Page 8 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 ~ EDITORIAL ~ Gerly Adrien: No experience her downfall I n terms of experience, Adrien has served one term on the City Council. That’s it; she has no other prior experience in municipal government. Yet somehow, she honestly believes that two years on the City Council qualifies her to be the mayor of Everett. Why would this freshman councillor take on the mayor? Mayor Carlo DeMaria was a councillor for 14 years before taking the reins as the city’s chief executive in 2008. In this capacity, he has drastically improved transportation and pressed state and federal officials for additional pandemic funding, and he continues the push to bolster Everett’s housing stock. Certainly, one of DeMaria’s greatest achievements came in June 2019 when Encore Boston Harbor opened its doors to the world. Even with the gargantuan obstacles of the pandemic, Encore still established itself as the most profitable casino in Massachusetts. As a result, Everett now receives millions of dollars in tax revenue from Encore. Not many mayors can take credit for such a major feat. It takes a special kind of person to be a successful mayor. We predict that the outcome of the September 21 Primary will reflect that. ~ LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR ~ DeMaria Delivers Dear Editor, Everett’s Preliminary Election is right around the corner and I’m writing today about why Carlo DeMaria deserves to be elected to another term. Mayor DeMaria’s record of delivering for Everett reaches far. From establishing the city’s capital improvement plan to developing innovative means of transportation, DeMaria delivers. From bringing in Encore Boston Harbor, the largest private investment in the history of the Commonwealth, to renovating every major park and playground in the city, DeMaria delivers. From being a statewide model of how to effectively test and vaccinate residents during a global pandemic, DeMaria delivers. Putting 14 years of accomplishments aside, DeMaria’s leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic alone ~ VOTE ~ JENNY MONTRESOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE AT LARGE should earn him another term. Paying close attention to the situation that was developing in other countries, DeMaria was one of the first in our state to make the tough call to close city buildings and schools. The Mayor and his dedicated administration became a statewide model on how to effectively test and vaccinate residents at the levels Everett was able to. Mayor DeMaria was also vocal and instrumental in getting our educators eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines, ensuring a safe return to in-person learning. When it came to keeping our residents safe during the pandemic, Mayor DeMaria was relentless in ensuring every household in the city received a mask and ample resources to stay healthy and fed. The Mayor converted the city’s senior center into a fully operational food pantry which served over 1000 residents weekly and has distributed over 2 million pounds of food. Today, the city still delivers over 500 daily meals to our senior citizens. Concerned about a tax revenue shortfall during the pandemic, the Mayor advocated for and received over $3.1 million in additional CARES Act funding. When Everett got shortchanged by an antiquated funding formula, DeMaria fought for and received an additional $33 million in ARPA funding after the federal government failed to provide for our city. The bottom line is, when it comes to Everett, Mayor Carlo DeMaria delivers. It’s easy to criticize those doing the job from the sidelines, but one thing DELIVERS | SEE PAGE 16 City awarded more than $47M in ARPA funding T By Christopher Roberson he City Council, during its September 14 meeting, voted unanimously to accept $47.1 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Chief Financial Officer Eric Demas said there are restrictions on how $33.3 million can be used; however, the remaining funds can be used for expenses that are not directly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Councillor-at-Large John Hanlon said the council needs to have a succinct understanding of how the money will be used. “I would like to know where it’s going, who’s using it, for what reason and are they returning any of it,” he said. In response, Demas assured the council that money will be distributed in an organized manner. “We’re making the accounting very concise and clear,” he said. “We’re not commingling anything.” Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins presented a Resolution to use a portion of the money to establish a recovery grant for the city’s small businesses. Although similar programs had been available, she said several business owners did not receive financial assistance. “Most of the businesses that did apply did not qualify,” she said. In addition, Demas said that thus far there have been no complaints from state officials about how Everett has used its pandemic funding. “We’ve already been through a couple of desk audits from the state, and they’ve been very pleased with how we’ve been spending the money,” he said, adding that much of it has been used for rent and mortgage assistance. FUNDING | SEE PAGE 16 VOTE for Jenny Montresor Tuesday, September 21 Together, we will bring collaboration, equity, and a sense of community into the Everett Public Schools. (Paid Pol. Adv.)
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