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Page 2 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 Revere Teachers Association partners with The Neighborhood Developers to provide emergency funds to residents I n response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the effect this has on the community, the Revere Teachers Association (RTA) has generously created a GoFundMe campaign with all proceeds going towards The Neighborhood Developers (TND) and their Revere-based relief efforts. Launched on April 8, the campaign already exceeded its goal of raising $10,000 in just two days to directly help Revere residents affected by COVID-19. One hundred percent of these funds will be provided to needy families with up to $1,000 to use towards rent, utilities and other essential bills. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable and needy, specifically those who are ineligible for unemployment benefits or other aid resources. ANGELO’S FULL SERVICE "42 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2020 Regular Unleaded $1.879 Mid Unleaded $2.499 Super $2.559 Diesel Fuel $2.459 KERO $4.759 Diesel $2.299 HEATING OI 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS MassPort Noise Complaint Line: 617-561-3333 “We are hearing from many people who lost their jobs as drivers, restaurant workers, or as housekeepers,” said TND’s Executive Director, Rafael Mares. “The economic fallout is very uneven: some households remain employed while others no longer have stable income. The teachers of Revere have shown such compassion and generosity, which will make a real difference to the families that they know so well through the schools.” The RTA is grateful to the City of Revere for continuing to pay school workers during this time and is working to support Revere families who do not have the same job and financial security. “I’m incredibly proud to have a way that we can support Revere families directly,” said RTA President Erik Fearing. “This crisis is hitting gateway cities harder than anywhere else, and since many employees are stuck away from the city, we are looking for every opportunity to give back.” TND is a nonprofit that is dedicated to community development in Chelsea and Revere. TND’s many programs help people to access affordable homes, employment and crucial resources, such as temporary financial assistance, that can make a world of difference. In the last two weeks, TND has distributed $21,923 directly to 41 households in Chelsea and Revere with support from the United Way. There is a growing wait list of families seeking shortterm assistance that the RTA’s fundraiser will support. TND has set a goal to raise $120,000 to support its many relief efforts in Chelsea and Revere. One recipient of these emergency funds provided through TND’s CONNECT program said, “I feel like you and CONNECT just took a 100 pounds of pressure off my chest and mind. You truly have been a blessing to my spir~ OP-ED ~ Protecting this fall’s election and strengthening democracy By Joe Gravellese, Candidate for State Representative L ast week, voters in Wisconsin were shamefully forced to choose between exercising their right to vote or adhering to social distancing. Voters stood in long lines and potentially were exposed to COVID-19, largely because powerful interests continue to stand against making voting easier and more convenient. With Massachusetts’ primary election coming up on September 1, the Legislature should act quickly to both protect residents’ right to vote in the upcoming election, and improve voter participation for years to come. Massachusetts should act immediately to allow for no-excuse absentee voting – not just in this election, but in all future elections. We should not wait and scramble to put a new system in place if the pandemic is still raging in late July or early August – we should act now, and take this commonsense step to expand voting access. This prudent step would make sure voters – especially seniors, people with disabilities, and those with preexisting conditions – don’t feel pressured to stand in a crowded line in order to vote this year. Allowing absentee voting for all who want it will also make it easier and more convenient for people to vote, even if they work two jobs, have childcare commitments, have long commutes, or face exhausting workdays that make it difficult to vote between the hours of 7 AM and 8 PM. Working-class voters are more likely to have jobs that don’t offer time to duck out and vote, or have childcare commitments that make it more difficult to make it to the polls on time. This situation gives wealthy voters disproportionate influence over our elections. Paper ballots are the most secure and safe system for elections, and our local election departments already do a tremendous job handling the existing absentee balloting process. Senior citizens, troops serving overseas, and others regularly vote by mail now, and do so safely. Over 30 states already offer absentee voting to all. New Hampshire just authorized absentee balloting for all for this fall’s elections. Five states conduct their elections entirely by mail. Here in Massachusetts, we can have the best of both worlds, by allowing anyone to vote absentee while still opening the polls on Election Day in a safe manner. We should also consider other steps to protect our democracy and increase voter participation – not just this year, but every year moving forward. We can increase access for voters on Election Day by making it a state holiday, in order to make it easier for working people to go to the polls. Other ideas we should explore include having an independent commission redraw fair districts after the 2020 census, instead of letting the Legislature pick its own districts; expanding the right to vote in municipal elections to 16- and 17-year olds to give young people a stake in the future of their communities; and getting big money out of politics. Last but not least, we need to provide more funding to local Election Commissioners to hire and train poll workers, so that the voting process on Election Day is fairer and more efficient. In Sweden, 83% of adults voted in their last election. In New Zealand, turnout was 76%; in Italy, 65% went to the polls. But here in the US, just 56% of eligible adults cast a ballot in the last presidential election. Turnout for local elections is even lower. We can make our democracy healthier by improving voter turnout – but in order to do that, we need to take away barriers that keep people from people getting involved. The COVID-19 crisis presents an opportunity for Massachusetts to both do the right thing by public health, and improve our democracy for years to come. —Joe Gravellese is running in the Democratic primary for State Representative in the 16th Suffolk District (Revere, Chelsea, Saugus) on September 1, 2020. its right now and I could never thank you enough for helping me with this overwhelming obstacle during this time.” “It’s a challenge to implement remote learning, but teachers’ biggest worries have been for the safety and well-being of students and their families,” said Beachmont Elementary School teacher Julia Gallogly.” The GoFundMe campaign is open to anyone, and RTA hopes that others will contribute. If you are interested in contributing to this fund, visit www.gofundme. com/f/rta-supports-revere-families. Every dollar you give will help a family have their most basic needs met. Organizers are planning to continue with fundraising efforts through Mother’s Day on May 10. Anyone that donates by May 10 will be entered to win one of five $100 gift certificates at a local business. For more information, contact Fearing at erik.fearing@gmail.com or at 781-864-1616. Prices subject to change BE SAFE! FLEET

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