Today, households facing difficulty making housing payments may apply to access a new $20 million, statewide rent and mortgage assistance fund. The Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance (ERMA) program will provide direct funding to eligible households who have suffered financial hardship during the State of Emergency put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19. ERMA will…
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, 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…
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,…
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…
Today, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito provided an update on the Reopening Massachusetts plan and preparations for Phase II. On June 6th, the Administration will determine the start date, no sooner than June 8th, of Phase II based on public health metrics. On Monday, Governor Baker will issue an executive order with a more…
Last week, Speaker Robert A. DeLeo announced the creation of the House’s Early Education and Care Recovery Advisory Group, which will take on the challenge of childcare in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and gradual economic reopening. I am proud to report that Speaker DeLeo has appointed me as a co-chair of the group…
Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation to fund a $36 million COVID-19 Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program. Fisheries, farms, and other local food system businesses will be eligible for grants under the program to help them adapt to disruptions and to allow them to provide greater access to local food. Over the past several…
