August Newsletter
Bringing Beacon Hill to You
State Senator John F. Keenan
Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Holbrook, Quincy, & Rockland
August Newsletter
In the District
After the fast pace of the spring and through the end of July, August represents a time when things are slower in the State House. It was a good time to plan for the last few months of the session and focus on some remaining legislation while also getting to events throughout the district. Best was that I was able to spend time with my family and take my granddaughter to the beach.
While traffic lessens a bit during the Summer, it can still be difficult; and with September here we already see it picking up again. If you are like me, you probably have often wished you could teleport to a destination like Logan Airport. While we are not yet able teleport, using the bus from the Logan Express site in Braintree is a great alternative. Plans are in the works to expand the site, and eventually allow flight check-in and security clearance, so it was great to get the chance to discuss the project with Braintree Mayor Erin V. Joyce, Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Phillip Eng, Massport CEO Richard Davey, State Senator Bill Driscoll Jr., Representative Mark Cusack, and other local officials. In particular, the legislative delegation joined the mayor and local officials in pushing for comprehensive improvements to the intersections and surrounding road network.
If you don’t find yourself in a position to take the Logan Express from Braintree, perhaps a rideshare is more your speed. In August I was able to join the App Drivers Union, the first of its kind in the country, at its Quincy press conference alongside Representative Christopher Worrell. I am proud to support the union members as they begin collective bargaining. I wish these energetic first-in-the-nation trailblazers well in their negotiations.
The August Moon Festival in Quincy was another cause for cheer. The annual festival, which traditionally represents joy and health heading into harvest season, brings thousands together to celebrate Asian cultures. I always enjoy the lion dances and other performances that take over the street and stage.
Almost 250 years ago, members of the legislature presented local officials with a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Reflective of that history, State Representative Tackey Chan and I presented Mayor Tom Koch with a replica of the Declaration of Independence at Quincy City Hall, reminding us all that the independence of the United States and our democracy remain precious.
It was wonderful to join Abington and Rockland Girl Scouts on their tour of the State House with Representatives David DeCoste and Alyson Sullivan-Almeida. It was great to field questions from those learning the value of community service and to interact with young leaders -- with or without cookies.
I was able to extend my congratulations to the Quincy Housing Authority on 80 years of creating and sustaining quality affordable housing. The celebration had perfect weather, good food, U2 music, and great people, which all made for a fantastic celebration.
August was also a good time to meet with Germantown residents and the YMCA to work on ways to better coordinate local services, with Rockland School Superintendent Jane Hackett to discuss the Career Pathways Program, and with National Grid to address power concerns in the Marina Bay neighborhood, where there have been several outages impacting residents and businesses alike.
Overdose Awareness
The tragedy of overdoses continues to impact communities across the country, and the Norfolk and Plymouth district is no exception. August is Overdose Awareness month, and I joined friends and community members to show support at the 16th annual Candlelight Vigil in Quincy and at the Braintree-Weymouth International Overdose Awareness Day Lantern Walk. Both events brought together families, survivors, and supporters to remember those lost, support those struggling with addiction and those in recovery, and to help remove the stigma associated with addiction.
During the opioid crisis so many of us worked tirelessly to make sure there were prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction programs in place. While much progress has been made to prevent addiction and overdose deaths, there is so much more work to do.
In the State House
Even though it was somewhat quiet at the State House, it was a good time to meet with advocates pushing for more resources for children and families of children with autism, representatives of the “Cottage Food” (home cooked) industry, with a professor researching election legislation, and with a reporter writing a book about sports betting.
With the formal legislative session over, there are mostly local bills coming before the Senate for action. I presided over an informal session during the month at which local matters outside of the district were passed.
Also at that session, the Senate adjured in memory of John F. “Jack” Wilk, who lived with his wife in Quincy, where they raised their four children. Jack joined the Army after graduating high school and was proud of his service to the United States. Jack valued education very highly for his children and himself, putting them through private school and earning his own bachelor’s degree from Northeastern in 1975 while working full time and raising his young children with his loving wife Dottie. For the past 30 years his priorities were always showing up for his grandchildren.
October Office Hours
Office hours are coming to your city or town this October:
Blink and You'll Miss It
August went by so quickly, as did the entire Summer, but I look forward to the great fall weather and continuing my work on behalf of the residents of the Norfolk and Plymouth District – it is always an honor!
