THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, July 8, 2022 Page 9 Sen. Lewis supports passage to fund numerous projects S enator Jason Lewis joined his Massachusetts State Senate colleagues to unanimously pass a $5.1 billion general government bond bill to fund construction projects related to health care, public higher education, state information technology, workforce development, the environment, aff ordable housing, and more. “I’m pleased that passage of this important legislation will provide funding over the next fi ve years for a wide variety of necessary public infrastructure projects across Massachusetts,” said Senator Lewis. “This funding will enable the state to improve and upgrade health care facilities, courts, public higher education facilities, and state government’s IT infrastructure including unemployment insurance access, as well as building upgrades to reduce carbon emissions and other general facilities improvements.” The bill authorizes funding for infrastructure upgrades and improvements, including: • $820 million (M) to acquire, maintain and repair stateowned health care facilities • $750M for building improvements and repairs at public colleges and universities • $675M for improvements to court facilities • $100M in grants to support municipalities in addressing local building facility needs • $400M for projects to decarbonize and reduce the environmental impact of state-owned facilities • $64M for the Water Pollution Abatement Revolving Fund, which provides local governments and utilities with grants to build or replace water infrastructure and ensure safe sources of drinking water • $100M for career technical skills and capital grants to enhance workforce training for in-demand jobs and industries • $60M for the Housing Stabilization and Investment Trust Fund, which supports affordable rental housing production and rehabilitation, and $25M for grants to support cities and towns that are producing new housing • $100M to update information technology used by state agencies, including investments to support the educational workforce and to modernize the state’s unemployment insurance system • $51M to fi ght food insecurity • $50M for the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund to support facilities improvements at arts and cultural institutions • $20M to support cities and towns offering hybrid public meetings through technology grants The bill also includes a fi veyear moratorium on the construction of any new prisons in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts House and Senate will now work to reconcile the differences between the versions of the bill passed in each branch before the fi nal version is sent to Governor Charlie Baker for his signature. Like us on Facebook advocate newspaper Facebook.com/Advocate.news.ma 2.55 CD The k se you like to see. Open a 3- egions highest rates. se you li Stop into one o anches to open an account. en a 3egion into one o Member FDIC | Member DIF *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is subject to change without notice. Fixed rate term Certificate of Deposits accounts, rates are guaranteed for the length of the term. Minimum deposit to open account and to obtain the APY is $500 unless otherwise specified. APY is based on principal and interest remaining in the account for a period of one year. Penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. For consumer accounts only. No out of state deposits. ECB NOW Checking Account is requested. GREENING | FROM PAGE 1 search, which includes on-theground tree and energy measurements in Worcester and other northern climate cities. These studies show that tree canopy brings the greatest benefi ts when established over an entire neighborhood area, by lowering wind speeds and reducing summertime air temperature, in addition to the benefi ts of direct shading. All households in a neighborhood benefi t, not just the ones with trees directly adjacent. The program targets the parts of Malden that have lower tree canopy, older housing stock, higher wind speeds, and a larger renter population. In addition, the plantings will be concentrated in Environmental Justice neighborhoods. GGCP is currently active in Brockton, Chelsea, Chicopee, Fall River, Fitchburg, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfi eld and Westfi eld. This spring, fi ve new communities were added with Malden being one of them. The aim for each city is to plant 2,400 trees over a three-year period. The program plants trees (ranging from 6ft. to 10ft. tall) with a goal of covering 5% of the target neighborhoods in new tree canopy cover. The trees are planted by DCR Bureau of Forestry and Urban & Community Forestry crews hired from local communities. Within planted areas, temperature, energy use, and other information is tracked to document the energy savings new trees provide to residents over time. To be eligible for this program’s benefits, the home or business must be located within the designated DCR planting zone. Residents who sign up to take part in the greening initiative receive advice on what type of tree or trees would be best for the property along with instructions on how to tend to the saplings on their way to becoming mature trees. Easy care instructions are provided that address watering, mulching and pruning. Foresters also conduct yearround site visits and are available to answer questions. There will be informational sessions in the near future and further outreach to explain the process and alert residents of the program. For more information see https://www.maurbancanopy.org/ or call 617-8265723. Mackey & Brown Attorneys at Law * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * GENERAL PRACTICE * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * CIVIL LITIGATION 14 Norwood St., Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.MACKEYBROWNLAW.COM John Mackey, Esq. * Katherine M. Brown, Esq. Patricia Ridge, Esq.
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