Committee Report - PHPS - 9-18-19 — File 208933

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 1 of 5 Printed 9/24/2019 September 18, 2019 REPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Jesse Clingan Chair Present Stephanie Hirsch Vice Chair Absent Matthew McLaughlin Ward One City Councilor Present Mary Jo Rossetti City Councilor at Large Present Councilor Rossetti was appointed to this committee, for this meeting only, to effectuate a quorum. Others present: Mayor Curtatone, Annie Connor, Chief Fallon, Councilor-at-large Mbah, Councilor-at-large White, Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Scott, State Representatives Christine Barber, Denise Provost, Michael Connolly, State Senator Pat Jehlen, Wig Zamore and Tara Ten Eyck. The meeting was held in the Somerville High School Auditorium and was called to order at 6:10pm by Chairman Clingan and adjourned at 8:41 pm. This meeting was originally scheduled as a Committee of the Whole, but was changed to a regular Committee meeting due to the availability of the City Councilors. Approval of the May 29, 2019 Minutes RESULT: TABLED PUBLIC HEARING regarding airplane noise in Somerville 208683: That the Director of SPCD facilitate a community meeting about airplane noise and include information about how flight path decisions get made, what (if any) local leverage we have, and how different neighborhoods are currently or potentially affected by noise. The chair stated the Administration had asked for tonight’s public hearing meeting. Airplane noise has been a complaint for the last six years. The chair introduced the first presenter, Mr. Zamore who presented findings from a MIT report which are background slides. The information was about flight paths and Mr. Zamore stated the noise does not go straight down. Mr. Zamore slides are attached the minutes for more details.

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 2 of 5 Printed 9/24/2019 Tara Ten-Eyck a resident from the 33L working group did a brief presentation on airplane noises. She got together with members from Belmont, Arlington, Medford and Cambridge and discussed the noise from the airplanes. She met with someone from Logan Airport who stated that Logan is a 24 hour business. Please see attached presentation for more details. Councilor-at-large Rossetti talked about a previous meeting in June held in Cambridge with a professor of aviation mechanical engineering from MIT that showed three options. Additionally, the working group was to report back to the committee with a unified statement so that when the CAC met in October, there would be a unified message. State Representative Provost stated there had been a meeting with Watertown Representative Jonathan Heck who started 33L and better data is coming soon. The 33L requested more noise data and within 3-4 weeks, MIT will have much more data within a 10th of a mile. Other state representatives spoke and shared their concerns about the airplane noise. Below are comments from the approximately 20+ residents who share their thoughts about the airplane noise during the public hearing: • A resident moved here 5 years ago and unable to entertain due to the airplane noises. • There is jet exhaust that comes through their window. • There is serious public health issues and very stressful, especially for those who are working long hours. • The TV stations are scrambled every few minutes due to the airplanes flying overhead. • Massport is growing out of control and people are getting sick. • The house shakes when flights fly by their house. • A resident want to leave due to the noise from the airplanes. Also cannot hear people sitting 18 inches from you with the windows open. • Some residents complained of not being able to sleep at night. • There are true health concerns, such as: diabetes, asthma, and obesity and hearing impairment. • Unfair, overburdened people in certain areas. • Airplanes are so close; they can count the windows on the planes. • A resident uses an air conditioner to lessen the airplane noise. • State representatives should get funding to a solution on the noise pollution. • A new resident would like to start a family, but may move from Somerville due to the noise. There were written communications submitted that were read at tonight’s meeting and submitted for the record. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 3 of 5 Printed 9/24/2019 PUBLIC HEARING regarding the involvement of the Somerville Police Department in the recent Straight Pride Parade in Boston 208841: That the Chief of Police appear before this Council to answer questions regarding the COBRA Unit deployment on Aug 31 for Boston's "Straight Pride Parade", including whether the duty was part of a NEMLEC Mutual Aid Agreement or a voluntary overtime detail opportunity as well as the source of funding for same. The public hearing is for items 3-7 on the agenda. The hearing was called based upon a letter from 117 residents that were sent to the committee. There will a debriefing report available once Deputy Chief Carrabino returns from vacation. Mayor Curtatone thanked everyone for sharing the information. The information has been very powerful and along with concerns about the SPD’s involvement in providing aid. They stand against people who promote white supremacy. Chief Fallon talked about the purpose to protect public order. SPD’s goal is to treat everyone with respect and dignity and de-escalate the situation. Below are comments from public hearings. There were 20+ people at the public hearing to speak. Each speaker was given 2 minutes to speak at the podium. • Several at the public hearing were also at the Straight Pride parade. • Someone stood in line across from the SPD while the SPD threw candy at her head. • This was the worst protest in Boston. • A home owner, who is a transgender, went to the parade. Multiple officers pushed protestors. A Somerville police officer put her knee in a transgender’s back. • Money spent for SPD to go to parade should have been used in other ways. • Many at the protest were sprayed by the Police with pepper spray and arrested. • Questions were asked, “Who were the SPD there to protect?” • The protest was one of the scariest moments in their lives. • A resident demanded a full accounting of every income of those SPD who were there for public record. • A reference was made about the Carribean Parade that was shut down in Cambridge due to the incidents of violence in Boston. • It was stated that police grabbed and pushed people. No protestor was doing anything wrong. • Police randomly grabbed people. There were busses full of riot police force to attempt to intimidate the protestors. • A resident had just moved here from the West Coast and was shocked to see the police arresting the protestors. • A resident wants a thorough investigation into the Somerville Police department.

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 4 of 5 Printed 9/24/2019 • A resident stated this incident is not an isolated event and that Boston Police officers have been targeting homeless people. Also all charges against those arrested should be dropped. • A resident read off of a campaign list of those who donated funds to Somerville campaigns. Several were from the police department. Councilor-at-large Rossetti asked Chief Fallon about reviewing the videos about the incident. The chief is waiting for Deputy Chief Carrabino to return from vacation to review the matter, since he had charge of the duty and police officers. The report should be done within the next few weeks Councilor-at-large Rossetti motioned and it was accepted that Chief of Police report to the council the results of questions from today’s public hearing and from the council for October 24 full City Council meeting. Councilor McLaughlin stated that he really wished the police had bodycam’s right now. The bodycam would be a great addition to Boston and Somerville. He has faith that Boston’s new DA will be holding people accountable. Councilor-at-large asked Chief Fallon would be interviewing any of the folks that were there at the parade. Chief Fallon stated there is a complaint form on the city’s website. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 208842: That the Administration provide this Council with a copy of any signed NEMLEC Mutual Aid Agreement currently in effect. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 208843: That the Chief of Police or other representative of the Administration report to this Council at its September 12 meeting on the investigation into many allegations of the use of unnecessary force and provocative behavior by Somerville Police against counter- protesters at the Straight Pride Parade in Boston on Aug 31, and further, provide when completed, a written report of the findings of the investigation. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 208863: Police Chief requesting to brief this Council upon completion of the review of police actions at the Boston Straight Pride Parade. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 208884: 117 residents submitting comments re: the role of the Somerville Police in Boston's Straight Pride Parade on Aug 31. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE Handouts:

Public Health and Public Safety Committee Page 5 of 5 Printed 9/24/2019 • Public comments - Airplane Noise (with 208683) • Public comments - Parade (with 208841, 208842, 208843, 208863, 208884) • Comments (with 208683)