Representative Denise Provost

Written by Administrator
Friday, 18 January 2008
NEW YEAR EDITION Happy New Year! As I start – incredibly – my third year of representing you on Beacon Hill, I thought I would report back to you about my work in 2007. I’ll be doing that over the next two or more newsletters. In the process, I’ll be asking you for your opinions on some of the issues of the day, so that I can represent you even better. INTRODUCTION: MY BEACON HILL LIFE One year ago, like many of you, I was celebrating the inauguration of our first Democratic governor in almost a generation. Since the governor’s office was the very first public office to which Deval Patrick had been elected, I expected a bit of a “learning curve.” I also expected a few months to pass before Governor Patrick appointed his cabinet secretaries, and filled key positions. I was prepared to have to argue for improvements to our Veterans’ Memorial Rink with three successive DCR Commissioners. I was prepared for times when the administration might not have a position on a particular bill or policy, because no position has been formulated yet. What I did not anticipate was that State House News Service reporters would end up voting as their top story of 2007, “Patrick angry about inaction on bills, at odds with House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi.” How can a representative be effective in such a political environment? For me, it helps that my legislative philosophy has always been to be patient, and to persevere. In the meantime, I learn voraciously, cultivate friendships in the legislature and the administration, keep rooted in my values, and reach for my vision for Somerville, and for our common wealth. A. GREEN LINE EXTENSION 1. Continued progress on funding Despite the current challenges on Beacon Hill, I have found some measure of success with my working philosophy. One case in point has been the question of the commitment of the Patrick administration to fund the Green Line extension. Despite speedy legislative approval of about $2.5 million in design funds last February in the administration’s Immediate Needs Bond Bill, full construction funding the a Transportation Bond Bill was not immediately forthcoming. Then, last summer, Governor Patrick met with the delegation to suggest that the state should delay the project, while seeking federal funds for construction of the project, and “mitigate” the delay with additional bus service. The Somerville legislative delegation spoke with one voice in opposing this proposal, and made the case for full state funding over the ensuing weeks, with the Governor and with Executive Office of Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen. I want to publicly thank former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Fred Salvucci for so generously meeting with me and other community leaders to plan a tactical campaign to assure the state’s commitment to fund out long-awaited project. It was a proud moment indeed when Governor Patrick came to Somerville to announce that he would include the estimated $600 million in construction costs in his Transportation Bond Bill. This victory shows what can be achieved when the city’s administration and legislative delegation work together toward the same goals. All of us must, of course, continue to be vigilant, and prevent schedule “slippage,” and otherwise to keep the Green Line on track. 2. You can help get the Green Line funded! Now that the Governor has filed his Transportation Bond Bill, that bill begins its legislative life. The first important step on that journey will be the public hearing on the Bond Bill (House bill 4409: find at http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04409.pdf) on Tuesday, January 22, at 11 a.m. in Room A-1 at the State House. Since this is a huge bill, of which the Green Line extension is only one piece, written testimony would be more efficient, and just as helpful, as testimony given in person. Please address your letters to both the Committee Chairmen: The Honorable Steven Baddour Committee on Transportation, Senate Chair State House Room 208 Boston, MA 02133 The Honorable Joseph Wagner Committee on Transportation, House Chair State House Room 134 Boston, MA 02133 3. Stay informed! a. Green Line Extension Project website I suggest that you check out the project website at www.greenlineextension.org for news relating to Advisory Group meetings and minutes, items on the Community Path, the State Implementation Plan regulation, and the New Starts initiation package. b. Meeting schedule I also encourage you to attend a civic engagement meeting about the Green Line Extension Project if you have time. This will give you an opportunity to have your voice heard on issues of routing and station locations for the Extension, and to learn about the construction process. A full list and description of meetings in the region can be found on the Project’s website at: https://www.commentmgr.com/projects/1228/docs/FINAL%20Notice.pdf c. Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership The Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP) is “a group of concerned residents advocating for greatly needed transportation improvements for Somerville. Our mission is to secure transportation for the city that will increase social equity, environmental health, and economic opportunity. We welcome residents, businesses, and government to join in this work.” I encourage you to check out their website for updates on the Green Line extension and other transportation projects at: http://www.somervillestep.org/. B. MORE TRANSPORTATION MATTERS 1. MBTA General Manager Grabauskas announces service improvements for bus customers beginning Saturday, 12/29/2007 I’m pleased to share with you an announcement from MBTA General Manager Grabauskas of service improvements to two of the T’s busiest bus routes – Route 15 and Route 111. In an effort to address long-standing concern about overcrowding and punctual service, the MBTA has extended and increased service in congested areas. On Route 15, service will be extended to provide increased evening and weekend service to Bowdoin Street, Geneva Avenue, and Fields Corner Station. On Route 111, approximately eight hours of service is being added daily to improve frequencies in high-demand time periods. Seven trips have been added each weekday to improve service in the early morning, late morning, and late evening. Twenty-five early morning, afternoon, and late evening trips have been added on Saturday, and six Sunday trips are being added. On Route 88, an additional trip will be added during the morning rush hour. 2. Metropolitan Area Planning Council solicits the opinions of residents to update the Regional Pedestrian Plan The MAPC has started the process of updating the Regional Pedestrian Plan, and is eager to survey pedestrians about their needs and behavior in order to help guide the recommendations and priority issue areas for the updated Plan. This Plan will identify and recommend policies to facilitate and encourage walking as a safe, convenient, and practical form of transportation in the Boston region. The survey will only take five or ten minutes to complete, and is a great opportunity to share your needs and concerns as pedestrians with this important organization. Please visit the following website to take the survey online: http://www.mapc.org/pedplan. C. MY AGENDA FOR ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH It continues to amaze me how many people hear the word “environment,” and think of some more of less untouched landscape, that either looks attractive, or not. I can’t understand this narrow view of the environment. While aesthetics are important, I experience the environment as the air we breathe, our water supply, the food we eat, and everything in our world that can either nourish or poison us. My environmental agenda is based on this premise: environmental degradation threatens our health. 1. Air Quality On Monday, January 7, 2008, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued a poor air quality advisory for eastern Massachusetts, effective through the morning of January 9. The warning was not just for the usual, harmful, increase in “ground level ozone,” but also for “fine particulates.” That means that, temporarily, the region was experiencing the same heavy level of particulate pollution that people living along roads like I-93 suffer every day. Last year, I filed two bills aimed at reducing the health effects of what science is showing to be the most dangerous component of air pollution from internal combustion engines. My May 24, 2007 newsletter detailed the adverse health effects of exposure to fine particles, and more information will be available on my soon-to-be-launched website dedicated to my legislative work. That newsletter also described House bill 2227, (see http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht02pdf/ht02227.pdf for text), my bill that would give the Massachusetts Department of Public Health better resources to understand and mitigate public health threats. That bill is still being held by the Committee on Public Health. Letters supporting the bill, and asking that the Committee report it out favorably, should be addressed to: The Honorable Susan Fargo Committee on Public Health, Senate Chair State House Room 504 Boston, MA 02133 The Honorable Peter Koutoujian Committee on Public Health, House Chair State House Room 130 Boston, MA 02133 Similarly, my Healthy Breathing Act, House bill 840, is in the Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture. Letters of support, asking for a favorable report, should go to: The Honorable Pamela Resor, Senate Chair Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture State House Room 410 Boston, MA 02133 The Honorable Frank Smizik, House Chair Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture State House Room 473F Boston, MA 02133 I’d be grateful to be copied on all such letters. I have also been supporting House bill 732/Senate bill 502, “An Act to Protect Public Health and Air Quality by Reducing Harmful Diesel Emissions.” This bill would retrofit diesel vehicles owned or used by the Commonwealth with filters that reduce harmful emissions, and require that new vehicles procured by the Commonwealth comply with improved emission standards. That bill is presently in House Ways and Means; I’ll keep you posted about its progress. 2. Protection from Unsafe Products a. Toxic Toys Follow-Up The December, 2007 event which Senator Jehlen and I sponsored at the Somerville Public Library, to detect toxic chemicals in toys and other household items, was a resounding success. As the morning wore on, families poured in to check the safety of myriad items to which their young children were exposed. Little raincoats, backpacks, and other lead-laden possessions were dumped in the trash, other playthings returned home, exonerated from concern. Parents remain concerned, of course, and rightfully so. News reports of dangerous toys and other products have many of us on high alert. Fortunately, the data collected at our library event and other product screenings nationwide have been collected in a very useful database; visit: http://www.watoxics.org/files/ToyDatabaseFactSheetweb.pdf. 3. The Safer Alternatives Bill a. The bill As I reported in my November 30, 2007 newsletter, I’ve been working hard for the passage of House bill 783. This bill would initiate a process of finding safer chemical substances that could be substituted effectively and economically for some of the most hazardous chemicals used in industrial processes and consumer products. The groundbreaking work of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at Umass Lowell already provides expertise and resources for such an undertaking. b. How to help Support in the House for the bill seems solid. It is still awaiting a vote in the Senate, however. More troubling yet, there are indications that the Patrick administration opposes the bill, and will block it. His administration is divided (at best) on the bill, which they see as "anti-business." It is important for real people to contact the governor's office on this one. 4. Mystic River Water Quality Bad news can sometimes serve as an impetus for better things to follow. I’m hoping that the recent Massachusetts Department of Public Health advisory warning us NOT TO EAT FISH CAUGHT IN THE MYSTIC RIVER will help to move my bill, House bill 841, to create a Mystic River Water Quality Commission, still in the Committee on the Environment. In the meantime, more information from the Town of Arlington on this alert is below—please spread the word: This advisory applies to Mystic River between the outlet of Lower Mystic Lake (in Arlington/Medford) and the Amelia Earhart Dam (in Somerville/Everett). The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has reviewed fish toxics data generated by the Department of Environmental Protection for the Mystic River. PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), the pesticide chlordane, and the pesticide DDT and its derivatives have been detected in fish caught from the Mystic River. The concentrations of these contaminants were above levels that MDPH considers safe for consumption. PCBs, chlordane, and DDT may accumulate in individuals who frequently eat fish contaminated with them, thus leading to an increased risk of negative health effects. Fetuses and nursing infants are particularly sensitive to the development and health problems associated with PCB, chlordane, and DDT exposure. Because of health concerns associated with exposure to these contaminants, MDPH offers the following recommendation: No one should consume any fish from the Mystic River. For more information contact: Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Environmental Health (617) 624-5757 or The Arlington Board of Health (781) 316-3170. To check fish toxics data at other fresh water bodies in Massachusetts please view the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Fresh Water Fish Advisory List: http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/environmental/exposure/fish_consumption_advisory_list.pdf . D. EVENTS/RESOURCES 1. Neighborhood meeting with representatives of the developers of Assembly Square Mall: 7 p.m. on January 23rd at the Edgerly School Representatives of the developers of Assembly Square Mall, including IKEA and Federal Realty, will be holding a meeting to discuss the build-out plan, time frame, and neighborhood concerns. This will include discussion of traffic mitigation, pedestrian pathways, impact on Easy Broadway businesses, and job/training opportunities. I encourage you to use this opportunity to share your questions or concerns about this development. 2. Public forum of Metropolitan Area Planning Council and several cities (including Somerville) as part of the Mystic River Corridor Strategy project: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on January 31st at Everett City Hall. This public forum will allow residents, property owners, and organizations the opportunity to identify key environmental, conservation, and developmental issues for the Mystic River. The discussion will also include project background information, open space initiatives, and current and proposed development projects. It promises to be an informative and productive evening, and I urge you to go if you are interested. 3. The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on January 24th at the VNA (259 Lowell Street, 3rd Floor) The Massachusetts Coalition for Health Communities, along with Groundwork Somerville, will be showing the fascinating film, “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil” next week at the VNA. The film will be followed by a discussion of how Cuba transformed itself when it lost all access to Soviet oil and petro-chemical fertilizers and pesticides. I encourage you to participate in this interesting evening. 4. Local foreclosure resource for Somerville residents I am pleased to share with you a local resource for Somerville residents concerned about foreclosure. Homeownwers Rehab is now offering foreclosure counseling to residents of Somerville, Arlington, Watertown, and Belmont, and can direct you to the appropriate office to resolve your situation. Homeowners Rehab is a non-profit organization located on Franklin Avenue in Somerville. For more information, please visit www.homeownersrehab.org. 5. Civil Service Examination for Firefighter, Municipal Service on April 26, 2008 I have received several examination applications, examination announcements, and recruitment posters for entry-level Civil Service Applicants. This is one of the most important entry-level examinations that the Executive Office for Administration and Finance conducts, and will determine the pool of applicants eligible for appointment to the position of Municipal Civil Service Firefighter. If you are interested in applying, or if you know people who are, please contact my office and I will get the materials to you. E. JOB OPENINGS/APARTMENT LISTINGS 1. Administrative Assistant for the League of Women Voters The League of Women Voters is accepting applications for an administrative assistant to handle interaction with League members and the general public, assist and directing those with questions and concerns, manage the League promotional store, and provide office support. Good candidates should have excellent computer skills for financial recording and website support. To apply for this position, please send your resume to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 2. Boston Outreach and Development Coordinator for NAMI-Massachusetts NAMI-Massachusetts is accepting applications for a part-time, six-month Outreach and Development Coordinator position. Responsibilities would include scheduling presentations to psychology, medical, social work students, maintaining the organization’s contact database, managing the budget, and organizing publicity materials for this mental health advocacy and support organization. To apply for this position, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for an interview. 3. Legislative Aide for Representative Tom Sannicandro Representative Tom Sannicandro (D-Middlesex County) is accepting applications for a legislative aide in his State House office. Responsibilities will include constituent work, various writing assignments, and other legislative-related business in the State House and the district. To apply for this position, please send your resume and cover letter to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 4. Affordable rental unit available: 109 Gilman Street Somerville Community Corporation has just finished renovations on six three-bedroom apartments for low and moderate-income households at 109 Gilman Street. One unit remains open for a family earning between $47,500 and $76,500 (depending on household size). Rent is $1371 plus utilities. If you are interested in applying, contact Winn Residential property management company at (617) 591-0577.

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