City Councilor Ed Flynn – End of the Year Report

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you and your families are staying safe and well during this Christmas and holiday season. As 2021 draws to a close, I am writing to provide you with a summary of the key areas of our work at the City Council this year: public health & vaccinations, pedestrian & public safety, housing & development, environment & resiliency, civil rights, and quality of life issues.

With a new surge of COVID-19 cases and the Omicron variant quickly becoming the dominant strain in the country, I will continue working closely with Public Health officials, local nonprofits and community partners to continue our efforts to encourage people to get vaccinated and to get their boosters to combat the virus. With holiday gatherings taking place soon, it is critical that everyone gets vaccinated, boosted, and rapid tested if possible before seeing family and loved ones. We know that vaccines are currently the most effective way of providing protection against COVID-19 and preventing serious complications, hospitalizations, and death. We have to work together as a City to do our part so that we do not overwhelm our first responders and healthcare providers during this wave.

I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, and a safe and happy holiday season.

Ed

Below are highlights of our work this year:

Public Health

• Refiled hearing to discuss the creation of a Frontline Workers COVID-19 Health Registry;

• Refiled hearing to discuss ways for the City to be more proactive in providing services, educating the public, and raising awareness for those infected with HIV/AIDS;

• Refiled and held a hearing to discuss large house parties and gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic;

• Sponsored and passed a resolution supporting our nurses and healthcare workers at the Boston VNA;

Quality of Life

• Refiled and held a hearing and working session to discuss pest control and illegal dumping;

• Refiled hearing to discuss updates on the status and enforcement of the Short Term Rentals Ordinance;

• Called and held hearing to discuss the proliferation of electronic billboards in the City of Boston;

• Called and held hearing to discuss increasing fines for large house parties disturbing neighbors’ quality of life;

Environment and Resiliency

• Called for hearing on the process for tree removals in the City of Boston;

• Called and held hearing to discuss investments in electric vehicle charging infrastructure & electrifying the City of Boston’s vehicle fleet;

Traffic and Public Safety

• Refiled and held a hearing to discuss safety of construction sites;

• Called and held a hearing to discuss water rescue infrastructure in the City of Boston;

• Refiled hearing to discuss establishing a traffic master plan for South Boston;

• Called for using the a portion of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill funding for the city to be dedicated to address pedestrian safety infrastructure needs;

Civil and Human Rights

• Refiled and held a hearing on internet access and digital equity;

• Called for a hearing to discuss ways for the City to prevent and investigate incidents of hate crimes and discrimination;

• Co-sponsored hearing to hearing on domestic violence and sexual assault in the City of Boston;

• Called and held hearing to discuss ways for the City to increase communication access for people with disabilities to public-facing televisions;

• Sponsored and passed resolution in support of H. 3115 “An Act Ensuring Equitable Representation in the Commonwealth”;

• Sponsored and passed resolution in support Of S.D.972 And H.D.1653 “An Act To Reform The Hate Crimes Statutes”;

Housing and Development

• Called and held hearing to discuss zoning and the community outreach process for life sciences laboratories in the City of Boston;

• Opposed projects unfavorable to abutters & neighborhood associations;

• Brought Inspectional Services to meet with concerned neighbors;

Social and Economic Justice

• Called for hearing to discuss renewal fees for restaurants and food establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic;

• Called and held a hearing to discuss the impact of CORI on access to employment and other opportunities;

• Called and held hearing and working session to discuss property taxes and assistance programs for seniors & long-term residents facing difficulties during COVID19;

• Co-sponsored and held a hearing regarding maximizing workforce development opportunities in biotechnology for Boston residents;

• Called for hearing to discuss renewal fees for restaurants and food establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic;

Veteran Affairs

• Called and held a hearing to hearing to discuss services for women veterans;

• Sponsored and passed a Resolution celebrating Always Ask, Proud to Tell Day;

• Sponsored and passed resolution commemorating Memorial Day and honoring those who made the supreme sacrifice for our country;

• Sponsored and passed resolution recognizing April As Month of The Military Child;

Other Actions

• Sponsored and passed a resolution in support of H.D.4120 “an Act Relative To The Educational Needs Of Students Whose Education Was Negatively Impacted By The Covid-19 Emergency”;

• Sponsored and passed resolution in Support Of S.D.1313, “An Act Relative To The Structure Of The Fiscal Management And Control Board”;

• Sponsored and passed resolution In Support Of H.D. 1167, “an Act Concerning Genocide Education” And S.D. 1592, “An Act Advancing And Promoting Genocide Education”.

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and  [email protected].