Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023 WARMING | FROM Page 1 “We will make sure there is no impact to senior center operations. There will be cleaning crews and on-site security,” said Arrigo, who added, “If people feel uncomfortable and it doesn’t work, we’ll scrap the program.” But that did little to appease seniors, who feel they are losing the only place in the city where they feel safe and secure and where they are not at risk for Covid and other diseases. Newly elected City Council President Patrick Keefe had to bang his gavel several times to call for order among the audience members who continued to call out questions about the program. One woman asked if those using the warming center will need to show proof that they’ve been vaccinated. “We’re a vulnerable group to have people at the senior center who aren’t vaccinated,” she said. “We have people with underlying conditions. We care about the homeless, but we were hoping they could have some other place where there’s not seniors. I don’t know these people,” she said. Buck explained that Housing Families, a large nonprofi t agency that will be managing the warming center, will be cleaning and disinfecting the center every morning. They will also monitor people using the center and BEACON | FROM Page 14 sion will retain the discretion it has always applied when assessing an applicant’s fi tness to provide consumer fi nancial services to prospective borrowers. “Precluding the Division of Banks from reviewing credit reports as part of its evaluation of an individual’s fi nancial responsibility for a fi nancial services license could ultimately result in harm to consumers,” said Baker. The House and Senate had more than a month to act on the governor’s amendment but did ot do so.. As a result, the bill died on January 3, the fi nal day of the 2021-2022 session. “This is a common-sense bill that not only helps a student practice their profession but it is also likely to help a student earn enough money to pay off any outstanding student debt,” said co-sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). “I was hoping the bill would make it to the governor’s desk, and wish he had not fi led an amendment to the alreadypassed bill.” EXPAND CIVIL SERVICE OPTION FOR CITIES AND TOWNS (S 1661) – The House and Senate both approved a bill that would allow legislative governing bodies of cities and towns the option to expand the defi - use rapid Covid tests when they feel someone may present a risk of spreading the virus. Buck also reminded seniors that they have more of a risk of contracting covid at supermarkets, doctors’ offi ces and other indoor public environments. Reservoir Avenue resident Frank Schettino questioned the hours of the center, which will be 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. “What do we do after that?” asked Schettino. “We don’t want to put them out in the cold again. My gut feeling is they are going to be putting tents outside.” Schettino also said seniors feel the center would never be completely cleaned. “If we don’t do something we’re going to lose a lot of people at the elderly center,” added Schettino. “That’s all we have left. We have nothing against the homeless – we just wish it was another location.” Although Arrigo and Buck stressed the warming center is not a shelter and will not have beds or cots, and no food will be served, Senior Center member Joann Woods said people are sleeping there at night. Woods suggested that the city fi nd somewhere other than the senior center for the program. Several city councillors also felt the city should look at different sites. “We can make a warming center wherever we want. This is our city; we can put it wherever we nition of local residency for civil service hiring preference to include anyone who received a high school diploma from a school in that city or town. Neither branch gave the measure fi nal approval. “This legislation could aid municipalities in their eff orts to draw from a diverse pool of applicants for police and fi re department jobs, and provide additional career opportunities for students who become part of a local community by attending and graduating from its high school,” said sponsor Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont) who plans to refi le the bill in the 2023-2024 session. Supporters gave an example that a student enrolled in the METCO program who graduated from high school in another city or town could be considered a local resident for civil service purposes if the city council or town meeting voted to expand the residency defi nition under the proposed legislation. QUOTABLE QUOTES – Excerpts from Gov. Maura Healey’s inaugural speech “I thank Gov. Baker, who has led this commonwealth with a steady hand. He has governed with integrity and care—eager to study problems and work together on solutions. The examCONCERNED CONSTITUENTS: Local seniors were in attendance at Monday evening’s City Council meeting to express their concerns about the Rossetti-Cowan Senior Center being used as a warming center for homeless individuals. (Advocate photo) want. I don’t understand why we’re so reluctant to look at an alternative site,” said Councillorat-Large Dan Rizzo, who made a motion that the city look at the feasibility of other sites. Rizzo suggested the police station community room and the American Legion as possible options. The council approved that motion. The council also called for the city to hold another forum with seniors to share more information about the program. Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri made a passionate statement in favor of the warming ple he set for eight years was in the best traditions of public service, and it now becomes his legacy. Gov. Baker, I thank you, and our state thanks you.” “My grandparents met on the fi shing docks in a Gloucester summer. She was in nursing school; he worked at the GE factory. Later, when I was to be born at a naval hospital in Maryland, they worried that I wasn’t starting my life on Massachusetts soil. So she dug up a little dirt from the woodlot, caught a plane, sneaked into the hospital room, and put the little bag under the delivery table.” “Our state Constitution recognized our natural and essential rights and declared them to the world. The people of Massachusetts have always believed in protecting these rights, and dedicating them to a higher purpose. We were the fi rst to guarantee that health care is universal, and twenty years ago now, that love is, too. It is in that spirit of common humanity that I stand before you today, representing another historic fi rst.” “The strength of Massachusetts is its families. And they sorely need our help. Our state has some of the highest childcare costs in the country. Our care workers don’t make a livable wage. So today, let us center. Silvestri worked with homeless people on the emergency response team during the height of pandemic. He told the audience they are not bad people and they are only looking for a place to stay warm and stay alive. Silvestri said he was not afraid of losing votes for his support of a program meant to keep people from dying in the streets of exposure. Councillor-at-Large Anthony Zambuto called the warming center program a “noble goal” but added that he would like to see better communication bepledge to be the fi rst state to solve the childcare crisis. Let’s fi - nally pass legislation in line with Common Start to make sure every family pays what they can afford, and that care workers are paid what they deserve.” “But I’m even more excited about tomorrow. Because tomorrow we get to work. We get to work in the greatest state, for the greatest people, at a moment when we can make the greatest diff erence—now and for a generation to come. So with great optimism and pride, I thank you all, and now let’s come together and get this done. God bless you, and God bless this commonwealth.” 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 thousands of pieces of legistween the city and the seniors about the center. “It’s the right thing to do although I might have wanted it to be in a diff erent place,” said Zambuto. Councillor-at-Large Gerry Visconti said it is important to keep in mind that the program is to provide a temporary shelter. Visconti and other councillors felt that if seniors see the program up and running for a couple of weeks, they would see steps have been taken to address all of their concerns. “As long as their minds are at ease, we’re at ease,” he said. lation that have been fi led. 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 January 2-6, the House met for a total of 18 hours and 24 minutes and the Senate met for a total of 18 hours and eight minutes. Mon. Jan. 2 No House session No Senate session Tues. Jan. 3 House 11:05 a.m. to 12:29 a.m. (Wednesday morning) Senate 11:21 a.m. to 12:33 a.m (Wednesday morning) Wed. Jan. 4 House 11:04 a.m. to 2:07 p.m. Senate 11:09 a.m. to 1:49 p.m Thurs. Jan. 5 House 11:38 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. Senate 11:19 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. Fri. Jan. 6 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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