By Michael Coughlin Jr.
Senator Lydia Edwards attended the latest Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association (JPNA) meeting last week and provided a legislative update to the attendees.
First, Edwards touched on some of the things that had been done in 2024, such as securing funding in the state budget for ferry services.
She indicated that the goal is to hopefully have year-round services by the 2025 fiscal year. “We also want to align the infrastructures in making sure people can pay for the ferry like they do for the T and getting the ability to pay directly with the CharlieCard and making sure that again, it’s year-round, that it’s more frequent and that you can pay with your CharlieCard,” said Edwards.
Additionally, Edwards highlighted the securement of an additional $10,000 for “each of the soup kitchens through the entire set of district.”
She also highlighted the third annual Latino Festival in the neighborhood, where she said they “essentially pre-pay and support a lot of our local businesses to come out and show off their businesses and their wares.”
Edwards also discussed the push to provide more mental health, substance use, and clinical recovery services for those who are facing housing insecurity. Specifically, $50,000 was given to the Crossroads Family Shelter.
“Crossroads is in East Boston and one of the few family-based shelters that we have in the state dedicated to keeping the family together,” she said.
As the presentation continued, Edwards spoke about some legislative wins. One big win that she said impacts residents of East Boston is the $5.2 billion Housing Bond Bill. Edwards indicated that this was the largest bond infrastructure bill for housing in the state’s history.
“It does everything, including helping us to produce more units throughout the state, helping us to bring down the cost of those units and increasing vouchers, first-time homeowner programs,” said Edwards.
“It also protects tenants and also assures that we not so much deregulate but at least get rid of a lot of the bureaucracy that’s in the way of helping to build on public land, which is one of our most underutilized resources throughout the state.”
Another part of the bill Edwards was proud of was the eviction record sealing, which she has worked on for the last six years.
“It gives a lot of people a second chance,” she said. “After the eviction, after the settlement, after they’re done with court, a person after a certain amount of time — four years if it’s non-payment — can petition to seal their record.”
Moreover, Edwards talked about the push for sustainable housing, $2 billion being set aside for public housing and deeply affordable units, and the creation of commissions for aspects such as senior housing.
“Our goal hopefully is to have a robust housing plan that’s five years that helps us get to the 220,000 units — not necessarily in five years — that we need to actually help fill in the hole that we have,” said Edwards.
Edwards also said she was very proud of the amendment she passed — an act promoting a foundation for universal childcare. She said the amendment ensures that local zoning ordinances do not “get in the way” of in-home child daycare.
“If you are licensed by the state and the state has seen your childcare and living situation and has basically said you’re good to go — you passed the building code by state standards — then you are good to go, and you shouldn’t be hampered down by local zoning,” said Edwards.
She indicated that this has created 300 new childcare spots in Revere. Later, Edwards talked about the recent climate bill that ensured the state was on target with its 2030 goals.
Edwards, who said she is on the EA shelters special commission, which deals with emergency shelter for all people, also addressed the migrant crisis and said they now have a better way of taking in individuals and supporting them in getting applications together for work permits.
“We are going to be dealing with this for a while, but I wanted you to know that we are committed to making sure that we are still a welcoming state,” said Edwards.
“Something we wanted to fight against — any notion that we should be cutting off a right-to-shelter in this state. That’s something I would radically oppose.”
Finally, Edwards highlighted the Economic Development Bond Bill, which removed a rule restricting liquor licenses to only United States citizens.
Following her presentation, Edwards opened the floor to questions and comments from those in attendance, which touched on topics such as the ferry and Mayor Michelle Wu’s Home Rule petition.
To learn more about the JPNA, visit its website at https://jeffriespoint.org/.