Your Local News & Sports Online in 6 Languages! Scan & Subscribe Now! Vol. 34, No.8 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday Rep. Giannino Chairs House of Representatives Informal Session 781-286-8500 Friday, February 23, 2024 City Council moves forward with process to replace city’s water service lines By Barbara Taormina T he City Council voted to authorize Mayor Patrick Keefe to fi le State Rep. Jessica Giannino is shown on the rostrum as she chairs an Informal Session of the House of Representatives at the State House on Feb. 15. State Rep. Donald Wong of Saugus is shown standing behind her during the session. Special to Th e Advocate O n February 15, State Representative Jessica Giannino (D-Revere) banged the gavel at 11:01 a.m. and called the House to order. Rep. Donald Wong of Saugus joined her on the r ostrum. During this informal session, the House concurred with the Senate’s referral of a Sen. Patrick O’Connor petition (SD.2954) for legislation to establish stateRISING STAR: State Rep. Jessica Giannino is shown with the Speaker’s gavel following her chairing an Informal Session at the State House on Feb. 15. wide food truck regulations to the Public Health Committee. The House also voted in favor of establishing building trades recovery week (H.3058). Several other bills were ordered to a third reading and enacted. This was the fi rst time that Representative Giannino had the opportunity to chair an informal session. “I am very thankful to Speaker Mariano for the opportunity to conduct House business at an informal session,” said Representative Jessica Giannino (D-Revere). “It has been a while since I have had the gavel in my hand as Revere City Council President and this opportunity brought back many fond memories. It truly is the honor of a lifetime serving my community in this role and I look forward to learning more and taking advantage of every opportunity I am given in Boston to serve my district.” Revere public housing families will benefit from renewal of federal HUD grant targeting Financial Stability and Self-Sufficiency City and federal offi cials working to forge path for economic independence for Revere residents By Steve Freker W ith the help of a renewed federal grant coming Revere's way, a number of families in federal public housing units will be receiving resources to support efforts to help them achieve economic independence and self-suffi ciency. The Boston offi ce of the federal U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced this week that over $128 million to 835 Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and Project Based Rental Assistance (PBRA) owners for the 2023 Renewal and New Family Self Suffi ciency (FSS) Program grants. Specifi cally in Revere, a grant of $83,000 has been renewed through the eff orts of the offi ce of Mayor Patrick Keefe and the federal delegation of U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark and Senator Ed Markey. According to HUD, this funding highlights the agency's continued eff orts to support families by providing fi nancial resources to achieve economic independence. Public Housing Agencies and PBRA owners in Massachusetts received $7.6 million altogether. "Financial literacy, job training and educational opportunities are some of the resources the FSS program connects GRANT | SEE Page 19 and accept grants with and from the state Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Mass. Clean Water Trust for the city’s lead service line inventory and replacement program. The program involves developing a service line inventory for Revere’s 12,000 service lines by gathering, reviewing and compiling the city’s existing service line information. According to City Engineer Nick Rystrom, EPA has modifi ed its requirements regarding lead lines. The new grants and loans are “support to comply with the new rules.” The inventory would focus on lines from the main water line to shut off points throughout the entire city. Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna asked how the inventory would aff ect Winthrop Street, where residents have been waiting to have the road repaved. “What are we looking at? Do we have to wait another year?” asked McKenna. WATER | SEE Page 19 Pats’ Double Down On Defense Revere defenders Ryan El Babor and Amir Yamani create a defensive wall as a Southeastern Regional Technical/Vocational High School player attempts a shot at the General Patton Tournament at Hamilton-Wenham. See pages 10-11 for photo highlights. (Advocate photo by Emily Harney)
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