Joined Gov. Baker last Friday to mark the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Somber moment, lightened by survivors’ strength embodied in an entire nation. Huge turnout of Armenian Americans, their friends, and their admirers.
Investing in the Arts Pays Off
Non-profit cultural organizations spur economic growth. One dollar spent on the arts brings in $2.30 for local businesses. On the left, speaking with constituents with MASSCreative. We agreed to make that case during the debate over the budget for the new fiscal year. On the right, with Rob Mitchell of Concord, Carole Charnow of Bedford, Jerry Wedge of Concord, Allene Kussin of Concord and Belinda Jentz of Waltham.
Barrett draws on Canadian experience to promote carbon fees
State House News
“British Columbia, with its population of about 4.4 million people, first imposed a carbon tax in 2008 as part of the province’s climate action plan. By 2012, the province had hit its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 6 percent below 2007 levels at the same time that British Columbia’s population was growing and its gross domestic product climbed 9 percent.”
Statewide Listening Tour Recap
Barrett honored by advocates for the blind
Press Release
At a recent State House gathering of constituents who are blind and their advocates, state Senator Mike Barrett, D-Lexington, was named Legislator of the Year for his commitment to people who are blind or visually impaired. Barrett recently served as Senate Chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
“Senator Barrett has made it a priority to reach out to all groups of people with disabilities, including those with blindness and deafblindness,” said Kim Charlson, Director of the Perkins Library. “He’s a true advocate and a real friend to people with disabilities.”
Meeting with the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless
Met with members of the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless. One of their top priorities is legislation establishing a Homeless Bill of Rights, on which I’m a co-sponsor. You can read more about the bill here.
Mass. Legislature’s internal rules
The Mass. Legislature’s internal rules matter. Here’s why citizens should weigh in:
United Teen Equality Center in Lowell
As part of the Senate’s statewide listening tour, my colleagues and I visited the United Teen Equality Center in Lowell. UTEC was founded for local teens in response to gang violence. Had a delicious lunch from Cafe UTEC prepared by some young chefs.
Healthy Eating at the State House
Sonia DeMarta, co-founder of the Farmers Market in Lexington and Healthy Eating consultant at Whole Foods in Bedford, got a State House audience to dig in on the topic of healthy eating.
Military R&D at Lincoln Laboratory
The State Senate’s Commonwealth Conversations Tour stopped at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. My colleagues told me later that they were astonished by what they saw. Among other things, the translation of military R&D to non-military uses is as robust today as it was when ARPANET led to the development of the internet.
