Environment

OP-ED: State Senate Passes Energy Bill Aimed at Addressing Climate Change

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{The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who also represents Watertown}

After a long day of debate, the Senate passed the Barrett-Pacheco omnibus energy bill on Thursday — significant legislation to continue movement in Massachusetts towards a cleaner energy future. Addressing climate change is a core priority for me and I am glad to move this legislation forward. The next step will be action by the House of Representatives.   After that, the branches will need to reconcile their differences and get the bill to the Governor’s desk.  We should expect the bill to continue to evolve. As mentioned in a previous post, I am most enthusiastic about the provisions that will lead to carbon pricing in the transportation sector. A summary of the major provisions appears below, excerpted from the Senate press release on the bill:

Increasing the percentage of Class I renewable energy that must be purchased by retail electric suppliers under the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard from an additional 1% annually to an additional 3% annually. Requiring the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to establish market-based compliance mechanisms to maximize the ability of the Commonwealth to achieve its greenhouse gas emission limits for: (i) the transportation sector not later than December 31, 2020; (ii) the commercial and industrial building sectors not later than December 31, 2021; and (iii) the residential building sector not later than December 31, 2022.

Government

OP-ED: Details of Gun Control Legislation Being Considered on Beacon Hill

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{The following piece was written by State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who represents Watertown in the Massachusetts State House}

The House and Senate have both now given initial approval to legislation to make it easier to take guns away from people who are a risk of harming themselves or others. It will likely be finalized and enacted before the end of this session. We already have strong laws that allow a person to seek protection of the court, including removal of firearms, when he or she fears violence from a partner. And school shootings are hard to predict. The best argument for the new legislation is that it will reduce the dominant but least visible category of gun death: suicide.

Government

Comprehensive Criminal Justice Reform Legislation Moves Forward in State House

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger, from Belmont who represents Watertown, announced that House and Senate have released legislation that would reform the criminal justice system in Massachusetts. Brownsberger included a detailed summary of the legislation on his website. Some of the changes would be:

Strengthen mandatory minimum penalties for opiate trafficking offenses
Reducing minimum mandatory penalties for non-opiate drug offenses
Creating alternatives to prosecution or incarceration for minor offenses
Decriminalizing some minor offenses
Strengthen protections for public safety, including penalties for some types of crime, including corporate manslaughter, homicide by motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a credit card scanner, and high number of repeat OUIs. Improving prisons, and reducing the use of solitary confinement

(Read the entire summary on Brownsberger’s website by clicking here)

Below is the press release from legislators who worked on the legislation:
House and Senate legislators filed their final criminal justice reform conference report with the Senate Clerk on Friday. The consensus legislation is a comprehensive review of the Commonwealth’s criminal justice system.

Government

Senator Brownsberger Seeks Applicants for Summer 2018 Internships

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office announced he seeks applicants for Summer 2018 internships at the State House. The part-time, unpaid internships will be available in Senator Brownsberger’s State House office to students from the 2nd Suffolk & Middlesex district. A cover letter and resume should be sent to Andrew Bettinelli, at Andrew.Bettinelli@masenate.gov, or mailed to Senator William Brownsberger, State House Room 504, Boston, MA 02133. The application deadline is Friday, March 9, 2018. Interviews will be conducted in March and applicants will be notified of their status by Friday, April 13, 2018.

Government

Rep. Hecht Provides Year End Review of Work in the State House, in Town

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Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht wrote up a review of the accomplishments for his district and the state on his website, including increasing state dollars coming to Watertown, approval of the Greenway path in East Watertown and studies to improve major roadways in town. Hecht’s office sent out the following statement:

State Rep. Jon Hecht invites Watertown residents to read the 2017 year-end review he has posted on his website: http://www.jonhecht.com/2017-in-review/. Learn about legislation adopted this year in Massachusetts, get an update on district projects and priorities, and see what’s in store for the second half of the 2017-18 legislative session. Anyone wishing to receive Rep. Hecht’s updates and office hour announcements by email can sign up at http://www.jonhecht.com/sign-up/

Letters

LETTER: Resident Thankful for Sharing Meal With Immigrants and New Citizens

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There’s nothing like the thrill of sharing a meal with 100’s of determined, brave immigrants, refugees and newly sworn-in U.S. citizens who make Massachusetts such a great place to live. Members of Watertown Citizens’ Refugee Support Group had the honor of again attending the annual Thanksgiving luncheon organized by the Mass. Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) at the State House. 

Senator Linda Dorcena Forry, who moderated the event and is herself the child of Haitian immigrants, was joined by the passionate voices of many other advocates and public officials, including Representative Jeffrey Sanchez, Attorney General Maura Healey, State Health & Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, Sister Marie-Judith Dupuy, Emerson College President M. Lee Pelton, and former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez. No doubt the most moving moment of the afternoon was hearing from DACA dreamer Paola Sanchez, who has worked in the US since the age of 14, both to support herself and to send money home to support her mom and sisters. She is now a full-time student at MassBay Community College.

Government

Find Out When You Can Meet with Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

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Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours twice in Watertown this month, he announced. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following times and locations:

 

Monday, September 11, 5:30-6:30 pm

Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St, Raya Stern Trustees Room

 

Thursday, September 21, 8:30-9:30am

Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St, 3rd Floor hallway

 

Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Around Town

Residents Invited to Attend Armenian Genocide Commemoration at State House

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Each April for the past 32 years, members of the Armenian community along with state legislators and guests have come together at the State House to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. This year marks the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with the commemoration taking place on Friday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. in the House Chamber with a program of speakers, music, and honorees, announced State Sen. Will Brownsberger’s office. Following the ceremony, a reception provided by Ani Catering of Belmont will be held in the Hall of Flags. The event recognizes the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Turkish government. This is an opportunity for survivors and Armenian-American descendants to demonstrate their commitment to preserving their culture, religion, and language; working for humanitarian projects and awareness; and striving for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.