The state’s U.S. senators, and congressional representatives of Gloucester and New Bedford Thursday wrote to “implore” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to make public the findings of a special master’s report on the most egregious cases of law enforcement misconduct against the fishing industry. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
Forged in independence, laid low by regulatory constraints, America’s original fishing port told its story in many voices from many perspectives Tuesday, appealing to one arm of the U.S. Commerce Department for relief to help survive the harm done by another. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
Starting her second term as a member of the state House of Representatives, Ann-Margaret Ferrante has been given a seat on the House Ways and Means Committee which handles the distribution of revenue. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
Gloucester has been granted a designation as a “green community” by the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. And with that designation comes the eligibility to reel in $198,200 in grant funding to explore municipal renewable power and energy efficiency grants. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
Gloucester’s state lawmakers have launched a campaign for a special federal prosecutor to investigate possible criminal behavior by national fisheries enforcement agents, who seized assets from and fined fishermen and then spent the money. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
Since it became clear that Gloucester District Court was in jeopardy, Gloucester’s state lawmakers — state Sen. Bruce Tarr and Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante — have fought the idea, saying it will isolate those living on the island from the legal system. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
The state’s legislative leadership and coastal caucus have petitioned Massachusetts’ congressional delegation to back a plan setting aside some $96 million from the fiscal 2011 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration budget to compensate subjects of miscarriages of justice against the fishing industry. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
Gloucester state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante said Wednesday that she, along with Tarr, expects to meet with Mulligan and court officials soon to discuss the potential closure of Gloucester District court soon. “I am still concerned about a possible closure and have questions about how they decided to prioritize their budget,” Ferrante said. Read more on…
State Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, who triggered waves of demands for the IG to step in after NOAA police undertook a third major case against the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction in early 2009, said “any evidence of misuse of funds and violation of regulations should be prosecuted.” Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→
Cape Ann’s state lawmakers have slipped wording into the state budget that would stop any effort to close Massachusetts courthouses — including Gloucester District Court — until at least September, and probably far longer. Read more on the Gloucester Daily Times website→