Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 17, 2026 BEACON | FROM PAGE 17 hour period, then additional reminders every 30 minutes after that; and turning off notifi - cations between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Those default settings would also apply to users who decline to go through an age verifi cation process. Other provisions would require social media companies to off er at least one age verifi - cation method that does not require users to submit biometric data or a government ID; and allow only users who are not minors and have verifi ed their age to share their locations. “The question isn’t whether young people should be online—they already are,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “Social platforms can help children and teens learn, create and stay connected. But it is our responsibility as lawmakers to shield young people from harmful features that are designed to hook them rather than help them. Today, the Senate put the wellbeing of our kids over the interests of social media companies.” “This legislation sends a clear message that children’s wellbeing must come before social media companies’ bottom line,” said Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem (D-Newton), lead sponsor of the legislation. “Features like autoplay, infi nite scroll and algorithm-driven feeds are intentionally designed to keep young people online for as long as possible, often at the expense City of Everett PLANNING BOARD 484 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Frederick Cafasso- Chairman LEGAL NOTICE EVERETT PLANNING BOARD PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Public Hearing on an application by Anthony DiPierro & Ciriaco DiPierro Property located at: 533-535 & 537-539 Ferry Street Site Plan Review & Inclusionary Zoning In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L Chapter 40A and with Sections 6, 19, and 32 of the Everett Zoning Ordinance, the Everett Planning Board will conduct a public hearing on Monday, August 3, 2026 at 6:00PM in the Speaker George Keverian Room (Room 37, Everett City Hall) to consider the above-listed application for Site Plan Review and Special Permit for Inclusionary Zoning. This proposal is for the redevelopment of a 18,090 square foot site, which is currently occupied by a two-floor duplex-style residential structure, a one-story commercial structure, and a three-story residential structure. The proposed redevelopment contemplates the demolition of the two-floor residential structure and the one-story commercial structure on the Site, and to expand and reconstruct the three-story mixed-use building to erect a three-story mixed-use building with two commercial units on the first floor and a total of fifteen (15) residential units on the first, second, and third floor. 533-535 & 537-539 Ferry Street are parcels of land referenced by Assessor’s Department as A0-04-000050 & A0-04-000052. A copy of the application and plans are on file and available in the Office of the City Clerk and the Department of Planning and Development, both located at City Hall, 484 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149 and can be inspected online anytime at http://www.cityofeverett.com/449/PlanningBoard and/or by request during regular City Hall business hours by contacting The Planning and Development Office at 617-394-2334. All persons interested in or wishing to be heard on the applications may attend and participate in person. This project, along with all other projects to be discussed at the meeting, can be found on the posted Agenda at the following link: http://www.cityofeverett.com/AgendaCenter. Questions and comments can be directed in advance of the public hearing to Matt Lattanzi of the Department of Planning & Development at Matt.Lattanzi@ci.everett.ma.us or 617-394-2230. Frederick Cafasso Chairman July 17, 24, 2026 of their mental health. This bill takes thoughtful steps to create a safer online experience for children while protecting privacy and free speech.” “The bill passed today by the Senate aims to restore for younger users the original purpose of social media—when platforms were truly a place to connect with friends, not an endless rabbit hole of doomscrolling, self-doubt and misinformation,” said Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Provincetown). “We know that social media apps today are engineered to be incredibly addictive, relying on sophisticated behavioral science and data collection to trap users in an infi nite cycle of content curated by corporations. We also know that young people are especially vulnerable to having their mental health negatively impacted by these unending algorithmic feeds. Our bill walks a careful line of shielding minors from harmful features, while preserving their ability to fi nd connections and support online.” Only Sens. Peter Durant (R-Spencer) and Kelley Dooner (R-Taunton) voted against the bill. Dooner did not speak during debate on the Senate fl oor and also did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her why she opposed the bill. Durant said he wanted to see more parental rights included in the proposal. “Show me a bill that puts the device-level age signal in parents’ hands, set it once as set up by a mom or dad, instead of handing it to the attorney general,” Durant said. “Show me a bill whose defaults a parent can adjust in either direction because they know their 15-year-old better than anyone.” “It’s not to say it’s a horrible bill, it’s not to say that there aren’t many good portions of this bill, but for me the bill in front of us has to answer a question: Who raises the children of Massachusetts? And I’m afraid, and I’m worried that overall, the answer is, and is increasingly becoming more, that we do. The state. Parents, they can watch,” Durant added. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL GOV. HEALEY SIGNS $63.4 BILLION FISCAL 2027 STATE BUDGET – Gov. Maura Healey signed into law the $63.4 billion fi scal 2027 state budget. She did not veto any funding or policies in the bill. “This budget is about lowering people’s costs, driving economic growth and supporting our kids, all without raising any taxes or fees,” said Gov. Healey. “We’re helping families aff ord childcare, health care and higher education, increasing support for our cities, towns and schools that we know are facing fi nancial challenges, speeding up housing production to lower costs and making health insurance more aff ordable. We’re also taking important steps to protect survivors of sexual assault and make sure anyone who commits these heinous crimes is held accountable.” “Our fiscal year 2027 budget tackles some of the biggest challenges facing Massachusetts families by making smart investments that lower costs and strengthen our communities,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “From lowering the cost of childcare and free school meals to public transportation, housing and mental health services, this budget delivers meaningful support for residents while remaining fi scally responsible and protecting taxpayer dollars.” “Gov. Healey had an opportunity to provide taxpayers with some relief by vetoing unnecessary spending but instead signed a $63.4 billion budget without striking a single line item,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “Does the governor really believe there isn’t a single dollar of waste, excess or lower-priority spending in a budget of this size? At a time when families are struggling with high housing, energy and tax costs, refusing to exercise the veto pen sends the message that Beacon Hill’s spending habits matter more than taxpayers’ ability to aff ord them.” USE OF PSYCHEDELICS IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE (H 5562) – Tucked into the House Economic Development bill approved by the House is a proposed new law that would establish a pilot program under the Department of Public Health, to explore the use of psychedelics in mental health care. The proposal authorizes a maximum of three specialized mental health clinics, excluding any tied to the cannabis industry, psychedelic development or pharmaceutical companies, to use psychedelics under strict supervision. Participating clinics are tasked with reporting patient outcomes to contribute to the development of refi ned treatment protocols and regulatory frameworks for psychedelic use in mental health care. In 2024, voters rejected Question #4 (rejected 42.9 percent to 57.1 percent) asking voters if they approved of a proposed law that would allow persons aged 21 and older to grow, possess and use certain natural psychedelic substances for BEACON | SEE PAGE 19
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