Annissa Essaibi George
Annissa Essaibi George was an at-large member of the Boston City Council in Massachusetts. She assumed office in 2016. She left office on January 3, 2022.
George ran for election for Mayor of Boston in Massachusetts. She lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.
Biography
Essaibi George grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. She received a bachelor's degree from Boston University and a master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Essaibi George was a teacher at East Boston High School for 13 years. She also opened a store called Stitch House in 2007. As of 2021, she was chair of the city council's Committee on Education.[1]
Elections
2021
See also: Mayoral election in Boston, Massachusetts (2021)
General election
General election for Mayor of Boston
Michelle Wu defeated Annissa Essaibi George in the general election for Mayor of Boston on November 2, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan)  | 64.0 | 91,794 |
 | Annissa Essaibi George (Nonpartisan) | 35.6 | 51,125 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 595 | ||
| Total votes: 143,514 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Boston
The following candidates ran in the primary for Mayor of Boston on September 14, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | 33.4 | 36,060 |
| ✔ | | Annissa Essaibi George (Nonpartisan) | 22.5 | 24,268 |
 | Andrea Campbell (Nonpartisan) | 19.7 | 21,299 | |
 | Kim Janey (Nonpartisan) | 19.5 | 21,047 | |
 | John Barros (Nonpartisan) | 3.2 | 3,459 | |
 | Robert Cappucci (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 1,185 | |
 | Jon Santiago (Nonpartisan) (Unofficially withdrew) | 0.3 | 368 | |
| Richard Spagnuolo (Nonpartisan) | 0.3 | 286 | ||
| Total votes: 107,972 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2019
See also: City elections in Boston, Massachusetts (2019)
General election
General election for Boston City Council At-large (4 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for Boston City Council At-large on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | 20.7 | 41,664 |
| ✔ | | Annissa Essaibi George (Nonpartisan) | 17.0 | 34,109 |
| ✔ |  | Michael Flaherty (Nonpartisan) | 16.6 | 33,284 |
| ✔ |  | Julia Mejia (Nonpartisan) | 11.2 | 22,492 |
 | Alejandra St. Guillen (Nonpartisan) | 11.2 | 22,491 | |
 | Erin Murphy (Nonpartisan) | 8.4 | 16,867 | |
 | Althea Garrison (Nonpartisan) | 8.1 | 16,189 | |
 | David Halbert (Nonpartisan) | 6.6 | 13,214 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 704 | ||
| Total votes: 201,014 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Boston City Council At-large (4 seats)
The following candidates ran in the primary for Boston City Council At-large on September 24, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michelle Wu (Nonpartisan) | 19.4 | 26,663 |
| ✔ | | Annissa Essaibi George (Nonpartisan) | 13.8 | 19,020 |
| ✔ | | Michael Flaherty (Nonpartisan) | 13.7 | 18,788 |
| ✔ | | Alejandra St. Guillen (Nonpartisan) | 8.7 | 11,929 |
| ✔ | | Julia Mejia (Nonpartisan) | 7.9 | 10,817 |
| ✔ | | Althea Garrison (Nonpartisan) | 7.1 | 9,737 |
| ✔ | | Erin Murphy (Nonpartisan) | 6.8 | 9,398 |
| ✔ | | David Halbert (Nonpartisan) | 4.8 | 6,547 |
| Martin Keogh (Nonpartisan) | 4.5 | 6,249 | ||
| Jeffrey Ross (Nonpartisan) | 3.7 | 5,084 | ||
| Priscilla Flint-Banks (Nonpartisan) | 3.0 | 4,103 | ||
 | Domingos DaRosa (Nonpartisan) | 2.1 | 2,843 | |
| Michel Denis (Nonpartisan) | 1.5 | 2,113 | ||
 | William King (Nonpartisan) | 1.3 | 1,811 | |
| Herb Alexander Lozano (Nonpartisan) | 1.1 | 1,511 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 767 | ||
| Total votes: 137,380 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2017
The city of Boston, Massachusetts, held elections for mayor and city council on November 7, 2017. A primary election occurred on September 26, 2017. All 13 seats on the city council were up for election. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 23, 2017.
The following candidates ran in the general election for four at-large seats on the Boston City Council.[2]
| Boston City Council, At-large General Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Michelle Wu Incumbent |
24.47% | 65,040 |
| Ayanna Pressley Incumbent |
21.64% | 57,520 |
| Michael Flaherty Incumbent |
19.44% | 51,673 |
| Annissa Essaibi George Incumbent |
17.14% | 45,564 |
| Althea Garrison | 6.87% | 18,253 |
| Domingos DaRosa | 4.38% | 11,647 |
| William King | 3.30% | 8,773 |
| Pat Payaso | 2.30% | 6,124 |
| Write-in votes | 0.46% | 1,230 |
| Total Votes | 265,824 | |
| Source: City of Boston, "Official At-Large Election Results," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
2015
The city of Boston, Massachusetts, held elections for city council on November 3, 2015. A primary election took place on September 8, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was May 19, 2015. All 13 city council seats were up for election. Annissa Essaibi George and incumbents Michael Flaherty, Ayanna Pressley, and Michelle Wu won the four at-large seats. Incumbent Stephen J. Murphy was defeated.[3][4]
| Boston City Council At-large, General election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Ayanna Pressley Incumbent |
24.2% | 31,783 |
| Michelle Wu Incumbent |
22.0% | 28,908 |
| Michael Flaherty Incumbent |
20.2% | 26,473 |
| Annissa Essaibi George |
17.9% | 23,447 |
| Stephen J. Murphy Incumbent | 14.9% | 19,546 |
| Write-in votes | 0.86% | 1,131 |
| Total Votes | 131,288 | |
| Source: City of Boston, "November 3, 2015 - Municipal Election," accessed December 7, 2015 | ||
Campaign themes
2021
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Annissa Essaibi George did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Essaibi George's campaign website stated the following.
| “ |
Policy & Platforms All of our policy plans have been informed and developed by local advocates, stakeholders, and most importantly, Boston residents who were gracious enough to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences at my town halls, through emails and phone calls, and even in line at the grocery store. These public policy plans are living, breathing documents that are never fully finished—and that’s how it should be. We welcome additional thoughts and feedback, and as your Mayor, Annissa will continue to ensure that you and every other resident in this city has a seat at the table. There’s a lot to do. Let’s do the hard work, together. Climate “From rising sea levels to flooding, air pollution to extreme temperatures, the evidence is clear: climate change is a threat to Boston’s people and neighborhoods.” As Mayor of Boston, Annissa will lead on climate action with a community-based approach to ensure each and every resident in every neighborhood has the opportunity to shape the policy and initiatives to tackle climate change and environmental injustice. Annissa knows that too many conversations surrounding climate policy neglected to address the real, everyday environmental injustices that disproportionately impact our communities of color and low-income communities. To do the work effectively, Annissa’s approach will begin with the frontline communities whose health and safety are most at risk. Annissa believes that the first step in Boston becoming a national leader on climate action is to start here at home. That means taking proactive steps in our communities, including: mitigating how air pollution affects residents living under flight paths, protecting our coastal neighborhoods from sea-level rise and flooding, improving public transit to encourage ridership and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and growing our tree canopy. As Mayor, Annissa will:
Economic Justice & Workers' Rights “Boston has the opportunity and responsibility to learn from our past, and not just rebuild our economy, but build a better economy that works for everyone.” As we look to recover from the pandemic, we have an opportunity to not only bounce back from the past year, but prioritize building an economy that works for everyone. Annissa firmly believes that the prosperity of our City’s economy goes hand in hand with achieving economic justice for every single resident. As Mayor she will fight back against economic inequality, close the racial wealth gap, and build an economy centering shared success and all of Boston’s hard working residents. For too long, our economy has neglected our residents of color. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, white households in Boston have a median net worth of $247,500, while Boston’s Black households have a median net worth of $8. Further, white households are more likely than nonwhite households to hold liquid assets, and are better equipped to handle unexpected financial setbacks. This must change. Boston has to be intentional in providing more pathways to homeownership and capital, increased access to education and workforce training, and build neighborhoods with reliable transportation options and core job centers. As Mayor, Annissa will: Establish a City of Boston Department of Economic Justice & Workers’ Rights
As Mayor, Annissa will: Tackle the Racial Wealth Gap The racial wealth gap in Boston is a product of a long history of systemic racism and inequities that have led to the inability of people of color to grow intergenerational wealth. As Mayor, Annissa will seek to minimize the racial wealth gap through the following multifaceted initiatives:
Invest in Workforce Development
Leverage City Services to Advance Economic Equity in Boston
Fight for Social Justice
Improve Access to Financial Services
WORKERS’ RIGHTS Annissa knows that when our workers succeed, Boston succeeds. As a former longtime Boston Teachers Union (BTU) member, she has lived the struggles of organized labor— members fighting day in and day out for simply a voice in the workplace. Boston’s thriving middle class is a direct result of the dedication and hard work of our strong unions that continue to fight for that voice. As Mayor, Annissa will be an advocate for workers’ rights by strengthening our City’s unions and collective bargaining rights to raise wages, increase benefits, maintain safe working conditions, and give labor a seat at the policymaking table. She is committed to advocating for and amplifying the voices of our unions in Boston and across the region. As Mayor, Annissa will: Support our Labor Unions and Expand Collective Bargaining Rights
Fight for Increased Wages, Fair Benefits and Safe Working Conditions
Education & Child Care “I am a former Boston Public Schools teacher at East Boston High School. It has made me a fierce advocate for access to a great education for all. But it also gave me a front row seat to the challenges that our families face day in and day out.” As Mayor, Annissa will use her experience as a Boston Public Schools teacher, a Boston Public Schools parent, a Boston Public Schools graduate, and current Chair of Boston City Council’s Committee on Education to ensure that every child has equal access to high quality schools and the necessary resources for lifelong success. She will rebuild trust with school communities by creating a transparent and responsive school system for Boston Public School (BPS) students, educators, and families. Under her leadership, every school will be a high quality school. Annissa believes that every kid deserves access to a great school, and with her lifelong dedication to the Boston Public Schools, she will provide the stable leadership our City needs to implement immediate operational reforms and to dismantle systemic barriers to equity. Today, the greatest challenge facing Boston Public Schools (BPS) is the lack of access to high quality schools for every student in each of our neighborhoods. The inconsistency in the quality of our schools is directly linked to declining enrollment, a widening opportunity and achievement gap, and a lack of trust in BPS to provide our kids with the education they deserve. Annissa will prioritize establishing equitable baseline standards and resources in every school, including ensuring that every school has appropriate staffing ratios for nurses and school psychologists, fighting for a budget for BPS that provides equitable funding across our schools, and creating a clear academic path for students by organizing the grade configuration system to become primarily a K-6/7-12 and K-8/9-12 system. As demonstrated by the rise of chronic absenteeism during the pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 on academic performance and on mental health must be a top priority in our schools. Annissa will address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our City’s students, with a particular focus on mitigating existing inequities that have been further exacerbated by the pandemic. In promoting safe, in-person instruction, academic supports, and social emotional programming, her administration will usher in a brighter future for our City’s students. Her commitment to transparency, reliance on data, and focus on stakeholder ownership and voice will ensure that all students get what they need to be successful. In order for students to succeed, they need a strong foundation of literacy in their early education. The failure to invest in early detection and intervention places children at a greater risk of dropping out, poor health, unemployment, and incarceration. With the disproportionate impact of this crisis on students of color and ELL students, strengthening literacy is essential to closing the opportunity and achievement gap. As Mayor, Annissa will be an advocate for every child, making sure that they have access to the educational opportunities and resources that they need to read. Investing in vocational and technical education will ensure our students are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities in our labor market. Annissa will prioritize improvements to Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and vocational programs in BPS to provide our students with a strong foundation for lifelong success and career readiness after graduation. As a graduate of Boston Tech, Annissa has firsthand experience with the benefits of technical training and believes that vocational education is an essential foundation to a well-rounded and rigorous academic experience. Annissa believes the City of Boston must invest in early education and care infrastructure, just as it does our roadways, health care, and parks because it is foundational to the developmental health and wellbeing of children and is ultimately the largest driver of lifetime outcomes. Annissa is committed to ensuring that Boston families have access to quality, universal early education and child care. To do this, she will not only be a fierce advocate for the proposed Common Start state legislation, but also leverage partnerships with workplaces, our schools, organizations, advocates, families, and current providers. Oftentimes, achievement gaps begin before our students enter the classroom. When our community-based providers, home providers and private providers receive the resources and support they need, our families and our City’s youngest thrive and succeed. While early education and child care in and of itself is great for the development of children, Annissa knows that it is also critical infrastructure for a thriving economy. Having adequate education centers and community providers gives an opportunity for women, who are often the primary caregivers, to enter or re-enter the workforce, while also benefiting family members that work non-traditional work hours. Annissa will also work to make it easier for small business owners to get licensed and start a provider service to support the City’s educators and reduce the seat gap in Boston. COVID-19: Lessons Learned and Building Something Better COVID-19 has exacerbated existing inequities in BPS while also creating unforeseen challenges in the BPS system. As demonstrated by the rise of chronic absenteeism during the pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 on academic performance and on mental health must be a top priority in our schools. As Mayor, Annissa will address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our City’s students, with a particular focus on mitigating existing inequities that have been further exacerbated by the pandemic. In promoting safe, in-person instruction, academic supports, and social emotional programming, her administration will usher in a brighter future for our City’s students. Her commitment to transparency, reliance on data, and focus on stakeholder ownership and voice will ensure that all students get what they need to be successful. She will:
Establishing Equitable Baseline Standards and Resources in Every School Closing the opportunity and achievement gap must begin with establishing equitable baseline standards and resources in every school. Today, BPS exists as a system of inequitable schools where families are forced to compete for a seat at a high quality school. Due to the extreme variations in the quality of learning opportunities, resources, and facilities, the school assignment process continues to exacerbate racial and socioeconomic disparities. These inequities have created a limited number of high quality schools, forcing families to leave the district entirely to provide their child with the education that they deserve. The major disparities within the quality of schools has created a system of stand-alone schools, instead of an equitable school district. Annissa believes that every school should be high quality. In order to achieve educational equity, she will ensure that every school is equipped with the baseline services and resources kids need to succeed. As Mayor, Annissa will:
High Quality Academics In BPS, the lack of district wide curriculum standards and equitable classroom resources continues to increase disparities between schools. Eliminating disparities in curriculum standards and classroom resources is a critical component of educational equity and making sure every school is high quality. Ensuring our students have access to a robust early education and elementary education curriculum is a critical foundation of a high quality education. In addition to rigorous academics, we must ensure access to enrichment opportunities for lifelong success including financial literacy, arts and music, athletics, CPR training, health and wellness, nutrition and cooking, and life skills classes. In order to achieve lasting and meaningful equity in all of our public schools, we must guarantee high quality academics programming in every school. As Mayor, Annissa will establish equity in BPS by reforming the district’s system of academics to:
Literacy Persistent declines in fourth grade MCAS reading scores and City divestment in school reading specialists speak to a growing literacy crisis within BPS. In order for students to succeed, they need a strong foundation of literacy. The failure to invest in early detection and intervention places children at a greater risk of dropping out, poor health, unemployment, and incarceration. With the disproportionate impact of this crisis on students of color and ELL students, strengthening literacy is essential to closing the opportunity and achievement gap. We must improve elementary grade literacy support in order to avoid cascading issues later in elementary, middle and high school. Strong literacy skills build a solid foundation for learning, growth and opportunities for future success. As Mayor, Annissa will be an advocate for every child, making sure that they have access to the educational opportunities and resources that they need to read. She will:
Vocational Education & Madison Park Technical Vocational High School While most communities across the Commonwealth have access to a first class vocational technical education, students in Boston do not get this opportunity. Vocational education is critical to providing a high quality education. The City of Boston has only one vocational technical high school: Madison Park Technical Vocational High School (Madison Park). Madison Park should be the gem of our public schools system, yet decades of underfunding has caused significant vacancies and declining conditions. In order to provide our students with a strong foundation for lifelong success and career readiness after graduation, we must prioritize improvements to Madison Park and vocational programs in BPS. Investing in vocational and technical education will ensure our students are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities in our labor market. As a graduate of Boston Technical High School (now the O’Bryant), Annissa has firsthand experience with the benefits of technical training and believes that vocational education is an essential foundation to a well-rounded and rigorous academic experience. As Boston moves forward with the economic recovery after the COVID19 pandemic, our greatest challenge will be to ensure our workforce is prepared for the changing demands of the labor market. As Mayor, Annissa will establish a direct pipeline from Madison Park Technical Vocational High School to the workforce opportunities in the City of Boston:
Health Equity, Behavioral Health and Social Emotional Wellness Given the considerable time children spend in the classroom, our schools play a critical role to respond to the health needs of our students. Addressing the impact of health disparities is a critical component to closing the opportunity and achievement gap. Combined with the impact of COVID-19, the demand for health services, behavioral health support and social emotional wellness programs in our schools has become a necessity. Without a strong system of school based health services and social emotional support, BPS will continue to experience low levels of academic achievement, especially among our high needs students. By making sure our kids are healthy, we provide them the freedom to learn and create a strong foundation for life-long success. As Mayor, Annissa will make health equity, behavioral health and social-emotional wellness a priority in our schools by implementing the following initiatives:
Supporting High Needs Students BPS is home to the largest population of high needs students in the Commonwealth, with approximately 76% of students classified as low-income, economically disadvantaged, ELL, or students with disabilities. We need to do more for our children, especially our most vulnerable, to ensure we are giving them the full range of resources and support they need to have an equal opportunity for success. As Mayor, Annissa will prioritize investments for our high needs students to ensure that every kid has access to the services and supports they need. She will:
Rebuilding Trust with School Communities In recent years, the absence of stable governance within BPS has fostered deep mistrust for BPS families and educators. The lack of consistent leadership, along with announcements of grade reconfigurations, school closures, and budget uncertainties, has caused many BPS families to sense a real management vacuum. Many families have felt that nobody was actually listening to their concerns. In addition, insufficient translation and communications services for ELL families continues to present a major barrier for BPS families. As Mayor, Annissa will lead in partnership with school communities to improve engagement with BPS families and rebuild trust with school communities. She will also build and strengthen relationships within our school community that start long before our children enter the classroom. She will:
BPS Facilities Reform Studies on the opportunity and achievement gap prove that the conditions of school facilities have a direct impact on student learning. In Boston, decades of disinvestment from the local, state, and federal government has created major deficiencies in the quality of our school buildings. With an aging infrastructure and 27 grade configurations, the conditions of BPS facilities have exacerbated inequities. Consequently, the BuildBPS facilities plan has focused on long overdue improvements instead of on the major renovations promised to families and school communities. In addition to access to modern facilities, creating a high quality learning environment requires a strong foundation of school safety. Studies have shown a direct correlation between school safety and lower attendance rates and higher rates of chronic absences. When it comes to safe school environments, it’s more than locks and training. In order to create a school community that is safe and welcoming, it is critical to expand mental health support, implement sensible gun laws, and address trauma caused by violence outside of school. Under Annissa’s administration, BPS will experience significantly improved enrollment as our schools will become much more student-centric, high quality, and reliable places to learn and grow. As Mayor, Annissa will ensure all students have access to high-quality sustainable buildings, safe learning environments, clean grounds, and healthy air and water quality. She will:
BPS Central Office As Mayor, Annissa will foster a culture of collaboration and transparency across the BPS community through open lines of communication with all BPS staff and the School Committee. Annissa believes that with every dollar the City spends, there needs to be a clear benefit to our students, so, as Mayor, she will:
School Committee Reform As a BPS parent and former teacher, Annissa understands the need for greater transparency in the decision making process in the governance structure of the Boston School Committee. The Boston School Committee must be designed to prioritize the stability for our children’s futures while also providing accountability for the decisions. In order for our kids to receive the best education, we must reject any opportunity for special interest and political agendas from influencing the direction of our schools. Changes to the School Committee governance structure are essential to promoting a productive and straightforward dynamic between BPS families and the School Committee. As Mayor, Annissa will commit to establishing an appointed governance structure with appointments from the Mayor and the Boston City Council. She will:
Exam and Admissions Schools Annissa supports continuing to have an entrance exam for our City’s three exams schools, but believes the test must change to more accurately reflect our students’ current curriculum. All our students must have an equal opportunity to succeed, especially in our City’s exam schools. Many of our Black and brown students have already been let down by our education system by the time they take the exam. We need to better set all of our students up for success from the moment they first step foot in a classroom—earlier even—long before they are thinking about taking an exam, and intentionally focus on providing opportunities for each and every student. These considerations will also be applied to discussions around any BPS school that has an admissions policy. Our City’s schools should reflect our City’s diversity. As Mayor, Annissa will:
Transportation Reform In Boston, the district’s transportation system continues to present a major barrier for children to access a high quality education. While the BPS transportation system represents 10% of the overall budget for BPS, our students continue to experience unreliable and inefficient services. The rising transportation costs reflect the ongoing failures of the school assignment process which forces BPS students to travel long distances to attend school. As Mayor, Annissa will:
College and Career Readiness Our responsibility to educate our students extends beyond ensuring they complete their coursework and graduate from BPS. It continues as they choose to enter college, choose a career, and grow into their communities. We need to ensure our curriculum teaches them the necessary skills through meaningful college and career readiness efforts. In the same way that math, science, arts and language courses are necessary for preparing our students for a successful college education and career, we need to invest the life skills that will allow our children to succeed in every facet of their lives. As Mayor, Annissa will:
BPS Athletics As an East Boston High School softball coach and a mother of four boys participating in BPS athletic programs, Annissa understands the true educational value of sports for our students. The skills needed to succeed are developed when our students participate in sports. Attributes like teamwork, dealing with adversity, a strong work ethic and dedication will help our students achieve their goals in the classroom and beyond. As Mayor, Annissa will work to ensure strong participation, equity, and safety in BPS athletic programs. She will:
Universal Child Care Boston has been a leader in offering quality education for years, but many families are suffering when they can’t afford high quality early education and child care for their children. This is an important developmental period of a child’s life because they are forming academic and social skills that prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. Every child in Boston should have the opportunity to enroll in and attend a quality early education and care program, so as Mayor, Annissa will work to increase public investment to provide universal child care to Boston, and in the process, she will prioritize Boston’s lower-income and high-need families’ access to early education. As Mayor, Annissa will:
Support our Early Educators In Boston, and across the Commonwealth, there is now a shortage of qualified educators to serve in the field, making it challenging for programs to return to full capacity post pandemic. The teacher shortage is largely driven by the salaries paid to early educators which average $30,000 a year, 37% below their peers in the public school system. There are limited opportunities for continuing education in the early education space and the City has witnessed a decline in university programs specifically designed for this field. Further, teachers with an advanced degree are encouraged to take a teaching job in a higher grade level, because the benefits and salary are significantly improved. Highly-skilled teachers are leaving the sector because the jobs are not paying enough, and as a result, our children are left without opportunities. There are also many administrative and financial barriers that prevent qualified and enthusiastic teachers from opening their own child care centers. With this in mind, Annissa will implement thoughtful reforms that our early education teachers need to build a long, successful career educating the children of Boston and earn a living, while continuing to offer high quality care to the families in our community. She will: Create an Early Education Advisory Board
Improve Educator Compensation and Benefits
Attract Enthusiastic and Qualified Educators
Build Capacity in High Quality Early Education
Address the Seat Gap and Improve Support for Families Long before our students enter the classroom, they are learning about the world and developing skills that will accompany them throughout childhood. This is why a quality early education and care is so important to our children, our families, and our City. Unfortunately, many families struggle finding a program for their children because there are not enough seats in the city for every child. There are 900 center, family, and school-based providers in Boston that offer 29,000 seats and, as of 2017, Boston had almost 41,000 children that were ages 0 to 5. This leaves us with 12,000 children that do not have an early education option. It is even more difficult to find care for families that are living in poverty, experiencing homelessness, and incarceration—which is the case for about 27% of children in the city. Further, families are struggling to pay for early education. Massachusetts is the most expensive childcare state in the country. The seat gap in Boston is currently experiencing an all-time high because of the pandemic and we are seeing a further decline in accessible seats for children. (Source: 2019 Annual Report – State of Early Education and Care in Boston) Boston’s child care supply crisis is further exacerbated due to COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic hit our City, there were 679 early education programs, and by mid-February 2021 that number dropped to 573 programs. In Massachusetts alone, 755 childcare centers had to close their doors in 2020, according to the Department of Early Education and Care. (Source: BOA 2020 Early Education & Care Brief- Boston’s Child-Care Supply Crisis: What a Pandemic Reveals) Annissa believes the City of Boston must invest in early education infrastructure as a public good, just as it does our roadways, health care, and parks. As Mayor, she will address this issue to ensure that every child in Boston has entry to an early education program that is high quality and accessible to all. Annissa will: Expand Funding Opportunities for Families
Improve Quality of Early Education
Increase Access to Early Education
Encourage Families to Enroll in Licensed Programs and Engage in Early Education Practices
Improve City Services and Funding The effects of quality early education touch every part of a community. By investing in these early stages of child development, Boston residents will reap the benefits for years to come. Children are more likely to graduate from high school, go on to earn degrees, and achieve their goals. High-quality early education is critical for family members because they are able to go to work, make a living and contribute to the City’s economy. It is a benefit that will incentivize families to move to Boston and build their homes, business, and livelihoods. It should be a top priority for the City of Boston to make the investment in the future of our children and Annissa will take the following steps to fulfill that promise: Address Issues of Funding
A Quick Note from Annissa This plan has been informed and developed by local advocates and stakeholders on my policy committees, and most importantly, Boston residents who were gracious enough to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences at my town halls, through emails and phone calls, and even in line at the grocery store. Thank you to all. My public policy plans are living, breathing documents that are never fully finished—and that’s how it should be. I welcome additional thoughts and feedback, and as your Mayor, will continue to ensure that you and every other resident in this city has a seat at the table. There’s a lot to do. Let’s do the hard work, together. To provide feedback, thoughts and ideas on this plan, initiatives or other public policy issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to policy@annissaforboston.com. Equity, Inclusion & Justice “I believe in a Boston that sees the inequities and everyday injustices and tackles them head on.” As Mayor of Boston, I will ensure that Boston is intentional in rooting out inequity and dismantling racism in our city–from education and housing, to climate and health care, and even how and when potholes are filled and sidewalks are fixed. As I stated when I first announced my candidacy, I believe in a Boston that sees the inequities and everyday injustices and tackles them head on. I will not shy away from the tough conversations and hard work that need to happen in order to build a better city for all who call Boston home. This process and plan underscores my commitment to be intentional in my words and actions to name and eradicate racism and discrimination in city business, policies, and initiatives, and be deliberate in ensuring that Black and brown, immigrant and refugee, women, working class, LGBTQIA+ and marginalized communities, as well as the voices of those aging and with disabilities, are heard and elevated. Make no mistake, I fully recognize that I will—and need to—be constantly learning in this space. Creating a more equitable, inclusive and just Boston will be a charge in which I will intentionally and deliberately work towards every day. That being said, to better understand the everyday, systemic barriers that are placed in front of our disenfranchised communities, I will choose to listen and learn from those who have the lived experiences to inform this fight. I will continue to build a diverse group of advisors to help educate and guide decisions. This plan is nowhere near finished. It will be a constant work in progress—as will I and my Administration—in building a better Boston for all. For all of those who have been living this fight and doing this work, thank you. I hope to amplify and build upon your work and your voices. For everyone else, I hope you join me. This will take all of us. If you would like to contribute to this plan, provide feedback, or have a conversation on how I can do better, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at equity@annissaforboston.com. Inclusive & Thoughtful Growth “Inclusive, thoughtful growth and master planning is what will build better, stronger, more resilient neighborhoods across our entire city.” As Mayor of Boston, Annissa will ensure that equity, transparency, and accountability are at the forefront of the conversation around planning and development. Development should not benefit a chosen few and push people out, instead Annissa believes we must leverage development to create better connected, mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods. By constructing more affordable housing, community space, green space, and job centers throughout our city, we use development to lift up all of Boston. Annissa will leverage the tools created by Boston’s building boom for public good—harnessing new development so that our communities reap the benefits. Annissa recognizes that the current development process has left many residents and communities behind. Creating more predictable processes and timelines better enables Bostonians to contribute to the stabilization, strengthening, and growth of their city. Annissa will listen and respond to residents’ voices during every step of the development process, understanding that development – and the development process – is not a one-size-fits all neighborhood system. Our residents should help drive the process of shaping their streets, their neighborhoods and their city.
As Mayor, Annissa will:
Housing & Homelessness “Boston’s residents are struggling to pay rent, our families can’t find or afford stable housing, and too many individuals are experiencing chronic homelessness. COVID-19 has only emphasized these realities, and their effects will last long after the pandemic.” HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS As Mayor, Annissa will make it possible for everyone to call Boston home. She will create better pathways to homeownership, relieve pressure in the market leading to higher rents, and build more affordable housing. Along with focusing on closing the wealth gap for Boston’s Black and brown residents, Annissa will prioritize establishing more connected neighborhoods by building affordable housing close to job centers, public transit, and green space. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the fragility of our housing market. As eviction moratoriums, mortgage forbearance programs, and stimulus funds end, we need to protect and to support at-risk populations and the housing stock they live in. To ensure a more equitable and stable future for all Bostonians, Annissa will take proactive measures to ensure housing stability through investments in foreclosure prevention programs to protect vulnerable tenants during this uncertain time. Annissa realizes the urgent need for housing that is affordable for all families in every neighborhood. Though recent years have seen important changes in terms of housing supply in the city, Annissa is committed to doing the necessary work to expand our housing supply to meet the constant needs and realities of Boston’s families. In the last seven years, we have successfully increased the housing supply in the City after decades of little growth. As of October 2019, over 30,000 residential units had been permitted, with approiximately 10,000 more units approved by Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) in 2020; however, Annissa realizes this is not enough. Recognizing that our city is growing, and that more and more people want to live here every day, Annissa will fight to remove the serious obstacles in achieving this dream not only for our future residents, but for our current residents too. She will leverage new development to create better connected, mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods to build better, stronger, more resilient neighborhoods across our entire city. Throughout her time on the City Council, and as the founder of the Boston City Council’s Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health and Recovery, Annissa has been a fierce champion for families experiencing homelessness. She has pledged to end family homelessness in Boston and will continue to fight for our children, families, veterans, older adults, and others experiencing housing instability as Mayor. She will prioritize prevention efforts, address and repair gaps in the service delivery system, coordinate and align resources across the continuum of care and make the housing search less burdensome for families in Boston. CREATING AN AFFORDABLE CITY FOR ALL WHO CALL BOSTON HOME Affordability and accessibility of both rental units and homes for sale is key for a thriving city. We need to ensure that everyone who wants to call Boston home has the opportunity, option and a pathway to ownership to do so. We must start by building more housing and ensuring what we build is actually affordable for Boston’s residents. Our housing stock must also be a reflection of the needs of our residents. While Annissa is committed to increasing affordability across the board, her main focus is to create housing for the many residents and families that don’t qualify for subsidized housing, but still cannot afford to pay market rate. This large gap is giving low to middle income families no choice but to leave the city. We need affordable, multi-bedroom housing for our families and we need to push developers to build it. Alongside building with our families in mind, Boston also needs congregate housing, artists’ live and work space, workforce housing, and senior housing, including housing for those who identify as LGBTQIA+ or older residents with disabilities. As Mayor, Annissa is committed to increasing homeownership in the City, with a particular focus on improving access for historically underserved communities. Annissa will break cycles of systemic racism and to aid in building generational wealth and pathways to homeownership for marginalized populations in Boston. Since the housing crash of 2008, Boston has lost ground in creating homeownership opportunities; this reality is exacerbated by race, as the City has one of the largest racial homeownership gaps in the country. In order to increase long term stability in our housing market, it is important to create more permanent pathways to homeownership and to the generational wealth that comes from owning a home. In order to address the affordable housing crisis and the racial wealth gap, we need to make sure our investments in affordable rental units and homeownership units are aligned. Many of the residents in our City-funded rental units are paying about 70 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), which equates to $1,400 a month for a one bedroom unit. In many instances, that would equate to a monthly mortgage payment, so we must ensure that homeownership is accessible and residents are aware of the City tools and resources that are at their disposal when exploring housing options. As Mayor, Annissa will: Increase our housing supply to ensure it reflects the realities of Boston’s residents; and develop and expand tools and resources to keep and make existing housing affordable
Create better pathways to homeownership, especially for Boston’s historically underserved populations and communities She will:
Leverage development to benefit residents and our neighborhoods Annissa will:
MAKING THE PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING PROCESSES OF HOUSING MORE ACCESSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT For our city to grow and thrive, we need to leverage new development to create better connected, mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhoods. Inclusive, thoughtful growth and master planning is what will build better, stronger, more resilient neighborhoods across our entire city. Annissa recognizes that the current development process has left many residents and communities behind. She will listen and respond to residents’ voices during every step of the development process, understanding that development – and the process behind it – is not a one-size-fits all system. Our residents should help drive the process of shaping their streets, their neighborhoods and their city. The City of Boston’s planning, development and building processes must be more accessible and transparent to ensure that any growth or change lifts up our neighborhoods and its people. Annissa will prioritize planning that addresses the needs and wants of Boston’s specific neighborhoods and communities, while also carrying out an overall, cohesive city-wide vision for growth. From conducting more thorough outreach to neighborhoods ahead of community meetings, to making our development and zoning processes more consistent and predictable, to creating a planning office separate from the BPDA, Annissa is determined to make the City’s processes more streamlined, understandable, and inclusive. As Mayor, Annissa will:
ENSURE HOUSING STABILITY THROUGH EXPANDING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FIGHTING AGAINST DISPLACEMENT AND DISCRIMINATION Annissa is committed to crafting intentional and mindful approaches to managing the impact of COVID-19 on housing access in Boston. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the fragility of our housing market. As eviction moratoriums, mortgage forbearance programs, and stimulus funds end, we need to protect and to support at-risk populations and the housing stock they live in. To ensure a more equitable and stable future for all Bostonians, Annissa will take proactive measures to ensure housing stability through investments in foreclosure prevention programs to protect vulnerable tenants during this uncertain time. She will also evaluate existing affordable housing developments, including the Boston Housing Authority, to make sure their eviction prevention programs are adequate and reflective of the challenging reality of today. Annissa will approach policy solutions with a mind towards equity and stability for all Bostonians. To better assist and support our city’s tenants, we need to expand and strengthen the City of Boston’s Office of Housing Stability and its programming and take proactive measures to ensure housing stability for all in Boston. As Mayor, Annissa will
Reorganize and enhance the City of Boston’s Fair Housing Commission
Support our Aging Residents and their ability to age in their communities Annissa realizes the importance of giving our aging residents the option to age in community. More must be done to encourage the creation of more senior-specific housing and ensure that those who have made Boston their home can stay here. Boston’s older residents are often forced to give up their longstanding social ties to communities as a result of a lack of financial access. Our neighborhoods are made better by their presence, and we must support residents to age in the community they call home by creating more secure and accessible affordable housing options, including housing for older residents who identify as LGBTQIA+ or older residents with disabilities. As Mayor, Annissa will:
HOMELESSNESS END HOMELESSNESS IN BOSTON As Mayor, Annissa will continue to build upon her work on the City Council to end homelessness for Boston’s veterans, youth and young adults, older adults, and families. As the founder of the Boston City Council’s Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health, and Recovery, Annissa has a deep understanding of the reality of homelessness in our city, and she is dedicated to finding substantive and meaningful long-term solutions for Boston’s residents and families. Given her deep commitment and her experience-based understanding of the importance of access to stable and safe housing in shaping the futures of families, Annissa is uniquely well-suited to address the ongoing family housing crisis in Boston. In particular, she understands the impact of housing instability on children’s well-being and is determined to ensure that children have consistent housing so that they can thrive, educationally, emotionally, and socially. She will: Prioritize prevention to catch residents at risk of homelessness before they become homeless
Aggressively address systemic breakdowns in our service delivery system for children and families experiencing homelessness
Resource realignment
Make the housing search easier and more accessible
A Quick Note from Annissa This plan has been informed and developed by local advocates and stakeholders on my policy committees, and most importantly, Boston residents who were gracious enough to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences at my town halls, through emails and phone calls, and even in line at the grocery store. Thank you to all. My public policy plans are living, breathing documents that are never fully finished—and that’s how it should be. I welcome additional thoughts and feedback, and as your Mayor, will continue to ensure that you and every other resident in this city has a seat at the table. There’s a lot to do. Let’s do the hard work, together. To provide feedback, thoughts and ideas on this plan, initiatives or other public policy issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to policy@annissaforboston.com. Public Health “And while Boston is an incredible place to call home, COVID has shone a bright light on our shortcomings and disparities.” Annissa’s plan for a healthier Boston is one that increases access to care, but also tackles the inequities that determine our health outcomes. From air quality to access to healthy foods, gun violence to maternal health, open green space to reliable transportation options, these all—and much more—contribute to the health of our city and its residents. By utilizing our leading Community Health Center infrastructure and hospitals, advocating for mental health access, getting every Boston resident a primary care provider and improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods, Annissa will fight day after day to ensure every resident in Boston is safe, happy and healthy. Annissa’s public health plan is centered around the community health care model. Throughout her time on the Boston City Council and as the longest serving Board member of her neighborhood health center, the Dorchester House Health Center, Annissa knows the critical role Community Health Centers (CHCs) play in the health of Boston. In addition to providing primary care, CHCs provide comprehensive community services to address food insecurity, housing instability, behavioral health, immigration support, and other social determinants of health. Because along with a lack of coverage and care for too many, there are persistent racial inequities that plague our systems and everyday lives in this city–all leading to disparate health outcomes dependent on race, ethnicity, gender, and the neighborhood in which you live. As community led institutions, CHCs are uniquely positioned to combat these, provide culturally competent care, and improve the health of all Bostonians. As our city copes with the devastation and loss of the COVID-19 pandemic, Annissa believes a true mental and behavioral health crisis is imminent and that we must be prepared to combat it. Having always recognized that mental health and recovery services are an integral part of keeping Boston’s families healthy, she has long been a leader in the fight for greater access to mental and behavioral health services. Annissa will prioritize access to mental and behavioral health services for all, improve school-based services, combat stigma, increase availability of treatment options across the recovery spectrum, decentralize recovery services, continue to expand on the regional response to the opioid crisis, as well as reopen and reimagine the Long Island Recovery Campus. The Boston Public Health Commission is the oldest health department in the United States and Annissa believes that it should be a proud asset of the City of Boston. The Commission’s goal is to make recommendations that inform health care access and delivery to every resident in the city. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, too many Bostonians are unable to get appropriate health care based on their neighborhood and many struggle to make their voices heard. Annissa believes that the Commission should be responsive to the unique needs of Boston’s health care system by improving access to primary and specialty care services, and promoting an equitable geographic distribution of care. Given the urgency of the pandemic and subsequent recovery, the BPHC desperately needs bold reform, complete transparency and accountability to the residents of Boston. COVID-19 Recovery: Lessons Learned and Building Something Better COVID-19 has affected nearly every aspect of our lives, our economy, and our public health systems. The next Mayor will need the leadership to not only see our city through an immediate recovery, but a long-term vision to help Boston through this next chapter and build a stronger and more accessible health care system. This pandemic has made it perfectly clear: our health care system, even in the world-class city of Boston, is broken. Too many of our most vulnerable residents are left out and left behind. As Mayor, Annissa will center these communities in the fight to rebuild a better system for all. Annissa will not only work to restore the health of all Bostonians and decrease disparities, but rebuild trust in our public health infrastructure, develop a systematic approach to public health emergencies, and ensure state and federal funding directly benefits the institutions, organizations and residents who need it most. As Mayor, Annissa will:
A Community-Driven Approach Annissa believes that access to high quality, affordable health care should not be a privilege enjoyed by the few, but must be a fundamental right enjoyed by all. Improving care requires facilities and providers to work together with the City of Boston and other relevant agencies to expand access, increase quality and reduce disparities. Annissa’s vision for public health will be centered around the community health care model. As community led institutions, our community health centers are uniquely positioned to combat systemic barriers to health equity and reduce racial socioeconomic health disparities. In addition to providing primary care, they provide comprehensive community services to address food insecurity, housing instability, behavioral health, immigration support, and other social determinants of health. Support Our Community Health Centers and Invest in Boston’s Health Care Workforce Annissa will establish community health care centers as the foundation of Boston’s health care system to achieve equity for all Boston residents. Not only do they provide primary care and preventative services, but they also play a critical role in the holistic health of individuals in our city. From meeting language needs to hosting tax workshops, sponsoring senior yoga classes to helping to house homeless individuals and families, community based care centers deliver for Boston’s neighborhoods and Annissa will leverage their strength to build a stronger, more equitable health care system. As Mayor, Annissa will give them the necessary support in order to continue providing the best possible care to our most vulnerable residents. These institutions have worked hard to build trust within the communities they serve and they will be critical partners in our work to increase access to care across all of Boston. As the longest serving board member and lifelong patient of her local community health center, Annissa knows first hand the important role our community health centers have in delivering high quality care to underserved communities. With Annissa in City Hall, community health centers will form the foundation of all public health initiatives, priorities, and the overall agenda for the City. By establishing community health centers as the City’s public health infrastructure, Annissa will ensure every resident has access to low-cost, high quality healthcare with racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. To deliver the best care, build trust and relationships in our neighborhoods, and reduce disparities and inequitable outcomes across the city, we must better invest and grow Boston’s health care workforce. From providing better educational opportunities to increasing partnerships between institutions and our community health organizations, we have the ability to build a stronger and more diverse workforce that reflects the communities it serves. Integrating culturally competent care across the entire spectrum of care, will lead to increased engagement and better outcomes. As Mayor, Annissa will:
Focusing on the Social Determinants of Health Annissa’s vision for a healthier Boston is one that increases access to care, but also tackles the inequities that determine our health outcomes. From air quality to access to healthy foods, gun violence to housing, open green space to reliable transportation options, these all—and so very more—contribute to the health of our city and its residents. As Mayor, Annissa will:
Mental and Behavioral Health Despite the growing demand for mental health services, Boston lacks sufficient and adequate resources to ensure access to treatment. The shortage of service providers and high cost of treatment have created systemic barriers in our healthcare system. Within the population of individuals not receiving behavioral health services, 40% cite cost as the primary obstacle. In fact, insurance and Medicaid reimbursement for mental health services are so low that more than half of behavioral health providers do not accept insurance. These barriers disproportionately impact low income and underserved communities who face greater conditions of trauma, depression, violence, poverty and substance use disorders. With the added pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis of homelessness, mental health, and recovery presents one of the greatest challenges for our city. As the number of individuals suffering from addiction continues to skyrocket, Boston-based providers have expressed the need for a minimum of 2,500 additional long-term recovery beds statewide to adequately meet the demand for recovery services. These providers estimate that for every single long-term recovery bed, there is a waiting list of 30 individuals seeking access to the services that one bed can provide. The severity of this shortage is best demonstrated by the fact that the City has replaced every recovery bed from Long Island and we still lack sufficient capacity to meet the demand for services. Annissa will improve access to mental and behavioral health services for all, improve school-based services, combat stigma, increase availability of treatment options across the recovery spectrum, decentralize recovery services, continue to expand on the regional response to the opioid crisis, as well as reopen and reimagine the Long Island Recovery Campus. As Mayor, Annissa will strengthen and increase mental health services and programs for Boston residents. She will:
Mental Health Services for Children and School Based Mental Health With children spending more than half of their waking hours in schools, our school system must facilitate access to the necessary mental and behavioral health supports for our kids. The impact of the pandemic and school closures has created a sharp increase in the demand for mental health services for adolescents and young people. While hopeful the pandemic is coming to an end, Annissa believes that we must prioritize outreach and investments to address the mental health of our kids. As Mayor, Annissa will prioritize prevention and intervention services to ensure widely available mental health services for children in schools and community health centers. She will:
Improving Recovery Services Across the Commonwealth and the region, the City of Boston serves as the primary destination for support services for individuals in recovery. Due to the concentration of recovery services in Boston, our resources have reached their breaking point. The volume of services, compounded with the growth of the epidemic and the ever-changing substance combinations, exceed the capacity of our resources to combat the opioid crisis. Boston has demonstrated that a regional response is critical for a long-term and effective response to this crisis. Harm reduction is a proven and successful way that many individuals are able to access and engage with long-term treatment. The City has committed year-over-year since 2015 to increases in the Bureau of Recovery Services budget to expand these and other life-saving services; however, as with recovery and treatment services, many of these initiatives have remained housed at the Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Blvd area (Mass and Cass) and created barriers for patients, providers, local business owners, and local residents alike. Annissa has been committed to harm reduction services and ongoing conversations about the Mass and Cass area since becoming an At-Large City Councilor in 2016. As Mayor, she will renew this commitment and take the necessary steps to decentralize services from Mass and Cass while creating safe and supportive additional services that share responsibility across Boston. Annissa will:
Transitioning, Reimagining and Reopening Long Island The Long Island Shelter closed in October 2014 as a result of the structural deterioration of a bridge connecting Squantum, a neighborhood in the City of Quincy, with Moon Island and Long Island. The closure of the Long Island Shelter created a ripple effect that is still impacting the City of Boston almost 7 years later. The impacts of this closure coupled with the opioid crisis has resulted in a sporadic and often disconnected web of recovery services throughout the City—with the epicenter of services at the Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard area (Mass and Cass). The tremendous demand for services from across the Commonwealth has increased the number of individuals seeking recovery and treatment services in that area year after year, straining the overall recovery system and the surrounding neighborhoods. Annissa believes we can reimagine and rebuild Long Island into a recovery services campus, addressing the needs of Commonwealth residents across the entire spectrum of care and successfully preparing them to live full, healthy lives after leaving the island. While this will take several years to complete, Annissa believes this long-term, capital investment will pay off dividends for Boston and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As a longtime champion of access to life-saving recovery services and a strong proponent of increased mental health awareness across our City, Annissa is uniquely placed to lead the City forward on this issue through the following initiatives:
Violence and Trauma The connection between violence, trauma and public health is a strong one, and the neighborhoods in Boston that struggle with high crime rates, gun violence, domestic abuse, sexual assault, and drug use are deeply and disproportionately inflicted with extreme health issues. The mental health crisis is also exacerbated by too many Bostonians living in unsafe and traumatizing environments. As Mayor, Annissa will improve public health outcomes by prioritizing the safety of our city through the following steps:
Youth and Families Maternal and Infant Health Annissa understands the importance of prioritizing maternal and infant health access and support, because the steps taken during, before, and after pregnancy improve health outcomes for families across the city. Infant and maternal mortality rates, the most significant indicators of a community’s health, have steadily decreased in recent years but some racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities persist.
Healthy Children In addition to high quality health care, the conditions of a child’s immediate environment and community directly impacts their growth and development. Access to safe and healthy environments for children to live, learn, eat, and play is critical to ensure Boston’s children have a strong foundation for lifelong success and healthy outcomes as adults. As a mother of four teenage boys, Annissa understands the health patterns established during youth will help determine young people’s health status and their risk for developing chronic diseases during adulthood. In Boston, the persistent health inequities in our communities disproportionately impacts communities of color and low-income residents. These disparities have led to higher rates of obesity, asthma, food insecurity, substance use disorders, depression and chronic stress among our marginalized children. As Mayor, Annissa will invest in the preventative measures and community resources to ensure every child in Boston has a strong start for lifelong success. As Mayor, Annissa will:
Aging Residents As Mayor, Annissa will support and strengthen the lives of older individuals in Boston. She will make bold improvements to programs that will optimize the health, safety and inclusion of Bostonians ages 55+. She will continue to invest in the generational diversity of our residents by cultivating a safe and healthy community with resources to make Boston an enjoyable place to grow older. In City Hall, Annissa will:
Bostonians with Disabilities Most Bostonians will experience a disability at some point during their lives, either personally or through someone they love. To improve health outcomes for all of our residents, it is crucial that we continue Boston’s work to create a more accessible and inclusive City for people with disabilities by addressing the challenges in accessibility of housing, employment, healthcare, transportation and City services. As Mayor, Annissa will be a strong advocate for Bostonians with disabilities and partner of the Boston’s Disabilities Commission by promoting equity so that residents with disabilities have the freedom and support to fully participate in all aspects of life in Boston. As Mayor, Annissa will:
Reforming the Structure of Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) The Boston Public Health Commission is the oldest health department in the United States and Annissa believes that it should be a proud asset of the City of Boston. The Commission’s goal is to make recommendations that inform health care access and delivery to every resident in the city. Unfortunately, too many Bostonians are unable to get appropriate health care based on their neighborhood and many struggle to make their voices heard. Annissa believes that the Commission should be responsive to the unique needs of Boston’s health care system by improving access to primary and specialty care services and promoting an equitable geographic distribution of care. Given the urgency of the pandemic and subsequent recovery, the BPHC desperately needs bold reform, complete transparency and accountability to the residents of Boston. As Mayor, Annissa will take the following steps to ensure that all Boston residents get the care they need:
A Quick Note from Annissa This plan has been informed and developed by local advocates and stakeholders on my policy committees, the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), and most importantly, Boston residents who were gracious enough to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences at my town halls, through emails and phone calls, and even in line at the grocery store. Thank you to all. My public policy plans are living, breathing documents that are never fully finished—and that’s how it should be. I welcome additional thoughts and feedback, and as your Mayor, will continue to ensure that you and every other resident in this city has a seat at the table. There’s a lot to do. Let’s do the hard work, together. To provide feedback, thoughts and ideas on this plan, initiatives or other public policy issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to policy@annissaforboston.com. Mass & Cass Plan Early on in this campaign, I released a policy plan focused on tackling the citywide opioid epidemic, especially as it relates to the devastation at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. Since April, when that plan was released, the public health crisis at Mass and Cass has intensified. Over the past six months we’ve seen an increase in tents, an uptick in violence, and new substances flood the area. Yet there has been no immediate plan, response or action from the city, state, or region to help those suffering here. The city of Boston continues to be the primary destination for support services for individuals in recovery, and because of this, we continue to bear the burden of this crisis. The concentration of recovery services at Mass and Cass alone has caused our resources to reach their breaking point. We need decisive, urgent action and a regional response to directly address this public health crisis, repair the continuum of care, and help individuals access recovery. While I’ve focused much of my work on the Council around the issues of mental health, substance use disorder, and homelessness, the powers that come with the Mayor’s Office would allow me to tackle this issue more effectively and efficiently. As Mayor, I will immediately direct the Boston Public Health Commission to declare a Public Health Emergency within a one mile radius of the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard. This will allow for a streamlined response from city agencies, as well as better service delivery and improved capacity for responsiveness. The zone will be overseen by a Mass and Cass Czar who will report directly to me as Mayor, and work in partnership with city and state agencies on a coordinated response. There is a significant amount of funds coming to Boston as part of the American Recovery Plan. We need to invest this money in services for the public good, for the public’s health. I’ve called for this funding to implement our updated plan, including a Public Health Surge at Mass and Cass with the goal of getting those suffering into recovery. This plan has been, and will continue to be, informed by my conversations with those not only doing the work at Mass and Cass, but with lived experiences in this space. Both them, and you, have my promise as Mayor to make progress on this plan on Day One of my administration. Declare a Public Health Emergency Zone at Mass and Cass. Direct the Boston Public Health Commissioner to declare a Public Health Emergency Zone (PHE Zone) for the Mass and Cass area. This zone will encompass the area within a one mile radius of the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, and includes the communities of Newmarket, Roxbury, the South End, South Boston, Dorchester. This zone acknowledges that while the crisis is at its most acute at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass, every surrounding community has borne the impacts of this crisis. As part of this Public Health Emergency Zone, Annissa will take the following immediate steps: 1. Allocate $30 million in federal funding to implement this plan for Mass and Cass. 2. Use the Public Health Emergency Zone to create a special, singular district for first responder and city agencies including the Boston Police Department, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Public Works, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Department of Health and Human Services, Boston Inspectional Services Department, and Transportation departments to ensure better coordination, streamlined service delivery and improved capacity for responsiveness. Currently, the Mass and Cass area is served by multiple districts for these first responder and city agencies, including three Boston Police Department districts. 3. Appoint a Mass and Cass Czar who will report directly to the Mayor, and live within the Boston Public Health Commission. 4. Direct the Mass and Cass Czar, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, to:
5. Implement a Public Health Surge at Mass and Cass with the goal of getting those suffering into recovery. This would include a multi-day, coordinated effort between several city, state, and private agencies to provide direct services to individuals in need. Services could include: medical and wound care, dental care, hygiene services, eye exams/glasses, an opportunity for reunification, referral for additional services, and an immediate opportunity to enter detox with the promise of a recovery bed. Longer-Term Action Invest in Harm Reduction Strategies 1. Building on City Council work, expand access to and number of sites for safe needle disposal with the goal of establishing no less than 3 new Syringe Service Programs (SSP) in strategic locations outside of the Mass and Cass service area with evening and weekend availability. 2. Implement and invest in programming recommended by the Harm Reduction Working Group and Consumer Advisory Board. 3. Acknowledge and create women-specific and gender inclusive programming for the increasing number of unsheltered women and LGBTQIA+ individuals who are struggling with substance use disorder and being victimized by human trafficking. Increase Mental and Behavioral Health Resources 1. Decriminalize poverty, mental illness, and homelessness. 2. Implement cross-department and agency best practices and initiatives to adequately and efficiently help our most vulnerable residents. 3. Building on City Council work, prioritize funding for and increase the number of Boston Emergency Services Team (B.E.S.T.) clinicians to accompany first responders during a mental health intervention 4. Place a mental health clinician in every one of the City of Boston’s homeless shelters with 24/7 availability to facilitate engagement in services. 5. Increase community health center access to the state’s Roadmap for Behavioral Health, a state initiative that addresses the need for expanded and effective treatment and improved health equity by creating a centralized service that connects people to treatment resources and reforms outpatient treatment to be more accessible. 6. Create a city-wide database of providers and their specialty, and generate a mapping of clinical assets in Boston to inform residents of available resources, organizations, and programs. This database will include data on bed availability to improve access to mental health beds after discharge from Emergency Departments. Create More Housing 1. Preserve the nearly 500 shelter beds across the City created during the COVID-19 pandemic to increase recovery service capacity, decentralize services from the Mass Cass Area, and guarantee stronger pathways to permanent and supportive housing as well as employment. 2. Continue conversations with the State to explore future uses and possibilities regarding the former site of the Shattuck Hospital campus. Long Island Bridge & Recovery Campus 1. Continue to support city litigation to reopen the Long Island Campus as soon as possible and bring together stakeholders on Day One as Mayor to begin laying the groundwork for a reopened and reimagined Long Island Campus as a priority capital investment. 2. Convene stakeholders to establish a commission to build out programmatic components of the Long Island campus outside the direct realm of recovery, including housing opportunities, job training, health screenings, food access, and ongoing mental health services. 3. Determine the best ways to utilize and invest in a ferry service as a secondary mode of transportation to and from Long Island. Public Safety “I will lead with transparency and accountability to create a system that works for everyone. Boston can and must be both just and safe” As Mayor, Annissa will fight to ensure that Boston can be both safe and just, and the city will lead on reforms and demonstrate the benefit of community policing, transparency and accountability. A racial justice issue, a public health issue and a public safety issue, gun violence is an epidemic that strikes our streets every day. Boston requires a multifaceted and coordinated response and investments in community policing, relationship building with neighborhood leaders and organizations, appropriate police staffing and enforcement, and community programming and initiatives across our city. Annissa will work with our Boston Police Department to both implement necessary reforms and keep our residents safe. Justice and safety are not mutually exclusive, we just need to have the tough, honest conversations about the hard work that needs to be done to achieve both in this city. Because our neighborhoods — particularly those disproportionately impacted by this racism, violence and trauma — deserve better. Annissa will increase investments to community empowerment programs to improve relationships between officers and our neighborhoods, expand youth programming, attack the root causes of incarceration and involvement in the criminal justice system, and decriminalize mental illness, homelessness, and poverty. Annissa knows that a strong system of public safety requires trust between our communities and first responders. Our world-class EMS team and firefighters protecting our residents every day must have access to updated equipment and safe and healthy firehouses and bays. With the help of the city’s B.E.S.T. team—a group of mental health clinicians able to respond to crises—our EMTs and firefighters will be able to appropriately and quickly respond to calls for help. Amongst the City of Boston’s public safety agencies is a growing need for more diversity in the ranks. Annissa will fight for a more diverse police department, fire department, and EMS team that represent the populations they serve and build trust in all of Boston’s communities. POLICE
EMS
FIRE
Transportation As Mayor, better and bolder mobility solutions will be at the center of Annissa’s vision for Boston. Annissa will make getting around Boston more streamlined, safe, equitable, and predictable for all residents. As our climate changes our transportation infrastructure must change as well. Annissa will partner with stakeholders at the local and state level to ensure our transportation policies address our environmental and public health crises. Our existing public transit does not work the same for everyone. Boston’s low-income communities and communities of color are deeply impacted by the underfunded system that inhibits universal mobility, access and economic opportunity. Annissa recognizes the inequality embedded in our public transit and will work with those most affected to tackle these disparities head on. As Mayor, Annissa will:
|
” |
| —Annissa Essaibi George's 2021 campaign website[6] | ||
2019
Annissa Essaibi George did not complete Ballotpedia's 2019 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Essaibi George's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
Education
- Excerpt: "Many families that no longer live in here also send their children to popular Boston schools, such as exam schools, costing the system hundreds of thousands of dollars and taking places from children who do live in Boston. Annissa will propose a residency audit to ensure that BPS resources stay in Boston. Our METCO program is also being used by families that no longer live here and this program too should be audited and corrected so that Boston families benefit from it."
Public safety
- Excerpt: "Work with community organizations to support their efforts in reducing crime and drug abuse. More specifically she will work to protect those at most risk of assault and abuse."
Economic development
- Excerpt: "Strengthen Boston Main Streets and boost the potential of small businesses with a program in which small businesses that invest in Main Streets get priority access to prime commercial locations."
Public health
- Excerpt: "We must do more to tackle opioid addiction and the downfall it brings to individuals, families and communities. Our methadone clinics too often become part of the supply chain for others to buy drugs right on the street as people leave the clinics. Instead, doctors could give prescriptions for people to fill in neighborhood pharmacies, especially people who don’t live in Boston. This would stop the clinic streets from being a center for drug economy."
Housing
- Excerpt: "Boston is in the midst of a housing crisis. As a City Councilor At-Large, Annissa will work to stem the tide of luxury apartments and condominiums and work to encourage developers to do more than set-aside a small percent of condos for low-income residents. She will also work to get colleges and universities to house their students on their own campuses, which would free up thousands of units."
Arts & culture
- Excerpt: "Too often Boston residents who support our fine arts and cultural institutions with tax dollars can’t afford to actually go to concerts or plays. Institutions should offer performances for school children and make free tickets available to encourage broad participation in this rewarding resource."
See also
2021 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Annissa Essaibi George's 2021 campaign website, "About Annissa," accessed August 13, 2021
- ↑ City of Boston, "Election Department Certifies Candidates For Municipal Election," June 5, 2017
- ↑ City of Boston, "General Election Candidate List," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ City of Boston, "Unofficial Election Results," November 3, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Annissa Essaibi George's 2021 campaign website, "On the Issues," accessed October 20, 2021
| |||||||||
