by23022.44 the23022.68 situation23022.85 we23023.4 face23023.56 daily23023.89 at23024.28 Boston23024.44 Children's23024.85 Hospital,23025.24 where23026.04 we23026.28 consistently23026.52 have23027.16 1023027.45 or23027.69 more23027.85 children23027.93 awaiting23028.65 behavioral23029.05 health23029.53 beds23029.77 in23030.09 the23030.25 ED.23030.49 Some23031.37 of23031.61 these23031.69 vulnerable23032.01 children23032.49 could23032.89 be23033.13 effectively23033.37 diverted23033.93 from23034.49 the23034.65 distress23034.89 of23035.37 ED23035.53 boarding23035.77 through23036.49 crucial23036.81 programs23037.29 like23037.85 those23038.09 offered23038.41 by23038.73 youth23038.97 villages23039.29 and23039.85 JRI.23040.09 These23041.35 ED23041.75 diversion23042.07 programs23042.55 are23042.95 demonstrably23043.27 effective.23044.07 They23044.95 improve23045.19 access23045.67 to23046.07 timely23046.31 appropriate23046.79 care,23047.27 allowing23047.99 patients23048.39 to23048.87 receive23049.03 the23049.35 treatments23049.51 they23049.99 need23050.15 while23050.39 remaining23050.71 in23051.11 familiar23051.35 and23051.83 supportive23052.07 environments23052.71 of23053.43 their23053.59 homes,23053.83 schools,23054.23 and23054.71 communities.23054.95 Furthermore,23056.27 these23056.83 programs23056.99 play23057.47 a23057.63 vital23057.79 role23058.03 in23058.27 connecting23058.51 families23058.99 and23059.31 caregivers23059.63 with23060.19 essential23060.43 support23060.99 in23061.39 navigating23061.63 the23062.27 often23062.59 overly23063.07 complex23063.63 children's23064.27 behavioral23064.75 health23065.23 system.23065.47 We23067.15 have23067.39 heard23067.55 directly23067.87 from23068.35 families23068.59 who23068.99 have23069.23 utilized23069.39 these23069.95 services23070.19 and23071.14 their23071.39 profound23071.62 gratitude23072.1 for23072.74 the23072.9 positive23073.06 and23073.54 lasting23073.78 impact23074.26 on23074.74 their23074.9 children23075.14 and23075.78 their23076.02 own23076.18 lives.23076.42 We23077.39 are23077.54 encouraged23077.78 by23078.26 the23078.42 recent23078.58 progress23078.98 in23079.39 lowering23079.62 e23080.1 d23080.26 boarding23080.42 numbers,23080.74 bringing23081.22 them23081.46 closer23081.7 to23082.1 pre23082.35 pandemic23082.58 levels.23083.14 This23084.03 positive23084.27 trend23084.99 is23085.31 a23085.55 direct23085.71 result23086.03 of23086.35 the23086.51 legislator's23086.75 commendable23087.39 investment23088.03 in23088.59 community23088.83 support23089.47 and23090.19 children's23090.35 behavioral23090.91 health23091.31 services.23091.63 However,23092.51 we23092.99 are23093.15 deeply23093.31 concerned23093.79 that23094.19 these23094.43 proposed23094.75 funding23095.23 reductions23095.63 could23096.19 reverse23096.43 this23096.83 progress,23097.07 leading23097.91 to23098.23 a23098.47 rise23098.63 in23098.87 e23099.03 d23099.27 boarding23099.43 cases,23099.75 particularly23100.63 if23101.43 critical23101.67 components23102.23 of23102.71 the23102.79 behavioral23103.03 health23103.43 continuum,23103.75 both23104.31 on23104.55 the23104.79 diversion23104.95 and23105.91 inpatient23106.23 sides,23107.27 are23107.67 dismantled.23107.91 Beyond23109.75 e23110.31 d23110.47 diversion,23110.63 programs23111.11 like23111.59 pack23111.75 y23112.16 are23112.4 equally23112.56 vital23113.04 in23113.44 enhancing23113.68 access23114.24 to23114.64 care23114.8 and23115.12 enabling23115.36 children23115.92 to23116.32 receive23116.48 treatment23116.88 within23117.76 their23118.16 own23118.32 communities.23118.64 Locating23119.76 a23120.16 psychiatric23120.4 prescriber23121.12 often23121.84 presents23122.24 a23122.72 significant23122.88 barrier23123.6 for23124 families23124.16 in23124.64 need,23124.8 forcing23125.46 some23125.66 to23125.86 travel23126.18 hours23126.66 away23127.06 from23127.3 their23127.54 homes23127.7 where23128.02 resources23128.26 are23128.82 limited23128.98 to23129.46 secure23129.62 a23129.9 provider.23130.18 PACT23131.14 Y23131.54 addresses23131.78 this23132.26 critical23132.5 gap23132.9 by23133.22 providing23133.38 a23133.78 team23133.94 based23134.18 intensive23134.58 home23135.06 and23135.3 community23135.54 based23136.02 service23136.34 that23136.66 includes23136.9 direct23137.38 access23137.86 to23138.26 a23138.42 psychiatric23138.66 prescriber.23139.3 Ultimately,23140.75 children23141.39 and23141.71 families23141.95 deserve23142.35 to23142.67 receive23142.91 treatment23143.31 that23143.71 allow23143.87 them23144.11 to23144.27 remain23144.51 connected23144.91 to23145.31 their23145.47 communities.23145.79 Preserving23146.83 services23147.47 that23147.87 effectively23148.19
23162.04 SPEAKER223162.04 -23162.04 Any23162.04 questions?23162.28
23166.22 Thank23166.22 you.23166.54
23168.62 SPEAKER323168.62 -23168.62 We're23168.62 gonna23168.86 call23169.18 up23169.42 next.23169.58 It's23169.98 an23170.22 online23170.38 panel,23170.94 Colleen23172.14 DeGohan23172.86 and23173.58 Robert23173.82 Conlon.23174.38 They23175.26 were,23175.5 the23177.02 the23177.34 panel23177.42 was23177.82 on23177.98 a23178.14 little23178.3 bit23178.46 earlier.23178.62 I23178.78 think23178.94 we23179.18 had23179.34 some23179.42 technical23179.58 difficulties.23180.06 Hopefully,23180.62 we're23181.27 able23181.51 to23181.64 get23181.76 them23181.96 on23182.15 now.23182.31
23184.95 SPEAKER3423184.95 -23184.95 Yes.23184.95 Hello.23185.68 My23185.91 name23186.19
23186.64 SPEAKER323186.64 -23186.64 Colleen,23186.64 before23187.11 before23187.6 you23187.91 start,23188.15 so23188.64 it's,23188.79 you23189.27 and23189.51 Robert,23189.83 both23190.72 on23190.87 the23191.11 panel23191.27 and,23191.6 you23192.31 both23192.47 have23192.79 323193.11 minutes,23193.35 left.23194.5 And23195.46 I23195.7 would23195.78 say23196.02 if23196.26 there's23196.42 anything,23196.74 if23197.86 if23198.02 you're23198.18 not23198.34 able23198.58 to23198.82 get23198.9 to23199.14 the23200.26 time23200.42 limit23200.66 hits,23200.98 the23201.7 rest23201.86 of23202.1 your23202.18 testimony,23202.42 you23202.9 can23202.98 submit23203.22 online,23203.62 written23204.42 testimony.23204.74 Thank23205.62 you.23205.86
23207.08 SPEAKER3423207.08 -23207.08 Okay.23207.08 Great.23207.4 Thank23207.72 you.23207.88 Good23209.08 afternoon,23209.32 panel.23209.88 My23210.76 name23211 is23211.08 Colleen23211.32 DeGowen.23211.72 I23212.2 have23212.28 been23212.44 employed23212.6 by23213 the23213.08 Department23213.32 of23213.64 Mental23213.72 Health23214.12 for23214.36 2023214.52 years.23214.84 I23215.48 currently23215.64 work23216.04 in23216.28 the23216.44 capacity23216.6 of23217.08 a23217.32 case23217.4 management23217.64 supervisor,23218.28 which23219.05 also23219.29 includes23219.61 service23220.01 authorization,23220.49 which23221.05 is23221.29 called23221.45 needs23221.77 and23222.01 means23222.17 its23222.41 eligibility23222.65 for23223.29 the23223.37 department.23223.61 I23224.41 am23224.57 an23224.65 SEIU23224.97 523225.77 023225.93 923226.17 member,23226.41 most23226.81 recently23227.13 serving23227.61 to23227.93 negotiate23228.09 with23228.49 the23228.65 Commonwealth23228.73 about23229.53 these23229.85 possible23230.09 changes.23230.57 I23231.42 am23231.58 testifying23231.74 today23232.3 about23232.62 the23232.86 governor's23232.94 proposal23233.42 to23233.98 reduce23234.14 case23234.46 management23234.7 services23235.18 across23235.74 the23236.06 Commonwealth23236.22 and23237.26 to23237.5 close23237.74 Pacasset23238.46 Mental23239.02 Health23239.26 Center.23239.5 This23240.3 plan23240.54 would23240.78 have23241.02 negative23241.26 impacts23241.74 on23242.14 the23242.22 clients23242.38 served,23242.78 families,23243.26 local23243.82 emergency23244.14 rooms,23244.62 and23244.94 police23245.1 departments23245.42 across23245.9 the23246.22 Commonwealth.23246.38 Since23247.38 COVID23247.62 19,23248.02 we23248.5 have23248.74 noticed23248.9 a23249.22 20%23249.46 increase23250.18 of23250.98 those23251.06 seeking23251.38 DMH23251.7 services,23252.18 as23252.74 well23252.9 as23253.14 those23253.22 accepting23253.54 DMH23254.02 services.23254.42 We23255.3 are23255.46 in23255.7 a23255.86 critical23255.94 point23256.42 in23256.66 our23256.74 world23256.98 where23257.22 we23257.46 are23257.54 in23257.7 a23257.86 mental23257.94 health23258.26 crisis.23258.5 I23259.56 authorize23259.79 services23260.27 for23260.83 those23260.99 with23261.23 severe23261.47 and23261.88 persistent23261.95 mental23262.51 illness.23262.91 In23263.64 determining23263.88 appropriate23264.43 services,23264.91 case23265.56 management23265.88 is23266.35 the23266.51 123266.68 service23266.91 that23267.31 I23267.56 can23267.64 put23267.79 in23267.95 place23268.11 immediately23268.43 so23269.23 that23269.39 clients23269.64 are23269.95 engaged23270.19 at23270.68 the23270.83 door23270.99 with23271.39 minimal23271.64 lag23272.03 time.23272.27 All23273.03 of23273.19 the23273.27 DMH23273.43 vendor23274.07 services23274.47 are23275.03 operated23275.35 at23275.75 100%23275.91 capacity23276.71 with23277.27 lengthy23277.51 wait23277.91 lists.23278.07 Vendor23278.95 services23279.35 have23279.91 struggled23280.15 to23280.55 maintain23280.71 their23281.11 contract23281.35 obligations,23281.91 and23282.79 they23282.95 are23283.19 not23283.35 fully23283.59 staffed23283.91 and23284.31 often23284.55 seek23284.95 case23285.27 management23285.51 support23286.07 in23286.39 managing23286.55 clients23287.03 with23287.58 a23287.74 number23287.9 of23288.14 risk23288.3 factors23288.54 in23288.94 the23289.1 community.23289.18 Putting23290.22 in23290.54 case23290.7 management23290.94 allows23291.58 for23292.14 the23292.3 ability23292.46 to23292.78 build23293.18 rapport,23293.58 thereby23294.38 decreasing23294.78 the23295.26 risk23295.42 the23295.82 client23295.98 has23296.38 as23296.7 well23296.86 as23297.1 the23297.26 community.23297.42 It23298.14 allows23298.3 for23298.7 123298.86 person23299.1 to23299.5 come23299.66 in23299.82 and23300.06 engage23300.22 with23300.62 someone23300.78 who23301.34 they23301.5 may23301.66 otherwise23301.9 struggle23302.46 to23302.86 engage.23303.02 I23304.04 can23304.36 have23304.52 a23304.68 case23304.76 manager23305.08 meet23305.4 with23305.56 a23305.72 person23305.88 every23306.28 single23306.52 week23306.84 in23307.24 order23307.4 to23307.72 develop23308.2 this23308.6 report23308.84 and23309.24 identify23309.48 further23310.12 risk,23310.44 which23311 would23311.24 then23311.4 reduce23311.88 the23312.28 amount23312.36 of23312.68 time23312.84 they23313.16 are23313.24 in23313.48 the23313.56 ER23313.88 or23314.28 in23314.52 psychiatric23314.76 inpatient23315.4 units.23315.88 Services23317.52 that23317.93 have23318.16 been23318.32 put23318.4 in23318.64 place23318.72 to23319.28 assist23319.44 with23319.68 the23319.85 case23320 management23320.16 role23320.64 include23320.89 BHCP23321.28 and23322 the23322.24 Community23322.32 Behavioral23322.72 Hubs,23323.2 which23323.44 we've23323.68 heard23323.93 the23324.4 governor23324.56 speak23324.96 about.23325.28 Both23325.93 of23326.16 those23326.32 services23326.56 are23327.12 not23327.28 able23327.52 to23327.68 provide23327.85 the23328.24 same23328.4 level23328.64 of23328.89 care23329.04 that23329.36 case23329.52 management23329.85 for23330.32 the23330.48 Department23330.64 of23330.96 Mental23331.12 Health23331.44 does.23331.76 In23332.47 fact,23332.55 I23333.19 am23333.35 receiving23333.51 a23334.15 great23334.23 deal,23334.55 majority23334.95 of23335.51 eligibility23336.23 requests23337.11 from23337.59 those23337.83 services.23338.15 To23340.39 tell23340.55 you23340.79 a23340.87 little23340.95 bit23341.19 about23341.43 myself,23341.75 I23342.23 started23342.47 my23342.79 career23342.87 in23343.19 the23343.35 human23343.43 services23343.75 field23344.15 just23344.78 after23345.1 completing23345.42 my23345.82 degrees23345.98 and23347.02 working23347.34 for23347.74 a23347.9 medium23348.06 security23348.38 prison23348.86 here23349.18 in23349.42 the23349.5 Commonwealth.23349.66 Why23350.7 I23350.94 moved23351.1 to23351.34 the23351.58 mental23351.82 health23352.14 field23352.46 is23352.78 because23352.94 the23353.26 lists23353.42 the23354.14 lines23354.38 for23354.7 mental23354.94 health23355.26 services23355.5 were23355.98 outrageous.23356.38 People23357.58 were23357.98 needing23358.71 mental23358.95 health23359.35 services23359.59 beyond23360.07 our23360.47 capabilities.23360.95 So23362.07 I23362.31 decided23362.47 to23362.71 come23362.95 to23363.19 this23363.35 field.23363.59 Today,23364.23 I23364.55 am23364.71 working23364.87 on23365.19 my23365.27 second23365.51 master's23365.75 in23366.15 social23366.31 work,23366.63 completing23366.95 an23367.35 internship23367.59 at23368.15 the23368.31 Pacasset23368.55 Mental23369.03 Health23369.27 Centre.23369.51 There,23370.39 there's23370.63 a23370.87 team23371.03 of23371.27 mental23371.43 health23371.75 workers23371.99 and23372.86 staff23373.18 and23373.5 clinicians23373.74 that23374.22 have23374.46 shown23374.62 me23374.86 an23375.02 environment23375.18 that23375.58 is23375.82 caring,23376.06 sensitive,23376.46 and23377.02 allowing23377.18 people23377.58 to23377.98 work23378.06 on23378.3 their23378.38 mental23378.62 health23378.86 recovery23379.58 in23380.38 a23380.54 way23380.62 that23380.78 is23380.94 supportive23381.18 and23381.74 helpful23381.9 for23382.38 their23382.54 journey.23382.78 I23383.5 urge23383.74 this23383.98 committee23384.22 to23384.7 consider23384.86 creative23385.48 solutions23385.8 on23386.44 this23386.68 unique23387 quality23387.32 of23387.72 community23387.88 services23388.28 that23388.76 DMH23389 case23389.56 management23389.8 and23390.2 Pacasset23390.36 mental23390.92 health23391.24 center23391.48 provide.23391.8
23392.12 SPEAKER323392.12 -23392.12 Thank23392.12 you23392.28 so23392.44 much,23392.52 Colleen.23393.16 So23394.36 we23394.6 are23394.84 at23395.24 time.23395.48 So,23396.52 Robert,23397.88 if23399.12 you23399.2 can23399.28 submit23399.6 your23399.93 testimony,23400.24 online,23401.2 we'll23401.6 make23401.76 sure23401.93 that23402.16 the23402.32 rest23402.4 of23402.56 the23402.72 committee,23402.81 hears23403.85 it.23404.08
23405.85 SPEAKER223405.85 -23405.85 Jean23405.85 Covert23406.16 McClure?23406.72
23414.62 SPEAKER5523414.62 -23414.62 Good23414.62 afternoon.23414.7
23417.9 My23417.9 name23418.14 is23418.3 Jean23418.46 Calvert23418.78 McClure.23419.1 I'm23419.66 a23419.82 licensed23419.9 independent23420.46 clinical23420.94 social23421.42 worker.23421.74 I23422.78 have23422.94 over23423.26 4023423.5 years,23423.9 in23424.62 the23424.78 field.23424.94 And23425.9 the23426.06 last23426.22 2023426.62 have23427.1 been23427.26 with23427.42 the23427.58 Department23427.74 of23428.06 Mental23428.22 Health.23428.62 Yesterday,23430.75 during23431.23 the23431.47 budget23431.63 hearing,23431.95 we23432.19 heard23432.51 the23432.75 DMH23433.07 commissioner23433.55 speak23434.83 about23435.07 the23435.47 lack23435.63 of23435.87 value23436.03 in23436.51 our23436.67 Picasso23436.83 mental23437.31 health23437.55 center.23437.87 And23438.83 she23438.99 stated23439.23 that23439.63 we23439.95 do23440.19 not23440.35 have23440.51 long23440.75 term23440.99 care23441.31 there23441.63 and23442.27 that23442.51 we23442.67 do23442.91 not23443.15 take23443.31 really23444.77 acute23445.17 clients23445.89 with23446.37 high23447.17 risk23447.41 behaviors,23447.65 violence23448.37 being23448.85 123449.17 of23449.33 those,23449.49 and23450.29 that23450.45 is23450.69 absolutely23450.85 incorrect.23451.41 In23452.53 fact,23452.77 we23453.01 have23453.25 an23453.33 individual23453.49 that23454.05 has23454.21 been23454.37 on23454.61 on23455.17 our23455.33 unit23455.49 for23456.77 well23456.93 over23457.17 a23457.41 year.23457.57 That's23457.97 long23458.53 term23458.77 care.23459.09 We23460.5 also23460.82 receive23461.46 a23462.26 significant23462.43 amount23462.98 about23463.54 5023463.94 percent23464.26 of23464.66 our23464.74 admissions23464.98 come23465.46 from23465.78 123466.02 of23466.35 223467.06 of23467.31 our23467.46 or23467.78 223467.94 of23468.26 our23468.43 emergency23469.22 rooms23469.78 locally.23470.1 The23471.06 rest23471.22 come23471.54 from23471.78 the23472.43 high23472.58 risk23472.74 units23473.06 because23473.46 we23473.7 can23473.86 manage23474.1 them23474.43 and23474.58 they23474.66 are23474.82 Cape23474.98 residents23475.68 and23475.92 should23476.24 be23476.48 treated23476.64 here23477.28 in23477.6 their23477.76 home23477.92 environment23478.64 where23479.44 their23479.76 families23479.92 can23480.32 be23480.56 a23480.72 part23480.8 of23480.96 treatment23481.12 and23481.84 discharge23482.08 planning.23482.64 We23483.68 also23483.92 heard23484.24 the23484.48 commissioner23484.64 speak23485.12 about23485.44 case23486.72 management23487.04 services23487.52 being23488 redundant.23488.24 As23489.29 my23489.61 colleague,23489.77 Colleen23490.17 said23490.65 and23490.81 many23490.97 others23491.29 have23491.61 said,23491.77 the23492.81 vendors23493.45 that23494.17 commissioner23494.81 Doyle23495.29 spoke23495.61 about23495.93 are23496.81 not23496.89 able23497.21 to23497.53 manage23498.01 our23498.33 clients.23498.49 They23499.69 refer23499.93 them23500.25 back23500.57 to23500.81 us.23500.97 In23501.75 fact,23501.99 we23502.23 have23502.47 spent23502.63 hundreds23502.95 of23503.35 thousands23503.51 of23503.91 dollars23504.07 paying23505.03 these23505.35 vendors23505.59 for23505.99 services23506.15 that23506.63 they23506.79 are23506.95 not23507.11 providing.23507.27 The23508.55 fiscal23508.71 year23509.11 2623509.35 budget23509.83 calls23510.31 for23510.71 another23511.43 $80,000,00023511.91 to23512.87 vendors.23512.95 They're23514.14 spending23514.31 money,23515.35 paying23515.43 people23515.82 who23516.39 are23516.62 not23516.78 providing23517.02 the23517.43 services23517.58 that23518.06 they're23518.22 already23518.39 being23518.7 paid23518.94 to23519.18 provide.23519.35 There23520.31 have23520.54 been23520.62 323521.43 different23521.66 price23523.1 of23523.35 stabilization23523.51 units23524.22 that23524.47 they23524.7 have23524.78 been23524.94 paid23525.1 to23525.35 provide23525.51 here23526.06 in23526.62 the23526.86 Southeast23526.94 area.23527.58 123528.61 in23528.77 Plymouth23529.01 about23529.41 323529.65 and23529.89 a23529.97 half23530.05 years23530.21 ago23530.45 that23530.69 is23530.85 still23531.01 not23531.17 built.23531.41 123532.53 in23532.69 New23532.85 Bedford23533.01 that23533.57 they23533.73 were23533.97 paid23534.13 to23534.53 build23535.57 and23535.81 have23536.13 up23536.37 and23536.53 running23536.69 that23537.01 is23537.17 still23537.33 not23537.49 up23537.73 and23537.89 running.23538.05 And23538.61 123538.85 here23539.09 in23539.33 Hyannis23539.49 that23540.37 was23540.53 supposed23540.69 to23541.09 provide23541.17 crisis23542.74 stabilization23543.14 services23544.02 that23544.9 had23545.22 a23545.46 fire23545.54 223545.86 years23546.02 ago23546.26 and23546.5 they23546.66 never23546.74 reopened.23547.06 Her23548.9 plan23549.22 for23549.54 walk23549.86 in23550.02 services23550.26 does23550.82 not23550.98 take23551.14 into23551.38 account23551.62 the23552.42 needs23552.66 of23552.98 our23553.14 child,23553.94 youth,23554.34 and23554.58 family23554.74 services.23555.22 We23556.23 want23556.47 our23556.71 kids23557.11 to23557.43 be23557.59 able23557.67 to23557.91 stay23558.07 in23558.31 school23558.55 and23559.43 live23559.75 the23560.15 life23560.31 that23560.71 others23560.95 who23561.19 are23561.43 not23561.59 struggling23561.75 with23562.23 mental23562.39 health23562.71 issues23562.95 live.23563.67 We23564.23 want23564.47 their23564.71 families23564.87 to23565.27 be23565.43 able23565.59 to23565.83 work,23565.99 take23566.55 care23566.79 of23566.95 their23567.11 other23567.27 children,23567.59 and23568.24 all23568.48 of23568.56 their23568.64 other23568.72 responsibilities.23569.2 These23570.64 parents23570.88 and23571.36 these23571.52 children23571.76 are23572.24 not23572.4 going23572.56 to23572.8 walk23573.04 into23573.2 our23574.08 offices.23574.32 Our23576 plan23576.24 does23577.76 not23578 identify23578.32 how23580.08 we're23580.24 going23580.4 to23580.64 address23580.8 the23581.63 several23581.79 thousand23582.03 clients23582.43 who23582.83 are23582.95 going23583.07 to23583.39 leave23583.47 lose23583.87 services23584.19 when23585.23 these23585.39 cuts23585.71 are23586.03 put23586.19 in23586.35 place.23586.51 An23587.23 average23587.47 case23587.79 load23588.03 is23588.35 roughly23588.51 3023588.99 people23589.23 per23589.55 case23589.87 manager.23590.19 We're23591.23 talking23591.47 thousands23591.95 of23592.35 people23592.51 who23593.39 lose23593.63 services.23594.11 The23595.38 relationships23595.46 our23596.18 case23596.42 managers23596.74 build23597.14 with23598.18 our23598.5 clients23599.94 is23601.14 the23601.3 best23601.46 predictor23601.7 for23602.66 a23603.06 positive23603.22 outcome.23603.78
23606.18 SPEAKER223606.18 -23606.18 Thank23606.18 you.23606.5
23609.22 Ashley23609.22 Smith?23609.86
23617.05 And23617.05 then23617.29 up23617.53 after23617.77 that23618.01 will23618.97 be23619.93 Kathleen23620.89 Rolfe.23621.85 Yep.23622.49
23628.34 SPEAKER5623628.34 -23628.34 Okay.23628.34 Hi.23629.22 I'm23629.86 Ashley23630.26 Smith.23630.66 I'm23630.98 a23631.14 DMH23631.3 client,23631.78 and23632.1 I23632.26 appreciate23632.42 this23632.82 opportunity23633.06 to23633.7 speak23633.78 against23634.02 the23634.26 proposed23634.42 DMH23634.9 budget23635.3 cuts.23635.62 When23636.82 I23637.06 was23637.14 16,23637.38 I23637.58 was23637.78 sent23637.94 to23638.18 my23638.34 first23638.42 mental23638.66 health23638.98 program.23639.3 Only23639.98 a23640.14 few23640.3 weeks23640.38 passed23640.78 before23641.02 my23641.34 insurance,23641.5 and23641.9 insurance,23642.14 often23642.46 considered23642.86 a23643.26 good23643.42 1,23643.66 decided23644.06 that23644.46 they23644.54 would23644.78 no23644.94 longer23645.1 cover23645.42 my23645.74 treatment.23645.82 I23646.7 was23646.78 discharged23647.02 home,23647.58 not23647.9 because23648.06 I23648.3 had23648.46 miraculously23648.62 recovered,23649.42 but23649.82 because23649.98 my23650.3 coverage23650.46 ran23650.86 out.23651.1 Soon23651.99 after,23652.23 I23652.47 was23652.63 sent23652.79 to23653.03 an23653.11 inpatient23653.35 facility,23653.83 and23654.39 again,23654.55 when23654.87 my23655.11 insurance23655.27 deemed23655.67 my23655.91 stay23656.07 no23656.31 longer23656.47 necessary,23656.79 I23657.67 faced23657.91 being23658.23 sent23658.39 home.23658.71 This23659.43 time,23659.67 the23659.91 department23660.07 of23660.39 mental23660.55 health23660.87 stepped23661.11 in,23661.35 recognizing23661.67 that23662.23 returning23662.47 home23662.87 would23663.11 be23663.19 dangerous23663.35 for23663.91 me.23664.07 Even23664.55 with23664.87 the23665.03 good23665.19 insurance,23665.51 DMH23666.65 services23667.05 were23667.45 vital.23667.61 Imagine23669.53 what23669.93 it's23670.09 like23670.25 for23670.49 someone23670.65 without23670.97 that23671.29 kind23671.45 of23671.69 coverage23671.77 or23672.17 no23672.33 insurance23672.57 at23672.97 all.23673.05 This23673.45 is23673.69 what23673.77 many23674.01 people23674.25 face.23674.65 DMH23675.61 is23675.93 often23676.09 the23676.49 last23676.57 line23676.81 of23677.05 support.23677.21 Today,23678.83 I23679.07 live23679.15 in23679.47 a23679.55 DMH23679.63 supported23680.11 apartment,23680.59 working23681.23 toward23681.55 independence.23681.87 I've23682.91 reached23683.15 a23683.47 point23683.55 where23683.71 I23683.95 no23684.03 longer23684.27 need23684.51 the23684.75 constant23684.91 supervision,23685.31 but23685.87 it23686.03 seems23686.19 I23686.43 have23686.59 reached23686.67 this23686.91 goal23687.07 at23687.31 a23687.47 bad23687.55 time.23687.87 Budget23689.39 cuts23689.71 are23689.95 threatening23690.11 not23690.59 only23690.75 the23690.99 DMH23691.15 staff23691.63 I23691.95 work23692.03 with,23692.27 but23692.78 they23692.86 would23692.94 also23693.18 make23693.42 it23693.58 almost23693.74 impossible23694.14 for23694.62 me23694.78 to23694.94 move23695.1 forward.23695.34 My23696.14 progress23696.46 and23696.78 the23696.94 progress23697.1 of23697.5 thousands23697.66 of23698.06 others23698.22 is23698.62 stalled.23698.78 If23700.22 someone23700.38 is23700.7 deemed23700.78 eligible23701.1 for23701.58 DMH23701.82 services,23702.22 the23702.78 shortage23703.02 of23703.34 case23703.58 managers,23703.9 beds23704.46 and23704.7 housing23704.94 vouchers23705.34 will23705.74 cause23705.98 the23706.22 system23706.3 to23706.7 halt.23706.86 People23707.68 in23707.92 crisis23708.08 will23708.48 be23708.64 stuck23708.8 in23708.96 emergency23709.12 rooms.23709.68 Clients23710.08 ready23710.48 for23710.72 independent23710.96 living23711.44 won't23711.84 have23712 vouchers23712.24 for23712.64 housing,23712.88 leaving23713.44 no23713.76 beds23713.92 for23714.16 new23714.4 clients.23714.56 The23715.6 system23715.76 will23716.16 freeze23716.32 and23716.64 at23716.88 the23716.96 cost,23717.12 both23717.52 human23717.76 and23718.08 financial23718.24 will23718.8 grow23719.04 larger.23719.28 Group23720.45 homes23720.69 will23721.01 stay23721.17 full,23721.33 psychiatric23721.65 facilities23722.29 won't23722.77 be23723.09 able23723.17 to23723.33 discharge23723.49 patients,23723.89 emergency23724.45 rooms23724.85 will23725.09 overflow,23725.33 new23726.21 clients23726.45 can't23726.77 get23727.01 in,23727.17 existing23727.49 clients23728.21 can't23728.61 move23728.85 forward.23729.09 Here23730.61 are23730.85 the23730.93 options23731.09 I23731.41 see23731.65 for23731.81 myself.23732.05 I23734.19 could23734.51 stay23734.75 in23734.91 support23735.15 departments23735.55 longer23736.03 than23736.35 I23736.51 need23736.59 to,23736.83 blocking23737.07 someone23737.47 who23737.79 does23738.03 not23738.19 need23738.35 that23738.59 care.23738.75 I23739.31 could23739.55 be23739.71 moved23739.87 around23740.11 unnecessarily,23740.43 side23741.31 stepping23741.55 or23741.87 being23742.03 sent23742.27 to23742.43 higher23742.59 levels23742.91 of23743.15 care23743.31 that23743.55 I23743.71 don't23743.87 need,23744.11 creating23744.35 instability23744.83 that23745.39 makes23745.55 it23745.71 harder23745.87 to23746.19 hold23746.35 a23746.51 job23746.59 or23746.83 stay23746.99 in23747.15 school,23747.23 let23747.55 alone23747.79 manage23748.11 mental23748.51 health.23748.75 Or,23750.11 I23750.27 could23750.51 try23750.67 to23750.83 make23750.91 it23751.07 on23751.31 my23751.39 own,23751.55 but23751.71 in23751.87 today's23752.03 economy,23752.43 even23752.83 people23753.15 outside23753.39 the23753.79 system23753.87 can't23754.27 afford23754.43 housing.23754.75 How23755.15 can23755.39 I23755.63 be23755.79 expected23756.03 to?23756.43 Cutting23757.31 mental23757.63 health23757.87 services23758.11 doesn't23758.67 save23758.91 money23759.07 in23759.31 the23759.47 long23759.63 term.23759.79 It23759.95 creates23760.11 bigger,23760.43 more23760.83 expensive23760.99 crises23761.47 down23763 the23763.16 line.23763.35 These23763.54 cuts23763.73 also23763.92 send23764.11 a23764.3 devastating23764.49 message23764.68 that23765.28 those23765.88 of23765.91 us23765.94 who23765.96 needed23766.52 help23766.76 are23766.92 somehow23767.08 lost23767.64 causes.23767.88 But23769 we23769.16 don't23769.64 look23769.88 the23770.04 way23770.2 you23770.36 might23770.52 imagine.23770.84 If23771.48 I23771.64 hadn't23771.8 told23772.04 you23772.28 my23772.36 story,23772.52 would23772.84 you23773 have23773.08 seen23773.32 me23773.56 differently?23773.72 With23775.24 the23775.48 right23775.56 support,23775.8 we23776.2 don't23776.36 just23776.52 survive,23776.84 we23777.24 can23777.4 thrive,23777.64 and23777.96 I'm23778.2 proof23778.36 of23778.6 that.23778.76 Without23779.48 that23779.8 continuing23780.04 support,23780.6 I23781 wouldn't23781.08 be23781.4 here23781.56 today.23781.8 These23782.6 budget23782.84 cuts23783.16 aren't23783.4 just23783.64 numbers23783.8 on23784.2 a23784.28 spreadsheet.23784.44 They're23784.84 our23785.16 futures23785.24 being23785.72 stolen23785.96 from23786.36 us.23786.6 We23787.17 are23787.25 not23787.41 expendable.23787.57 We23788.21 are23788.37 not23788.53 lost23788.77 causes.23789.09 We23789.89 are23789.97 people23790.13 who23790.37 deserve23790.61 a23790.93 chance23791.01 at23791.33 a23791.49 future,23791.65 and23791.97 that23792.21 future23792.37 depends23792.77 on23793.09 the23793.17 choices23793.33 made23793.81 here23794.05 today.23794.29 Thank23795.09 you.23795.41
23795.89 SPEAKER223795.89 -23795.89 Thank23795.89 you23796.13 very23796.37 much.23796.53
23800.41 So23800.41 so23800.57 yes.23800.89 Alright.23802.57 So23802.89 Catherine23803.29 Rolfe23803.77 is23804.25 next23804.49 and23804.81 then23804.97 Catherine23805.21 Trainor.23805.77 Okay.23807.05
23821.03 SPEAKER3523821.03 -23821.03 Hello.23821.03 Thank23822.07 you23822.31 for23822.47 letting23822.63 me23822.87 speak23823.03 today.23823.27 It's23823.75 a23823.91 big23823.99 opportunity.23824.15 My23825.11 name23825.27 is23825.43 Katie23825.6 Rolfe.23825.91 I'm23826.23 1923826.47 years23826.87 old23827.11 and23827.67 a23827.83 student23827.91 at23828.31 LaSalle23828.39 University.23828.79 I'm23829.99 here23830.15 to23830.39 also23830.47 talk23830.71 about23831.03 the23831.19 budget23831.35 cuts23831.67 and23831.99 straight23832.31 up23832.63 closings23832.79 of23833.27 children23833.43 and23833.83 adolescents'23833.99 residential23834.55 mental23835.11 health23835.35 units.23835.51 These23837.11 programs23837.35 are23837.75 really23837.83 vital23838.07 in23838.39 supporting23838.55 youth23839.11 mental23839.43 health23839.75 needs23839.99 and23840.23 ensuring23840.39 their23840.79 safety.23841.03 And23841.77 I'm23841.85 speaking23842.1 as23842.33 someone23842.57 who23842.81 has23842.97 struggled23843.14 with23843.53 mental23843.61 health23843.85 and23844.01 has23844.25 been23844.33 in23844.65 an23844.81 IRTP.23844.89 Just23846.81 for23847.14 context,23847.29 I23847.77 struggled23848.01 with23848.33 mental23848.57 health23848.81 throughout23849.06 high23849.29 school.23849.45 And23850.1 during23850.33 that23850.57 time,23850.73 I23851.21 never23851.45 received23851.77 any23852.1 outside23852.33 help23852.65 from23852.89 school23853.06 or23853.37 counsellors.23853.53 And23854.67 it23854.83 came23854.91 to23855.07 a23855.23 boiling23855.31 point23855.55 sophomore23855.87 year23856.19 when23856.35 I23856.51 attempted23856.67 suicide.23856.99 And23858.11 it23858.35 wasn't23858.43 until23858.67 I23858.91 had23859.07 almost23859.15 lost23859.47 my23859.71 life23859.87 that23860.27 I23860.43 received23860.59 the23860.91 care23860.99
23861.23 SPEAKER5723861.23 -23861.23 that23861.23 I23861.31 needed.23861.47 And23861.87 the23862.11 care23862.19
23862.43 SPEAKER3523862.43 -23862.43 I23862.43 needed23862.51 was23862.83 intensive23862.99 long23863.55 term23863.71 residential23864.43 treatment,23864.99 which23865.39 is23865.63 exactly23865.79 what23866.19 an23866.43 IRTP23866.67 provides.23867.45 I23868.57 was23868.65 placed23868.81 at23869.05 NFI,23869.21 specifically,23870.01 Allen23870.49 Hall23870.73 on23870.97 Unit23871.13 123871.45 in23871.61 Westborough,23871.77 which23872.25 was23872.49 mentioned23872.73 earlier.23873.13 The23874.49 staff23874.73 were23874.97 supportive23875.13 and23875.61 always23875.77 prioritized23876.01 my23876.57 safety.23876.73 To23877.93 say23878.09 the23878.25 least,23878.33 in23878.65 fact,23878.81 I23879.37 think23879.45 they23879.61 saved23879.85 my23880.09 life23880.25 multiple23880.49 times23880.81 in23881.05 the23881.13 middle23881.29 of23881.45 several23881.61 suicide23881.93 attempts.23882.41 But23883.83 I23883.99 really23884.15 felt23884.47 connected23884.79 with23885.19 many23885.35 of23885.59 them,23885.67 which23885.91 was23886.07 something23886.87 unique.23887.19 Same23888.23 with23888.39 my23888.55 clinician.23888.71 He23889.19 was23889.27 involved23889.43 with23889.83 my23889.91 family23890.07 and23890.47 focused23890.71 on23891.03 my23891.19 treatment.23891.35 My23892.23 future23892.47 was23892.79 always23893.03 put23893.27 first.23893.51 And23893.99 on23894.15 top23894.39 of23894.55 my23894.63 treatment,23894.71 I23895.11 was23895.19 also23895.35 reintroduced23896.15 to23896.87 life23897.03 outside23897.19 of23897.59 hospital.23897.75 And23898.63 as23898.97 for23899.14 as23899.29 for23899.53 the23899.77 other23899.85 kids,23900.01 I'm23900.26 still23900.49 great23900.65 friends23900.81 with23901.06 many23901.22 of23901.45 them.23901.53 And23902.18 after23902.41 I23902.65 was23902.81 discharged,23902.89 I23903.53 never23903.61 visited23903.93 the23904.26 mental23904.41 hospital23904.65 again23905.06 nor23905.77 experienced23906.1 any23906.57 serious23906.89 suicidal23907.45 thoughts23907.93 or23908.18 engaged23908.33 in23908.57 any23908.73 self23908.89 harm.23909.14 And23909.77 the23909.93 point23910.1 I'm23910.33 making23910.49 is23911.06 that23911.22 this23911.66 program23911.82 saved23912.3 my23912.54 life,23912.62 and23912.86 I23913.02 don't23913.1 mean23913.42 to23913.66 put23913.74 that23913.98 gently.23914.14 I23914.94 wouldn't23915.1 be23915.34 here23915.42 talking23915.66 to23915.78 you23915.9 if23916.06 it23916.14 hadn't23916.22 been23916.46 for23916.62 my23916.78 IRTP23917.02 and23917.74 all23917.98 the23918.14 effort23918.22 my23918.46 treatment23918.62 team23919.02 put23919.18 in.23919.42 Had23919.74 I23919.9 returned23919.98 to23920.3 the23920.38 way23920.46 I23920.62 was23920.7 living,23920.94 nothing23921.26 would23921.5 have23921.74 changed.23921.82 I23922.14 would23922.3 have23922.38 been23922.54 just23922.7 another23922.94 teen23923.26 lost23923.5 to23923.66 suicide,23923.82 just23924.78 another23925.02 obituary23925.34 in23925.82 the23925.9 weekly23926.06 paper.23926.38 I23927.03 owe23927.19 my23927.27 life23927.43 to23927.67 NFI23927.75 and23928.07 all23928.15 the23928.31 success23928.39 I've23928.71 experienced23928.95 since23929.35 then,23929.51 and23929.83 my23929.99 gratitude23930.15 is23930.63 always23930.71 beyond23930.87 measure.23931.19 But23931.83 still,23932.15 my23932.39 story23932.55 is23932.79 not23932.95 an23933.07 isolated23933.19 case,23933.75 and23933.91 there23934.07 are23934.23 so23934.31 many23934.47 other23934.71 kids23934.95 like23935.19 me23935.35 who23935.59 need23935.83 this23936.07 treatment.23936.23 And23937.19 cutting23937.35 funding23937.75 takes23938.15 dependable23938.39 care23938.87 away23939.03 from23939.27 the23939.43 smaller23939.59 population,23939.99 leaving23940.79 more23941.11 suffering23941.43 in23941.83 silence.23941.91 And23942.39 I23942.59 know23942.67 the23942.83 last23942.91 thing23942.99 any23943.15 of23943.39 us23943.47 wanna23943.71 see23944.03 is23944.19 increased23944.43 suicide23944.83 rates23945.23 among23945.55 youth23945.79 and23946.03 other23946.19 instances23946.43 and23946.83 effects23946.99 of23947.31 mental23947.55 crises.23947.87 In23949.23 finality,23949.39 I'm23950.27 just23950.43 urging23950.67 you23950.91 to23950.99 please23951.07 prioritize23951.47 the23951.95 mental23952.03 health23952.35 care23952.59 of23952.75 our23952.83 youth23952.99 and23953.23 their23953.31 treatment23953.55 and23954.35 not23954.51 support23954.67 the23954.99 budget23955.07 cuts23955.39 as23955.55 someone23955.71 who23955.95 has23956.11 been23956.27 there.23956.43 These23957.06 hospitals23957.31 are23957.54 so23957.7 very23957.94 important.23958.18 And23958.98 I23959.22 hope23959.31 by23959.54 sharing23959.7 a23960.02 little23960.1 bit23960.35 of23960.5 my23960.58 experience,23960.74 I23961.54 can23961.7 kind23961.86 of23962.02 convey23962.26 how23962.9 important23963.22 they23963.54 are23963.7 and23963.86 how23964.02 much23964.18 they23964.35 can23964.5 impact23964.74 a23964.98 life,23965.14 a23965.7 family,23965.86 or23966.35 a23966.58 community.23966.74 Thank23968.26 you.23968.5
23969.06 SPEAKER223969.06 -23969.06 Thank23969.06 you.23969.39 You're23970.57 important.23970.81
23973.77 We23973.77 appreciate23974.09 your23974.49 testimony.23974.65 Question?23976.49
23978.01 SPEAKER5323978.01 -23978.01 I23978.01 just23978.17 wanna23978.41 make23978.65 a23978.81 comment,23978.97 Neko.23979.37 First,23979.85 thank23980.33 you23980.57 for23980.81 waiting23981.05 here23981.45 for23981.69 a23982.01 very23982.25 long23982.41 day.23982.74 Thank23983.94 you23984.18 for23984.34 sharing23984.58 your23984.9 story.23985.22 I23985.7 know23985.86 it's23986.02 very23986.18 difficult23986.5 to23986.82 do,23986.98 and23987.06 I23987.22 really23987.38 wanna23987.54 appreciate23988.02 and23988.5 honor23988.66 you23988.9 for23989.14 for23989.38 doing23989.54 so.23989.86 And23990.42 thank23990.66 you23990.82 for23990.98 putting23991.22 your23991.38 face.23991.54 We've23991.78 talked23991.94 a23992.18 lot23992.26 about23992.5 numbers23992.82 and23993.22 dollars23993.46 and23993.94 and23994.42 the23994.86 budget23995.1 today.23996.06 It's23996.38 so23996.62 incredibly23996.78 that23997.18 we23997.34 talk23997.5 about23997.66 the23997.9 people23998.06 that23998.3 we're23998.46 serving.23998.7 So23999.1 thank23999.26 you23999.5 so23999.74 much23999.9 for24000.14 for24000.38 sharing24000.54 that24000.86 and24001.1 and24001.26 for24001.42 for24001.66 being24001.9 a24002.14 testimony24002.3 to24002.86 to24003.26 what24003.42 we24003.66 just24003.82 heard24004.06 about24004.3 the24004.62 IRTPs24004.94 possibly24005.66 being24006.14 closed.24006.38
24007.34 SPEAKER3524007.34 -24007.34 Thank24007.34 you.24007.58
24024.24 SPEAKER3724024.24 -24024.24 I'm24024.24 used24024.56 to24024.88 waiting24024.96 all24025.28 day24025.44 for24025.76 care24026 for24026.32 my24026.48 son.24026.64 I24027.52 wanna24027.76 thank24028 you24028.16 for24028.32 letting24028.48 me24028.8 speak.24029.04 I'm24029.6 from24029.92 Taunton.24030.16 I'm24030.56 hoping24030.72 Kelly24031.04 Dooner24031.28 will24031.6 stay24031.76 an24032 extra24032.08 minute.24032.4 Thank24034.56 you,24034.88 Kelly24035.04 Dooner.24035.36 I'm24036.68 from24036.84 Taunton,24037.08 Massachusetts,24037.48 and24038.12 I24038.28 know24038.36 you're24038.52 all24038.68 tired.24038.84 Not24040.92 only24041.08 do24041.32 I24041.48 speak24041.64 for24041.88 myself,24042.04 I'm24042.6 a24042.76 special24042.92 education24043.24 advocate.24043.72 I24044.36 support24044.6 families24045 and24045.4 special24045.64 needs24045.96 students24046.2 that24046.52 navigate24046.84 multi24047.16 them24048.22 navigate24048.46 mental24048.86 health24049.26 challenges.24049.5 I24051.34 stand24051.66 for24052.06 specialty24052.78 programs24053.34 like24053.74 Italian24054.06 Home,24054.46 the24055.18 state's24055.42 only24055.98 autism24056.7 focused24057.18 CBAT.24057.5 But24058.38 above24058.62 all,24058.94 I24059.18 speak24059.34 as24059.66 a24059.9 mother.24059.98 My24060.78 son,24061.02 Patrick,24061.26 has24061.82 attempted24062.06 suicide24062.62 524063.6 times.24064.64 He24065.12 spent24065.36 over24065.68 60024066.08 days24066.72 in24067.44 324067.85 over24068.16 324068.48 years24068.72 trapped24069.2 in24069.52 a24069.76 cycle24069.85 of24070.24 partial24070.56 CBAT24071.6 inpatient24072.32 care24072.96 to24073.68 be24073.85 denied24074.16 IRTP24075.12 324075.92 different24076.24 times24076.72 with24077.75 being24077.99 told24078.31 there24078.79 are24079.03 no24079.27 beds.24079.59 He24080.95 has24081.19 autism,24081.51 ADHD,24082.79 PTSD,24084.79 anxiety,24085.99 depression,24086.63 and24087.03 is24087.27 a24087.43 sexual24087.51 a24088.15 sexual24088.55 assault24088.87 survivor.24089.35 I24091.08 would24091.16 sleep24091.4 at24091.72 night24091.88 in24092.12 my24092.2 son's24092.36 room,24092.6 locked24093.08 sharps24093.32 in24093.72 a24093.88 camper.24093.96 I24095.32 would24095.48 left24095.8 my24096.04 job24096.2 as24096.44 a24096.6 special24096.76 education24097 admin24097.64 and24098.52 brought24098.76 my24099.08 older24099.24 son24099.64 to24099.96 my24100.12 in24100.36 laws24100.52 to24100.84 live24101 for24101.4 his24101.56 own24101.8 safety.24101.96 The24103.74 real24103.9 issue24104.22 is24104.54 the24104.7 broken24104.86 IRTP24105.34 approval24106.22 process24106.94 through24107.5 DMH.24107.74 I24109.82 had24110.06 to24110.3 cross24110.54 state24111.18 lines24111.5 to24111.9 Rhode24112.06 Island,24112.3 a24113.26 state24113.5 ranked24113.74 twelfth24114.14 in24114.62 mental24114.86 health,24115.18 where24115.58 Massachusetts24115.82 sits24116.54 in24116.86 first.24117.1 I24118.35 should24118.59 not24118.75 have24118.99 to24119.15 chase24119.31 care24119.71 when24120.11 my24120.43 son24120.59 is24120.91 in24121.15 crisis.24121.31 The24122.51 workflow24122.75 is24123.23 324123.47 to24123.79 624123.87 months24124.19 to24124.59 be24124.67 approved24124.91 for24125.31 IRTP.24125.63 Last24127.55 week24127.87 alone,24128.11 5024128.75 youth24129.23 are24129.97 waiting24130.21 for24130.37 inpatient24130.77 beds24131.33 in24131.65 Massachusetts.24131.81 You24132.85 heard24133.09 that24133.33 correctly,24133.57 50.24134.37 No24135.97 family24136.21 should24136.69 have24136.93 to24137.09 fight24137.25 this24137.57 hard.24137.81 Fix24138.53 the24138.93 process.24139.09 Leave24140.69 the24141.17 line24141.41 item24141.65 alone.24142.21 Our24143.85 children24144.01 are24144.49 not24144.73 line24144.97 items.24145.29 They24145.85 are24146.1 need24146.33 of24146.65 lifelines.24146.89 I24149.29 am24149.45 all24149.61 about24149.77 facts,24150.17 not24150.73 feelings24151.06 as24151.45 a24151.61 special24151.77 education24152.1 advocate.24152.65 In24153.29 02/2024,24153.53 '424155.06 thousand24155.29 '924155.93 hundred24156.17 and24156.57 '4024156.81 '224157.13 individuals,24157.78 youth,24158.66 went24159.54 inpatient.24159.86 Over24160.74 7524161.14 percent24161.78 of24162.1 them24162.18 waited24162.42 324162.82 days,24163.14 including24163.86 some24164.42 that24164.66 waited24164.9 10.24165.22 Have24165.94 you24166.1 ever24166.26 been24166.5 to24166.66 Disney?24166.82 Most24167.3 children24167.54 can't24167.94 wait24168.18 324168.5 hours,24168.82 never24169.54 mind24169.86 324170.5 days.24170.82
24173.41 Senator24173.41 Subardoza,24174.37 I24175.17 apologize24175.25 if24175.73 I24175.89 mispronounce24175.97 your24176.61 name.24176.77 You24177.89 asked24178.05 where24178.37 the24178.53 children24178.61 would24179.01 go24179.25 if24179.97 IRTP24180.29 was24180.93 cut.24181.17 Residential24181.97 schools24182.61 are24183.09 not24183.25 an24183.41 option,24183.57 and24183.89 even24184.13 if24184.37 they24184.61 were,24184.85 at24185.35 a24185.51 cost24185.67 of24186.07 $300,00024186.23 per24187.83 child.24188.07 That24190.07 is24190.31 not24190.47 a24190.87 cost24191.03 saving24191.35 measure.24191.75 If24192.15 anything,24192.31 it24192.71 will24192.79 increase24193.11 costs24193.59 on24193.83 the24193.99 DESE24194.07 line24195.99 item.24196.15 We24196.95 need24197.19 to24197.35 stop24197.59 the24197.83 closures24197.99 of24198.39 IRTP,24198.55 expand24199.75 access.24200.55 Children24201.22 cannot24201.61 wait24202.18 624202.49 months.24202.81 That24203.22 is24203.53 not24203.61 a24203.77 solution24203.93 when24204.42 solution24204.81 is24205.29 now.24205.53
24209.85 SPEAKER224209.85 -24209.85 Thank24209.85 you.24210.1
24212.1 SPEAKER3724212.1 -24212.1 Thank24212.1 you.24212.42
24231.94 SPEAKER224231.94 -24231.94 Rachel24231.94 Coven24232.26 Carrington24232.74 and24233.7 Sarah24234.02 Golding.24234.42
24258.01 Okay.24258.01 Do24258.25 you24258.57 see24258.73 them24258.89 online?24259.13 Rachel24260.09 Covington24261.05
24265.18 or24265.18 Sarah24265.58 Goulding?24266.06
24268.94 SPEAKER324268.94 -24268.94 Okay.24268.94 Hold24269.5 on.24269.9 Reman24270.38 Jordan.24270.78
24271.5 SPEAKER224271.5 -24271.5 Reman24271.5 Jordan.24271.9
24285.97 SPEAKER1224285.97 -24285.97 Stop24285.97 listening.24286.29 Can24287.41 you24287.65 hear24287.81 me?24287.97
24289.09 SPEAKER224289.09 -24289.09 Yes.24289.09 We24289.41 can.24289.57
24290.61 SPEAKER1224290.61 -24290.61 Oh,24290.61 sorry24291.17 about24291.49 that.24291.73 Good24293.68 evening,24294 everyone.24294.4 I've24296.56 been24296.88 here24297.12 since24297.28 11,24297.6 so,24298 I24299.04 feel24299.28 what24299.68 you24299.92 feel.24300.16 And24302.24 thank24302.48 you24302.64 for24302.81 this24302.96 opportunity24303.2 to,24303.92 give24304.94 a24305.1 testimony24305.18 in24305.9 support24305.98 of24306.38 the24306.94 MassAbilities24307.18 Assistive24308.3 Technology24308.78 Independent24309.5 Living24310.06 Program24310.38 and24311.5 the24311.74 Massachusetts24312.3 Alternative24313.34 Financing24313.98 Program.24314.62 Both24315.82 of24316.06 which,24316.22 have24316.86 greatly24317.02 impacted24317.66 my24318.3 life,24318.46 my24318.86 independence24319.81 as24320.68 a24320.92 person24321 living24321.4 with24321.64 a24321.81 disability.24321.88 Unfortunately,24323.4 I24324.04 was24324.12 in24324.28 a24324.44 car24324.6 accident,24324.84 and24326.2 I24326.44 acquired24326.68 a24327 spinal24327.16 cord24327.56 injury24327.88 and24328.52 that24328.76 was24328.92 2024329.24 years24329.56 ago24329.81 now.24330.12 I24332.07 was,24332.23 gonna24333.19 be24333.43 a24333.67 new24333.75 father,24333.99 with24336.07 a24336.31 new24336.39 promotion,24336.63 passions24338.23 for24338.79 writing,24338.95 and24339.83 I24340.15 was24340.31 doing24340.47 spoken24340.87 word24341.19 poetry24341.51 at24341.99 night24342.15 sometimes.24342.47 And24344.36 unfortunately,24344.52 a24345.4 car24345.56 accident24345.8 changed24346.2 all24346.52 that.24346.76 And,24347.8 trying24348.6 to24348.92 get24349.08 back24349.24 to24349.48 that24349.56 person24349.8 I24350.12 was,24350.28 is,24351.56 extremely24352.12 challenging24352.68 as,24353.8 you24354.6 can24354.92 all24355.16 imagine.24355.4 But24357.57 I24357.81 couldn't24358.05 imagine24358.45 how24358.85 it24359.01 would24359.09 be24359.25 without24359.49 assistive24359.81 technology24360.29 and24361.01 that's24361.09 the24361.97 basis24362.13 of,24362.45 me24363.09 testifying.24363.33 Assistive24364.77 technology24365.33 allows24366.05 me24366.37 to24366.53 do24366.69 things24366.77 on24367.49 a24367.65 daily24367.73 basis,24368.13 my24368.61 daily24368.85 activities,24369.25 all24370.76 the24371 behind24371.16 the24371.48 scenes24371.72 things24372.04 that24372.36 got24372.92 me24373.16 to24373.32 be,24373.4 here,24374.44 virtually24375.16 with24375.64 you24375.88 today.24376.04 Assistive24377.88 technology24378.36 has24379.16 allowed24379.56 me24379.88 to24380.04 return24380.84 to24381.24 the24381.4 workforce,24381.56 write24383.16 a24383.32 children's24383.48 book,24383.88 text24385.18 my24385.58 daughter,24385.82 while24386.86 she24387.1 was24387.26 in24387.42 college,24387.58 at24388.86 my24389.02 alma24389.26 mater,24389.58 UMass24389.9 Amherst.24390.38 I24391.02 know24391.26 a24391.42 couple24391.5 other24391.9 people24392.22 from24392.54 here.24392.78 And24395.18 the24397.1 the24397.26 major24397.5 thing24397.82 is24398.06 that24398.22 I24398.38 I24399.51 I24399.76 need24400.07 assistive24400.47 technology24400.95 and24401.51 a24402.07 lot24402.23 of24402.39 the24402.47 funding24402.64 has24402.95 been24403.19 cut.24403.35 And24404.31 I'm24405.43 just24405.6 worried24405.83 about24406.23 what24406.79 that,24407.11 may24408.15 do24408.31 for24408.95 those24409.35 who24410.39 are24410.56 not24410.72 as24410.95 lucky24411.11 as24411.43 me24411.6 to24411.91 have24412.07 gotten24412.23 all24412.64 this,24412.87 funding24413.48 and24414.84 and24415.52 to24416.2 just24416.44 think24416.76 that24416.92 I24417.08 needed24417.24 just24417.72 to24418.04 make24418.2 my24419 life24419.16 better24419.8 and24420.2 to24420.92 help24421.56 me24421.88 get24422.04 back24422.28 to24422.52 the24422.84 things24422.92 that24423.16 I24423.32 would24423.4 love24423.56 doing24423.88 like24424.6 reciting24424.92 poetry.24425.4 I24426.2 mean,24426.36 I24426.52 can't24426.68 explain24426.92 how24427.79 it24427.95 feels24428.11 waking24428.59 up24428.91 in24429.07 a24429.23 hospital24429.31 thinking24429.71 this24430.35 can't24430.59 be24430.83 possible.24430.99 I24431.87 mean,24431.95 I24432.19 was24432.27 just24432.51 driving24432.67 home24432.99 and24433.15 I24433.31 must24433.47 have24433.71 dozed24433.87 because24434.19 I'm24434.83 laying24434.99 here24435.31 with24435.47 tubes24435.63 in24435.95 my24436.03 mouth24436.11 and24436.35 my24436.51 nose24436.59 and24437.31 it24437.47 just24437.63 goes24437.87 to24438.11 show24438.27 live24438.51 life24438.75 to24438.99 the24439.15 fullest24439.23 because24440.02 none24440.18 of24440.34 us24440.42 really24440.66 know24440.9 where24441.06 life's24441.22 gonna24441.54 put24441.78 us.24441.86 And24442.5 trust24442.74 me,24442.98 I24443.14 was24443.22 hoping24443.38 it24443.62 was24443.78 all24443.94 a24444.1 dream,24444.18 but24444.74 I24444.98 kept24445.06 breaking24445.38 to24445.62 the24445.78 sound24445.94 of24446.1 the24446.26 breathing24446.42 machine.24446.74 324447.54 months24447.78 in24448.02 a24448.18 medical24448.26 ward24448.66 for24448.98 injuries24449.54 of24449.94 the24450.1 spinal24450.18 cord24450.58 replaced24450.82 without24451.22 insurance,24451.46 I24452.1 could24452.18 never24452.42 afford.24452.74 Doctor24453.38 said,24453.7 you24453.94 may24454.1 never24454.26 walk24454.58 again,24454.82 and24455.48 how24455.56 it's24455.72 all24455.81 a24455.89 new24456.12 beginning,24456.28 it24456.6 was24456.76 not24456.92 the24457.16 end.24457.32 But24457.81 it24458.04 really24458.2 was24458.44 the24458.68 end24458.85 of24459.08 my24459.16 life24459.24 as24459.48 I24459.64 once24459.81 knew24460.04 it.24460.28 I24460.76 can't24460.92 change24461.16 the24461.48 past,24461.64 but24461.89 I'm24462.04 learning24462.2 to24462.44 live24462.6 through24462.85 it.24463 I24463.89 used24464.04 to24464.28 look24464.44 at24464.6 life24464.76 like,24465.16 wow,24465.64 I've24465.89 lost24466.12 a24466.44 lot.24466.52 But24467.42 with24467.66 assistive24467.9 technology,24468.38 I24469.58 got24469.74 a24469.98 better24470.06 parking24470.38 spot.24470.78 Thank24472.3 you.24472.54
24474.94 SPEAKER224474.94 -24474.94 Thank24474.94 you.24475.26 Next24476.78 up24477.1 is24477.34 Jesus24478.62 Eva.24480.06
24487.65 Tina24487.65 Dixon.24488.13
24491.97 SPEAKER4224491.97 -24491.97 Good24491.97 evening.24492.29
24493.73 SPEAKER224493.73 -24493.73 Good24493.73 evening.24493.97
24496.13 SPEAKER5824496.13 -24496.13 Thank24496.13 you24496.37 for24496.61 being24497.32 here24497.48 so24497.72 long24497.96 today.24498.28 My24498.92 name24499 is24499.16 Tina24499.32 Dixon.24499.64 I'm24500.12 the24500.28 executive24500.44 director24501 of24501.32 the24501.48 region24501.56 224501.96 emergency24502.2 medical24502.84 services24503.32 council.24503.8 Central24504.76 Mass24505.24 EMS24505.48 is24505.96 124506.12 of24506.36 the24506.44 524506.6 EMS24506.84 councils24507.32 in24507.72 the24507.88 Commonwealth.24508.04 As24509.16 I24509.32 refer24509.4 to24509.72 us24509.88 or24510.12 we,24510.2 it's24510.44 because24510.6 I'm24510.76 including24510.92 all24511.32 of24511.48 the24511.56 regions24511.72 that24512.12 cover24512.28 EMS24512.52 across24513.06 our24513.31 state.24513.54 We24514.58 are24514.74 requesting24514.98 your24515.39 support24515.62 of24515.94 the24516.1 regional24516.26 EMS24516.66 councils24517.06 to24517.47 restore24517.7 line24518.1 item24518.43 4524518.74 1024519.39 024520.18 724520.51 9024520.9 to24521.22 $1,000,00024521.47 for24522.35 f24522.58 y24522.74 26.24523.06 This24524.51 amount24524.82 is24525.14 split24525.31 between24525.62 the24525.94 524526.1 councils,24526.43 and24527.09 it's24527.25 not24527.49 an24527.57 increase,24527.81 for24528.77 us,24528.93 but24529.09 it24529.33 brings24529.49 us24529.73 back24529.89 to24530.13 the24530.29 level24530.37 funding24530.69 we24531.01 were24531.17 at24531.33 in24531.49 fiscal24531.57 2324531.97 after24532.85 devastating24533.25 cuts24533.73 down24534.05 to24534.29 500,00024534.53 split24535.41 between24535.73 the24536.37 524536.53 councils24536.77 in24537.25 '2424537.49 and24537.97 '25.24538.13 Without24539.35 this24539.51 funding,24539.74 the24540.14 councils24540.31 are24540.62 in24540.94 danger24541.1 of24541.43 closing,24541.58 some24542.47 as24542.62 early24542.86 as24543.1 this24543.35 year.24543.51 No24544.14 124544.31 can24544.47 sustain24544.7 or24545.1 operate24545.26 an24545.58 office24545.74 on24546.06 a24546.22 million24546.31 doll24546.62 a24546.94 hundred24547.1 thousand24547.35 dollars24547.66 annually24548.06 per24548.54 office.24548.78 As24549.82 directors24549.98 and24550.47 offices,24550.62 we're24551.1 also,24551.35 greatly24552.06 limited24552.47 by24552.94 the24553.1 state24553.31 on24553.55 the24553.71 additional24553.79 and24554.35 outside24554.51 funding24554.91 sources24555.31 we24555.87 can24555.95 seek.24556.19 Regional24557.39 EMS24557.87 councils24558.27 improved24558.99 prehospital24559.47 care24560.11 by24560.35 enhancing24560.51 medical24561.07 and24561.47 disaster24561.63 communications,24562.19 supporting24563.55 education24564.03 and24564.51 training24564.67 for24564.99 EMS24565.15 providers24565.55 and24566.03 agencies,24566.27 and24567.22 we're24567.47 a24567.62 critical24567.7 link24568.1 between24568.43 state24568.74 administration24569.06 and24569.62 local24569.78 response.24570.18 We24571.14 provide24571.31 services24571.78 that,24573.14 that24574.02 regulatory24574.43 agencies24574.98 cannot,24575.62 and24576.51 our24576.82 work24576.98 is24577.22 not24577.31 redundant,24577.47 but24578.02 it's24578.18 supplemental24578.43 to24578.98 the24579.14 Office24579.22 of24579.54 Emergency24579.7 Medical24580.26 Services.24580.66 We24581.56 provide24581.72 real24582.2 time24582.44 responses24582.92 to24583.48 questions24583.72 from24584.2 services24584.44 and24585.24 individual24585.4 providers24586.04 alike.24586.52 The24587.56 regional24587.72 councils24588.12 are24588.68 independent24588.84 nonprofits24589.48 created24590.2 and24590.6 defined24590.76 under24591.56 the24591.88 CMR,24592.04 124592.84 7024593.08 and24593.64 in24593.8 524594.03 sections24594.27 of24594.51 the24594.75 mass24594.91 general24595.15 laws24595.55 under24595.87 124596.19 1124596.43 c.24596.83 But24597.47 I24597.59 prefer24597.71 to24598.03 give24598.11 you24598.27 a24598.51 few24598.59 quick24598.91 examples24599.31 of24599.79 the24599.87 work24600.03 from24600.27 my24600.51 office24600.67 to24601.07 show24601.23 you24601.31 what24601.47 we24601.63 do,24601.79 which24602.59 is24602.75 similar24602.91 in24603.31 the24603.39 other24603.47 regions24603.71 as24604.19 well24604.27 but24604.51 individualized24604.75 for24605.47 their24605.71 communities.24605.87 So24606.91 224607.15 weeks24607.31 ago,24607.47 I24607.79 taught24607.95 a24608.11 mass24608.27 casualty24608.51 class24609.07 for24609.39 a24609.55 local24609.63 fire24609.87 department.24610.11 We24610.91 reviewed24611.07 the24611.39 basics24611.55 of24611.95 disaster24612.11 communications24612.59 and24613.23 sorting24613.39 patients24613.87 based24614.27 on24614.51 the24614.59 severity24614.75 of24615.23 their24615.31 injuries.24615.47 We24616.27 reviewed24616.51 their24616.83 local24617.07 emergency24617.39 plans,24617.95 practiced24618.75 in24619.23 a24619.39 tabletop24619.47 exercise.24620.24 And24620.64 then24620.8 last24621.04 night,24621.36 I24621.76 had24621.84 the24622 privilege24622.16 of24622.56 going24622.72 with24622.96 them24623.12 to24623.28 test24623.44 their24623.68 knowledge24623.84 at24624.16 a24624.32 drill24624.4 at24624.64 124624.8 of24624.96 their24625.04 local24625.2 schools.24625.52 Participation24626.48 by24627.04 the24627.2 regional24627.36 councils24627.76 in24628.64 communities24628.96 helps24629.76 prepare24630.08 them24630.4 for24630.56 disasters24630.72 and24631.28 the24631.44 response.24631.6 Last24632.87 week,24633.03 our24633.35 training24633.59 committee24633.91 worked24634.39 on24634.79 our24635.11 fall24635.35 EMS24635.59 training24636.07 officers24636.31 workshops.24636.79 We24637.91 offer24638.07 this24638.39 training24638.55 annually24638.87 to24639.35 guide24639.51 those24639.83 who24640.15 train24640.39 and24640.63 teach24640.79 our24641.11 providers.24641.35 We24642.47 feel24642.71 every24642.95 agency24643.19 should24643.75 have24643.99 the24644.15 same24644.31 tools24644.55 available24644.87 to24645.27 them24645.43 no24645.67 matter24645.83 what24646.07 size24646.31 they24646.59 are,24646.67 what24646.83 budget24647.11 they24647.39 have,24647.55 or24647.79 the24648.03 staffing24648.11 model24648.59 they24648.91 follow24649.07 because24649.79 every24650.11 patient24650.35 deserves24650.75 the24651.15 same24651.71 high24651.95 quality24652.19 care.24652.59 Yesterday,24653.63 I24654.11 feel24654.35 the24654.59 concerns24654.75 about24655.31 patient24655.55 care24655.95 during24656.19 an24656.51 EMS24656.67 handoff24657.15 at24657.47 a24657.63 local24657.71 hospital.24658.03 My24659.17 office24659.33 provided24659.73 the24660.05 audio24660.21 for24660.61 the24660.77 communications24660.93 and24661.57 clarified24661.81 what24662.29 happened,24662.53 and24663.09 the24663.33 issue24663.41 was24663.73 resolved24663.89 by24664.29 working24664.45 with24664.77 our24664.93 regional24665.09 medical24665.41 director.24665.73 All24666.53 the24666.69 EMS24666.93 councils24667.25 pay24667.65 for24667.89 their24667.97 regional24668.13 medical24668.61 directors24668.93 and24669.57 work24669.73 closely24669.89 with24670.37 them24670.53 to24670.77 improve24670.93 EMS24671.33 delivery24671.73 within24672.29 hospital24672.61 relations.24673.17 Those24674.06 are24674.31 only24674.39 a24674.54 few24674.62 examples24674.94 of24675.26 the24675.43 work24675.5 of24675.74 the24675.82 regional24675.98 councils24676.39 who24677.18 are24677.35 asking24677.5 you24677.82 for24677.98 this24678.14 additional24678.31 500,000.24678.78 It's24680.14 made24680.31 as24680.47 fuel24680.62 in24680.86 the24681.02 state24681.1 budget,24681.35 but24682.47 it's24682.7 quite24683.02 the,24683.35 not24684.7 even24684.86 quite24685.02 the24685.18 bargain24685.26 since24685.66 it'll24685.9 keep24686.06 keep24686.32 524686.48 offices24686.64 open24686.96 and24687.2 strengthen24687.44 the24687.92 delivery24688.08 of24688.4 EMS24688.72 across24689.92 the24690.32 entire24690.48 Commonwealth.24690.96 So24691.84 please24692.08 consider24692.4 funding24692.72 line24693.12 item24693.36 4524693.76 1024694.24 024695.28 724695.76 9024696.08 at24696.48 $1,000,00024696.72
24698.16 SPEAKER224698.16 -24698.16 Thank24698.16 you.24698.4
24698.56 SPEAKER5824698.56 -24698.56 Thank24698.56 you24698.64 for24698.88 taking24699.61 the24699.77 time24699.93 to24700.25 hear24700.33 me24700.57 today.24700.73
24701.21 SPEAKER224701.21 -24701.21 Thank24701.21 you24701.45 very24701.61 much.24701.77
24705.05 Tina24705.05 Alice24705.45 Huttland?24705.93
24707.21 SPEAKER324707.21 -24707.21 No.24707.21 Tina24707.45 Dixon.24707.77
24708.25 SPEAKER224708.25 -24708.25 Oh.24708.25 I'm24709.21 sorry.24709.53 Tina24709.85 Dixon.24710.17
24713.2 SPEAKER5824713.2 -24713.2 I24713.2 just24713.36 spoke.24713.6
24715.36 SPEAKER5924715.36 -24715.36 Sorry.24715.36
24716.24 SPEAKER324716.24 -24716.24 Terry24716.24 Alves.24716.64
24717.2 SPEAKER5824717.2 -24717.2 I'll24717.2 speak24717.28 again24717.52 if24717.84 you24718 want,24718.08 but24718.4
24719.84 SPEAKER224719.84 -24719.84 Terry24719.84 Alves.24720.32
24722.96 Hunt24722.96 Huntlet24723.28 Huntet.24723.84
24728.72 Lynn24728.72 Riley.24729.04
24736.89 And24736.89 after24736.96 that24737.2 will24737.44 be24737.6 Anne24737.76 McDonald.24738.08
24741.44 SPEAKER1624741.44 -24741.44 Hi.24741.44 My24741.68 name24741.84 is24742 Lynn24742.24 Riley24742.48 and24742.96 I24743.2 live24743.36 in24743.6 Millis.24743.76 Thank24744.56 you,24744.72 Representative24744.96 Vaughn.24745.6 I'm24746.72 a24746.96 parent24747.12 whose24747.52 child24747.76 receives24748.08 services24748.48 at24748.88 the24749.04 Cutchins24749.2 324749.76 Rivers24750 CIRT24750.56 program,24751.28 testifying24752.32 on24752.96 behalf24753.04 of24753.36 children24753.6 in24753.92 crisis24754.08 who24754.56 will24754.72 need24754.96 this24755.12 program24755.47 as24755.79 my24756.11 son24756.35 did.24756.6 I24757.56 appreciate24757.79 the24758.19 opportunity24758.35 to24758.91 testify24759.07 against24759.56 the24759.95 governor's24760.11 budget24760.6 cuts24760.91 targeting24761.31 DMH24761.79 Children,24762.27 Youth24762.6 and24762.83 Family24762.99 Services,24763.47 and24764.43 specifically24764.68 the24765.31 IRTP24765.64 and24766.35 CIRT24766.68 program24767.39 cuts.24768.03 I24769.12 oppose24769.44 these24769.76 cuts24770 to24770.24 these24770.4 critical24770.72 services24771.52 as24772.08 it24772.24 would24772.48 cause24772.64 a24772.96 void24773.12 for24773.44 the24773.6 624773.68 to24773.92 1224774.16 year24774.4 old24774.56 children24774.8 needing24775.2 the24775.52 level24775.6 of24775.92 care24776.08 that24776.32 324776.56 Rivers24776.8 provides.24777.28 The24778.4 thought24778.64 of24778.88 there24778.96 not24779.2 being24779.36 124779.6 option24779.84 for24780.16 this24780.32 level24780.48 of24780.8 care24780.96 in24781.12 the24781.28 state24781.44 is24781.76 unimaginable.24782 At24783.52 624783.76 years24783.92 of24784.24 age,24784.4 our24784.72 son,24784.96 who24785.2 had24785.36 been24785.6 adopted24785.76 as24786.24 a24786.4 toddler,24786.48 began24787.28 having24787.6 very24787.92 challenging24788.16 behavioral24788.72 issues24789.28 at24789.6 home.24789.76 Prior24790.72 to24791.04 placement24791.2 at24791.6 324791.85 Rivers,24792.08 we24792.4 had24792.56 exhausted24792.72 all24793.36 other24793.52 clinical24793.85 options24794.32 available24795.44 to24796 us24796.08 to24796.4 address24796.64 his24796.96 increasingly24797.28 violent24797.85 behaviors.24798.32 We24799.4 had24799.64 worked24799.72 with24800.04 the24800.2 school24800.36 resources,24800.68 outpatient24801.4 psychiatrists,24802.12 therapeutic24803 behavioral24803.64 support,24804.2 in24804.92 home24805.16 therapy,24805.48 and24806.12 more.24806.36 Despite24807.4
24807.96 SPEAKER6024807.96 -24807.96 all24807.96
24808.12 SPEAKER1624808.12 -24808.12 of24808.12 that24808.28 effort,24808.44 his24808.84 explosiveness24809.08 continued24809.88 to24810.36 increase24810.52 until24811 he24811.32 caused24811.48 an24811.72 injury24811.96 serious24812.44 enough24812.84 to24813.43 merit24813.68 inpatient24813.99 care24814.56 for24814.95 324815.19 months24815.43 at24815.83 Franciscan24815.99 Hospital,24816.72 where24817.68 he24817.91 was24817.99 diagnosed24818.23 with24818.72 reactive24818.95 attachment24819.43 disorder.24819.91 The24821.03 team24821.19 at24821.43 Franciscan24821.68 and24822.31 DMH24822.56 agreed24823.6 the24823.99 only24824.15 viable24824.47 placement24824.87 based24825.43 on24825.68 his24825.83 clinical24825.99 needs24826.47 and24826.79 age24827.03 was24827.43 324827.76 rivers.24827.99 Never24829.25 had24829.49 we24829.73 imagined24829.89 what24830.29 we24830.45 were24830.61 experiencing.24831.01 Thankfully,24832.85 we24833.49 found24833.65 angels24833.97 on24834.37 earth24834.53 at24834.85 324835.01 rivers24835.25 from24835.65 the24835.89 moment24836.05 we24836.29 arrived.24836.53 In24837.41 addition24837.65 to24837.97 our24838.13 weekly24838.29 family24838.69 therapy24839.09 session,24839.57 almost24840.21 daily,24840.69 we24841.37 were24841.45 welcomed24841.69 by24842.09 the24842.25 milieu24842.33 staff24842.81 to24843.13 spend24843.37 time24843.61 learning24843.93 from24844.25 them24844.41 by24844.73 observation24845.05 and24846.01 conversation24846.33 how24847.37 to24847.61 help24847.69 our24847.93 son24848.17 with24848.49 a24848.73 very24848.81 difficult24849.21 diagnosis.24849.69 324851.37 Rivers24851.53 is24851.93 unique24852.09 in24852.41 the24852.57 combination24852.73 of24853.29 the24853.45 individual24853.61 commitment24854.17 of24854.65 the24854.73 staff,24854.89 the24855.63 integrated24855.79 treatment24856.27 approach,24856.75 and24857.15 the24857.39 human24857.55 connections24857.87 formed.24858.59 We24859.79 say24860.03 that24860.27 324860.43 Rivers24860.67 gave24861.07 us24861.31 our24861.47 foundation24861.63 back24862.27 because24862.67 we24862.99 still24863.07 had24863.39 challenges24863.55 ahead24864.03 of24864.27 us,24864.43 but24864.99 they24865.15 worked24865.31 with24865.55 our24865.79 family24865.87 for24866.27 a24866.51 year24866.59 and24866.83 a24866.99 half24867.07 to24867.56 get24867.72 our24867.89 son24867.97 to24868.36 a24868.44 more24868.6 stable24868.85 place24869.24 and24869.89 to24870.12 help24870.28 us24870.6 get24870.85 to24871 a24871.16 place24871.32 of24871.56 hope.24871.72 If24872.52 we24872.76 hadn't24872.93 had24873.24 this24873.48 stepping24873.72 stone24874.12 in24874.52 his24874.68 journey,24874.93 we24875.48 can't24875.72 imagine24876.04 that24876.52 he24876.68 would24876.76 be24877 living24877.16 at24877.48 home24877.64 as24878.12 a24878.36 stable24878.52 teenager24878.93 with24879.81 hopes24880.04 and24880.36 dreams24880.6 for24881.08 his24881.24 future.24881.4 The24882.83 obvious24882.99 question24883.39 is24883.87 what24884.11 will24884.27 happen24884.43 when24884.75 a24884.99 child24885.07 like24885.39 our24885.55 son24885.87 is24886.27 having24886.43 such24886.83 challenges?24887.07 What24888.19 option24888.43 will24888.75 be24888.91 safe24889.07 for24889.39 the24889.55 child24889.71 and24889.95 family,24890.19 and24890.75 where24890.99 will24891.23 they24891.39 find24891.63 that24891.95 needed24892.11 help?24892.51 These24894.03 are24894.27 the24894.43 most24894.59 important24894.83 question24895.47 questions,24896.19 but24896.67 another24896.91 to24897.31 ask24897.47 is24897.98 what24898.14 will24898.26 be24898.39 the24898.7 financial24898.86 cost24899.42 without24899.82 this24900.22 level24900.46 of24900.7 care?24900.86 Again,24902.06 it24902.39 is24902.62 unimaginable24902.86 that24903.58 this24903.82 level24903.9 of24904.22 care24904.39 wouldn't24904.78 be24905.1 available24905.35 for24905.66 children24905.82 experiencing24906.39 such24907.42 significant24907.82 mental24908.39 health24908.7 challenges24908.94 and24909.82 unacceptable24910.06 that24910.78 the24911.02 additional24911.18 proposed24911.58 cuts24912.06 to24912.39 DMH24912.54 services,24913.02 which24913.74 which24914.04 also24914.12 helped24914.36 our24914.76 family,24914.92 would24915.56 be24915.72 unavailable24915.88 to24916.44 Massachusetts24916.6 children24917.4 and24917.8 families24918.04 in24918.44 crisis.24918.68 These24919.72 are24919.96 the24920.12 reasons24920.2 that24920.6 I24920.76 strongly24921.08 urge24921.64 you24921.88 to24922.36 restore24922.6 and24923.08 fully24923.24 fund24923.64 the24924.04 DMH24924.2 Children,24924.68 Youth,24925.16 and24925.4 Family24925.64 Services24926.12 budget.24926.68 Thank24927.68 you24927.76 for24927.91 your24928.15 time24928.31 and24928.64 thank24928.87 you24929.03 for24929.19 what24929.35 you24929.6 choose24929.76 to24929.99 do24930.15 every24930.39 day.24930.56
24931.11 SPEAKER224931.11 -24931.11 Thank24931.11 you24931.27 very24931.43 much.24931.76
24935.19 Hang24935.19 on.24935.43 Hang24935.51 on.24935.76 Ma'am?24935.83 Ma'am?24936.56 A24937.35 question?24937.51 Representative24938.87 Edoza?24939.27
24939.91 SPEAKER6124939.91 -24939.91 Thank24939.91 you.24940.15 I24940.87 was24940.95 just24941.19 wondering,24941.35 how24941.76 old24941.91 is24942.15 your24942.31 son24942.47 now?24942.64
24943.49 SPEAKER4824943.49 -24943.49 17.24943.49 17.24944.13 And24944.53 so24944.77 he24945.17 when24945.65 at24945.97 what24946.21 age24946.29 was24946.53
24946.69 SPEAKER1624946.69 -24946.69 he24946.69 at24946.77 324946.93 rivers?24947.17 I24949.41 believe24949.57 around24949.97 the24950.21 age24950.29 of24950.53 9.24950.61
24951.09 SPEAKER4824951.09 -24951.09 And24951.09 how24951.25 long24951.49 did24951.81 it24951.97 take24952.05 you24952.29 to24952.45 get24952.53 into24952.69 the24952.93 program?24953.09
24954.13 SPEAKER2324954.13 -24954.13 Do24954.13 you24954.37 remember?24954.45
24955.25 SPEAKER1624955.25 -24955.25 Well,24955.25 he24955.49 was24955.65 at24955.81 Franciscan24956.21 for24956.85 324957.01 months,24957.25 and,24957.73 he24958.85 that24959.09 was24960.18 the24960.5 only24960.82 option24960.98 at24961.02 that24961.06 point24961.39 until24961.67 they24961.94 collaborated24962.22 with24962.51 DMH24963.31 and24963.39 told24963.47 us24963.54 that24963.78 the24963.94 only24964.02 option24964.26 would24964.74 be24964.82 324965.06 Rivers,24965.31 which24965.78 was24966.74 difficult24967.06 to24967.54 not24967.71 have24967.86 a24968.02 choice.24968.1
24968.98 SPEAKER4824968.98 -24968.98 Right.24968.98 I24969.31 understand.24969.47 Thank24970.02 you.24970.26
24970.58 SPEAKER1624970.58 -24970.58 Although24970.58 that24970.98 choice24971.14 ended24971.47 up24971.78 being24971.86 fantastic.24972.35
24973.18 SPEAKER4824973.18 -24973.18 Well,24973.18 I24973.22 was24973.26 gonna24973.5 say,24973.58 if24973.98 if24974.22 you24974.46 all24974.62 these24974.78 years24975.02 later,24975.18 you're24975.5 here24975.66 to24975.9 testify24976.06 about24976.46 your24976.62 son's24976.86 experience,24977.1 it24977.58 really24977.74 does24977.98 mean24978.22 something.24978.54 So24978.86 thank24979.1 you24979.26 for24979.58 for24979.82 staying24980.06 here24980.46 and24980.62 waiting24980.86 and24981.18 for24981.34 sharing24981.58 this24981.9 with24982.06 us.24982.3
24982.62 SPEAKER1624982.62 -24982.62 Yeah.24982.62 It24982.94 it24983.18 needs24983.34 to24983.66 be24983.82 there24983.98 for24984.22 others24984.46 like24984.78 him.24985.02
24985.74 SPEAKER224985.74 -24985.74 Rev24985.74 Vaughn,24985.98 hang24986.3 on,24986.46 ma'am.24986.62
24989.1 SPEAKER6224989.1 -24989.1 Hi,24989.1 Lynn.24989.35 I24989.82 just24989.98 wanted24990.22 to24990.47 say24990.54 thank24990.7 you.24990.86 Thank24991.1 you24991.26 very24991.43 much24991.58 for24991.82 your24991.98 testimony,24992.14 for24993.02 your24993.18 advocacy,24993.43 not24994.39 just24994.63 for24995.18 your24995.43 own24995.58 child,24995.82 but24996.14 for,24996.39 children24997.18 all24997.66 over24997.82 the24998.06 Commonwealth.24998.22 So24998.7 thank24998.86 you24999.1 very24999.26 much24999.43 for,24999.66 you25000.24 know,25000.48 holding25000.8 tight25001.2 here25001.44 today.25001.68
25002.32 SPEAKER1625002.32 -25002.32 Really25002.32 appreciate25002.64 it.25003.28 Absolutely.25003.36 It,25003.92 someone25004.56 did25004.88 it25005.04 for25005.2 us.25005.44 So25005.76 Yes.25006.08
25006.56 SPEAKER1225006.56 -25006.56 We25006.56 we25006.8
25006.88 SPEAKER1625006.88 -25006.88 pay25006.88 it25007.04 forward.25007.2
25007.92 SPEAKER225007.92 -25007.92 Thank25007.92 you.25008.16 We25008.48 this25009.12 is25009.36 huge.25009.44 So25010.08 it25010.32 was25010.56 important25010.72 to25011.2 hear25011.28 you.25011.44 So25011.68 thank25011.92 you.25012.16
25012.48 SPEAKER1625012.48 -25012.48 You're25012.48 welcome.25012.64 Thank25013.04 you.25013.2 Anne25014.51
25016.11 SPEAKER225016.11 -25016.11 McDonald?25016.11
25021.95 Unan25021.95 Brout?25022.67
25030.79 Meg25030.79 Coffin25032.39 will25033.19 be25033.35 next.25033.51
25038.47 SPEAKER6325038.47 -25038.47 Hello.25038.47 Thank25040.39 you25040.63 all25040.87 for25041.03 waiting25041.43 for25041.75 us25041.99 too.25042.15 We25042.55 appreciate25042.71 it.25043.19 My25044.1 name25044.34 is25044.5 Oona25044.74 Bro.25045.14 As25047.46 a25047.7 parent25047.78 of25048.26 an25048.5 extremely25048.66 ill25049.22 child25049.7 who25050.74 was25050.98 having25051.14 constant25051.7 suicide25052.18 attempts,25052.74 try25053.62 to25053.78 imagine25054.02 what25054.98 it25055.22 was25055.38 like25055.54 to25055.86 never25056.1 know25056.42 when25057.14 you25057.38 would25057.46 wake25057.54 your25057.94 when25058.1 you25058.18 go25058.26 to25058.42 wake25058.5 your25058.66 child25058.82 up25059.06 for25059.22 school25059.46 if25059.78 they25060.02 would25060.18 be25060.34 alive.25060.5 My25061.78 child25062.1 from25062.58 the25062.82 age25062.9 of25063.06 1025063.22 to25063.46 1425063.62 years25063.94 old25064.18 received25064.66 every25065.22 possible25065.54 outpatient25066.18 and25066.66 in25066.9 home25067.06 therapy25067.38 from25068.18 DMH25068.5 as25069.06 well25069.22 as25069.46 our25069.62 health25069.78 insurance.25070.02 This25071.03 did25071.19 not25071.27 stop25071.67 the25071.91 constant25072.07 revolving25072.55 doors25072.95 of25073.75 numerous25073.91 EDs25074.55 and25074.95 hospitalizations.25075.19 Finally,25076.87 after25077.27 languishing25077.67 in25078.79 their25078.95 last25079.19 hospital25079.43 for25079.99 325080.15 months,25080.39 they25080.87 had25081.11 been25081.27 approved25081.43 for25081.75 an25081.91 intensive25082.07 residential25082.63 treatment25083.11 program25083.59 run25084.15 by25084.47 NFI,25084.79 which,25086.12 by25086.44 the25086.52 way,25086.68 is25086.92 the25087 only25087.16 IRTP25087.56 in25088.2 the25088.36 state25088.52 that25088.92 can25089.16 take25089.32 a25090.04 child25090.28 like25090.84 mine25091.08 who25091.4 is25091.48 non25091.72 binary25091.96 or25092.52 trans.25092.84 My25093.96 child25094.2 was25094.44 the25094.76 lucky25094.92 1.25095.24 Their25095.88 closest25096.2 friend25096.6 who25096.92 had25097 been25097.24 with25097.4 them25097.64 at25098.2 the25098.36 last25098.52 hospitalization25098.76 was25099.8 not25100.04 able25100.28 to25100.52 access25100.68 an25101.08 IRTP.25101.32 As25103.15 my25103.47 child25103.71 was25103.95 safe25104.19 receiving25104.51 treatment25104.91 at25105.23 the25105.39 IRTP,25105.63 I25106.75 was25106.91 at25107.07 a25107.23 funeral25107.39 holding25108.43 a25108.75 mother25108.91 as25109.39 she25109.63 looked25109.87 into25110.11 an25110.35 open25110.59 coffin25110.91 of25111.39 her25111.47 beautiful25111.71 1525112.11 year25112.43 old25112.67 daughter25112.83 who25113.79 loved25114.03 to25114.27 play25114.43 the25114.67 ukulele.25114.83 With25117.13 further25117.45 cuts25117.77 to25118.09 DMH25118.25 and25118.81 the25119.05 elimination25119.21 of25120.33 this25120.89 particular25121.21 NFI25122.33 IRTPs,25123.05
25125.85 there25125.85 will25126.09 be25126.33 a25126.49 lot25126.57 more25126.81 mothers25127.13 and25127.61 fathers25127.85 going25128.49 to25128.73 funerals25128.89 instead25129.53 of25129.93 high25130.09 school25130.25 graduations.25130.57 I25132.22 implore25132.31 you,25132.62 please25133.02 save25133.42 our25133.98 children.25134.22 Putting25135.58 this25135.9 simply25136.14 into25136.46 a25136.7 scenario,25136.78 I25137.58 would25138.46 like25138.54 you25138.7 to25138.86 picture25139.02 a25139.35 rowboat25139.5 out25140.06 at25140.22 sea25140.39 full25140.94 of25141.18 beautiful25141.35 children,25141.82 our25142.62 future.25142.86 Over25143.98 on25144.22 the25144.39 shore25144.46 there25144.7 is25144.86 a25145.02 glimmering25145.18 lifeboat25145.74 with25147.28 IRTP25147.52 written25148.16 on25148.48 it,25148.56 but25149.44 the25149.68 motor25149.84 is25150.16 broken.25150.32 The25151.2 lifeguards25152.08 walk25152.64 by25152.88 and25153.2 they25153.36 see25153.52 the25153.76 lifeboat.25153.92 Their25154.8 immediate25155.04 reaction25155.52 is25155.84 it25156.16 is25156.32 not25156.48 being25156.72 utilized,25156.96 so25157.84 let's25158.08 throw25158.32 it25158.56 away,25158.72 not25159.6 knowing25159.85 all25160.16 it25160.4 needed25160.56 was25160.96 to25161.12 have25161.28 the25161.52 motor25161.68 fixed.25162.08 Now25162.72 look25163.04 back25163.28 out25163.44 at25163.68 the25163.76 rowboat25163.93 full25164.4 of25165.28 children.25165.36 It25166.24 is25166.32 gone.25166.56 It25167.2 has25167.36 been25167.52 swallowed25167.76 up25168.16 by25168.32 the25168.48 waves.25168.64 The25169.44 motor25169.6 of25170 the25170.08 rowboat25170.24 is25171.12 the25171.44 arduous25171.76 broken25172.32 process25172.81 that25173.28 inhibits25173.52 children25174.08 from25174.79 receiving25175.03 lifesaving25175.67 help25176.39 from25176.63 the25176.87 IRTPs25177.03 because25178.15 of25178.47 the25178.63 DMH25178.79 broken25179.27 system.25179.59 Please25180.63 restore25180.95 last25181.35 year's25181.59 level25181.91 funding25182.15 to25182.47 DMH25182.63 and25183.11 fix25183.35 the25183.59 broken25183.75 system.25184.07 We25184.95 need25185.19 to25185.67 bring25185.83 our25186.15 children25186.39 home25186.87 for25188.04 our25188.28 children25188.52 deserve25188.92 life25189.4 and25189.72 a25189.96 future.25190.04 125190.76 last25191 thing,25191.24 the25191.56 major25191.81 side25192.2 effects25192.36 of25192.76 these25192.92 IRTPs25193.16 is25193.89 what25194.04 my25194.36 child25194.6 now25194.92 has.25195.24 My25195.89 child25196.2 is25196.52 a25196.68 flourishing25196.85 adult25197.4 in25197.89 their25198.04 20s.25198.28 They25199.08 are25199.24 going25199.4 to25199.56 college,25199.72 they25200.12 have25200.36 a25200.52 job25200.68 and25201.24 they25201.48 no25201.72 longer25201.89 receive25202.28 any,25202.85 any25203.4 services25203.8 from25204.2 DMH.25204.44 Please25205.48 give25205.88 this25206.2 side25206.44 effect25206.68 of25207.24 our25207.48 children25207.72 and25208.6 and25208.84 and,25209.24 and25209.64 to25210.36 our25210.68 children25211 and25211.48 other25211.72 families.25211.96 Thank25213 you25213.24 for25213.4 listening.25213.64
25216.28 And25216.28 I25216.44 didn't25216.6 cry.25216.92
25219.91 Do25219.91 you25220.07 have25220.15 any25220.39 any25220.71 questions?25220.95
25221.51 SPEAKER325221.51 -25221.51 Thank25221.51 you25221.75 so25221.91 much.25222.07 Any25222.87 questions25223.11 from25223.43 the25223.6 members?25223.75 If25225.19 if25225.83 not,25226.07 thank25226.39 you,25226.56 ma'am,25226.71 for25227.03 your25227.19 testimony.25227.27 We25228.47 are,25228.71 gonna25229.35 be25229.67 moving25229.83 to25230.39 a25230.95 panel.25231.11 We25232.23 are25232.47 gonna25232.87 call25233.11 the25233.35 names,25233.51 Kelly25234.15 Viera,25235.33 Maureen25236.05 Saint25236.69 Cyr,25236.93 Christina25237.65 D'Alfonseca,25238.61 Michelin25240.69 Cahill.25241.49
25245.33 And,25245.33 I25246.21 know25246.37 that25246.53 we25246.77 have25247.01 some25247.25 some25248.71 members25249.11 that25249.43 are25249.6 in25249.75 person25249.91 and25250.56 some25250.79 members25251.03 that25251.43 are25251.51 online.25251.83 If25252.39 our25252.87 friends25253.11 at25253.43 LIF25253.6 can25254.15 help25254.31 us,25254.47 Zoom25255.67 in25255.91 to25256.23 the25256.56 the25256.71 folks25256.87 that25257.19 are25257.35 online,25257.43 as25258.47 well.25258.71
25262.71 Great.25262.71 And25262.95 just25263.27 something25263.67 to25264.07 note25264.23 is25264.55 that25264.71 there25265.03 are25265.35 625265.59 you25266.23 have25266.39 625266.63 minutes.25266.87 So25267.99 what25268.23 what25268.47 I25268.63 would25268.79 advise25268.95 is,25269.75 if25270.87 you25271.19 have25271.35 written25271.67 testimony,25272.15 speak25273.14 of25273.39 your25273.62 written25273.86 testimony,25274.18 and25275.06 you25275.31 can25275.39 always25275.54 submit25276.02 the25276.5 written25276.66 testimony,25276.98 and25278.35 that25278.82 probably25279.14 will25279.62 allow25280.02 you25280.35 to25280.42 have25280.58 enough25280.82 time25281.14 so25281.46 that,25281.62 everyone25282.26 in25282.66 the25282.82 panel25282.9 can25283.31 at25283.46 least25283.54 say25283.86 a25284.02 few25284.1 words.25284.35 If25285.06 you25285.22 look25285.46 at25285.7 the,25286.02 the25287.41 TV,25287.65 you25288.45 will25288.69 see25288.93 a25289.17 countdown.25289.41 Thank25290.45 you.25290.69 Go25290.93 ahead.25291.01 Hi.25291.89
25295.09 SPEAKER6425295.09 -25295.09 I'm25295.09 Christina25295.41 Dafonseca,25295.89 a25296.69 resident25296.77 of25297.17 New25297.33 Bedford.25297.57 I'm25298.13 the25298.37 executive25298.53 director25299.01 of25299.33 South25299.49 Coast25299.73 Fair25300.05 Housing.25300.37 I25301.6 founded25301.85 South25302.32 Coast25302.56 Fair25302.72 Housing25302.89 in25303.2 02/201225303.36 to25304.24 ensure25304.4 that25304.72 fair25304.97 housing25305.12 enforcement25305.52 services25306.01 were25306.4 available25306.64 to25307.12 residents25307.28 of25307.68 Bristol25307.85 and25308.24 Plymouth25308.4 Counties25308.72 and25309.6 Cape25309.85 Cod25310.16 in25310.4 the25310.48 islands.25310.64 And25311.04 now25311.28 with25311.85 the25312.08 other25312.16 members25312.4 of25312.81 the25312.97 Fair25313.04 Housing25313.28 Alliance25313.6 of25313.93 Massachusetts,25314.08
25318.23 SPEAKER3225318.23 -25318.23 crucial25318.23
25318.55 SPEAKER6425318.55 -25318.55 services.25318.55 The25320.07 Fair25320.31 Housing25320.47 Alliance25320.79 of25321.03 Massachusetts25321.27 is25321.83 a25321.99 coalition25322.15 of25322.63 425322.79 nonprofit25323.11 organizations,25323.83 including25324.47 South25324.87 Coast25325.11 Fair25325.35 Housing,25325.59 the25325.91 Massachusetts25326.07 Fair25326.71 Housing25326.95 Center,25327.27 community25329.34 the25329.66 housing25329.82 prod25330.22 Fair25330.54 Housing25330.78 Project25331.02 at25331.42 Community25331.58 Legal25332.06 Aid,25332.3 and,25332.78 the25333.82 housing25334.06 discrimination25334.38 testing25335.26 program.25335.9 The25337.82 work25337.98 of25338.3 FAM25338.54 is25338.78 complimentary25339.1 to25339.9 the25339.98 work25340.14 of25340.38 our25340.54 state's25340.7 commission25341.58 against25341.98 discrimination25342.38 and25343.26 attorney25343.5 general.25345.15 But25345.31 different25345.63 from25346.03 those25346.27 state25346.51 offices,25346.83 FAM25347.71 provides25348.03 direct25348.51 advocacy25348.91 and25349.39 legal25349.55 representation25349.95 to25350.51 individuals25350.75 and25351.31 families.25351.55 Collectively,25352.27 we25352.91 process25353.15 almost25353.63 1,00025354.03 intakes25354.67 annually,25355.15 evaluating,25355.79 investigating,25356.67 and25357.23 providing25357.39 counsel25357.79 for25358.19 a25358.35
25358.43 SPEAKER2625358.43 -25358.43 full25358.43
25358.67 SPEAKER6425358.67 -25358.67 range25358.67 of25360.35 fair25360.6 housing25360.91 issues.25361.31 Families25361.88 often25362.43 arrive25362.76 at25363.15 our25363.39 doors25363.56 first,25364.03 and25364.76 we25364.99 frequently25365.15 help25365.64 to25365.88 address25365.95 their25366.27 fair25366.51 housing25366.68 issues25366.99 without25367.31 the25367.64 need25367.79 to25368.03 ever25368.19 seek25368.43 the25368.68 help25368.76 of25369.07 our25369.15 state25369.39 agencies25369.64 or25370.19 courts.25370.35
25373.57 SPEAKER4625373.57 -25373.57 Good25373.57 evening.25373.89 My25374.29 name25374.37 is25374.53 Kelly25374.69 Viera.25375.09 I'm25375.89 a25376.13 Boston25376.21 resident,25376.69 daughter25377.33 of25377.73 Cape25377.81 Verdean25378.05 immigrants,25378.45 a25379.41 lawyer,25379.65 a25380.05 renter,25380.29 and25381.09 the25381.25 director25381.41 of25381.73 investigation25381.97 and25382.53 outreach25382.61 at25383.01 the25383.09 housing25383.17 discrimination25383.49 testing25384.13 program,25384.61 125385.01 of25385.17 the25385.25 member25385.49 organizations25385.89 of25386.53 FAM.25386.69 At25388.4 this25388.64 time,25388.96 we25389.44 are25389.84 starting25390.16 to25390.56 see25390.72 the25391.04 major25391.28 effects25391.68 of25392.24 funding25392.64 cuts25393.04 at25393.28 the25393.36 federal25393.52 level.25393.92 In25395.12 my25395.36 work,25395.52 for25395.84 example,25396 at25396.4 HATP,25396.64 we25397.44 do25397.6 extensive25397.84 education25398.48 outreach,25399.04 letting25399.75 housing25400.07 seekers25400.31 and25400.63 tenants25400.79 know25401.19 what25401.35 their25401.51 rights25401.59 are25401.91 and25402.15 whether25402.39 their25402.71 rights25402.87 have25403.11 been25403.27 violated.25403.43 We25404.15 even25404.39 educate25404.63 landlords,25405.11 social25405.67 workers,25405.99 real25406.47 estate25406.71 agencies.25407.03 Our25407.99 work25408.15 reaches25408.39 everyone25408.87 involved25409.19 in25409.59 the25409.75 housing25409.91 process25410.31 and25410.95 over25411.19 the25411.43 1225411.59 of25412.15 our25412.31 since25412.55 our25412.87 founding25413.11 as25413.43 an25413.59 organization,25413.75 we've25414.23 educated25414.47 over25415.03 7,00025415.81 people.25416.52 I25417.4 can25417.48 attest25417.72 personally25418.04 that25418.6 often25418.85 people25419.24 know25419.48 that25419.72 they25419.81 didn't25420.04 know25420.36 something25421.01 that25421.4 had25421.56 happened25421.72 to25422.04 them25422.13 was25422.44 illegal25422.76 until25423.48 we25423.81 were25424.04 trained,25424.2 they25424.52 were25424.6 trained25424.85 by25425.16 us.25425.32 However,25426.68 our25427.08 ability25427.32 to25427.64 do25427.81 this25427.89 work25428.2 is25428.44 under25428.6 serious25428.85 threat.25429.32 As25430.38 you25430.54 know,25430.62 the25430.86 federal25431.1 government's25431.42 priorities25431.82 have25432.38 drastically25432.62 shifted25433.18 under25433.82 the25434.14 current25434.22 Trump25434.62 administration.25434.94 Typically,25436.06 for25436.46 housing25436.62 organizations25437.02 depend25437.58 on25437.9 significant25438.22 funding25439.1 from25439.42 the25439.66 Department25439.74 of25440.14 Housing25440.38 and25440.78 Urban25440.94 Development25441.26 or25441.74 HUD25441.9 to25442.62 do25442.78 this25442.94 type25443.18 of25443.34 work.25443.5 However,25444.85 that25445.25 funding,25445.41 is25447.33 at25447.65 dire25448.61 risk.25448.93 In25449.81 a25449.97 typical25450.13 year,25451.81 HTTP25452.21 might25452.85 expect25453.17 to25453.65 receive25453.97 around25454.21 $550,00025454.61 in25456.21 funding25456.37 from25456.69 HUD.25456.93 However,25457.61 the25457.77 225457.93 grants25458.41 we25458.73 applied25458.97 for25459.29 in25459.53 November25459.85 of25460.25 2025460.41 2425460.73 have25461.53 been25461.69 pending25461.93 ever25462.41 since,25462.65 and25462.89 we25463.05 do25463.29 not25463.45 expect25463.69 to25463.93 receive25464.17 that25464.41 funding.25464.65 If25466.89 without,25467.37 an25468.17 additional25468.41 source25468.81 of25469.05 funding,25469.21 we25469.61 do25469.85 not25470.01 anticipate25470.49 that25470.89 HTTP25471.21 will25471.61 be25471.85 able25472.01 to25472.17 continue25472.33 its25472.73 vital25472.89 services25473.29 past25473.85 this25474.17 coming25474.49 fall,25474.89 and25475.69 we25475.93 fear25476.09 that25476.41 other25476.57 family25476.81 organizations25477.13 won't25477.77 be25478.01 able25478.17 to25478.33 exist25478.49 for25478.89 much25479.05 longer25479.37 than25479.69 that.25479.85 It's25481.45 April.25481.77 It's25482.17 fair25482.41 housing25482.65 month.25483.05 In25485.14 April,25485.38 doctor25486.74 Martin25487.14 Luther25487.38 King25487.7 Junior25488.02 was25488.58 killed25489.06 5725489.78 years25490.42 ago25490.66 this25491.06 month.25491.54 And25492.18 I25492.34 bring25492.5 that25492.66 up25492.82 because25493.06 doctor25493.38 King25493.7 was25493.94 actually25494.1 fighting25494.42 for25494.82 housing25494.98 integration25495.3 near25496.18 the25496.42 end25496.58 of25496.74 his25496.82 life.25497.06 And25498.01 I25498.33 asked25498.41 the25498.65 legislature25498.81 to25499.61 feel25500.01 in25500.41 his25500.57 words25500.73 the25501.21 fierce25501.37 urgency25501.77 of25502.41 now.25502.65 And25503.53 we25503.61 asked25503.77 you25503.93 to25504.09 fund25504.25 the25504.49 Fair25504.65 Housing25504.81 Trust25505.21 Fund,25505.53 with25506.33 $4,000,00025506.57 to25507.45 ensure25507.61 that25507.93 fair25508.09 housing25508.33 can25508.65 continue25508.89 to25509.37 exist25509.45 in25510.1 the25510.26 Commonwealth25510.34 of25510.74 Massachusetts.25510.98 And25512.02 we25512.18 additionally25512.34 ask25512.82 that25513.06 you25513.22 fund25513.46 the25514.26 office25514.74 of,25515.06 fair25516.26 housing25516.58 with25517.62 $1,000,00025517.86 to25518.9 ensure25519.14 that25519.54 we25519.78 can25519.94 continue25520.18 to25520.58 fight25520.74 for25520.9 fair25521.14 housing25521.3 rights25521.62 in25522.18 the25522.34 Commonwealth.25522.5 Thank25523.3 you.25523.46
25526.62 SPEAKER6525526.62 -25526.62 Good25526.62 afternoon.25526.94 My25527.42 name25527.66 is25527.82 Maureen25528.06 Saint25528.46 Cyr.25528.7 I25529.18 am25529.26 the25529.34 executive25529.58 director25530.06 of25530.46 the25530.62 Massachusetts25530.78 Fair25531.5 Housing25531.74 Center,25532.22 the25532.7 oldest25533.02 Fair25533.42 Housing25533.66 Center25533.98 in25534.3 Massachusetts,25534.54 which25535.18 has25535.42 been25535.66 in25535.9 in,25536.38 existence25538.24 since25538.72 1989.25539.04 We25540.64 serve25540.88 Central25541.2 And25541.52 Western25541.68 Massachusetts25542.08 and,25543.6 are25545.52 a25545.76 member25545.84 organization25546.24 of25546.72 FAM25546.88 as25547.28 well.25547.44 I25548.16 wanna25548.32 speak25548.64 briefly25548.96 to25549.92 the25550.16 cuts25550.48 that25550.96 attorney25551.36 Viera25551.84 mentioned.25552.32 Like25554.02 many25554.35 sources25554.43 of25554.9 federal25555.06 funding,25555.46 fair25556.18 housing25556.5 funding25556.9 is25557.31 under25557.7 attack25559.22 at25559.7 this25559.86 time.25560.18 On25560.9 February25561.14 27,25561.88 HUD25562.9 at25563.31 the25563.46 direction25563.62 of25564.18 Doge25564.5 terminated25564.98 48%25565.78 of25567.49 all25567.73 fair25568.29 housing25568.61 grants25569.09 across25569.57 the25569.89 country25570.13 overnight25570.69 stating25571.57 that25571.89 those25572.05 grants25572.21 were25572.53 inconsistent25572.77 with,25573.41 or25574.45 no25574.69 longer25574.85 effectuated25575.17 program25575.89 goals25576.29 or25576.61 agency25576.85 priorities.25577.33 These25578.37 cuts25578.61 dealt25579.01 a25579.57 devastating25579.73 blow25580.61 to25581.01 critical25581.25 civil25581.73 rights25582.05 work25582.29 such25582.71 as25582.87 fair25583.11 housing25583.19 enforcement,25583.67 education,25584.31 and25584.87 outreach.25585.03 Our25586.15 organization,25586.47 Mass25587.19 Fair25587.43 Housing,25587.59 lost25588.23 52%25588.71 of25589.83 our25589.99 funding25590.15 on25591.11 that25591.27 night25591.51 as25591.91 a25592.07 result25592.15 of25592.47 those25592.55 cuts.25592.87 We're25593.67 part25593.99 of25594.15 litigation25594.39 that25594.79 is25594.95 challenging25595.19 these25595.59 terminations,25595.83 but25596.55 it's25596.79 very25597.37 uncertain25597.61 whether25598.17 our25598.49 work25598.73 will25599.05 be25599.21 funded25599.45 during25600.01 the25600.33 litigation.25600.49 Without25601.69 this25602.09 funding,25602.41 we25602.81 will25602.97 have25603.21 to25603.37 make25603.45 deep25603.69 immediate25604.17 cuts25604.81 and25605.45 ultimately25605.69 also25606.41 like25606.81 HTTP25607.29 will25608.09 not25608.33 be25608.49 able25608.65 to25608.97 keep25609.13 our25609.37 doors25609.53 open25609.85 into25610.25 the25610.57 fall.25610.73 Absent25612.16 replacement25612.56 funding.25613.12 Or25614.88 we25615.28 are25615.52 echoing25615.85 their25616.32 ask25616.64 that25616.96 the25617.12 legislature25617.36 fund25617.92 fair25618.24 housing25618.48 and25618.81 keep25618.96 these25619.28 programs25619.52 alive,25620.08 through25621.04 funding25621.28 the25621.68 Fair25621.76 Housing25621.92 Trust25622.32 Fund,25622.64 at25623.2 $4,000,00025623.44 Thank25625.36 you.25625.6
25627.23 SPEAKER425627.23 -25627.23 Good25627.23 evening,25627.47 members25627.71 of25628.03 the25628.11 committee.25628.27 My25628.67 name25628.83 is25628.99 Michael25629.15 Ann25629.47 Cahill.25629.71 I25630.11 am25630.27 a25630.43 resident25630.51 of25630.91 Worcester,25631.07 Massachusetts25631.55 and25632.19 the25632.43 senior25632.51 supervising25632.91 attorney25633.39 at25633.79 the25633.95 Fair25634.03 Housing25634.27 Project25634.59 of25634.99 Community25635.15 Legal25635.55 Aid.25635.79 As25637.79 my25638.03 colleague25638.19 testified,25638.51 the25638.99 federal25639.15 funding25639.47 for25639.71 our25639.87 organizations25640.03 have25640.67 historically25640.91 we25641.55 have25641.71 historically25641.87 relied25642.35 on25642.67 in25643.03 jeopardy.25643.19 And25643.91 without25644.15 replacement25644.47 funding,25644.87 fair25645.27 housing25645.51 enforcement25645.83 will25646.23 be25646.39 decimated25646.55 in25646.95 the25647.11 Commonwealth.25647.19 Currently,25648.07 our25648.47 425648.63 organizations25648.87 work25649.75 together25649.91 to25650.23 combat25650.39 prevalent25650.79 housing25651.11 discrimination25651.43 across25652.07 the25652.39 Commonwealth,25652.47 and25652.95 any25653.19 cut25653.43 to25653.75 the25653.91 current25653.99 capacity25654.31 will25654.87 be25655.03 felt25655.19 by25655.43 its25655.51 residents.25655.75 We25656.7 ask25656.86 you25657.02 to25657.18 fund25657.26 the25657.5 Fair25657.58 Housing25657.82 Trust25658.06 Fund25658.3 at25658.7 $4,000,00025658.94 Thank25659.9 you.25660.14
25660.7 SPEAKER225660.7 -25660.7 Thank25660.7 you.25660.94 Thank25662.86 you.25663.18 Any25663.5 questions?25663.82 Have25666.22 a25666.46 great25666.54 day.25666.78
25667.18 SPEAKER1625667.18 -25667.18 Thank25667.18 you.25667.42
25667.9 SPEAKER225667.9 -25667.9 Elizabeth25667.9 Murphy.25668.7
25686.41 SPEAKER825686.41 -25686.41 Good25686.41
25686.65 SPEAKER6125686.65 -25686.65 evening.25686.65 I'd25688.17 like25688.41 to25688.57 thank25688.73 the25689.13 chairman25689.53 and25690.09 the25690.33 members25690.41 of25690.81 the25690.89 joint25691.05 committee25691.53 of25692.01 ways25692.25 and25692.49 means25692.65 for25692.97 taking25693.21 time25693.53 to25693.93 listen25694.09 to25694.49 me25694.57 today.25694.81 My25695.53 name25695.69 is25695.85 Beth25696.01 Murphy25696.33 and25696.57 I25696.81 come25696.89 to25697.05 you25697.21 as25697.37 an25697.53 attorney,25697.69 advocate,25698.75 and25699.23 most25699.55 importantly,25699.71 the25700.43 mother25700.59 of25700.91 a25700.99 young25701.15 adult25701.39 with25701.71 significant25702.03 mental25702.59 health25702.91 concerns.25703.23 She's25704.43 a25704.75 DMH25704.91 client25705.47 and25705.87 a25706.03 former25706.11 IRTP25706.67 patient.25707.31 You've25708.83 heard25709.15 from25709.79 parents25710.19 of25710.67 children25710.83 with25711.23 mental25711.47 health25711.79 concerns25712.03 today,25712.59 and25713.25 we25713.41 all25713.57 belong25713.89 to25714.21 a25714.37 club25714.53 that25714.85 nobody25715.01 ever25715.41 wants25715.73 to25716.05 join.25716.13 It25717.01 is25717.17 statistically25717.41 improbable25718.45 that25719.33 some25719.57 of25719.73 you25719.89 are25720.05 not25720.21 also25720.45 part25720.77 of25721.01 our25721.09 club.25721.25 There's25722.05 no25722.45 application25722.69 to25723.25 join,25723.41 and25723.89 the25724.13 dues25724.29 are25724.61 paid25724.77 in25725.09 ugly25725.33 cries,25725.73 screams25726.64 of25727.03 rage25727.27 and25727.43 frustration25727.75 and25728.39 sleepless25728.72 nights.25729.19 Not25730.56 unlike25730.87 the25731.27 Hotel25731.51 California,25731.99 you25732.72 may25732.95 check25733.11 out25733.35 anytime25733.6 you25734.07 like,25734.23 but25734.64 you25734.79 can25734.95 never25735.19 leave.25735.51 My25737.11 request25737.43 is25737.91 slightly25738.15 different25738.64 than25738.87 the25739.03 others25739.19 that25739.51 you've25739.6 heard.25739.83 I'm25740.56 here25740.8 not25741.12 only25741.28 to25741.68 ask25741.84 that25742.08 you25742.24 fully25742.48 restore25742.88 the25743.28 DMH25743.36 budget,25743.92 but25744.64 that25744.8 you25744.96 further25745.2 mandate25745.68 that25746.16 policies25746.4 be25746.88 put25747.04 into25747.2 place25747.52 making25747.92 the25748.24 services25748.4 more25748.96 accessible25749.28 to25749.68 clients.25749.92 Making25751.04 these25751.36 services25751.52 more25752.08 accessible25752.32 will25752.88 not25753.12 only25753.28 make25753.52 life25753.76 easier25754 for25754.32 clients25754.48 and25754.8 caregivers,25754.96 but25756.14 in25756.39 the25756.54 end25756.62 will25756.94 provide25757.18 cost25757.58 savings25757.9 to25758.22 the25758.39 Commonwealth.25758.54 Let25759.5 me25759.66 explain.25759.82 In25761.35 speaking25761.66 to25761.98 directors25762.31 of25762.86 some25762.94 of25763.18 the25763.26 IRTPs,25763.42 the25764.54 second25764.78 highest25765.18 residential25765.5 level25766.14 of25766.39 care25766.54 for25766.7 youth,25766.94 there25767.58 are25767.74 open25767.98 beds25768.39 in25768.78 all25769.02 facilities.25769.42 In25771.15 speaking25771.31 to25771.79 the25771.95 administrators25772.11 at25772.83 inpatient25773.07 facilities,25773.71 we25774.19 are25774.35 told25774.51 that25774.75 there25774.91 is25775.07 a25775.47 325775.63 to25775.95 625776.03 month25776.27 wait25776.67 list25776.83 to25777.15 get25777.31 a25777.55 patient25777.71 into25778.11 the25778.43 IRTP.25778.67 Let25780.35 me25780.51 repeat25780.75 that.25781.07 With25782.03 beds25782.43 available,25782.99 we25784.06 are25784.14 making25784.39 suffering25784.86 children25785.43 wait25785.82 325786.31 to25786.62 625786.78 months25787.1 to25787.43 get25787.5 treatment.25787.74 How25789.58 does25789.74 that25789.98 affect25790.14 the25790.47 budget?25790.54 The25792.22 Commonwealth25792.39 is25792.94 paying25793.18 for25793.5 the25793.74 IRTP25793.98 beds25794.62 whether25795.02 they25795.35 are25795.5 used25795.74 or25796.06 not.25796.31 Also,25798.13 most25798.77 of25799.01 the25799.09 children25799.25 waiting25799.81 for25800.13 inpatient25800.37 beds25800.85 are25803.01 covered25803.33 by25803.73 some25804.13 form25804.61 of25804.93 MassHealth.25805.09 Therefore,25806.37 the25806.85 Commonwealth25807.01 is25807.57 paying25807.81 for25808.13 the25808.37 empty25808.53 bed25808.93 and25809.41 also25809.73 the25810.05 bed25810.21 being25810.53 used25810.77 by25811.01 the25811.17 stagnant25811.41 patient.25811.89 Further,25813.94 when25814.74 all25815.06 inpatient25815.31 beds25815.86 are25816.26 full,25816.43 other25817.54 children25817.78 are25818.26 forced25818.43 to25818.66 wait25818.74 in25818.9 the25819.06 emergency25819.14 room25819.63 for25819.94 a25820.18 bed25820.26 to25820.51 open.25820.66 Again,25821.54 many25822.1 of25822.43 these25822.58 extended25822.82 stays25823.39 in25823.78 the25823.94 ED25824.1 are25824.58 paid25824.82 for25824.98 by25825.22 MassHealth.25825.39 Often25827.14 when25827.54 a25827.86 child25827.94 waits25828.18 for25828.42 an25828.58 extended25828.82 period25829.22 of25829.54 time,25829.62 the25830.02 ED25830.26 eventually25830.74 discharges25831.38 them25831.94 only25832.9 to25833.14 admit25833.38 them25833.7 again25833.94 months,25834.82 weeks,25835.54 and25836.1 sometimes25836.34 just25836.82 days25837.06 later.25837.38 If25838.58 we25838.74 want25838.9 to25839.14 reduce25839.38 the25839.7 budget,25839.94 we25840.9 need25840.98 to25841.3 get25841.46 kids25841.7 the25842.02 treatment25842.18 they25842.66 need25842.9 as25843.54 soon25843.86 as25844.26 they25844.5 need25844.74 it.25844.9 In25846.5 closing,25846.74 please25847.78 do25848.1 not25848.18 cut25849.14 funding25849.46 for25849.86 mental25850.18 health25850.5 services.25850.74 Strengthen25852.1 them,25852.58 reform25853.38 them,25853.94 oversee25854.74 them,25855.3 fund25856.43 them25857.31 so25857.39 that25857.55 they25857.71 can25857.95 be25858.11 better25858.27 for25858.91 families25859.15 like25859.55 mine25859.79 and25860.19 thousands25860.43 of25860.83 others.25860.99 Although25862.35 the25862.75 most25862.99 important25863.31 measure25863.71 is25864.27 made25864.43 in25864.75 human25864.99 lives25865.39 and25865.95 keeping25866.27 families25866.59 like25867.07 mine25867.31 whole,25867.63 the25868.44 investment25868.76 also25869.48 makes25869.88 good25870.2 economic25870.76 sense.25871.4 Thank25872.2 you25872.44 for25872.6 your25872.76 time.25872.92
25874.04 SPEAKER225874.04 -25874.04 Thank25874.04 you25874.28 very25874.44 much.25874.68
25879.72 SPEAKER6225879.72 -25879.72 Thank25879.72 you,25879.96 Beth.25880.2 Just25880.44 wanna25880.65 say25880.89 thank25880.97 you25881.05 for25881.45 waiting25881.77 here25882.09 all25882.25 day25882.41 and25882.65 really25883.21 appreciate25883.53 all25883.93 the25884.09 insight25884.25 you've25884.57 given25884.81 me25885.05 over25885.69 the25885.93 last25886.01 couple25886.25 years25886.57 and25886.81 my25886.97 legislative25887.21 aide25887.69 on,25888.01 the25888.81 issues25888.97 that,25889.45 are25890.09 rising25890.25 at25890.65 DMH.25890.81 And,25891.69 just25892.17 want25892.41 you25892.57 to25892.73 know25892.81 that25892.97 we'll25893.37 be25893.61 advocating25893.77 for25894.33 you25894.49 and25895.05 families25895.86 across25896.18 the25896.5 Commonwealth.25896.66 So25897.14 thank25897.38 you25897.54 very25897.62 much.25897.86
25898.58 SPEAKER6125898.58 -25898.58 Thank25898.58 you.25898.82 And25899.14 just25899.54 as25900.42 I'm25900.74 sure25900.98 you25901.22 guys25901.38 have25901.54 all25901.7 heard,25901.94 our25902.58 families25902.9 were25903.62 used25903.86 to25904.1 waiting.25904.26 So25904.66 sitting25905.22 here,25905.7 not25906.18 a25906.34 problem.25906.5
25907.94 SPEAKER225907.94 -25907.94 Thank25907.94 you25908.18 very25908.42 much.25908.66
25911.32 Julia25911.32 Garvey25911.88 and25912.52 Kelly25913.16 Turley.25913.56
25934.06 SPEAKER6625934.06 -25934.06 Good25934.06 evening.25934.31 My25934.62 name25934.78 is25934.94 Kelly25935.18 Charlie.25935.5 I'm25935.82 with25935.98 the25936.14 Massachusetts25936.31 Coalition25937.1 for25937.5 the25937.66 Homeless.25937.82 I25938.4 want25938.48 to25938.6 thank25938.72 you25938.8 for25939.04 this25939.28 opportunity25939.6 to25940.32 testify25940.56 today25940.96 on25941.6 behalf25941.76 of25942.08 the25942.16 Coalition25942.4 in25942.96 support25943.12 of25943.44 key25943.6 investments25943.92 in25944.4 language25944.64 in25944.96 the25945.12 FY2625945.2 budget25945.92 to25946.8 prevent25946.96 and25947.44 end25947.6 homelessness.25947.84 We25949.04 will25949.28 submit25949.44 written25949.84 testimony25950.16 that25950.64 covers25950.8 the25951.2 wide25951.36 range25951.68 of25952.16 our25952.48 policy25953.12 priorities25953.52 for25954.16 this25954.4 fiscal25954.72 year.25955.12 And25955.68 I25955.84 just25956 wanted25956.08 to25956.32 highlight25956.4 a25956.8 few25956.88 before25957.04 turning25957.44 it25957.68 over25957.84 to25958.16 my25958.32 colleague,25958.56 Julia.25959.44 We25961.04 know25961.28 that25961.52 this25961.76 year,25961.92 in25963.04 the25963.12 past25963.2 1825963.52 months,25963.76 Massachusetts25964.24 has25964.88 made25965.04 significant25965.36 changes25966 to25966.48 the25966.96 right25967.12 to25967.36 safe,25967.72
25979.08 stable25979.08 places25980.52 to25980.64 go.25980.76 We25981.48 know25981.56 safe,25981.94 stable25982.35 places25982.74 to25983.22 go.25983.38 We25985.22 know25985.46 that25985.7 the25986.42 costs25986.66 have25987.22 been25987.46 enormous,25987.78 but25988.42 we25988.66 can25988.82 and25989.14 must25989.38 do25989.62 better.25989.86 So25990.66 we25990.9 ask25991.14 you25991.46 as25991.7 you're25991.94 formulating25992.26 the25993.06 f25993.22 y25993.46 2625993.7 budget25994.26 to25995.41 seriously25995.81 consider25996.45 reversing25996.93 some25997.49 of25997.73 the25997.89 negative25998.05 changes25998.45 that25998.85 were25999.09 implemented25999.33 this25999.89 year,26000.05 in26000.45 particular,26000.69 the26001.65 arbitrary26001.89 time26002.53 limits26002.77 on26003.17 how26003.33 long26003.49 families26003.81 can26004.21 stay26004.53 in26004.77 shelter,26005.01 the26005.97 cap26006.21 on26006.45 how26006.69 many26006.77 families26007.01 can26007.33 be26007.57 in26007.65 shelter26007.81 at26008.29 any26008.45 given26008.77 time,26009.09 And26010.77 to26010.85 make26011.01 sure26011.18 that26011.41 we're26011.49 making26011.65 the26011.97 investments26012.21 where26012.61 they're26012.77 needed26013.01 in26013.49 comprehensive26013.81 housing26014.53 search26014.93 and26015.18 wraparound26015.41 services26015.89 because26016.37 that's26016.69 what26016.93 families26017.18 need26017.65 to26017.97 be26018.14 able26018.29 to26018.61 be26018.69 successfully26019.01 housed26019.81 and26020.14 to26020.37 exit26020.61 homelessness.26021.49 We26022.79 hope26022.87 that26023.03 you26023.19 will26023.59 listen26024.07 to26024.55 the26024.79 lived26024.95 experiences26025.27 of26025.99 families26026.15 who26026.55 are26026.71 the26026.95 experts26027.19 in26027.75 what26027.99 we26028.23 need26028.39 to26028.71 do26028.79 going26029.03 forward26029.35 and26030.39 to26030.63 revisit26030.87 some26031.59 of26031.83 the26031.99 recommendations26032.39 that26033.19 came26033.43 out26033.67 of26033.91 the26034.07 previous26034.23 commission26034.71 on26035.19 the26035.35 state26035.51 of26035.75 the26035.91 family26035.99 shelter26036.39 program.26036.79 We26037.72 ask26037.89 you26037.97 to26038.28 adequately26038.52 fund26039 EA26039.4 and26040.52 to26040.76 be26040.93 able26041.16 to26041.48 take26041.64 the26041.89 steps26042.04 forward26042.6 in26043 the26043.24 upcoming26043.4 months26043.89 to26044.2 make26044.36 sure26044.6 that26044.93 we26045.08 don't26045.97 push26046.28 families26046.6 out26047.08 of26047.24 the26047.4 safety26047.56 of26047.89 shelter26048.12 before26048.52 they're26049.16 able26049.4 to26049.64 secure26049.89 alternative26050.44 housing.26051.08 We26052.27 also26052.43 ask26052.75 you26052.91 to26053.07 make26053.15 the26053.39 investments26053.55 that26053.95 are26054.11 needed26054.19 in26054.51 the26054.59 home26054.75 based26054.99 program.26055.39 We26056.19 thank26056.35 you,26056.59 Senator26056.83 Miranda,26057.31 for26057.71 being26057.87 the26058.03 lead26058.19 on26058.67 focusing26059.07 on26059.55 that26059.71 program,26059.95 which26060.27 is26060.59 the26060.83 state's26060.99 key26061.47 tool26061.79 to26062.19 making26062.35 sure26062.67 families26062.91 can26063.39 exit26063.71 into26064.11 safe26064.43 permanent26064.67 housing.26065.23 We26066.75 ask26066.91 you26067.07 to26067.23 increase26067.47 the26067.87 home26068.03 based26068.27 benefits26068.67 to26069.15 make26069.31 it26069.47 more26069.71 flexible26069.95 so26070.59 it26070.83 can26070.91 be26071.07 useful26071.23 to26071.79 families,26071.95 increase26072.75 the26073.07 funding26073.23 to26073.71 $80,000,00026073.87 in26074.83 FY26075.07 26,26075.39 and26076.83 to26077.07 make26077.23 sure26077.39 that26077.55 families26077.71 can26078.11 access26078.35 it26078.59 before26078.83 they26079.15 have26079.39 to26079.55 enter26079.79 shelter.26080.63 And26081.35 briefly26081.51 on26081.83 RAFT,26082.07 we26082.31 ask26082.47 you26082.63 to26082.87 increase26082.95 funding26083.35 for26083.75 RAFT26083.99 homelessness26084.47 prevention26085.03 program26085.59 and26086.23 to26086.47 make26086.63 sure26086.79 that26087.03 families26087.43 and26087.83 individuals26088.15 can26088.71 access26089.03 it26089.35 before26089.75 they26090.31 get26090.47 a26090.63 notice26090.71 to26091.03 quit26091.11 from26091.35 their26091.59 landlord26091.75 or26092.58 utility26092.82 shutoff26093.46 notice.26093.86 Thank26095.06 you.26095.22 I'll26095.7 pass26095.86 it26096.02 to26096.18 Julia.26096.34
26099.38 SPEAKER6726099.38 -26099.38 I26099.38 had26099.54 good26099.86 morning,26100.1 then26100.5 I26100.66 had26100.82 good26100.98 afternoon,26101.22 and26101.7 now26101.86 I26102.02 have26102.1 good26102.34 evening.26102.5 My26103.46 name26103.62 is26103.7 Julia.26103.86 I'm26104.1 the26104.26 community26104.42 organizer26104.82 slash26105.38 legislative26105.7 advocate26106.34 Coalition26107.46 for26107.86 the26108.1 Homeless.26108.18 I26108.82 wanna26108.9 thank26109.14 the26109.38 committee26109.46 chairs26109.86 as26110.18 well26110.34 as26110.5 the26110.58 hearing26110.74 chairs,26110.98 and26112.02 the26112.18 members26112.34 of26112.66 the26112.74 joint26112.82 committee26113.14 for26113.7 this26113.86 opportunity26114.1 to26114.66 provide26114.74 testimony26115.14 today.26115.78 Just26116.66 wanna26116.9 touch26117.22 upon,26117.46 a26118.5 big26118.66 issue26118.82 that26119.06 we've26119.22 been26119.38 seeing26119.62 around26119.78 older26120.02 adults26120.26 experiencing26120.66 homelessness.26121.14 Between26122.72 the26122.87 lack26123.03 of26123.35 affordable26123.43 housing26123.91 and26124.15 an26124.39 overall26124.56 housing26124.87 crisis,26125.35 older26125.83 adults26126.07 in26126.39 Massachusetts26126.56 turn26127.75 to26128.07 long26128.23 term26128.39 subsidized26128.72 housing26129.35 for26129.75 relief26129.91 through26130.39 such26130.64 programs26131.03 as26131.51 state26131.75 funded26131.99 public26132.39 housing,26132.64 the26133.27 Massachusetts26133.51 rental26134.15 voucher26134.47 program,26134.87 and26135.19 the26135.43 housing26135.6 choice26135.91 voucher26136.6 program,26136.92 also26137.16 known26137.56 as26137.8 section26138.12 8.26138.52 However,26139.16 Massachusetts26139.64 housing26140.36 authorities26140.68 acknowledge26141.24 that26141.64 the26141.88 wait26142.04 time26142.36 for26142.76 section26143.32 826143.72 is26143.96 1026144.2 years26144.44 or26144.84 more.26145 While26145.56 production26145.88 of26146.28 more26146.44 affordable26146.6 units26147.08 will26147.56 help26147.8 in26148.04 the26148.2 long26148.36 term,26148.52 we26148.84 must26149 find26149.24 a26149.48 solution26149.56 for26149.96 the26150.2 now26150.36 to26150.68 help26150.84 older26151.16 adults26151.48 experiencing26152 housing26152.32 instability26152.88 who26153.36 often26153.6 have26153.92 complex26154.24 health26154.72 issues26154.96 and26155.68 are26155.84 moments26156 away26156.32 from26156.64 an26156.8 eviction26156.96 and26157.44 living26157.68 in26157.92 a26158 shelter,26158.16 car,26158.64 or26158.96 on26159.12 the26159.28 streets.26159.36 In26160.16 the26160.32 f26160.48 y26160.72 2526160.88 budget,26161.44 the26161.84 coalition26162 worked26162.48 with26162.72 senator26162.88 Pat26163.36 Jaylen26163.6 of26163.92 Summerville26164.08 to26164.48 earmark26164.64 a26165.19 hundred26165.27 thousand26165.43 dollars26165.75 in26166.07 the26166.23 state26166.39 budget26166.63 to26166.95 establish26167.19 a26167.59 pilot26167.75 program26168.15 in26168.47 Somerville.26168.71 The26169.67 Somerville26169.83 office26170.39 of26170.63 housing26170.79 stability,26171.19 Somerville26171.67 Cambridge26172.23 elder26172.71 services,26173.03 and26173.43 the26173.59 Somerville26173.75 council26174.23 on26174.63 aging26174.87 have26175.35 collaborated26175.59 to26176.55 identify26176.71 older26177.35 adults26177.59 who26178.07 meet26178.31 the26178.55 eligibility26178.87 criteria.26179.75 Low26181.24 income26181.48 older26181.88 adults26182.12 participating26182.6 in26183.08 the26183.24 bridge26183.32 subsidy26183.64 program26184.12 pay26185 30%26185.24 of26185.8 their26185.96 income26186.12 towards26186.44 rent26186.76 with26187 the26187.24 bridge26187.32 subsidy26187.64 making26188.12 up26188.44 the26188.92 difference26189.08 in26189.4 total26189.56 rent.26189.88 Since26190.52 receiving26190.84 the26191.24 funding,26191.32 the26191.72 pilot26191.88 program26192.28 has26192.68 allowed26193.02 226193.26 older26193.42 adults26193.74 to26194.06 remain26194.22 in26194.54 place26194.7 and26194.94 move26195.18 into26195.34 longer26195.66 term26195.98 affordable26196.3 housing.26196.78 Additionally,26197.74 there26198.22 are26198.38 826198.54 older26198.78 adults26199.02 who26199.42 are26199.5 currently26199.66 receiving26200.14 the26200.46 subsidy26200.62 to26201.1 remain26201.26 in26201.5 place26201.66 and26201.9 would26202.14 have26202.3 otherwise26202.46 entered26202.94 homelessness.26203.18 Although26204.54 this26204.86 is26205.02 a26205.18 small26205.26 sample,26205.5 it26205.9 is26206.06 a26206.22 testament26206.43 to26206.64 what26206.83 the26207.15 program26207.31 can26207.64 achieve26207.87 on26208.27 a26208.43 large26208.51 scale.26209.23 The26210.19 coalition26210.35 is26210.83 also26210.99 working26211.23 this26211.72 legislative26211.95 session26212.51 with26212.91 rep26213.15 Shirley26213.39 Arriaga26213.79 and26214.27 senator26214.43 Pat26214.83 Jalen26215.07 on26215.39 a26215.56 bill26215.64 to26215.95 create26216.11 a26216.35 steering26216.43 committee26216.83 for26217.15 the26217.31 expansion26217.39 of26217.87 the26218.03 program26218.19 as26218.51 well26218.68 as26218.83 funding26218.99 subject26219.82 to26220.14 appropriation,26220.3 and26220.94 we26221.1 encourage26221.34 folks26221.74 to26222.06 review26222.22 the26222.78 language.26223.02 The26223.74 Massachusetts26223.9 Coalition26224.62 for26225.02 the26225.18 Homeless,26225.26 alongside26225.74 a26226.3 hundred26226.46 and26226.7 426226.94 other26227.18 statewide26227.5 organizations,26228.14 call26229.26 upon26229.5 the26229.82 legislator26229.98 to26230.54 provide26230.7 $10,000,00026231.02 in26231.98 the26232.06 state26232.22 budget26232.46 to26232.86 create26233.02 a26233.26 statewide26233.42 bridge26234.06 subsidy26234.3 program26234.86 for26235.71 up26235.87 to26236.03 a26236.11 thousand26236.27 older26236.67 adults,26236.99 age26237.55 6026237.79 years26238.11 and26238.35 older,26238.43 facing26239.23 housing26239.55 instability26239.95 to26240.51 the26240.67 route26240.91 them26241.23 to26241.55 remain26241.71 in26242.03 place26242.11 while26242.59 they26242.83 await26243.07 approval26243.55 for26244.03 long26244.27 term26244.43 subsidized26244.83 housing.26245.47 While26246.51 this26246.75 program26247.07 does26247.55 not26247.71 address26247.95 the26248.27 root26248.43 causes26248.67 of26249.07 older26249.23 adult26249.47 homelessness,26249.79 it26250.85 mitigates26250.93 the26251.57 current26251.73 trend26252.05 and26252.37 prevents26252.53 additional26253.01 older26253.49 adults26253.73 from26254.13 entering26254.37 homelessness.26254.69 Thank26255.81 you26256.05 for26256.21 your26256.37 thoughtful26256.53 consideration26257.01 of26257.81 our26257.89 recommendation26258.13 for26258.77 a26258.93 statewide26259.01 bridge26259.89 subsidy26260.21 program26260.69 for26261.01 older26261.41 adults26261.65 and26262.05 for26262.29 your26262.45 leadership26262.61 on26263.17 deepening26263.33 Massachusetts'26263.81 commitment26264.61 to26265.76 ending26265.91 housing26266.39 instability,26266.79 ensuring26267.43 that26267.91 everyone26268.39 has26268.87 a26269.03 safe26269.11 and26269.43 permanent26269.6 place26269.91 to26270.23 call26270.39 home.26270.64 My26271.19 written26271.43 testimony26271.76 will26272.23 also26272.39 include26272.72 advocacy26273.11 for26273.6 adequate26273.76 funding26274.23 for26274.64 the26274.72 emergency26274.95 aid26275.51 to26275.68 the26275.83 elderly,26275.99 disabled,26276.47 and26276.95 children26277.11 program,26277.6 also26278.3 known26278.54 as26278.7 EADC.26279.02 Thank26279.9 you.26280.14
26281.42 SPEAKER226281.42 -26281.42 Thank26281.42 you26281.66 very26281.9 much.26282.14
26285.42 No26285.42 questions.26285.58
26288.3 Michael26288.3 Caine,26288.7 Carmen26289.42 Allen,26289.98 and26290.62 Victor26291.02 Bragna?26291.66
26309.43 SPEAKER326309.43 -26309.43 And26309.43 as26309.67 we26309.75 wait26309.99 for26310.23 this,26310.39 for26310.95 this26311.11 panel26311.35 to26311.67 come26311.83 in,26311.99 next26313.19 is26313.67 gonna26313.83 be26314.15 a26314.31 panel,26314.39 William26315.43 Bill26315.83 Murphy,26316.15 Nancy26316.71 Rian26317.27 Porter,26317.59 Karen26318.39 Carroll,26318.79 if26319.19 you26319.35 guys26319.43 wanna26319.59 sit,26319.91 close.26320.79
26335.97 You26335.97 can26337.73 go26337.89 ahead.26338.13 You26338.37 have26338.53 626338.69 minutes.26338.93
26342.13 SPEAKER6826342.13 -26342.13 Good26342.13 evening,26342.45 afternoon.26343.01 I'm26345.41 sharing26345.65 my26346.05 experience26346.21 as26346.93 a26347.17 tenant26347.33 at26347.81 Will26347.97 at26348.77 the26348.93 Forbes26349.17 Building,26349.57 where26351.26 I26351.51 pay26351.58 approximately26351.9 60%26352.47 of26353.18 my26353.35 income26353.58 in26355.82 rent,26356.14 and26356.62 I26356.86 live26357.02 with26357.26 constant26357.51 anxiety,26358.14 as26359.43 I'm26359.66 having26359.82 now,26360.31 about,26361.51 potential26362.39 homelessness26362.78 and26363.35 financial26363.58 instability.26364.14 I'm26365.46 here26365.62 to26365.94 highlight26366.1 the26366.42 critical26366.58 role26366.98 of26367.22 the26367.46 MRVP26367.62 program26368.42 in26369.22 providing26369.46 stability26369.94 and26370.82 community26371.06 support,26371.62 to26373.46 emphasize26373.78 the26374.26 need26374.42 for26374.66 increased26374.9 funding26375.38 of26375.78 $47,000,000,26375.94 which26377.7 will26377.86 provide26378.1 help26378.58 to26378.82 an26378.98 additional26379.14 2,30026380.07 families26380.87 or26381.27 individuals26381.43 to26383.27 help26383.51 vulnerable26383.83 populations,26384.39 including26385.11 veterans,26385.59 which26386.15 I26386.47 am,26386.63 to26387.83 live26387.99 with26388.23 dignity26388.31 amidst26388.95 ongoing26389.51 uncertainties,26390.63 which26391.19 I'm26391.35 sure26391.59 you're26391.75 all26391.99 aware26392.15 of26392.47 and26392.63 we've26392.79 all26393.03 experienced26393.27 these26394.15 past26394.47 couple26394.71 months.26395.03 I'm26396.17 a26396.33 disabled26396.49 veteran,26397.05 senior26398.17 citizen,26398.65 and26399.13 more26399.37 importantly,26399.53 a26400.57 tenant26400.73 and26401.05 will26401.21 I26401.53 say26401.69 again.26401.85 I've26403.21 resided26403.53 at26403.93 the26404.01 Fourth26404.09 Building26404.41 since26404.81 the26405.05 October,26405.21 and26406.17 I'm26406.41 on26406.57 the26406.73 waiting26406.89 list26407.21 for26407.45 a26407.61 project26407.77 based26408.17 MRVP26408.73 voucher.26409.53 Prior26411.79 to26412.11 obtaining26412.35 housing,26412.83 I26413.71 was26413.87 homeless26414.11 and26415.87 stayed26416.51 at26416.83 a26416.99 veterans26417.15 shelter26417.63 for26418.27 1126418.43 months26418.75 due26419.15 to26419.31 a26419.47 medical26419.56 emergency26419.87 in26420.43 my26420.6 family.26420.75 I26423.01 still26423.17 have26423.41 problems26423.65 sleeping.26423.97 I'm26426.05 haunted26426.21 by26426.69 the26426.93 unsanitary26427.09 conditions26427.97 I26428.45 witnessed,26428.69 misogyny,26430.37 the26431.65 at26431.89 risk26432.13 behavior26432.45 of26432.93 individuals,26433.09 and26434.36 the26434.6 general26434.68 misery26435.16 while26436.12 staying26436.36 at26436.76 a26436.92 shelter26437 in26437.4 that26437.48 environment.26437.72 It26440.2 was26440.36 very26440.6 stressful.26440.92
26444.6 I26444.6 was26444.84 able26445 to26445.24 get26445.32 a26445.56 job26445.64 during26445.96 that26446.28 time26446.44 at26446.68 the26446.84 National26446.92 Grid.26447.4 And26448.12 And26448.31 when26448.39 I26448.51 got26448.63 that26448.95 job,26449.11 that26449.43 was26449.59 an26449.83 outlet26450.23 for26450.63 me.26451.27 I26451.43 was26451.59 able26451.91 to26452.95 be26453.11 gone26453.27 from26453.59 the26453.75 shelter26453.91 Monday26454.31 through26454.63 Friday.26454.87 I26456.71 was26456.87 only26457.03 able26457.35 to26457.67 maintain26457.99 that26458.63 position26458.79 for26459.59 526459.83 months26460.15 because26460.87 then26461.35 age26461.67 isn't26461.91 set26462.31 set26462.63 in.26462.87 I26463.35 know26463.6 I26463.68 don't26463.76 look26463.99 like26464.23 it.26464.47 I26464.79 look26464.95 really26465.19 good26465.43 because26465.76 I26465.99 got26466.07 my26466.31 hair26466.39 done.26466.56 But,26468.07 I'm26469.6 65.26469.91 I'm26470.47 a26470.64 senior.26470.79 So26471.91 that26472.23 the26472.64 ageism26472.95 was26473.43 rampant.26473.6
26478.43 I26478.43 wasn't26478.67 because26479.07 I26479.39 got26479.47 let26479.71 go26479.95 at26480.19 526480.35 months,26480.59 I26481.15 wasn't26481.31 able26481.63 to26481.87 get,26481.95 unemployment,26483.63 because26484.83 you26485.07 have26485.23 to26485.39 be26485.47 there26485.63 626485.87 months.26486.11 So26487.39 that26487.79 means26488.03 my26488.35 income26488.51 went26488.83 down26489.07 substantially.26489.39 So26490.59 paying26491.07 60%26492.74 of26493.38 my26493.54 income26493.7 is26495.14 untenable.26495.7 And26496.82 I26497.7 can't26497.86 maintain26498.5 it26498.9 for26499.06 much26499.3 longer26499.54 because26500.42 my26500.82 savings26501.14 are26501.54 dissipating26501.78 quickly.26502.42
26507.75 So26507.75 I26507.99 live26508.15 month26508.39 to26508.63 month,26508.71 check26509.67 to26509.91 check.26510.07 I26511.43 budget26511.67 constantly.26512.23 I'm26513.35 anxious.26513.99 Again,26515.19 there's26515.59 the26515.91 medical26516.55 issues26517.03 of26517.51 the26517.67 family26517.83 member26518.15 that26518.87 I26519.11 have26519.27 to26519.43 deal26519.51 with.26519.83 And26520.76 this26521.4 voucher26521.64 program26522.12 would26522.85 be26523.01 a26523.16 lifeline.26523.24 But26524.68 again,26524.93 I'm26525.32 on26525.48 the26525.6 waiting26525.72 list.26526.12 I26527.56 need26527.81 you26528.28 to26528.44 know26528.68 how26529.16 imperative26529.56 it26530.12 is26530.28 for26531.08 me26531.32 to26531.48 have26531.64 this.26531.89 I26533.61 can't26533.77 afford26534.01 to26534.33 move26534.49 out26534.73 of26534.89 state26535.05 even26535.77 though26536.01 it26536.17 would26536.25 be26536.41 cheaper26536.57 to26537.37 move26537.61 out26537.85 of26538.01 state26538.17 and26538.41 live26538.65 somewhere26538.81 else.26539.21 I26539.93 wouldn't26540.17 get26540.41 the26540.65 same26540.81 quality.26541.13 I26542.01 wouldn't26542.17 be26542.41 in26542.57 the26542.73 same26542.81 community.26543.13 I26544.09 wouldn't26544.25 be26544.57 able26544.73 to26544.97 stand26545.13 up26545.45 for26545.69 my26545.93 other26546.09 fellow26546.57 tenants,26546.97 veterans,26547.77 and26549.06 people26549.38 in26549.61 my26549.85 situation,26550.1 my26551.29 age26551.61 range,26551.93 which26552.33 is,26552.57 like26553.45 I26553.61 said,26553.77 good.26554.18 But26556.18 I'm26556.41 doing26556.57 the26556.81 best26556.97 I26557.22 can.26557.38 And26558.49 I26558.65 just26558.89 appreciate26559.22 if,26561.22 you26563.12 all26563.28 would26563.44 take26563.52 into26563.84 consideration26564.08 that26564.56 there's26564.72 a26564.96 lot26565.04 of26565.2 us26565.28 that26565.44 fall26565.68 through26565.84 the26566.08 cracks.26566.24 This26567.12 voucher26567.36 program26567.76 would26568.16 allow26568.32 me26568.64 to26568.8 pay26568.88 30%26569.2 of26569.84 my26569.92 income26570.16 as26570.96 opposed26571.2 to26571.68 60%.26572.48 And26574.88
26580.26 Oh,26580.26 I'm26580.57 sorry.26580.73 We26581.06 have26581.29 to26581.45 wrap26581.61 up.26581.85 So26583.53 thank26583.77 you26584.01 for26584.26 giving26584.41 me26584.65 the26584.81 time.26584.89 I26585.69 just26585.85 wanna26586.1 live26586.41 with26586.65 dignity,26587.06 not26588.1 anxiety.26588.33 I'm26590.1 lifing26590.41 right26590.81 now,26591.06 which26591.38 everybody26591.61 is26592.18 doing.26592.33 But26593.23 I26593.39 wanna26593.55 live26593.95 my26594.35 golden26594.67 years26595.07 goldenly.26596.03 Thank26597.55 you.26597.71
26600.35 SPEAKER5926600.35 -26600.35 Thank26600.35 you.26600.59 Carmen's26601.39 store26602.03 story26602.51 is26602.91 just26604.19 like26604.59 the26605.23 9026605.47 hun26606.72 9,50026606.79 or26607.99 more26608.23 families26609.19 that26609.68 have26609.83 MRVP26610.15 now.26610.87 The26612.15 it's26612.39 a26612.64 vital26612.79 lifeline26613.51 to26614.07 keep26614.23 them26614.47 off26614.79 the26614.95 street.26615.19 There26616.07 are26616.31 a26616.56 60,00026616.72 people26618.56 on26619.43 the26619.6 wait26619.76 list26619.91 for26620.31 MRVP.26620.56 60,000.26621.73 So26623.33 we26623.49 are26623.73 part26623.81 I'm26624.21 from26624.37 the26624.61 MAS26624.77 Alliance26625.01 of26625.41 HUD26625.57 Tenants.26625.73 My26626.13 name26626.29 is26626.45 Michael26626.69 Caine.26627.01 We're26627.89 part26628.13 of26628.37 a26628.53 coalition26628.69 that26629.33 we26629.49 spearhead,26629.73 spearheaded26631.09 with26631.89 CHAPA26632.21 and26632.69 other26632.85 allies26633.17 and26633.65 the26633.81 Coalition26633.97 for26634.45 the26634.61 Homeless26634.77 to26635.58 increase26635.98 funding26636.46 for26637.58 the26637.9 MRVP26638.14 program.26638.94 The26641.18 governor26641.42 has26641.82 asked26642.06 for26642.3 253,000,000.26642.46 We26644.3 are26644.54 asking26644.78 you26645.26 all26645.5 to26645.74 increase26645.98 that26646.46 by26647.1 47,000,000,26647.34 about26648.46 15%,26648.7 which26649.91 is26650.23 enough26650.31 for26650.71 2,30026650.95 new26652.31 people26653.35 that26653.83 are,26654.15 like26654.39 Carmen,26654.71 facing26655.99 the26656.31 street26656.47 if26656.87 they26657.03 can't26657.27 get26657.51 this26657.75 resource.26657.99 We26659.51 were26659.75 able26659.91 to26660.23 negotiate26660.55 a26661.59 commitment26661.83 of26662.31 a26662.39 1026662.55 MRVPs26663.27 for26663.99 Carmen's26664.23 building.26664.71 They26665.73 aren't26665.89 in26666.21 place26666.37 yet.26666.77 They26667.25 hopefully26667.49 will26667.97 be26668.21 by26668.93 the26669.17 summer.26669.33 We26670.21 wanna26670.45 thank26670.93 senator26671.25 Miranda26671.73 for26672.21 her26672.37 leadership26672.69 in26673.17 helping26673.33 us26673.73 get26673.89 that,26674.05 commitment.26675.73 But26677.01 that26677.41 was,26677.65 you26677.97 know,26678.13 a26678.37 126678.53 off26678.77 thing,26678.93 and26679.17 we26679.33 need26679.57 to26679.73 spread26680.53 that.26680.85 So26681.71 we're26682.11 hoping26682.35 we26682.75 we26683.07 spearheaded26683.31 cookie26684.03 day.26684.35 You26684.83 may26684.99 remember26685.31 the26685.79 cookies,26686.03 house26687.23 made26687.47 cookies.26687.71 They26688.19 were26688.27 made26688.51 by26688.75 homeless26689.07 people26689.55 at26690.59 the,26690.75 Haley26691.95 House26692.43 Cafe.26692.75 And26693.51 we26693.76 deliver26693.92 them26694.31 to26694.56 everybody,26694.79 to26695.92 remind26696.07 you26696.47 of26696.72 that26696.95 need,26697.19 for26698.56 people26698.88 to26699.51 be26699.68 housed.26699.92 So26700.47 we're26700.64 hoping26700.88 that26701.19 you26701.35 can26701.51 make26702.47 that26702.64 126702.88 of26703.11 your26703.19 priorities,26703.43 speak26703.99 to26704.23 chairman26704.39 Michael26704.79 Woods26705.19 now26705.51 to26706.31 make26706.47 sure26706.72 he26706.95 puts26707.11 it26707.43 in26707.76 his26707.92
26710.42 budget26710.42 for26710.82 the26711.22 sixteenth.26711.46 Thank26712.5 you.26712.74
26714.02 SPEAKER226714.02 -26714.02 Thank26714.02 you26714.26 very26714.5 much.26714.74
26717.86 SPEAKER326717.86 -26717.86 Senator26717.86 Miranda?26718.18
26718.9 SPEAKER226718.9 -26718.9 I26718.9 just26719.06 wanna26719.3 126719.54 second.26719.7
26720.02 SPEAKER2926720.02 -26720.02 Just26720.02 You26720.42 know,26720.5 I'm26720.66 really26720.9 happy26721.14 today.26721.46 You26722.02 know,26722.1 you26722.34 of26722.72 course,26722.86 praise26723.26 is26723.42 always26723.58 a26723.82 beautiful26723.98 thing.26724.38 But26724.62 just26724.86 to26725.02 see26725.18 so26725.42 many26725.58 constituents26725.98 from26727.02 my26727.26 district26727.5 actually26727.98 come26728.38 to26728.62 the26728.78 ways26728.86 and26729.1 means26729.35 hearing26729.74 to26730.54 make26730.86 sure26731.1 that26731.35 we26731.58 know26731.66 that26731.98 we26732.14 need26732.22 to26732.46 put26732.54 our26732.7 money26732.86 where26733.1 our26733.26 mouth26733.42 is.26733.66 And26733.9 the26734.46 Forbes26734.7 is26735.18 a26735.35 great26735.5 building26735.74 that26736.38 is26736.62 in26736.78 Jamaica26736.94 Plain.26737.42 So,26738.23 you26738.63 know,26738.87 we26739.11 want26739.27 you26739.51 to26739.67 make26739.75 sure26739.91 that26740.07 you26740.23 can26740.39 remain26740.63 in26740.95 that26741.11 building.26741.35 So26741.75 please26742.23 reach26742.47 out26742.63 to26742.79 my26742.95 office,26743.11 and26743.43 thank26743.67 you26743.83 for26744.07 coming26744.23 today.26744.47 Thank26745.03 you26745.19 so26745.35 much.26745.59
26747.67 SPEAKER326747.67 -26747.67 Thank26747.67 you.26747.91
26751.99 SPEAKER226751.99 -26751.99 William26751.99 Bill26752.55 Murphy.26752.95
26755.03 SPEAKER726755.03 -26755.03 Cheers.26755.03 Senator26755.91 Peano26756.55 and26756.95 Representative26757.11 Diggs,26757.67 and26758.63 honorable26758.79 members26759.19 of26759.43 the26759.59 joint26759.67 committee26759.91 on26760.23 ways26760.39 and26760.55 means.26760.79 Thank26761.03 you26761.27 for26761.35 the26761.51 opportunity26761.67 to26762.15 speak26762.31 to26762.47 you26762.63 today.26762.71 I26763.53 am26763.61 Bill26763.77 Murphy,26764.09 the26764.41 current26764.57 director26764.81 of26765.05 public26765.21 health26765.53 for26765.77 the26765.85 city26765.93 of26766.17 Framingham.26766.33 I26767.05 currently26767.21 serve26767.61 as26767.85 the26768.01 vice26768.09 chair26768.41 of26768.73 the26768.81 Massachusetts26768.97 large26769.69 cities26770.01 health26770.57 coalition.26770.89 226771.93 thirds26772.17 of26772.41 the26772.57 Massachusetts26772.65 population26773.45 reside26774.01 in26774.41 Massachusetts26774.57 1426775.37 largest26775.69 cities.26776.17 I26776.89 am26777.05 also26777.21 a26777.53 foster26777.61 parent.26778.09 The26779.07 housing26779.23 crisis26779.63 is26780.03 a26780.27 public26780.43 health26780.75 crisis.26781.07 Rents26782.03 are26782.27 unaffordable.26782.43 The26783.31 average26783.47 rent26783.87 for26784.03 126784.27 bedroom26784.43 in26784.83 Framingham26784.91 is26785.47 2026785.63 over26785.95 $2,50026786.19 Encampments26787.79 continue26788.51 to26788.91 grow.26789.07 With26789.87 recent26790.19 policy26790.51 changes,26790.99 the26791.39 safety26791.55 net26791.87 of26792.11 emergency26792.27 assistance26792.83 shelters26793.39 is26793.87 disappearing.26794.03 Last26795.21 week,26795.45 I26795.85 received26796.01 yet26796.33 another26796.65 call26796.97 from26797.21 my26797.37 police26797.53 department26797.93 asking,26798.41 do26799.21 we26799.37 have26799.53 any26799.85 resources26800.17 to26800.81 put26800.97 a26801.21 roof26801.29 over26801.61 a26801.93 family26802.01 family's26802.73 head26803.13 for26803.53 even26803.93 126804.25 night?26804.49 With26805.61 a26805.77 lack26805.93 of26806.17 shelter26806.33 capacity26806.73 and26807.21 shortened26807.37 stay26807.77 protocols,26808.01 we26808.57 can26808.73 expect26808.89 to26809.29 see26809.37 more26809.61 families26809.85 with26810.33 young26810.58 children26810.98 on26811.3 the26811.54 streets.26811.7 Failure26813.7 to26814.1 increase26814.26 investment26814.66 in26815.3 upstream26815.46 resources26816.02 such26816.66 as26816.9 wrap,26817.06 the26818.5 rental26818.74 voucher26819.14 program,26819.54 and26820.02 home26820.26 base26820.5 will26821.22 continue26821.38 to26821.86 strain26821.94 the26822.34 emergency26822.58 shelters.26823.3 Cuts26824.37 to26824.49 these26824.61 programs26825.01 will26825.41 be26825.57 devastating26825.81 and26826.29 shift26826.37 more26826.69 responsibility26826.85 to26827.61 municipalities26828.37 and26829.33 our26829.57 nonprofit26829.73 partners.26830.29 Given26831.49 the26831.81 many26831.89 disruptions26832.21 occurring26832.77 with26833.17 the26833.33 federal26833.49 government,26833.81 nonprofits26834.61 will26835.33 not26835.73 be26835.97 in26836.13 a26836.37 position26836.45 to26837.1 be26837.26 the26837.51 solution.26837.58 They26838.39 will26838.7 always26838.86 help,26839.26 but26839.58 due26840.7 to26840.86 funding26841.02 constraints,26841.35 they26841.9 will26842.06 be26842.22 limited26842.39 in26842.78 their26842.94 response.26843.18 The26844.06 faith26844.31 faith26844.62 communities26844.94 are26845.74 amazing.26845.98 They26846.62 are26846.78 amazing26846.94 resource26847.35 but26847.74 simply26847.98 can't26848.39 fill26848.62 all26848.86 the26849.02 gaps.26849.18 There26850.41 are26850.57 many26850.65 additional26851.13 layers26851.45 with26851.69 a26851.93 lack26852.01 of26852.25 housing.26852.33 Our26852.73 municipalities,26852.97 especially26853.85 cities,26854.33 are26855.05 challenged26855.21 to26855.61 adequate26855.85 adequately26856.41 respond26857.05 to26857.69 layers26857.93 such26858.41 as26858.65 transportation26858.81 issues,26859.53 limited26860.33 access26860.81 to26861.13 health26861.29 care,26861.53 food26861.85 security,26862.17 and26862.65 mental26862.81 health26863.13 issues,26863.37 that26864.43 families26864.68 need26865.15 to26865.47 improve26865.64 health26866.03 and26866.27 wellness.26866.43 I've26867.31 been26867.64 asked26867.79 many26868.11 times,26868.99 including26869.79 our26870.27 emergency26870.43 assistance26870.99 shelter26871.47 operators,26871.95 what's26872.75 my26873.07 plan26873.31 as26873.71 a26873.95 municipality26874.11 to26875.15 address26875.31 these?26875.71 There26876.51 is26876.68 no26876.83 plan26877.07 without26877.31 resources.26877.71 Lastly,26879.52 as26880.08 a26880.32 foster26880.4 parent,26880.8 I've26881.68 seen26881.92 firsthand26882.24 how26883.04 the26883.12 lack26883.28 of26883.6 adequate26883.76 shelters,26884.96 transitional26885.6 housing,26886.24 and26886.8 affordable26887.04 housing26887.6 have26888.4 prevented26888.56 reunification26889.12 of26891.04 families.26891.2 This26892.26 is26892.35 an26892.58 injustice.26892.82 I'm26894.1 asking26894.35 you26894.58 to26894.74 please26894.9 support26895.14 the26895.47 mass26895.63 coalition26895.86 for26896.35 the26896.51 homeless26896.58 request26896.98 to26897.31 invest26897.47 and26898.1 expand26898.26 in26898.74 upstream26898.98 resources26899.54 like26900.1 raft,26900.43 rental26901.7 voucher26902.18 programs26902.58 and26902.98 home26903.14 base,26903.39 as26903.78 well26903.94 as26904.1 safety26904.35 net26904.67 programs26904.82 like26905.39 VA26905.63 family26906.02 shelters.26906.35 With26907.38 these,26907.62 we26908.1 can26908.26 see26908.5 more26908.66 successful26908.98 stories26909.54 of26909.86 recovery,26910.1 tangible26911.22 pathways26911.78 out26912.34 of26912.5 poverty,26912.66 and26913.22 a26913.46 realistic26913.62 hopes26914.18 of26914.5 stability26914.66 for26915.22 all26915.38 families26915.62 in26915.94 Framingham26916.1 and26916.98 all26917.22 throughout26917.46 Massachusetts.26917.78 Thank26918.66 you26918.9 for26919.14 your26919.22 time.26919.46
26926.76 SPEAKER326926.76 -26926.76 Ma'am,26926.76 you're26927.32 you're26927.64 you're26927.96 you're26928.2 next.26928.36
26931.48 SPEAKER6926931.48 -26931.48 Thank26931.48 you.26931.81 Thank26932.44 you26932.68 to26932.85 the26933 chairs26933.08 and26933.4 honorable26933.64 members26934.12 of26934.85 the26935.33 Joint26935.49 Committee26935.73 and26936.37 of26936.69 Wayne26936.77 on26937.09 Ways26937.33 and26937.57 Means.26937.73 I'm26938.53 Karen26938.77 Carroll,26939.17 the26939.57 director26939.73 of26940.05 Health26940.13 and26940.37 Human26940.53 Services26940.93 in26941.57 Somerville26941.89 and26942.77 a26943.01 member26943.17 of26943.49 the26943.65 Large26943.81 Cities26944.13 Health26944.53 Coalition,26944.85 which26945.73 represents26946.13 the26947.09 1426947.33 largest26947.81 cities26948.29 in26948.61 the26948.77 state.26948.93 I26949.74 have26949.9 been26950.06 working26950.3 in26950.62 local26950.86 public26951.18 health26951.5 for26951.74 over26951.98 2526952.3 years,26952.86 and26953.26 in26953.5 that26953.66 time,26953.98 I26954.46 have26954.62 become26954.86 more26955.18 and26955.5 more26955.66 convinced26955.98 that26956.86 stable26957.18 housing26957.66 is26958.14 the26958.38 most26958.54 important26959.42 social26960.3 determinant26960.7 of26961.34 health.26961.5 Research26962.92 consistently26963.56 shows26964.36 that26964.68 individuals26965 experiencing26965.8 homelessness26966.44 are26967.24 at26967.4 a26967.56 much26967.8 higher26968.04 risk26968.36 for26969.08 physical26969.32 and26969.8 mental26969.96 health26970.44 issues.26970.76 In26971.96 fact,26972.12 a26972.52 study26972.68 from26973 the26973.24 National26973.32 Academy26973.72 of26974.28 Sciences26974.52 found26975.81 that26976.13 individuals26976.44 who26977.08 experienced26977.4 chronic26978.04 homelessness26978.44 are26979.56 326979.81 to26980.13 426980.36 times26980.68 more26981.24 likely26981.48 to26981.89 die26982.13 prematurely26982.44 compared26983.64 to26984.2 those26984.36 with26984.68 stable26984.93 housing.26985.4 I've26986.76 witnessed26987.01 firsthand26987.56 how26988.13 crucial26988.68 stable26989.08 housing26989.56 is26989.96 for26990.2 the26990.36 health26990.52 and26990.76 well-being26990.92 of26991.4 individuals26991.56 and26992.12 families.26992.36 At26993.48 our26993.72 own26994.12 emergency26994.52 winter26995.32 shelter26995.8 in26996.28 Somerville,26996.52 we26997.56 see26997.8 that26998.2 when26998.44 people26998.68 have26999.08 their26999.32 basic26999.56 needs27000.04 met,27000.44 even27000.92 temporarily,27001.4 they27002.82 take27002.98 important27003.38 steps27003.94 towards27004.5 not27004.9 only27005.14 securing27005.46 housing,27006.02 but27006.82 also27007.06 improving27007.46 their27007.94 health.27008.18 These27009.14 individuals27009.46 begin27010.26 to27010.66 engage27010.9 in27011.22 health27011.46 care,27011.78 find27012.58 stable27012.98 employment,27013.38 and27014.26 take27014.5 better27014.74 care27015.14 of27015.38 themselves27015.54 because27016.56 they27016.8 finally27017.04 have27017.36 the27017.6 safety27017.76 and27018.24 security27018.4 they27019.04 need27019.2 to27019.44 focus27019.6 on27020.08 their27020.24 well-being.27020.56 However,27022.32 it's27022.8 clear27023.04 that27023.36 the27023.6 housing27023.76 crisis27024.08 in27024.48 Massachusetts27024.72 is27025.6 only27025.84 worsening.27026.16 The27027.12 emergency27027.28 assistance27027.84 family27028.56 shelter27029.04 system27029.52 is27029.92 under27030.16 immense27030.48 pressure,27030.96 and27031.78 we27032.02 can't27032.1 address27032.66 the27033.06 root27033.3 causes27033.54 of27033.94 how27034.18 homelessness27034.58 without27035.78 meaningful27036.26 sustained27037.06 investments27037.78 in27038.42 affordable27038.66 housing.27039.3 I27041.22 urge27041.46 the27041.86 legislator27042.1 to27042.82 support27043.06 the27043.54 Mass27043.7 Coalition27044.02 for27044.98 the27045.22 Homeless27045.38 FY27047.01 2627047.49 budget27048.13 requests27048.77 to27049.65 strengthen27050.05 support27050.61 for27051.01 families27051.25 entering27051.89 and27052.37 leaving27052.61 EA27053.17 Family27053.65 Shelter27054.05 Program,27054.45 particularly27055.73 by27056.53 improving27056.77 housing27057.33 search27057.97 services,27058.45 as27059.6 well27059.76 as27059.92 investing27060.31 in27060.88 and27061.19 expanding27061.51 eligibility27062.15 for27063.27 home27063.51 base,27063.83 RAFT,27064.64 and27065.51 MRVP27065.92 to27067.6 meet27067.83 the27068.07 need27068.23 in27068.56 Somerville27068.72 and27069.27 across27069.6 the27069.92 Commonwealth.27070.07 These27071.27 programs27071.43 are27071.92 crucial27072.07 in27072.56 helping27072.79 families27073.11 secure27073.68 stable,27074.15 long27075.02 term27075.26 housing27075.5 and27075.98 relieve27076.22 pressure27076.7 on27077.1 our27077.26 emergency27077.5 shelter27078.06 system.27078.46 Housing27079.34 is27079.82 health.27080.14 Without27080.86 it,27081.18 we27081.42 cannot27081.66 address27082.14 the27082.54 broader27082.78 health27083.18 disparities27083.5 that27084.62 many27084.86 families27085.18 face.27085.74 It's27086.46 time27086.78 to27087.02 invest27087.26 in27087.66 housing27087.9 solutions27088.38 that27088.94 keep27089.18 families27089.42 safe,27089.98 healthy,27090.81 and27091.6 out27091.76 of27091.93 shelter27092.08 for27092.56 good.27092.72 Thank27093.36 you.27093.6
27095.36 SPEAKER227095.36 -27095.36 Thank27095.36
27098.64 you.27098.64 Got27098.72 a27098.89 question?27099.04 Rep27100.24 Holmes.27100.64
27103.21 SPEAKER1527103.21 -27103.21 Could27103.21 you27103.44 repeat27103.68 your27104.08 stat?27104.56 What27105.61 percentage27106.41 live27107.05 in27107.37 the27107.45 fourteenth27107.61 largest27108.01 city?27108.41
27114.09 You're27114.09 on27114.33 mute.27114.49
27118.66 SPEAKER727118.66 -27118.66 227118.66 thirds27118.9 of27119.14 the27119.31 Massachusetts27119.47 population27120.1 reside27120.66 in27120.98 the27121.14 1427121.22 largest27121.62 cities.27122.02
27122.74 SPEAKER1527122.74 -27122.74 Alright.27122.74 You27125.22 know,27125.31 again,27126.1 people27126.51 bother27126.9 me27127.31 with27127.47 math.27127.78 They27128.35 ask27128.58 me27128.9 as27129.22 an27129.47 engineer27129.54 and27129.94 MBA.27130.1 I27131.02 just27131.18 did27131.3 the27131.42 quick27131.66 count27132.06 and27132.38 I27132.62 see27132.86 about27133.1 2,000,00027133.5 people27133.98 in27134.3 the27134.38 top27134.54 1427135.42 cities.27135.98 Right?27136.46 So27136.7 I27136.86 go27137.02 Boston27137.98 to27138.54 Framingham27139.18 and27141.02 a27141.5 quick27141.58 math27141.9 says27142.22 it's27142.46 about27142.62 2,000,000.27143.02 So27143.82 is27144.7 it27144.86 227145.52 thirds27145.68 or27146.32 127146.56 third?27146.88 That's27147.04 why27147.28 I27147.36 just27147.44 wanna27147.68 make27147.84 sure27148 I27148.24 have27148.32 that27148.48 number27148.64 right.27148.96
27150.8 SPEAKER727150.8 -27150.8 We'd27150.8 be27151.04 happy27151.2 to27151.44 follow-up,27151.6 with27152.4 those27152.56 exact27152.72 numbers.27153.04
27153.92 SPEAKER1527153.92 -27153.92 Alright.27153.92 Yeah.27154.32 I27154.56 think27154.64 there's27154.88 about27155.12 227156 little27156.64 bit27156.88 more27157.04 than27157.2 2,000,00027157.36 when27157.92 I27158.16 do27158.72 the27158.88 quick27159.04 number.27159.28 Okay.27159.68 So27160.83 it's27160.99 either27161.07 127161.39 third,27161.51 I27161.63 think27161.87 it's27162.03 127162.19 third27162.51 may27162.83 live27162.99 in27163.23 the27163.47 top27163.71 14.27164.03 Just27164.43 do27165.39 the27165.55 quick27165.71 math.27165.95 Thanks.27166.27
27168.51 SPEAKER227168.51 -27168.51 Thank27168.51 you.27168.83 Alright.27170.03 Elizabeth27171.31 Alfred,27171.87 Michelle27173.4 Lima,27173.88 Carolyn27175.08 Chao.27176.2
27180.84 Do27180.84 I27181.16 need27181.24 to27181.4 tell27181.48 you27181.72 guys27181.88 I27182.12 have27182.2 627182.36 minutes?27182.6
27185 SPEAKER3327185 -27185 We27185 got27185.16 it.27185.4 We're27186.28 ready.27186.52
27187.48 SPEAKER5727187.48 -27187.48 Thank27187.48 you27187.8 so27188.04 much.27188.2 My27188.93 name27189.09 is27189.17 Liz27189.41 Alford.27189.65 I27190.29 am27190.61 an27190.93 eviction27191.17 defense27191.57 attorney,27191.89 and27192.29 I27192.53 do27192.61 emergency27192.93 assistant27193.33 shelter27193.73 work.27194.05 I've27194.29 done27194.45 that27194.61 all27195.33 over27195.49 the27195.73 Commonwealth.27195.89 I27196.37 do27196.53 it27196.69 right27196.77 now27196.93 for27197.17 Greater27197.33 Boston27197.65 Legal27198.05 Services,27198.37 and27199.17 I'm27199.33 here27199.49 for27199.73 families27199.97 who27200.37 are27200.53 experiencing27200.61 homelessness.27201.09 Last27202.79 week,27203.11 we27203.35 had27203.43 a27203.59 client27203.75 with27203.99 a27204.23 527204.31 week27204.55 old27204.71 baby27204.95 who27205.27 stayed27205.43 outside27205.67 for27205.99 227206.23 nights27206.47 because27207.03 of27207.59 delays27207.75 in27208.07 the27208.23 shelter27208.31 system.27208.63 We27210.79 represent27211.03 a27211.83 6627211.99 year27212.63 old27212.79 wind27213.11 widow27213.59 of27214.07 a27214.23 Vietnam27214.31 veteran27214.71 who27215.27 has27215.43 custody27215.59 of27216.07 her27216.23 427216.39 grandkids.27216.63 They27218.93 ran27219.41 out27219.65 of27219.81 home27219.97 base27220.13 in27220.45 mar27220.69 in27221.01 month27221.25 15,27221.57 and27222.61 so27222.85 she27223.09 falls27223.25 further27223.57 and27223.81 further27223.97 behind27224.29 every27225.01 month.27225.33 And27227.41 she27227.73 is27227.97 very27229.09 afraid27229.41 that27229.81 she's27229.97 gonna27230.13 be27230.45 evicted,27230.61 you27231.33 know,27231.49 this27231.89 summer27232.13 because27233.42 she27233.66 can't27233.9 afford27234.06 her27234.38 rent.27234.54 Families27236.3 eligible27236.86 for27237.26 shelter,27237.5 even27238.14 those27238.38 eligible27238.78 for27239.18 priorities,27239.5 wait27240.14 in27240.3 their27240.46 car,27240.7 while27242.14 they27242.38 wait27242.46 on27242.7 wait27242.94 lists.27243.18 And27243.58 sometimes27243.74 they27244.22 wait27244.3 in27244.54 their27244.62 cars27244.78 because27245.1 they're27245.34 waiting27245.5 for27245.82 quarry27245.98 checks27246.3 to27246.54 be27246.7 completed.27246.86 That27247.83 can27248.07 now27248.15 we27248.63 have27248.87 heard27249.11 from27249.35 we27250.07 have,27250.31 in27250.63 our27250.87 experience,27251.03 had27251.59 that27251.75 happen,27251.91 and,27252.23 it's27254.39 taken27254.71 a27255.19 week27255.27 for27255.59 CORI27255.83 checks27256.15 to27256.47 be27256.55 completed.27256.71 Families27257.43 just27257.83 wait27258.07 while27258.63 that27258.87 happens.27259.03 We've27260.19 had27260.35 families27260.59 told27260.99 if27261.23 they27261.47 can't27261.55 get27261.79 to27261.95 the27262.03 office27262.19 to27262.59 do27262.75 the27262.91 Cori27263.07 check-in27263.47 person27263.87 that27264.19 they27264.43 will27264.59 be27264.75 denied.27264.91
27267.79 We27267.79 have27267.95 single27268.27 moms27268.59 with27268.91 disabled27269.71 kids27270.27 or27270.59 who27270.83 themselves27270.99 are27271.39 disabled,27271.55 call27272.59 us27272.91 all27273.07 the27273.31 time27273.39 and27273.71 ask27274.27 where27274.62 they're27274.74 supposed27274.86 to27275.18 go,27275.34 when27275.98 their27276.22 time27276.46 is27276.62 up27276.78 because27277.5 they27278.06 don't27278.3 have27278.54 a27278.78 place27278.86 to27279.18 go,27279.26 and27280.06 they27280.22 can't27280.38 afford27280.62 the27280.94 rent,27281.1 and27281.42 no27282.06 landlord27282.38 will27282.78 rent27282.94 to27283.18 them.27283.34 Even27283.74 people27284.46 who27284.78 are27285.02 in27285.18 shelter,27285.5 who27286.14 have27286.3 low27286.46 wage27286.62 jobs27286.86 can't27287.18 get27287.42 landlords27287.81 to27288.13 rent27288.36 to27288.6 them.27288.68 They27289.01 can't27289.16 find27289.4 rent27289.97 that27290.28 they27290.44 can27290.6 afford.27290.85
27293.64 Families27293.64 with27294.13 vouchers27294.28 are27295.32 exited27295.64 from27295.97 shelter27296.2 while27296.6 they're27296.85 going27296.93 through27297.16 the27297.4 section27297.56 827297.97 process.27298.2
27301.76 Families,27301.76 you27302.64 know,27302.8 when27303.12 when27303.44 it27303.6 gets27303.76 below27303.92 freezing27304.32 and27304.8 the27304.96 weather27305.12 gets27305.36 really27305.68 bad,27305.92 the27306.32 Commonwealth27306.56 creates27307.2 emergency27307.6 plans27308.08 for27308.56 single27308.8 adults27309.2 and27309.84 does27310.08 not27310.32 create27310.56 emergency27310.88 plans27311.36 for27311.6 children.27311.84 We27312.72 do27312.96 not27313.12 have27313.36 emergency27313.6 plans27314.16 for27314.56 children27314.72 when27315.65 the27315.81 weather27315.97 is27316.29 really27316.45 bad27316.69 and27317.41 they're27317.57 staying27317.89 outside.27318.13
27320.69 So27320.69 families,27321.65 you27322.37 know,27322.53 are27323.33 now27323.57 limited27323.81 to27324.21 627324.37 months.27324.61 If27325.09 they27325.33 have27325.49 people27326.37 who27326.69 are27326.85 disabled,27327.01 if27327.49 they27327.57 have27327.73 children27327.81 under27328.21 6,27328.58 if27328.82 they27328.98 are27329.26 escaping27329.54 DV,27329.86 they27330.26 get27330.42 an27330.58 extra27330.66 3027330.98 days.27331.22 All27333.22 of27333.46 this27333.62 I27335.46 I27335.7 get27335.86 that27336.1 you27336.5 tried27337.22 really27337.62 hard27337.94 to27338.18 protect27338.42 the27338.74 most27338.82 vulnerable27339.06 families,27339.54 but27340.02 all27340.26 I27340.42 can27340.5 say27340.66 is27340.9 that27341.14 the27341.3 all27341.7 of27341.86 these27342.02 families27342.18 are27342.58 extremely27342.74 vulnerable.27343.22 And27344.83 so,27344.99 we27346.03 need27346.19 to27346.43 be27346.6 thinking27346.76 about27347.07 this27347.23 in27347.47 a27347.64 holistic27347.72 way.27348.11 We27348.35 need27348.51 to27348.68 keep27348.92 people27349.15 in27349.39 their27349.64 homes,27349.88 and27350.27 we27350.51 need27350.68 to27350.92 be27351.07 able27351.23 to27351.56 have27351.64 some27351.79 place27351.95 for27352.19 children27352.35 to27352.83 go.27352.92
27356.19 SPEAKER7027356.19 -27356.19 Thank27356.19 you,27356.43 Liz.27356.76 And27357.23 thank27357.39 you27357.64 to27357.79 the27357.95 chairs27358.03 and27358.43 to27358.51 the27358.68 committee27358.83 for27359.23 having27359.39 us.27359.72 My27360.18 name27360.34 is27360.5 Carolyn.27360.66 I'm27361.62 the27361.78 executive27362.02 director27362.5 of27362.82 Homes27362.98 for27363.22 All27363.38 Massachusetts.27363.62 We27364.34 are27364.5 a27364.62 statewide27364.74 coalition27365.38 of27366.18 tenant27366.42 organizing27366.82 groups.27367.7 We27368.9 have27369.06 groups27369.3 in27369.54 Springfield,27369.78 in27370.34 Lynn,27370.58 in27370.9 Boston.27371.14 We're27371.7 building27371.86 in27372.26 Worcester27372.42 and27372.82 the27372.98 Merrimack27373.06 Valley.27373.54 And27374.5 our27374.9 member27375.22 organizations27375.7 see27376.42 the27376.74 impact27376.9 of27377.31 the27377.46 high27377.7 cost27377.94 of27378.18 housing27378.34 every27378.82 day.27379.06 Right?27379.7 We27379.94 heard27380.1 from27380.34 a27380.46 lot27380.58 of27380.82 workers27380.9 and27381.38 and27381.7 families27382.1 today,27382.5 and27382.82 we27383.31 know27383.54 that27383.7 workers27383.94 that27384.34 are27384.5 keeping27384.66 our27384.98 economy27385.14 together27385.62 are27385.67 often27385.72 paying27385.77 40,27385.82 6027385.86 plus27385.91 percent27385.96 of27386.01 their27386.06 income27386.1 in27386.35
27392.76 sent27392.76 into27393.26 immediate27393.75 crisis.27394.25 Right?27394.74 And27395.24 that's27395.32 why27395.56 for27396.2 us,27396.44 connecting27396.76 what27397.24 is27397.4 happening27397.56 with27397.88 the27398.04 family27398.2 shelter27398.6 system,27399 the27399.32 EA27399.48 system,27399.8 and,27400.68 upstream27401.64 solutions27402.2 and27402.68 really27403 investing27403.32 in27403.72 affordable27403.89 housing27404.36 are27404.76 deeply27404.85 connected.27405.32 Our27406.52 organizations27406.76 organize27407.64 tenants27408.04 to27408.44 stop27408.68 rent27408.93 increases27409.24 and27409.64 no27409.89 fault27410.04 evictions.27410.36 They27411.08 see27411.32 the27411.56 breadth27411.72 and27412.04 depth27412.28 of27412.6 the27412.76 displacement27412.93 crisis27413.64 every27414.2 day.27414.52 And27415.47 housing27415.71 is27416.19 key27416.35 to27416.67 everything27416.83 we've27417.23 heard27417.55 here27418.35 today,27418.59 and27419.55 we27419.71 shouldn't27419.87 be27420.19 pitting27420.35 critical27420.75 issues27421.15 against27421.47 each27421.87 other.27422.03 Right?27422.59 Dignified27422.91 work,27423.39 health27423.71 care,27423.95 mental27424.19 health,27424.51 adequate27425.07 education,27425.47 housing27426.03 are27426.43 all27426.67 critical,27426.83 for27427.87 people,27428.43 families,27428.83 and27429.23 communities.27429.39 I'm27430.25 gonna27430.41 pass27430.65 over27430.89 to27431.05 Michelle,27431.29 but27431.69 I'll27431.93 just27432.01 say,27432.25 you27432.65 know,27432.81 we27432.97 are27433.13 here27433.29 supporting,27433.61 making27435.61 sure27435.93 that27436.17 the27436.41 emergency27436.57 assistance,27437.13 shelter27438.49 system27438.81 is27439.21 invested27440.09 in27440.57 and,27440.89 that27441.53 limits27441.69 are27442.17 removed27442.33 and27442.89 that,27443.13 we're27443.68 investing27444 in27444.48 home27444.72 based27444.96 raft,27445.28 MRVP,27445.6 upstream27446.32 solutions.27446.88 And27447.68 the27447.84 last27448 thing27448.24 I'll27448.48 say27448.56 is,27448.72 you27449.84 know,27450 as27450.56 Homes27450.72 from27450.96 Massachusetts,27451.12 we27452.56 know27452.8 you've27453.04 heard27453.28 a27453.52 lot27453.68 about27453.92 BudgetS27454.16 today.27454.72 We27455.12 also27455.28 know,27455.6 financial27456.88 resources27457.44 are27458 finite,27458.24 but,27459.18 you27459.66 know,27459.9 rent27460.14 stabilization27460.46 policies,27461.18 ending27462.14 no27462.62 fault27462.86 evictions,27463.18 these27463.66 are27463.82 things27463.98 we27464.31 can27464.39 do27464.54 at27464.7 no27464.86 cost27465.18 to27465.43 the27465.58 state27465.74 that27466.39 make27466.62 a27466.78 real27466.86 impact27467.18 as27468.06 we27468.31 also,27468.46 advocate27469.58 for27470.06 these27470.22 budget27470.46 as.27470.86 Right?27471.02 Because27471.26 we27471.66 can't27471.9 afford27472.22 127472.94 more27473.26 eviction27473.5 due27474.53 to27474.77 a27475.17 a27475.25 rent27475.41 increase27475.73 or27476.05 no27476.21 fault,27476.45 in27477.09 a27477.33 in27477.57 the27477.73 crisis27477.89 we're27478.29 in.27478.45 And27479.01 I'll27479.25 just27479.41 pass27479.65 to27479.89 Michelle27480.05 because27480.45 we27480.77 also27480.85 know27481.17 that27481.33 preserving27481.57 every27482.29 affordable27482.93 housing27483.41 unit27483.81 we27484.13 can27484.21 right27484.45 now27484.69 is27485.01 critical27485.17 to27485.65 this.27485.81
27488.81 SPEAKER2027488.81 -27488.81 Thank27488.81 you,27489.04 Carolyn,27489.36 and27489.85 thank27490 you27490.32 chairs27490.56 and27491.04 members27491.28 for27491.68 sticking27491.93 around27492.24 and27492.56 listening27492.72 to27493.04 us.27493.2 Good27494 evening.27494.24 I'm27494.56 Michelle27494.72 D'Alima.27495.04 I27495.52 work27495.6 with27495.76 the27495.93 Greater27496 Boston27496.4 Community27496.81 Land27497.2 Trust27497.44 Network.27497.76 I27498.48 also27498.56 wanna27498.89 throw27499.12 in27499.36 that27499.52 I27499.68 grew27499.81 up27499.94 in27500.02 Hampton27500.18 County27500.5 and27500.9 still27501.06 have27501.3 strong27501.62 personal27502.42 and27502.74 professional27502.9 ties27503.3 to27503.54 Western27503.7 Mass.27504.1 I'm27504.82 here27505.06 with27505.38 my27505.54 colleagues27505.7 in27506.1 the27506.18 housing27506.34 just27506.58 and27506.74 move27506.9 justice27507.3 movement27507.7 today27508.1 because27508.42 we27508.74 need27508.9 a27509.14 variety27509.22 of27509.62 tools27509.78 to27510.1 address27510.26 the27510.58 housing27510.66 and27510.98 homelessness27511.14 crisis27511.78 across27512.58 the27512.98 state.27513.14 I'm27514.54 here27514.7 to27514.94 ask27515.02 you27515.26 for27515.5 $1,000,00027515.66 in27516.54 the27516.7 budget27516.86 for27517.18 the27517.34 Small27517.5 Properties27517.82 Acquisition27518.38 Fund,27518.94 or27519.34 SPAF.27519.66 Piloted27520.46 in27520.94 2024,27521.18 SPAF27522.38 provides27522.7 forgivable27523.1 loans27523.66 matched27524.06 at27524.46 the27524.62 local27524.7 level27525.02 for27525.42 nonprofits27525.58 and27526.14 developers27526.3 to27526.86 acquire27527.02 housing27527.34 and27527.74 protect27527.9 its27528.3 affordability.27528.46 We27529.65 must27529.89 preserve27530.13 our27530.61 housing27530.77 stock27531.09 to27531.33 address27531.49 displacement27531.89 and27532.45 high27532.61 cost27532.77 of27533.09 living.27533.17 Today,27533.81 we27534.13 ask27534.29 for27534.53 another27534.69 1,000,00027535.01 to27535.49 carry27535.65 the27535.89 program27535.97 forward27536.37 unabated.27536.93 Earlier27538.45 this27538.85 month,27539.01 Secretary27539.25 Agustin27539.73 said27540.21 about27540.45 staff,27540.85 while27541.33 we27541.57 work27541.65 to27541.89 build27541.97 the27542.21 housing27542.29 that27542.61 Massachusetts27543.22 residents27543.54 need27544.02 now27544.26 and27544.58 into27544.74 the27544.98 future,27545.14 it27545.47 is27545.62 essential27545.78 that27546.26 we27546.43 preserve27546.58 and27546.98 maintain27547.14 the27547.7 affordable27547.86 housing27548.35 we27548.66 already27548.9 have.27549.22 Every27550.02 property27550.35 that27550.74 we27550.9 can27550.98 keep27551.14 affordable27551.39 and27552.02
27552.18 SPEAKER3527552.18 -27552.18 every27552.18
27553.14 SPEAKER2027553.14 -27553.14 okay.27553.14 Please27553.62 fund27554.02 staff27554.43 100000027554.82 dollars.27555.47 Thanks.27555.86
27557.78 SPEAKER227557.78 -27557.78 Got27557.78 a27558.1 couple27558.18 questions27558.51 for27559.04 you.27559.2 The27560 veteran,27560.32 the27561.28 the27561.6 wife,27561.68
27567.68 the27567.68 heroes27567.92 act27568.4 is27568.56 supposed27568.8 to27569.12 help27569.2 with27569.44 that.27569.68 So27569.92 finding27571.37 a27571.77 place27571.93 to27572.17 stay,27572.41 can27573.85 you27574.17 can27574.65 you27574.89 get27575.05 some27575.21 more27575.37 information27575.61 for27576.17 us27576.41 and27576.65 send27576.89 it27577.13 to27577.21 my27577.37 email?27577.69
27578.49 SPEAKER5727578.49 -27578.49 Yeah.27578.49 I27578.81
27578.89 SPEAKER227578.89 -27578.89 will.27578.89 I'd27579.21 like27579.61 to27579.85 know27579.93 more27580.17 about27580.33 that.27580.57 And27582.17 also,27582.41 the27584.62 kids27585.1 plan,27585.5 how27586.38 many27587.26 kids27587.58 are27588.06 homeless?27588.38
27592.22 The27592.22 plan,27592.38 I27592.7 mean,27592.78 I'd27592.94 like27593.18 to27593.5 and27593.82 that27594.06 sounds27594.3 and27595.1 there's27595.26 no27595.5 emergency27595.66 plan.27596.3 I27596.62 we27596.94 didn't27597.1 really27597.42 know27597.74 that27597.9 at27598.22 least27598.38 I27598.7 did.27598.78 Didn't27599.71 know27599.94 that27600.18 there's27600.35 kids27600.67 that27600.9 are27601.06 homeless.27601.22 So27601.78 how27602.26 many27602.43 kids27602.67 are27602.9 we27603.14 talking?27603.31 Do27603.71 you27603.82
27604.58 SPEAKER5727604.58 -27604.58 I27604.58 mean,27604.67 I27605.86 think27606.02 at27607.94 the27608.18 moment,27608.35 the27608.9 the27609.63 legislature27609.86 gets27610.51 reports27611.22 from27611.93 UHLC.27612.17 At27613.21 the27613.37 moment,27613.45 they27614.01 say27614.25 that27614.41 there's27614.65 about27614.97 70027615.77 or27616.49 in27616.57 in27616.81 the27616.97 last27617.05 report,27617.29 there's27617.61 about27617.85 70027618.09 families27618.57 on27618.97 the27619.13 wait27619.21 list.27619.37
27622.01 During,27622.01 you27622.97 know,27623.13 during27623.53 the27623.77 winter27623.93 months27624.25 when27624.57 it27624.81 was27624.89 really27625.05 cold27625.37 out,27625.61 it's27626.39 like27626.71 you27626.86 can27627.1 send27627.26 if27627.51 you27627.67 have27627.82 single27627.98 adults,27628.22 you27628.54 can27628.71 send27628.86 them27629.02 to27629.18 Pine27629.35 Street,27629.51 and27629.82 Pine27630.06 Street27630.31 will27630.54 get27631.58 them27631.74 in27631.98 the27632.22 door27632.31 somewhere27632.78 inside.27633.43 And27634.31 there27634.54 is27634.78 not27635.1 a27635.43 place27635.51 to27635.82 send27635.98 people27637.67 with27638.14 kids.27638.31 I27638.78 mean,27638.86 I27639.18 had27639.26 127639.58 family27639.74 who27640.31 had27640.63 227640.94 teenagers27641.1 who27641.58 who27642.42 were,27642.5 like,27642.66 young27643.06 teenagers,27643.38 and27644.02 they27645.06 couldn't27645.3 get27645.54 into27645.62 shelter27645.86 that27646.26 night.27646.5 And27646.74 they27646.9 were27647.06 like,27647.22 well,27647.38 where27647.54 do27647.7 we27647.86 go?27648.02 And,27648.34 like,27648.58 I27648.74 I27649.06 was27649.38 like,27649.62 I27649.94 don't27650.02 know27650.26 where27650.42 you27650.66 can27650.74 go.27650.98 Like,27651.62 we27651.86 gave27652.02 them27652.26 tea27652.66 passes27652.9 to,27653.46 like,27653.62 be27654.76 on27655 the27655.08 tea27655.16 for27655.4 as27655.64 long27655.72 as27655.96 possible27656.12 and27656.44 get27656.68 to27656.84 the27657 hospital27657.08 and27657.48 maybe27657.72 stay27658.04 at27658.2 the27658.36 hospital27658.44 for27658.76 a27658.88 while.27659 But27659.24 I27659.48 talked27659.56 to27659.8 her27659.88 the27660.04 next27660.12 day,27660.28 and27660.52 she27660.6 said27660.76 the27660.92 hospital27661 said27661.4 she27661.56 couldn't27661.64 stay,27661.88 and27662.04 they27662.2 stayed27662.36 outside.27662.6
27663.96 SPEAKER227663.96 -27663.96 And27663.96 it27664.28 sounded27664.36 a27664.6 little27664.68
27664.84 SPEAKER7027664.84 -27664.84 bit27664.84 just27665.24 oh,27665.56 sorry.27665.8
27666.12 SPEAKER227666.12 -27666.12 It27666.12 sounded27666.2 just27666.52 a27666.76 little27666.84 bit27667.08 different.27667.24 I27667.88 was27668.04 honestly27668.28 thinking27668.76 that27669.08 kid27670.58 didn't27670.74 have27671.06 a27671.3 family.27671.46 But27672.26 No.27672.74
27673.06 SPEAKER5727673.06 -27673.06 No.27673.06 Like,27673.3 just27674.1 that,27674.42 like,27674.66 kids27675.54 like,27676.82 we27677.3 have27677.62 I27678.1 hear27678.26 what27678.5 you're27678.66 saying,27678.82 but,27679.06 like,27679.3 kids27679.54 who27679.78 are27680.02 in27680.26 families27680.42 that27680.9 don't27681.14 have27681.46 a27681.62 place27681.7 to27681.94 stay27682.2
27682.6 SPEAKER227682.6 -27682.6 Yeah.27682.6
27682.92 SPEAKER5727682.92 -27682.92 There27682.92 is27683.16 no27683.4 emergency27683.72 place27684.28 for27684.52 them27684.76 to27684.92 go.27685.08 And27685.32 so27685.56 if27686.2 you27686.44 limit27686.68 shelter27687.48 to,27687.8 like,27687.96 a27688.2 certain27688.28 number27688.52 of27688.76 people27688.84 and27689.08 you27689.24 say27689.32 everybody27689.64 else27689.96 needs27690.2 to27690.36 wait,27690.52 then27691.64 there's27691.96 not27692.2 even27692.36 a27692.6 place27692.76 inside27693 for27693.4 them27693.56 to27693.72 go.27693.88 Like,27694.12 there's27694.28 not27694.6 a27694.76 place27694.92 to27695.16 send27695.32 them27695.48 where27695.64 it's27695.88 like27695.96 this27696.2 place27696.36 will27696.6 at27696.76 least27696.84 put27697.08 you27697.32 inside27697.4 for27697.8 the27697.88 night27698.17 and27698.65 you27698.81 won't27698.97 freeze.27699.21
27701.05 SPEAKER227701.05 -27701.05 Thank27701.05 you.27701.37 You27702.33 wanna27702.49 I27702.77
27702.89 SPEAKER7027702.89 -27702.89 was27702.89 just27703.05 gonna27703.21 add27703.45 to27703.69 what27703.93 Liz27704.09 was27704.33 saying27704.41 that,27704.65 you27704.81 know,27704.97 we27705.29 are27705.53 proud27705.69 that27706.01 we27706.17 are27706.41 have27706.65 been27706.89 a27706.97 right27707.13 to27707.29 shelter27707.45 state27707.85 for27708.17 children27708.41 and27708.73 families,27708.89 and27709.29 that27709.45 has27709.61 meant27709.85 we27710.26 have27710.51 not27710.58 needed27710.82 the27711.22 kind27711.39 of27711.62 emergency27711.86 weather27712.51 based27713.14 assistance27713.47 that27713.94 in,27714.02 individual27714.58 adults27715.06 have27715.47 needed.27715.7 And27716.02 now27716.18 because27716.51 of27716.74 these27716.9 caps27717.47 and27717.78 the,27717.94 the27718.9 limits27719.06 on27719.47 our27719.62 right27719.78 to27719.94 shelter,27720.1 we27720.51 are27720.66 facing27720.82 this27721.14 crisis.27721.39 And27722.02 I'll27722.26 just27722.43 say27722.58 personally,27722.74 I27723.14 have27723.22 tents27723.47 in27723.7 my27723.86 basement27724.02 in27724.43 Dorchester27724.58 because27725.31 we've27726.12 been27726.36 seeing27726.68 this,27727 right,27727.24 for27727.48 the27727.64 last27727.8 year,27728.2 227728.6 years27728.76 years27729.08 that27729.56 families27729.96 are27730.36 just27730.44 sleeping27730.68 outside27731.08 at27731.48 tea27731.72 stations,27731.96 maybe27732.44 in27732.84 South27733.08 Station27733.4 if27734.12 the27734.28 security27734.52 guards27734.92 don't27735.24 kick27735.4 them27735.56 out.27735.8
27736.76 SPEAKER227736.76 -27736.76 Thank27736.76 you.27737 Senator27737.48 Kenny.27737.88
27739.91 SPEAKER5327739.91 -27739.91 Thank27739.91 you27740.07 so27740.31 much.27740.39 And27740.79 I27740.95 continue27741.35 to27741.83 say,27741.99 arguably,27742.39 right27743.27 to27743.51 shelter27743.67 is27743.99 an27744.07 idea.27744.31 We27744.71 don't27744.87 have27745.11 right27745.27 to27745.43 shelter,27745.59 right,27745.91 where27746.15 we27746.31 know27746.47 historically27746.95 50%27747.51 of27747.99 families27748.15 have27748.55 been27748.87 turned27749.03 away27749.27 at27749.91 any27750.07 point27750.31 during27750.55 the27750.71 system.27750.87 We27751.11 have27751.27 a27751.35 statewide27751.51 system,27751.91 which27752.15 is27752.39 unique27752.55 unlike27752.87 any27753.19 other27753.43 state,27753.67 but,27753.91 right27755.33 to27755.49 shelter.27755.57 And27755.97 and27756.13 I27756.21 wanna27756.37 appreciate27756.77 the27757.73 specific27758.37 examples27758.85 that27759.33 you27759.49 gave27759.73 because27759.97 given27761.01 the27761.25 tight27761.41 budget27761.81 constraints27762.37 that27762.93 we're27763.09 in,27763.33 it's27765.01 important27765.25 to27765.65 recognize27765.81 that27766.37 often27766.61 we27766.93 cost27767.09 ourselves27767.41 more27767.97 money27768.13 with27768.81 the27768.97 less27769.22 compassionate27769.45 response27770.18 that27770.65 by27770.97 not27771.22 providing27771.45 housing27772.01 supports,27772.49 which27772.89 are27773.14 far27773.29 less27773.53 expensive,27773.85 we27774.81 end27775.06 up27775.22 caught27775.29 having27775.85 incurring27776.33 costs,27776.81 much27777.37 that27777.61 are27777.77 much27777.85 more27778.1 substantial.27778.33 So,27778.81 and27779.77 and27780.01 I27780.18 think27780.33 we27780.57 often27780.73 end27781.06 up27781.22 putting27781.37 ourselves27781.69 in27782.1 those27782.26 positions.27782.57 I27783.55 wanna27783.71 ask27783.95 specifically27784.11 because27784.67 you27784.91 raised,27785.07 the27785.71 quarry27785.87 checks,27786.27 which27786.67 I27786.91 think27786.99 we27787.15 thought27787.39 collectively27787.71 would27788.35 would27788.67 enhance,27789.23 security.27790.27 I27792.27 do27792.43 note27792.67 that27792.91 the27793.23 I'm27794.11 sorry?27794.35 No.27796.27 I27796.91 do27797.07 wanna27797.23 note27797.55 that27797.87 despite27798.27 the27798.67 fact27798.75 that27798.99 EA27799.23 Shelter27799.63 does27800.19 serve,27800.51 families27801.63 with27802.03 a27802.27 whole27802.35 host27802.67 of27802.91 complications,27803.15 when27804.19 we27804.43 talk27804.59 about27804.75 emergency27805.07 shelter27805.63 at27806.03 the27806.11 end27806.27 of27806.43 the27806.51 day,27806.67 it27807.39 is27807.63 intended27807.79 for27808.35 emergency27808.99 situations,27809.55 fire,27810.19 flood,27810.43 natural27810.75 disaster,27811.07 and27811.97 domestic27812.13 violence.27812.69 I've27814.05 heard,27814.29 and27814.61 I'm27814.69 curious27814.93 if27815.25 you27815.41 have27815.57 heard27815.73 as27815.97 well,27816.05 examples27816.37 of27816.93 families27817.17 meeting27817.65 those27817.97 definitions27818.21 that27818.85 because27819.17 they27819.41 don't27819.57 actually27819.81 have27820.13 their27820.37 paperwork27820.61 and27821.09 can't27821.33 access27821.65 and27822.13 can't27822.29 actually27822.61 provide27823.33 to27823.73 get27823.89 a27824.05 quarry27824.21 are27824.85 actually27825.01 not27825.41 eligible27825.65 for27826.21 shelter.27826.45
27828.84 SPEAKER5727828.84 -27828.84 Yeah.27828.84 I27829.16 mean,27829.32 I27829.56 think27829.72 I,27830.2 have27831.96 definitely27832.12 seen27832.68 families27833 that27833.8 have27834.2 had27834.6 people27834.84 split27835.4 off27835.72 because27836.04 of27836.44 the27836.52 quarry27836.68 check27837.08 already.27837.4 And27838.36 I27838.68 we27839.16 have27839.4 been27839.56 hearing27839.72 from27840.04 families,27840.28 like,27841.72 especially27842.04 my27842.36 colleagues27842.6 in27843 Western27843.32 Mass27843.64 who27844.44 have27844.6 represent27845 families27845.4 in,27845.8 like,27845.96 areas27846.6 that27847 may27847.16 not27847.32 have27847.48 public27847.72 transportation,27848.04 that27849.16 people27849.4 are27849.64 being27849.8 told27850.04 because27850.28 you27850.44 can27850.6 now27850.76 apply27851 for27851.24 a27851.36 shelter27851.48 online27851.88 or27852.2 over27852.36 the27852.52 phone.27852.68 But27852.84 if27853 you27853.16 can't27853.24 get27853.56 to27853.72 the27853.88 office27853.96 to27854.36 do27854.52 the27854.68 CORI27854.76 check,27855.16 that27855.64 you27855.88 will27856.04 be27856.2 denied27856.36 because27857.39 you27857.63 couldn't27857.71 get27858.1 to27858.26 the27858.35 office27858.43 to27858.74 do27858.82 the27858.9 CORI27859.06 check.27859.39 And27860.43 that27860.82 family27861.06 that27861.39 I27861.54 was27861.63 talking27861.71 about27862.02 with27862.26 the27862.35 227862.43 teenagers27862.74 who's,27863.31 you27864.26 know,27864.43 stayed27864.74 on27864.98 the27865.14 tee27865.31 and27865.63 then27866.18 stayed27866.51 outside,27866.74 you27867.78 we27868.02 were27868.18 trying27868.35 to27868.58 get27868.74 them27868.82 into27869.06 shelter27869.31 at,27869.71 like,27869.86 03:3027870.02 that27870.51 day,27870.67 and27870.98 the27871.39 response27871.54 from27872.02 the27872.18 field27872.26 office27872.51 was,27872.83 well,27872.99 they're27873.11 not27873.23 gonna27873.55 be27873.71 able27873.87 to27874.03 clear27874.11 the27874.27 quarry27874.43 check27874.75 before27874.99 before27875.79 5.27876.27 Right?27877.39 Like,27877.63 it27877.87 was27877.95 like27878.11 the27878.35 quarry27878.59 check27878.99 was27879.23 part27879.47 of27879.71 the27879.87 reason27879.95 why27880.27 they27880.51 were27880.67 just27880.83 like,27881.07 yeah,27881.31 we're27881.55 not27881.79 even27881.95 gonna27882.19 try27882.67 to27882.91 get27882.99 this27883.15 family27883.39 in27883.79 because27883.95 they're27885.23 not27885.39 gonna27885.63 be27886.19 able27886.35 to,27886.59 like,27886.75 get27886.91 get27887.33 their27887.41 quarry27887.73 done27888.05 anyway27888.21 in27888.53 that27888.69 amount27888.85 of27889.09 time.27889.25 Thank27890.45 you.27890.77
27894.45 SPEAKER227894.45 -27894.45 Thank27894.45 you.27894.69
27897.25 Andrea27897.25 Park.27897.81 And27899.81 next27900.61 is27900.93 Julie27901.09 Love.27901.49
27908.58 SPEAKER6027908.58 -27908.58 Hello.27908.58 Thank27909.06
27911.62 you.27911.62 My27911.7 name27911.94 is27912.02 Andrea.27912.18 I'm27912.5 an27912.66 attorney27912.74 at27913.06 the27913.22 Mass27913.3 Law27913.46 Reform27913.62 Institute.27914.02 Thank27914.74 you27914.9 for27915.06 still27915.3 being27915.54 here.27915.7 I27916.42 just27916.58 was27916.92 gonna27917.16 go27917.4 before27917.64 Kelly27917.88 and27918.2 set27918.36 some27918.6 context27918.76 for27919.24 the27919.48 specific27919.64 line27920.12 items,27920.36 regarding27921.64 EA27922.04 raft27922.36 and27922.6 home27922.68 base27922.92 and27923.16 MRVP,27923.32 so27923.96 just27924.12 pretend27924.28 like27924.6 you27924.76 heard27924.92 all27925.16 that27925.24 first.27925.4 We27926.92 just27927.24 I27927.48 wanted27927.56 to27927.88 share27927.96 a27928.2 little27928.28 bit27928.44 about27928.68 what27928.84 we're27929 hearing27929.24 from27929.48 talking27929.72 to27929.96 the27930.04 many27930.4 providers27930.56 and27930.8 people27930.96 who27931.28 are27931.44 working27931.52 and27931.84 families27932.08 within27932.48 the27932.8 EA27932.88 system27933.2 across27933.52 the27933.84 state.27933.92 It27934.8 has27934.96 been27935.12 a27935.28 4027935.44 year27935.68 history27935.92 of27936.24 ups27936.48 and27936.72 downs27936.88 without27937.36 a27937.68 doubt,27937.76 but27938.48 it27938.88 is27939.04 truly27939.2 an27939.52 existential27939.68 threat27940.16 as27940.48 Senator27940.56 Kennedy27940.88 said.27941.28 It27941.84 shouldn't27942 be27942.32 a27942.48 surprise27942.56 that27943.04 as27943.28 income27943.78 inequality27944.1 has27944.74 grown,27944.98 the27945.3 number27945.46 of27945.7 families27945.78 who27945.98 are27946.18 in27946.26 need27946.42 of27946.58 the27946.66 safety27946.82 net27947.06 for27947.62 their27947.78 children27947.94 has27948.5 also27948.74 grown.27948.98 127950.02 long27950.34 time27950.5 shelter27950.74 provider27951.06 said27951.46 to27951.62 the27951.78 EA27951.86 commission,27952.18 this27952.98 is27953.14 the27953.3 first27953.46 time27953.7 I've27953.94 seen27954.18 so27954.34 many27954.5 steps27954.74 taken27955.06 to27955.38 undermine27955.54 the27956.02 right27956.1 to27956.26 shelter27956.42 for27956.74 parents.27957.07 We27957.39 have27957.47 had27957.71 spikes27957.95 in27958.27 the27958.51 past.27958.59 Providers27958.99 have27959.47 worked27959.63 with27959.79 EOHLC27960.03 to27960.67 figure27960.83 out27961.07 how27961.23 to27961.31 help27961.47 them27961.71 address27962.51 these27962.91 concerns27963.15 and27963.55 this27963.87 too27964.11 shall27964.51 pass.27964.83 The27965.95 increase27966.19 of27966.51 numbers27966.67 in27967.39 EAA27967.55 eligible27967.95 families27968.35 over27968.75 202327968.99 and27969.63 202427969.71 was27970.35 absolutely27970.83 rapid.27971.15 It27971.55 was27971.63 unprecedented27971.95 and27972.51 we're27972.67 grateful27972.83 and27973.15 we27973.39 were27973.47 proud27973.71 of27973.87 the27974.03 State's27974.11 response27974.51 initially.27974.99 But27975.87 in27976.03 light27976.11 of27976.35 this27976.43 problem27976.59 that27976.91 has27977.07 no27977.39 easy27977.55 answers,27977.87 it27978.43 does27978.59 feel27978.83 as27979.07 though27979.23 we've27979.39 lost27979.63 our27979.87 way.27980.03 I'd27980.75 like27980.99 to27981.15 focus27981.23 on27981.55 227981.71 specific27981.95 things27982.35 that27982.51 you27982.67 all27982.83 have27982.99 probably27983.15 heard27983.55 a27983.79 lot27983.87 about27984.03 in27984.67 the27984.83 context27984.99 of27985.39 the27985.47 specific27985.91 cases27986.31 that27986.63 you've27986.71 heard.27986.95 The27987.75 first27987.83 is27988.07 the27988.23 governor's27988.31 claim27988.71 that27988.95 this27989.11 is27989.27 a27989.35 federal27989.51 problem,27989.83 which27990.15 we've27990.39 heard27990.55 from27990.71 day27990.95 127991.19 and27991.51 continue27991.83 to27992.31 hear27992.39 today.27992.55 And27993.43 I27993.59 would27993.67 ask27993.91 which27994.39 problem27994.79 is27995.43 that?27995.59 Which27996.07 is27996.31 the27996.47 federal27996.63 problem?27996.95 Is27997.35 it27997.51 the27997.67 problem27997.75 that27998.07 we27998.23 have27998.31 immigrants27998.47 coming27999.03 into27999.27 the27999.59 state?27999.75 I28000.36 don't28000.52 think28000.68 this28001.08 is28001.32 a28001.4 state28001.56 that28002.44 has28002.6 ever28002.84 said28003.16 we28003.56 reject28004.12 the28004.6 notion28004.76 that28005.16 immigrants28005.32 will28005.8 come28005.96 here.28006.2 That28006.44 is28006.6 not28006.76 a28007 state28007.08 that28007.4 I28007.64 came28007.72 to.28007.88 The28009 number28009.24 of28009.48 families28009.64 entering28010.04 the28010.36 shelter28010.44 system28010.76 has28011.08 dropped28011.32 precipitously28011.64 coming28012.44 in28012.68 from28012.76 outside28013 the28013.32 country,28013.48 which28013.8 is28013.96 totally28014.12 predictable.28014.52 The28015.36 E.28015.68 A.28015.72 Shelter28015.76 has28016.08 never28016.24 been28016.48 a28016.8 Federal28017.04 shelter28017.6 system.28017.92 So28018.88 is28019.12 this28019.28 the28019.52 Federal28019.6 response28020 we28020.32 were28020.48 hoping28020.64 for?28020.96 That28021.36 the28021.6 numbers28021.68 of28022 immigrants28022.16 are28022.56 dropping28022.72 and28023.04 now28023.2 the28023.44 President28023.6 is28024.48 very28024.72 publicly28024.88 trying28025.36 to28025.6 get28025.68 anybody28025.92 out28026.4 of28026.56 the28026.72 country.28026.8 We28028 shouldn't28028.08 be28028.32 scapegoating28028.48 immigrants28029.12 and28029.68 we28030 need28030.16 to28030.4 be28030.48 very28030.56 clear28030.8 that28031.12 all28031.36 these28031.52 changes,28031.68 these28032.08 things28032.24 that28032.48 have28032.56 been28032.72 happening28032.8 and28033.12 the28033.28 stories28033.36 that28033.76 you28033.84 heard28033.92 are28034.16 happening28034.32 to28034.72 Massachusetts28034.96 families28035.6 and28036 children28036.24 every28036.8 single28037.12 day.28037.36 Some28037.92 of28038.04 them28038.16 are28038.32 the28038.48 kids28038.56 you28038.72 heard28038.88 about28039.04 and28039.28 maybe28039.44 heard28039.76 from28040 earlier28040.24 today.28040.56 The28041.87 second28041.95 thing28042.27 is28042.59 that28042.75 the28042.83 Administration28042.99 is28043.47 saying28043.55 we28043.71 need28043.87 to28044.03 move28044.19 forward28044.35 towards28044.67 a28044.99 needs28045.15 based28045.47 system28045.79 that28046.35 is28046.51 not28046.67 128046.91 size28047.15 fits28047.39 all.28047.63 Oh28047.87 my28047.95 gosh,28048.11 I'm28048.35 going28048.51 to28048.59 run28048.67 out28048.91 of28049.07 time.28049.15 I28049.55 just28049.63 want28049.79 to28050.03 say28050.11 that28050.27 we28050.51 agree28050.67 there28051.15 is28051.39 a28051.55 combination28051.63 of28052.19 a28052.31 sort28052.43 of28052.67 damocles28052.83 and28053.39 magical28053.55 thinking28053.95 behind28054.43 this28054.83 idea28056.12 that28056.2 we're28056.28 going28058.12 to28058.2 be28058.27 able28058.35 to28058.42 get28058.49 people28058.57 out28058.64 in28058.72 628058.79 months,28058.86 maybe28058.94 even28059.01 928059.08 months.28059.24 I28059.28 think28059.32 we28059.4 agree28059.64 we28059.88 don't28060.08 want28060.28 a28060.6 128060.92 size28061 fits28061.24 all28061.48 system,28061.64 but28062.12 we28062.2 need28062.28 to28062.44 try28062.52 a28062.68 little28062.92 bit28063.08 harder.28063.32 There28063.72 is28063.88 a28064.04 lot28064.12 of28064.36 space28064.52 between28064.84 we28065.32 need28065.48 to28065.72 cut28065.8 the28066.04 funding28066.2 from28067.26 where28067.5 it28067.58 is28067.66 now28067.9 and28068.86 the28069.26 idea28069.5 that28069.82 this28070.06 is28070.22 the28070.38 only28070.54 way28070.86 forward.28071.18 I28071.9 was28072.06 going28072.22 to28072.38 share28072.46 a28072.62 story28072.7 about28072.94 someone28073.1 who28073.34 lives28073.5 near28073.74 me28073.9 in28073.98 Worcester28074.14 County28074.46 who28075.26 is28075.42 running28075.9 out28076.22 of28076.38 time28076.54 as28076.86 I28077.02 am28077.1 and28077.34 she28077.5 is28077.66 going28077.82 to28077.98 be28078.06 out28078.14 of28078.3 shelter28078.38 in28078.7 June.28078.94 Her28079.26 decision28079.58 at28079.98 the28080.14 moment28080.22 is28080.54 I'm28080.78 going28080.86 to28081.02 return28081.18 my28081.58 228081.74 young28081.9 children28082.14 to28082.9 their28083.06 abuser28083.31 because28084.02 that's28084.34 a28084.5 better28084.66 choice28084.98 for28085.38 her28085.54 to28085.7 make28085.78 than28086.5 leaving28086.82 the28087.22 shelter28087.46 system28087.78 and28088.02 having28088.18 them28088.42 on28088.58 the28088.74 street28088.82 with28089.14 her.28089.31 So28089.54 really28090.26 ask28090.58 you28090.82 to28091.14 think28091.38 about28091.62 this,28091.86 as28092.5 you're28092.74 looking28092.98 at28093.31 this28093.38 budget28093.62 and28093.94 I28094.18 will28094.34 submit28094.58 my28094.98 remarks28095.31 in28095.86 writing28096.1 as28096.42 well.28096.58 Thank28096.9 you.28097.06
28098.01 SPEAKER228098.01 -28098.01 Thank28098.01 you28098.17 very28098.41 much.28098.65
28103.85 Julie?28103.85
28106.81 SPEAKER5528106.81 -28106.81 Hello.28106.81
28107.85 SPEAKER228107.85 -28107.85 Thank28107.85 you.28108.17
28109.85 SPEAKER3228109.85 -28109.85 Long28109.85 day.28110.01 I28110.17 hope28110.33 you28110.49 guys28110.65 can28110.89 listen28111.13 as28111.53 fast28111.69 as28111.93 I28112.01 can28112.19 talk28112.63 because28113.06 I28113.5 really28113.93 don't28114.37 wanna28114.8 get28115.24 cut28115.67 off.28116.1 The28116.97 school28117.41 nurse28117.84 liaison28118.28 project28118.71 is28119.15 a28119.58 very28120.01 tiny28120.45 program28120.89 with28121.32 a28121.75 huge28122.19 impact.28122.62 It28123.49 gives28123.93 school28124.36 staff28124.79 immediate28125.47 consultation28125.95 with28126.43 a28126.59 psych28126.75 NP28127.07 with28127.39 school28127.63 nursing28127.87 experience28128.43 for28129.07 anything28129.39 they28129.95 need,28130.11 policies,28131.39 medications,28131.63 behavior28132.67 plans28133.07 to28133.39 keep28133.55 kids28133.79 in28134.03 class,28134.27 stuff28134.99 for28135.31 their28135.47 billet28135.63 boards.28135.95 It28137.15 also28137.31 has28137.63 professional28137.95 development28138.51 and28138.99 a28139.15 library28139.23 of28139.63 printable28139.79 resources.28140.86 This28141.9 is28142.38 a28142.54 state28142.7 budget's28143.1 dream.28143.74 It28144.62 was28144.78 a28145.02 program28145.1 that28145.5 was28145.66 completely28145.98 developed28146.62 under28147.1 a28147.34 private28147.5 grant.28147.98 So28148.78 all28149.1 the28149.34 risks28149.5 and28149.82 wrong28150.06 turns28150.3 were28150.7 paid28150.86 for28151.1 by28151.9 someone28152.14 else.28152.54 And28153.02 the28154.26 Commonwealth28154.42 was28155.06 handed28155.22 a28155.62 thriving28155.86 program28156.42 that28156.9 was28157.14 already28157.38 serving28157.78 about28158.26 128158.5 third28158.74 of28158.86 the28158.98 state.28159.22 And28160.1 Massachusetts28160.5 welcomed28161.7 that28162.18 gift28162.42 and28162.82 funded28163.22 it28163.7 as28163.86 part28164.02 of28164.26 CPAP28164.42 in28164.9 fiscal28165.14 year28165.54 2028165.78 2228166.43 with28167.56 an28167.79 expectation28168.03 that28168.51 it28168.64 would28168.75 expand28168.91 statewide28169.39 to28169.95 all28170.75 of28170.99 you28171.07 from28171.23 the28171.47 West28171.56 that28171.79 have28171.95 hardly28172.11 seen28172.35 me.28172.68 I28173.95 don't28174.11 know28174.35 why28174.43 MCAP28174.75 decided28175.15 not28175.64 to28175.87 do28175.95 that28176.11 and28176.43 shut28176.68 it28176.91 down28176.99 after28177.23 just28177.56 128177.79 year.28177.95 It's28178.64 not28178.96 a28179.2 huge28179.36 mystery.28179.68 A28180.16 program28180.32 run28180.8 by28181.04 a28181.28 nurse28181.44 designed28182.08 to28182.4 give28183.2 the28183.36 schools28183.52 what28183.92 the28184.16 schools28184.32 ask28184.72 for28184.96 wasn't28185.84 a28186.32 great28186.48 fit28186.8 for28187.12 a28187.36 program28187.44 designed28187.92 by28188.4 and28188.56 for28188.72 doctors.28188.96 What28190.56 is28190.8 a28191.04 mystery28191.12 is28191.68 why28191.92 when28192.24 the28192.4 schools28192.7 and28192.86 I28192.98 went28193.1 out28193.42 on28193.58 a28193.74 limb28193.9 to28194.22 keep28194.54 it28194.86 going28195.1 so28195.58 that28195.82 the28195.98 state28196.06 could28196.38 still28196.7 take28196.94 advantage28197.26 of28197.9 that28198.06 private28198.3 investment28198.7 and28199.82 maintain28200.06 these28200.7 these28201.42 vital28201.74 services28202.14 that28202.62 schools28202.86 have28203.26 been28203.34 relying28203.58 on28204.06 for28204.22 years,28204.46 the28205.59 state28205.83 said28205.99 no28207.35 twice.28209.27 I28209.59 know28209.75 that28209.99 the28210.23 budget's28210.31 really28210.71 tight.28211.03 Believe28211.59 me,28211.91 after28212.15 struggling28212.47 to28212.95 keep28213.03 this28213.27 program28213.51 alive28214.07 for28214.55 328214.79 years28215.11 with28215.51 no28215.75 salary,28216.07 I28217.19 know28217.43 what28217.67 short28217.99 funds28218.31 feel28218.71 like.28218.95 That's28220.02 why28220.26 I'm28220.35 driving28220.58 a28220.82 1328220.98 year28221.31 old28221.46 car.28221.78 It's28222.58 it's28222.98 small,28223.22 but28223.86 it's28224.02 reliable.28224.26 And28224.9 the28225.06 money28225.22 to28225.7 keep28225.86 it28226.35 going28226.58 is28227.22 all28227.46 I28227.7 can28227.78 afford.28228.1 What28229.46 I28229.62 don't28229.78 do28230.02 is28230.18 go28230.5 out28230.66 and28230.82 spend28231.06 a28231.38 whole28231.54 lot28231.78 more28232.02 money28232.26 to28232.66 design28232.82 a28233.22 new28233.38 car.28233.62
28235.17 SPEAKER828235.17 -28235.17 But28235.17 that's28235.25 not28235.41 a28235.49
28235.57 SPEAKER3228235.57 -28235.57 great28235.57 analogy28235.97 because28236.45 I28236.93 don't28237.09 see28237.49 a28237.89 new28238.21 car28238.53 offering28238.93 the28239.25 schools28239.41 services28240.21 and28241.01 support28241.25 that28241.57 they28241.81 need.28241.97
28244.85 I28244.85 did28245.09 go28245.33 looking28245.57 for28245.89 that28246.13 to28246.45 in28246.69 order28246.85 to28247.09 criticize28247.25 past28247.81 budget28248.05 decisions,28248.45 but28249.01 because28249.25 I28249.57 was28249.73 honestly28250.25 hoping28250.49 I'd28250.89 find28251.13 somebody,28251.61 anybody28252.65 out28253.29 there28253.53 doing28253.85 what28254.17 I28254.41 do.28254.57 See,28255.61 I'm28255.85 a28256.01 nurse,28256.17 and28256.49 we28256.89 have28257.21 it28257.37 drilled28257.45 into28257.77 us28258.01 that28258.17 you28258.41 cannot28258.73 leave28259.21 a28259.45 client28259.61 in28260.01 need28260.17 until28260.57 someone28260.89 else28261.29 comes28261.53 and28261.85 assumes28262.01 their28262.57 care.28262.81 That's28263.61 why28263.77 I28263.93 worked28264.01 for28264.41 2428264.49 hours28265.05 straight28265.37 through28265.61 a28265.77 blizzard28265.93 and28266.49 why28266.81 I've28267.05 sacrificed28267.53 so28268.17 much28268.33 to28268.65 keep28268.81 SNLP28269.13 going.28269.85 Because28270.25 if28271.37 I28271.69 stop,28271.85 I28272.73 don't28272.81 know28273.05 who28273.21 the28273.37 schools28273.53 can28273.85 call,28274.09 and28274.97 neither28275.29 do28275.61 they.28275.77 I28276.09 put28276.33 out28276.57 a28276.73 poll28276.89 to28277.29 school28277.53 administrators28277.93 and28278.65 I28278.81 got28278.89 responses28279.39 from28279.72 1128279.87 counties28280.43 asking28281.64 them28281.95 about28282.6 this.28282.91 Only28283.79 about28284.03 half28284.35 said28284.75 that28284.99 they28285.15 had28285.23 anyone28285.64 that28285.95 they28286.11 could28286.35 call.28286.43 And28287.31 they28287.64 were28287.79 talking28288.03 about28288.43 mostly28288.91 their28289.39
28289.72 SPEAKER3528289.72 -28289.72 in28289.72 house28289.87 staff.28290.11
28291.6 SPEAKER3228291.6 -28291.6 Please28291.6 let28291.76 me28291.92 keep28292 going.28293.52 Their28293.84 in28294.08 house28294.24 staff28294.48 and28294.72 me.28294.96 If28295.68 you28295.84 lose28296 me,28296.4 which28296.8 you28297.12 will28297.44 in28298.32 if28298.72 I'm28298.96 not28299.12 in28299.36 the28299.44 budget28299.6 this28299.92 year,28300.16 328301.04 quarters28301.36 of28301.68 them28301.84 have28302.16 no28302.4 128302.64 that28302.8 they28302.96 can28303.12 call.28303.36 And28304.18 the28304.43 other28304.58 quarter,28304.82 they28305.31 need28305.54 to28305.7 get28305.86 the28306.1 families28306.58 to28307.06 sign28307.22 a28307.47 release28307.54 or28307.94 get28308.18 the28308.35 doctor28308.51 to28308.9 stop28308.98 and28309.22 explain28309.47 things28309.86 to28310.1 them28310.26 or28310.51 some28310.98 of28311.14 them28311.22 listed28311.47 911.28311.78 They28312.82 need28313.06 to28313.31 be28313.47 able28313.54 to28313.66 call28313.78 someone28314.02 before28314.43 they're28315.06 calling28315.31 911.28315.62
28316.51 SPEAKER228316.51 -28316.51 Your28316.51 testimony?28316.58 I'm28317.22 sorry.28317.31
28318.02 SPEAKER3228318.02 -28318.02 Yeah.28318.02 I've28318.98 got28319.14 written28320.25 stuff28320.57 that28320.73 I've28320.89 sent28320.97 to28321.21 all28321.37 of28321.45 you28321.53 repeatedly.28321.77 I28322.73 can28322.81 give28322.97 you28323.21 that.28323.37
28323.77 SPEAKER228323.77 -28323.77 Thank28323.77 you.28324.01 Any28325.29 questions?28325.61
28328.17 Thank28328.17 you28328.49 so28328.65 so28328.89 much.28329.05
28329.29 SPEAKER3228329.29 -28329.29 Anyone?28329.29 Name28330.57 your28330.89 town.28331.13 I28331.37 can28331.53 tell28331.69 you28331.85 how28332.01 much28332.09 they've28332.25 used28332.49 the28332.73 program28332.89 and28333.37 how28333.61 much28333.77 they're28334.01 going28334.25 to28334.41 lose28334.57 if28335 the28335.16 program28335.32 goes28335.64 away.28335.96 I28337 mean,28337.16 I28337.48 I28338.12 was28338.28 hoping28338.52 to28338.68 have28338.84 others28339 testifying28339.48 with28339.96 me,28340.12 but28340.28 school28340.6 staff28340.92 couldn't28341.16 get28341.4 away.28341.48 We28341.8 didn't28341.88 know28342.12 we'd28342.28 be28342.4 here28342.52 in28342.76 the28342.84 evening.28342.92 And28344.68
28347.4 SPEAKER1528347.4 -28347.4 My28347.4 town28347.72 is28348.04 Boston.28348.28
28349.62 SPEAKER3228349.62 -28349.62 I28349.62 got28349.86 my28350.02 first28350.26 Boston28350.5 call28350.9 this28351.14 week.28351.38 It28351.62 was28351.86 I28352.26 I28352.42 don't28352.58 know28352.9 where28353.14 exactly28353.7 in28354.02 Boston,28354.18 so28354.5 I28354.66 don't28354.74 know28354.9 if28355.06 it28355.14 was28355.22 your28355.38 town28355.54 or28355.78 anyone28355.94 or28356.58 your28356.74 corner28356.9 of28357.22 it28357.38 or28357.54 anyone28357.7 else's.28358.02 When28359.7 I28359.86 was28359.94 with28360.1 Nick28360.34 Papp,28360.5 he28360.9 was28360.98 trying28361.3 to28361.62 make28361.78 it28361.94 smaller.28362.41 I28362.61 don't28362.81 know28363.05 why28363.21 when28363.37 we're28363.61 supposed28363.69 to28363.93 go28364.01 statewide.28364.17 And28364.89 I28365.29 I28366.17 was28366.33 naughty28366.65 because28367.13 the28367.37 week28367.53 after28367.69 he28367.93 told28368.09 me28368.33 to28368.41 tell28368.65 towns28368.89 that28369.21 they28369.37 couldn't28369.53 sign28369.85 up,28370.09 I28370.33 signed28370.57 up28370.81 the28370.97 archdiocese28371.05 of28371.77 Boston,28372.01 and28372.81 the28372.97 program28373.13 got28374.41 a28374.57 lot28374.73 bigger28374.89 in28375.13 128375.29 day.28375.53 It28375.77 was28375.85 very28376.01 exciting.28376.25
28376.57 SPEAKER1528376.57 -28376.57 Alright.28376.57 No28376.89 problem.28377.05 So28377.37 you28377.77 don't28378.05 do28378.21 anything28378.29 in28378.53 Boston.28378.69 That's28379.01 why28379.17 I've28379.25 never28379.41 heard28379.57 of28379.73 it.28379.81 But28380.05 what's28380.21 the28380.45 name28380.53 of28380.69 the28380.85 program28380.93 again?28381.25
28381.57 SPEAKER3228381.57 -28381.57 It's28381.57 called28381.73 the28381.97 School28382.13 Nurse28382.37 Liaison28382.69 Project.28383.25 And28384.37 so28384.53
28384.85 SPEAKER1528384.85 -28384.85 much28384.85 is28385.01 how28385.25 much28385.41 is28385.73 the28385.81 line28385.97 item?28386.21
28387.17 SPEAKER3228387.17 -28387.17 It's28387.17 a28387.41 hundred28387.57 and28387.89 50,00028388.05 to28388.93 have28389.25 it28389.49 be28389.73 available28389.89 to28390.37 all28390.61 schools28390.85 statewide.28391.25 I28392.71 I28393.19 reach28393.43 out28393.75 to28393.91 everyone28393.99 and28394.31 they28394.56 use28394.71 as28395.03 much28395.11 or28395.27 as28395.43 little28395.6 of28395.83 it28395.99 as28396.07 they28396.23 want.28396.39 Some28396.71 use28397.03 it28397.27 for28397.43 love28397.6 professional28398.56 development28399.19 and28399.6 never28399.75 call.28400.07 Other28400.79 towns,28401.03 their28401.43 PD28401.67 schedule28401.99 is28402.39 full28402.47 but28402.79 their28403.03 nurses28403.27 and28403.83 other28403.99 staff28404.23 kind28404.64 of28404.79 have28404.95 me28405.11 on28405.35 speed28405.51 dial28405.75 and28406.07 call28406.23 every28406.56 time28406.79 they've28406.95 got28407.19 anything28408.07 that28408.39 puzzles28408.55 them.28408.95 It's28409.83 it's,28410.07 flexibly28410.95 meets28411.59 whatever28411.91 schools28412.39 want28412.79 and28413.11 need28413.27 rather28413.59 than28413.91 deciding28414.71 what28415.11 they28415.27 ought28415.43 to28415.67 need28415.75 and28416.07 going28416.23 and28416.55 insisting28416.79 that28417.19 they28417.35 should28417.51 accept28417.67 it.28418.07
28418.39 SPEAKER1528418.39 -28418.39 Thank28418.39 you.28418.71
28421.51 SPEAKER228421.51 -28421.51 Thank28421.51 you28421.75 very28421.99 much.28422.23 Right.28423.05
28426.65 Meg28426.65 Coffin?28427.05 That's28427.85 fine.28428.09
28431.61 Suzanne28431.61 Stinger?28432.33 Stinger?28433.21
28439.34 Shannon28439.34 and28439.82 Kelly28439.98 Hickey.28440.38
28447.18 Zoom.28447.18
28447.98 SPEAKER3428447.98 -28447.98 Hello.28447.98 Can28448.38 you28448.54 hear28448.7 me?28448.94
28449.42 SPEAKER228449.42 -28449.42 Yes.28449.42
28451.1 SPEAKER828451.1 -28451.1 Hello.28451.1 Kelly,28451.5 do28451.66
28451.82 SPEAKER3428451.82 -28451.82 you28451.82 go28451.9 first?28452.06
28453.16 SPEAKER7128453.16 -28453.16 Okay.28453.16 I'll28453.4 go28453.56 first.28453.8 We28454.6 are,28454.84 related,28455.64 but28456.04 we're28456.28 not28456.44 testifying28456.6 together.28457.08 Hi.28458.44 My28458.68 name28458.76 is28458.92 Shannon.28459.16 Thank28460.2 you28460.44 so28460.6 much28460.76 for28461 hearing28461.24 from28461.64 me28461.8 and28462.04 so28462.28 many28462.44 other28462.68 advocates28463 today.28463.48 I'm28464.36 testifying28464.52 in28465.08 support28465.24 of28465.56 full28465.8 funding28466.04 of28466.6 $25,000,00028466.96 for28468.08 the28468.24 healthy28468.4 incentives28468.72 program.28469.36 Yep.28470.32 Line28471.2 428472 428472.32 028472.8 028472.96 128473.36 028473.76 028474 4.28474.32 I28475.76 am28475.92 a28476.32 former28476.56 snap28476.96 and28477.2 hip28477.44 user.28477.68 I'm28478.4 a28478.56 farmer's28478.72 market28479.12 employee28479.52 for28479.84 a28480.08 hip28480.16 vendor28480.4 farm,28480.72 and28481.52 I'm28481.6 a28481.85 farm28481.93 technical28482.4 assistance28482.72 provider.28483.28 I28484.24 have28484.48 participated28484.72 in28485.28 the28485.44 healthy28485.6 incentives28485.93 program28486.48 from28486.89 each28487.12 of28487.36 these28487.52 perspectives28487.76 and28488.4 have28488.64 seen28488.89 the28489.2 immense28489.36 value28489.85 of28490.24 the28490.4 program28490.56 at28491.04 each28491.2 angle.28491.52 For28492.56 consumers,28492.89 not28493.6 only28493.76 does28494.01 hip28494.24 enable28494.48 us28494.89 to28495.12 increase28495.28 our28495.68 healthy28495.85 food28496.24 purchasing28496.48 power,28496.97 but28497.5 it28497.66 also28497.82 makes28498.14 farm28498.46 stands,28498.78 farmers28499.5 markets,28499.98 and28500.38 CSAs28500.62 accessible28501.5 and28501.98 welcoming28502.22 community28502.7 spaces.28503.26 The28504.46 difference28504.62 is28505.02 dramatic28505.18 and28505.66 important,28505.98 especially28506.62 in28507.26 isolating28507.42 and28507.98 divisive28508.14 times.28508.7 In28510.28 2024,28510.44 the28511.32 state28511.48 averaged28511.72 more28512.13 than28512.36 2,60028512.52 new28513.4 hip28513.56 households28513.81 every28514.36 month.28514.6 That's28515.72 not28516.13 just28516.28 a28516.6 number.28516.68 It's28517.08 real28517.48 residents28517.81 of28518.28 the28518.44 Commonwealth28518.52 gaining28519.17 access28519.56 to28520.04 healthy28520.21 produce28520.6 and28521.01 community28521.17 spaces.28521.72 As28523 a28523.16 farmer's28523.24 market28523.72 employee,28524.12 I28524.6 had28524.84 the28525 pleasure28525.16 of28525.48 introducing28525.72 a28526.44 dozen28526.6 snap28527.08 customers28527.4 to28527.96 hip28528.2 to28528.84 hip28529 each28529.32 week.28529.56 The28530.44 relief28530.6 in28530.92 people's28531.08 faces28531.48 when28531.88 learning28532.12 about28532.44 this28532.6 program28532.84 is28533.24 what28533.4 brings28533.64 me28533.88 here28534.04 today.28534.28 Funding28535.16 HIPAA28535.4 $25,000,00028535.88 in28536.92 f28537.08 y28537.32 2628537.48 would28538.04 allow28538.28 for28538.52 the28538.68 program's28538.84 continued28539.4 growth28539.8 so28540.68 that28540.84 every28541.08 SNAP28541.4 recipient28541.64 can28542.2 afford28542.44 fresh28542.84 fruits28543 and28543.32 veggies.28543.48 Over28544.76 the28545.08 years28545.16 since28545.48 HIPAA's28545.72 inception,28546.04 farmers28546.76 have28547.16 built28547.32 their28547.56 business28547.72 models28548.04 and28548.44 crop28548.68 plans28548.92 based28549.4 on28549.64 this28549.8 new28550.04 market28550.2 access.28551.29 As28551.69 a28551.77 farm28551.93 service28552.25 provider,28552.65 I've28553.13 worked28553.37 with28553.61 many28553.85 farms28554.09 who28554.49 earn28554.73 more28555.13 than28555.37 half28555.53 of28555.85 their28555.93 revenue28556.17 from28556.57 hip28556.81 transactions.28557.13 They've28558.41 planned28558.73 for28559.05 growth28559.29 based28559.69 on28560.01 hip.28560.17 They've28560.73 built28560.97 bigger28561.29 farm28561.61 stands,28561.93 invested28562.41 in28562.89 delivery28563.05 vehicles,28563.53 hired28564.58 more28564.74 staff,28565.22 and28565.62 altered28565.86 their28566.18 entire28566.42 business28566.82 models28567.3 to28567.7 serve28567.86 hip28568.18 customers.28568.42 Farmers28569.7 in28570.18 Massachusetts28570.34 want28571.14 to28571.38 feed28571.54 their28571.78 neighbors,28571.94 and28572.42 hip28572.74 helps28573.06 them28573.3 do28573.54 it.28573.7 Insufficient28574.34 funding28574.98 would28575.38 throw28575.54 a28575.78 wrench28575.86 in28576.1 their28576.26 business28576.42 plans,28576.82 lead28577.62 to28577.86 significant28578.1 layoffs,28578.74 eliminate28579.87 food28580.27 access28580.67 points,28581.07 and28581.39 even28581.63 put28581.87 some28582.11 farmers28582.35 out28582.75 of28582.99 business.28583.15 Today,28584.75 I28585.15 work28585.31 at28585.55 the28585.63 National28585.79 Young28586.19 Farmers28586.43 Coalition28586.83 on28587.87 agricultural28588.11 policy28588.75 across28589.23 The28589.55 United28589.71 States.28590.19 The28591.15 Commonwealth28591.39 Healthy28591.95 Incentives28592.35 Program28592.91 is28593.73 the28593.89 premier28594.06 local28594.61 food28595.01 access28595.33 program28595.73 in28596.13 the28596.21 nation28596.37 and28597.09 is28597.33 held28597.57 up28597.73 nationally28597.89 as28598.45 an28598.61 example28598.69 of28599.25 great28599.41 food28599.73 access28600.06 policy.28600.61 Congressman28601.57 Jim28602.13 McGovern28602.37 sings28602.85 its28603.09 praises28603.33 in28603.73 the28603.89 House28603.97 Committee28604.13 on28604.53 Agriculture28604.77 and28605.81 other28606.06 states28606.29 attempt28606.69 to28607.01 replicate28607.17 it.28607.57 HIP28608.37 is28608.53 what28608.69 make28608.85 what28609.76 makes28609.92 Massachusetts28610.4 128611.04 of28611.28 the28611.36 most28611.52 food28611.84 secure28612.08 states28612.48 in28612.8 the28612.96 country.28613.12 It28614 is28614.16 imperative28614.32 to28614.96 restore28615.2 and28615.6 fully28615.84 fund28616.08 this28616.4 program.28616.64 $25,000,00028617.68 is28618.8 a28618.96 drop28619.04 in28619.28 the28619.36 bucket28619.52 of28619.92 the28620.08 state28620.24 budget,28620.56 but28620.96 I28621.2 assure28621.36 you28621.68 it28621.92 will28622.08 have28622.24 a28622.48 very28622.64 real28622.88 impact28623.2 across28624.24 the28624.56 Commonwealth28625.44 on28625.6 the28625.84 tables28626 of28626.32 thousands28626.56 of28626.96 households28627.12 and28627.92 in28628.08 the28628.24 bottom28628.32 lines28628.64 of28628.88 hundreds28629.04 of28629.36 farmers.28629.52 Thank28630.56 you.28630.8
28633.68 SPEAKER228633.68 -28633.68 Thank28633.68 you.28634 Kelly?28636.32
28639.74 SPEAKER128639.74 -28639.74 Hi.28639.74 Can28639.9 you28640.06 hear28640.22 me?28640.38
28640.86 SPEAKER228640.86 -28640.86 Yes.28640.86
28642.54 SPEAKER128642.54 -28642.54 Thank28642.54 you28642.86 for28643.02 the28643.18 opportunity28643.34 to28644.22 testify.28644.38 I28646.06 my28646.46 name28646.54 is28646.78 Kelly28646.86 Hickey.28647.18 I28647.58 am28647.74 the28647.98 owner28648.14 of28648.46 Atlas28648.7 Farm28649.02 Store28649.26 in28649.58 Franklin28649.74 County,28650.22 and28650.62 it's28650.7 important28650.94 to28651.34 me28651.42 that28651.58 HIP28651.74 is28651.9 fully28652.06 funded28652.3 both28652.7 for28652.94 the28653.1 sustainability28653.5 of28654.14 my28654.22 business28654.46 and28654.86 for28655.1 the28655.26 well-being28655.34 of28655.82 our28655.9 community.28656.06 A28657.5 speaker28657.58 earlier28657.98 talked28658.38 about28658.54 hip28658.78 cuts28659.02 going28659.26 into28659.5 effect28659.82 December28660.14 128660.54 that28660.94 reduced28661.18 family's28661.74 benefits28662.14 from28662.7 4028663.02 to28663.34 $8028663.42 per28663.98 month28664.22 to28664.46 $2028664.54 per28665.1 month28665.26 regardless28665.5 of28666.06 family28666.14 size.28666.54 In28667.42 December,28667.58 when28667.82 those28668.06 hip28668.38 cuts28668.54 took28668.86 effect,28669.02 we28669.42 saw28669.66 a28669.82 27%28669.98 decrease28670.94 in28671.34 snap28671.58 sales28671.82 over28672.14 the28672.3 previous28672.46 year.28672.86 In28673.58 January,28673.82 down28674.38 32%.28674.7 February,28675.58 down28676.06 40.28676.3 March,28676.86 down28677.26 38.28677.5 And28678.3 in28678.54 all28678.7 those28678.94 months,28679.18 the28679.5 percentage28679.66 of28680.06 total28680.22 sales28680.54 attributed28680.78 to28681.26 snap28681.42 and28681.58 have28681.74 dropped28681.98 from28682.22 1528682.38 to28682.7 20%28682.94 to28684.2 less28684.44 than28684.76 10%.28684.92 At28685.88 this28686.04 point28686.2 in28686.36 the28686.44 season,28686.6 we28686.92 are28687 down28687.16 over28687.4 $27,00028687.56 in28688.68 Snap28688.92 sales28689.24 over28689.56 last28689.8 year.28690.12 For28690.76 a28691 small28691.08 business28691.4 in28691.72 128691.96 of28692.12 the28692.2 lowest28692.28 margin28692.68 industries,28693.16 that28693.96 kind28694.12 of28694.36 loss28694.44 is28694.76 absolutely28695 unsustainable.28695.48 I28696.73 have28696.81 2028697.05 employees28697.45 that28698.01 are28698.25 employed28698.41 based28698.81 on28699.05 sales28699.21 that28699.61 no28699.77 longer28699.93 exist.28700.33 My28701.13 expense28701.37 budget28701.69 has28702.09 been28702.25 built28702.41 around28702.65 a28702.89 business28702.97 model28703.37 that28703.69 no28703.85 longer28704.09 exists,28704.41 and28705.13 we28705.37 are28705.53 relatively28705.69 insulated28706.25 from28706.73 the28706.97 effects28707.05 of28707.37 these28707.53 cuts28707.77 compared28708.09 to28708.41 other28708.57 farms.28708.89 I28709.66 don't28709.82 have28710.06 a28710.14 crop28710.3 plan28710.62 based28710.94 on28711.18 last28711.34 year's28711.58 sales.28711.9 I28712.3 can28712.46 order28712.62 less28712.94 produce28713.18 from28713.58 my28713.82 colleagues,28713.98 most28714.38 of28714.7 whom28714.78 have28715.02 come28715.18 to28715.42 depend28715.58 on28715.82 our28715.98 sales28716.14 for28716.46 their28716.62 businesses.28716.78 We28717.98 order28718.3 from28718.62 20028719.02 small28719.66 vendors,28719.98 all28720.46 based28720.62 in28720.86 New28721.02 England,28721.18 most28721.9 of28722.14 them28722.22 in28722.38 Massachusetts.28722.54 The28723.7 ripple28723.78 effect28724.1 of28724.5 this28724.58 underfunding28724.82 goes28725.46 way28725.7 beyond28725.94 the28726.18 SNAP28726.34 households28726.66 and28726.98 their28727.14 immediate28727.3 farm28727.7 stand.28727.94 And28728.58 I'm28728.82 sure28728.98 others28729.22 will28729.54 articulate28729.78 it28730.26 better28730.34 than28730.66 me.28730.82 HIP28731.22 dollars28731.46 spent28731.86 at28732.18 farms28732.26 means28732.82 less28733.14 time28733.46 and28733.62 money,28733.78 often28734.1 state28734.5 funded28734.74 or28735.06 state28735.14 subsidized,28735.46 spent28736.18 at28736.42 the28736.58 doctor.28736.66 Underfunding28737.63 HIP28738.19 is28738.43 unsustainable28738.67 for28739.39 everyone.28739.55 It's28740.67 also28740.91 unsustainable28741.23 for28741.87 the28742.03 community.28742.19 Aside28742.67 from28743.07 healthy28743.23 produce28743.63 for28743.95 under28744.19 resourced28744.43 families,28744.83 increased28745.31 sales28745.71 for28745.95 farms,28746.11 and28746.43 less28746.59 strain28746.75 on28747.07 our28747.15 health28747.31 care28747.55 system,28747.79 HIP28748.27 serves28748.51 the28748.75 vital28748.91 function28749.23 of28749.55 inviting28749.71 low28750.19 income28750.35 families28750.67 into28751.15 local28751.39 food28751.71 spaces.28751.95 When28752.78 you28752.94 know28753.02 you28753.18 can't28753.26 afford28753.58 what's28753.82 at28754.06 the28754.14 store,28754.3 you28754.78 don't28755.02 feel28755.18 like28755.34 you28755.5 can28755.66 go28755.82 in.28755.98 I28756.7 assume28756.86 we've28757.18 all28757.42 been28757.58 to28757.82 a28757.98 farm28758.14 stand28758.46 to28758.86 pick28759.02 up28759.18 a28759.34 fresh28759.42 picked28759.74 ear28759.98 of28760.22 corn28760.3 or28760.54 a28760.7 perfect28760.86 summer28761.18 heirloom28761.58 tomato.28761.98 You28762.86 can28763.02 point28763.26 out28763.5 different28763.66 fruits28763.98 and28764.22 vegetables28764.38 to28764.86 your28765.02 kids,28765.18 talk28765.5 with28765.82 the28765.98 farmer,28766.06 listen28766.54 to28766.86 live28767.02 music,28767.18 sample28767.85 something28768.17 you've28768.25 never28768.57 tried28768.81 before.28769.05 This28769.85 kind28770.09 of28770.33 experience28770.49 is28770.97 simply28771.13 beyond28771.45 reach28771.77 if28772.09 the28772.25 only28772.33 grocery28772.65 environment28773.05 you28773.61 feel28773.77 welcome28773.93 in28774.25 is28774.49 a28774.65 fluorescent28774.81 food28775.37 city28775.69 with28776.09 wilting28776.33 greens28776.73 picked28777.05 228777.29 weeks28777.53 ago28777.69 across28777.93 the28778.33 country.28778.41 We28779.29 all28779.53 benefit28779.77 from28780.25 everyone28780.49 being28780.97 welcome28781.21 in28781.53 community28781.61 spaces.28782.09 We28782.65 are28782.73 constantly28782.97 learning28783.45 recipes28783.77 and28784.17 food28784.41 stories28784.65 from28784.89 our28785.13 customers.28785.21 Immigrants28786.01 to28786.49 the28786.65 area28786.73 who28787.05 are28787.21 finding28787.37 food28787.69 that28787.93 feels28788.09 like28788.33 home,28788.49 old28788.89 timers28789.13 who28789.45 knew28789.61 what28789.77 the28789.93 valley28790.01 looked28790.33 like28790.57 6028790.73 years28791.05 ago,28791.29 parents28791.77 of28792.09 young28792.25 children28792.49 who28792.89 figured28793.05 out28793.29 that28793.45 128793.61 thing28793.93 their28794.33 kid28794.49 will28794.73 eat.28794.89 Customers28795.65 bring28795.97 us28796.29 the28796.45 spice28796.69 mixes28797.01 they28797.25 use28797.33 on28797.57 the28797.65 Japanese28797.81 sweet28798.21 potatoes28798.53 or28798.85 tell28799.01 us28799.17 how28799.25 their28799.41 mother28799.57 would28799.81 pickle28799.97 tomatoes28800.21 back28800.61 home28800.85 in28801.01 Russia.28801.17 We28801.65 try28801.81 new28802.05 recipes28802.29 and28802.69 report28802.85 back.28803.25 They28803.81 write28803.97 us28804.21 letters28804.37 and28804.77 invite28804.93 our28805.25 staff28805.41 over28805.73 for28805.97 holidays.28806.13 That28806.77 is28807.01 community28807.17 building,28807.65 and28807.97 it's28808.13 possible28808.37 because28808.77 of28809.01 hip.28809.17 We28809.81 are28809.97 seeing28810.21 customers,28810.45 especially28811.01 those28811.33 that28811.57 rely28811.73 on28811.97 SNAP28812.13 and28812.45 HIP,28812.53 sharing28812.77 their28813.01 fears28813.17 and28813.41 uncertainties28813.65 about28814.13 program28814.37 cuts28814.69 at28814.93 the28815.09 federal28815.17 level.28815.49 Massachusetts28816.13 has28816.77 a28816.93 program28817.09 that28817.33 is28817.49 a28817.65 proven28817.81 win28818.13 win28818.37 win28818.61 for28818.93 families,28819.17 farmers,28819.73 and28820.13 health28820.37 care.28820.61 I'm28821.09 urging28821.25 the28821.65 WAIS28821.73 community28822.29 to28822.53 fund28822.69 the28822.85 program28822.93 at28823.33 the28823.41 full28823.49 $25,000,00028823.87 level28824.83 for28825.15 fiscal28825.31 year28825.55 2026.28825.79 That28826.59 is28826.83 the28826.99 funding28827.07 that28827.31 is28827.47 necessary28827.71 to28828.19 return28828.43 previous28828.75 benefit28829.15 levels28829.55 and28830.03 the28830.27 funding28830.35 that28830.67 is28830.83 necessary28831.07 to28831.47 ensure28831.63 a28831.95 strong28832.03 local28832.35 food28832.59 economy28832.75 here28833.23 in28833.39 Massachusetts.28833.55 Thank28834.19 you28834.43 for28834.59 your28834.75 time.28834.91
28835.39 SPEAKER328835.39 -28835.39 Thank28835.39 you.28835.63 Thank28836.83 you28837.15 so28837.31 much28837.55 for28837.79 both28838.03 of28838.19 your28838.35 testimonies.28838.51 It's28839.75 extremely,28840.71 extremely28841.27 important.28841.83 HIP28842.95 is28843.27 a28843.51 way28843.59 that,28843.91 you28844.55 know,28844.71 I28844.87 I28845.11 said28845.19 earlier,28845.51 I28846.39 think28846.47 a28846.63 lot28846.71 of28846.87 people28846.95 when28847.27 they28847.43 think28847.51 about28847.67 food28847.99 stamps,28848.23 they28848.55 think28848.63 that28848.87 they're,28849.11 you28849.59 know,28849.83 folks28850.07 are28850.39 just28850.71 getting28851.03 tons28851.43 of28851.67 money28851.83 to28852.15 buy28852.31 food,28852.47 which28852.79 is28853.03 not28853.19 the28853.43 case.28853.59 Individuals28854.49 are28855.13 living28855.37 sometimes28855.77 $10.1028856.65 dollars,28857.29 per28858.33 day,28858.57 if28859.05 if28859.29 they're28859.45 lucky28859.61 enough,28859.93 per28861.21 per28861.45 individual.28861.69 And28862.33 and28862.57 HIPAA28862.73 is28863.05 a28863.69 a28863.81 way28863.93 that28864.25 they're28864.57 able28864.81 to28865.05 get28865.13 more28865.37 for28865.69 their28865.93 buck28866.09 and28866.33 ensure28866.57 that28867.4 they're28867.48 eating28867.72 healthy,28868.04 and28868.44 especially28868.68 in28869 communities28869.24 like28869.64 mines28869.88 where28870.2 there28870.68 are28870.92 food28871.16 deserts28871.4 and28871.72 it's28871.8 really28872.04 difficult28872.28 when28872.68 you28872.84 go28872.92 to28873.08 a28873.16 convenience28873.24 store.28873.72 You're28874.28 you're28874.6 not28874.76 finding28875 the28875.48 right28875.72 foods.28875.96 Programs28876.92 like28877.4 this28877.48 at,28877.8 you28877.96 know,28878.04 farmers28878.28 markets28878.76 and,28879.16 you28879.32 know,28879.4 in28879.8 the28879.96 area28880.12 are28880.81 are28880.97 super28881.21 vital.28881.53 So28881.93 thank28882.09 you28882.25 so28882.49 much28882.57 for28882.81 that28882.89 advocacy.28883.13
28888.33 SPEAKER228888.33 -28888.33 Bianca28888.33 Ortiz28888.89 White?28889.45
28896.24 Jennifer28896.24 Maynard.28897.2
28899.6 SPEAKER428899.6 -28899.6 I'm28899.6 here28899.92 virtually.28900.16 Can28900.64 you28900.88 hear28900.96 me?28901.12
28902.16 SPEAKER328902.16 -28902.16 Yes.28902.16 Yes.28902.64
28903.76 SPEAKER428903.76 -28903.76 Oh,28903.76 great.28904 Thank28904.48 you.28904.72 Well,28905.44 good28905.68 evening.28905.92 I'm28906.56 Jen28906.8 Maynard.28907.04 I'm28907.44 the28907.6 executive28907.76 director28908.16 for28908.56 the28908.72 Mass28908.8 PACE28909.04 Association.28909.44 I'd28910.66 like28910.9 to28911.06 thank28911.26 the28911.46 committee28911.62 chairs28911.94 and28912.34 members28912.5 for28912.9 allowing28913.06 me28913.38 the28913.46 opportunity28913.62 to28913.94 provide28914.02 testimony28914.34 on28914.9 governor28915.06 Healy's28915.46 house28915.78 128916.02 fiscal28916.34 year28916.74 2028917.06 2028917.3 628917.54 budget.28917.78 First,28918.74 I28919.06 really28919.22 wanna28919.46 thank28919.7 you28919.94 all28920.1 for28920.34 the28920.5 work28920.58 you28920.82 do28920.98 and28921.22 the28921.3 work28921.46 in28921.62 front28921.86 of28922.1 you.28922.18 We28922.9 recognize28923.06 these28923.54 are28923.78 very28923.94 uncertain28924.18 and28924.58 challenging28924.82 times.28925.38 The28926.49 Mass28926.57 PACE28926.81 Association28927.21 represents28927.77 the28928.17 828928.33 programs28928.65 of28929.13 all28929.29 inclusive28929.45 care28929.93 for28930.17 the28930.33 elderly28930.49 in28930.81 Massachusetts.28930.97 For28932.41 3028932.65 years,28932.97 PACE28933.29 has28933.61 served28933.77 nursing28934.09 home28934.57 eligible28934.81 adults28935.37 with28936.17 90%28936.49 of28937.13 PACE28937.37 consumers28937.61 receiving28938.25 services28938.73 in28939.37 the28939.53 community,28939.69 at28940.59 home,28940.83 and28941.47 in28941.63 senior28941.87 living28942.19 and28942.75 senior28942.99 housing,28943.31 assisted28943.71 living.28944.19 Yesterday,28945.87 we28946.35 heard28946.51 from28946.75 Secretary28946.91 Walsh28947.39 and28947.71 Assistant28947.95 Secretary28948.35 Levine28948.83 describing28949.79 the28950.27 rising28950.59 number28950.91 of28951.15 older28951.23 adults28951.47 and28951.79 individuals28951.95 with28952.51 complex28952.75 needs28953.15 and28953.47 the28953.71 shared28953.79 goal28954.11 to28954.35 keep28954.51 them28954.67 home.28954.91 These28955.78 are28956.1 the28956.18 people28956.26 that28956.66 PACE28956.82 serves.28957.06 Every28958.02 PACE28958.34 program28958.66 has28958.98 operated28959.14 for28959.54 at28959.7 least28959.78 1028959.94 years28960.18 and28960.74 is28961.06 deeply28961.14 rooted28961.46 in28961.78 their28961.94 communities.28962.18 The28963.3 comprehensive28963.54 list28964.1 of28964.26 services28964.42 they28964.9 provide28965.06 from28965.3 medical28965.54 to28965.86 social28966.1 services28966.5 make28966.98 it28967.14 possible28967.3 for28967.62 individuals28967.86 to28968.42 live28968.5 safely28968.74 and28969.14 happily28969.3 in28969.7 their28969.86 homes28970.02 and28970.26 communities.28970.42 Further,28971.77 PACE28972.09 programs28972.41 serve28972.81 working28973.05 caregivers28973.45 to28974.17 try28974.33 to28974.57 keep28974.65 their28974.89 loved28975.05 ones28975.29 home.28975.53 However,28976.65 today,28977.45 I28977.77 must28977.93 express28978.17 my28978.57 concern28978.81 for28979.13 the28979.29 financial28979.45 stability28979.93 of28980.81 the28980.97 PACE28981.13 programs.28981.53 And28982.33 because28982.57 of28982.81 this,28982.97 on28983.21 behalf28983.37 of28983.69 the28983.85 PACE28983.93 programs,28984.34 I'm28984.74 requesting28984.98 a28985.46 $9,000,00028985.62 rate28986.5 increase28986.74 in28987.46 line28987.7 item28988.02 4Thousand-six0128988.42 in28990.66 FY28990.98 2628991.38 to28992.58 be28992.74 shared28992.82 across28993.14 the28993.46 programs.28993.62 The28994.74 current28994.9 rates28995.22 included28995.62 in28996.02 house28996.18 128996.42 leave28996.66 the28996.9 programs28996.98 and28997.46 in28997.62 turn28997.78 consumers28997.94 vulnerable.28998.5 PACE28999.9 programs29000.22 are29000.54 an29000.7 integrated29000.94 program29001.42 and29002.38 are29002.54 administered29002.78 through29003.26 MassHealth29003.5 and29004.06 function29004.3 through29004.7 a29004.94 full29005.1 risk29005.34 capitated29005.82 payment29006.38 model29006.78 with29007.34 rates29007.58 determined29007.98 by29008.54 the29008.7 agency,29008.94 every29010.38 year.29010.7 This29013.09 year,29013.41 the29014.37 rates,29014.53 have29015.33 been29015.57 determined29015.73 for29016.13 2025,29016.29 but29017.25 they29017.49 remain29017.65 inadequate,29018.05 leading29018.77 most29019.09 of29019.33 the29019.41 programs29019.57 to29020.05 operate29020.21 in29020.53 a29020.61 deficit.29020.77 729021.81 programs29022.13 are29022.61 currently29022.77 running29023.17 a29023.41 loss29023.57 and29023.81 129024.13 program29024.37 has29024.85 already29025.01 been29025.33 forced29025.49 to29025.81 lay29025.89 off29026.13 staff.29026.37 PACE29027.35 lost29027.75 over29027.99 $37,000,00029028.23 across29029.51 the29029.83 829029.91 programs29030.15 in29030.47 FY29030.71 '2429031.11 and29031.83 $10,000,00029032.15 in29032.79 FY29032.87 2529033.27 Q1.29033.83 It29035.19 is29035.35 anticipated29035.51 the29036.15 program29036.31 losses29036.63 for29037.03 calendar29037.19 year29037.59 '2529037.83 will29038.71 be29038.95 greater29039.11 than29039.43 2024.29039.67 Even29040.55 with29040.87 a29041.03 $9,000,00029041.11 increase,29041.99 the29042.63 the29042.81 programs29042.89 will29043.21 experience29043.61 a29044.01 deficit.29044.09 These29045.37 deficits29045.69 stem29046.17 from29046.41 an29046.65 increased29046.73 cost29047.13 not29047.45 fully29047.69 accounted29048.01 for29048.57 in29049.05 the29049.21 rate29049.45 setting29050.01 process,29050.41 the29051.61 rise29051.85 in29052.09 medical29052.33 needs29052.65 and29052.97 utilization29053.13 post29053.85 COVID,29054.17 high29054.81 inflation,29055.05 including29055.61 medical29056.25 inflation,29056.73 and29057.68 investments29057.92 into29058.4 the29058.64 new29058.8 sites.29059.04 This29060.56 is29060.64 the29060.8 first29060.88 time29061.12 in29061.36 3029061.52 years29061.84 PACE29062.08 programs29062.4 have29062.72 approached29062.96 the29063.28 legislature29063.44 to,29064.16 support29064.88 them29065.2 in29065.36 the29065.44 rate29065.6 setting29065.92 process29066.24 due29066.96 to29067.12 their29067.28 concern29067.92 for29068.32 losing29068.48 any29068.88 programs.29069.04 Based29070.28 on29070.52 the29070.6 current29070.76 rates,29071.08 it's29071.32 estimated29071.56 that29071.96 the29072.12 PACE29072.28 program29072.6 will29073 assist29073.16 the29073.48 Commonwealth29073.64 in29074.2 avoiding29074.36 $51,000,00029074.92 in29076.44 expenditures29076.68 for29077.64 CY29077.88 '2529078.28 by29079.24 making29079.4 it29079.72 possible29079.88 for29080.28 consumers29080.52 to29080.92 avoid29081.08 nursing29081.4 home29081.8 care.29082.04 The29082.65 additional29082.89 allocation29083.37 will29083.93 just29084.09 help29084.33 the29084.57 programs,29084.73 con29085.85 continue29086.33 to29086.73 function,29086.89 and29088.09 save29088.49 and29088.89 continue29089.13 to29089.45 save29089.69 the29090.01 money29090.17 for29090.65 the29090.89 state.29091.05 This29092.73 is29092.89 essential29093.05 services29093.61 for29094.09 rising29094.25 number29094.65 of29094.89 older29095.05 adults.29095.29 And29095.85 we29096.01 thank29096.17 you29096.41 for29096.49 your29096.65 time29096.81 and29097.05 consideration.29097.13
29098.3 SPEAKER229098.3 -29098.3 Thank29098.3 you29098.54 very29098.62 much.29098.94 Any29099.34 questions?29099.66 No.29101.18 Have29101.98 a29102.14 good29102.22 night.29102.46
29103.5 SPEAKER429103.5 -29103.5 Thank29103.5 you29103.66 so29103.82 much.29103.98
29105.1 SPEAKER229105.1 -29105.1 Christine29105.1 Tati29106.06 Tosti?29107.1
29110.4 SPEAKER529110.4 -29110.4 Hi.29110.4 That's29110.64 me.29111.12 That29113.12 is29113.68 my29114.08 service29114.4 dog29114.88 in29115.44 training,29115.6 David29116.16 Bowie,29116.48 underneath29117.6 the29118.16 David29118.24 Bowie29118.56 poster.29118.96
29121.76 I29121.76 am29121.92 here29122.16 today29122.56 to29122.88 talk29123.15 about29123.31 Massability29123.63 and29124.43 my29124.75 experience29125.07 going29125.63 through29125.95 the29126.27 disability29126.99 determination29127.71 service29128.43 that29129.47 commissioner29129.79 Wolf29130.27 was29130.59 talking29130.75 about29131.07 with29131.31 you29131.47 all.29131.71
29135.33 So29135.33 how29136.13 that29136.45 how29137.09 that29137.33 process29137.65 works29138.13 is29138.69 that,29138.85 medical29139.89 consultants29140.45 that29141.17 Mass29141.33 Ability29141.57 hires29142.13 reviews29143.41 medical29143.89 documentation29144.29 and29145.89 then29146.05 determines29146.37 which29146.93 of29147.17 us,29147.33 should29148.13 be29148.37 eligible29148.53 for29149.09 SSDI.29149.33
29152.33 Even29152.33 with29152.73 all29152.89 the29153.13 medical29153.29 records29153.61 from29154.01 my29154.17 doctors29154.41 and29154.73 therapists29154.97 saying29155.45 that29155.69 I29155.85 couldn't29155.93 work29156.25 full29156.49 time,29156.73 129158.01 of29158.17 Massability's29158.33 medical29159.29 examiner29159.85 director29160.49 people,29160.89
29163.61 wrote29163.61 that29164.01 I29164.49 can't29164.73 work29165.05 in29165.29 my29165.45 past29165.69 capacity29166.6 and29167.4 that29167.64 I29167.96 can29168.12 only29168.36 now29168.76 work29170.12 at29170.68 unskilled29171.08 jobs29171.64 unskilled29172.36 and29173.48 I29173.8 can29173.96 only29174.12 work29174.36 at29174.6 unskilled29174.76 jobs29175.24 full29175.72 time.29175.96 So,29177.48 they29177.72 denied29177.88 me29178.36 disability29178.68 benefits.29179.32 And29180.76 if29182.93 I29183.17 was29183.33 impressionable29183.65 and29184.69 believed29185.17 that,29185.57 believed29186.05 that29186.53 as29187.41 a29187.65 college29187.81 educated29188.29 person,29188.77 I29189.25 can29189.41 only29189.57 do29189.89 unskilled29190.13 work,29190.69 you29191.81 know,29191.97 I29192.37 just29192.53 I29193.49 can29193.65 do29193.81 skilled29194.05 work29194.37 part29194.69 time.29195.01 I29195.64 don't29195.88 become29196.12 unskilled29196.52 just29197.24 because29197.56 of29198.2 autism,29198.44 ADHD,29199.08 and29200.2 post29200.36 traumatic29200.6 stress29201.08 disorder.29201.4 I'm29202.52 there's29203.24 no29203.56 unskilled29203.88 job.29204.44 So29205.72 that29205.88 was29206.12 the29206.6 process.29206.76 A29208.06 highly29208.22 paid29209.02 consultant29209.42 from29210.14 Massability29210.38 denied29211.82 my29212.22 claim29212.38 for29212.86 disability.29213.26 And29214.38 had29214.62 I29214.78 not29214.94 appealed,29215.18 I29216.06 wouldn't29216.3 have29216.62 my29216.86 dog.29217.1 I29218.22 wouldn't29218.38 have29218.78 had29219.18 back29219.58 pain.29219.9
29222.9 But29222.9 even29223.14 through29223.38 getting29223.54 approved29224.26 for29224.9 social29225.38 security,29225.7 my29228.02 problems29228.26 with29228.66 have29228.82 not29229.78 stopped29230.1 for29230.42 629230.66 years29230.9 straight.29231.22
29233.94 It29233.94 only29234.18 recently29234.5 did29234.98 I29235.14 get29235.22 evaluated29235.46 for29236.02 assistive29236.26 technology.29236.74 Years29238.63 ago,29238.87 they29239.19 told29239.43 me29239.59 that29239.75 I29239.99 don't29240.07 need29240.31 a29240.47 service29240.63 job29241.03 to29241.27 work.29241.51 I29242.31 appeal29242.63 to29243.03 that.29243.11 So29243.91 this29244.15 is29244.31 actually29244.47 an29244.79 agency29244.95 that29245.43 is29245.51 creating29245.75 a29246.23 ton29246.31 of29246.47 barriers29246.71 for29247.19 people29247.43 to29247.75 access29247.99 assistive29249.11 tech,29249.59 to29250.23 access29250.39 service29250.87 jobs,29251.27 and29251.59 are29251.83 telling29252.07 disabled29253.47 people29253.87 what29254.19 they29254.35 do29254.59 and29254.75 do29254.83 not29254.99 need.29255.23 Commissioner29257.63 Wolf29258.11 does29258.43 not29258.59 represent29258.83 me29259.39 or29259.71 my29259.87 needs.29260.11 Massability29260.75 social29261.47 media29261.87 does29262.35 not29262.51 represent29262.67 me29263.15 or29263.39 my29263.55 needs.29263.79 And29264.67 I29264.99 would29265.15 just29265.23 caution29266.13 you29266.45 all29266.69 to29266.93 be29267.09 very29267.33 aware29267.65 of29268.13 performative29268.45 allyship29269.41 and29270.77 to29271.09 make29271.33 sure29271.57 that29271.81 people29272.05 who29272.29 actually29272.53 experience29273.01 these29273.49 processes29273.73 are29275.01 here29275.17 and29275.41 tell29275.65 you29275.81 about29275.97 how29276.37 degrading29276.61 they29277.09 are.29277.25 You29279.19 know,29279.35 having29279.59 counseling29279.99 through29280.47 them,29280.63 it's29281.11 it29281.99 feels29282.23 like29282.55 someone29282.79 gaslighting29283.11 me29283.75 out29283.99 of29284.23 my29284.31 abilities.29284.55 It's29285.35 so29285.67 degrading.29285.99 It's29286.55 not29286.95 acceptable.29287.19 And29287.99 I29288.95 wouldn't29289.11 be29289.43 here29289.59 in29289.83 front29289.99 of29290.23 all29290.39 of29290.55 you29290.63 without29290.79 my29291.11 dog.29291.35 Thank29292.15 you.29292.39
29294.53 SPEAKER229294.53 -29294.53 Oh,29294.53 we're29294.77 glad29294.93 that29295.33 you29295.49 have29295.65 that29295.89 dog.29296.05 And,29296.53 we29297.81 truly29298.05 were29298.45 hearing29298.69 you.29299.01 Thank29299.41 you29299.65 for29299.81 your29300.05 testimony.29300.29
29303.81 Have29303.81 a29304.05 good29304.13 night.29304.37 Rebecca29305.17 Miller?29305.57
29309.75 SPEAKER629309.75 -29309.75 Good29309.75 evening.29310.07 Can29310.47 you29310.63 hear29310.71 me?29310.87
29312.23 SPEAKER229312.23 -29312.23 Yes.29312.23
29313.67 SPEAKER629313.67 -29313.67 Great.29313.67 Thank29314.55 you,29314.79 Chair29315.11 Diggs29315.35 and29315.67 Chair29315.83 Paianna29316.07 for29316.55 hosting29317.11 this29317.51 incredibly29317.75 long29318.23 hearing.29318.55 I29318.87 appreciate29319.03 all29319.51 of29319.67 the29319.75 work29319.83 and29320.07 the29320.31 folks29320.39 still29320.71 in29320.87 the29321.03 room29321.11 in29321.65 the29321.81 State29321.97 House29322.21 and29322.53 just29322.77 the29323.01 warmth29323.17 and29323.49 care29323.65 that29323.89 you've29324.05 shown29324.21 for29324.53 each29324.61 person29324.77 that's29325.09 testifying29325.33 and29325.73 hasn't29325.81 gone29326.13 unnoticed.29326.29 My29327.81 name29327.97 is29328.05 Rebecca29328.21 Miller.29328.61 I'm29328.93 a29329.09 policy29329.25 director29329.57 at29329.81 the29329.89 Massachusetts29330.05 Food29330.53 System29330.77 Collaborative29331.09 and29331.57 I'm29331.73 here29331.89 to29332.13 just29332.21 make29332.61 a29332.85 put29333.01 a29333.17 big29333.25 plus29333.49 129333.73 next29334.34 to29334.66 everything29334.74 Shannon29335.14 and29335.7 Kelly29335.86 Hickey29336.1 just29336.42 said29336.58 about29336.82 the29336.9 Healthy29336.98 Incentives29337.3 Program29337.7 line29338.1 item29338.34 4,40029338.66 dash29339.46 1,00429339.7 and29341.14 its29341.3 need29341.54 for29341.78 full29342.02 funding29342.26 in29342.58 fiscal29342.66 year29343.06 2629343.22 of29343.78 $25,000,00029344.02 as29345.94 you29346.1 heard29346.26 earlier29346.5 today,29346.82 the29347.22 program29347.38 faced29347.86 a29348.18 50%29348.34 cut29348.35 to29348.35 the29348.36 monthly29348.37 benefit29348.37 cap29348.38 starting29348.38 in29348.39 December29348.39 which29348.4 has29348.41 resulted29348.41 in29348.42 a29348.5
29360.51 farm29360.51 that29360.75 operates29360.99 over29361.47 the29361.55 winter29361.63 compared29362.03 to29362.43 the29362.59 same29362.67 time29362.91 in29363.31 the29363.47 previous29363.55 year.29364.03 For29365.37 example,29365.61 in29366.01 Worcester29366.33 at29366.89 the29367.13 Regional29367.21 Environmental29367.61 Council's29368.01 mobile29368.49 markets,29368.73 the29369.21 first29369.37 week29369.61 with29370.01 the29370.25 reduction,29370.41 they29370.89 purchased29371.13 $6,40029371.61 worth29372.57 of29372.73 produce29372.89 to29373.21 sell29373.29 on29373.53 mobile29373.69 markets29373.93 and29374.17 sold29374.41 $3,60029374.65 with29376.25 a29376.41 loss29376.49 of29376.73 $2,800.29376.89 Their29378.48 average29378.64 weekly29378.96 sales29379.36 prior29379.68 to29379.92 the29380.08 hip29380.24 cut29380.48 was29380.72 $8,86829381.04 for29383.36 this29383.52 fiscal29383.68 year,29384 so29384.24 this29384.4 was29384.56 a29384.8 59%29385.04 drop29386 in29386.32 sales29386.48 in29386.8 129386.88 week.29387.12 They29387.84 saw29388.08 a29388.32 64%29388.56 reduction29389.44 in29389.84 weekly29390 transaction29390.32 numbers,29390.88 And29391.77 staff29392.01 have29392.25 been29392.41 reporting29392.57 that29392.89 they29393.05 do29393.13 not29393.29 see29393.37 any29393.53 customers29393.77 making29394.25 purchases29394.57 above29394.89 $20.29395.29 So29395.85 folks29396.01 are29396.33 really29396.49 sticking29396.81 to29397.13 that29397.29 limit,29397.61 that29398.09 new29398.33 monthly29398.49 cap29398.81 that29399.05 folks29399.29 have.29399.53 At29400.65 the29400.81 same29400.97 time,29401.21 folks29401.53 with29401.85 SNAP29402.09 benefits29402.33 are29403.13 seeing29403.37 that29403.61 new29403.77 monthly29403.93 cap29404.33 and29404.49 are29404.73 choosing29404.81 not29405.21 to29405.37 go29405.53 to29405.61 farmers29405.77 markets.29406.17 A29407.25 SNAP29407.41 recipient29407.65 from29408.05 New29408.21 Bedford29408.37 said29408.69 the29408.93 cap29409.09 was29409.25 frustrating.29409.49 Now29409.97 we29410.13 don't29410.29 get29410.45 fresh29410.61 food29410.85 anymore.29411.09 Getting29411.57 out29411.81 to29411.89 a29412.05 farmers29412.21 market29412.53 is29412.77 a29412.93 struggle29413.01 since29413.33 I'm29413.57 disabled,29413.73 so29414.13 it's29414.29 not29414.45 worth29414.61 it29414.85 to29414.93 meet29415.01 the29415.25 low29415.33 amount.29415.57 We29416.77 also29416.93 see29417.25 an29417.41 increasing29417.57 number29418.05 of29418.45 seniors29418.61 still29419.09 using29419.33 the29419.57 program.29419.65 Some29420.05 seniors29420.29 get29420.69 SNAP29420.99 and29421.15 they29421.31 get29421.39 as29421.47 little29421.71 as29421.95 $2329422.03 a29422.75 month.29422.83 So29423.07 every29423.31 dollar29423.55 really29423.87 counts,29424.19 and29424.43 they're29424.59 really29424.83 making29424.99 an29425.23 effort29425.39 to29425.71 still29425.79 get29426.75 every29426.99 dollar29427.23 they29427.47 can29427.63 towards29427.87 a29428.19 healthy29428.27 diet.29428.59 This29430.43 is29430.59 the29430.67 longest29430.83 cut29431.15 the29431.39 program29431.47 has29431.79 ever29431.95 faced29432.11 since29432.27 it29432.51 was29432.59 started29432.75 in29432.99 2017.29433.15 It's29433.79 just29433.95 been29434.19 incredibly29434.25 frustrating.29434.32 So29434.39 the29434.45 need29434.52 to29434.59 restate29434.65 the29434.72 caps29434.79 that29434.85 were,29434.92 you29434.99 know,29435.16 frustrating.29435.5 So29435.66 the29435.82 need29436.06 to29437.18 restate29437.42 the29437.98 caps29438.22 that29438.62 were29438.78 up29439.42 until29439.5 November29439.82 of29440.46 2029440.54 2429440.78 is29441.74 really29441.9 important.29442.14 We29443.1 have29443.26 farmers29443.42 that29443.74 are29443.9 starting29444.14 to29444.46 meet29444.54 with29444.7 bankruptcy29444.86 lawyers29445.34 that29445.74 are29445.9 really29446.06 questioning29446.78 whether29447.18 they're29447.5 gonna29447.58 they're29447.74 gonna29447.9 make29448.06 it29448.3 to29448.38 the29448.46 next29448.54 fiscal29448.86 year.29449.1 So29449.42 I29449.74 know29449.82 you're29449.98 facing29450.14 a29450.54 ton29450.62 of29450.78 really29451.48 important29451.72 issues29451.96 as29452.28 you've29452.44 heard29452.6 today.29452.84 We're29453.56 also29453.88 facing29454.04 a29454.36 number29454.52 of29454.76 cuts29454.92 to29455.32 programs29455.48 that29455.88 were29455.96 funded29456.12 by29456.36 the29456.52 federal29456.68 government29457 and29457.32 USDA29457.48 that29457.96 are29458.2 frankly29458.6 pretty29459.08 devastating29459.24 to29459.8 local29459.88 agriculture29460.28 and29460.68 to29460.84 someone29460.92 who's29461.24 worked29461.4 in29461.64 this29461.8 area29461.96 for29462.28 the29462.44 past29462.52 729462.76 years.29463 So29464.44 I29464.6 just29464.76 really29464.92 respectfully29465.16 urge29465.64 you29465.88 to29466.12 support29466.36 HIP.29466.68 I29467 appreciate29467.24 Senator29467.72 Paiano's29468.04 kind29469.08 words29469.32 earlier29469.64 to29470.04 the29470.12 Hickey29470.2 sisters29470.6 and29471.16 just29471.64 appreciate29471.88 your29472.28 time.29472.52 Thank29472.76 you.29473 And29473.16 I'll29473.32 be29473.48 following29473.56 up29473.88 with29474.04 our29474.2 current29474.44 comments29474.76 as29475.24 well.29475.32
29476.59 SPEAKER329476.59 -29476.59 Thank29476.59 thank29476.91 you,29477.07 miss29477.39 Miller,29477.63 and29478.11 and29478.35 thank29478.51 you29478.67 for29478.91 your29479.07 advocacy.29479.31 I29479.79 think,29479.95 you29480.11 know,29480.19 so29480.43 I29480.51 I29480.67 worked29480.83 food29481.15 stamps,29481.47 some29482.51 time29482.67 ago.29482.91 And29483.79 129484.11 of29484.35 the29484.51 hardest29484.91 things29485.39 for29485.71 me29485.95 was29486.27 when29486.67 129486.99 of29487.23 my,29487.39 clients29488.75 was29489.63 an29489.87 elderly29490.03 individual,29490.59 and29491.64 I29491.8 had29491.96 to29492.44 give,29492.6 I29493.56 think29493.72 it29493.88 was,29494.04 you29494.2 know,29494.36 close29494.52 to29494.76 $30,29494.92 at29496.2 the29496.36 time,29496.52 of29498.36 food29498.52 stamps.29498.76 You29499.08 know,29499.16 the29499.32 question,29499.56 especially29499.88 if29500.36 they29500.44 were29500.6 new29500.84 to29501.08 food29501.24 stamps,29501.56 was29501.88 like,29502.04 what29502.36 could29502.6 I29502.76 do29502.92 with29503.08 $30?29503.24 So29505.32 super29507.71 key,29508.11 program,29509.39 especially29509.95 for29510.43 for29510.67 a29510.91 community29510.99 that29511.95 is29512.43 so,29513.47 in29514.43 need29514.67 and29514.99 sometimes29515.23 is29515.79 really29515.95 easily,29516.19 for29517.15 them29517.39 to29518.03 be29518.19 missed29518.43 out29518.67 by29518.91 others,29519.15 especially29519.55 if29519.95 they29520.11 don't29520.19 have,29520.43 connect29521.54 family29522.26 members29522.74 or29523.22 other,29523.46 deep29524.26 connections29524.58 or29525.06 access29525.3 to29525.78 resources29526.02 or29526.58 where29526.74 people29526.9 stop29527.14 by29527.46 and29527.86 make29528.1 sure29528.34 that29528.5 there's,29528.66 food29529.14 on29529.38 their29529.46 fridge.29529.7 So29530.02 thank29530.34 you29530.58 for29530.82 speaking29531.06 out29531.38 on29531.62 that.29531.78
29533 SPEAKER629533 -29533 Thank29533 you29533.16 so29533.32 much29533.4 for29533.64 your29533.8 work.29533.96 Appreciate29534.28 it.29534.68
29535.32 SPEAKER329535.32 -29535.32 Thank29535.32 you.29535.48 Have29535.72 a29535.96 good29536.04 night.29536.2 Thank29536.44 you29536.6 for29536.76 staying29536.92 with29537.08 us.29537.24 Alright,29538.44 members.29538.84 So29539.24 we29540.04 have29540.28 several29540.84 people,29541.48 signed29542.68 up.29543 Probably29543.24 there's29543.64 around,29543.96 like,29544.2 4029544.44 people29544.84 signed29545.08 up,29545.32 but29546.14 they29546.22 are29546.62 neither29546.94 here29547.66 in29548.06 person29548.22 or,29548.7 online29549.9 with29550.38 us.29550.54 We've29551.1 we've29551.5 checked29551.82 and29552.62 double29553.18 checked.29553.5 So29554.22 I29554.78 think29554.94 we29555.18 can29555.34 safely29555.66 say29556.22 that,29557.1 this29558.06 meeting29558.3 is29558.7 coming29558.86 to29559.26 a29559.42 close.29559.58 I29560.24 wanna29560.32 thank29560.64 all29560.88 of29561.12 you29561.28 for,29561.6 being29562.56 here29562.88 throughout29563.28 the,29563.84 the29564.4 the29564.64 whole,29564.8 day.29565.52 I29566.56 think29566.72 a29567.04 great29567.2 opportunity29567.52 for29568.24 our29568.56 our29568.72 community29569.36 members29570.16 to29570.56 come29570.72 speak29570.96 to29571.2 us.29571.28
29572.94 SPEAKER229572.94 -29572.94 Yes.29572.94 I29573.1 concur.29573.34 I29573.98 I29574.22 wanna29574.3 thank29574.62 everybody29575.18 here29575.66 and29575.98 our,29576.7 our29577.74 team.29578.06 You29579.58 know,29579.74 it29579.82 was29579.9 a29580.06 pleasure29580.14 working29580.46 with29580.7 you.29580.86 And,29581.5 thanks.29582.3 You29582.7 guys29582.86 have29583.1 a29583.26 great29583.34 night.29583.58
29583.98 SPEAKER329583.98 -29583.98 Thank29583.98 you.29584.3 Good29584.78 day.29585.02 Alright.29585.58