To the People of Everett
To the Editor:
Let me start by saying it has been a genuine honor to serve you, the people of Everett as an elected member of the City Council. My representing you at City Hall has given me the opportunity to be involve in many of the changes that have shaped the progress of our community over the past twenty years including reforming the City Charter and downsizing city government. Even after the City Council was streamed-lined from 25 members to 11, you elected me to continue to represent you at City Hall. Your faith is humbling.
As much as I have enjoyed serving on the City Council, recent personal events have caused me to reassess my service. I have submitted my resignation from the City Council in order to be eligible to apply for the soon to be open Assistant City Clerk’s position at City Hall. In addition to my years of involvement in city government, my experience in the private sector in finance and banking, business, management and customer service round out the skills I would bring to the position. I have confirmed my eligibility under Massachusetts State Law with the State Ethics Commission. Nothing is guaranteed and I will have to apply like any candidate. Resigning from the Council is the first step.
In closing, I wish Assistant City Clerk David Ragucci a long and prosperous retirement. If appointed, I know these are big shoes to fill and I am ready for the challenge. To you my fellow Everett residents, I wish you a blessed and safe holiday season. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay safe!
Peter A. Napolitano
Senior Virus Testing Times
To the Editor:
Supermarkets and other stores have established “Senior Hours: for the elderly. The cold inclement weather season will soon be here. I would ask that the Everett testing sites consider setting aside a designated time for the elderly and the handicapped. It is going to be very difficult for them to stand in line for a long period of time. I hope that the health agencies consider some arrangements for them.
In the spirit of the HOLIDAY SEASON, maybe the “Younger Generation” would allow elderly and handicapped individuals to go in front at the testing sites. A happy & HEALTHY HOLIDAIY to ALL.
Thank you,
Bob Sansone
We Implore You to Sign S.2963
(The following letter was sent to Gov. Charlie Baker and shared with the media as well.)
Dear Gov. Baker:
I am writing you on behalf of all of the Members of the Mystic Valley Area Branch of the NAACP to implore you to sign S.2963, An Act Relative to Justice, Equity, and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth. We urge you to sign this bill immediately with no amendments; this bill will improve policing in the Commonwealth as well as help continue the fight for a more just society for all.
On Saturday, December 5, 2020 the New England Area Conference of the NAACP met and unanimously agreed to uniformly support you signing this bill with no hesitation. The New England Area Conference of the NAACP covers all NAACP Branches within the Commonwealth, as well as New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island. Policing reform is not an issue pertaining only to Minnesota and Georgia; we need reform in Massachusetts too. It is essential that we be at the forefront of policing reform in America.
Although the bill could have been stronger on limiting or abolishing qualified immunity, the Legislature’s compromise police reform package builds on many of the reforms that you have proposed. Additionally, it also includes reform measures, such as a ban on chokeholds, and giving civil-rights stakeholders equal representation with police on the police oversight board. These are common-sense reforms with broad public support.
Please take this step in ensuring that Massachusetts is at the forefront of aiming for equality for all.
Zane T. Crute
President,
Mystic Valley Area Branch of the NAACP
Assistant Secretary, New England Area
Conference of the NAACP
Finalize, Pass and Enact a COVID Relief Package
To the Editor:
With Election Day well behind us and most races settled, we renew our urgent request for action to help stave off further job loss on Main Street, especially as spiking coronavirus cases put economies across the country at further risk. A COVID RELIEF NOW Coalition survey of over 1,800 cities, counties and industry associations finds 80% of respondents indicating their financial health has been impacted negatively by COVID-19.
The time to advance the next round of COVID-related economic relief is now, during the 2020 lame-duck legislative session. Our country can’t wait until 2021. Ninety-one percent of respondents believe that without another stimulus, their business, organization or government’s condition will worsen.
New jobless claims again exceeded 700,000. There are signs that a once-nascent jobs recovery has markedly cooled—especially at the lower rungs of the income ladder. Thirty-five percent of respondents to our survey say their business, organization or government has slashed its workforce due to the current economic situation. However, the worst may be yet to come: 95% of survey respondents believe their organization or industry will face growing challenges—or be forced to shutter altogether.
Revenue shortfalls are imperiling the delivery of many public services for both city and county governments. In fact, most local governments believe they will face significant challenges in providing needed services.
Though certain segments of the economy have managed to adapt and thrive during the pandemic, others are at the mercy of coronavirus-related shutdowns, and have borne the worst of the economic fallout. Travel, for instance—which encompasses segments like lodging and transportation, but also has enormous downstream impact for industries such as restaurants, retail and business events—currently accounts for more than a third of all U.S. unemployment. Travel-supported jobs employed one in 10 Americans prior to COVID-19, but 4.5 million of those jobs are projected to be lost by year’s end.
Spiking infection rates and new rounds of restrictions have profoundly diminished the outlook for an immediate economic recovery. Earlier rounds of legislative relief never anticipated the extended length of closures and protracted reopenings. Huge numbers of the most-impacted employers have already exhausted aid funds with a recovery yet to materialize—or were left unable to access the relief programs to begin with.
Although encouraging news on a vaccine offers a ray of light at the end of a long and very dark tunnel, under the best possible scenario it will not be widely available in time to prevent the permanent loss of more businesses and the communities they sustain.
A huge and diverse coalition of business and public-sector voices has been pleading with Washington for months to reach a new relief deal. Each passing moment guarantees more job losses and a hamstrung recovery.
We urge you to finalize, pass and enact a COVID relief package into law this year. The time for federal relief and leadership is now.
Asian American Hotel
Owners Association
Cecil Staton,
President & CEO
American Apparel & Footwear Association
Stephen Lamar,
President & CEO
American Gaming
Association
Bill Miller,
President & CEO
American Hotel & Lodging Association
Chip Rogers,
President & CEO
American Society of Association Executives
Susan Robertson,
President & CEO
Go LIVE Together
Coalition
Sue Sung, Director
International Council
of Shopping Centers
Tom McGee,
President & CEO
International
Franchise Association
Robert Cresanti,
President & CEO
National Association
of Counties
Matthew D. Chase, CEO/Executive Director
National Conference of State Legislatures
National Governors Association
Bill McBride,
Executive Director
National League
of Cities
Clarence E. Anthony,
CEO & Executive
Director
National Restaurant Association
Tom Bené,
President & CEO
National Retail
Federation
Matthew R. Shay,
President & CEO
Small Business &
Entrepreneurship Council
Karen Kerrigan,
President & CEO
Society of Independent Show Organizers
David Audrain,
Executive Director
The United States
Conference of Mayors
Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director
U.S. Travel Association
Roger Dow,
President & CEO