September 2023 | The Stanley Report 

Dear Friend,

September's issue of The Stanley Report includes important information about the recently-passed FY24 state budget as well as legislation I am supporting this session.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you need assistance.

Sincerely,

Tom Stanley

Rep. Stanley attended a 2Life Communities presentation at the Stanley Senior Center on the Leland House construction.

Rep. Stanley congratulated Cong. Katherine Clark on receiving the 2023 Distinguished Community Health Center Champion Award! He thanked her for championing our Community Health Centers in Congress.

Rep. Stanley and Senator Jehlen sponsored a legislative briefing featuring Betsey Crimmins, Executive Director of Mass Home Care (pictured right). She gave a presentation on the network of services available to older adults in the Commonwealth.  

Rep. Stanley Shares Elder Affairs Budget Highlights 

Rep. Stanley is pleased to share some noteworthy highlights from the Elder Affairs budget. Notably, the allocation of $300,000 for the Alzheimer's Association MA/NH Chapter's Dementia Care Coordination (DCC) program promises to provide crucial support to individuals living with Alzheimer's and their families, ensuring they receive the assistance they require. Additionally, the budget designates $250,000 for Alzheimer's Public Awareness and Education, aiming to enhance awareness among Massachusetts residents about dementia's signs and the critical significance of early detection and diagnosis. These budgetary commitments underscore the dedication to addressing vital elder care needs in our community.

Rep. Stanley Weighs in on Dementia Care

Rep. Stanley shared insights on the topic of dementia care in a recent article titled "Beacon Hill weighs changes to improve dementia care," published by the Daily News of Newburyport on August 21, 2023. You can read the full story by clicking here.

Rep. Stanley celebrates MA Repay Program Awards, will continue to advocate for Community Health Center workforce loan repayment legislation

Nearly 3,000 primary care and behavioral health providers will receive over $140 million in student loan repayment through the MA Repay Program. A significant portion of these dedicated professionals are committed to serving historically underserved community-based settings, including community health centers including Charles River Community Health. Student loan repayment plays a pivotal role in the recruitment and retention of workforce talent, aligning with the recommendations of the Health Equity Task Force in our pursuit of health equity.

This achievement, championed by Rep. Stanley and Senator Liz Miranda, promises to bring transformation to the Charles River Community Health workforce, serving our districts. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers for their unwavering advocacy and implementation efforts in making the MA Repay Program a reality.

Rep. Stanley Visits Ireland with American Irish State Legislators Caucus

Rep. Stanley recently traveled to Ireland with fellow members of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus, including colleagues from the Massachusetts Legislature. During the trip, they had the honor of meeting Bertie Ahern, who served as the Prime Minister of Ireland and played a key role in negotiating the Good Friday Agreement. The photo above captures Rep. Stanley at the Irish Parliament, where they were part of the largest assembly of American-Irish legislators in history on Friday, August 25th.

Rep. Stanley Speaks at Leland House Groundbreaking

Rep. Stanley addressed attendees at a groundbreaking ceremony at the Leland House, a senior affordable housing development, on August 17. Other speakers included Mayor McCarthy and Ed Augustus, Secretary of the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The development will add 68 affordable apartments for seniors at the site of the former Leland Home on Newton Street and will serve as a hub of activity for both residents and neighbors alike. The site is ideally located to allow residents to age in community adjacent to the Waltham Senior Center.

Rep. Stanley Announces Clean Energy and Environmental Highlights

The final FY24 state budget includes historic funding for climate action, environmental justice, and environmental protection. Thank you to Speaker Ron Mariano, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Environment and Natural Resources Chair Rep. Dan Cahill, and Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Chair State Rep Jeff Roy for leading the way in the House. See the infographic above for details. 

FY24 Local Cultural Council Grants Now Available

Mass Cultural Council (MCC) launched the FY24 Local Cultural Council grant program. Local Cultural Council (LCC) Grants are now available to apply for in every city and town in the state. These resources contribute funds to approximately 8,000 public projects annually, including everything from field trips to lectures, festivals, and dance and live music performances. MCC allocations to LCCs range from $5,500-$297,200, based on a formula that reflects state aid to municipalities. Funding is allocated by the state legislature in the annual budget. The application period for LCC grants opened on September 1 and will be open until October 17. Learn more. 

Attention High School Juniors and Seniors!

Excited to share an opportunity for Waltham High School juniors and seniors courtesy of Waltham Partnership for Youth! The Roses in Concrete program provides BIPOC WHS students with educational, leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Interested? Learn more here. The deadline to apply is October 5, 2023.

Natural Disaster Recovery Program for Agriculture is Available

The application for the Natural Disaster Recovery (NDR) Program for Agriculture is now open. The program will provide financial assistance to farmers who suffered crop losses as a result of any of three 2023 natural disasters in Massachusetts:

February 3-5, 2023 Deep freeze that impacted a large amount of peach and stone fruit production.

May 17-18, 2023 Frost that impacted a large amount of apple production and vineyards.

July 9-16, 2023 Rainfall and flooding that impacted a large amount of vegetable crop, field crops, and hay & forage crops.

Farmers may apply through the form here and must provide information concerning the extent of their losses. Applications close on September 29.

Commuter Rail Announces Fall/Winter Schedule

The MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) announced the new Fall/Winter schedule which will take effect on October 2. All schedules will soon be available online. The Fall/Winter schedule will continue the “clockface” service to offer more consistent service throughout the day. Other adjustments include the extension of late-night service on weekdays and weekends, added peak service, added express service on the Fitchburg Line, construction activity mitigation, and preparation for fall/winter weather. The Fall/Winter schedule will extend late-night service on weekdays and weekends on nearly all lines. On the Providence/Stoughton Line, for example, the last train will depart from South Station at 11:55PM — 55 minutes later than in the previous schedule. 

Mary Freeley to Serve as Director of Elder Justice Unit

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced that Mary Freeley will lead the office’s Elder Justice Unit, a new unit established under AG Campbell. The Unit will convene existing resources to protect and promote the safety and well-being of elders through enforcement actions, legislative advocacy, and community engagement and education.

The Elder Justice Unit will work with staff from the AG's Criminal, Public Protection and Advocacy, and Health Care and Fair Competition Bureaus to convene internal and external elder justice groups to listen to priorities and ongoing issues; enhance the existing work of the office to prosecute the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable older adults, including in the areas of long-term care, financial exploitation and scams; work with the AG’s Community Engagement Division to conduct intentional outreach to elders; and advocate for state and national policy that aligns with and advances the work of the Elder Justice Unit.

New Pork Regulations

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources announced that new regulations regarding the sale of whole pork meat in Massachusetts went into effect on August 24. These regulations are the result of a ballot initiative approved by voters in 2016. Learn more.

Take Action! Massachusetts Statewide Digital Equity Survey

The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) wants to hear from you about your experiences with getting and using internet service. Your input will help the State make sure that everyone can have access to high-quality and affordable internet service, devices, skills training, and digital support. Click here to access the five-minute survey.

MBTA Ashmont/Mattapan Line October Announcement

The MBTA announced full-access closures of the Red Line Ashmont Branch between JFK/UMass and Ashmont Stations and the Mattapan Line between Ashmont and Mattapan Stations for 16 days from Saturday, October 14, through Sunday, October 29. During this closure, the MBTA will provide free, accessible shuttle bus service for riders on the Ashmont Branch and the Mattapan Line. This diversion will allow the MBTA to perform critical track work.  

The MBTA will hold open houses in September to provide the public an opportunity to engage with the project team, learn about the details of the construction work, and voice their thoughts, comments, and concerns. The dates, times, and locations of these open houses are published on the MBTA Public Meetings webpage. Riders can find more information on this service change through in-station signage, in-station public announcements, and at mbta.com/alerts. 

 Free Small Business Webinars!

The Treasury’s Small Business Initiative (SBI) team is collaborating with Citizens to host FREE small business webinars this fall. The dates and topics for this series are:

Business Operations – September 20, 3:00pm-4:00pm

Financial Management – September 27, 3:00pm-4:00pm

Communicating your Business – October 4, 3:00pm-4:00pm

Register here or learn more. The Small Business Initiative provides support for entrepreneurs in Massachusetts who are looking to start a small business or expand an existing one. We provide resources for business planning, maintenance, and growth through our resource toolkit. 

Hurricane Safety Tips

While Hurricane Lee is not expected to make landfall in Massachusetts, we are still expected to experience heavy rains and strong winds, especially along the Eastern coast and South Shore. Prepare now and ensure you are ready for the storm by reviewing the American Red Cross of Massachusetts's Hurricane Safety Checklist here.

Regan's Corner

Meet Regan! Rep. Stanley and his family rescued a pup and named her Regan. Regan loves long walks, playing games in the yard, making friends and lounging with Rep. Stanley!

Help an animal find a home! Learn more about The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) and ways you can help.

The Animal Rescue League continues to support legislation that enhances and improves protections for animals, and to oppose reforms that endanger the welfare of animals in Massachusetts. Learn more about ARL's current legislative agenda here.

About Rep. Stanley

State Representative

City Council

Former City Council President

State Committee:

Co-Chairperson, Joint Committee on Elder Affairs

Member of:

Massachusetts Elder Nutrition Commission

Massachusetts Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and All Other Dementias

City Council:

Veterans Committee

Economic Development Committee

Committee of the Whole

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

Awards: 

Work, Community, Independence - Human Service Advocate of the Year, COFAR - award recipient for support of people with mental disabilities, MassBay Community College Distinguished Alumni Award WATCH CDC - Housing Advocate Award, Minuteman Senior Services - Certificate of Appreciation, Boston Bar Assoc., Greater Boston Legal Services and MetroWest Legal Services - Pillar of Justice Award, Shining Star Award, Edinburg Center, Community Health Center Leader Award, The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Dignity Award Certificate of Appreciation

Personal:

Married to the former Kimberly A. Bayliss

Children: Ryan, age 29, Parker, age 20 & puppy Regan