Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 1, 2024 MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 3 • Richie “Ace” Howard – former mayor of Malden overseeing the beginning of our renaissance in Malden and Malden Square, which we are all benefitting from today. On a personal note, one of Malden’s best athletes and stand-up guys! • Marc Phaneuf – think about this: We got a Malden boy (straight outta Greystone Road) who has worked with Iggy Pop, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga, Roger Daltrey and Lou Rawls. Think about that! And his dad Paul was the most beloved Superintendent of the past 75 years. • Heather (Kahn) Braver – Arthur’s little girl is an award-winning broadcast journalist who anchored the number one rated newscast at WCVB-TV in Boston for nearly 10 years – also serving as the station’s chief medical reporter. On a personal note, thank goodness Heather has her mom’s good looks. (I kid, Arthur!) • Also, my former boss at Cataldo Ambulance, Diana Cataldo; my Miller High Life drinking buddy back in the day at Anthony’s, Albert Spadafora; political kingmaker and landsman Michael Goldman; the most well-known hippie to ever call Malden home, Norman Greenbaum; the Malden MVP of the past 50 years (?), Ron Cox; LenBHRC | FROM PAGE 16 legal right to use cannabis. “As we move away from cannabis prohibition, we should ensure we do not hold on to pre-existing, bias-driven bans,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “I filed [the bill] to investigate the existing barriers to first responders’ legal right to use cannabis … The bill would also explore the effectiveness of cannabis in treating anxiety, depression, stress, PTSD and other traumas.” DECLARE RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS (S 1412) – The Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee gave a favorable report and recommended passage of legislation that would declare racism as a public health crisis and direct the Office of Health Equity to develop policies to dismantle systemic racism impacting health and establish programs focused on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases disproportionately impacting communities of color. FREE DIAPERS (H 149) – Another proposal given a favorable report by the Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Committee would create a pilot program to provide free diapers to low-income families at food pantries. “Access to new, clean diapers is necessary to preserve our babies’ health,” says sponsor Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem). “No parent should have to resort to reusing soiled diapers due to an inability to pay or have to underny’s wonderful wife, Joanne (Assetta) Iovino; former MPD Chief, Saint Peter’s congregant and YMCA regular, Eddie Trabucco; amongst others. • So, hurry, get your nomination papers in (by Feb 24) for the next worthy candidate: Mike Boyle? David or John Surette or their band, Boy’s Life? Charlie Farren? Paul “Quadzilla” DeMayo? Mayer or Aaron Mintz? Paul Gilligan? Al Barriss? Dom Fermano? Dave Russo? Norman Pashoian, Sr.? Dan Ford? • On a personal Philip Bynoe note, I’ve known Philip for a very long time – a sweetheart of a man from that first time I met him in 1981 to this very day. I know I speak in hyperbole at times (at times!?), but Malden, please believe me when I tell you this time, Philip is a monster at his chosen profession. Just ask four of the most prolific gunslingers in the music business: Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci or Nuno Bettencourt. He would not be holding down the bottom for these guys all these years if he were not. It is said in “Malden Musings”... • Had a great “phoner” recently with Maldonian Bobby Stead. We spent 15 or so minutes traveling back in time to when life was a lot less complex. We tossed around the names of Kevin Hannon and Karl Ryan, go further economic hardships to acquire diapers. This legislation puts the well-being of our infants and families where it should be, at the forefront.” AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (S 2589) – The Education Committee gave a favorable report to and recommended passage of a measure that would require that American Sign Language (ASL) be taught in all Bay State public elementary and secondary schools to increase interactions between hearing persons and deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, as well as children with autism. Current law allows but does not require schools to teach ASL. "I sponsored the legislation to promote greater equity and inclusion in our public school systems,” said Sen. Jake Oilveira (D-Ludlow). “In recent years, it has become apparent that instruction in American Sign Language provides children with autism with increased opportunities for education and development. It is visually based, unaided and provides a mode of quick communication. American Sign Language is a language our students should get the opportunity to learn in our public school system, and it supports inclusion and involvement for all students.” QUOTABLE QUOTES "Nearly 70 percent of those deaths took place where we should feel safest – at home. Tragically, more than half of those deaths took place in homes without working smoke alarms. And about two-thirds of last year’s fatal fire Sean Gilligan, John “Fieldsy” Fields, Greg & Jeff Carroll, as well as Jimmy “Moe” Molinari to name but a few – the “Connah Gang” (Highland & Whitman), where some of the nicest boys and girls Malden ever produced got into mischief. Thanks for the memories, Bobby. • Caught Paulie “G” Gilligan’s act at his home away from home (Prince Pizzeria) last week. In case you were wondering, Paulie is as funny as he was the first time you saw him. Never, ever a dull moment with Paulie G! More on this amazing comedian (and proud Maldonian) in the future. • Ain’t DPW Director Bobby Knox doing a great job over there on Commercial Street. And his early morning inspirational Facebook posts are becoming stuff of legend in Malden. Thank you, Bobby! As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – once again, we salute the most awesome decision made by the current occupants at 215 Pleasant St. since they agreed to tear down “The Beast That Ate Pleasant Street” (thank you, Mayor Christenson!) and reinvent Malden Square in the process. In the 1980’s Malden acquired $17.4 million from the Urban Development Action Grants program for office convictims were adults aged 65 or older." ---State Fire Marshal Jon Davine on the 45 Massachusetts residents who died in fires last year. “When a company repeatedly violates our wage and benefits laws, the workers and their families suffer, and sadly some of these violations took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.My office will continue to hold accountable those who violate our worker protection laws.” ---Attorney General Andrea Campbell announcing $2.4 million in citations against Concierge Services, Inc., a Plymouth-based corporation that provides concierges staffing services to high-end, luxury properties in Greater Boston. The violations include failure to pay minimum wage and overtime, failure to make timely payment of wages, improper deductions from wages, record keeping violations and failure to comply with numerous provisions of Massachusetts' earned sick time law. “As the largest fair housing lawsuit by defendant size in Massachusetts history, this lawsuit sends a clear message to every landlord and broker in the state: if you are a real estate company that discriminates against families and children with housing vouchers, the question of whether you will be caught is not a matter of if, but when.” --- Aaron Carr, Founder and Executive Director of Housing Rights Initiative on the group’s lawsuit “Our communities deserve water infrastructure that fully serves their needs, protects residents from harm and preserves our natural resources. This funding will make a real difference in addressing combined sewer overflows that affect water quality and our environment and removing contaminants like PFAS from our drinking water.” ---Commissioner Bonnie Heiple of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, announcing the $151 million federal grant for Massachusetts drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thoustruction, beautification projects, and infrastructure improvements, used $60 million in private sector money for the construction of commercial housing and $2.8 million in state transportation bonds. With this infusion of cash, we still could not dig ourselves out of our decline. We still were a city that young couples and businesses avoided – despite throwing all kinds of money at the problem and having great, forward thinking leadership teams led by Jim Conway, Tom Fallon, Eddie Lucey, Richie Howard and now Gary Christenson. Until we tore that Beast down! Continuing in the spirit of forward thinking or thinking outside the box three years past, Malden made a change to when we begin our winter parking restrictions. In prior years, winter parking restrictions began November 1, regardless of the weather. The winter parking restrictions placed a great burden on those who rely upon the street to park. Malden’s prior policy often left residents restricted to one side of the street for months on end when snow wasn’t even on the ground. Common sense prevailed. Parking Director (and much more) Ronny “Hoganater” Hogan decided to begin restrictions with the arrival of what he called the “first big winter event” – a against 20 Boston-area landlords and real estate brokers for alleged discrimination against low-income tenants. snowstorm significant enough to warrant the ban. For three straight years it has been a godsend for residents who rely on street parking, particularly last year because winter (once again) never really materialized. Thank you to Mr. Hogan and all our elected officials who have finally started to think creatively. As Malden continues its remarkable comeback, after decades of stagnation, it is good to know that our mayor and his staff are up to the task of guiding Maldonians to the next step in our evolution. Postscript 1: Donnie from China Garden has passed away. I do not exclude Donnie’s last name (Quon) out of disrespect. I exclude it out of great respect for a most remarkable human being. I will follow up on this iconic Edgeworth figure soon. May his memory be a blessing. Postscript 2: Speaking of Richie Howard, my sincerest condolences to you and your family on the loss of your wife Lisa. May her memory be a blessing, my friend. —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to the Malden Advocate and can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms. sands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of February 1923, the House met for a total of 56 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 30 minutes. Mon. Feb. 19 No House session No Senate session Tues.Feb. 20 House11:02 a.m. to 11:38 a.m. Senate 11:29 a.m. to 11:43 a.m. Wed. Feb. 21 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Feb. 22 House11:01 a.m. to11:21 a.m. Senate 11:15 a.m. to11:31 a.m. Fri. Feb. 23 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019.
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