Page 20 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MARCH 1, 2024 BEACON | FROM PAGE 18 has passed this crucial prescription drug legislation,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Healthcare is all about accessibility and affordability, and this reform-minded consumer focused bill will allow increased access to prescription drugs while also considerably driving down the cost of everyday medications.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL INCREASE FINES FOR VIOLATING HANDICAPPED PARKING (H 3261) – The House gave initial approval to a proposal that would allow cities and towns to increase the current $300 maximum fine for parking illegally in a parking space reserved for handicapped persons. That $300 fine is set by the state and goes into the municipalities’ General Fund. The measure would allow cities and towns to impose an additional $450 fine - making the total fine $750. The additional $450 would be placed into a specialized local account to be used for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades in the city or town where the violation occurred. The original $300 fine would still go into the community’s General Fund. “In my district and across the state, cities and towns through commissions on disabilities have plans to make their communities more accessible,” said sponsor Rep. Bruce Ayers (D-Quincy). “However, oftentimes a lack of funding prevents them from enacting their plans. This bill allows them to place some of the financial burden on the backs of those who violate the laws that exist to protect the rights of people with disabilities, and to provide for greater opportunities of access.” CHANGE ARCHAIC LANGUAGE REFERRING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (H 4396) – The House gave initial approval to a bill that would modernize written state laws to reflect the evolution of terminology relating to persons with disabilities. Changes include replacing “handicapped persons” with “persons with disabilities,” replacing “the mentally retarded” with “persons with an intellectual disability,” replacing “retarded children” with “children with an intellectual disability” and replacing “disabled American veterans” with “American veterans with disabilities.” Supporters said the primary objective of the bill is to identify and eliminate outdated, archaic language from the General Laws of Massachusetts and replace it with more respectful, person-first language. They noted that once the archaic language was found, they contacted the relevant state agency or office to confirm that the bill would have no unforeseen consequences, such as impacting funding or access to services. “Modernizing state statutes to reflect the evolution of terminology relating to persons with disabilities is an essential step the commonwealth can take to reflect the respect that we should have for all residents,” said sponsor Rep. Mike Finn (D-West Springfield). “Getting the bill to this point is a result of collaboration between many executive offices, stakeholders and legislative committees.My hope is that the latest version of the bill will pass legislative scrutiny and reach the finish line this session.Working on this bill in particular has been an honor because it represents my own personal beliefs about how every individual in this commonwealth deserves to be treated with dignity.” NOAH FERNANDES MITOCHONDRIAL AWARENESS DAY (H 4140) – The House gave initial approval to a bill designating the Friday of the third full week of September as Noah Fernandes Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Day, CITY OF EVERETT - LEGAL NOTICE - ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS 484 BROADWAY, ROOM 24 EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS 02149 To Whom It May Concern: This notice is to inform you that a public hearing will be held on Monday March 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM, Everett City Hall, 3rd Floor George Keverian Hearing Room. All interested parties may attend and opinions will be heard regarding the following petition. Whereas a petition has been presented by: Property Address: Map/Parcel: District 19 Paris St. K0-08-000006 Industrial Limited Person Requesting: Gabriel Silva 19 Paris St. Everett, MA 02149 PROPOSAL: Demolish existing two –family structure and construct five-unit townhouse structures. Reason for Denial: The existing residential use is not permitted use in the Industrial Limited District. According to Section 21.A of the Zoning Ordinance This use predates current zoning requirements and is therefore a lawfully preexisting, nonconforming use. Pursuant to Section 3.C of the Zoning Ordinance, a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals is required to reconstruct, alter or extend a preexisting, nonconforming use. Please also note that the project will require site plan approval from the Planning Board. MARY GERACE- Chairman ROBERTA SUPPA - Clerk of Board of Appeals March 1, 8, 2024 in recognition of the Team Noah Foundation, whose goal is to alleviate the financial and emotional stress by providing transportation and home improvements to families with children who are affected by Mitochondrial Disease and other developmental disabilities. “Noah Fernandes was the son of a friend, Victor Fernandes, who is a business leader in New Bedford and very involved in our community,” said sponsor Rep. Tony Cabral (D-New Bedford). “Noah was diagnosed with Melas, one of the most severe forms of Mitochondrial disease when he was five years old. For the next 10 years, Noah’s muscular and mental condition deteriorated as juvenile dementia overtook his body and left him unable to move or speak until he passed away at age 15.” Cabral continued, “Within their grief, Victor and Noah’s mom, Christine Fernandes, launched the Team Noah Foundation – a non-profit which helps the families of severely disabled children with conversion projects to make their homes more handicap-accessible and to help provide specialized vans, bicycles and other transportation needs. The Team Noah Foundation also was the driving force behind the Noah’s Place Playground in New Bedford which is the largest and most inclusive playground in New England. Given the great work that the Team Noah Foundation does, in the memory of Noah Fernandes, it seemed only fitting to acknowledge this and bring awareness of this disease to the state level.” MARIJUANA AND FIRST RESPONDERS (S 48) – The Committee on Cannabis Policy has given a favorable report and recommended passage of a measure that would require the Cannabis Control Commission and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to study and report to the Legislature on the barriers that first responders face about their legal right to use cannabis. “As we move away from cannabis prohibition, we should ensure we do not hold on to pre-existing, bias-driven bans,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “I filed [the bill] to investigate the existing barriers to first responders’ legal right to use cannabis … The bill would also explore the effectiveness of cannabis in treating anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD and other traumas.” DECLARE RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS (S 1412) – The Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee gave a favorable report and recommended passage of legislation that would declare racism as a public health crisis and direct the Office of Health Equity to develop policies to dismantle systemic racism impacting health and establish programs focused on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases disproportionately impacting communities of color. FREE DIAPERS (H 149) – Another proposal given a favorable report by the Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee would create a pilot program to provide free diapers to low-income families at food pantries. “Access to new, clean diapers is necessary to preserve our babies’ health,” says sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “No parent should have to resort to reusing soiled diapers due to an inability to pay or have to undergo further economic hardships to acquire diapers. This legislation puts the well-being of our infants and families where it should be, at the forefront.” AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (S 2589) – The Education Committee gave a favorable report BEACON | SEE PAGE 21
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