Page 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2026 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ Trooper Hanna Still Remembered / Killer Stays Behind Bars By Sal Giarratani A s someone who served over 28 years in law enforcement as a member of the DMH Metro Boston Area Police Department, I still remember when Trooper George L. Hanna was brutally murdered after he made a traffi c stop. Hanna was removing the occupants of the vehicle when one of them, Jose Colon, 20 years old at the time, shot Hanna six times at close range on February 26, 1983. The killer was sentenced to life without parole. However, this is Massachusetts and thanks to a Supreme Judicial Court decision, Commonwealth v. Mattis, which ruled “emerging adults” who were 18 to 20 at the time they murdered could not be sentenced to life without parole. Parole board hearings are now being held for these youthful killers because their brains weren’t fully developed at the time of their killings but seemingly their trigger fi ngers appeared to have been fully developed, huh? So, Colon and others could eventually get released and back on the streets while the victims get no paroles from death. Thanks to the Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling, to date, 39 “emerging adults” received their “Get out of Jail Free” card. Thank you to Governor Maura Healey and all for so strongly urging the Parole Board to deny parole for Trooper Hanna’s killer. His parole was denied. As Healey acknowledged, “In civil society law enforcement offi cers uphold the laws that allow our communities to live in peace and safety. The intentional killing of an offi cer in the line of duty is not only a brutal crime against one person, but also a violent assault on the rule of law.” Finally, let us never forget the real victim here, Trooper George Hanna. RevereTV Spotlight “ In the Loop” is back on RevereTV! The first announcement of the year is about one of the city’s new popular events, Revere Beach Winter Wonderland. Join the community on Saturday, February 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00?p.m. at Waterfront Square (400 Ocean Ave.). This event will feature a winter market and a Chili Cook-Off among plenty of other activities. Plus, you’ll have a chance to watch the masters at work as they RevereTV | SEE Page 13 Established 1978 Mid-grade Regular 2.64 3.24 3.35 $3.37 Full Service ULS $3.259 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from the week of January 1216. There were no roll calls in the House last week. OFFER TAX CREDIT TO COVER LARGE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES (S 2899) Senate 37-1, approved and sent to the House a bill that supporters said would give cities and towns the ability to shield their most vulnerable taxpayers from the “shock” of an extraordinarily high third and fourth quarter tax bill in a year when the community’s residential property tax levy rises by more than 10 per cent. Qualifying groups of taxpayers include people aged 65 and older who own and occupy the home; people enrolled in MassHealth; and people living with children under age 6 or under 18. Under current law, the fi rst and second quarter property tax bills for a given year are estimated based on the prior year’s tax levy and do not refl ect any tax increase. As a result, the third and fourth quarter bills must cover the entire increase, so those two bills increase by twice the full-year percentage increase. The legislation would allow a municipality to use its own funds to give qualified persons a tax credit to cover the third and fourth quarter spike. “Every year across the state, there are a few communities in which homeowners face unusually large tax increases,” said sponsor Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont). “This legislation will give those communities tools to help their most vulnerable taxpayers.” “It is critical that we begin this new year by prioritizing municipal property tax relief,” said sponsor Sen. Nick Collins (D-South Boston). “By advancing these responsible tax relief proposals, we can help ease the burden of rising property tax bills on homeowners without harming small businesses or putting our economy at risk.” By Bob Katzen If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 “I voted ‘No’ … because tax classifi cation, exceptions and credits, particularly when novel, should be addressed comprehensively and analyzed in the context of other new proposals and existing law,” said Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy), the only senator to vote against the bill. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes INCREASE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX (S 2899) Senate 5-33, rejected an amendment that would allow the city of Boston to shift more of its property tax burden onto commercial real estate in fi scal years 2027 through 2029. The amendment is similar to the one that has been proposed and supported by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. The amendment would have allowed Boston to adjust its property tax classification if residential properties were set to bear a higher share of the total levy than in fiscal year 2025, with maximum shift levels capped at 181.5 percent in fi scal 2027, 180 percent in fi scal 2028 and 178 percent in fi scal 2029. Sen. Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury) framed the amendment as a direct response to what he described as a mounting aff ordability crisis for Boston homeowners, particularly seniors and working families. He said the amendment was fi led at the request of Wu and the Boston City Council and closely mirrored a home rule petition approved by the council and fi rst fi led with the Legislature in 2024. He pointed to rising residential values, lagging commercial property values and statutory limits on municipal tax increases as drivers of recent spikes in Boston tax bills. He said the amendment would give Boston temporary flexibility to blunt those increases while state and city offi cials work on longer-term solutions. Rush added that the average tax bill for a family home rose by more than $500 in 2025 and is expected to increase by more than $700 in 2026, while commercial tax rates have continued to decline. He said those increases have disproportionately aff ected seniors on fi xed incomes. Sen. Will Brownsberger (DBelmont) argued that the tax shift proposal risked producing unintended and inequitable outcomes. “One narrative, one example, would be, well, I’ve got a struggling homeowner that’s benefiting from it,” said Brownsberger. “That’s good, and I’ve got an offi ce tower whose private equity owners are paying more taxes. Maybe that narrative makes sense in some cases. But on the other hand, the truth is, we’re lowering … taxes for your very wealthy singlefamily homeowner, perhaps living in something of a mansion in the most tony neighborhood of the city. And you’re raising taxes on your little garage owner trying to make things work.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes INCREASE TAX RELIEF TO VETERANS (S 1948) Senate 38-0, approved a bill that would allow cities and towns to hike from the current $1,500 to $2,000, the property tax break for veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans in exchange for their providing volunteer services to their municipality. “Our veterans have already given so much in service to our nation, and they deserve to be able to remain in the communities they call home,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (DProvincetown). “For many veterans on Cape Cod, the Islands and across Massachusetts, rising property taxes are putting undue pressure on household budgets that are already razor thin. This bill gives communities a meaningful property tax relief tool while recognizing the service veterans have already given so they may live with the dignity they have earned.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes CREATE TAX REBATE PROGRAMS (S 2900) Senate 37-1, approved and sent to the House a bill that would give cities and towns the option to create tax rebate programs for residents who already benefi t from a local residential exemption. This new FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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