December 2022 | The Stanley Report 

Dear Friend,

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

December's issue of The Stanley Report includes important information about legislation I am supporting this session as well as local and state news.

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

Sincerely,

Tom Stanley

Rep. Stanley with Carlos Vidal at the Waltham Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Party.

Rep. Stanley with Health and Human Services Secretary MaryLou Sudders at the MetFern Cemetery.

Happy Holidays to all!

Rep. Stanley Voices Concerns about Proposed Solar Project

In a letter to the Lexington Planning Board, Rep. Stanley expressed concerns regarding Tracer Lane II Realty, LLC’s proposed 1.0 MW ground-mounted large-scale solar energy system located at 0 Cambridge Street/Concord Turnpike, with emergency and maintenance access from Sherbourne Place in Waltham.

While Rep. Stanley does not oppose solar energy solutions, this particular project’s proximity to Waltham neighborhoods and disruptions to the surrounding environment make it untenable. He will continue to push the Lexington Planning Board and Developer to address his constituents' concerns and will be sharing them again at the Board's follow-up hearing scheduled for February 15th, 2023. For more details about the February 15th hearing, click here.

Waltham abutters also created a website to help raise awareness for the solar project's many impacts and let neighbors know what they can do to push to get it changed.

Waltham and Lincoln Receive Grants for Firefighter Safety Equipment

Lincoln received $10,897 and Waltham received $35,000 in funding for the fiscal year 2023 firefighter safety equipment grants awarded to local fire departments. Fire departments will use this funding to purchase a wide variety of equipment that will make impactful improvements to the safety of their personnel. Many will be outfitting their firefighters with new protective gear, while others will be acquiring important tools such as thermal imaging cameras, portable radios, hazardous gas detectors, and personnel accountability systems. The funds are aimed to create better outcomes for both responders and victims and to improve the long-term health of our firefighters.  

Rep. Stanley's Efforts Help Create Commission to study history of state institutions

A new special disability-led commission, funded by a budget appropriation, will begin researching the history of state institutions including Metropolitan State Hospital and the Fernald School in Rep. Stanley’s district. Rep. Stanley supported the budget amendment funding this commission and cosponsored legislation to establish a special commission to study and report on the history of state institutions for people with developmental and mental health disabilities in the Commonwealth. Many constituents have a deep desire to know the stories of their relatives and family members – uncles, aunts, cousins, parents, or grandparents – whose memory has been lost all these years.

Appointed by the governor, other elected officials and disability rights advocacy organizations, 17 commissioners will review existing records, examine barriers to accessing personal documents that may be shielded by long-standing privacy laws, and investigate the likely locations of unmarked graves at former state institutions. The commission will also determine ways to educate the public about the history of deinstitutionalization and the civil rights movement to include people with disabilities into society.

Rep. Stanley Applauds State’s Workforce Loan Repayment Program for Health Care Workers

The Baker Administration announced plans to address the health care workforce shortage by contracting with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers to implement a $130 million loan repayment program to support and retain the behavioral health and primary care workforce. Funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Trust Fund. As the co-chair of the Committee on Elder Affairs, Rep. Stanley advocated for this funding in the House ARPA bill last year.

Applications will be open in December to qualifying employees including but not limited to social workers, primary care physicians, psychiatrists, nurses, substance use recovery coaches and case managers who work at Community Health Centers, Community Mental Health Centers, psychiatric units in acute care hospitals, in-patient psychiatric hospitals or substance use treatment programs. Loans eligible for repayment in this application process include government loans made by federal, state, county or city agencies and commercial loans from banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, schools, and other financial or credit institutions.

Elected Officials and Health Organizations Create Strategies to Address Healthcare Capacity

The Massachusetts healthcare system is facing severe capacity challenges with record hospital occupancy levels, flu, COVID-19 and RSV circulating, and significant workforce shortages. At the request of Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, Massachusetts health plans agreed to voluntarily waive prior authorization for admissions from acute care hospitals to sub-acute care facilities and rehabilitation facilities across commercial, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans for 90 days, starting on Dec. 6. Blue Cross Blue Shield and Massachusetts Association of Health Plans' member plans have agreed to the waiver. In addition, hospitals agreed to start their discharge planning as early in the day as possible.

Recent Waltham Forum Highlights Gun Violence

The Waltham Democratic City Committee hosted a forum that focused on gun violence, particularly in schools, called "Firearms - Violence and Reform, an Interactive Panel Discussion." Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan moderated the event and panelists included WPD Chief Kevin O’Connell, Dr. Brian Reagan, Superintendent of Waltham Public Schools, Plympton Elementary School Principal Stephen Duffy, and anti-gun violence activists Sonya Yee Coleman and Kristen Bauer. 

The discussion covered a wide range of subjects, including how police and schools interact to protect our students. Awareness was also raised for the Commonwealth's so-called “Red Flag Law” (Chapter 123 of the Acts of 2018). The law allows individuals to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) against someone to temporarily restrict their access to firearms if they are exhibiting dangerous or threatening behaviors towards themselves or others. Massachusetts has some of the most effective gun control measures in the country and ERPO is another tool to help keep our residents safe. For more information on ERPO, click here. 

Mass Audubon Receives $10,000 Social Prescription Grant

Mass Audubon in Lincoln received a $10,000 from Mass Cultural Council’s (MCC) Social Prescription Pilot program to support the organizations programs and practice of social prescribing. As part of MCC’s CultureRx Initiative, in 2020 it worked with cultural organizations on a social prescription pilot program designed to positively affect the health and well-being of the people of Massachusetts and the fiscal health of our non-profit cultural institutions. Social prescribing is where health care providers refer patients to arts and culture experiences to support their health and well-being. 

MBHP to Manage Behavioral Health Help Line Implementation

The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) has been selected to as the exclusive clinical provider for the Behavioral Health Help Line. A key component of the implementation of the Commonwealth’s Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform, the Help Line will act as an accessible “front door” to treatment, enabling residents to easily find available providers and services that meet their needs. Importantly, MBHP has committed to placing a particular focus on historically underserved communities, and the Help Line will be accessible in more than 200 languages to strengthen the connection to behavioral health services.

The Help Line will offer a single point of contact for residents to receive real-time support, initial clinical assessment, and connection to the right mental health and SUD evaluation and treatment, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The phone and chat line will offer real-time clinical triage and service navigation to help individuals and families access the range of treatment for mental health and addiction offered in the Commonwealth, including outpatient, urgent and immediate crisis intervention. Starting in early January, any Massachusetts resident in need of a clinical assessment and support will be able to access the Help Line 24/7 via phone and text at 833-773-BHHL, as well as online at masshelpline.com. Every call, text, or chat conversation will include clinical follow up.

Are you eligible for SNAP — a.k.a. funds for food shopping?

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It is a federal nutrition program (formerly known as Food Stamps) that provides eligible residents with monthly financial assistance to purchase food and other benefits that help you save. SNAP works to boost your food budget and the local economy! Find out if you are eligible for SNAP today by visiting GettingSNAP.org or chat with Project Bread’s counselors at 1.800.645.8333 to learn more.

DHS Extends REAL ID Deadline

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended the REAL ID enforcement date from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025. Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification card, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel and to enter certain federal facilities. TSA publishes a list of its acceptable identification documents on its website. All documentation that lists this date is in the process of being revised. Please continue to encourage customers to obtain REAL IDs. Customers who already have a full-term REAL ID are eligible to renew online up to a year in advance of their expiration date. 

Community Compact Programs will receive $7 Million in Grants

Elected officials and municipal leaders celebrated the success of the Community Compact Cabinet over the last eight years and announced 78 new Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) grant awards through two Community Compact programs. Lieutenant Governor Polito announced that a total of $5 million in IT grants were awarded to support technology-focused initiatives across 61 municipalities, and 17 efficiency and regionalization grants distributing a total of $2 million were awarded for regionalization efforts across 102 municipalities.

The Community Compact Cabinet was established to strengthen the state’s partnership with cities and towns and to allow the Administration to work more closely with municipal leaders. Led by Lt. Governor Polito, the Cabinet champions municipal interests across all executive secretariats and agencies, and develops, in consultation with cities and towns, mutual standards and best practices for both the state and municipalities.

Baker Administration Files $139 Million Supplemental Budget to Address Emergency Temporary Shelter Needs

Governor Baker filed a $139 million Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) supplemental budget to support the Commonwealth’s response to substantially increased demand on the emergency assistance shelter system. The targeted funding and policy changes in this bill will provide resources to expand emergency shelter capacity to address an uptick in need for these services, which is driven in part by a recent increase in migrant entries to Massachusetts, due to federal immigration policy.

Building on $20 million provided in the recently signed economic development bill to support the needs of immigrants and refugees, this bill proposes a $130 million reserve to meet immediate needs across the multiple agencies that play a role in responding to the needs of families in need of emergency shelter placement. The reserve includes $73 million to expand the overall capacity of the shelter system, which will fund the provisioning of more than 1,300 additional temporary shelter units and shelter provider rate increases to support recruitment and retention. It also includes $20 million to establish and maintain a temporary central intake center, where families during their first few days in shelter can receive timely case management services and various intake assessments. The remaining $37 million will support the costs associated with placing new students in local schools through the end of FY24.

Regan's Corner

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

Help an animal find a home for the holidays! 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 Home Care Licensing Commission

Massachusetts LGBT Aging Commission

Massachusetts Elder Nutrition Commission

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 28, Parker, age 19 & puppy Regan