REVERE Vol. 32, No.11 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Two RHS alumni sworn in as Revere Police Officers Have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ADVOCATE Free Every Friday 781-286-8500 Friday, March 17, 2023 Jack Satter House tenants donate to earthquake victims in Turkey T here was a joint program for Jack Satter House and Peace Islands Institute Boston – Sufi Songs of Love & Understanding Rumi – on Sunday. During the event, the Jack Satter House Tenants Association presented the Turkish Cultural Center a donation that was collected from the residents to aid the victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkey, and they were given flowers and a decorative platter, a sign of gratitude for hosting this event. Police Officer Giana Berkowitz was pinned by her father, Alan, on Wednesday afternoon inside the City Council Chambers at City Hall. CARING DONATION: Pictured from left to right: Jack Satter House Tenants Association President Roxanne Aiello, Zhanat Zhapparov of Peace Islands Institute Boston, AND Jack Satter House Chaplain Rabbi Lior Nevo. (Courtesy photo by Pat Melchionno) Commission on Disabilities focuses His girlfriend, Aliza Anderson, pinned Police Officer John Papasodora. By Tara Vocino R evere Police Officers John Papasodora and Giana Berkowitz were sworn in on Wednesday afternoon, surrounded by family, city officials and fellow police officers, in the POLICE | SEE Page 11 on diversity, equity and inclusion By Barbara Taormina T he Commission on Disabilities met this week with Claudia Correa, chief of the city’s Office of Talent and Culture. Correa said her office is looking at implementing some policies and changes throughout the city. Commission members and Correa share the goal of ensuring city policies reflect commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Correa, who also oversees Human Resources, told the commission her office is working on implementing some policies and changes around diversity, equity and inclusion. Correa said she and Commission Chair/ADA Coordinator Ralph DeCicco are planning to visit city buildings Police Chief David Callahan thanked councillors and Mayor Brian Arrigo for their support of law enforcement. He said both officers are excellent candidates and graduated from Revere High School. “to make sure departments are ADA compliant and doing their best to be accessible to people with disabilities.” But Correa stressed she is not looking to check boxes: It’s not enough to be ADA compliant – we have to be intentional. Correa gave the example of an elevator in the basement of a city building that can take disabled people to meetings on the third and fourth floor. “Fine, we’re in compliance but are we really being intentional?” she asked. “I see people walking around looking for an elevator.” Commission Vice Chair Pauline Perno agreed that it’s about more than compliance and accessibility. “We have to make people aware. As internal people we know the elevators are there, assistive devices are there, close captioning is there, but we have to get the word out. Unless that word is spread through the many channels that need to hear it, it doesn’t matter how accessible things are.” Correa and the commissioners also discussed the state’s extension of the option to hold remote or hybrid municipal meetings until 2025. “One of the best things to come out of covid was virtual meetings,’ said Correa. “People with disabilities have been asking for this for many years.” But members of the commission said that virtual meetings are important for the entire community. “People from different backgrounds, different ethnicities don’t want to be at a DISABILITIES | SEE Page 2 $3.48 GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602
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