Newsletter Vol. 3: budget, ATV’s, national popular vote

Dear Constituent,

As the 2010 legislative session draws to a close I have been working on important bills at the State House, and I have been attending a variety of events in my district. The governor signed the annual state budget, the legislature passed a new law increasing safety for all-terrain vehicle riders, the lieutenant governor announced new funding for the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, and Concord will soon have more affordable housing options. I hope you and your families find time to enjoy the glorious summer weather. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call my office at 617-722-2692.

Sincerely,

Cory Atkins

State Budget

On June 30 Governor Deval Patrick signed the annual state budget. The budget was balanced and on time, but the process this year was excruciating. The recession has led to lower state revenue, requiring cuts across the budget. However, I am glad that the budget still includes significant amounts of local aid to towns and school districts. Local aid helps to pay for teachers, firefighters, police officers, and road maintenance, and it diversifies towns’ and schools’ revenue sources so that they do not have to rely solely on property taxes.

National Popular Vote

In early June my colleagues and I voted to have Massachusetts join the National Popular Vote compact. This bill proposes that the president of the United States be elected by the total vote of the people rather than by the electoral college, but it would only go into effect if states that represent a majority of the electoral votes agree to it. If the Senate passes the bill and the Governor signs it, Massachusetts would become the sixth state to join this agreement.

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

Work continues on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, a fifteen mile biking and walking path from Lowell to Framingham that will traverse all four towns in my district. Phase 1, from Lowell to Chelmsford and Westford, opened last summer, and planning is underway for Phase 2, which will go through Acton, Carlisle, and Concord. On June 18 I joined Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Senator Jamie Eldridge, and Representative Jen Benson in Acton to announce $931,500 that will be used to design Phase 2. This trail will help to connect our communities by encouraging healthy lifestyles and reducing our dependence on cars.

Road and Trail Safety

At the beginning of this legislative session I filed a bill to ban texting while driving. The House incorporated my bill into a larger bill to increase driver safety, and the governor signed this bill into law on July 2. The bill prohibits all drivers from texting, and it prohibits teenagers under age 18 from talking on a cell phone while driving. On June 9 my colleagues and I passed a bill to increase the safety of all-terrain vehicle riders. The bill prohibits children under age 14 from operating an all-terrain vehicle, and it restricts the engine size of all-terrain vehicles operated by children between the ages of 14 and 16.

Weatherization in Concord

If you live in Concord and you heat your home with gas from National Grid, you may be eligible for free or subsidized services to weatherize your home. The Concord Municipal Light Plant is offering home energy assessments, professional sealing on cracks and leaks, and up to $2000 per household for insulation. For more information please contact Jan Aceti at 978-318-3151 or jaceti@concordma.gov.

Affordable Housing in Concord

I am pleased to announce two exciting new developments for affordable housing in Concord. The first is that the state Department of Housing and Community Development awarded $1 million to the Concord Housing Authority for renovations to the Peter Bulkeley building in Concord Center. This money will help the authority to redesign Peter Bulkeley to better accommodate the needs of the residents. The second is that I successfully sponsored a law to transfer land in West Concord from the Department of Corrections to the Concord Housing Development Corporation. This land transfer will allow for construction of new affordable housing near the West Concord train station, and it will help Concord reach its affordable housing threshold as defined by state law.

Acton and Chelmsford Are Green Communities

In 2008 I voted for the Green Communities Act, which gives cities and towns grant money for becoming more environmentally friendly. On May 25 Governor Patrick announced that Acton and Chelmsford would be two of the first 35 Green Communities statewide. These towns have purchased fuel-efficient municipal vehicles, streamlined permitting for renewable energy projects, and adopted “stretch codes” to require long-term energy efficiency in new construction.