News Briefs

Statement from Town Manager’s Office Regarding Political Signs

The Town Manger’s Office has released the following statement on political signs in the community:

“Recently, the Town Manager’s Office has received numerous complaints regarding the size of political signs in the community.  The enforcement of ordinances regulating non-commercial speech implicates certain constitutional free speech principles.  The Town has carefully reviewed this matter and the provisions of the Town of Winthrop’s Sign Ordinance, as currently written, which prohibits certain non-commercial temporary signs which exceed three square feet, see Town of Winthrop Ordinance Chapter 17.32.030.   However, the regulation and enforcement of political signage has recently been challenged across the nation, including in Massachusetts.  The ACLU has written an open letter to Massachusetts communities to urge communities to discontinue enforcement of sign regulations as they pertain to political speech and review such regulations under current legal principles.  After speaking with the Town’s attorneys and reviewing the ACLU letter, I find it in the best interest of the community to suspend enforcement of the Sign Ordinance as it relates to non-commercial signs until such time as the Sign Ordinance has been reviewed to ensure compliance with current legal requirements.” 

D’Ambrosio Responds to to Change of Columbus Day In Boston

Senate candidate Anthony D’Ambrosio has issued the following statement on  Boston Mayor Kim Janey to change the name of the Columbus Day Holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Day:

Mayor Janey’s actions have caused more division and anger in Boston and throughout Massachusetts. I am proud of my Italian immigrant roots. No insider politician’s decision will change that.

This could have been done in a way that recognizes the plight of Indigenous people while not offending many Italian Americans.

When will political insiders learn that true leaders unite people not divide them.”

‘Building and Sharing Solidarity’ Series Planned

 Interim Town Manager Terence Delehanty and Public Health Director Meredith Hurley announce that the Town of Winthrop will hold a virtual series to help residents process the acts of violence committed in June against members of the BIPOC community.

The town has partnered with And Still We Rise to develop the ‘Building & Sharing Solidarity’ series. The series aims to support the community in processing this event, as well as other experiences of social injustice by providing psychoeducation on emotions, as well as how to identify and cope with emotions. Participants will be provided with resources and take away information.

The series will also address ideas around diversity, equity, inclusion and bias and will acknowledge the diversity of the Winthrop community.

The 3-part virtual series will take place on Thursday, Oct. 14, 21 and 28, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. To register for the series, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/Wint-Solidarity-form .

“Our goal is to foster a safe environment for residents to work through the trauma and grief that they may have experienced following the horrific and hateful events that took place in June,” Director Hurley said. “This will be a way for residents to come together, communicate their collective experience around social injustices and lean on each other for support. And Still We Rise staff members are experts in mental health care, especially for those in marginalized groups, and we are very pleased to be working with them to curate this series.”

And Still We Rise specializes in mental health care for marginalized groups, including women, as well as the BIPOC, queer and trans communities. The goal of the organization is to create healing spaces for marginalized people by focusing on the values of community, critical consciousness and decolonizing mental healthcare.

State Health Officials Announce Eighth Human Case of WNV 

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) last week announced the eighth human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state this year. The individual is a male in his 50s who was exposed to WNV in Middlesex County.

Twenty-seven communities in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk counties are athigh risk and 71 communities are at moderate risk. There are no additional risk level changes associated with this new case.

“The risk from WNV is starting to decline but some risk will remain until the first hard frost,” said Acting Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “Although people over the age of 50 are at greater risk from West Nile virus, all ages can be affected. People should remember to take steps to prevent mosquito bites anytime they are outdoors.”

In 2020, there were 11 human cases of WNV infection identified in Massachusetts. WNV is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms. When present, WNV symptoms tend to include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can occur.