Last Friday Rep. Adrian Madaro formally announced his intentions to run for reelection for his state representative seat serving the 1st Suffolk District.
Madaro pulled papers last week and hopes to win and serve a fourth term as East Boston’s State Representative.
“I’m thrilled to officially announce that I’m running for re-election for State Representative of the 1st Suffolk District! I absolutely love my job,” said Madaro. “Serving the residents of East Boston is the greatest honor of my life, and I hope to be able to continue to build on our work together to create a better neighborhood for all. I humbly ask for your support. Thank you.”
Madaro is a first-generation American and lifelong Eastie resident.
“Growing up in a family of activists, I frequently attended community meetings, events, and rallies, developing a profound sense of civic duty,” said Madaro.
Madaro said he was first introduced to the government as a student at Boston Latin School when he interned at Boston City Hall, and his interest in public service was solidified during a college internship on Capitol Hill.
“After graduating from Tufts University, I worked as the legislative aide and later chief of staff to the previous East Boston State Representative, Carlo Basile,” said Madaro. “While working for Rep. Basile, I continued my studies at Tufts University part-time, obtaining a master’s degree in urban and environmental policy and planning.”
In 2015, Madaro succeeded Rep. Basile as Eastie’s State Representative, and is now serving his third term after being re-elected in 2018.
“The First Suffolk District that I represent is unique, as the only district in Boston that encompasses just one neighborhood,” he said.
Madaro said since being elected to office he’s worked with residents, business owners and neighborhood leaders to draft legislation, advocate for policies, and solve challenges that his constituents are facing.
This past legislative session Madaro was effective in earmarking state funding for several Eastie organizations and initiatives.
“I was able to partner with the Friends of the East Boston Greenway to deliver a $100,000 budget amendment for an engineering, environmental and feasibility study to extend the East Boston Greenway past Constitution Beach to Belle Isle Marsh.” said Madaro.
Madaro also secured $50,000 in the House Budget to help Piers Park Sailing Center continue to provide funding to the popular youth program.
“Piers Park Sailing Center is a great program for youth during the summer and afterschool,” said Madaro. “As an alum of the program it was really one of the only ways my friends and I had access to the Boston Harbor. While the program gets hundreds of kids out on the water every year it also has numerous programs for seniors and people with disabilities.”
Madaro highlighted a $45,000 earmark for Crossroads Family Shelter that provides transitional housing for homeless women and children.
“Clearly it’s not enough to just provide housing for women and children that are homeless,” said Madaro. “It is also crucial that we empower these women and provide them with the skills and the tools they need to keep a roof over their heads.”
The $45,000 will go towards helping Crossroads continue to operate a workforce development and educational program for women.
For the East Boston Social Centers Madaro was able to secure $50,000 for Eastie’s oldest social service agency that provides low cost early childhood education for neighborhood families.
The $50,000 will be used to help relocate one of the Social Centers daycare sites that was displaced by the rehabilitation of the Orient Heights Housing Development.
“The rehabilitation of the Orient Heights Housing Development is a great project, but it did present some challenges,” said Madaro. “One of those challengers was finding a new home for the Social Centers’ daycare facility–a place many working families relied on daily. This funding will make sure that support for this program continues uninterrupted.”
Madaro also secured $25,000 for Youth Connect. This program provides mental health and diversion services for high-risk youth through a dedicated social worker at the East Boston Police Station.
“Our police are great, but they’re not social workers,” said Madaro. “This program helps get youth on the right track and addresses underlying causes, like drugs, crime, and gang activity.”
Another Madaro amendment for public safety added another $1 million to the already $10 million in approved state funding for the Shannon Grant program.
“Shannon Grant is a series of grants directed to community programs to address gang and youth violence issues,” said Madaro. “It has become one of the most-vital and effective tools by engaging communities, nonprofits, and police to divert East Boston youth away from gangs and into more productive activities.”
Madaro also said state funding will be helping fund more beat cops in Eastie through community policing grants. This money will ensure more police are walking around the neighborhood in more busy areas like squares and business districts.
Another $250,000 in public safety money will go to funding a dedicated State Trooper(s) that will patrol Constitution Beach during the busy summer months.
Madaro also secured $75,000 in funding to run a job readiness program at East Boston High School, as well as another $75,000 for a Museum of Science engineering education program at Eastie’s elementary schools.