THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024 Page 17 does not have jurisdiction over the matters presented,» the panel wrote. «Donald Trump’s name will not be appearing on the presidential primary ballot as a result of the submission of nomination papers or a certifi cate of nomination over which the commission does have jurisdiction,» the panel continued. «Rather, Donald Trump’s name will appear on the presidential primary ballot as a result of the Republican State Committee’s submission of his name to the Secretary of the commonwealth on September 29, 2023 … This submission from the state party should not be confused with a certifi cate of nomination.” GOV. HEALEY PLANS TO CLOSE OPERATION AT MCICONCORD — The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) announced its intention to shut down MCI-Concord, a medium-security men’s prison which currently operates at 50 percent capacity with an incarcerated population of approximately 300. The shutdown is proposed by Gov. Healey in her fi scal 2025 budget proposal. The shutdown needs legislative approval before it goes into eff ect. The DOC said in a press release that the decision to end operations at MCI-Concord and relocate its staff and population is based on a “thorough assessment of decreased housing needs and the aging facility’s high maintenance costs.” It noted that the closing “allows the department to dispose of the property, making it available for non-correctional purposes and potential redevelopment to the benefi t of the surrounding community.” “During its fi rst year, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has worked closely with the Legislature, community partners and advocates to invest in justice initiatives that have contributed to the lowest rates of incarceration and recidivism in decades,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “Strategically consolidating DOC resources makes fi nancial sense and enables the department to build upon the proven, evidence-based rehabilitative programs that support successful reentry and improve outcomes.” The Massachusetts Correction Offi cers Federated Union’s Executive Board announced it is adamantly against the closing of MCI-Concord or any other prison. ”The Executive Board feels that the closing of MCIConcord or any other prison will burden our already violent and dangerous prisons,” the group said in a statement. “We are witcall The A nessing extreme and daily violence at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center [in Lancaster] after the closing of Walpole.” The statement continued, “With over three hundred inmates at Concord our classifi - cation system will undoubtedly need to reclassify many of these and other inmates statewide. This will potentially place higher risk inmates in lower-level facilities, thus placing our offi cer’s safety at risk. We ask the governor, Public Safety Secretary and DOC Commissioner to halt any plans to close Concord until a comprehensive plan is in place.” QUOTABLE QUOTES “Partnership between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the cornerstone of eff ective public safety. This funding is an investment in the enduring success of strong partnerships. Through this grant program, we provide public safety with essential resources to enhance community engagement and deliver evidence-based programs.” ---Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on awarding a $1.9 million grant to support statewide strategies for violence prevention and enhance community-based partnerships. “We are incredibly excited about this program, which will make a diff erence in the lives of residents across the state and provide greater aff ordability, opportunity, and access to all MBTA service for residents as they travel throughout the week. This underscores the bold vision and commitment of the Healey-Driscoll Administration to deliver equitable, reliable and resilient transportation in a big way.” --- Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt on the MBTA’s announcement of several fare change proposals, including the introduction of a reduced fare program for riders with low income, that aim to improve equity, increase ridership and simplify fare rules, “Climbing rents have propelled cost burdens to staggering new heights. In 2022, half of all U.S. renters were cost burdened. The number of renter households spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities rose by 2 million in just three years to a record high of 22.4 million. Among these renters, 12.1 million had severe burdens, paying over half of their income for housing — also an all-time high. And while rental markets are finally cooling, evictions have risen, the country is seeing the highest homelessness counts on record and the need for rental assistance is greater than ever.» ---From “America’s Rental Housing 2024,” a new report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. “Overall, the story of criminal justice reform in Massachusetts since 2018 is largely positive. This research fi nds crime and incarceration have fallen, and we have signifi cantly expanded services for many. Our challenge now is to continue with a focus on reducing the large racial and ethnic disparities in our prison populations with housing, treatment and restorative justice practices.” ---Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation, on its new report “Criminal Justice Reform in Massachusetts: A Five-Year Progress Assessment.” 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 legislation 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 22-26, the House met for a total of one hour and two minutes and the Senate met for a total of fi ve hours and fi ve minutes Mon. Jan. 22 House 11:01 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. Senate 11:22 a.m. to 11:38 a.m Tues. Jan. 23 No House session No Senate session Wed. Jan. 24 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Jan. 25 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. Senate 11:13 a.m. to 4:02 p.m. Fri. Jan. 26 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. For Advertising with Results, call he Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net cate Ne spapers 1. On Feb. 9, 1895, what sport — originally called mintonette — was invented in Holyoke, Mass.? 2. Charles Ponzi, the source of “Ponzi scheme,” emigrated to what city that is in a dog’s name? 3. What number is the next Super Bowl: LII, LV or LVII? 4. What musical instrument was used in the 1960s hit “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport”: steel drum, theremin or wobble board? 5. On February 10, Chinese (Lunar) New Year starts; 2024 is the year of what animal symbol? 6. How are Goat, Luna and Three Sisters similar? 7. What is a printer’s devil? 8. On Feb. 11, 1878, the fi rst bicycle club in the USA was founded in what New England city? 9. Who is the NBA’s oldest active player? 10. Reportedly, which country has a “chimney sweep mafi a”: Switzerland, UK or USA? 11. What three-letter word means a computer program able to perform automatic recurring tasks? 12. On Feb. 12, 2004, the Mattel VP of Marketing announced that what Answers dolls felt “it’s time to spend some quality time — apart”? 13. What American author who died in Hartford, on a trip to Boston in 1869, said, “One of the most winning features of Boston is the politeness of the people”? 14. February 13 is Mardi Gras; what is the traditional Mardi Gras dessert? 15. In what county is the place that is the namesake of the USS Housatonic, the fi rst ship sunk by a submarine (in 1861)? 16. In 1400 on Valentine’s Day, King Charles VI created a royal Court of Love in what city that has been called the city of love? 17. How are electrons, neutrons and protons similar? 18. On Feb. 14, 1966, who achieved an NBA career scoring record of 20,884 points? 19. Reportedly, in the 1800s, Chinese immigrants in Massachusetts developed a sandwich from what Chinese dish? 20. On Feb. 15, 1927, the silent fi lm “It” was released; who was the fi lm’s star (or “it girl”)? 1. Volleyball 2. Boston (Boston terrier) 3. LVII 4. Wobble board 5. The dragon 6. They are names of American Niagara River islands. 7. A printing offi ce apprentice 8. Boston (the Boston Bicycle Club) 9. LeBron James (39) 10. Switzerland (The government protects the sweeps.) 11. Bot 12. Barbie and Ken 13. Mark Twain 14. King cake 15. Berkshire County in Mass. 16. Paris 17. They make up atoms. 18. Wilt Chamberlain 19. Chop Suey 20. Clara Bow
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