Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 A note from Bob Katzen, Publisher of Beacon Hill Roll Call: Join me this Sunday night and every Sunday night between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST for my talk show “The Bob Katzen Baby Boomer and Gen X Show.” Jump in my time capsule and come back to the simpler days of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. There are many ways you can listen to the show from anywhere in the world: • If you have a smart speaker, simply say, “Play WMEX on RADIO.COM” • Download the free RADIO. COM app on your phone or tablet • Listen online at: www.wmexboston.com • Tune into 1510 AM if you still have an AM radio THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local representatives and senators from the week of March 15-19. CLIMATE CHANGE (S 9) House 145-14, Senate 39-1, approved and sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a lengthy climate change bill. A key section makes the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal net zero by 2050. The House and Senate both voted to adopt many of the amendments that Gov. Baker proposed to the original measure approved by the Legislature in February. Other provisions in the measure codify environmental justice provisions into Massachusetts law by defi ning environmental justice populations and providing new tools and protections for aff ected neighborhoods; provide $12 million in annual funding for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to create a pathway to the clean energy industry for environmental justice populations and minorityowned and women-owned busiTOWING | FROM Page 1 all plan is the potential purchase of the Riverside Boatworks site by the City of Revere for use as a community rowing and maritime center. The overlay district was passed following several Zoning Subcommittee meetings which added amendments to the original proposal ensuring greater transparency and neighborhood input on development of the G&J site, as well as pulling the former Mirage nightclub site from the overlay district borders. As was the case during the most recent Zoning Subcommittee meeting on the overlay nesses; require an additional 2,400 megawatts of off shore wind and increase the state’s total authorization to 5,600 megawatts; set appliance energy effi ciency standards for a variety of common appliances including plumbing, faucets, computers and commercial appliances and set benchmarks for the adoption of clean energy technologies including electric vehicles, charging stations, solar technology, energy storage and heat pumps. “History has been made today with the passage of the Next-Generation Roadmap bill,” said Rep. Tom Golden (D-Lowell). “The roadmap sets us on a strong course to net zero by 2050 and signifi cantly advances off shore wind, truly representing the best ideas from both chambers. Hats off to the House and the Senate for holding fi rm on ambitious emissions targets.” “Massachusetts leads the nation in reducing carbon emissions, of which there are some measures that I have supported,” said Sen. Ryan Fattman who was the only senator who voted against the measure. “However, this legislation, often described as ‘far reaching’ by the media and economic experts, will ensure the costs of building homes and commercial economic development dramatically increase, making us the most expensive state in the nation to live and do business. In this time of economic recovery from COVID-19, this is not only inadvisable; it is detrimental to the long-term interests of keeping Massachusetts aff ordable and prosperous.” “Today, the Legislature will take an important step toward a cleaner, healthier future by putting the climate bill back on the governor’s desk,” said Ben Hellerstein, State Director for Environment Massachusetts. “I applaud House and Senate leaders for preserving the key elements of last session’s bill, including energy effi ciency standards for appliances, expanded off shore wind procurements, and a requirement for at least 40 percent of Massachusetts’ electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030. If Gov. Baker vetoes the bill, I hope legislators move quickdistrict, which will allow for residential and retail development on the parcel which is currently zoned for light industrial, Ward 6 Councillor Richard Serino voted the lone dissenting vote. Serino has expressed concerns about overdevelopment along the waterfront. While the sale of the G&J site has not happened yet, Redgate has been in negotiations to purchase the lot and build a mixeduse apartment complex on the site. During the meeting, Mayor Brian Arrigo thanked the council for its vote approving the overlay district. “I want to thank the members of the City Counly to override the veto and turn this bill into a law.” A new study by the Beacon Hill Institute says that legislation calling for a net-zero emissions policy by 2050 is flawed and unrealistic. “In this study, we conclude that this legislation is misconceived,” said co-author David Tuerck, president of the institute. “The ‘absolute zero’ approach embodied in the legislation would be economically ruinous. It would increase costs to the average Massachusetts household to unacceptable levels. If the commonwealth sought to reduce emissions by 100 percent, the price of a gallon of gasoline would have to rise above $14.10.” “The Next-Generation Climate Roadmap Act reflects the concerns of people of every age, from every part of the state,” tweeted Sen. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington). “There is little doubt the legislation that passed today, if it becomes law, will cost taxpayers and businesses greatly in the future,” said Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance Executive Director Paul Craney. “The only questions that remain are just how much it will cost them and how ordinary, working-class families will be able to pay for it moving forward. Today’s legislation puts ideology ahead of common sense. It asks nearly every resident to make economic sacrifi ces in order to achieve unrealistic and ideologically driven climate goals.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes HELP BUSINESSES AND WORKERS (S 35) Senate 40-0, approved a bill that excludes Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from being taxed by the state in 2020; excludes $10,200 of unemployment compensation received by an individual with a household income of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level from gross income for tax purposes; and makes employees eligible for up to fi ve days of paid leave, at their regular rate of pay, capped at cil for their vision and their foresight on this, really what will be a transformational undertaking that we have down there,” said Arrigo. Arrigo specifically thanked Ward 5 Councillor John Powers for his advocacy for the ward. “I appreciate all the tremendous work you’ve done for the Pines neighborhood, for Riverside, for the Revere High portion of your district, for Oak Island and the entirety of your ward,” said Arrigo. While there was no discussion during the vote on the overlay district itself, earlier in the meeting, Powers used a point of personal privilege to address what $850 per week. Other provisions waive penalties on unemployment insurance taxes; freeze unemployment insurance rates paid by employers; create a mechanism ensuring all employees will be able to access 40 hours of paid sick time for any COVID-related issues, including testing positive, needing to quarantine or caring for a loved one; and extend the state’s tax fi ling deadline from April 15, 2021 to May 17, The day after this vote, the Department of Revenue (DOR), citing powers it says it can use when the U.S. president declares a disaster, unilaterally moved the Massachusetts tax fi ling deadline to conform with the postponed federal deadline of May 17. DOR said Massachusetts individual personal income tax returns and payments for the 2020 tax year that would have been due April 15 are now due May 17 under this automatic extension. Businesses would also face a new surcharge, in the form of an excise tax on employee wages, through December 2022 to help repay interest due in September on the federal loans. “In January, I declared that we must act quickly to provide our workers with COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave, and today the Senate has delivered on that promise,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “I am proud of the collaboration that brought about this agreement, which will provide needed relief for both businesses and workers … As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 emergency, these measures will provide stability to our economy, and keep workers safe.” “No worker should have to choose between staying home if they risk spreading COVID-19 and earning a paycheck to support their family, but unfortunately this impossible choice faces many workers who do not have adequate job-protected paid sick leave during this pandemic, especially low-income essential workers,” said Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester). “As we slowly emerge from the he characterized as some misinformation being spread about the potential development of the G&J site by Redgate. “There is a lot of information out there and some of it is fi ctional and some of it is very disingenuous,” said Powers. Powers noted that so far there have been four neighborhood meetings with residents of the Point of Pines and Rice Avenue about the potential project. Powers said he has spoken to Revere Cable about broadcasting those meetings. Powers addressed some of the specifi c concerns that have been raised about the potential project, including the use of the private COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud of the collective action taken by the Senate and House to pass this comprehensive bill that strikes a balance to help businesses, workers, and jumpstart an equitable recovery for our commonwealth,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “With more people getting vaccinated by the day, and our economy reopening, this bill will bring much needed relief to small businesses, keep our essential front-line workers safe, and target tax relief to lift up low-income families who lost jobs during this pandemic.” The House has approved a different version of the measure and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill.) Sen. Joseph Boncore Yes TAKE-OUT AND DELIVERY OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES (S 35) Senate 9-30, rejected an amendment that would extend the life of a current law that allows restaurants during the pandemic state of emergency to sell sealed containers of mixed drinks, beer and wine with take-out and delivery orders. Under the current law, restaurants would be able to continue doing this only until the governor lifts the ban. The amendment would extend the law for another two years after the governor lifts the ban. “A year into the state of emergency we are seeing glimmers of hope for economic recovery,” said Sen. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen), the amendment’s sponsor. “But businesses, particularly in the food and beverage sector and other segments of the hospitality industry, are still in survival mode. If we have any intention of helping them actually recover, we will continue to need programs like beverages to-go that provide our restaurants with much needed revenue streams now and in the future.” Amendment opponents said they support the alcohol takeout and delivery options for resBEACON | SEE Page 15 Rice Avenue beach by any tenants at a development, and the height of the proposed building. The councillor also pointed out what he said would be immense fi nancial benefi ts to the city. “We all know that site is currently a tow site and it is terrible looking and is generating $60,000 [a year] in taxes,” said Powers. “If that site is developed under the proposal which is before us, it would generate $1 million a year; that’s $940,000 more in tax revenue to the city.” That $1 million per year would off set some of the debt service when it comes time for the city to build and fi nance a new high school, Powers said.
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