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THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, AugusT 9, 2024 Page 19 BEACON | FROM PAGE 18 that we are lucky to receive,” said Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), Senate sponsor of the bill. “For this reason, it is critical that we ensure all businesses entrusted with the care of our family adhere to proper health and safety protocols no matter what town they operate in across the commonwealth. Too often, we have heard devastating stories of pets like Ollie who have been injured or killed due to negligent care. These people have no place caring for such precious creatures and it’s time that we implement consistent standards across Massachusetts.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL FISCAL 2025 STATE BUDGET (H 4800) – Gov. Healey, after vetoing several items, signed into law a $58 billion fiscal 2025 state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2024. The price tag represents a 1.97 billion or 3.5 percent increase over last year’s fiscal 2024 budget. “Massachusetts is the leader in innovation and education, the best place to raise your family or grow a business,” said Healey. “But we also face challenges, so we aren’t resting – we’re going on offense. This budget delivers on our shared priorities and drives our state forward with urgency and purpose. It invests in areas that we are already leading on and makes them better – including our number 1 ranked schools and our nation-leading childcare strategy. We’re also tackling our biggest challenges by lowering household costs and improving transportation. We’re doing all of this responsibly, staying within our means and in line with the rate of inflation.” “Once again, the Massachusetts budget is the latest state budget to pass in the country and once again, it’s the largest state budget in our commonwealth’s history,” said Paul Craney, spokesman for the Mass Fiscal Alliance. “What should also concern every Massachusetts taxpayer is the fact that the Legislature and governor are spending over a billion dollars a year on the illegal and inadmissible migrants, which comes out to be about $3 million dollars a day. Every town and city in Massachusetts could use that money for their workers, schools and first responders but instead, Statehouse leaders are spending these valuable taxpayer resources on illegal and inadmissible migrants.” WAGE TRANSPARENCY (H 4890) - Gov. Healey signed into law a bill, named the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act, in honor of the first woman to serve as U.S. Labor Secretary. The measure would require employers with 25 or more employees to disclose a salary range when posting a job position. The measure also would require employers with 100 or more employees to file annual employment data reports, including information on employee demographics and salaries, with the state. “I have long supported wage equity legislation and, as attorney general, I was proud to work together with the business community to implement the 2016 Equal Pay Act,” said Gov. Healey. “This new law is an important next step toward closing wage gaps, especially for people of color and women. It will also strengthen the ability of Massachusetts employers to build diverse, talented teams.” “I am proud that we as a commonwealth are taking concrete and nation-leading steps to close long-standing gender and racial wage gaps that persist across our economy,” said Sen. Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough) a lead supporter of the bill. “These gaps not only erode the integrity of work in the commonwealth but also continue to exacerbate an uneven economy for working people, especially women and people of color who have historically faced persistent and glaring inequities in the workplace. By bringing partners in labor, business and community together to establish common sense wage and workplace transparency, we will ensure Massachusetts can continue attracting and retaining diverse and skilled workers that enable our commonwealth to compete and thrive. With the signing of this bill, workers are empowered and businesses are supported.” $1.26 BILLION BOND FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (H 4889) – Gov. Healey signed into law a bill that would invest in information technology (IT) upgrades, improvements and new projects across state government. The measure authorizes $1.23 billion in bonded spending and $400 million in anticipated federal funds. “We’ve talked a lot about this administration’s desire to lean into applied artificial intelligence in ways that benefit not only the way the state delivers services to residents and businesses, but also the way that our businesses and economic sector are able to thrive,” said Healey. “And we think that making applied AI a cornerstone of our economic development bill is really important. It’s further supported by this FutureTech Act.” “When it comes to advancing the delivery of government services for our residents and for our state and municipal workers, information technology opens that digital door to meet people where they are,” said Chief Information Officer and Technology Services Secretary Jason Snyder. “The impact of IT on the services the commonwealth provides cannot be overstated. To that end, we are already hard at work on many of the investments in this legislation.” DISABILITY PENSION FOR POLICE OFFICERS (H 2536) – Gov. Healey signed into law legislation that would provide police officers who have suffered a violent act injury, 100 percent regular compensation and pension benefits, until they reach the age of mandatory retirement. Violent act injury is defined as “a serious and permanent personal bodily injury sustained as a direct and proximate result of a violent attack upon a person by means of a dangerous weapon, including a firearm, knife, automobile, explosive device or other dangerous weapon.” “Our first responders go above and beyond to keep our communities safe and respond to emergencies,” said Gov. Healey. “That’s why it’s critical that we support them when they experience emergencies of their own. This legislation ensures that first responders who are injured in the line of duty have access to the pay and health care, including mental health care, that they need to support their families and their road to recovery.” Supporters said that under current law, a first responder forced to retire due to a violent act injury can only receive benefits through the local retirement board via the home rule legislative process. They said this process is onerous and has resulted in disparate benefits being granted on a case-by-case basis. “This legislation ensures that first responders who are forced to retire due to a violent injury received in the line of duty do not struggle to make ends meet,” said Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington). “Frankly, this cannot come soon enough. Rec~ Legal Notice ~ CITY OF EVERETT NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Notice is hereby given that the City of Everett, acting through the Department of Planning and Development, will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Connolly Center, 90 Chelsea Street, Everett, MA 02149. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit input for the Chelsea Street Park Design Project. Any person or organization so wishing will be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Suggestions for CDS amendments may be made at the meeting or in writing to the Department of Planning and Development before the meeting. The City encourages a broad spectrum of participation by residents and other interested parties to better understand and serve the needs of the community. The meeting location is accessible to persons with physical disabilities. If you require a translator, an accommodation for a hearing impairment or other accommodation, contact the Department of Planning and Development no later than Monday, August 12, 2024, at City Hall, by contacting Matt Lattanzi matt.lattanzi@ci.everett.ma.us or calling 617-394-2334. August 09, 2024 ~ Legal Notice ~ A.G. Quealy Towing, Inc. Notice is hereby given by: A.G. Quealy Towing, Inc., 26 Garvey St., Everett, MA 02149 pursuant to the provisions of G.L.c.255, Section 39A, that on or after 08-19-2024 the following Motor Vehicles will be sold to satisfy the garage keeper’s lein thereon for storage, towing charges, care and expenses of notice and sale of said vehicles. Vehicle 2001 Acura MDX 2011 Cadillac SRX Black 2002 GMC Yukon XL Black X-P ro Moped Milan 150 White 2005 Mazda Mazda3 2023 Flying Wing 2oo Black 2017 Genuine Scooter Co. Buddy Eclipse 50 Black Moped Scooter 2011 GMC Terrain 2007 Chevrolet Equinox Green 2015 Subaru WRX Blue 2006 Kawasaki 2020 Yongfu VIN 2HNYD18221H502633 3GYFNAEYXBS664392 GKFK66U52J333961 LFETCKNB6N1000010 JM1BK32F151343469 H0DTAEF2XPX055961 RFVPAP5A3H1120411 LL0TCAPH0MG004638 L8YTCAP72PY400035 2CTFLVEC6B6234143 2CNDL73F476039284 JF1VA1D61F9817690 ZX636 JKBZXJC116A045146 LL0TCAPHXLY761362 August 02, 09, 16, 2024 ognizing the extreme burden placed on these first responders and their families, mandating 100 percent compensation until retirement age is the right way to honor their service and sacrifice.” Rep. Steve Xiarhos (R-Barnstable) said workers who are the victims of traumatic events at work would also be eligible to receive certain mental health services to assist with their recovery. “The bill was inspired in part by several recent cases of first responders who suffered serious injuries in the line of duty, including retired Somerville Police Detective Mario Oliveira and Springfield Police Officer Nestor Santos,” said Xiarhos. BAN ELEPHANTS AND OTHER ANIMALS (H 4915) – The House and Senate approved and sent to Gov. Healey legislation that effective January 1, 2025, would ban elephants, bears, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and other wild animals from being used in traveling circuses and other traveling shows in MassachuBEACON | SEE PAGE 20

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