Baker awards THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021 POLICE | FROM Page 9 $67.4M in additional grants to businesses most impacted by the pandemic O n December 31, 2020, the Baker-Polito Administration announced $67.4 million in awards to 1,366 additional small businesses in a second round of grants through the COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). Additionally, the new Sector-Specific Small Business Relief Grant Program, which is also administered by the MGCC, is now accepting applications from businesses from sectors most impacted by COVID-19. Both grant programs are part of a previously announced new, $668 million relief package. The businesses that were notifi ed of their successful grant application include many that are owned by minorities (50 percent) and women (48 percent). Restaurants and bars, beauty and personal services, health care and retail are among the top sectors receiving relief in this second round of awards. The fi rst round of grants totaled nearly $49 million in support of 1,158 Massachusetts small businesses. The MGCC is continuing to review existing applications and will make awards over the coming weeks to companies that meet demographic and industry preferences. Businesses that have already applied to the MGCC’s Small Business Grant Program do not need to reapply to the new program. New grant program accepting applications In addition to providing grants to businesses within the existing pool of applications for the Small Business Grant Program, applications are now being accepted for a new Sector-Specific Small Business Relief Grant Program that targets industries experiencing the most signifi - cant economic hardship and a loss of revenue. Industries given preference in this new program include: • Restaurants, bars, caterers and food trucks • Indoor recreation and entertainment establishments • Gyms and fi tness centers • Event-support companies (photographers, videographers, etc.) • Personal services (nail salons, barbershops, independent pharmacies, etc.) • Independent retailers This new business relief program will offer grants up to $75,000, but not more than three months’ operating expenses, to be used for payroll and employee benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities and interest on other debt obligations. The online application portal for the new program will close on Friday, January 15. Awards are expected to be announced in February. Program details, application instructions, eligibility and documentation requirements and more are available at www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org. ly agrees that the general public deserves nothing less than the highest level of professionalism, accountability and transparency in their respective police departments and this legislation will assist in enhancing our long-standing position as what are viewed by many national experts as model police departments across the entire country.” The year “2020 was a year unlike any other in our lifetime, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and growing calls for police reform after the prominent deaths of several Black men and women at the hands of police offi cers,” said Eddy Chrispin, who is President of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Offi cers. “As an organization of people of color, we know all too well the need for reform in policing. The landmark legislation passed by the legislature and the governor begins to address the historic negative interactions between people of color and the police. It is our hope that this legislation is the fi rst step in addressing systemic racism in this country.” This legislation will, for the fi rst time, create a mandatory certifi - cation process for police offi cers through the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST). The Commission, through a majority civilian board, will certify offi cers and create processes for decertifi caPage 11 tion, suspension of certifi cation, or reprimand in the event of certain misconduct. The nine-member POST will include six individuals from outside of law enforcement, and POST will also be responsible for investigating and adjudicating claims of misconduct, maintaining databases of training, certifi cation, employment and internal aff airs records for all offi cers, and certifying law enforcement agencies. By creating a central entity to oversee offi cer certifi cation, POST will ensure that those offi cers’ training and misconduct records are available both to POST and to those offi cers’ current and future employers, improving accountability. Governor Baker amended the bill to strengthen its due process protections for law enforcement, added police labor representation on POST and strengthened the bill’s facial recognition provisions – ensuring law enforcement agencies can continue to access these potentially lifesaving tools responsibly. The new law identifi es the general circumstances under which police officers can use physical force, and specifi cally bans the use of chokeholds and prohibits fi ring into a fl eeing vehicle unless doing so is both necessary to prevent imminent harm and proportionate to that risk of harm. The bill also generally precludes offi cers from using rubber pellets, chemical weapons or canine units against a crowd. Violations of any of these provisions might provide grounds for an offi - cer to have certifi cation suspended or revoked. The bill places strict limits on the use of so-called “no-knock” warrants, requiring such warrants to be issued by a judge and only in situations where an offi cer’s safety would be at risk if the offi cer announced his or her presence and only where there are no children or adults over the age of 65 in the home. The legislation provides for an exception when those children or older adults are themselves at risk of harm. In addition, the bill requires law enforcement to seek a court order when conducting a facial recognition search except in emergency situations. The legislation includes key provisions of the State Police reform legislation the Administration fi led in January that provide new tools to improve accountability and discipline within the Department and to enhance diversity in the Department’s recruitment and promotional practices. Those key provisions include establishing a State Police cadet program, enhancing the Colonel’s ability to address and correct misconduct, updating rules governing promotions of uniformed members to offi cer positions, removing the requirement that the Governor look exclusively within the State Police when appointing a colonel, and creating a new criminal off ense for police offi cers who knowingly receive payment for a fraudulent claim of hours worked. Baker launches new phase of #StateWithoutStigMA campaign T he state Department of Public Health (DPH) has launched a new phase of the #StateWithoutStigMA public information campaign aimed at reducing the stigma of substance addiction that prevents people with substance use disorders from seeking treatment. The campaign launches at a time when the state is experiencing a slight rise in overdose deaths as it continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As we continue to fi ght COVID-19, we remain aware of the impact the pandemic has had on the recovery community and residents struggling with addiction,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Building on the CommonADDICTION | SEE Page 15
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