[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6192661,"mediaKeyId","4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d","parentId",4035957,"title","Resident urges more funding for neighborhood cleanup and help for homeowners who cannot maintain yards","audioSeconds",66,"startMs",738280,"endMs",805245,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d&start=738&end=805","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d/thumbnail_738280.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6192661/Brockton-City/Plymouth-County/Massachusetts/Resident-urges-more-funding-for-neighborhood-cleanup-and-help-for-homeowners-who-cannot-maintain-yards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192661-cc31d193d9930830378ca61713d64d6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776227432&Signature=FpPGOZkAj3wA4aTAcwwwDaOcqD2syiAfRVci5vnaLETy5ZNeHI9heiscjj5vsjWB3ZO6PaFnkX8F99xSRU9VEjl7JBca7Qa15qMgFt5-E-2~bCeC-0yxzIaz54A~eRlXl4zH4iJYzvZwqjFnPNc~cM5dA~C01KqkMYy3Wmb7W9ToVMuedsmDbWv9ziElcH6awnjCCNHt5GdwRXf~ncsElXvEBEhzoovQWh3TKrsI8SIUSs-lE3-6f9sEv2FMYbXKUu3EvBU0uD9tPLjYGsAckLojwjYMuURpzAcjk37pGucf9hEJLTJvzMJTlCDoGWu6BN2Za3xKvF0SVZFzczNmhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brockton City, MA","date","2025-06-17T16:43:21Z","article","Leticia Wade, a Brockton resident, told the City Council she moved to Brockton from Boston, raised her children in the city, and wants more city funding for cleaning up neighborhoods. \"There's a lot of homes that are vacant or abandoned or have elderly people are not tending to the yards,\" Wade said. She described seeing household fixtures and debris in public spaces and asked the council to set aside money both for city cleanup and to help residents who cannot maintain yards.

Wade said she values Brockton's parks and homes but worries the visible deterioration undermines neighborhood quality. She suggested dedicated funding to remove blight and to provide assistance to property owners who cannot physically maintain yards.

The comment was made during the FY2026 budget public hearing; no formal council action or staff assignment was recorded in the hearing transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Brockton Public Hearing on Budget FY2026 6-16-25","oneSentenceSummary","At the budget public hearing, Leticia Wade asked the council to allocate more money for cleaning up Brockton, addressing vacant and abandoned properties and assisting elderly homeowners with yard maintenance.","taxTitle","Brockton City, Plymouth County, Massachusetts","taxId",4538,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6192666,"Resident tells council sidewalks and policing gaps are creating hazards for wheelchair users",142,508905,651110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d&start=508&end=651","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d/thumbnail_508905.jpg","/articles/6192666/Brockton-City/Plymouth-County/Massachusetts/Resident-tells-council-sidewalks-and-policing-gaps-are-creating-hazards-for-wheelchair-users","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192666-46a215017a6a11725111a3573b24cd6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1776227432&Signature=hy9OTF8P6iJ0HUeciruPccZO~MYXwAYZbm9Jsw09vwj7i6MzuUdIZt35WriTTkOD2wpGN~nnXYd9pch3BAiHB3EfjyDx2nwH9Qlvo2bkOFX7Pbgl5amE0zFE-O3Q0jhQBBsAm-tT8b~Fga12u81cSvep7xf2-uEu9IDBncvcydHX70Wws-GmUJX4DXCeCl8d1562tCUKdFHpc6zgeutY2BC8UmosW2iNNaF1PEw7RF38de6uaWM4AOkh1c3L95fYiSvmExkt~fogkr9lD4qsCD4nTgWc76T2myZlpWJYcNIAuh94LZNwy4Jlxbbyet7xPQdq6J1KmYpDN5kKbFgYcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Steven J. Clay, a Brockton resident, told the City Council that deteriorating sidewalks and limited police presence are creating day-to-day hazards for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices. \"There's hardly any cops around,\" Clay said, and described cracked sidewalks and potholes that he says have damaged wheelchair tires and caused repeated repair costs.

Clay described youth riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers \"swimming in and out of traffic\" and cutting across sidewalks, behavior he said forces pedestrians into danger. He also recounted an incident in May in front of the district court where three youths with guns approached and two officers did not make arrests; Clay told the council he asked officers to arrest the youths and that the officers instead left in their cars.

Clay asked councilors to address sidewalk repair and public-safety presence and volunteered to meet with staff after the public hearing to provide more details. The transcript shows the presiding official invited Clay to speak with staff after the hearing but records no formal council motion or immediate action.

Clay's remarks were offered during the budget public hearing as public comment; he linked infrastructure and public-safety concerns to the broader municipal agenda.","Steven J. Clay told the council sidewalks in parts of Brockton are in disrepair and said limited police presence and dangerous behavior by dirt bikes and ATVs threaten residents who use wheelchairs; he urged follow-up after the hearing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6192671,"Brockton resident urges city action after elderly residents struck by buses, cites Council on Aging duties",126,216364,342790,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d&start=216&end=342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d/thumbnail_216364.jpg","/articles/6192671/Brockton-City/Plymouth-County/Massachusetts/Brockton-resident-urges-city-action-after-elderly-residents-struck-by-buses-cites-Council-on-Aging-duties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192671-3dd7fc6c4f4ea1c500549da3ec8c9bc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776227432&Signature=Y4oRD57H~OXdWoI9SFldCWtQJy~gjEYwJfZyfKm6CN1Lfux0F2vRSKlXa2ukhwXeqAvOpYBO2rayKBBoeKsiDMiGV5-SMulvxCGpPcBLosIrGx46odeOjeSvFjUsmF298Nd15ezpQTvpPPRUueB9RFD936I0wawflFWSiuBAjcb1WO8eo4aKWUVhVr9gGO63Rkb6EXqokElEAPqgeIpPIpAE67-o1CbBvrskis61XRRXNvOVSbETomFl0YKunsa7zTq3wJLtYrVhRAWDkD73KC0kcIUXQi4gh1f8fYzJon8SecRSUyIF46s2UFdm9TgFrpLUUchtsAf6n8BqCJFcfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Richard Ripley, a Brockton resident who said he is elderly and disabled, told the City Council the city has identified a \"dangerous and ongoing public safety threat on buses\" that primarily affects low-income, elderly and disabled residents. \"Women we have 2 grandmothers got hit by a bus. One ended up in the hospital, nearly lost her leg,\" Ripley said, urging the council to issue a public warning so riders know their rights and can take precautions.

Ripley said Janice Fitzgerald, director of the Council on Aging, is aware of city investigations relating to the incidents and cited the Council on Aging mission statement (noted on page 199 of the proposed FY2026 budget) describing the council's role to assess needs and provide programs and services for the elderly. He said those responsibilities are not being fulfilled in this case and asked for an explicit statement from the city about the threat.

No formal council action or direction was recorded during the public comment period in response to Ripley's remarks. Ripley asked the council to issue a warning and to clarify rights and protections for riders; the transcript does not show an official response or staff assignment during the hearing.

The council heard this comment during the budget public hearing; the remark links a public-safety concern to the city's budget and program responsibilities under the Council on Aging mission.","During the FY2026 budget public hearing Richard Ripley said city investigations show dangerous ongoing threats on buses that have injured elderly residents and asked the council to warn riders and protect vulnerable transit users.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6192676,"Residents at Brockton budget hearing press for clearer budget language, participatory budgeting and stronger audits",916,55518,971546,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d&start=55&end=971","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4035957-8d888b5b5b76bb6f1f2a630e901a6c7d/thumbnail_55518.jpg","/articles/6192676/Brockton-City/Plymouth-County/Massachusetts/Residents-at-Brockton-budget-hearing-press-for-clearer-budget-language-participatory-budgeting-and-stronger-audits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192676-e6bc8600f4ec1c57a5ad61a529c1aa07/orig.mp4?Expires=1776227432&Signature=i7t7Qc0hlZYXXZ4Pyq6bNzK7eBucyKrgVyNz5FjVc9JT4updCD2YIhpDpgnDV6S2y0u38Jqb6NMRgI8dpI8FntnFGWoLqogvaIQELbjvMsWErDzY4SFXkFL5EmIlyGdUGu9TM9dyglRBnQeKAPNRT4mruDrmCXyBwHWoiftA09AaIJN7Jesyj-q1hXOVmkf5S~-catVTXwVWhhItUdrlx3oqA4OpwkgbWnRl6l9ZnjxT~D7AJ3vt~suGGcQ2yXjuTrbkFfc2RqyG7CWKJKtUdrPTkG-ZZ8YZ3REZ-1LNuVq1y-ywtlGFJNpZmf5P6r9nZlDu7oGqtHey1m64F7UZqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, Brockton residents urged the City Council to demand clearer budget language, consider participatory budgeting pilots and strengthen the city's internal audit function.

Mark Osborne, a Brockton resident and member of the Brockton Civic School, told councilors the mayor's proposed budget runs to 512 pages and projects $556,000,000 in revenues and spending. \"In a budget, imprecision can be construed as permission,\" Osborne said, adding that vague or \"squishy\" language can allow policy to be made \"in silence through omission.\" He asked councilors to \"ask the hard questions, question the wording, challenge the assumptions, and approve not just a balanced budget, but a transparent one.\"

Trinette Hall, a Brockton resident and member of the Brockton Civic School, said Massachusetts law requires a public hearing on the annual city budget but urged the council to go further by adopting participatory budgeting, a process that would let residents decide how a portion of city dollars are spent. \"Participatory budgeting is a democratic tool that builds trust and transparency between residents and local government,\" Hall said, citing examples in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville and urging Brockton to start with a pilot program.

Jamal Braithwaite, a Brockton resident, urged councilors to use the budget process to improve the city's internal controls. \"Over the past five fiscal years, the city council has approved over $2,500,000,000 of spending,\" Braithwaite said, and noted the city has had at least three different city auditors during that period. He recommended appointing a city auditor with prior audit experience, such as a CPA, and strengthening internal audit work by documenting annual risk assessments, maintaining a policies-and-procedures library, and performing internal-control testing to prevent mismanagement or coding errors in the city's financial system.

None of the speakers offered or recorded a formal motion at the hearing. The comments were part of the council's public hearing on the mayor's proposed FY2026 budget; speakers asked the council to examine specific language in the proposed document, to consider adding a participatory budgeting pilot, and to use the upcoming auditor transition to improve audit capacity. Braithwaite noted the current city auditor's last day is scheduled the day after the budget is expected to be voted on and approved.

The council did not take final action during the public comment period. Budget deliberations and the scheduled vote are separate agenda items; councilors did not announce a formal direction or assignment during the hearing.","At a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2026 budget, residents urged the Brockton City Council to tighten budget language to prevent policy by omission, pilot participatory budgeting, and strengthen the city's internal audit function ahead of an auditor transition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident urges more funding for neighborhood cleanup and help for homeowners who cannot maintain yards

Resident tells council sidewalks and policing gaps are creating hazards for wheelchair users

Brockton resident urges city action after elderly residents struck by buses, cites Council on Aging duties

Residents at Brockton budget hearing press for clearer budget language, participatory budgeting and stronger audits