EVT EVE ER T Vol. 34, No.17 -FREET www.advocatenews.net Your Local News & Sports Online! Scan & Subscribe! ADDOCCO TEAT Free Every Friday Tide baseball beats Revere to secure sixth win in nine games 617-387-2200 Friday, April 25, 2025 FEMA cuts $49M-plus from Island End River Flood Resilience Project By Neil Zolot E verett and Chelsea could lose $49,999,999 in fundBRUSH BACK: Everett’s Albert Santana backs up to avoid being hit by a Revere pitch during Monday GBL matchup at Glendale Park. The Tide team won, 5-4. See photo highlights and sports coverage inside. (Advocate photo by Emily Harney) ing for the Island End River Flood Resilience Project as a result of the Trump Administration’s cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program (BRIC), which provides disaster prevention aid to municipalities across Massachusetts. The action revokes $90 million for 18 Massachusetts communities, a regional planning commission and two state agencies. The funds allocated for this project is the largest award in the state for 500 acres with businesses that produce over $7 billion annually in local economic activity. “Losing Federal Emergency F. J. LaRovere Insurance Agency, Inc. 492 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-9700 phone 617-387-9702 fax INSURANCE FOR AUTO, HOME, AND BUSINESS We offer very competitive rates, and by representing many different companies we can shop for the best price for our customers. Call us today! Open Monday – Friday 9am-5pm and Saturdays 9am-12pm Messinger Insurance Agency 475 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-2700 phone 617-387-7753 fax Management Agency (FEMA) funding that was initially approved in 2018 under the Trump Administration means not being able to address critical fl ooding that often threatens thousands of residential homes, access to our regional supply of fresh produce as well as a major and vital transportation corridor to the North Shore,” Mayor Carlo DeMaria reacted. “In addition to crippling our regional economy, this flooding is expected to happen almost weekly within fi ve years and would cause the release of petrochemicals and hazardous materials that had been isolated for public health and safety.” The area in question is the two banks of the Island End River. The Everett side to the west is an industrial area. The Chelsea side to the east is Admiral’s Hill and Mary O’Malley Park. “The Island End River (IER) is a tributary to the Mystic River and is tidally infl uenced,” begins the 202-page February 2023 Expanded Environmental Notifi cation Form submitted by Everett and Chelsea to the state Executive Offi ce of Energy and Environmental Aff airs prepared by consultants Fort Point Associates. “The area is home to critical infrastructure including the New England Produce Center, the regional FBI headquarters, Mass. General Hospital, Chelsea’s Carter Street Pump Station, Williams Middle School and High School.” It also calls the project “critical for the flood protection PROJECT | SEE PAGE 6
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