January 29, 2021 Vol. 125 No. 5
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VOL. 125 - NO. 5 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, JANUARY 29, 2021 $.35 A COPY Governor Baker Delivers 2021 State of the Commonwealth Address Governor Charlie Baker that our loved ones could be delivered his State of the next — but because of COVID, Commonwealth address on we can’t visit or hug them. Winter??? Tuesday, January 26th from “Back then, our mission was Spring??? his offi ce at the Massachusetts — and still is — clear and State House. Remarks as pre- compelling. Do the best we can pared for delivery: to protect the health and well- “Good evening. And thank you being of everyone, keep our for joining me for a very differ- economy as open as possible ent State of the Commonwealth and keep our kids in school. address. “And as the federal vaccine “In a normal year, I’d be deliv- distribution program kicks ering this speech in the House into high gear over the next few Chamber to members of the months, anyone who wants a Tuesday, February 2, 2021 House and Senate, the Cabinet, vaccine will be able to get one the Governor’s Council, and our at a site near them. And we friends and families. can start to put this pandemic “But this is not a normal year. behind us. So, I’m sharing my thoughts calamity. Severe job loss. “And while COVID returned with you from my offi ce here in Business closures. Anxiety. this fall with a vengeance, here News Briefs the State House. Fear. Civil unrest. Riots. Racial in Massachusetts, we are see- “Tonight’s address is just one injustice. Isolation. Death. And ing our way through it. Our by Sal Giarratani more example of a gathering Loss. entire health care community, — a ritual of coming together “COVID turned everyone’s while stretched, has the gear it —that’s been put on hold by the life upside down. And did so in needs to take care of patients, Bailouts for Blue States pandemic. a way that oftentimes crippled and far more knowledge about For Bad Shutdown Policies “But better days are com- our ability to share our fears what works and what doesn’t ing. And like you, Lieutenant and our loss with those we love. than they did ten months ago. The White House has proposed a stimulus bailout Governor Polito and I are look- “Like many others who have While we still have challenges, for Blue States’ bad lockdown policies, and has also ing forward to being able to family members in senior living, our testing infrastructure is proposed a $1.5 billion plan to get kids back into their join with family, friends and I went over 100 days last spring far more robust than it was in classrooms, because we are failing our students keep- colleagues. Because as we all without being able to see my the spring. Our employers have ing them from in-classroom learning. know, there’s so much joy in dad. It was awful. At the same adopted the guidance we issued Migrants from Honduras being together. time, my best friend lost his to keep their employees and Enroute to U.S. Border “2020 was a year like no mom to COVID. That was so customers safe. Large numbers of Hondurans are on the march other. The pandemic changed much worse. “And schools remain open, toward the Mexican-U.S. border. On Sunday, January everything. And it was much “Over the past year, thou- despite the continued presence 17th, the large caravan of migrants clashed with more than just the worst public sands have lost their lives and of COVID. Guatemalan police trying to stop the migrants from health crisis of the last hundred thousands more have been passing through that country. They’re coming for us years. It came with economic hospitalized. And we all worry (Continued on Page 6) because they know Biden is now in charge of U.S. immigration policy. The video of the clash in El Florido, Guatemala is just the beginning. Speaking Pre-approved Words to Power? Mayor Walsh Announces U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is propos- ing Congress form a truth commission to “rein in” the media, a notion totally antithetical to the First UPDATES ON BOSTON’S REOPENING PLAN Amendment’s freedom of the press. Quote to Note Boston to Return to Step One of Phase Three “The problem of racial injustice and economic injus- tice cannot be solved without a radical redistribution Of the Reopening Massachusetts Plan of political and economic power.” As COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Efforts are Expanded --Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Biden Using Stimulus Monies As Boston’s COVID-19 num- As of January 17, 2021, of the virus during and after For Public Education bers trend modestly downward the City was averaging 415.6 the holiday period when more and Massachusetts continues COVID-19 positive cases per people were traveling or gather- If the Biden Administration wants to fund public to expand access to vaccina- day, down from a high of 590.4 ing with others from outside of education with additional funds, he shouldn’t be tion against COVID-19, Mayor in mid-January, and the City’s their household. using a stimulus aid package to do it. Stimulus money Martin J. Walsh announced positivity rate was at 7.2 per- Massachusetts recently should be for fi ghting the virus, getting vaccines out on January 26th the City of cent, down from a high of 8.9 announced an extension of the quickly, and helping to restore our economy, small Boston will return to Step One percent in early January. For existing 25 percent capacity lim- and large, from all the shutdowns in place. of Phase Three of the Reopening more information on COVID-19 its for most businesses through There is Good News Massachusetts plan on February cases per neighborhood, visit: Monday, February 8, 2021. All Regardless of Georgia 1, 2021. www.bphc.org. gatherings and events remain Yes, the worst-case scenario happened in the Georgia “I want to thank everyone Given the improvement in subject to current capacity lim- U.S. Senate run-off elections as both Democrats won who continues to do their the number of COVID-19 cases its of 10 people indoors and 25 (Continued on Page 10) part to protect our city,” said and the City’s positivity rate, people outdoors. The gatherings Mayor Walsh. “While there the City of Boston will return limit applies to private homes, has been some improvement to Step One of Phase Three of event venues and public spaces. in recent weeks, it’s still vital the Reopening Massachusetts The state’s website has a list of that everyone remains vigi- plan on February 1, 2021. sectors subject to the extended POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE lant. Wear your masks. Avoid Boston had been in Step One of capacity restrictions. gatherings. Wash your hands Phase Three of the Reopening The following industries in the 343 CHELSEA ST., DAY SQ., EAST BOSTON and disinfect surfaces. Think Massachusetts plan since City of Boston may reopen on Tues. 10:00 AM-3:00 PM; Thurs. 11:00 AM-2:00 PM about the simple steps you July 6, before returning to a February 1, 2021, at 25 percent can take on a daily basis to modifi ed Step Two of Phase Two capacity: Call 617-227-8929 for more information protect yourself and your loved on December 16, 2020. This was ones.” done to help reduce the spread (Continued on Page 6) PAGE 2 POST-GAZETTE, JANUARY 29, 2021 MBTA and MassDOT Announce Launch of Study Stirpe by Prof. Edmund Turiello Nostra Extending Silver Line Service To A weekly column highlighting some Everett, Somerville, Cambridge, and Boston of the more interesting aspects of our ancestry...our lineage...our roots. The Study Follows Recommendations from the Mbta’s Focus40 Plan, Everett Transit Action Plan, and the Lower Mystic Regional Working Group THE ETERNAL FLAME To Extend Silver Line Service Throughout the Region The MBTA and the and MassDOT to determine the to improve transit for Boston Massachusetts Department best way to implement rapid residents traveling to jobs, of Transportation (MassDOT) bus service in Everett.” schools, and other destinations today announced the launch “Many residents of Chelsea throughout the region.” of the Silver Line Extension are the essential workers The study follows recent rec- Alternatives Analysis to assess who have reliably kept the ommendations by the Lower the feasibility, utility, and cost Commonwealth running during Mystic Regional Working Group of various alignment and service the COVID-19 pandemic,” said and the Everett Transit Action frequency options for extending City of Chelsea City Manager Plan to extend Silver Line ser- Silver Line service to Everett Thomas G. Ambrosino. “As an vice to Everett and neighboring and neighboring communities. environmental justice commu- communities in order to provide “We’re excited to collaborate nity, Chelsea residents deserve service at near rapid-transit lev- with MassDOT on this analy- fast, dependable transit service. els for those living just beyond sis of Silver Line service,” said Extending Silver Line service the reach of the Orange and MBTA General Manager Steve presents an opportunity to Blue Lines. Poftak. “Studying the exten- enhance transit service for our Existing bus routes serving sion of the Silver Line to Everett residents and combat the grow- Chelsea and Everett have main- and beyond is a key objective ing impacts of climate change.” tained some of the highest rider- of Focus40 and an important “In Somerville, we pride our- ship levels in the system dur- The whole concept, which of family life, and the Greek step in improving service to selves in aligning transportation ing the COVID-19 pandemic.