Special to the Transcript
In her first year in office, Senator Lydia Edwards worked with her colleagues in the House, & with Senate leadership to secure over $2 million of funding for housing support programs, open space, homelessness response & prevention, public safety, and legal services. “This year I was proud to secure over $2 Million for important community projects across the First Suffolk & Middlesex District. This year the Commonwealth has a massive infusion of federal funds from ARPA & COVID relief, and increased tax revenue. We must take full advantage of this surplus and reinvest in our communities†said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-Boston).
Regional
This session Sen. Edwards has secured over $1 Million in direct funding for water transportation. $1 Million to fund regional a ferry service connecting Winthrop, Lynn, Quincy, East Boston and Boston as mitigation resulting from the renovation of the Boston Harbor Tunnels.
“This session I have worked with a bipartisan group of my Senate colleagues, and Senate leadership to secure millions of dollars of funding for ferry programs across our district. A robust ferry system is more important than ever, as we recover from the pandemic, with Sumner Tunnel construction, the housing crunch, and issues with the MBTA. Moreover, rising housing costs in Boston are pushing people and families to look for housing further from the urban hub, we must have effective transit options for people moving to the North and South shores.†said Senator Lydia Edwards (D-Boston).
In the budget, Senator Edwards also secured $50,000 for the Brazilian Worker Center, which works to protect the rights of Brazilian immigrants, and domestic workers, and $50,000 for the Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh, and $200,000 for the Possible Zone which offers programming to youth that builds entrepreneurial skills.
In the Economic Development bill Senator Edwards secured $100,000 for Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, Inc. to support programming which combats racial discrimination in housing in the Commonwealth. The Senator also secured $200,000 for Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations for outreach, resource creation and pilot programs to encourage fiscally sound, innovative methods to stop the displacement of small businesses and tenants.
East Boston
Sen. Edwards also secured an additional $200,000 for the Hugh O’Donnell Elementary School for a playground, and outdoor space improvements, space for free concerts in the Economic Development Bill.
In the FY23 Budget the Senator secured $50,000 for East Boston High School’s implementation of their BAM Youth Guidance Program.
Winthrop
In the Economic Development Bill, the Senator secured $150k to fund Winthrop Ferry Service on Weekends.
The Senator also secured $20,000 for Community Against Substance Abuse, which provides free programing for youth in Winthrop in the FY23 Budget.
Revere
In the budget the Senator secured $10,000 for the Revere Police Department, $50,000 for the annual International Sand Sculpting Festival, $50,000 Revere’s Department on Substance Use Disorder & Homeless Initiatives, $50,000 for Women Encouraging Empowerment.
In the Economic Development Bill, Senator Edwards secured $350,000 Fire Fund for the victims of the fire at 370 Ocean Ave in Revere.
Cambridge
Additionally, the Senator secured $10,000 for Cambridge HEART, $10,000 for the Cambridge NAACP, $15,000 for Cambridge Workforce, and $10,000 for Poportunity.
FY 23 Budget Earmarks
Friends of the Belle Isle $50,000 shall be expended to the Friends of the Belle Isle Marsh, for the implementation of their environmental preservation programs. Regional
Revere Police Department $10,000 shall be expended to Police Department in the City of Revere Revere
Pine Street Inn $20K for staffing support for a safe haven housing for women who are homeless and have mental health issued in the City of Boston. Boston
2022 International Sand Sculpting Festival 50K awarded to provide public safety support for 2022 International Sand Sculpting festival. Revere
Women Encouraging Empowerment 50K expended for the operation of Women Encouraging Empowerment. Revere
Cambridge HEART $10,000 shall be expended to Cambridge HEART. for the implementation of their program to address the root causes of harm, violence, and injustice in the City of Cambridge Cambridge
The Brazilian Worker Center $50,000 shall be expended to the Brazilian Worker Center in the City of Boston, for the implementation and operations their programs Boston
NAACP Cambridge $10,000 shall be expended to the NAACP Cambridge Branch. for the continued implementation of their programs Cambridge
East Boston Latino Festival $50,000 shall be expended to ZUMIX, Inc. in the City of Boston for the organization of the East Boston Latino Festival in the summer of 2022 East Boston
Cambridge Workforce $15,000 shall be expended to the Cambridge Workforce; for the implementation and operations of their programs Cambridge
Poportunity $10,000 shall be expended to Popportunity; for the implementation and operation of their programs Cambridge
Substance Use Disorder & Homeless Initiatives SUDHI It allocates $50,000 for the Substance Use Disorder & Homeless Initiatives Office in the city of Revere. Revere
CASA, Winthrop $20K expended for Community Agaisnt Substance Abuse, in the town of Winthrop. Winthrop
The Possible Zone $200,000 shall be expended to The Possible Zone to support at-risk students experiencing learning loss that needs credit recovery, early college credit, internships, job training and community supports. Boston
Courageous Sailing $12,500 shall be expended for the Courageous Sailing program Boston
East Boston High School $50,000 shall be expended to the East Boston High School, for the implementation of the BAM Youth Guidance program. East Boston
Water Transportation Services in Mitigation of Harbor Tunnel Renovation Project $1M for the operation of a water ferry connecting the Town of Winthrop, the City of Lynn, the City of Quincy, East Boston and Boston as mitigation resulting from the renovation of the Boston Harbor Tunnels. Winthrop
Economic Development Earmarks
Free Green Space and Outdoor Entertainment at the Hugh O’Donnell Elementary School $200,000 for Hugh R. O’Donnell elementary school in the East Boston section of the city of Boston for playground and outdoor space improvements and free concerts in partnership with the Boston Landmarks Orchestraâ€; East Boston
Encourage Economic Growth and Home Ownership in Areas Facing Rapid Displacement $200,000 for Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations for outreach, resource creation and pilot programs to encourage fiscally sound, innovative methods to stop the displacement of small businesses and tenants. Boston/Regional
Winthrop Weekend Ferry Service $150,000 for the operation of weekend ferry services in the city known as the town of Winthrop†Winthrop/Regional
Funding to Eradicate Racial Discrimination in Housing $100,000 to Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, Inc. to support programming to eradicate racial discrimination in housing in the commonwealth. Regional
Revere Fire Fund $350K to Greater Boston Legal Services to administer a fire fund for victims of the 370 Ocean Ave Fire in Revere Revere