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Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, March 20, 2020 ~ Letter to the Editor ~ Moulton: “It is going to get worse before it gets better” Dear Editor: Over the past week, the virus has developed into a pandemic, and we now face a critical week as a country. We all have to do our part. Decisions like whether business leaders let their employees telecommute, or whether we keep ourselves and our families healthy at home (practicing good hygiene, social distancing, sleeping well, and selfquarantining if we are sick) will determine how many people become severely ill. It’s too late to contain the virus, but we can act decisively to flatten the curve of how quickly it spreads so that our healthcare system does not get overwhelmed. This might sound alarming if your first introduction to this crisis was the cancellation of pro sporting events this week, but we have to take this seriously. This is real, and it is going to get worse before it gets better. For too long, prominent government officials have been downplaying the crisis and delaying preparations, but you can count on straight talk from my team and me. Rather than panic and overreact, we should take the time now to prepare, acting confidently and decisively, much like we would in advance of a large blizzard or hurricane. If some of this looks and sounds familiar, you may already be following the reading list my office is updating daily with the news and research we use to keep ourselves informed of the latest facts and science. For example, did you know: • The United States is behind on testing the public, limiting our ability to track and respond. • Early and aggressive intervention is our best bet to keep the outbreak under control, as interactive models in the New York Times demonstrate. • The healthy and the sick will both face added stress during the outbreak from the isolation paradox. Take steps to improve your mental health. Here are some reminders: • Wash your hands with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds. • Cover your mouth, ideally with a tissue or elbow, when you cough or sneeze. • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Minimize touching your eyes, nose, and face. • Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently touched by others. • If you are not feeling well, stay home from work and get better. • Get a flu shot to stay healthy and out of the doctor’s office. • Get plenty of sleep. It boosts the immune system. • Plan for meals at home, just like you prepare for a hurricane. Don’t forget your pets! • A family can go through soap, paper goods, feminine products and diapers pretty quick. Check your supply. • If you take prescription medication, don’t forget your next refill. ~ Op-Ed ~ Urgent Challenges: Why I’m Running for State Representative By Joe Gravellese L ast week, I announced my campaign for State Representative for Revere, Chelsea, and Saugus. I’m proud to be born and raised in Revere – son of a union operating engineer, grandson of a union teamster, and a graduate of Revere High School. I’m running because I deeply love my community, and want to give back to this place that has shaped me. In my lifetime, there has never been a serious competition for this seat. With Massachusetts facing so many challenges that threaten our future, the residents of Revere, Chelsea, and Saugus deserve a positive and thoughtful debate. Our public transportation system has been chronically underfunded – leaving it unsafe, unreliable, and out of reach to too many commuASKS| from page 13 the students getting back up to speed. Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini We are in some challenging times for sure. This virus is proving to be an unprecedented test, not only a test for Saugus or Massachusetts or the USA but a test for the entire world. nities. This forces more commuters on to our crowded and crumbling roads and bridges. The Boston area has the worst congestion in the nation. We must fix this. Housing costs are pushing an entire generation out of Greater Boston. Not enough communities have access to reliable transportation, so neighborhoods that do have MBTA access see prices go through the roof, as demand far exceeds supply. Mid-sized, modest housing for working families is essentially illegal to build in most cities and towns. We must fix this. The working class jobs of the future are arriving in Greater Boston – but community college, associate’s degrees and job training programs remain out of reach to too many people due to cost or lack of access. Students who want to attend technical and vocational schools face waiting lists and not enough This is a worry some always pondered that quickly became a reality. I feel the town has enacted some critical measures to help keep our residents safe and to continue to share information as it becomes available. The Town Manager’s recent update last evening outlined several key steps that have been taken including: we hired a secseats. We must fix this. Cities like Revere have worked hard to tackle the opioid crisis and have seen some success, with overdose deaths down over 40% in three years since the Substance Use Disorder Initiatives office opened. But we still have a lot of work to do. In far too many communities, evidence-based strategies to address substance abuse are not embraced due to stigma. We must fix this. Climate change is not a future problem – it’s today’s problem. Residents are already being impacted by historic storms and flooding, and escalating flood insurance costs. Sea level rise will impact our district within my lifetime. We need to urgently move away from fossil fuels and push for 100% clean, renewable energy – a transition that will not only make our air and water cleaner, but will also create a ond health department nurse as an additional resource to our administration and residents, hired Joe Tabbi to work within the health department as he was a longtime health director in Saugus, hired two additional custodians to clean all town facilities regularly, closed access to town buildings to help reduce the spread of the virus new generation of good jobs. We also must work to upgrade our seawall and make our communities more resilient. My experience prepares me to deliver results for our district. While working at the State House for Rep. Lori Ehrlich, I helped build coalitions and advance legislation to hold utility companies accountable for gas leaks, protect working people from exploitation, and push Massachusetts toward a clean energy future. At Revere City Hall, I was part of the team that worked on the nuts and bolts of making government work better – increasing access to substance abuse treatment, re-launching the city’s disabilities commission, expanding public health and recreation programs, and making government more transparent and accountable. If elected as your Representative, I can’t promise that you’ll and several other steps in an effort to protect our residents and slow/prevent the spread of the virus. I strongly encourage each and every resident to check in regularly on elders and abide by the health suggestions issued from the state including: avoid contact with large groups (including groups of friends agree with me on every issue. But I can promise you that I will always listen, that I will always fight for you, and that I will always be honest and transparent. I can promise you that I will always stand up for my values, but I will also be willing to roll up my sleeves, find common ground, and work with anyone who has good ideas on how to tackle the big challenges we all face. We must be clear-eyed about this moment: we need serious action to tackle issues like transportation, housing, public health, the environment, and job training. I’m ready to fight hard and deliver results. If you want to learn more, or if you’re ready to join me, visit www.joegrav.com, attend my Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 PM, or to commit to supporting me in the primary election on September 1. getting together to pass the time), go outside and get fresh air, wash your hands regularly, encourage your children to also stay close to home. I feel we are all in this together, and if we can embrace these restrictions now, it will most definitely help restrict the spread of the virus and expedite the path to normalcy. • Need new contact lenses? Is that hearing-aid battery running low? Think through over the counter medicines next time you are at the pharmacy. • Mental health matters. Break out your favorite books, games, and household activities from the attic. On my website, my team and I explain how we are following the call from public health officials for social distancing. We have a three-tiered system that explains how we continue operating at different threat levels. That way people know exactly what to expect, and also what the next step will be if we get there. If you run a business or you’re just looking for a guide to make your own teleworking plan, please feel free to copy ours. My team in Washington is currently operating at Threat Level 3 within our policy levels. My team in Salem is at Threat Level 2. Over the last few days, I have been speaking with mayors and town officials, school superintendents, hospital officials, other government leaders, and many of you to better understand the situation and assist our response. We are all in this together! This week, as the governor declared a state of emergency, we converted our previously scheduled town halls into virtual town halls and Q&A sessions to do our part to keep people safe. You can check out the first remote conversation I held this week. I have another town hall scheduled for Monday. Though my team and I are mostly working remotely, we remain hard at work for you around the clock. You can continue to contact my office online or get help with a federal agency. You can also call my team in Salem, Mass. at (978) 531-1669 or Washington D.C. at (202) 225-8020. We will be answering the phones and returning calls as fast as we can. Sincerely, Congressman Seth Moulton

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