Page 4 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2020 COVID-19: How Revere compares to neighboring communities O ver the past week, the number of confi rmed COVID-19 cases in Revere increased from 1,403 to 1,506 – a 7.3 percent increase, according to the latest weekly city/town cases available Wednesday. Revere has the fi fth highest rate in the state, with an average of 2,472.24 confi rmed cases per 100,000. COVID-19 | SEE PAGE 15 Revere Dems name Dimple Rana Democratic City Committee Chair By Christopher Roberson T he Revere Democratic City Committee voted unanimously to appoint Dimple Rana as its chairwoman during the committee’s reorganizational meeting on May 16. In addition to previously serving as the committee’s vice chairwoman, Rana is also the director of the city’s Healthy Community Initiatives. “I’m proud to continue to make history in Revere as the fi rst woman of color to run in my hometown city and now the newly elected chair of the Democratic City Committee,” said Rana. “The result of the organizing work of the One Revere Movement is refl ected in that we just elected the most diverse committee in the history of the City Committee.” Councillor-at-Large Steven Morabito and Danielle Osterman were subsequently elected as the new vice chairs. Osterman was also chosen as the new chairwoman of Ward 5. In addition, City Council President Patrick Keefe and Juan Jaramillo were reelected as treasurer and ginalized, and I am proud that the people elected to lead our party at city and ward levels are at the intersection of race, class, sexual orientation, age, gender and even language.” Keefe said the Democratic Party is “alive and well” in Revere. “It’s great to see the younger leaders becoming more involved in our city’s, state’s and nation’s democratic process and it’s refl ective in the most economical and socially diverse committee we have to date,” he said. In addition to the new ExecThe Revere Democratic City Committee recently cast a unanimous vote to appoint Dimple Rana as its new chairwoman. (Courtesy Photo) secretary, respectively, positions they have held since 2016. Jaramillo, an immigrant and advocate for Revere, said he and Keefe coach Revere Pop Warner Football together and that Rana has been a mentor to him. “I know fi rsthand how much they care for our city,” said Jaramillo. “Our platform fi ghts for those who have historically been marutive Board, Allan Fitzmaurice was reelected as the Ward 1 chairman and Louis Ciarlone will also be returning as the chairman of Ward 4. Chaimaa Hossaini was elected to lead Ward 2. At 19 years old, Hossaini is the youngest offi cer ever to be elected to the committee. Kathy Occena was elected as chairwoman of Ward 3 while the committee chose Joseph Gravellese to lead Ward 6. The committee’s elections are held every four years. Residents can learn more about the committee by sending email to reveredems@gmail.com. City Council calls for reopening the city for kids By Barbara Taormina City Council President Patrick Keefe said this week that slowly and safely is his motto. That’s how Keefe would like to see the city reopen some of its parks and recreational facilities so that people have a chance to exercise and be outdoors. Councillors supported Keefe’s motion to request that Mayor Brian Arrigo open some parks and recreational facilities by June 1. “I recognize some restrictions may and should apply, but we need to start lifting some of the restrictions within reason,” said Keefe. “I fi rmly believe we need to look at a safe way back to normalcy.” Keefe said he is looking at reopening the parks as a parent knowing that kids will be outdoors and involved in youth activities with or without the city’s permission. “Go by any park on a nice day, and you’ll see them out there,” he said. According to Keefe, locking up city parks doesn’t work. Kids are just hopping the fences. “They are actually destroying public property to get into the parks,” he said. “I would rather have them [using the parks] with our restrictions and guidance.” Keefe said Governor Charlie Baker released guidelines for reopening beaches, parks, athletic fi elds and courts, gardens, zoos and boating facilities on Memorial Day. Walking, biking, running and hiking will be allowed in parks and public open spaces as long as people maintain social distancing and wear face masks if they can’t keep at least six feet apart from others. Athletic fi elds and courts can be used for noncontact sports with no shared equipment, such as tennis and pickleball. Players should wash their hands before and after games and avoid touching an opponent’s equipment. Pickup games, organized games and tournaments are not allowed. Zoos and botanical gardens will also reopen, but buildings that are part of those facilities will remain closed and admission will be limited to 20 percent capacity. Keefe believes some of those guidelines can be adjusted to fi t Revere’s interests and needs Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo suggested park monitors could give out face masks and hand sanitizer to kids and make sure social distancing rules were being followed. “Once we allow kids back in the parks, they’ll be fi ne,” he said. Keefe also asked the councillors to support a request that Arrigo develop a plan for summer youth activities. “The summer recreation program is not going to look the same this year, if it happens at all,” he said. Still, Keefe is convinced there are ways to run summer programs at the parks that keep kids safe through social distancing and limited groups. Keefe also said summer youth programs are important for parents with young children who may eventually start returning to work. The Revere Reopening Team has been looking at diff erent strategies to safely ease restrictions and reopen the city. Although the team has started talks with faith leaders on safety guidelines for reopening places of worship, their initial focus has been on business and industries. But summer youth programs are an important piece of reopening Revere businesses and returning to a new normal. “If parents go back to work in July, kids are going to need something to do and some place to go,” Keefe said.
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