|
The New 5th Worcester District |
|
The Special Joint Committee on Redistricting has released the new districts and because of population increase over the state, the 5th Worcester district has changed. The district no longer encompasses Templeton, Phillipston and Petersham, while it has added Hubbardston, Oakham, East Brookfield and another district in Spencer. Although these changes do not go into effect for another year, it is important to make the transition as smooth as possible so as to help the people to the best of my ability. This and all the new districts can be viewed at http://www.malegislature.gov/ under the redistricting tab. |
|
|
Gobi Signs on to Child Protection Bill |
|
Gobi Signs on to Child Protection Bill Boston, MA – State Representative Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) joined a bipartisan coalition of colleagues in the Legislature in signing onto a bill that will require parents or guardians to report missing children. “It seems commonsense that a parent would notify authorities if their child went missing,” said Gobi. “Sadly, this doesn’t always happen.” The bill was filed by Rep. David Linsky (D-Natick) following the highly publicized Casey Anthony trial. Anthony was on trial for the murder of her 2-year old daughter, Caylee. Caylee had been missing for over 30 days before police were notified by a grandparent of her disappearance. “This case captivated people across the nation,” said Gobi. “While everyone formed their own opinion about whether or not this poor girl was murdered by her mother, I was contacted by many constituents who were equally shocked that a parent could go so long without even reporting their child missing. People just couldn’t believe that this was legal.” The bill that Gobi is supporting would require that a parent or guardian report a missing child within 24 hours of the disappearance. In addition, the bill requires that parents or guardians report the death of a child within 24 hours. Not doing so would become punishable by up to 5 years in prison, and the potential for thousands of dollars in fines. “The Casey Anthony trial is an extreme example,” said Gobi, “but if passed, this bill will hold parents accountable should a situation like what happened in Florida ever arises in Massachusetts.” |
|
|
Templeton, Phillipston Awarded Grant Money |
|
Templeton, Phillipston Awarded Grant Money Chelsea, MA – Governor Deval Patrick announced on Thursday that approximately $28 million worth of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) has been awarded to 41 Massachusetts towns and cities. Among the communities that will receive CDBG funds, Templeton will be awarded $899,562, while Phillipston will receive $800,000. “The town leaders in Templeton and Phillipston deserve credit for securing these extremely competitive grants,” said State Representative Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), whose district includes both Phillipston and Templeton. “Housing continues to be a major concern for families and towns and these funds will help to improve the quality of life for many people." The flexibility of CDBG funds enables communities to address their specific needs, improve the lives of residents and strengthen the local economy. As communities continue to tackle tighter budgets, these CDBG funds are especially important. “These grants will allow communities to put people to work while moving forward on a multitude of improvement projects that will attract businesses to the Commonwealth,” said Governor Patrick who made the announcement following a neighborhood tour of improvements to Chelsea made possible by past CDBG funds. “Funding that allows cities and towns to fix up homes and storefronts, continue to provide public services or replace streets and sidewalks will strengthen Massachusetts and provide important opportunities to residents and businesses.” Among the projects being funded, both Templeton and Phillipston hope to use the grant money to rehabilitate affordable housing units. Templeton also intends to utilize the funds for infrastructure improvements. |
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
| Results 1 - 4 of 7 |
