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State Rep.
Thomas M. Stanley
State House, Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2230
Thomas.Stanley@mahouse.gov
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Rep. Stanley starts the 191st session of the MA General Court with colleagues in the Senate and House and classmates Rep. Donato & LG Polito.
Mayor Walsh delivers State of the City address
Rep. Stanley with with Rep. Donald Wong and Mayor Walsh at the State of the City Address
Rep. Stanley and Rep. Wong at the State of the City Address
Waltham Inauguration Ceremony
(photo credit: The Waltham Channel)
Waltham Inauguration Ceremony
(photo credit: The Waltham Channel)
Winter (photo credit: Waltham Community Farm)
Legoland Discovery Center Boston
Gillette Stadium - all legos!
Boston at Legoland
Globetrotters!
Red Sky at Mayflower Beach
Reflection
State House
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2020 Council and Committee Calendar
To view the Waltham City Council and Committee 2019 calendar, click
here.
Waltham City Council Supports Census
Councillor Carlos Vidal (lead sponsor), Rep. Stanley and members of the Waltham City Council submitted a resolution stating their support of the 2020 Census, which is conducted an accurate count of the population every ten years. The data helps determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives and is necessary for an accurate and fair redistricting of state legislative seats, school district assignments and other important areas of state and local government. Additionally, the information collected by the census allow municipalities to forecast future transportation needs; assisting the elderly, disabled and veterans; directing funds for services for people in poverty; providing funds for road rehabilitation and construction; planning for school projects and forecasting future housing needs for all segments of the population.
Please send us your hometown photos for inclusion in the Stanley Report!
Love to take photos? We are looking to include your pictures of Waltham in The Stanley Report! Please email
Mark Phillips
in Rep. Stanley's office a picture of your hometown for inclusion in the report. Remember to leave your full name if you'd like to be credited! We look forward to seeing your pictures.
NEWS FROM BEACON HILL
Waltham to receive $75K to construct ADA bathroom and drinking fountain improvements
Waltham will receive a $75,000 Municipal American with Disabilities Act Improvement Grant from the Massachusetts Office on Disability. The grant will be used to help construct ADA bathroom and adjacent drinking fountain improvements in Waltham's Self Evaluation and Transition Plan. These improvements are currently in the design phase.
Rep. Stanley & Treasurer Goldberg Announce BabySteps Launch
Rep. Stanley and State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg announced the launch of the BabySteps Savings Plan- Massachusetts' first statewide post-high school education savings account program. Started by the Treasurer's Office of Economic Empowerment, BabySteps, gives every child born or adopted in Massachusetts a free $50 seed deposit when a family member opens a college or vocational savings account through MEFA. This deposit comes at no cost to the taxpayers and will incentivize families of all income levels to start saving for their children's future, today.
This program builds upon Treasurer Goldberg's two successful pilot programs- SeedMA and SoarMA, in economically and diverse areas of the state. Using best practices from the pilot program puts BabySteps Savings Plan in position to provide families with a seamless sign-up process. Parents simply need to check the box on the birth certificate form they receive in the hospital (Parent Worksheet for Live Birth - Newborn) to start the enrollment process, or they can visit BabyStepsSavingsPlan.org to learn more about the program and get started.
All new parents and guardians in Massachusetts will have one year after the child is born or adopted to open a U.Fund 529 college savings account in order to receive the $50 deposit. The deposit will be transferred directly into the child's U.Fund account offered by MEFA and financed by the Massachusetts State Treasurer's Economic Empowerment Trust Fund with support from private donors.
The BabySteps Savings Plan will also provide free financial education services to all families in the Commonwealth. For more information on the BabySteps Saving Plan, click
here.
Rep. Stanley Signs onto International Holocaust Remembrance Day Resolution
In recognition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, Rep. Stanley signed onto a resolution which recognizes the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism. The definition was adopted by the US State Department during the Obama Administration and has been recognized by over 31 nations.
Rep. Stanley supports legislation to promote green infrastructure and reduce carbon emissions
In a letter to the chairmen of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Rep. Stanley expressed his support for House Bill 2810, legislation that would institute carbon pollution pricing in Massachusetts. Fossil fuels are the primary drivers of climate change and should therefore be priced to reflect the health and environmental problems they cause. One of the most effective steps a government can take to fight global warming is to put a fee on carbon. Here in Massachusetts, doing so would reduce our fossil fuel dependence, accelerate the shift to greater use of renewable energy, and incentivize us to increase energy efficiency. Carbon fees would also greatly help put us on the path to achieve the critical long-term mandate of the state's Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) - an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
H.2810 specifically allocates 70% of the money generated by putting a price on carbon to households and employers via rebates, and the remaining 30% (an estimated $400-600 million a year) to be put into a new Green Infrastructure Fund that would support clean transportation, climate resilience and renewable energy projects. Under the bill, carbon pollution charges would start at $20 per ton before increasing by $5 annually until the fee is $40 per ton.
The rebates in H.2810 are set up in a thoughtful way to minimize the impacts on poor and working people from increased energy or transportation costs due carbon pollution fees. Furthermore, the bill guarantees that a significant percent of the revenue that's generated would be spent in low-income communities that have little access to the green economy and/or lack access to public transit.
H.2810 is a revenue-positive bill that would (1) incentivize people to change behaviors and reduce their carbon footprint, and (2) allow the Commonwealth to invest in renewable energy and green infrastructure projects. Because people and businesses will cut their expenditures on imported fossil fuels, gross state product, disposable income, and employment will all increase.
Baker Administration Files $74.2 Million Budget Bill to Address Transportation, Infrastructure & Education Needs
The Baker Administration filed a $74.2 million supplemental budget bill to address ongoing critical funding needs, including $18 million to support MBTA infrastructure and safety investments, $10 million for school improvements and $4.2 million for investments in clean drinking water. These proposals were previously proposed in bills filed by the administration for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) and are now being refiled for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20).
The bill provides the MBTA with $18 million, which, with the $32 million authorized in the FY19 final supplemental spending bill, allows for a total of $50 million to support additional staff, contractors and other resources necessary to expedite the completion of critical capital projects, enable proactive inspections to detect and address safety and reliability issues before they impact service, and implement enhanced maintenance procedures to ensure the reliable operation of MBTA vehicles and infrastructure.
The bill authorizes $4.2 million to test drinking water supplies for potential polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. This testing will support state and local efforts to determine the scope of the problem and to identify best solutions, and supplements the $4.2 million authorized in the FY19 final supplemental bill.
The bill also proposes transferring $10 million to the Twenty-First Century Education Trust Fund. This request reframes Governor Baker's 2018 recommendation that the Legislature transfer $50 million into a fund for school improvement. The recently enacted Student Opportunity Act established the Twenty-First Century Education Trust Fund "to address persistent disparities in achievement among student subgroups, improve educational opportunities for all students, share best practices for improving classroom learning and support efficiencies within and across school districts."
Supplemental Budget Re-institutes MOR-EV Electric Vehicle Program
The Massachusetts House passed landmark GreenWorks legislation last July to address the urgent demands of climate change. Among the provisions of this comprehensive legislation was an authorization to capitalize and stabilize the Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) incentive program, a program managed by the state Department of Energy Resources, which offers rebates for the purchase or lease of an electric battery or fuel-cell powered vehicle. The highly popular program has issued over $31 million in rebates for over 15,000 vehicles since its inception in 2014, but ran out of funding in September of this year.
An interim funding solution was subsequently adopted in the supplemental budget to appropriate up to $54 million in RGGI funds for the continuation of the program for the next two years. Also included is a vehicle price cap initially proposed by the House to ensure that rebates go towards the vehicles and drivers that most need them.
Eligibility requirements for the program include purchases and leases made on or after January 1, 2020;
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) with a sales price under $50,000 are eligible for a $2,500 rebate; and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) with a sales price under $50,000 and an all-electric range of 25+ miles are eligible for a $1,500 rebate. For more information regarding the MOR-EV program including relevant forms, please click
here.
Massachusetts Income Tax Rate Dropped to 5% on January 1, 2020
Gov. Baker announced that the state's Part B individual income tax rate will be reduced from 5.05% to 5% effective January 1, 2020. This upcoming tax cut represents the conclusion of the statutory process laid out in a 2002 state law to lower the income tax rate to 5% based on certain state revenue milestones, and will return $88 million in Fiscal Year 2020 and approximately $185 million in Fiscal Year 2021 to taxpayers.
The 2002 law provides that for each tax year in which certain inflation-adjusted baseline revenue growth requirements are met, the income tax rate will be reduced by increments of 0.05 percentage points until the rate reaches 5%. The legislation replaced a tax rate reduction schedule that had passed by ballot initiative in November 2000.
Part B income includes wages, salary, and many other forms of income, including self-employment income; business, professional and farm income; S corporation distributions; and rental income from personal property. The rate associated with Part B income is also applied to several other income categories, including interest and dividends and most long-term capital gains.
Baker Administration Celebrates Enactment of $1M in Security Funding For Religious, Community Institutions
Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined legislators, religious leaders and advocates for a ceremonial signing of key sections of the recently-enacted supplemental budget that will triple the funding available this year to help Massachusetts houses of worship and other nonprofit groups enhance their security against hate crimes and terrorist attacks.
This funding from the recently-enacted FY19 close-out supplemental budget adds $1 million to the Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides funding for security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack or hate crimes but are ineligible for similar federal grants. Governor Baker initially proposed the $1 million in funding in his supplemental budget proposal filed in September 2019. The program was previously budgeted at $500,000.
To apply for a 2020 Commonwealth Nonprofit Safety Grant, click here.
Massachusetts Medal of Liberty
The Massachusetts Medal of Liberty, created by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2009, honors the next of kin of deceased Massachusetts Service members. Thousands of MA families are eligible but have yet to be recognized. Please help Massachusetts National Guard - The Nation's First honor the families of the fallen by learning more about the Medal of Liberty. To learn more, or recommend someone for the Medal of Liberty, click
It's healthcare open enrollment season!
The Massachusetts Health Connector is the state's Marketplace for health and dental insurance. If you need to enroll or make changes to your health insurance, Massachusetts Health Connector can help you find the right coverage.
Learn more
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Apply for the 2020 Municipal Firefighter Exam
The 2020 Municipal Firefighter Exam consists of two components, a written test and an entry-level physical ability test (ELPAT). Find key dates and resources for the entry-level exam
here
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Publish your events in The Stanley Report!
We want to hear from you! The Stanley Report is a great way to spread the word about an upcoming event. Please forward any community, civic or nonprofit upcoming events that you would like included in next month's Stanley Report. If interested, please email Mark Phillips, Rep. Stanley's legislative assistant, with information about your
event.
Waltham Partnership for Youth Announces Ready? Set? Job! Event
Join the Waltham Partnership for Youth (WPY) for the third annual Ready? Set? Job! career readiness bootcamp event where you will learn the skills that will help you land a job! Students will leave the event with a resume or cover letter, develop professional interview skills and have a chance to network with employers in WPY's Summer Internship Program. This event is on Saturday, January 18 from 9:30am - 4:00pm at the Waltham Recreation Department and is opened to all Waltham High School students. There will be food, games and raffle prizes. Parents are encouraged to attend from 9:30-10:15am so they can learn more about the summer internship program if you plan to apply. WPY is also looking for volunteers who would be willing to help out during the event!
Register now at http://bit.ly/readysetjob20. Space is limited to the first 75 students who sign up by January 10! Questions? Email Jessica Sanon at
jessica@walthampartnershipforyouth.org. Visit PFY's event
website to learn more.
South Sudanese Enrichment for Families
On May 2, 2020 at 630pm, the South Sudanese Enrichment for Families (SSEF) is hosting an event at Brandeis University to mark the 20th year that the South Sudanese "Lost Boys and Girls" have been in America. Ellen Barry, the journalist who wrote several articles in the Boston Globe 20 years ago about the "lost boys and girls" coming to America, is going to speak along with stories of many of the South Sudanese about their experiences of being in America. SSEF is Honoring Bill Mayor and Diane Currier who are two lawyers and philanthropists in Boston. They have been very helpful to the Sudanese Community over the years. Click
here for tickets and information on how to be a host or how to buy tickets.
Highland Glee Club Recruiting Male Singers
The Highland Glee Club is looking for male singers to volunteer to join the club. All voices and all ages of men are wanted to join and sing. Please contact the club president, Ron Jantzen at 508-613-5450, with any questions. Rehearsals start after Labor Day. Click
here to learn more.
Upcoming Events at Stonehurst!
Stonehurst, the Robert Treat Paine Estate in Waltham, is hosting a variety of events in the upcoming monnts. Learn more about upcoming events at Stonehurst
here.
Learn about The Leland Home
The Leland Home provides a safe and affordable residence for persons age 62 and over who desire or need assistance in their daily living. The group helps to maintain the dignity and independence of our residents by offering a warm friendly and homelike setting. Learn more.
Communities against Abuse in Later Life
Communities against Abuse in Later Life (CAALL) is a partnership of agencies working to end elder abuse. REACH Beyond Domestic Violence is the lead partner joined by the Waltham Police Department, Waltham Council on Aging, Middlesex District Attorney's Office, Springwell, Inc., and the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Please click here to learn more or call the 24-hour CAALL Helpline at 781.790.3966.
Volunteers needed to mentor vulnerable, aspiring Waltham High School students
The John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation's focus is on turning children at-risk into children of promise. The city of Waltham has joined many Waltham companies in supporting the Mazie Mentoring Program at Waltham High School. The Foundation selected Waltham High School as the venue for a second mentoring program in 2010, modeled after their successful program in Framingham High School, now in its 20th year. As the program grows, so does the need for volunteer mentors. To find out more about the Mazie organization please visit www.mazie.org.
About the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra
Now in its 32nd season, the mission of the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra is to provide the community opportunities to perform in and attend orchestral and chamber concerts of the highest quality. It provides a venue for musicians with a range of ages and abilities to enjoy the art and music making. It makes a long lasting impact to society by creating engaging programs that inspire, entertain and nurture the minds and spirits of its audience and members. Click here to learn more and see a calendar of events.
About Thom Charles River Early Intervention
Thom Charles River Early Intervention provides home visits to babies and toddlers who are delayed in their development or who are considered to be at risk of delay. Services include parents as partners in these visits. The dedicated clinicians who work with these families are to be applauded. Learn more about the orgranization. http://www.thomchild.org/charles-river.htm
Learn more about The Waltham Land Trust
The Waltham Land Trust is creating a legacy of land conservation in Waltham by promoting, protecting, restoring, and acquiring open space. To learn more about the non-profit group and their events celebrating Waltham's natural environment, visit walthamlandtrust.org.
Waltham Symphony Orchestra Concerts
For information on concerts and events at the WSO, click here.
Waltham Public Library Offers Events
The Waltham Public Library offers many events for residents of all ages. To view a calendar of events, click here.
Meals on Wheels program
The Waltham Council on Aging's Meals on Wheels (MOW) program delivers lunch to homebound seniors who are unable to provide their own meals, and who meet certain guidelines. Special dietary considerations are available for those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. This daily check in by a volunteer driver may be the only social contact an elder has and helps reduce the isolation often experienced by disabled seniors. Drivers are trained to identify and report observations or emergencies that might indicate a medical problem or the need for more intervention.
Learn more or call 718-314-3300.
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State Representative
City Council
Former City Council President
State Committees:
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight
Joint Committee on Financial Services
City Council:
Veterans Committee
License and Franchise Committee
Long Term Debt Committee
Education:
Suffolk University (MPA), Bentley University (BS - Management), Mass Bay Community College (AS - Business Administration)
Community Involvement (Past & Present):
Waltham Boys & Girls Club, Waltham Youth Basketball Association, Basketball Plus Program, Central Middle School Basketball, Little Nippers Baseball, Warrendale Little League, Waltham Youth Soccer, Waltham Police Athletic League, CCD Teacher, St. Jude Church, Waltham Lions Club, Waltham Rotary Club, Reagle Players Board of Directors, Warrendale Little League Board of Directors, Waltham Partnership for Youth Board of Directors, Waltham Day Center (Homeless) Advisors Board, Waltham Family School Advisory Board, Waltham Safe & Healthy Schools YRBS Steering Committee, Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Advisory Board, Waltham Public Library Planning Committee, Waltham Sons of Italy, Middlesex Area Enough Abuse Campaign.
Work, Community, Independence - Human Service Advocate of the Year, 2008 COFAR - award recipient for support of people with mental disabilities, 2003 MassBay Community College Distinguished Alumni Award WATCH CDC - Housing Advocate Award, 2007 Minuteman Senior Services - Certificate of Appreciation, 2006 Boston Bar Assoc., Greater Boston Legal Services and MetroWest Legal Services - Pillar of Justice Award, 2003 Shining Star Award, Edinburg Center, 2019 Community Health Center Leader Award, The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
Personal:
Married to the former Kimberly A. Bayliss
Children: Ryan, age 25, Parker, age 16
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