Senator Jehlen Newsletter RECEIVED Jan 13, 2021

 

Dear Neighbor, December 21, winter solstice, is the "longest night" of the year. But last Tuesday, January 4, the last day of the legislative session was our longest night, stretching until 4:41 am the next day.  While Georgia voters were making history, the Massachusetts legislature passed dozens of important bills which had been in the works for months or years, and overrode over a hundred of the governor's vetoes of budget items.  Behind every successful bill is sustained organizing and advocacy by many many residents.  In every case, there are too many people and organizations to name, but progress would not have been possible without their work.  Almost every reader of this newsletter will find something they worked on here.  And almost everyone will find more work to do. Here are some of the bills I worked on and some other important bills that passed that night.  I won't try to give a lot of information but you can follow up through links.   Combined Sewer Overflows Congratulations to Rep. Denise Provost: After years of advocacy and organizing, we passed this important bill to require notification of the public when sewage is discharged into rivers.  Mass Rivers Alliance, over 40 environmental groups, and Rep. Linda Dean Campbell of the Merrimack watershed brought important state-wide support. Here are good reports from WBUR and the Somerville Times.  The best summary of the history is in Rep. Provost's final newsletter.  If you don't get it, I can forward it to you, or you can ask her. My previous newsletter on CSOs is here.  I'm happy to say the governor signed the bill yesterday. Laura's Law Peter' DeMarco's wife, Laura Levis, tragically died just steps from the poorly lighted and inadequately marked entrance to the emergency room at Cambridge Health Alliance's Somerville Hospital.  Peter worked tirelessly with Rep. Christine Barber and me to pass Laura's Law, requiring hospital emergency departments to have entrances that are properly monitored by security, clearly marked, and easily accessible.  I have since learned of other cases of other emergency rooms with confusing entrances, and I'm sure this bill will prevent future loss of life.  The governor plans to sign the bill Friday.  Here's my newsletter about the bill. Housing protections Although we were not able to extend the eviction moratorium, we passed important tenant protections that the governor tried to amend.  We rejected his amendments and re-enacted a bill to:   -  require that landlords include information on rights and resources when giving tenants a Notice to Quit (the first step in eviction);       - pause the eviction process while a tenant has a pending application for rental assistance;    - create a task force to monitor the governor's Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) so the legislature can make needed changes     - require detailed monthly reporting on the implementation and results of the EDI. Climate Change Conference Committee Bill The Climate Change bill sets a zero greenhouse gas emissions standard for 2050.  More important, it sets 5-year goals.  It requires a plan to get to zero emissions, and provides new tools for advancing environmental justice.  For more, see Sen. Michael Barrett's statement and the Globe editorial.  We hope the governor signs the bill. Economic Development Conference Committee Bill The Economic Development bill includes $626.5 million in funding for many initiatives from Cultural Council grants to affordable housing.  It also includes lots of policies: - Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (In municipalities which adopt it, this will make it possible for tenants in multi-family properties to buy their homes by matching a third-party's offer.  The option to purchase can be assigned to a non-profit to keep the homes affordable.) - Sealing of no-fault evictions - A 15% cap on restaurant delivery fees - Student Loan Bill of Rights - $500,000 for menstrual supplies in shelters (thanks to MassNOW and Reps. Christine Barber and Jay Livingstone for their work on this issue) - the Housing Choices plan that makes it easier to change zoning laws (I will write about this sometime soon) Transportation Bond Conference Committee Bill The Transportation Bond Bill authorizes billions of dollars in bonds for highway and bridge maintenance, train modernization, and major capital projects including $595 million for the Green Line Extension and $100 million for Phase II.   It also includes: - Increasing the 20 cent flat per-ride fees for Uber, Lyft and other app-based services.      - Individual trips will be $1.20;    - Shared trips will have a 40-cent fee     - Greater Boston rides will have an additional 20-cent fee;    - luxury services will have an additional $1 charge. - Lowering fines and barring arrests for fare evasion on transit systems - Requiring the MBTA to make a plan for a discount for low-income riders - Establishing a commission to study road-pricing and tolling ideas. Craft Brewers Massachusetts has over 200 craft brewers, many in our district.  Under previous state law, it was almost impossible to break up with their wholesalers, even if the distributors no longer properly promote their beer they make, or box the brewers out of a certain market.  This bill allows small brewers (all but Sam Adams) to leave their distributors. Maternal disparities A new commission will be formed to reduce maternal disparities.  Shockingly, in a country that prides itself on "world class" health care, Black women are two to three times more likely to die of pregnancy related causes than white women, and for women over thirty, the disparity is four to five times.  And the disparity isn't going down. MBTA restoration of service and projects Sen. Jason Lewis' bill is a response to the MBTA's plans to cut services, close stations, and stop long-delayed capital projects.  It requires the T to restore services and restart projects as money becomes available.  It also requires public hearings before future suspensions or closures. We were pleased that the T announced Monday that it would continue and expedite rebuilding of the Winchester Center station.  This was especially good news, since the station was closed last Friday due to safety concerns for which the town had long sought solutions. Seal and Flag A campaign by Native people, Sen. Jason Lewis, and many others helped pass a bill to create a commission to design a new state flag, seal and motto.  The present state flag and seal depict a Native person standing beneath a white arm holding a naked Colonial broadsword, with the Latin motto, “By the sword we seek peace….” and has been described by Elizabeth Solomon of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag as promoting "a history of conquest, appropriation, and genocide.”  (image from changethemassflag.com).  Sexual Assault This bill will require public and private colleges to craft policies on reporting and dealing with campus sexual assault.  It would require annual reports from schools on the number of reports of sexual misconduct. More news soon.  Watch for your invitation to this year's virtual Soup Party - this Sunday! Stay safe and stay in touch!