Letters to the Editor

Supports Ed Markey

Dear Editor,

As we get closer to Massachusetts’s Democratic Senate primary, we must consider what is on the line for Revere. The last few, trying months, our country and community have gone through make one fact clear: we are going to need bold, forward-thinking leadership that advocates for us. Leadership that Senator Ed Markey has given us time and time again.

To see how Senator Markey is fighting for Revere, let’s start by looking at the numbers. Senator Markey has a history of securing federal funding for Revere. Markey’s campaign estimates that Markey’s work in the senate has secured $815,332,261.98 in federal funding for our city. Let’s break down parts of that over $815 million: some of that funding is the $22.7 million that Markey secured for the Wonderland station, the $4 million that Markey secured for the Jack Satter House, or the $3,331,492.98 that Markey secured to improve telecommunications and internet access in Revere’s schools and libraries. This is not even taking into account the indirect ways Markey has brought funding to Revere, like in the form of federal funding for research to treat and cure Alzheimer’s Disease. Keeping Markey in the Senate will ensure that the Senator can continue to deliver for Revere.

Now, let’s consider Markey’s work on climate. The past few years’ flooding speaks for itself: our city has already been hit hard by climate change. Going forward, our city is only going to get hit harder as sea levels rise and the globe warms. If we don’t take action to mitigate climate change and make Revere more climate-resilient, entire parts of the city could become uninhabitable. Markey’s work in the Senate has been, and will be, key to mitigating climate change and making Revere climate resilient. Markey was one of the first legislators to push to mitigate climate change through the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Markey’s recent Green New Deal work carries the promise to keep climate change manageable, create green jobs, and send federal funding to Revere to build climate resilient infrastructure. Through his climate work, Senator Markey is key to keeping Revere above water.

The Senator is an asset for Revere, and folks who have their finger on the pulse of our politics know that. Suffolk County District Attorney Rachel Rollins, Representative Robert DeLeo, Representative RoseLee Vincent, and Mayor Brian Arrigo have all endorsed Senator Markey for re-election. When all of Revere’s state representatives and its mayor endorse Senator Markey, it is fair to assume something good is going on with our Senator.

As a community, we need to start investing in our future, and on September 1st we are deciding that future. We need leadership that ensures our concerns are not only listened to, but heard. For our family, friends, and community as a whole, we need to vote to re-elect Senator Ed Markey.

Minnah Sheikh

Ed Markey Has Delivered for Massachusetts Cities and Towns  

Dear Editor,  

In January of 1978, Mayor George Colella appointed me as Revere’s first director of the Department of Planning and Development.  I assembled a young staff, like me, eager to plan a better future for our City. Come February 6-8, everything changed, as all hell broke loose and the Great Blizzard of ’78 devasted our coastal community. We quickly turned for help to our freshman Congressman Ed Markey, he immediately went to work and boy did he deliver for Revere then…and ever since. Congressman Markey worked tirelessly to help Revere recover, over the next several years he secured over $22 Million in Federal funding for repair of damaged infrastructure, for construction of seawalls and major flood protection structures and for re-sanding of washed away Revere Beach. He didn’t stop there, in the ensuing years he fought to secure multi-millions of dollars in federal grants and appropriations for: major job-generating development projects; park improvements and programs; sewer system upgrades and moderate-income home improvements. And he was also responsible for passage of the Act of Congress that designated Revere Beach as a National Historic Landmark.

As United States Senator, Ed Markey continued his fight for Revere’s efforts to revitalize Revere Beach. He is responsible for the City being awarded nearly $50 Million in federal appropriations and competitive grants that made possible the replacement of outmoded Wonderland Station with a new multi-modal transit facility and an open public plaza and iconic pedestrian bridge that safely link Revere Beach and the blue Line. This public investment in turn has generated nearly a billion dollars in private investment in quality housing units, hotel development, and restaurants that constitute the realization of Revere’s decades long dream for rebirth of America’s First Public Beach.

All told, Ed Markey has channeled nearly $94 Million in federal resources to help the people of Revere, including a $4 million Clean Energy Grant for the Jack Satter House senior housing complex.

I know firsthand how Ed Markey, as both Congressman and Senator, has worked tirelessly to address the needs and achieve the dreams of many other Massachusetts communities, one such example being the Winthrop Town Pier and ferry service.

Ed Markey has proven his work ethic and his love of Massachusetts completely and consistently. Why would we want to replace him and his considerable seniority and knowledge of the federal system with a rookie… just when the Senate may well return to Democratic control? I just don’t get Joe Kennedy on this one. Massachusetts needs Ed Markey now more than ever.

Paul Rupp

Supports Gravellese for State Rep.

Dear Editor,

As the only Democratic State Committee member from Revere, and a longtime advocate for local government that is inclusive and transparent, I urge you to vote for Joe Gravellese for State Representative in the 16th Suffolk District.

Joe has run a transparent, refreshing campaign that is focused on the important issues we face, and has clear priorities about how he will fight for us, like pre-K for all students, making vocational education and community college more readily available, fighting for concrete steps to make our environment healthier, and working to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

Joe has also run a campaign that is inclusive, and is getting new residents, immigrants, and young people involved in his efforts. All across the district, voters appreciate that Joe isn’t just trying to appeal to business as usual – he wants to get more people involved and bring new perspectives to our local government.

Joe’s tenacity and work ethic helped make Revere a better place during his time working in the Mayor’s office, as his efforts helped create the Substance Use Disorder Initiatives office, the 311 constituent service center, and the re-formed Commission on Disabilities. We would be fortunate to put Joe to work for the people of Revere, Chelsea, and Saugus, and I urge you to support him on September 1. 

Juan Pablo Jaramillo

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