By Cary Shuman
editor@winthroptranscript.com
State Senator Anthony Petruccelli addressed residents about the economy and the state budget for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 on Tuesday night at Winthrop Senior Center.
Petruccelli, speaking at a podium with Winthrop town councillors seated on each side of him, answered questions from the audience after his remarks.
“One thing that I feel is important for the people of the town of Winthrop to know is that the fiscal challenges facing the commonwealth and the town are not unique,†said Petruccelli. “In fact, we are dealing with the same economic hardships as every city, town, and state in the country.â€
A member of the Joint Transportation Committee of the Mass. House and Senate, Petruccelli said major transportation reform is coming to the state.
“The main component of both the Senate and the House version is the elimination of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority as we know it, and the merging of most state transportation agencies and their assets, as well as the revenues that go along with it under one roof,†said Petruccelli. “We believe [the merger] creates much great efficiencies by elimination duplication of services where appropriate. We believe it creates much needed transparency.â€
S tate Sen. Anthony Petruccelli delivered an address and presentation on the state of the Massachusetts economy and the state budget Tuesday night at the Senior Center. Petruccelli received a warm welcome from the members of the Winthrop Town Council (from left) Nicholas DelVento, Joseph Ferrino Jr., James Letterie, Council President Thomas Reilly, Russell Sanford, Linda Calla, and Jeanne Maggio.
Petruccelli said in his introductory remarks that he will support the House measure that calls for an increase in the state sales tax from 5 percent to 6.25 percent. Though he said the increase is unpopular, he added new revenues (taxes) will be needed to get through this time.
“A significant portion of that [taxes] is proposed to fund transportation needs, and the rest still needs to be debated about where it will be spent,†said Petruccelli. “I commend Speaker DeLeo for his leadership on these issues and will support them when the Senate takes up the budget.â€
Petruccelli was asked whether he would like to comment about the upcoming Proposition 2 1/2 override election in Winthrop, but he declined politely.
While the in-house audience was smaller than many had anticipated – Petruccelli was competing with a Celtics playoff game and a Boston Red Sox game – the forum was broadcast live on Winthrop Cable Access Television (WCAT).
“I already received some text messages right from people who said they were watching it at home,†Petruccelli said.
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I have to be honest, as a Winthrop born citizen from NYC, visiting my mom for a month, it's quickly obvious to an outsider where Winthrop has it's faults. Winthrop overbuilt, overestimated, and overwrought just as every other small town in the flush years. Instead of shining brightly, we got stuck with too many bulbs and not enough electricity...
It's evident not in just big things, like the shocking and thoroughly complete erosion of the town center (I managed a store at Michaels many years ago), but also in little things- like the dropped ceiling and indirect lighting, complete with brass finishing in the Town Hall bathrooms that could rival any NYC nightclub! Bringing restrooms up to code never looked so good!
What Winthrop needs right now is calm sensibility and accountability, not blame. Everyone must pull in the same direction. With much of the housing in town underwater, selling is simply not an option to a hardworking couple right now, there are plenty of people married to Winthrop for awhile, a love or hate duration.
Citizens will always have differing perspectives, but we should all agree that putting youth and the elderly ahead of any other priority is absolutely imperative. Without a hopeful trellis of resources; youth cannot grow into responsible Winthrop citizens that grow roots, without hope the elderly have no reason to live out the golden years in dignity.
All of us were young and all of us shall grow old- this is age old truth of many sunrises, it is our responsibility as a community to guarantee all the benefits that we've had all along under so many sunsets and to improve it for our generations to come.
They'll foot the bill for those bathrooms anyways.