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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 9, 2026 Page 9 Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $13 Million to Create & Improve Local Parks and Protect Natural Land Across Massachusetts Funding Will Help Fight Flooding, Reduce Extreme Heat and Give Residents More Access to Open Spaces B OSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced more than $13 million in grants to 45 projects across Massachusetts, investing in the creation of parks, the protection of forests and wetlands, and the expansion of safe, accessible outdoor spaces for residents. This funding will kickstart projects such as building new walking trails where residents can connect with nature, restoring green spaces in underserved neighborhoods, and preserving land near rivers and lakes that supply clean drinking water. “These investments mean more parks, cleaner water and safer neighborhoods for people Beacon Hill Roll Call Volume 51 - Report No. 40 September 28 - October 2, 2026 By Bob Katzen THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll call votes in the House or Senate last week. On November 3, or prior to that for voters who take advantage of early voting between October 17-30, all voters will have the opportunity to vote on nine ballot questions that will become law if approved by the majority of voters. To get on the ballot, the groups backing each ballot question were required to collect and submit at least 74,574 signatures last fall. The Legislature had until May 5, 2026 to act on the proposed law. The Legislature did not act on any of the proposals by the May 5 deadline. At which point supporters were required to collect another 12,429 signatures by July 1, in order to get their question on the ballot. All nine groups gathered sufficient signatures to get their question on the 2026 ballot. Although neither the House nor Senate voted on any of the nine proposals, the Committee on Initiative Petitions did hold public hearings on the questions. The committee eventually issued a majority report recommending that the Legislature take no action on each proposal. The Legislature never acted on the reports which were simply “placed on file,” where they died. Secretary of State Bill Galvin has issued an 88-page book via the U.S. mail and online with details about each question. If you would rather not read the entire 88-page book, Beacon Hill Roll Call will be presenting a report on each ballot question over the next several weeks prior to the election. BALLOT QUESTION 3 – Here is a look at Question 3: QUESTION 3: ELIMINATE POLITICAL PARTY PRIMARIES FOR STATE ELECTIONS AND INSTEAD ESTABLISH A SINGLE, ALL-PARTY PRIMARY. SEVERAL STATES ALREADY HAVE THIS ALL-PARTY PRIMARY SYSTEM WHICH HAS EARNED THE NICKNAME “JUNGLE PRIMARY.” This question asks voters if they approve of a bill that would eliminate political party primaries for state elections and instead establish a system where there would be a single, all-party primary in which all candidates, regardless of their party affiliation, would be listed on one ballot, and voters could vote for any candidate on the ballot. The two candidates receiving the most votes in the all-party primary would advance to the general election, regardless of their party affiliation. The proposed law would provide political party status to any group whose candidates for any statewide office received at least 3% of the ballots cast in the prior state primary. It would require candidates for governor and lieutenant governor to run and be listed jointly on the ballot in the all-party primary. WHAT SUPPORTERS TOLD BEACON HILL ROLL CALL "Question 3 makes Massachusetts elections more competitive and opens the door to new, fresh voices,” Danielle Allen, chair of the “Yes” on 3 Campaign told Beacon Hill Roll Call. "Right now, too many popular candidates never make it past low-turnout primaries and gatekeepers, and in 2024, 61% of our elections had just one name on the ballot. Under Question 3, every voter and every candidate takes part in the same primary, and the top two vote-getters advance to November, where they face a much larger, more diverse and more representative general election electorate.” Allen continued, “Opponents are trying to scare voters because the status quo suits them across Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re making it easier for families to get outside, for kids to play and for everyone to enjoy what makes our state unique. This is about improving daily life for our residents and making our communities stronger.” “When we build better parks, trails, and open spaces, we’re creating communities where people truly want to live,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These grants are investments in the health and happiness of our neighborhoods and in the local economies that benefit from thriving green spaces.” The grants are awarded through three programs of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). The Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Grant Program helps cities and towns create and renovate outdoor recreation areas. The Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) Grant Program supports conservation commissions in protecting natural land. The Conservation Partnership Grant Program funds nonprofit land trusts that work to conserve open space for future generations. "Parks, forests and natural areas help stop flooding by soaking up rainwater, keep the air cleaner by trapping pollution, and provide shade that lowers temperatures in summer," said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "People use these places to walk, play, and relax. Wildlife depends on them to survive. Protecting these areas now keeps our neighborhoods cooler, our air cleaner, and gives everyone more places to enjoy." These grants are part of a broader effort to support local climate resilience and land conservation. Through the Governor’s $3 billion Mass Ready Act, the administration will invest in water and nature, strengthen local economies, and help communities adapt to extreme weather. The legislation also aims to fast-track the Massachusetts Biodiversity Goals, targeting the conservation of 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 and 40 percent by 2050. Malden will be receiving $425,000 for Linden Park Playground Renovation. The project will replace the deteriorated poured-in-place safety surfacing with a durable interlocking rubber tile system and outdated and non-functioning inclusive sensory play features, and add landscape improvements to increase shade and climate resilience. and their incumbent friends, but the truth is that all-party primaries give voters more choices; produces a dynamic, voter-driven general election instead of one decided months earlier by a small slice of insiders; incentivizes officials to deliver; and is familiar to them already — it’s how we vote in mayoral and municipal elections across the commonwealth. Massachusetts is ready for a democracy that inspires action from our elected leaders to solve the numerous problems we’re facing — on affordability, health care, housing and too many more. “Yes” on Question 3 has a strong, broad coalition of voting rights, civil rights, grassroots, labor, climate and civic groups, along with former and current officials, and is growing every week. With majority support across demographics, we're building real momentum toward November.” WHAT OPPONENTS TOLD BEACON HILL ROLL CALL “Private equity executives are trying to buy a more favorable election system and making promises they never intend to keep, and once they rig the system in their favor, it becomes nearly impossible to undo,” BHRC | SEE PAGE 14

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