Page 18 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023 CANDIDATE | FROM Page 1 ly understaff ed” and has gone from proactive to reactive. He favors having a full-time social services officer to deal with some city issues and problems among residents. “We are at a crossroad in society on how we handle issues. We can only do what we can do, but we can at least do our part to be part of the solution.” His views on police and public safety are part of his central campaign theme that city services have not kept up with what he describes as the city’s “overdevelopment.” He is critical of the zoning board of appeals and feels variances for development are being rubber stamped. “It’s important to match services with the needs of the city,” he said adding he intends to get to the point where the city is providing adequate services. He sees the ongoing development and fi nancial strains as challenges to providing what residents need and expect. The new high school is a major issue and Rizzo admits he’s been part of the heated discussions about the project. He favors building on the existing site. He said the misinformation about eminent domain being needed at the existing site and the cost of the project have been frustrating. Rizzo called the Wonderland site and the pending eminent domain lawsuit a “wildcard.” “That’s something we need to fi gure out with the city and the former owners,” he said. In 1986, Rizzo launched Rizzo Insurance Group with his brother and father. His decades in business have given him a practical outlook on municipal fi nance issues. He calls local government a common-sense affair, nothing more, nothing less. Rizzo is critical about the way the city has deployed some of its resources. “There’s tremendous talent in the public works department but we’re contracting out far too much work and paying top dollar to subcontractors,” he said. “There are a lot of services we can bring in house.” He also questions the way the Revere has handled the development of the Haas Wellness Center and the fact that the city is paying thousands of dollars for a building in which nothing is happening. As mayor, Rizzo established Revere’s fi rst stabilization fund which increased the city’s bond rating and led to a lower tax rate for residents. He is committed to meeting the demands of daily life for residents without piling on with increased taxes, fi nes and fees. “You can’t tax people into the Stone Age,” he said. Rizzo is also concerned with the way people view local government. “Residents are disenchanted with the way they are treated by city hall,” he said. “People want to be talked with not talked at. We have to provide solutions.” He said there is a lot of responsibility in being an elected offi cial but you also need humility. For Rizzo, it’s important to reach out to other people who may have good ideas and he believes an emphasis on collaboration will bring a diff erent tone to Revere’s leadership. “I consider myself a good team player,” he said. “We need a group eff ort to collaborate for the benefi t of residents.” He wants to try an make the community a little more harmonious. “We need to get back to a city that has a lot of community spirit,” he said. Rizzo has plenty of that. For him, everything important, family, friends and business is in the city. As mayor, he promises to represent residents the way he would want to be represented and to treat them the way he would like to be treated. As Rizzo put it, “I know no other way.” Tips and Tools for Coping with Vision Loss Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good resources for seniors with vision loss? My husband was recently diagnosed with macular degeneration, which has deteriorated his central vision, and he’s become very discouraged. Worried Wife Dear Worried, I’m very sorry to hear about your husband’s eye condition. Unfortunately, there are about 20 million Americans living with macular degeneration today. Over time, this progressive disease can rob people of their central vision, making everyday tasks like driving a car, reading a magazine or watching television extremely challenging. Here are some tips and resources that can help. Low Vision Help If your husband hasn’t already done so, he needs to see a low-vision specialist for a comprehensive examination. Low-vision specialists are ophthalmologist or optometrist with additional credentials or specialization in low vision testing, diagnosis, and treatment. A low vision exam, which is much diff erent from a typical eye exam, will explore how your husband’s eye condition is affecting his day-to-day life, how he’s adapting emotionally and prescribe solutions to help him regain as much day-to-day functioning as possible. Your next step is to get your husband to a nearby vision rehabilitation service. These services, which are run by state or nonprofi t organizations, or private eye care clinics, help people with all types of uncorrectable vision impairments. Most state and nonprofi t services are free or lowcost, while private clinics typically charge a fee or may accept Medicare. While vision rehabilitation does not restore lost sight, it does help people maximize their existing sight, or, if they have no vision, it can equip them with techniques and tools to help them maintain an independent lifestyle. Services include counseling, along with training on how to perform daily living tasks with low vision, and how to use visual and adaptive devices and assistive technologies that can help improve quality of life. They also offer guidance for adapting your home that will make it safer and easier for your husband to maneuver and can help him locate low-vision support groups. Some agencies will even send their specialist out to work with him in the comfort of your own home. To fi nd a vision rehabilitation service near you ask your husband’s eye doctor for a referral, or you can locate services yourself by calling the American Printing House (APH) Connect Center at 800-232-5463. Online Tools Another convenient place to get help for your husband is online at VisionAware (VisionAware. org). This free website that’s part of the APH Connect Center is specifi cally designed for older adults new to vision loss. It provides information on eye diseases and disorders, along with dozens of practical tips, information and instructional videos on living with vision loss. These include concepts for adapting your home to make it easier to navigate, techniques for traveling safely outside the home, and various tips on how to manage things like fi nances, medications, and other tasks such as cooking, cleaning, grooming, reading, writing, doing hobbies and more. VisionAware also provides a comprehensive list of more than 2,000 low vision agencies and organizations across the country that’s searchable by state or category. Another terrifi c low vision resource that’s available to your husband is Hadley (Hadley.edu), which is a nonprofit organization and partner of the National Eye Institute and the National Eye Health Education Program. Hadley off ers online discussion groups, audio podcasts and dozens of free online workshop videos to help empower the blind and visually impaired. With Hadley, your husband will learn new ways to do things that have become more diffi cult due to his vision loss and connect him with a network of peers who understand what he’s going through. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
19 Publizr Home