Nero's Law

Yarmouth Police Sargent Sean Gannon was killed by a suspect he was serving an arrest warrant to four years ago this week. To honor him, his service, and his K-9 Nero, Governor Charlie Baker conducted a ceremonial bill signing of Nero’s Law at the Sgt. Sean Gannon Training Facility in #Yarmouth. I co-sponsored the legislation that the Governor signed because I know that first responders of every type are subject to dangerous working conditions - they deserve our support and immediate access to care. 

Nero's Law now allows K-9 partners to be given emergency medical treatment and transport in an ambulance to receive medical attention when injured in the line of duty provided no human is in need first. Sargent Gannon's K-9 was severely injured and suffered life-threatening injuries from the shooting that killed Sargent Gannon. Nero was shot in the face; the bullet ripped through his head and left holes in his throat. He was covered in blood at the scene for hours before receiving medical care.

Take Back the Night Gloucester

The importance of ending sexual and domestic violence is a concern to us all. Prevention of violence, helping victims transform into survivors, and helping heal injuries that can't be immediately seen takes caring communities. The Gloucester Coalition for the Prevention of Domestic Abuse invited me and others to participate in a march and gathering to raise awareness that April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. With Mayor Greg Verga

 

Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line Service Changes

Starting next week, there will be service changes on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line to accommodate ongoing work to significantly improve signals, track, and bridges. During this construction, bus shuttles will replace trains on specific dates. 

Important safety and reliability work taking place during these Newburyport/Rockport Line shuttle bus diversions includes the replacement of the Commercial Street Bridge in Lynn; the installation of Automatic Train Control signal upgrades as part of the Positive Train Control project along the entire line; signal upgrades at North Station; the re-opening of the Gloucester Drawbridge with a return to train service on May 23; and additional track, rail, culvert, and improvement projects taking advantage of the available track outages. These infrastructure investments will help to modernize the Commuter Rail network and improve safety, reliability, and resiliency for passengers. By leveraging the planned diversion to install Automatic Train Control to accomplish additional projects, the need for future service impacts to complete these improvements is minimized and the benefits to riders can be delivered sooner.

Newburyport/Rockport Line riders who typically purchase Monthly Passes should purchase no higher than a Zone 3 pass for May 2022 and no higher than an Interzone 5 pass for June 2022. Riders should also check schedules ahead of time for anticipated travel and arrival times. To avoid this planned construction, riders are also encouraged to consider riding the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line or the Blue or Orange subway lines, or work from home, if possible. Riders should also note that dates may change and additional periods may be added as needed for construction.

More on Rockport Branch Work:

During the upcoming signal, track, and bridge improvement work, bus shuttles will replace trains on the following dates:

April 11-22: Shuttle buses will operate from Rockport to Salem Stations. Trains will operate from Salem to North Stations. A separate schedule for each timeframe will be available on mbta.com.

April 23-May 8: Shuttle buses will operate from Rockport to Gloucester Stations. Trains will operate from Gloucester to North Stations. A separate schedule for each timeframe will be available on mbta.com.

May 9-22: Shuttle buses will operate from Rockport to Orient Heights Stations with a free transfer from bus shuttles to the Blue Line at Orient Heights. Chelsea Station customers can use the Silver Line 3.

May 23-June 5: Trains will operate from Rockport to Beverly Stations. Shuttle buses will operate from Beverly to Orient Heights Stations with a free transfer from bus shuttles to the Blue Line at Orient Heights. Chelsea Station customers can use the Silver Line 3. Customers should note that the Gloucester Drawbridge opens on May 23.

June 6 and onward: Normal weekday train service.

June 11-12: Trains will operate from Rockport to Salem Stations. Shuttles will operate from Salem to Orient Heights Stations with a free transfer from bus shuttles to the Blue Line at Orient Heights.

v More on Newburyport Branch Work:

During the upcoming signal, track, and bridge improvement work, bus shuttles will replace trains on the following dates:

April 11-May 8: Shuttle buses will operate from Newburyport to Salem Stations. Trains will operate from Salem to North Stations. A separate schedule for each timeframe will be available on mbta.com.

May 9-June 5: Trains will operate from Newburyport to Beverly Stations. Shuttle buses will operate from Beverly to Orient Heights Stations with a free transfer from bus shuttles to the Blue Line at Orient Heights. Chelsea Station customers can use the Silver Line 3.

June 6 and onward: Normal weekday train service.

June 11-12: Trains will operate from Newburyport to Salem Stations. Shuttle buses will operate from Salem to Orient Heights Stations with a free transfer from bus shuttles to the Blue Line at Orient Heights.

For more information, visit mbta.com, or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority - MBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA.

 

Youth Mental Health & Wellness Community Event at Gloucester High School

Last night, I attended an important gathering to discuss serious challenges faced by every community - mental health illness. The program featured keynote speaker Kevin Hines who survived jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in a suicide attempt. In 2017 he released a documentary "Suicide: The Ripple Effect" to help reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts around the world. The program was sponsored by Gloucester Public Schools, Gloucester, MA Health Department in collaboration with Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association, GPS, SEPAC, and GHS Mental Health Ambassadors. 

 According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, there were 45,799 recorded suicides in 2020, up from 42,773 in 2014, The annual U.S. suicide rate increased 30% between 2000 and 2020.

 

 

GOLD STAR SPOUSES DAY

Yesterday, I helped Governor Charlie Baker, First Lady Lauren Baker, House Minority Leader State Representative Brad Jones, Senator John Velis, and Representative Paul McMurtry welcome Gold Star Spouses to the Governor's office. This is the 8th consecutive year that Governor Baker has opened the doors to these wonderful people. Gold Star Spouses Day honors those who have survived military service members who died while serving our nation.

 

The Senate completed work on a supplemental budget with $1.67 billion in gross spending, $883 million in net spending which prioritizes immediate, time-sensitive spending needs. A portion of the spending is to be backed by federal reimbursement. Here are the major components of the bill: 

• The single largest component is $700 million for COVID-19 response including a reserve to support testing, vaccine access, and health care workforce needs. This spending will likely receive full federal participation, 
• There's $147 million for private special education schools, these Chapter 766 schools support our state’s guarantee that all children have the right to a free appropriate public education, 
• $20 million for additional low-income home energy assistance program, 
•  $10 million for the office of immigrants and refugees to support the resettlement of individuals and families from Ukraine, 
•  $5 million for the secretary of state to cover the costs of paper and printing for elections, 
• Outdoor dining was adopted in time to end the sunset date and allow for restraints to continue to offer guests extend outdoor dining. In addition, we also extended alcohol to-go provisions. We ensured that our National Guard members will receive their COVID0-19 bonuses. Another important priority of this Senate was the so-called Russian divestment. We were able to ensure that the language that we included in the Senate bill last week relative to divesting from Russian assets was included, 
• $100 million in this document for winter roadway recovery, to deal with filling potholes and the like. 

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4650

Senate Passes CROWN Act

Bill prohibits discrimination based on natural and protective hairstyles

The CROWN Act will prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles by incorporating hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyle into the definition of race in the law. The protection means that no school district, school committee, public school, nonsectarian school, or any equivalent school organizations, can adopt policies that impair or prohibit a natural or protective hairstyle that has been historically associated with one’s race. 

If signed into law, we would become the 15th state to adopt the CROWN Act. The legislation was inspired in part by sisters Mya and Deanna Cook, who as teens gained national attention after successfully overturning their school policy which had barred them from taking part in school activities.