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State House

Healey reestablishes council tasked with advising her on veterans’ services

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Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order Friday reworking a council tasked with advising the governor on veterans’ services, a move she said shows the administration’s “dedication” to advocating for the rights of former service members.

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services will meet four times a year and be tasked with producing a written report every two years, a change from the annual reporting requirement former Gov. Charlie Baker his version of the council.

Healey’s order comes after she created a new executive office focused on veteran’s services earlier this year and appointed former state Rep. Jon Santiago — a captain in the United States Army Reserve — to lead it.

“This council represents another step forward in our mission to prioritize the diverse experiences of our service members and will play a crucial role in our efforts to elevate veterans’ services statewide,” Healey said in a statement.

Baker issued a similar advisory council order in 2016, tasking a 12-member body with advising him on issues related to veterans and how best to support the community, according to the order. Members on his version of the council were unpaid and served for three years.

Healey’s version follows a similar path, though it lays out more guidelines for who will serve on the council.

The membership must represent “not only geographically diverse parts of the commonwealth, but also including indigenous veterans and reflecting our inhabitants’ diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, immigration status, and economic status,” the order said.

Santiago will serve as chair of the council and include the chair of the Women’s Advisory Council of Veteran Affairs.

“The council shall review and assess federal and state laws and regulations and existing programs and services relating to veterans to enhance the lives of veterans and their families in the commonwealth,” Healey’s executive order said.

Santiago said the Healey administration “stands firmly committed to supporting and engaging veterans of all backgrounds and zip codes.”

“The membership of this esteemed council will encompass the diverse range of experiences among thousands of service members across our state,” he said in a statement.

After ‘alarming increase’ in Boston-area roofie reports, Massachusetts looks to give out drink spiking test kits

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After police departments reported an “alarming increase” in date rape drug incidents across the region, Massachusetts legislators are looking to give out drink spiking test kits to bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Law enforcement in the Boston-area has been sounding the alarm about numerous people reporting they were roofied at local bars. Police have warned people to use the buddy system, cover their drinks, and don’t leave their drinks unattended.

“Yet reports of these incidents persist, over and over again,” State Sen. Paul Feeney said from the State House during the budget debate.

“We’ve seen an alarming increase in drink spiking incidents at bars, nightclubs, concert venues and even house parties across the Commonwealth,” said Feeney, a Democrat from Foxboro.

He proposed a drink spiking prevention and awareness amendment called “Drink Spiking Tests Bulk Purchase Program and Awareness Campaign,” and the amendment passed the Senate this week.

The Senate amendment authorizes the bulk purchase of drink spiking test kits — which would be distributed to bars, restaurants, and nightlife establishments across the state.

“Get them out to venues, get them out to people that are going out to bars and restaurants, get them out to law enforcement, and hopefully make a difference,” Feeney said.

“We need to invest, and make sure that the resources are there for patrons, for venues and for our constituents,” he said, “For servers and for anybody that’s in this space where peoples’ lives are in jeopardy.”

The Senate amendment allocates $300,000 to the Department of Public Health’s Division of Sexual and Domestic Violence Prevention and Services to recommend prevention strategies to address drink spiking incidents.

DPH would be required to issue a report on its findings about drink spiking prevention by the end of the year.

Also, this amendment requires DPH to launch a public awareness campaign about the prevalence and danger of involuntary drink spiking.

During the Senate debate, Feeney emphasized that so many of these drink spiking incidents go unreported. He cited a viral TikTok post from a Mansfield resident, who talked about struggling to find care after she was allegedly roofied. Hospital workers wouldn’t test her for date rape drugs because she wasn’t sexually assaulted or raped.

When the victim isn’t tested for date rape drugs, then no report is made to law enforcement, Feeney said.

“Whoever did it and got away with it that night is probably going to be back the next night going after somebody else, or the next weekend, or the next weekend, or at another restaurant, another venue,” the senator said.

Police have been warning patrons about the dangerousness of scentless, colorless and tasteless drugs such as Rohypnol, also known as roofies, being placed in the drinks of unsuspecting victims.

Other drugs commonly used in a similar fashion are GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) or Ketamine. Police urge patrons to be vigilant and watch their beverage at all times.

As neo-Nazis make their presence known in Mass., new report suggests tools to fight back

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A new report from the Anti-Defamation League released Tuesday outlines what the organization says are critical steps officials in Massachusetts can take to combat a startling rise in white nationalist and neo-Nazi activity and hate crimes over the past two years.

Antisemitic incidents skyrocketed, white supremacists held more events, hate group propaganda efforts increased, and a local neo-Nazi group is growing rapidly from a Massachusetts-based infestation to a regional organization, the ADL said in its “Hate in the Bay State” report.

But Beacon Hill legislators have several tools before them this legislative session the ADL said can be utilized to fight back against a troubling trend residents have witnessed all across the state.

That includes passing bills creating civil remedies for targets of online hate, holding social media companies accountable for moderating hate on their platforms, and strengthening hate crime reporting among law enforcement.

Extremists have targeted Massachusetts with the intention to instill fear and intimidation “through their stunts, propaganda, and increasingly aggressive demonstrations,” said Peggy Shukur, interim regional director of ADL New England.

Their goal, Shukur told the Herald, is “to create a lot of noise, engage in something dramatic, get a lot of attention.” She pointed to the July 2022 Patriot Front march, where about 100 members of the white nationalist group walked through downtown Boston and across Boston Common.

“For the visit, in your face expression of their hate to say ‘you think you are so you know, so liberal … in Massachusetts, but we’re going to show you, we’re gonna use our rights of freedom of expression to march right across your sort of sacred Boston Common,” Shukur said. “It’s just a way for them to amplify their message without actually a lot of people.”

Over the past two years, the ADL reported a 41% rise in antisemitic incidents from 2021 to 2022, 34 white supremacist events, a 71% increase in white supremacist propaganda distributions, one extremist attack in Massachusetts, and 412 reported hate crimes.

Massachusetts had the sixth-highest number of reported antisemitic incidents in the country in 2022. That includes a July 2021 stabbing of a rabbi outside the Shaloh House Jewish Day School in Boston and multiple vandalism incidents involving swastikas.

The state also saw more public action from the Nationalist Social Club, or NSC-131, a neo-Nazi group led by Christoper Hood, a young white male who is embroiled in a lawsuit alleging violations of the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act.

Gov. Maura Healey said the report outlines what many Massachusetts residents experience every day.

“Organized hate exists here in Massachusetts,” Healey said in a statement provided by the ADL.

Among the ADL’s recommendations is a call to mandate that law enforcement agencies report “comprehensive hate crime data” on a quarterly basis. That also includes setting up a place to collect hate crime information and reports “voluntarily produced” by non-law enforcement groups.

Shukur said Massachusetts does a “fairly good job” reporting hate crimes to the FBI compared to other states.

“But at the same time, no state is doing a great job. There are entire major cities that don’t report at all” Shukur said. “Massachusetts, on the other hand, does a better job than most, but hate crimes are notoriously underreported.”

The organization also advocates for legislation that would add sex and gender as protected identity characteristics under the state’s hate crime statutes and a bill that would ensure “associational” hate crimes are covered under Massachusetts law, specifically when it comes to landlords and tenants.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell said the rise in extremism is a “chilling reminder” of the work officials and communities still have to do to combat hate and protect residents.

“My office is committed to standing up for marginalized communities that have been targeted and harmed by hate in all forms, and will use every resource we have available under the law to hold accountable those who make them feel unsafe,” Campbell said in a statement provided by the ADL.

Police regulators debate releasing partial list of disciplinary records for cops across Mass.

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State law enforcement regulators are debating releasing a partial list of sustained complaints against police officers, a move that would offer a first glimpse at thousands of disciplinary records for Massachusetts cops.

More than 4,000 submitted complaints covering incidents through Jan. 31 had enough evidence to support the allegations against the accused officer, the head of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission said Thursday morning.

It is the second time that the commission has asked police departments to hand over disciplinary records for review. During the first round earlier this year, more than 36,000 records streamed in, of which 12,000-plus were deemed “sustained.”

But the POST Commission went back to agencies in February and asked them to resubmit records because too many were either “not properly identified to the correct officer” or considered “not reportable,” the head of the agency, Enrique Zuniga, said.

Of the 3,984 sustained complaints now before the commission, Zuniga said agency officials will need to review 1,124 for errors like incorrect birthdays or misspelled names. That leaves roughly 2,800 sustained complaints Zuniga said could be released to the public.

The commission could rectify a majority of the errors in three to four weeks, but Zuniga said there is not a clear timeline for reviewing all of the pending complaints.

“Should POST release a partial list of records, those that have been validated?” Zuniga asked commissioners. “Or alternatively, should POST continue this effort until we’re comfortable that we have most records that are due from most agencies that have been validated?”

The timeline for releasing a disciplinary records database has long been a point of contention between police reform advocates, who have argued for a quick publication to ensure police accountability and transparency, and law enforcement, who have called for high levels of review to ensure accuracy.

And agency officials have said they are grappling with a massive pile of data and records that needs to be “validated” before it can be released to the public. Thirty-five law enforcement agencies have yet to resubmit their records to POST as of May 11.

Some members of the POST Commission argued against releasing a partial list.

“The concern in releasing partial data like that I think would be that it could create misconceptions about the nature of the disciplinary actions across the state,” Commissioner Dr. Hanya Bluestone said. “One suggestion I would make is to consider more of a middle ground perhaps and think of a percentile, maybe like the 95th percentile.”

Commissioner Marsha Kazarosian said one of the POST Commission’s objectives is transparency.

“I don’t see any reason for not going forward on the 3,000 that are validated,” she said. “I certainly see concern about the 1,000 that need more information, but I would support going forward with the validated, sustained complaints.”

Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn, also a commissioner, said he is “torn” on the matter.

“I’m mindful of the fact that if we go forward with the 3,000 we can create a disparity or inequity,” he said. “But it’s actually a disparity against the departments that are in compliance, those departments who made the deadline and got their stuff in [are] going to have their data published and those departments that didn’t comply are going to have an extra layer of protection.”

Zuniga said a final decision on releasing the partial batch of records would be pushed off until the next POST Commission meeting — which will likely be in the middle of June — to allow regulators more time to work through the 1,000-plus pending complaints.

“At the next meeting, if we have significantly different numbers between now and then, that could be a very different discussion or decision point,” he said.

Debate on releasing disciplinary records comes as the POST Commission is about to embark on recertifying the policing licenses of officers whose last names start with I through P.

Those officers are required to be recertified by July 1 and will receive notification of their status by Aug. 1.

Zuniga said the agency is expecting about 7,700 officers to fall into this batch of recertification, with 2,200 coming from the eight largest agencies in the state.

“We’re on track,” Zuniga said of meeting upcoming deadlines.

Joint Committee on Ways and Means convenes in Fitchburg, presents ‘opportunity’ for North Central Massachusetts

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FITCHBURG — As the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Ways and Means convened in the Legislative Building Tuesday, the second leg of a six-part trek around the state, state Sen. John Cronin sensed opportunity.

“An important conversation,” the meeting was part of the Committee’s continued effort to craft the state’s budget for fiscal 2024. But Cronin said that their time in the city represented something far greater: an invaluable experience for themselves and an “incredible opportunity” for the entire North Central region.

“We had the privilege to host the Joint Committee on Ways and Means and to hear testimony from some of the most important stakeholders in the state,” Cronin said. “And we’re fortunate to have had the opportunity to inject the perspective of the North Central region into that process as they craft a budget that reflects the values of the Commonwealth and can truly address challenges faced across Massachusetts every day.”

“Beyond the budget, I believe this was a great opportunity to highlight the community at large and members of the North Central delegation. Not just their growing influence in the Legislature, but their ability to accomplish so much for people here in the city and the North Central region,” he said.

An assembly that focused on budgetary items related to health and human services, the nearly five-hour session consisted of testimony from those aforementioned “important stakeholders.” Executive Office of Veterans’ Services Secretary Jon Santiago spoke, as did Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Mary Sheehan, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Commissioner Toni Wolf, Office of Refugees and Immigrants Executive Director Mary Truong and others.

Each agency present had the opportunity to question, clarify and voice concerns in regard to the budget as proposed by Gov. Maura Healey earlier this month. As he stressed the importance of those topics of discussion, Cronin praised the speakers as well as the Committee, which he referred to as “the most powerful in the legislature,” and said it was an “honor” to have led them on Tuesday.

“We received broad testimony from those on the ground in state government, those that deliver healthcare, deliver services to our veterans and monitor rising healthcare costs and the degradation of those services in rural and economically depressed areas of the state,” he said. “It’s an important conversation to have and one crucial to the Committee as we move forward with the budget.”

“There’s no more important sector for thoughtful focus than health and human services and we were absolutely grateful for the testimony received on Tuesday,” he said.

That said, Committee Chair Michael Rodrigues asked Cronin to lead the delegation Tuesday, alongside state Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, to “highlight needs and challenges faced by Gateway Cities.” With that in mind, Cronin reiterated the opportunity the Committee’s presence in Fitchburg represented not just for the city, but similar communities throughout Massachusetts.

“It’s important to bring people from across the state — policymakers, elected officials, commissioners — to North Central Massachusetts so that they can understand where we are, who we are and what we’re about,” Cronin said. “And it can make it easier for us, the North Central delegation, to advocate for our communities throughout the legislative session when members have a sort of shared experience and memories of being in your community.”

“The challenges of Fitchburg, Leominster and the region as a whole can be found almost everywhere and must be brought before those stakeholders so that they can truly understand those issues. And, through that understanding, we hope to shape policy in a way that would prove beneficial to everyone,” he said.

Mayor Stephen DiNatale and state Rep. Michael Kushmerek, who opened Tuesday’s hearing with remarks and thanks for the Committee, agreed. Kushmerek described Fitchburg as a “microcosm” of the entire state, while DiNatale, who served with the Legislature for nearly a decade, praised the Committee for their work and thanked them for their visit to the city.

“I truly believe that Fitchburg is a microcosm of the entire Commonwealth,” Kushmerek said. “You name it, Fitchburg has it — we represent the challenges of the Commonwealth but, also, the opportunities.”

“I’m just thrilled that you are here and thankful for the crucial work set to commence today and in the weeks ahead,” he said.

“Having spent nearly 10 years in the Legislature, I truly know the importance of what you handle every day,” DiNatale said. “This is a momentous occasion for [Fitchburg] — we’re proud that we were able to serve as host and thank you so much for the work you do for the Commonwealth and the people within the city of Fitchburg.”

With the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate set to review the budget in April and May, respectively, Cronin reiterated that Fitchburg and the entire North Central region, “poised for incredible economic growth,” presented a “tremendous opportunity” to the state and said hoped the Legislature would capitalize on that potential.

“We have an opportunity (in North Central Massachusetts),” Cronin said. “Our affordability, our cultural institutions, the incredible amenities and just the natural beauty of the area, we have the chance to foster growth in the local and regional economy in a way that would benefit everybody and create significant opportunities for people across the state.”

“This hearing was an opportunity for policymakers across the state to see that opportunity, to see our potential here — and I hope they seize it,” he said.

Mayor Stephen DiNatale among officials pushing for Chapter 90 boost

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Gov. Maura Healey checked off one long-unanswered priority for municipal leaders by proposing two years’ worth of road and bridge maintenance funding in a single bill, but after years of inflation, city and town leaders are worried the timeline change alone will not be enough.

A string of local officials and Massachusetts Municipal Association higher-ups urged lawmakers on Tuesday to take the annual Chapter 90 bond authorization bill Healey filed (H. 52) and bulk up its bottom line by at least 65%.

MMA Legislative Director Dave Koffman said state government has kept Chapter 90, the primary program used to reimburse municipalities for local road and bridge maintenance, at a $200 million-per-year allotment nearly every year since fiscal 2012. In the decade-plus since then, Koffman said, construction and maintenance costs have swelled nearly two-thirds, cutting the purchasing power of $200 million down to the equivalent of $68.6 million.

“I’m sure some of that’s not a surprise. We know it’s not unique to local government nor unique to transportation funding, but it’s an important part of this consideration as we think about trying to increase this to a more adequate level for cities and towns,” Koffman told the Transportation Committee. “We’re so thankful to the administration for filing this bill, but we at the MMA are going to be requesting to increase this to at least $330 million per year for the two years proposed by Governor Healey. Otherwise, cities and towns will continue to fall further behind each year.”

While Healey’s bill would authorize two years of bonds for the program, its $400 million in bonds would not change the annual amount from the level where it has sat almost every year since the Patrick administration.

According to data compiled by the MMA, state government tacked on $130 million in supplemental Chapter 90 dollars in fiscal 2015, $40 million in fiscal 2019 and $20 million in fiscal 2020, but otherwise has kept the program at $200 million every other year since fiscal 2012.

Last year, lawmakers and Gov. Charlie Baker supplemented the $200 million for Chapter 90 with an additional $150 million in grants for other transportation-related projects woven into the same bill, a fact Transportation Committee Co-chair Rep. Bill Straus highlighted on Tuesday.

After Athol Town Manager Shaun Suhoski told the panel about how the neighboring community of Orange effectively needed to use four years of its state road and bridge aid to pay for replacement of two bridges, Straus replied that the anecdote is “exactly why Chapter 90 is not your bridge program, or any other municipality’s.”

“It’s not your major project program, and we shouldn’t pretend that it can become that,” Straus said. “No municipality in my view should be in a position where it’s taking four years of its Chapter 90 allocation, for which there are regular day-to-day demands, to fund a bridge repair. That is why, imperfect it may be because of the dollar amounts, that is why you have seen the Legislature move to more project-specific grant programs as build-upon for Chapter 90.”

Much of the advocacy municipalities lobbed at lawmakers Tuesday came from people who traded jobs on Beacon Hill for positions in city or town halls.

Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur, who resigned from the House in 2019, told the committee, “We need more to do more. We need more to do status quo.”

Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale, who served nine years in the House, said his community has 180 miles of roadway and 47 bridges that need maintenance. The amount Fitchburg receives in Chapter 90 funding would “allow the city to pave one mile of road at three-inch grade and no sidewalk improvements,” he said.

“It doesn’t go far, does it, folks?” DiNatale said. “This is the principal reason our road-paving deficit falls further and further behind.”

The latest MMA survey of members found that cities and towns collectively need $715 million to bring all local roads into a state of good repair, Koffman said, noting that the state is not entirely responsible for addressing that gap.

Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, who represented the Healey administration at the hearing, said the $400 million bond authorization for two years “helps keep us at historical levels of this program.”

Municipal leaders frequently pushed then-Gov. Baker and lawmakers to advance multi-year allotments for the program to no success.

“This two-year approach, that is new to Chapter 90 this year proposed by the governor, is the result of many conversations with cities and towns across the commonwealth who have very clearly communicated that a two-year approach gives them more certainty in the program and more flexibility, which enables them to develop longer-term roadway maintenance programs,” Gulliver, who also served as highway administrator in the Baker administration, said.

Straus said at one point there is “much interest in the Legislature” in overhauling the formula used to distribute Chapter 90 funds to municipalities, though he did not offer details about what kind of changes lawmakers would pursue. He asked Gulliver if action this year would upend the two-year authorization.

Gulliver replied that the administration is prepared to provide any technical assistance needed to update the formula and that he would need to consult with other administration and finance officials about how to approach a possible “midpoint correction.”