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Column of Mayor Thomas M. Menino Column of Mayor Thomas M. Menino Youth Opportunity Boston is a program that works. Over the past two and a half years, more than 2,500 young people from the Empowerment Zone have participated in the comprehensive career development programs offered by Youth Opportunity. I have long underscored the need for investing in people as a way to stimulate the economy. Through job training initiatives, like YO Boston, people are readied with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Recent studies show that a lack of a skilled workforce is one of the greatest challenges faced by employers in the region. Boston is taking an unprecedented approach to empowering our city's young people for their future in the workforce. Through YO Boston, young people are taking advantage of valuable programs ranging from interview training, resume building and other career development courses. More than 600 youth have been assisted in finding work, more than 300 have returned to school and attained a diploma or GED, and many of those graduates have enrolled in higher education programs. With this experience, young people will be better prepared to meet the needs of Boston's 21st century labor market. YO offers many programs, such as the Transitional Employment Program, which gives young people a chance to earn wages while serving the community and building the skills for private sector employment. I am proud that this program has become a national model. The professional Y.O. staff provides young people with the services they need to continue their education and succeed in careers. All of us know that when you reach out and give a young person an opportunity to learn and grow - it can literally change their lives. That's why I am glad that every day Y.O. staff members visit the Suffolk County House of Corrections. These dedicated staff members open a world of opportunity for young people who are returning to their communities. They are given the skills to stay on the right track. But more than that, they are given hope. We have accomplished so much together, but we've got so much more to do. Just as the need for these services is increasing, resources are being slashed. The Bush Administration has indicated that they will not fund Youth Opportunity programs in the upcoming Federal Budget. I want to thank everyone who works hard to make this program a
success. Let's continue to work together and invest in the future
of Boston's young people. Week of April 7, 2003 Earlier this week, I testified on Beacon Hill before the Local, State, and Federal Revenue Task Force. At the hearing, I outlined how the existing framework for raising local revenues is hurting the cities and towns of Massachusetts and the impact it's having upon residents who are struggling to muddle through this tough economy. Because this issue directly concerns you, the residents of Boston, I feel it is important to share my testimony with you. Over the past 30 to 60 days, I have made some of the toughest decisions of my career. Cutting programs and laying off workers might look good on paper, but I am well aware that each decision affects the lives of real people - and their families. That's why I am committed not just to balancing the budget, but also to striking a balance between the economic reality and our public responsibility. The budget that I will submit to the City Council later this week includes tough reductions. It continues the process of making Boston government more efficient. And it carefully invests some of our reserves. Yes, we have been forced to make tough decisions. But I am proud of the work that my Administration has done to maintain core services, even in these tough times. Today, let me talk about how we can work together to deal with cuts and keep our commitment to the people we serve. One thing we need to do is to reorganize the revenue structure in Massachusetts so that cities such as Boston have the power to tap their own resources. We are using a framework that is completely out of date. Otis White, a management consultant and columnist for Governing Magazine, recently wrote, "No place ties the hands of its biggest city the way Massachusetts does Boston." Let's get rid of these outdated revenue restraints that keep us locked into a "boom or bust" cycle. It's not fair. It's not good management. And it's not good public policy. During the last recession, I was on the City Council. At that time, I watched Boston lose $100 million dollars over three years. All we could do was wait out the bad economy. Everyone remembers those days of layoffs and stunted growth. They pale in comparison to what we face today. Already, $53 million was cut from this fiscal year - and that was after the city budget was enacted. According to our staff analysis, the reduction in aid is $65 million for the coming year. And if we have to cut to the level stated by the Ways and Means Chairs, cuts could exceed another $100 million. We cannot just stand by with our hands tied. I am already doing what it is in my power to do. We have undertaken management reforms, and we have reorganized human service agencies to be more efficient. We have implemented early retirement incentives. And in one year, we reduced the payroll by nearly 500 employees. We have re-financed our debt four times. City employees, from the Cabinet to administrative staff, have taken voluntary furlough days. And we expect to draw on our reserves, as necessary, to balance the '03 budget. But even with these efforts, we are still facing major layoffs and an acute reduction in services for the FY '04 budget. I am talking about closing schools, laying off teachers, and other difficult decisions that will be more apparent as the budget becomes public. This economic crisis is too serious to just "wait out." That's why I put before your Committee on Taxation a range of options to raise revenue and close loopholes. These proposals will allow cities and towns to derive revenue for their local economies. People know about the more high profile proposals like the 1 percent meals tax and the 50-cent entertainment tax. Last year, you sent the meals tax option to the Governor's desk, where it was vetoed. I hope our new Governor will be more responsive to the idea of local decision making. He asked for the power to make cuts, I am asking for the power to save services. We can also raise more revenue at the local level by closing tax and other loopholes that are draining resources for Boston and other impacted communities. We cannot have a system where some telecommunications companies pay taxes and some don't. Some parking facilities pay taxes and some don't. Some Massport-owned property, and MBTA property, pays taxes - and some don't. We need a system that is fair. We need a system that empowers cities
to raise new revenue and to collect the revenue that is rightfully
theirs. Let's take a comprehensive look at the way the state raises revenue, who pays, who doesn't pay and how we can bring more predictability and fairness to this process. The Hamill Commission was formed to deal with these same issues in terms of the state-local relationship. Many good recommendations were made, but few were adopted. I applaud the House and Senate for its commitment to pass a budget as soon as possible so that cities and towns are not left in the lurch. But after the budget is passed, let's take the opportunity to plan for our future stability by forming a group by July 1, 2003 to address the issues raised by the Hamill Commission. Mr. Chairman, thank you again. I look forward to working together
so that all of us emerge from this crisis stronger and better equipped
to build a future of lasting prosperity.
Boston's families got a big boost on Saturday with the opening
of the Boston Centers for Youth and Families site, located at the
Tobin Building, 1483 Tremont Street in Mission Hill.
I recently spent time with a group of international students from
the Glocal Youth Parliament who were visiting the United States
in preparation for the upcoming May conference in Rome. Their commitment
to making a difference, not only in their cities, but also in their
world, impressed me.
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