Gov. Baker, Tom Brady at Best Buddies Challenge
Read the Baker-Polito Administration’s “Corner Office Connect” update for June 2019.
Gov. Baker, Tom Brady, Julian Edelman join dozens of kids at Best Buddies Football Challenge
Governor Baker made his annual visit to the Best Buddies Football Challenge at Harvard stadium, to join Tom Brady, Julian Edelman and of course dozens of participants in the Best Buddies program to support this great organization.
#MAEconDev: Statewide planning effort to support economic growth underway
Building on the administration’s bedrock commitment to expanding economic opportunity for all, the Governor and Lt. Governor last month joined members of the new Economic Development Planning Council to launch the 2019 economic development planning process. The new Council, comprised of voices from across Massachusetts and a variety of public and private entities, will provide input on and oversight of an economic development plan that will be presented to Governor Baker by the end of the year. Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy serve as co-chairs of the council.
Since the launch, Lt. Governor Polito and Secretary Kennealy have engaged in a series of listening sessions with a number of key players in each region of the Commonwealth. The Boston Globe profiled the approach, noting it “will focus on goals that are both less dramatic and more far-reaching. Housing, workforce training, small-business growth. Less red tape.”
In an op-ed laying out the process, the Lt. Governor and Secretary explain the administration’s goals:
“The people of Massachusetts have a long, proud history of innovation, and this administration has always believed in empowering communities to lead the way forward with our support. We look forward to meeting and learning from you as we develop an inclusive economic agenda for our second term, and we are eager to roll up our sleeves and continue to partner with local leaders to take our Commonwealth to greater heights.” - Lt. Governor Polito & Secretary Kennealy Op-Ed
Check out more coverage from the planning process:
BOSTON GLOBE | WORCESTER TELEGRAM | LOWELL SUN
A grateful Commonwealth honors and remembers
At Memorial Day events across the Commonwealth, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito paid tribute to the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. In Springfield, Governor Baker attended the dedication for “Tommy’s House,” a project honoring Springfield native and fallen hero Sgt. Thomas Sullivan that will provide housing for another military family in the region.
The Governor and Lt. Governor both attended the annual ceremony at the Heroes’ Flag Garden on Boston Common, organized by the Massachusetts Military Heroes’ fund. The Governor also honored fallen heroes at the annual Medal of Liberty ceremony at the State House, and at the re-dedication of the Massachusetts Fallen Heroes Memorial in the Seaport.
And on Memorial Day, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito spoke at both Massachusetts veterans’ cemeteries — the Governor in Winchendon and the Lt. Governor in Agawam.
Check out some of the coverage from these Memorial Day events below:
MASSLIVE: TOMMY’S HOUSE | WHDH MEMORIAL DAY COVERAGE
Advocating for bipartisan infrastructure investment
Governor Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh spent time in Washington, D.C. to urge federal leaders to follow the Commonwealth’s example and pursue infrastructure investment on a bipartisan basis. The Governor and Mayor connected with federal officials from both sides of the aisle and urged them to advance efforts to fund improvements the nation’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure. They also sat down with Axios to discuss their bipartisan approach to this and other issues.
WCVB COVERAGE | MASSLIVE COVERAGE
#RESPECTfully
Led by Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence last month joined with the Department of Public Health to launch the Commonwealth’s first public awareness campaign to prevent sexual assault and domestic violence in over twenty years. The campaign, called “RESPECTfully,” focuses on promoting healthy relationships to youth and teenagers, seeking to connect with young adults through a variety of channels, including social media.
PRESS RELEASE | BOSTON HERALD COVERAGE | WBZ-AM COVERAGE | WWLP COVERAGE
Expanding tools to keep communities safe
Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito have re-filed and continue to advocate for several important pieces of legislation geared around keeping the Commonwealth’s communities safe from dangerous individuals:
Keeping Child Predators Off Our Streets
The administration has re-filed legislation to reform the process by which courts determine the potential release of dangerous individuals off the streets. Deficiencies in the current system were brought to light by the case of repeat child predator Wayne Chapman, whose release was recently ordered by the state’s highest court. The proposal would change state law to add more scrutiny to the review process that could allow for the release of these dangerous criminals.
“The case of Wayne Chapman proves that the Massachusetts’ criminal justice system is falling short when it comes to keeping serial child predators out of our communities and behind bars,” Governor Baker said, “and this bill is aimed to address this very concern.” The bill has earned praise from editorials in the Lowell Sun and The Boston Globe.
PRESS RELEASE | LOWELL SUN EDITORIAL | BOSTON GLOBE EDITORIAL
Reforming Process For Dangerousness Hearings
Last month, Governor Baker also testified about his administration’s re-filed legislation to reform the statute governing dangerousness hearings. The Governor’s bill would expand the list of offenses that can provide grounds for a dangerousness hearing and close certain loopholes in the criminal process that currently limit or prevent effective action to address legitimate safety concerns.
Recent cases continue to highlight the need for expanded tools to deal with dangerous individuals. And the bill has earned praise from public safety leaders as it continues to work its way through the legislative process.
READ TESTIMONY | WBZ COVERAGE | SALEM NEW COVERAGE
News in Brief
- Governor Baker addresses Upper Cape Cod Vocational Tech. School graduates, applauds career technical education (Cape Cod Times)
- Ahead of Memorial Day, Lt. Governor notes importance of honoring the fallen in Plymouth (WATD)
- Governor visits with human services providers in Worcester, lauds work to support those with developmental disabilities (Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
- Lt. Governor announces new grants for veterans’ housing (Patriot-Ledger)
