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© 2025 The Somerville Times. All rights reserved.
Volume 37-Report No. 31 • August 6, 2010
Copyright © 2010 Beacon Hill Roll Call. All Rights Reserved. By Bob Katzen
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THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records the votes of local representatives on two votes and senators on three roll calls from prior sessions during the week of July 26-31.
Our Legislators in the House and Senate for Somerville:
Rep. Denise Provost
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Twenty-seventh Middlesex. – Consisting of precinct 3 of ward 2, all precincts of ward 3, precinct 3 of ward 4, and all precincts of wards 5 and 6, of the city of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex.
Rep. Carl Sciortino
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Thirty-fourth Middlesex. – Consisting of all precincts in wards 4 and 5, precinct 1 of ward 7, and precinct 2 of ward 8, of the city of Medford, precincts 1 and 2 of ward 4, and all precincts of ward 7, of the city of Somerville, both in the county of Middlesex.
Rep. Timothy Toomey
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: Twenty-sixth Middlesex. – Consisting of all precincts of ward 1, precinct 1 of ward 2, precincts 1 and 2 of ward 3, and precinct 1 of ward 6, of the city of Cambridge, and all precincts of ward 1 and precincts 1 and 2 of ward 2, of the city of Somerville, both in the county of Middlesex.
Sen. Sal DiDomenico
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: MIDDLESEX, SUFFOLK AND ESSEX. – Cambridge, ward 3, precinct 2, wards 6 and 7, ward 8, precincts 1 and 2, ward 9, precinct 1, ward 10, precinct 2, Everett and Somerville, ward 1, precinct 1, ward 2, precinct 1, in the county of Middlesex; Boston, ward 2, ward 21, precincts 4, 6 and 7, ward 22, precincts 1, 2 and 5, Chelsea and Revere, ward 6, in the county of Suffolk; and Saugus, precincts 2, 6 and 10, in the county of Essex.
Sen. Patricia Jehlen
DISTRICT REPRESENTED: SECOND MIDDLESEX. – Medford, Somerville, ward 1, precincts 2 and 3, ward 2, precincts 2 and 3, and wards 3 to 7, inclusive, Woburn, ward 2, and Winchester.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REORGANIZATION (S 2582)
House 151-2, Senate 39-0, approved and Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law the conference committee version of a bill that would reorganize the state’s economic development agencies.
Provisions consolidate agencies that play a role in attracting business to the state into the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership, which would act as the state’s central marketing organization; eliminate the Massachusetts Sports and Entertainment Commission and the Massachusetts Industrial Development Authority; create a state sales tax-free holiday on August 14 and 15; reduce from 5.3 percent to 3 percent the capital gains tax rate on investments made by individual investors in Massachusetts-based start-up companies that are held for more than three years and raise from the current $2,000 to $7,000 the maximum amount for which a plaintiff is allowed to sue in small claims court.
The package does not repeal the 2008 law that prohibits drug firms from giving gifts and meals to doctors and other health care professionals. That repeal was in the House version of the bill but was taken out by the conference committee.
Supporters said that the bill would streamline the state’s economic development system and ensure accountability and efficiency from all agencies. They noted that the measure is designed to make it easier for small businesses to communicate and interact with the state by eliminating redundant state agencies and restructuring state services so they are better in line with the needs of small businesses. They argued that all these important changes would make the state more business-friendly and create jobs.
Opponents offered no arguments. (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against the bill.)
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Rep. Denise Provost Yes
Rep. Carl Sciortino Yes
Rep. Timothy Toomey Yes
Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
REQUIRE OBAMA APPROVAL OF BAY STATE IRAN SANCTIONS (H 4297)
House 19-134, rejected an amendment to the bill requiring the $50 billion state pension fund to divest its holdings in foreign companies doing business related to petroleum with Iran. The amendment prohibits the divestiture from taking place until the state receives written communication from President Obama declaring that this act is compatible with the conduct of United States foreign policy.
Amendment supporters said that the federal government is responsible for determining foreign policy and that the state should not be involved in this area.
Amendment opponents said that the state has a right to determine where to invest its employees’ retirement money. They noted that Iran is one of the most evil and dangerous nations in the world and is working toward developing a nuclear bomb and the destruction of Israel. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment requiring presidential approval. A “No” vote is against requiring presidential approval.)
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Rep. Denise Provost Yes
Rep. Carl Sciortino Yes
Rep. Timothy Toomey No
$12.5 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING (H 4800)
Senate 39-0, overrode Gov. Patrick’s $12.5 veto reduction (from $24 million to $11.5 million) in funding for workforce training grants. These funds come from the Workforce Training Fund that was established in 1998 and is financed by Massachusetts employers.
Supporters of keeping the $12.5 million said it is important during this time of high unemployment to fund these grants that provide resources to Massachusetts businesses to train employees and improve their skills.
In his veto message, Patrick said there is $10 million for this program that was not spent last year. He noted that combined with the $11.5 million that remains following his veto, there would still be $21 million left for this important program. (A “Yes” vote is for overriding Patrick’s reduction and for keeping the $12.5 million.)
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Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes
LIMIT DEBATE ON CASINO GAMBLING (H 5000)
Senate 24-15, approved a motion to limit debate on the bill that would authorize three resort casinos and two slot parlors in the state to 30 minutes.
Supporters of the limit said the bill has been debated extensively for weeks. They noted it is time to move ahead with the vote on the proposal.
Opponents of the limit said this new version of the bill has not been debated at all. They argued that members should be given ample time to read and debate the bill. (A “Yes” vote is for limiting debate to 30 minutes. A “No” vote is against the limit.)
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Sen. Sal DiDomenico Yes
Sen. Patricia Jehlen No
ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL
CASINO BILL STUCK (H 5000) – Gov. Patrick refused to sign the bill creating three resort casinos and two slot parlors in the state. The governor instead proposed to replace the Legislature’s proposal with one that provides for the three casinos but no slot parlors.
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The governor last week signed into law the following bills:
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CHANGE CORI AND SENTENCING LAWS (S 2583) – This bill makes changes in the state’s Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and mandatory sentencing laws. The measure allows certain entities access to CORI information on felony convictions for ten years after the offender’s release from jail and on misdemeanor charges for five years. Currently, records are sealed after 15 years for felonies and ten years on misdemeanors. Other provisions allow some non-violent offenders sentenced to mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related crimes to be eligible for parole upon serving one-half of their sentences in a house of corrections; add certain illegal gun possession charges to the list of crimes for which a prosecutor may move for pre-trial detention based on dangerousness and prohibit convicted sex offenders from working as ice cream truck vendors.
AUTISM (H 4935) – This bill requires health insurance plans to include coverage for some treatments of autism. Supporters said it is unfair and irresponsible that Massachusetts does not mandate this coverage. Opponents said that they sympathize with children with autism but argued that the mandate would further increase the rising cost of health insurance for businesses.
NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE (H 4156) – This legislation makes Massachusetts a member of the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote. The agreement requires states that join the pact to cast all of their electoral votes for the presidential candidate who wins a majority of the national popular vote in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The pact would become effective when states representing at least 270 electoral votes – a majority of the 538-vote Electoral College – join this compact.
DIVEST FROM IRAN (H 4297) – This measure requires the $50 billion state pension fund to divest its holdings in foreign companies doing business related to petroleum with Iran.
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QUOTABLE QUOTES – SPECIAL CASINO GAMLING ISSUE
“This is a great guy and a great speaker.” – Gov. Patrick complimenting House Speaker Robert DeLeo on WTKK Radio
“By failing to sign this compromise gaming legislation or allowing it to become law, Gov. Patrick has decided to kill the prospects of 15,000 new jobs and immediate local aid revenue for cities and towns.” – House Speaker Robert DeLeo
“Make no mistake, it is absolutely the governor’s responsibility to deliver jobs and Patrick is throwing away the prospect of creating 15,000 of them in the Commonwealth. When I am governor, that is going to change.” – State Treasurer and Independent gubernatorial candidate Timothy Cahill
“Gov. Patrick has been a completely ineffective leader and this is the latest proof that it’s time for new leadership.” – GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker
“It’s a pathetic commentary on the mentality on Beacon Hill, that this is all they can come up with.” – Green-Rainbow gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein
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 filed. 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.
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During the week of August 2-6, the House met for a total of 33 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 22 minutes.
Monday August 2
No House session
Senate 11:00 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
Tuesday August 3
No House session
No Senate session
Wednesday August 4
House 11:02 a.m. to 11:20 a.m
No Senate session
Thursday August 5
House 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Senate 11:05 a.m. to 11:17 a.m.
Friday August 6
No House session
No Senate session
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Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com
~ Photos by Bobbie Toner
By Andrew Firestone
- Photo by Andrew Firestone
The closing of the Ames Security Envelope factory on Somerville Avenue was a local setback in the nationwide recession: over 150 local jobs lost at one of the city’s oldest businesses.
“That was a shock for all of us,” said Virginia Sorabella an Ames employee for 13 years. “We cried. We thought it was going to be the end of the world.”
For the workers, who face a sparse job market, employment prospects were grim. That’s where the Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE) entered the picture with a $79,000 grant.
At the SCALE English for Speakers of Other Languages program, 20 ex-Ames factory workers are getting on with life, learning skills in an intensive 20-hour a week course that director Janice Philpot hopes will give displaced workers a “21st century skill-set.”
The curriculum includes lessons in English, as well as technology and communication.
The program began when SCALE administrators Betty Stone and Ngaiu Schiff applied for a grant from the Regional Employment Board after learning of the workers’ plight. Now many of the workers-turned-students reveled in the opportunity to finally devote time to enriching themselves and sharpening their skills.
Continue reading »
DEA agent selected as police chief
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~Photo by Andrew Firestone
By George P. Hassett
Thomas Pasquarello, a regional director with the Drug Enforcement Agency, was selected this week to be the city’s police chief by Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.
Curtatone selected Pasquarello, a Cambridge native, over three other finalists, including acting Police Chief Michael Cabral.
Cabral will return to his deputy chief position when Pasquarello starts his tenure in 90 days.
Continue reading »
Big news this week is the mayor’s pick for the Police Chief’s job, quite a few people were taken back when they heard the mayor picked DEA agent Tom Pasquarello over native son and acting chief Mike Cabral – one of the most popular officers on the force. A three-year contract is being offered and a $20,000 relocation bonus for the new guy. One good thing is that he is a local, he’s from Cambridge, who might know the streets here very well, we wish him the best.
Continue reading »
Mayor Joe Curtatone went against a lot of local sentiment when he chose DEA agent Thomas Pasquarello to be this city’s next police chief. Acting Chief Michael Cabral, a 1981 graduate of Somerville High School and in the police department since 1987, was the popular choice for many in the community.
“I am baffled as to why someone would choose an outsider over someone like Cabral who is a lifer from Somerville who has been a cop in the department for [23] years,” said one of our Facebook friends.
Cabral is a popular figure in the community – he is often seen at Little League games and community events – and he is familiar with all the history, hot spots and local characters in Somerville. As acting chief, he handled crisis (the flood and an incident in which three officers were stabbed) as well as could be expected.
Continue reading »
By George P. Hassett
A man who sent text messages that brought a SWAT team to Somerville Aug. 4 voluntarily checked himself into a psychiatric facility after the incident, police said this week.
At 10:48 a.m., Somerville Police received a third party report from a woman who stated that she had received a text message from her brother, a resident of 98 Elm Street, stating that a male guest in that house had made threats to kill the residents at that address. The text messages indicated that the guest was experienced in martial arts, was armed with a knife and was acting irrationally, police said.
Continue reading »
By George P. Hassett
An 18-year-old Somerville woman pulled out a knife and told a 36-year-old Woburn woman, “Don’t make me,” early Saturday morning, police said.
The victim had already been punched in the face by a woman in a confrontation in front of the North Street housing projects. Police said she had a bloody lip and nose.
Continue reading »
By Andrew Firestone
Being on probation is hardly a stress free situation. Home visits, required counseling and detoxification can have the effect of leaving many where they began: relapsing in serious drug use and addiction.
But many probationers under the watch of the Somerville Court House share Somerville resident Pasquale Nappi’s sentiments: “it probably helped save my life and keep me clean.”
Continue reading »
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