THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 10, 2020 Page 5 DiDomenico secures $1.75M for Everett in General Government Bond Bill S tate Senator Sal DiDomenico and his colleagues in the State Senate recently passed a General Government Bond Bill focused on capital improvements to strengthen government infrastructure, empower communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system, support early education and care providers with safe reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic, and expand equitable access to remote learning opportunities for vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth. During the Senate debate of the bond bill, DiDomenico secured a total of $1.75 million in additional funding for Everett. This funding includes: • $1.5 million to address the racial disparities in education, housing and small businesses in Everett • $250,000 for free wireless internet in parks and other public spaces in Everett DiDomenico also secured an amendment during the debate for $5 million for the development of a common application for MassHealth enrollees to more easily access the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). DiDomenico has been a longtime champion of food security in the Commonwealth and has been fi ling legislation for years to streamline the process for individuals and families applying for federal SNAP benefi ts in order to help people more easily access the nutritional resources they need. “In addition to authorizing capital investments critically needed across our state, I am very pleased that this bond bill includes a strong focus on investing in historically underserved groups and empowering economically disadvantaged communities, such as the city of Everett,” said DiDomenico. “I am especially proud data system modernization to help better track racial and ethnic disparities across the judicial and public safety systems. To ensure equitable access to Sal DiDomenico State Senator to report that this bond bill includes a total of $1.75 million in funding that I was able to secure for our Everett community, and for vital food security initiatives that I have been advocating on behalf of for many years now. I would like to thank Senate President Karen Spilka and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for their partnership in ensuring that our community receives the support that it needs during these diffi cult times.” Building on the Senate’s urgent eff orts to address issues of racial equity and support communities of color, this bond bill authorizes $50 million in new economic empowerment and community reinvestment capital grants to support communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system with access to economic and workforce development opportunities. In addition to empowering economically disadvantaged communities, the Senate’s bond bill authorizes capital investments to ensure accountability in public safety and modernize criminal justice data collection by providing $20 million for a body camera grant program for police departments and $10 million for a statewide criminal justice Reopening date for Health & Wellness Center yet to be determined G yms across Massachusetts are now permitted to open under Phase 3 of Governor Charlie Baker’s Reopening Plan. Many residents have inquired about the city’s plan to reopen the Health & Wellness Center. At this time, the date to reopen remains uncertain due to the inability to predict what state aid and federal funding will be available. The city has made great strides in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases. For the first time since March, there were no new positive cases on July 4. In order to continue moving forward, it is critical that the city take any and all precautions to DATE | SEE PAGE 13 WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS! 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The bill also addresses growing food insecurity and food supply chain needs across the Commonwealth due to the COVID-19 pandemic by authorizing $37 million for a food security grant program to address infrastructure needs for farms, retailers, fi sheries, food system businesses, and food distribution channels. The $1.7 billion bond bill provides: • $140 million for cybersecurity upgrades to improve the Commonwealth’s technology and telecommunications infrastructure • $115 million for municipal library improvements • $100 million for governmental performance and informational technology infrastructure upgrades • $30 million for public higher education public safety grants • $25 million for fi re safety equipment grants • $20 million for municipal broadband access grants • $2.9 million for a public health data warehouse to track population health trends, such as COVID-19 • $2.5 million for implementation of an automated electronic sealing process to seal certain criminal records The bill returns to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where a similar bill passed in May. 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