Residents and local organizations at the Lynn City Charter Review Committee hearing on Thursday urged the committee to include stronger provisions for public participation, language access and youth engagement in the charter or to leave the door open for those changes in the near term.

Altamira Luiza Ferreira, speaking as a Lynn resident, urged the city to make interpretation and translation “part of the city budget and constitution,” arguing that Lynn’s linguistic diversity requires proactive planning rather than interpreter services by special request. “I want to participate and be part of the city activities, but many times I don't dare for fear or not being able to understand what is going on,” Ferreira said through an interpreter.

Nut graf: Speakers representing neighborhood organizations, immigrant‑serving groups and civic associations asked the committee to strengthen language justice, guarantee a public comment period at City Council meetings, require better public notice and make city ordinances and departmental rules searchable online — measures they say would increase civic participation by historically underrepresented residents.

Charlie Clark and several other speakers asked the committee to require a guaranteed public comment period at City Council meetings, noting that the school committee already offers that space. “Any city event with public comment at the very least should have guaranteed language access,” Clark said, calling for Spanish translation to be provided by default at hearings.

Representatives of Lynn United for Change and neighborhood groups recommended a charter requirement for a language justice policy that would ensure sufficient resources for interpretation and translation, a proactive plan for public notice and a requirement that rules, regulations and ordinances be posted and searchable on the city website rather than only available at the city clerk’s office. Isaac Simon Hodes, speaking for Lynn United for Change, described recent instances in which Spanish‑speaking residents seeking urgent help were turned away when no interpreter was available.

Speakers also urged more formalized youth engagement, including student liaisons to city bodies, and expansion of advisory boards beyond narrow program areas to broaden resident input. Gabe Cohen Glenick, an organizer, said formalizing youth roles and ensuring translation “feels really critical.”

Ending: Committee members acknowledged the comments and said written input would be accepted; the committee will consider these suggestions at its next working meeting and the City Council will hold its own public hearing when it receives the committee’s recommendations.