Garballey named to Special Joint Committee on Redistricting

Rep. Sean Garballey, Democrat of Arlington, has been appointed to the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting. After the latest 10-year US census is released, the US Constitution requires changes to boundaries of House, Senate, Governor’s Council and congressional districts to accommodate shifts in population and to provide equal representation to its citizens. 

The redistricting committee will solicit testimony at a minimum of 12 hearings throughout the commonwealth. The committee will also host a website to provide redistricting information to the public, publicize the hearing and meeting schedule, and provide a means to contact the committee to submit questions, comments or materials.

“This is an extremely important committee, and I very much appreciate being appointed to it and look forward to the work ahead,” Garballey said in a news release. “This process must be a transparent one that will allow every single citizen of the commonwealth to testify publicly or electronically. This committee will work directly with its citizens as we work to redraw the district lines across the state.”

Special Joint Committee on Redistricting hearing schedule:

May 2, 6 p.m., Massasoit Community College, Massasoit Conference Center, 770 Crescent St.

May 14, 10 a.m., Joseph Lee Elementary School, Perkins Community Center, 155 Talbot Ave., Boston. 

May 16, 6 p.m., New Bedford Public Library, 613 Pleasant St., New Bedford.

May 3, 6 p.m., Greenfield Community College, Sloan Theater 1 College Drive, Greenfield.

June 6, 6 p.m., Quincy High School, 52 Coddington St., Quincy.

June 11, 10 a.m., Pittsfield City Hall, City Council Chambers, 70 Allen St., Pittsfield.

June 13, 6 p.m., Lawrence High School, Lecture Hall, 71 N. Parish Road, Lawrence.

June 18, 10 a.m., Framingham State University, Forum Room at the McCarthy Center, 100 State St., Framingham.

June 20, 6 p.m., Lynn City Hall, City Council Chambers, 3 City Hall Square, Lynn.

June 27, 6 p.m., Cape Cod Community College, Tilden Arts Center, 2240 Iyannough Road, Barnstable.

Members of the public can also testify on the Redistricting Committees website.

House Passes Bill Authorizing $200 Million for Municipal Road and Bridge Maintenance

Last Thursday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation to authorize $200 million for the maintenance and upkeep of municipal roads and bridges across the Commonwealth.  This bill represents an overall increase of 29% more than last year’s allocation.

The town of Arlington will receive $783,973 and the city of Medford will receive over $956,798. Arlington will be allocated an increase of $174,475 as Medford will receive an increase of $209,156. Both of these increases represent 28% more than last years allocations. The money from this legislation will help to improve public infrastructure, thereby keeping our residents on the roads safer throughout the Commonwealth.

Boil Order in effect for Arlington and Medford – 5/1/2010

Water service to all MWRA customer communities east of Weston has been interrupted by a major water pipe break in Weston.  Due to this break, A BOIL WATER ORDER IS BEING ISSUED FOR DRINKING WATER FOR ALL MWRA COMMUNITIES EAST OF WESTON UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. In addition, emergency water conservation measures are being implemented for all impacted communities.  A complete list of MWRA water communities is attached.

MWRA is activating its emergency water supplies such as the Sudbury Aqueduct, Chestnut Hill Reservoir and Spot Pond Reservoir. THIS WATER WILL NOT BE SUITABLE FOR DRINKING, but can be used for bathing, flushing and fire protection.

The leak is located at the location where the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel meets the City Tunnel on Recreation Road. This 120-inch diameter pipe transports water to our communities east of Weston – as far north as Wilmington and south to Stoughton.  Water is leaking into the Charles River at rate of over 8 million gallons an hour. MWRA crews are on site; engineers are assessing the situation to determine next steps.

Updates will be posted on Mass.gov and MWRA’s website atwww.mwra.com throughout the event.

US HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD FIELD BRIEFING IN BOSTON

The US House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law announced that will be holding a Congressional Field Briefing in Boston on Monday, April 12th, at 1:00pm in the Gardner Auditorium.  The purpose of this hearing will be to inform the Subcommittee on the recent release of the OxyContin and Heroin Commission report with a focus on the federal government’s response to the opioid epidemic.

“I am pleased that the US House decided to hold this important hearing in Boston.  The epidemic of addiction continues to plague our citizens and does not discriminate based on age, sex, race or economic status. With as many as two individuals in the Commonwealth dying each day of drug overdoses, we must continue to be aggressive and change our response, both as a state and nationally, to a crisis that is crippling our communities,” said State Senator Steven A. Tolman (D-Brighton).  “I commend Chairman Cohen and Congressman Delahunt for looking at the federal response to this issue and I look forward to engaging with the Subcommittee to develop new federal policies.”

“The report put forth by the Massachusetts OxyContin and Heroin Commission is excellent, and reflects an in-depth review of an epidemic that is devastating to individuals, families, and the community,” said Congressman Bill Delahunt.  “Moreover, until it is successfully addressed, healthcare costs will continue to escalate and impact our economy.  This crisis is not limited to Massachusetts, and therefore I am holding this field briefing so that Members of the Judiciary Committee can understand how the federal government can assist states and communities in addressing the issues highlighted in the report. I would be remiss not to note the leadership of Senator Tolman, and thank him and every member of the commission for their extraordinary effort and commitment.” 

The hearing is the product of coordination between the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation and the OxyContin and Heroin Commission to address substance abuse issues nationwide.  The hearing is open to the public; however, testimony is by invitation only.  Senator Tolman was the chair of the recent OxyContin and Heroin Commission and served as chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse from 2005-2007 in the Massachusetts General Court.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS FY 2011 BUDGET HEARINGS

The full schedule of 2010’s Ways and Means budget hearings can be found here. The hearings are open to the public and each focuses on specific state agencis.  The hearings will be held over the next month, culminating with a public hearing on March 5th in the Gardner Auditorum of the State House.  All hearings will begin at 10 a.m.