October Newsletter
Bringing Beacon Hill to You
State Senator John F. Keenan
Abington, Braintree, Hanover, Holbrook, Quincy, & Rockland
October Newsletter
In the District
This month saw big progress on development projects in Braintree. The town is partnering with MassDOT and Massachusetts Port Authority to build the nation’s first remote airport terminal. This project will allow travelers to go through security before taking a shuttle directly to their gate at the airport, making the journey easier and more efficient. With support from local, state, and federal partners, and a Project Labor Agreement ensuring that local building trades workers help build the facility, the project will improve airport access, reduce congestion on our busiest roads, and support good local jobs.
With one Braintree project still early in its process, another finished in October. I toured the completed Eastwalk apartment building, an outstanding example of what a thoughtful, community-focused development can accomplish. Braintree recognized the need for more housing for people of all income levels. This project brings housing opportunities to Braintree while connecting residents to transportation, businesses, and the neighborhood.
Pets will be in great hands at the new VEG Pet ER in Braintree, which I recently toured. When it opens, the state-of-the-art facility and dedicated staff will provide emergency care for pets and other animals.
Speaking of animals, there were a few at the Montclair/Wollaston Neighborhood Association’s 35th Annual Pumpkin Spice Fest. I loved seeing the kids interact with the animals and having an overall great time. This is a great event that brings the community together to celebrate the fall season.
I dropped by Mel O Drama’s annual Gala to support its youth theater program, which is run by Quincy resident Mel Gillespie and a great group of volunteers. It was so cool seeing everyone dressed to the nines – epically Mel herself! I look forward to seeing another show put on by these talented kids through a great community-based program.
We wrapped up our most recent round of district office hours. We heard from people throughout the district with concerns about elder care, AI advancement, mental health services, elections, neighborhood traffic, playground regulations, infrastructure, and local historical preservation issues. My thanks to Doreen Bargoot, our District and Constituent Services Director who was with me, helped address concerns, and provided invaluable follow-up.
From the District
Three impressive people from the district came to the State House in October to receive recognition for their accomplishments. North Quincy High School student Maisarah Rahman presented scientific research as part of the Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair. The quality of her work was on par with what I would expect from a graduate-level student.
I invited Maureen Geary, the City of Quincy’s dynamic director of business and government relations, to participate in the 50th Citizens Legislative Seminar hosted by the Massachusetts Senate. The seminar goes in depth on how state government works and interacts with cities and towns. I was honored to speak at the seminar, providing insight to the legislative process and the personal side of politics and government.
Quincy resident Maria Pinto received the Nonfiction Honors at this year’s Massachusetts Book Awards for her book “Fearless, Sleepless, Deathless: What Fungi Taught Me about Nourishment, Poison, Ecology, Hidden Histories, Zombies, and Black Survival.” I asked Maria about upcoming projects and while she did not reveal any details, her effusive reply leaves me excited to see what she writes next.
Travel by Sea
As you know, the Quincy Ferry is one of my favorite modes of transportation and it just got easier! The MBTA now offers real-time ferry tracking, allowing riders to check live boat locations, predicted departure times, schedules, and service alerts all from the MBTA Go app.
You will have even more time to try out the ferry tracking because the weekday service for the Quincy Ferry will keep running through December 31! Check out the schedule here.
After many years of working with Representative Ayers, the Mayor and his team, and committed citizens, it is great to see the MBTA’s commitment to the ferry, which provides an outstanding transportation option.
Important Legislation
I am pleased that the Senate passed legislation this month to help protect firefighters from one of the greatest occupational hazards they face: cancer. This important legislation would ensure that all eligible, full-time firefighters have access to no-cost cancer screenings every three years throughout their employment without having to worry about co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket expenses.
According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths among firefighters. Those who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities deserve access to the preventive care and early detection services that can help save their lives.
The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Welcome, Juliette
Juliette Vetare began work in October as Legislative Director. Juliette began her time in the State House interning in my office, then spent three years working as research director for the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use & Recovery and as a researcher for the Joint
Committee on Agriculture & Fisheries. Juliette graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science in public & community health and holds a Master of Public Health in health policy & law from Boston University. Juliette enjoys working on policies that address public health challenges facing the Commonwealth and connecting with folks on issues they care about. In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer, cooking, and baking.
Looking Forward
October is a great time to look forward to next legislative session. Although it seems far in the future, work on the FY 28 state budget is underway. I met with Manet Community Health Center CEO Cynthia Sierra in Quincy to get an update on their plans and needs for the next year. In difficult times, Manet continues to provide incredible access to high- quality care.
During the month we also met with fair elections, government transparency, medical care, behavioral health, sober homes, and food access advocates, as well as new Braintree Police Chief Robert Kilroy. We had an interesting meeting with the Department of Public Health regarding suicide data and met with the Samaritans organization to learn more about their suicide prevention and support services. We also had several meetings about growing concerns with sports betting. November promises to be busy as well.
Thank You
I am so humbled to serve the Norfolk and Plymouth District am honored to represent you. I thank you for your trust and look forward to two more years continuing our work together. Please know, you can always reach me by emailing John.Keenan@masenate.gov, calling 617-722-1494 or filling out the contact form on my website.
