THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 Page 9 ~ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ~ On Signatures… BOSTON – Representative Jessica A. Giannino has submitted the below Letter to the Editor: To my constituents in the Sixteenth Suff olk District: It's hard to believe that March, 2021 is just around the corner when March, 2020 - the month when our daily life dramatically changed - still feels as if it were yesterday. In January, it was the honor of my lifetime to raise my right hand and begin my service as State Representative of the Sixteenth Suff olk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives after nine months of campaigning to earn the trust and confi dence of the people of Revere, Chelsea, and Saugus. I wanted to clear up some mischaracterization about my campaign for State Representative, and in particular, about the number of signatures I collected to ensure my name appeared on the 2020 ballot. Last Spring, I certifi ed over 150 signatures in the City of Revere and Town of Saugus by April 8th. There was some discussion that the threshold for signatures needed to appear on the ballot might be reduced from the original 150 that were required due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. HOWEVER, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court did not issue a ruling to lower the number of required signatures to 75 (50% less) until April 17 - nine days AFTER I certifi ed over 150 signatures. The SJC ruling from April 17, 2020 was for ALL Massachusetts legislative races - not just my race in Revere. It was not an easy task, but with a little creativity, we made it happen. Before the world as we know it changed, we held a "Signature Drive- Thru" which was very successful. Many residents from around the district literally drove up to my driveway, got an individualized pen, signed the nomination papers and then continued on with their Saturday. Since my district is divided, it was important that as each person signed, I confi rmed their address and party. I also ensured that the paperwork was completed properly and divided by each of three municipalities I represent. At the end of the day, I operated under the assumption that I needed to obtain the signatures of 150 registered Democratic or Unenrolled voters to appear on the 2020 primary ballot as a candidate for State Representative for the Sixteenth Suff olk District, and I did just that and thensome. The SJC's ruling on April 17, 2020 did not help or hinder my ability to be on the ballot, as I was already a certifi ed candidate by that time with more than double the required signatures set forth in that ruling. It was an honor to be on the ballot, and it is an even higher honor to serve as your Representative on Beacon Hill. I look forward to serving the Sixteenth Suff olk District with pride. Sincerely, Jessica A. Giannino State Representative Sixteenth Suff olk District Reader commends councillor for addressing homelessness Dear Editor, Looks like Revere City Councillor George Rotondo is on to something trying to enlist Amazon in the fi ght against homelessness. Revere has a growing and serious homeless crisis brewing. Like the homeless population itself, it often gets overlooked and bringing in others to help City Hall makes good common sense and is an avenue worth pursuing. Homelessness is a national issue which has been festering for decades but the COVID pandemic has only made matSPOTLIGHT | FROM Page 2 live on Facebook and YouTube when possible, and they play live on Comcast 9 and RCN 13 and 613. New programming is soon to come on RevereTV. Community member Judi VanKooiman’s February edition of “Life Issues” ters so much worse. Rotondo introduced an order at a recent City Council meeting requesting that Mayor Brian Arrigo contact Amazon for assistance in funding affordable housing and a city homeless shelter. Amazon wants to open a new distribution site at the shuttered Revere Showcase Cinema site. Now would be the most perfect time for City Hall offi cials to meet with Amazon offi cials sitting down together. Amazon has always said they wish to be responsible partners with their host communities time and airs Mondays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. throughout the month. A new “Sal’s Show” plays on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 5 p.m. Be on the lookout for a new episode of “The Senior FYI,” episodes of the instructional drawing program “That’s Sketchy” and a special surprise collaboration time again. Here’s a good time for them to start here in Revere. I commend Rotondo for seemingly always thinking out of the box and seeking doable solutions for issues like homelessness. As an aging baby boomer, it was my generation that coined it best, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. This made sense back in my younger days in the seventies and makes even more sense today. Signed, Sal Giarratani East Boston with some familiar Revere faces! More information to come. All community programming is played on a separate channel than the government meetings. If you have Comcast, the community channel is 8 and 1072. If RCN is your cable provider, the community channel can be watched on 3 and 614. Candidate Jessica Ann Giannino is shown during her Signature Drive-Thru event with Billy from Ward Six, March 2020 – PreMask Mandate. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net
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