We're all flooded with updates about coronavirus, and the situation changes constantly. But people have sent me many questions about local resources and questions about state policy in the past few days. Here are some responses; please stay in touch with other questions and suggestions. I will keep this updated, so please continue to check back.

Tune into Somerville Media Center on Facebook, on their website or on SCATV (check cable listings) for 30 min “Virtual Town Halls” I have been doing with the Somerville State Delegation. We hope to do these regularly with information about the State response to COVID-19. Send us your questions, we want to make sure we are using these to get best information out.

More than half the COVID-19 deaths in Massachusetts have been among residents of long-term care facilities, though fewer than 1% of people live there.
This is of course incredibly frightening for residents, their families, and staff, especially since families can't visit unless the resident is near the end of their life.

Automated traffic enforcement was postponed last week before coming to a vote. I supported the bill & still believe that cameras will save lives and change behavior in places where traffic is too dangerous even for law enforcement. 

Senator Jehlen, Representatives Barber, Connolly and Provost with staff members met with Commissioner Montgomery and Deputy Engineer Raul Silva at the state house on Tuesday, February 25.

Legislators can visit prisons at any time. On Sunday, February 2, Sen. Jamie Eldridge and I and Representatives Mike Connolly, Mary Keefe, Lindsay Sabadosa made an unannounced visit to the prison. We were able to speak with about 15 inmates. Superintendent Steve Kenneway, DOC Commissioner Carol Mici, and Public Safety Undersecretary Andrew Peck came to talk as well.

Informational hearing featuring testimony from invited guests on the front-lines of the crisis facing the long-term care industry from individual in-home care to nursing facilities. The committee will ask questions about the challenges facing the direct care workforce, including staffing and compensation.

In September, the Little Sisters of the Poor announced their withdrawal from running the Jeanne Jugan Residence on Highland Ave in Somerville.  They said they were "actively seeking a mission‐driven sponsor to acquire the Somerville Home and continue to provide high quality compassionate care."

Massachusetts Legislature Votes to Enact the Student Opportunity Act

Investing $1.5 billion in public schools, updating statewide education policy, and supporting effective approaches to close student opportunity gaps

Snow has fallen, winter is here, and after the flurry of legislation I can give you some updates about the bills we passed before Thanksgiving (and the one we didn’t)