November 2020 | The Stanley Report |
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Dear Friend,
I hope November's issue of The Stanley Report finds you and your family healthy and well.
I would like to take a moment to thank my friends and supporters who supported me during my campaign for State Representative of the 9th Middlesex District. Whether you displayed a yard sign or emailed friends and family encouraging them to vote for me, I sincerely appreciate your assistance and am truly grateful.
These are challenging times for us all. But, I believe together we can continue to move forward and build healthier, stronger and safer communities for everyone. In the days ahead, I will put my experience to work to ensure the state responds effectively to help Waltham and Lincoln families and businesses make it through these uncertain times.
As always, please feel free to contact me if you need assistance.
Sincerely,
Tom Stanley
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COVID-19 Resources & Linkse
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Healthy Waltham & Waltham Community Farms Receive Funding in House Budget
Rep. Stanley worked with Rep. Lawn to secure $25,000 in the House fiscal year 2021 budget for Healthy Waltham and $25,000 for Waltham Community Farms. Healthy Waltham promotes collaborative approaches to improving the health and wellness of underserved and low-income populations through programs that increase access to healthy foods, provide nutrition education, and create opportunities for physical activity. Waltham Fields Community Farm (WFCF) promotes local agriculture and food access through its farming operations and educational programs, using practices that are socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable. WFCF encourages healthy relationships between people, their food supply, and the land from which it grows.
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Gov. Baker signs legislation transferring the UMASS Field Station to Waltham
Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Rep. Stanley, Mayor McCarthy, Rep. Lawn, Sen. Barrett and many advocates, Gov. Baker signed legislation (House Bill 4927) passed by the House and Senate to transfer the UMASS Field Station from UMASS to the City of Waltham. This legislation will ensure that the land will be preserved for agricultural, open space and recreational purposes.
Rep. Stanley previously voted to protect Waltham's farmland and support the Waltham Fields Community Farm and the Waltham Field Station Community by voting to authorize Mayor McCarthy to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with UMass and advance current negotiations. At the April City Council meeting earlier this year, Rep. Stanley spoke in favor of his intentions to protect Waltham's farmland and voted in favor of city entering MOA with UMass to hopefully finalize Waltham's purchase of the Waltham Field Station. Sen. Barrett, Rep. Lawn and Rep. Stanley also filed state budget amendments which will allow UMass to use unspent appropriations on the Field Station building to prepare for sale to the city and use by current nonprofit tenants.
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Two House Members Positive for COVID-19 after Budget Sessions
Two House members tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday after the House held its final budget session. Any member or staff person who came into contact with the infected members, has been notified. Rep. Stanley and the majority of the House’s current 159 members participated in Tuesday and Thursday budget sessions remotely while 15 members were present at the State house. (photo courtesy of State House News)
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Update on the Food System Caucus FY 21 Budget Priorities
Rep. Stanley, as a member of the Food System Caucus, is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) and the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) received the funding levels in the House Ways and Means budget requested by him and the caucus. $30M has been allocated for MEFAP and $13M for HIP, which is in addition to the $5M in federal dollars leveraged as part of the COVID-19 funding for HIP expansion. The caucus strives to reduce food insecurity and support the food system infrastructure in MA communities.
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Rep. Stanley Helps Pass Balanced Budget with Targeted Investments
Rep. Stanley, along with his colleagues in the House passed its Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget, which invests in programs and services across the Commonwealth. Funded at $46 billion, the House budget aims to address the sweeping effects of the global pandemic by making targeted investments in housing, food security, substance use addiction services, and domestic violence, sexual assault treatment and prevention programs. The budget also invests in programs that provide COVID-related supports for students and increases funding for developmental services. The budget is now with the Senate.
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Rep. Stanley Supported the Restoration of $1.9M in funding for Youth At-Risk Competitive Grants
Rep. Stanley is pleased that $1.9 million was included in the House Ways and Means budget to help the state’s vulnerable youth through grants used for youth prevention programs related to substance abuse, bullying, pregnancy, safe havens and LGBTQ young people, gang violence, and/or suicide. These programs provide a unique resource for vulnerable youth, working in concert with other types of prevention programs to enable young people to safely and meaningfully engage with their communities.
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Rep. Stanley Secures $25K for Waltham Tourism Council
Rep. Stanley helped secure $25,000 for Waltham Tourism Council in the state fiscal year 2021 budget. Funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Business and Technology and Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, the Waltham Tourism Council promotes the Watch City, a city with a rich history and plenty to do and see.
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Rep. Stanley Secures $100K to Reimburse Lincoln Education Costs
Rep. Stanley helped secure $100,000 in the fiscal year 2021 state budget to help reimburse the Town of Lincoln's expenses associated with educating the students of retiree families living on Hanscom. The funding will assist with Lincoln's unfunded financial burden for the preK-12 education of retired-military residents of Hanscom Air Force Base. Lincoln is required by state law to educate non-active retiree high school students who, up until several years ago, had been attending Bedford High School through a previous arrangement between the federal government and the Town of Bedford. These students are required to attend Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, located in Sudbury, unless their families move off-base.
Hanscom Air Force Base remains a significant generator of jobs and economic activity for the Commonwealth. The Town of Lincoln has long been a supporter of the Base and its mission. Yet, the educational expenses of non-active retiree children are a big burden for a small municipality with limited resources.
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Rep. Stanley Statement on Amendment 759
Rep. Stanley supported Amendment 759. At a time when the reproductive rights of women are under renewed attack in the federal courts, Massachusetts must take the lead to protect every woman’s right to make personal choices regarding reproductive health and abortion. Amendment 759 reflects the Massachusetts public’s overwhelming belief that reproductive decision making and health choices belong to each woman free from political interference. The amendment appropriately will remove existing barriers to abortion care and ensure equitable access to reproductive health care.
Amendment 759 will remove medically unnecessary and discriminatory barriers in state law that serve only to restrict access to abortion as well as ensure that everyone can access abortion care, no matter their income, insurance, age, or immigration status. In passing this amendment, we reaffirm and advance our conviction that the right to make personal choices regarding reproduction and health care belongs to each individual woman.
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Waltham and Lincoln presidential and ballot question election results
Waltham and Lincoln headed to the polls on November 3 rd. In Waltham, 19,847 citizens voted for Biden/Harris and 7,624 voted for President Trump. Regarding the two ballot questions, 20,270 voted yes and 6,612 voted no on the Right to Repair question and 13,608 voted yes and 12,860 voted no on the Ranked Choice question. Click here to view the full results.
In Lincoln, 3,374 voted for Biden/Harris while 661 voted for President Trump. A total of 3,280 voters supported the Right to Repair amendment while 809 voted against it. 2,587 people voted in favor of Ranked Choice Voting while 1,385 voted against the question. Click here for complete election results from Lincoln. |
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Waltham Senior Civic Academy (WSCA) Offers a Senior Civic Academy
Thanks to the generous funding from Tufts Health Plan and AARP Foundations, Waltham Connections for Healthy Aging is offering a Senior Civic Academy at no cost to Waltham residents 60 years or over. This 20-hour, online course, will be taught over a 7-week period, February – March, 2021. The civic academy will offer guest speakers, including experts from city, state and local government, healthy aging, civic engagement and services for seniors. There will be time to interact with the speakers and with other participants, to learn useful information and to gain insights about policy and advocacy. Learn more about the program.
Rep. Stanley will join WSCA on March 9, 2021, for a panel discussion with Waltham constituents who are participating in the first-ever Waltham Senior Civic Academy (WSCA), on how issues of aging are addressed by the legislative branches of government. The panel will include representatives of both state and federal legislatures.
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New $10M Grant Program Provides State Cultural Organizations COVID Relief
The Mass Cultural Council (MCC), in partnership with the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development, has launched the Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program, which offers grant assistance to MA nonprofit cultural organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This new $10 million initiative is part of the Baker Administration’s Economic Recovery Plan. Of the $10 million, $2 million will be dedicated to supporting small cultural nonprofits, in alignment with the FY20 COVID supplemental budget.
The Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program will grant cultural organizations up to $100,000, or three months of supported operating expenses. On an extremely limited basis, MCC and EOHED reserve the right to award a small number grants worth up to $500,000 for organizations experiencing extraordinary losses. An organization must demonstrate extraordinary need and show that they face remarkable challenges that threaten its viability for this higher award amount to be considered. Program guidelines, eligibility requirements, and the grant application for the Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program are available online. |
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New website helps families navigate the mental health system in Massachusetts
COVID-19 is putting incredible pressure on families. Many families are worried about their child’s mental health, but they aren’t sure where to turn or how to get started. HandholdMA.org, a new family friendly website, can help.
The website, created by a team of mental health and child development experts in partnership with parents who have “been there,” was designed for parents of school-aged children in Massachusetts.
Handhold has three main sections:
· Should I worry? Helps parents explore if their kid just being a kid, or if their behavior is something to worry about. Parents can learn about signs to look for and get suggestions on what to do next.
· What can I do? Tips, tools, and strategies that have worked for other families, sorted by topic, and picked by Handhold. These are things parents can learn about or do from home.
· Who can help? Carefully selected community organizations and government resources to help families find the right mental health services.
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Whatever steps you decide to take, HandholdMA.org offers a variety of tips, tools, and resources to help you take them with confidence.
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Baker Administration Announces Re-establishment of a Field Hospital at the DCU Center in Worcester
The Baker Administration announced that the first field hospital will be stood up at the DCU Center in Worcester as the Commonwealth prepares additional capacity for COVID-19 patients. This site will be built by the National Guard and is the first field hospital to re-open in the state since June. The site is expected to be available for patients in the first week of December if needed and additional locations will be added in other regions if necessary. No further changes or restrictions to regular hospital services in Massachusetts are being implemented at this time.
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Baker Administration, COVID-19 Command Center & Department of Elementary & Secondary Education Release Updated Metrics, Guidance on Schools
The Baker Administration and COVID-19 Command Center released updated metrics for schools and municipalities. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education also released updated school guidance. This update builds on the state’s ongoing efforts to refine data that is reported publicly to track the impact of the virus in the Commonwealth. The updated metrics for communities will give school districts more data to make informed decisions regarding in-person learning. Local officials have also used these metrics to make decisions for schools and businesses in their communities. Understanding of the virus continues to evolve. Studies have shown that there is low transmission in schools, even in communities where there are high rates of COVID. Click here for more information. |
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Gov. Baker Announces Partnerships for Recovery, $774 Million Economic Recovery Plan
Gov. Baker announced a $774 million comprehensive plan to stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy. The plan focuses on getting people back to work, supporting small businesses, fostering innovation, revitalizing downtowns and ensuring housing stability. Partnerships for Recovery begins today by directing $115 million in new funding to small businesses and Main Streets hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and for workforce training efforts. Additionally, the Administration is aligning multiple funding sources, both existing and proposed, to appropriately respond to the crisis.
Partnerships for Recovery supports five key recovery efforts: getting Massachusetts back to work, supporting small businesses, revitalizing downtowns, supporting housing equity and stability and fostering innovation.
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About Rep. Stanley
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.
Awards:
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 26, Parker, age 17
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