Last week, I voted with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a supplemental budget to facilitate federal CARES Act funding to reimburse communities hard-hit by COVID-19. This bill follows the April passage in Congress of the Federal CARES Act, which requires states to expend funds on items related to COVID-19 for federal…
Today, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released initial guidance for school reopening this fall that prioritizes getting students safely back to school in person, following a comprehensive set of health and safety requirements. The Department is also requiring schools to create hybrid learning plans to teach students in-person and remotely on alternating schedules, and…
Gloucester resident Mary Jane McGlennon was honored Wednesday as a member of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s 2020 class of Commonwealth Heroines. “Mary Jane McGlennon embodies the spirit of this award,” said state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, who has observed McGlennon work tirelessly on behalf of Cape Ann’s most vulnerable residents. Ferrante recommended…
Today, Governor Baker announced that Step Two of Phase II of the Commonwealth’s four-phase reopening plan, Reopening Massachusetts, will begin on Monday, June 22 to allow additional industries to resume operations under sector-specific guidelines. Businesses and sectors set to begin operating in Step Two of Phase II are subject to compliance with all mandatory safety…
Mary Jane McGlennon of Gloucester will be honored as a member of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women’s 2020 class of Commonwealth Heroines. State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) recommended McGlennon for this recognition because of her tireless work on behalf of Cape Ann’s most vulnerable residents. “Mary Jane McGlennon embodies the spirit of…
Over the past few weeks, we have seen and heard voices calling for action to address and end police brutality, racial inequality, and inherent bias across our society. The peaceful demonstrations we have seen locally, some of the largest I have seen as a lifelong resident of Cape Ann, show how deeply our communities care about…
Phase II of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan begins today, as announced by Governor Baker this weekend. Businesses and sectors set to begin opening in Phase II are subject to compliance with all mandatory safety standards. On May 18, the Reopening Advisory Board released a four-phased plan to reopen the economy based on public health data,…
House leaders, including Gloucester’s Ann-Margaret Ferrante, are eyeing ways to provide oversight and support for industry viewed as critical to the success of the state’s economic recovery. “Access to safe and reliable childcare for working families is critical to getting our economy running as we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooperation and engagement…
Restaurants are a major backbone of Cape Ann’s economy. Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has injured our local tourism industry. In the coming months, I pledge to work diligently to help our local tourism and cultural businesses and organizations. Today, I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass legislation that provides more tools for the restaurants…
Today, some of Gloucester’s youth will be peacefully protesting at the Rotary and tomorrow at the Boulevard. To those who will participate in these peaceful protests, to the youth of Cape Ann, and to Cape Ann residents of all ages, I would like to say the following: After watching the murder of George Floyd by…
