Page 4 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ Campaign Underway to Repeal New Law Allowing Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented/Illegal Immigrants By Salvatore Giarratani A new law (H.4805) that would allow undocumented/illegal immigrants to apply for a Massachusetts driver’s license is scheduled to start July 1, 2023. Voters will be headed to the polls on Election Day, NoGerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 vember 8 so taxpayers, not Beacon Hill, can decide whether to repeal it or keep it. I was reminded about this important ballot question on November 8 after reading Beacon Hill Roll Call by Bob Katzen which runs in The Revere Advocate each week. This column is a great way to see just what our legislators up on Beacon Hill are doing in our name. The campaign to repeal the new law was steered by Maureen Maloney, whose son, Matt Denice, was killed by a drunk driver who did not have legal status in this country and illegally drove a motor vehicle. During the period that the petition drive was on, voters lined up in droves to sign the repeal voicing their opposition to the new law not even yet in eff ect. Opponents of the repeal campaign reportedly harassed and tried to prevent voters from signing the petition and in some cases forced local police to shut down volunteers from collecting more signatures. The other side obviously likes the new law that is coming if the voters don’t stop it on Election Day, November 8. One supporter of the new law, Elizabeth Sweet says, “The [law] keeps people safer by ensuring that all drivers, regardless of immigration status, know and follow the rules of the road, take the same driver’s test and have insurance when they need it.” Still trying to fi gure out what she means by “have insurance when they need it.” Isn’t the answer, all motor vehicles on the road need to be insured? I believe it is up to We the People of Massachusetts to decide if this new law is right for us. I do believe this new law could open the door to non-citizens voting. That is a real concern considering just how badly the RMV has performed of late, right? I trust voters will make the correct call in November. While the other side says, “We are disappointed that this unnecessary and divisive repeal question appears to be moving forward, we are more than determined than ever to defend the expansion of permission to apply for a driver’s license.” This ballot question is crystal clear who should or shouldn’t be able to apply for a MA driver’s license. Driving a motor vehicle in Massachusetts is not a right but a privilege. I didn’t say this, the Registry of Motor Vehicles states this. I am tired of those sob stories about illegal immigrants afraid to take their children to the doctor’s offi ce for fear of getting caught by the police. One fi nal question few want to answer. Does this mean that illegal or undocumented immigrants given driver’s licenses means that there will be no longer be unregistered or uninsured cars on the road? I was born at night but not last night. As the grandson of immigrants to this country, I am not anti-immigrant. Never have been. I am all for helping those who come here legally like my grandparents and the grandparents of many who are reading my words right here. We will need to fi nd a way to fi x our immigration policy because the status quo ain’t working out too well. However, driver’s licenses are not yet a top priority for most of us. Vote NO on driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants this November 8! RevereTV Spotlight T he Revere High School Football season offi cially begins SAVE THE DATE Catered by: Henry s Catering , 1979/1980 Class BBQ Sept. 24th, 2022 1:30 – 5:30 $40 per person Elks Grove • 401 Main St• Saugus MA 01960 RSVP by Sept. 3rd, 2022 to: Pete Nicolo 978-815-8234 • PSNicolo2533@comcast.net or Mike Allan 781-953-2279 • Allan7915@gmail.com Make Checks payable to Peter Nicolo and mail to: 13 Bourbon St, Unit 55, Peabody, MA 01960 Invite your friends from other Classes!!! Rain or Shine Outdoor shelter provided tonight! Watch live as the Revere Patriots take on the Peabody Tanners at Peabody. RevereTV will be streaming the game live on all outlets at 7 p.m. If you miss the game coverage, replays will be scheduled on the RevereTV Community Channel. Games will be uploaded to this year’s football playlist on RTV’s YouTube channel. RevereTV is covering all games this year. “In the Loop” by RevereTV and the City of Revere highlighted a few upcoming events to prepare for. The fi rst was a toiletry drive in remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9/11. The drive ended last week, but every donation given was to honor and support troops and veterans. Donations received went to the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, where volunteers will make care packages for the troops and veterans. In light of Labor Day, “In the Loop” promoted the annual Touch-A-Truck event, which will take place on Sunday, September 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Suffolk Downs. Walk along the track for an up-close view of tractors, police cars, fi re engines and more! Enjoy kids’ activities, games, giveaways and food. This event is free and open to the public; however, registration is recommended. You can watch “In the Loop” in between programming on RevereTV, on YouTube and on Facebook. The PSAs are posted every week in four languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic. RevereTV covered the Annual Revere Overdose Memorial last Wednesday. This candlelight vigil was held at Leach Park as the names of Revere residents lost to drug and alcohol were read aloud. The memorial was held by the City of Revere’s Substance Use Disorder and Homeless Initiatives (SUDHI) Offi ce as it is every year, but the annual event was merged with the Revere Beach Memorial that usually commemorates International Overdose Awareness Day. RevereTV has video coverage of the entire memorial, which you can now watch on RTV GOV or YouTube at any time. Also on RTV GOV, you can watch the latest municipal meetings. This week includes the Conservation Commission and the Cultural Council. The next City Council Meeting is this upcoming Monday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m., preceded by the Zoning Board and Appointments Sub-Committee Meeting. RTV GOV is channel 9 on Comcast and 13 or 613 on RCN. All Monday meetings that involve the City Council are available for Spanish translation live on YouTube.
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