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MID YEAR REVIEW JULY 2019 ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE

WHAT'S INSIDE

Message from Annissa PAGE 1 Improving our Schools PAGE 2 Education Hearing Reports PAGE 3 Prioritizing our Most Annissa meets athletes from her alma mater before delivering opening pitch for the All Star Softball Game. Vulnerable Residents Message from Annissa PAGE 4 Dear neighbor, Preventing Improper As your At-Large City Councilor, Chair of the Committee on Sharps Disposal Education, and Chair of the Committee on Homelessness, PAGE 5 Mental Health & Recovery, serving the people of Boston continues to be my greatest honor. Budget Review FY20 PAGE 6 In this newsletter, you will find a summary of my work over the first half of this year -- including two of my proudest Collobarating for a accomplishments on the Council: making sure we have a Better Boston full-time nurse in every Boston Public School and PAGE 7 organizing the first ever citywide Needle Take Back Day in Boston. You will also find a review of upcoming policy We Cover the City initiatives for the second half of 2019. All of my work PAGE 8 reflects my overarching priority on the Council -- making sure our government is responsive to concerns of all Boston CONTACT residents.

MY OFFICE! If you would like me to share my work on City Council with you and your neighbors, parent group or others, please (617) 635-4376 email my office. I am happy to meet with small groups of interested residents across the City. @[email protected]

@AnnissaForBos

@ANNISSAFORBOSTON CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION | JULY 2019 PAGE 5 Improving As the first Boston Public School teacher to serve as Chair of the Committee on Education, Annissa's leadership on the Council is distinguished by a lifelong commitment to public education. With four boys attending Boston Public Schools, putting the students and families directly at the center of the decision making process is the driving force of her agenda on the City Council. After hosting a series of Education Town Halls, Annissa started the year committed to addressing our community's top concerns about education. Through the six hearings she sponsored, the eight hearings she has Chaired in the Education Committee, and the nine budget hearings for BPS, Councilor Essaibi-George is the leading advocate for improving school-based supports, creating healthy school environments, supporting student athletes, and maintaining accountability for families, teachers, and students. Welcoming our New Superintendent: Education Hearings Sponsored by Annissa Dr. Brenda Casselius 1.Implementing BPS Policy Requiring Minimum One Full-Time Nurse & One Full-Time Social Emotional Specialist 2.Analyzing Safety & Security Measures in Boston Public Schools 3.Maintaining Transparency for Phase 2 of BuildBPS 4.Reviewing Funding & Admissions Policy for Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Councilor Essaibi-George hosts breakfast to introduce the new Superintendent to the City 5.Improving Management of Individualized Council This school year has seen both turmoil and triumph. Protests rocked Education Plans (IEP) for students our School Committee meetings. Our teachers worked without a 6.Preventing Costs Overruns in the BPS contract as the community took to the streets in support of their Transportation Budget mission. 7.Reforming Maximum Age Policy

8.Reviewing Governance Structure of The sudden departure of the former superintendent followed by an interim appointment, along with announcements of grade Boston School Committee reconfigurations, school closures, and budget uncertainties caused many BPS families to feel like there was nobody at the helm of this ship, and that nobody listened to or cared about their concerns. This year has underscored for me the importance of bringing all voices to the table in a non-adversarial setting. For too long, BPS leadership has felt the need to defend itself from school advocates.

With the appointment of Dr. Brenda Cassellius as Superintendent, the BPS community looks forward to leadership that reaches out to them and wants to hear from them. A new school leader in place establishes an opportunity to implement the long-term systemic changes needed to provide our kids with the rigorous and fulfilling education they deserve. Repairing relationships with the school community is essential, and I will do everything in my power to help.

As I look ahead to September, my focus is on three things: honesty, transparency, and access. Our BPS community is smart, informed, and dedicated. Going forward, we should be making decisions together, working together for the best outcomes for all our students. Public education is the cornerstone of democracy. We invented it here in Boston. Let’s make BPS a point of pride for every Bostonian, and a Annissa & Cub Scouts from the Mather Elementary shining example for the rest of the country. School in Dorchester.

ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE | BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE PAGE 2 CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION | JULY 2019 PAGE 5 Education Hearing Reports

BuildBPS: In order to hold BPS School Safety and Security Full-Time Nurse: A former accountable to their mission of Measures: In addition to violence teacher and mother of four BPS transparency, Annissa held a hearing to related incidents, our schools are now students, Annissa believes that receive a progress report of Phase 2 on faced with the increase of improperly having at minimum, one full- BuildBPS. In addition to requesting a discarded needles due to the growing time nurse in every school clear financial plan, Annissa advocated opioid epidemic. Annissa held a should be a standard operating for a concrete plan to implement the hearing on School Safety and Security requirement in the funding for community’s recommendations, measures to ensure that each school our schools. Prior to the budget prioritizing renovations for Madison in BPS has the resources to enforce review, Annissa held a hearing to Park, providing updates on grade the district’s violence prevention advocate for BPS to implement reconfigurations, and prioritizing school strategies. The Councilor also policy requiring one full-time safety improvements. Annissa continues addressed bullying protocols, the to be a leading advocate for school nurse and one full-time social ability to lock all doors in buildings, communities throughout the BuildBPS emotional support specialist in process, most recently contributing to the impact of trauma, and every school. Joined by nurses, the successful 6th grade expansion of the communication channels to parents parents, and advocates, Annissa Thomas J Kenny school in Dorchester. during a lock down. held BPS accountable to the detrimental impact of having "When I think about BuildBPS, I think about part time nurses in 44 of our significant investments. schools. Annissa's consistent Schools should be safe, locks advocacy was successful during should work. With BuildBPS, this year’s contract negotiation there's an expectation that we're making a significant with the Boston Teachers Union. renovations. Not the things we just should be doing" Madison Park Technical Vocational Annissa at BUILDBPS Hearing High School(MPTVHS): In addition to her advocacy during the budget process and throughout BuildBPS, Councilor Essaibi-George held a Individualized Education Plans: On BPS FY'19 Transportation Budget: hearing on the admissions policy and April 2nd, Annissa held a Hearing to As Chair of Education, Annissa is funding changes for MPTVHS, co- review the policies for Individualized committed to making sure our sponsored by Councilors Janey and Education Plans (IEP) for students that students receive efficient, Wu. Her visits to several vocational require additional learning supports. equitable, and reliable technical schools outside of Boston Annissa held this hearing in response to transportation. Despite receiving a confirms the importance of having reports that students were denied third of the overall budget, BPS updated equipment and sufficient classroom space for vocational services required by their IEP, cases Transportation continues to education. In addition to expanding where IEPs were being modified to experience cost overruns. partnership opportunities, Annissa maintain compliance, and barriers to Annissa held her annual mid-year sponsored this hearing to proper inclusion. Her concerns were hearing to review the BPS FY'19 demonstrate the urgency of confirmed by almost two hours of public Transportation Budget to enforce significant capital investments to testimony from parents, teachers, and their promise to realize savings. renovate the facilities of MPTVHS. education advocates. Due to her After reviewing spending, Annissa Annissa remains committed to leadership, the BPS budget for next year co-sponsored a hearing with providing the students of the City’s includes a $577,000 investment to Councilor Edwards to review only vocational technical high increase personnel for conducting IEP systemic problems with school with a competitive and meetings and evaluations. transportation. rigorous learning experience. ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE | BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE PAGE 3 CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND RECOVERY | JULY 2019 Prioritizing our Most Vulnerable As Chair of the Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health & Recovery, Annissa is a strong champion for the most vulnerable residents in the City of Boston. Her policy priorities include increasing funding to support the 5,000 students experiencing homelessness in Boston Public Schools, preventing improper needle disposal, expanding access to mental health resources, challenging the stigma of addiction, opening the Long Island Recovery Campus, and expanding access to housing stability for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This year, Councilor Essaibi-George proudly filed a Sharps Ordinance to require pharmacies that sell needles to also provide needle collection. She also filed Ordinance to Establish a Mental Health Commission that will require city agencies to collaborate on strategies to address mental health needs of Boston residents. ROUNDTABLE REPORTS

Councilor Essaibi-George joined by Sec. Sudders, Commissioner Milka, and service providers for Mental Health Roundtable. Strong community partnerships are essential to building efficient policy to provide housing stability for individuals experiencing homelessness and to improve mental health resources. After the success of her roundtable series with family shelter providers, Councilor Essaibi-George expanded the series to include licensed mental health practitioners. Every month, Annissa holds a roundtable that alternates between family shelter providers and mental health providers to facilitate dialogue between key stakeholders and decision-makers in government.

Family Shelter Providers Mental Health Providers

Councilor Essaibi-George has established a strong Councilor Essaibi-George is committed to combating partnership with Boston's shelter providers through her the stigma of mental health that deters individuals from Roundtables. These meetings serve to identify gaps in seeking treatment. The mental health roundtables are an services for our homeless population, support the work of important first step to normalizing conversations about the shelter providers, and improve access to services for mental health and building public awareness about our families and individuals experiencing homelessness. available resources and services. The goal of this With the growing crisis of housing affordability, Boston roundtable is to collaborate on short and long term shelter providers continue to develop successful solutions for improving access to comprehensive & programs but lack the capacity and resources to affordable mental health services. accommodate the total demand for services. In May, Secretary of Health & Human Given the growth of our homeless population, there is an Services Marylou Sudders and Commissioner of the urgent need to increase our investment in shelter Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Joan providers. With 5,000 students in Boston Public Schools Mikula joined the roundtable to discuss statewide experiencing homelessness, expanding housing options initiatives to improve access to care. The next meeting for displaced families continues to be a top priority for will feature Senate President Karen Spilka. This Annissa's collaboration with shelter providers. This year’s collaboration has provided critical insight to the series included Bill McGonagle, the Administrator of the conditions of mental health care in Boston and guide the , and Catherine D’Amato, Councilor’s policy priorities to improve access to President & CEO Food Bank, two key treatment. Existing service gaps include insufficient policy makers who directly impact the success of our school-based providers, difficult licensing and shelter providers. Councilor Essaibi-George and credentialing process, disparity of insurance roundtable participants are planning a Family Forum and reimbursements for mental health, and inadequate are preparing policy recommendations for Mayor Walsh professional development for providers with cultural, and Governor Baker. ethnic, language, and racial diversity.

ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE | BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE PAGE 4 CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND RECOVERY | JULY 2019

Preventing Sharps Litter: Annissa at Harbor Health Needle Take Back Day Community On April 25th, Councilor Essaibi-George organized the City of Health Center Boston’s first ever Needle Take Back Day in partnership with for a Site Visit Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, the Boston on Needle Take Public Health Commission (BPHC), the BU School of Public Health, Back Day. the BU School of Public Health Activist Lab, the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services, and the Grayken Center for Addiction at Boston Medical Center.

In addition to the residents that use syringes for medical purposes, Expanding Access to the rising opioid crisis in Boston increases the necessity of expanding access to safe and free needle disposal. With the Mobile Safe Disposal Sharps Team and the BPHC collecting upwards of 700,000 In May, Councilor Essaibi-George refiled her needles over this past year, the growing volume of used sharps Sharps Ordinance to Require Pharmacies to creates an urgent need to increase the locations for safe needle Provide Sharps Disposal. Given that disposal. With only twelve permanent locations that offer safe pharmacies distribute and profit from the sale needle disposal, Boston lacks sufficient collection sites to meet the of needles, it makes sense that they also provide volume of disposal needs. safe disposal options. The Sharps Disposal

Needle Take Back Day opened 18 additional safe drop-off sites at Ordinance will result in over 100 collection community health centers in every Boston neighborhood. locations for safe disposal across Boston. In Throughout the day, the majority of the needles collected had been addition to expanding the number of collection used for medical treatments and came from patients that were sites, the ordinance will also require pharmacies either unable to afford the high cost of disposal or unable to access to educate consumers about safe needle the small number drop-off sites in Boston. disposal, share their information on their inventory of sharps with the City, and will The success of Needle Take Back Day serves as concrete evidence direct revenue from any collected fines to the that the disparity between the number of locations to purchase Mayor’s Office of Recovery Services. sharps and the number of locations to safely dispose of them is a Councilor Essaibi-George is confident that leading factor of the growth of improperly discarded sharps. More connecting distribution of sharps to disposal is importantly, it proves that increasing the number of locations for essential to preventing improperly discarded safe disposal makes a direct and immediate needles in our city. impact to prevent sharps litter.

Hearings Sponsored by Annissa Essaibi-George 1.Reviewing Results of the Annual Homeless Census 2.Examining Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources in Boston 3.Working Session to Combat the Opioid Crisis 4.Implementing City Ordinance for Sharps Disposal Annissa stops by Fenway Neighborhood Health 5.Establishing a Independent Mental Health Commission Center for a site visit on Needle Take Back Day.

ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE | BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE PAGE 5 BUDGET REVIEW FY20| JULY 2019 BUDGET REVIEW FY2020 The budget review process is the most important function of our . The investments and spending allocations in the budget serve as a roadmap to the priorities of our City. During the budget cycle, City Councilors are responsible for reviewing the Mayor's budget proposal through public hearings with City Departments. Consistent with the past three budget cycles, Councilor Essaibi-George is an active participant in the Council budget process. In addition to maintaining fiscal responsibility, these hearings provide a forum to guarantee that the City is responsive to the needs of our residents. With a $3.48 billion budget proposal, it is critical that we are being financially responsible, adequately investing in resources to support our residents and realizing opportunities for savings.

Councilor Essaibi-George questions BPS leadership team during Education hearing

BUDGET ACCOMPLISHMENTS Full-time Nurse: In addition to sponsoring a hearing in April, Council Essaibi-George has advocated for having a full-time nurse in every school as a standard operating requirement in the Boston Public Schools at each budget cycle since being elected to the Council. Annissa was proud that this year's contract with the Boston Teachers Union was amended to fund a full time nurse in every school and 23 additional behavioral health specialists. Until sufficiently budgeted, she will continue to advocate for one nurse and one social emotional support professional in every school.

Measles Letter: In light of growing concerns about infectious diseases, Annissa sent a letter to the Boston Public Health Commission requesting clarification on the status of infectious diseases and immunizations in preparation for their initial budget hearing. With the recent incidents of mumps at the Otis School in and tuberculosis at UMASS Boston, Annissa’s letter provided BPHC with a series of questions, confirming that our residents and our kids are properly protected against potential exposure.

Crash Analyst: Councilor Essaibi-George is proud that the Mayor’s resubmitted budget for FY'20 includes funding to hire a full time crash analyst position. Since last year’s budget cycle, Annissa has advocated for this investment during the budget review for Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and (BPD). Inter-department collaboration is critical to address areas with high crash rates and take appropriate action necessary to make sure our streets are safe for pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists. This investment is an important accomplishment for the public safety of our City.

Menstrual Equity in BPS: This year, the budget will invest $100,000 to provide menstrual products in BPS. During her budget preparation with students and teachers, Annissa learned that menstrual products were funded through the medical supplies budget for nurses, limiting their ability to ensure access to menstrual products. After questioning this policy during the budget hearing for BPS Students Support services, Annissa was further dismayed to learn that the majority of high school buildings lacked a single dispensary. In the work to build supportive and healthy school environments, this investment represents progress to reduce the impact of racial and socioeconomic disparities for our girls.

Expansion to the Forensics Unit: The new Massachusetts Crime bill includes different standards for processing forensics during an investigation. During the budget review for Boston Police Department (BPD), Councilor Essaibi-George expressed her concerns that these new standards required additional capacity and personnel to adjust to the new state regulations. After confirmation from Commissioner Gross, Annissa reaffirmed her continued advocacy to fund a capital investment into a new crime lab and an increase in personnel to ensure that BPD can satisfy those standards. Councilor Essaibi-George was proud that the Mayor's resubmitted budget increases funding in BPD to hire additional positions in the Forensics Unit.

ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE | BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE PAGE 6 GOVERNMENT IS A TEAM SPORT | JULY 2019 PAGE 5 Improving Quality of Life for Boston Residents As a lifelong Boston resident, Councilor Essaibi-George’s policy agenda is shaped by her overarching priority of improving the quality of life for all residents in every neighborhood of Boston. Her work in the Council extends far beyond the two committees she chairs to also to tackle quality of life issues related to affordable housing, elder protection, public safety, public health, and public transportation. As one of your At-Large City Councilors, Annissa is defined by her responsiveness to the most pressing issues facing her constituents. 1.Maintaining Patron Safety in Nightlife Settings Policy Initiatives 2.Reviewing North South Rail Link Proposal to Improve Transportation. 3.Restricting E-Cigarette Sales, co-sponsor with Councilor O’Malley. 4.Implementing Parking Reform to Reduce Traffic Congestion and Driving Conditions for Boston residents, co-sponsor with Councilor Edwards. 5.Examining Reconstruction Plans for the Long Island Bridge and Reopen Service Facilities, co- sponsor with Councilor Campbell. 6.Working Session Regarding Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreements with the City of Boston, co- sponsor with Councilor Edwards. 7.Improving Workspace and Live-Workspace Of Artists in the City of Boston, co-sponsor with Councilor O’Malley and Councilor Janey. 8.Veteran Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Improving Awareness of and Access to Mental Health Care Services for Veterans, co-sponsor with Councilor Garrison.

"It falls on us to address a culture of violence against women, and most importantly, to educate our community on how to hold our men, and our nighttime venues accountable to assuring the safety & protection of all our residents, but especially our women."- Councilor Essaibi-George [Photo by Kate Marshall, WGBH]

Government is a Team Sport: Collaborating for a Better Boston Annissa is guided by the principle that Government is Team Sport, a hashtag she uses to describe her approach to getting things done. This phrase also serves to celebrate the hardworking people outside the Council that contribute to making Boston a diverse and thriving City. Read below for her efforts to acknowledge to her partners in government throughout the City. #GovernmentIsATeamSport Supporting State Partners Resolution Recognizing Pine Street Inn Outreach Team, the only nightime Delivered public testimony for the PROMISE outreach team for the homeless population of Boston. ACT to improve public education funding Resolution Recognizing February 6th as National Girls and Women in formula. Co-sponsored Resolution in Support of the Sports Day, celebrating the athletic achievements of girls and young PROMISE Act with Councilor O'Malley women. Filed a Resolution to Support the Behavioral Resolution Recognizing February 10th as Winter Walk Day, a campaign to Health Coverage Transparency raise awareness and funds to end homelessness. Act introduced in Congress by Senator Resolution Recognizing March 17th-March 23rd as National Safe Place Elizabeth Warren and Representative Joe Week, a national outreach and prevention program to serve at-risk youth Kennedy III to ensure access to affordable that operates a network of 15 sites in Boston. behavioral healthcare Resolution recognizing May 19th-May 25th as Emergency Services Week, Provided public testimony in support of Breakfast After the Bell filed by Senator celebrating EMS practitioners of Boston. DiDomenico, Rep. Vega and Rep. Vargas Resolution Recognizing June as Immigrant Heritage Month, celebrating the diverse immigrant populations in our City and their contributions to Boston’s neighborhoods, economy, and its vibrant diversity. ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE | BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE PAGE 7 WE COVER THE CITY | JULY2019 WE COVER THE CITY As the former Civic Association President of the Columbia Civic Association, Annissa is distinguished by her office outreach to neighborhood associations and civic groups throughout the City. Here are some of the civic meetings our team has been to in the last 6 months. Want us to visit you? Let us know! #WeCoverTheCity Port Norfolk Neighborhood Readville Neighborhood Roxbury Path Forward Association Association Highland Park Neighborhood Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Hyde Park Neighborhood Council Association Association Lower Mills Civic Association Ashmont Hill Civic Association Civic Association Cedar Grove Civic Association Orient Heights Neighborhood Brighton Allston Improvement Charlestown Mothers Association Association Association Andrew Square Civic Edgewater Civic Association Blackstone/Franklin Square Association Colorado St Civic Association Neighborhood Association St. Vincent’s Civic Association South End Forum Mission Hill Neighborhood Ashmont Adams Civic Dorchester Coalition for Safe Association Association Neighborhoods Greater Belgrade Avenue Neighborhood Greater Neighborhood Neighborhood Association. Association Council United South End Settlements West Roxbury Civic Jones Hill Civic Association Roxbury United Neighborhood Improvement Association River St Neighborhood McCormack Civic Association Fairmont Hill Neighborhood Association City Point Neighborhood Association Friends of Ronan Park Association Fort Point Neighborhood North End Neighborhood Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association Council Association Pope's Hill Neighborhood North End Waterfront Eagle Hill Neighborhood Association WOW Coalition Association MEET TEAM ANNISSA

Jessica Rodriguez Karen Foley: Malaika Lucien: Chief of Staff Scheduling & Constituent Director Director of Communications

As Chief of Staff, Jessica is Karen is responsible for Malaika joined the office in responsible for coordinating organizing the office's February to serve as Annissa's hearings Chaired by Annissa, operations, managing Annissa's Communications Director. In supervising policy initiatives, schedule, and working to her new role, she is and maintaining relationships resolve constituent cases. She responsible for sending out with other Council offices. also is the point person for the office newsletters, media She also serves as the policy Zoning Board and attends each relations, and keeping point person for the meetings to represent the Annissa's constituents up to Education Committee work. Councilor and advocate on date with the office. Daughter As a homeowner in Hyde behalf of constituents. In of Haitian immigrants from Park, she is the liaison for that addition to her native Hyde Park, Malaika also serves neighborhood, West Roxbury, neighborhood of , as the liaison for parts of and . Karen covers Dorchester, East Dorchester, Mattapan, and Boston, and Charlestown. Roxbury.

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

ANNISSA ESSAIBI-GEORGE | BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE PAGE 8