Education, public safety top councilors' agenda

Felix D. Arroyo, At-large

''Housing and education are both in a crisis. . . .It's hard to select one or the other. And, of course, violence."

Michael F. Flaherty, At-large, president

''In addition to public safety, education. Look for the body to engage the School Committee on a host of issues including student assignment, the achievement gap, and building new schools."

Stephen J. Murphy, At-large

''Fiscal reform. We're overreliant right now on property taxes; we have to find ways the city can move forward without overtaxing our residents."

Sam Yoon, At-large

''For the first six months it will be the budget. I appreciate how money and finances drive this government."

Paul J. Scapicchio, North End

''I want to provide free SAT prep courses for all Boston public school students."

James M. Kelly, South Boston

''To stop the insane killings that are going on. I don't know what the secret is, but working together in the city collectively."

Maureen E. Feeney, Dorchester

''Definitely, looking at the public-safety issues around violence and guns and working with the state Legislature to strengthen the gun-control laws."

Charles C. Yancey, Dorchester

''Education. We need to build a new high school for the children of the City of Boston, a new high school on the grounds of the [former] Boston State Hospital."

Rob Consalvo, Hyde Park

''Making sure the city's delivering quality city services to the people of my district. Also public safety and the budget."

John Tobin, West Roxbury

''A lot of the problems -- the violence and killings, and the lack of jobs for people -- it all goes back to the school system. . . .We need to focus on the achievement gap and better customer service and attracting the middle class back to our school system."

Chuck Turner,Roxbury

''Jobs for young people, jobs for people with criminal backgrounds, jobs for the youth of our city. It's time we face up to the fact we have not only a drug crisis but an employment crisis."

Michael P. Ross, Beacon Hill

''Gun violence and safety. It's not just going to be police, but police are part of it; it's not just going to be after-school activities, but that's part of it; it's not just going to be opening up our community centers, but that's going to be part of it."

Jerry P. McDermott, Brighton

''Public safety. We not only need to put more police on the streets, but we also need to increase the number of detectives, so that we can get some of these unsolved crimes solved."