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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 Page 17 REAL ESTATE TRANSAC TIONS newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information visit: www.thewarrengroup.com. Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade BUYER1 Tuyet-Ho, Nhung BHRC | FROM PAGE 15 housing and food security. Rep. Jim Arciero (D-Westford), the House chair of the Committee on Housing, said that investment in housing is critical to the creation of BUYER2 SELLER1 John Mcgranr IRT new aff ordable housing opportunities and the preservation of our existing aff ordable housing. “This funding will be used to modernize and revitalize our state-aided public housing, create pathways to permanent housing for those who have expeSELLER2 Skeffi ngton, Marla A rienced chronic homelessness and empower first time-homebuyers to secure a home in an increasingly competitive market,” said Arciero. “Most importantly, these strategic investments will prioritize those communities across our commonwealth that have been most impacted by this pandemic.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment). Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes $26.6 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR ENVIRONMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE (H 4219) House 158-1, approved a consolidated amendment adding an estimated $26.6 million in spending on environment, climate and infrastructure. “The consolidated amendment currently being considered by the House includes $26.6 million in funding that our colleagues have let us know is most essential for their communities,” said Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston), the House chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. “From the very beginning of our conversations with our federal partners about how we can best utilize recovery funds, it was clear that including environmental and climate investments would be essential for Massachusetts to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger than before.” “This bill has many very important spending priorities to help small businesses, housing and other critical needs related to the pandemic that has taken its toll over the past two years,” said Rep. Peter Durant (R-Spencer) the only member to vote against the amendment. “What I simply don’t understand is how spending tax dollars on environmental justice issues are related to COVID. It seems to just be an excuse to go on a spending spree.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes $90.7 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR LABOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (H 4219) House 158-0, approved a consolidated amendment adding an estimated $90.7 million in spending on labor and economic development. “Here in Massachusetts, we’re not blessed with the greatest weather, [an] understatement this week,” said Rep. Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury), the House chair of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “We don’t have vast oil and gold reserves or other abundant natural resources. Our greatest resource is our skilled workforce. That’s what drives our economy. This legislation represents an historic investment to match this pivotal moment in the commonwealth’s history with the resources necessary for our workforce ADDRESS 62 Chestnut St CITY development system.” (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment). Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Donald Wong Yes SENATE REDISTRICTING (S 2560) Senate 36-3, House on a voice vote without a roll call, approved and sent to Gov. Baker a bill redrawing the boundaries of all 40 senators’ districts. The plan is based on the 2020 census and will be in eff ect until the next redistricting cycle following the census in 2030. Both branches, on a voice vote without a roll call, also approved and sent to the governor a measure redrawing the boundaries of all 160 representatives’ districts. Senate President Karen Spilka’s offi ce says the Senate plan would increase from three to six the number of districts where minorities make up the majority of the population. “The eff orts to increase majority-minority representation include the strengthening of a Black ‘ability-to-elect’ district in Boston and the creation of a Hispanic ‘ability-to-elect’ district in the Merrimack Valley, along with the creation, strengthening or preservation of four ‘opportunity-to-elect’ districts in the Chelsea area, the Brockton area, Springfi eld and Boston,” read the analysis from her offi ce. Sen. Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont), the Senate Chair of the Redistricting Committee, praised the redistricting as a high-quality plan. “I’m really pleased that the House and Senate were able to work together to bring these bills across the fi nish line at the same time,” said Brownsberger. “I’m grateful to the many citizens who participated in our inclusive process. I’m also grateful to my colleagues for their guidance and ultimate strong support of our plan.” Sen. Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen), said she agrees strongly with some of the bill’s provisions including its creation of new majority minority districts. She noted she voted against it because it needs even more work and doesn’t go far enough in representation for communities of color and many other communities in Massachusetts that have been shut out for too long. “It has been very clear that the most powerful amongst us saw very light touches in the redistricting process, while the majority of rank-andfi le members absorbed notable if not substantial changes to their district lines,” said DiZoglio. “Communities need to have their voices heard before we move forward with fi nalizing this legislation. Many residents have been left begging the question as to why their districts and communities have been sliced and diced while the district lines of the most powerful have not. And those folks deserve answers.” “The Senate redistricting map accurately reflects the numerous DATE PRICE Saugus 14.10.2021 $570 000,00 changes that have occurred over the past 10 years,” said Sen. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer). “While I am personally experiencing seismic changes in my district, I was very pleased with the process and the work that was done to preserve full Senate representation in our western Massachusetts districts while increasing the number of majority minority districts across the commonwealth.” “What I want to focus my comments on today is two of the communities I am losing, especially the city of Lawrence,” said Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover) who voted against the bill. “For the past two decades, I have had the privilege of representing the city of Lawrence … and I’ve also been proud to serve the town of Dracut … In my time as an elected offi cial, both of these communities have embraced me with open arms … Helping out the city of Lawrence has been my life’s work … Overall there is so much more work to do and I will continue to advocate wholeheartedly on behalf of these communities I currently represent for the remainder of the session.” (A “Yes” vote is for the redistricting plan. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Brendan Crighton Yes HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been fi led. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible late-night sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of October 2529, the House met for a total of 20 hours and 56 minutes while the Senate met for a total of nine hours and 41 minutes. Mon. Oct. 25 House 11:02 a.m. to 11:08 a.m. Senate 11:02 a.m. to 1:59 p.m. Tues. Oct. 26 No House session No Senate session Wed. Oct. 27 No House session Senate 1:15 p.m. to 4:49 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 28 House 11:03 a.m. to 11:19 p.m. Senate 11:15 a.m. to 2:25 p.m. Fri. Oct. 29 House 12:03 p.m. to 8:37 p.m. No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com

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