Be sure to vote on Tuesday
This Tuesday, March 2, is Primary Election Day for the four candidates — Valentino Capobianco, Alicia DelVento, Juan Pablo Jaramillo, and Jeff Turco — for the Democratic nomination for State Representative from the 19th Suffolk District, which encompasses all of Winthrop and a large potion of Revere (Ward 1 — Precincts 1 and 2; Ward 2; Ward 3 — Precincts 2 and 3; and Ward 5 — precinct 3).
The opportunity for Democratic voters (Unenrolled voters also may vote in the Democratic Primary) from the 19th District to choose a new State Representative literally is a once-in-a-generation event. Bob DeLeo held the seat for 30 years and before him, Alfred Saggese was the State Rep. for 16 years.
We would note that Jessica Giannino, the State Representative from the remainder of Revere, encompassing the 16h Suffolk District, recently was elected to her first term in November. Seldom has it been true in the history of Winthrop and Revere that our delegation in the Mass. House will represent generational change to such a large extent.
Although all of the candidates on the ballot on Tuesday are Democrats, this past week’s debate highlighted the differences between the four candidates on many issues and provided voters with an opportunity to make a judgment as to which candidate would be the most effective in representing our district’s interests on Beacon Hill.
In addition, Democratic voters should keep in mind that there will be a final election in four weeks on March 30 in which the winner this Tuesday will face Republican and Unenrolled (Independent) candidates.
Tuesday’s primary election is a rare opportunity for voters of our district to bring new leadership to the State House. We urge all Democratic voters in the 19th district to take the time to vote this Tuesday.
An unfathomable number
When COVID-19 first came into our national consciousness more than a year ago, it was just a blip on the news. The prospect that a viral bug originating halfway around the world would alter every aspect of our lives seemed inconceivable.
And even if the virus did come here, America was not some third-world country. We had confidence that the world’s best medical care system and scientific minds would work together to prevent something as seemingly trivial as a mere virus from overwhelming our nation.
But one year — and 500,000 American lives — later, that which was unimaginable has become a nightmarish reality.
To be sure, the unprecedented incompetence and outright malevolence of the previous administration contributed substantially to amplify and worsen the problems brought on by the pandemic.
But even in a best-case scenario, the virus would have upended every aspect of our lives. Although the politicization of the virus contributed to our nation’s suffering, the pandemic still would have caused death and economic turmoil to an unprecedented extent.
The official count of 500,000 COVID deaths was surpassed this week. Let’s hope that as we move forward and as the daily numbers of deaths and hospitalizations continue to decline, we have learned that despite our high-tech lifestyle, we are no match for Mother Nature.
The pandemic has exposed many problems in our country, including the inadequacy of our health care system, especially for minority groups, and the danger of politicizing scientific information.
Hopefully, we have recognized our multitude of mistakes and we will make the necessary investments in our health care and pandemic detection systems to ensure that we will be ready for the next pandemic.
As the philosopher succinctly put it, those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.
Spring is in the air
This winter has not been a particularly difficult one for us in the Northeast, although February has been colder and stormier than January.
But with temperatures reaching the 50s by the middle of this week, there is the feeling that spring is just around the corner.
We realize that “spring†is a relative term for those of us living on the Massachusetts coast, but undeniably the onset of warmer weather will provide more opportunities to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine after months of being cooped-up amidst our pandemic quarantines.
Spring traditionally symbolizes rebirth and rejuvenation. That thought is especially meaningful in the spring of 2021.
Hopefully, the coming of spring and the availability of mass vaccinations will enable all of us to emerge from our cocoons and allow us to return safely to our pre-pandemic lives.