Category: Holyoke

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October 4th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello all, 

October is upon us! It is truly crazy how quickly we have been flung into fall and I can’t believe winter is around the corner. I had a number of different meetings and tours this week and also have information regarding the budget to share.  

This week I was proud to sign on to a letter with my Western Massachusetts Colleagues urging Governor Baker to nominate a jurist from Western Mass to one of the two vacant seats on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. There is currently no representation from our region on the Court and it was imperative that they have all perspectives and experiences at the table on our highest State Court. I can also announce today that the first public hearing for the Holyoke Soldiers Legislative Oversight Committee is going to be scheduled for the later part of this month. This first hearing will be an important opportunity for families to speak directly to the committee and this past Sunday I had a meeting with some of my colleagues to go over planning and logistics 

On Monday I had an introductory call with Kevin McCaffery from the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce and later had a meeting with Representative Vega and Holyoke Community College President Royal. We discussed a number of different K-12 related initiatives related to HCC including child-care, early college, and dual enrollment options. Our local colleges are so important to our communities and I always love getting involved. Tuesday afternoon, I joined Westfield State University President Roy Saigo to welcome students back to campus and also take a tour of some of their facilities. 

Also on Tuesday, I held a listening session for constituents who are concerned about the pending merger of Farren Health Center in Montague and Mount Saint Vincent in Holyoke. There are real and tangible concerns about this type of change during this pandemic and I am grateful to have had these conversations. Later in the week, my office participated in the Department of Public Health’s hearing on this issue, where we brought up these concerns and advocated for our constituents. I hope that this move can be held off until after the pandemic, and my office will continue working and communicating with residents and families. 

I began Wednesday with a tour of Savage Arms and a in-depth conversation with CEO Al Kasper. Among many things, we talked extensively about workforce development and how we can provide options for the next generation to get into trades and manufacturing.  As assistant vice-chair on the Labor and Workforce Development committee, this topic truly resonates with me. We need to do a better job of teaching students about all the professional opportunities they have and connect them with the resources to succeed. Later on Wednesday, I headed down to the State Police Academy in New Braintree. Col. Mason had invited members of the legislature down to learn about the different types of training and programming that recruits go through. We were walked through de-escalation techniques and use of force defensive tactics, and engaged in productive discussions about policies and trainings. It was an incredibly informative and eye-opening day and I’m grateful to have been a part of it. 

Thursday brought with it a lot of budget information and I had a long virtual caucus with legislative colleagues about the state of the budget. I am glad to report that we are closing out Fiscal Year 2020 without having had to dip into any of our state’s “rainy day fund”, but that does not mean that Fiscal Year 2021 will be the same way. Mitigating and preventing painful cuts will be a huge part of our work in the FY21 budget, as we work through these difficult economic times. Next Tuesday, the Ways and Means committee will be hosting a economic round table for the Senate which will result in a new consensus revenue number that that will be the basis of  the actual budgeting numbers process. The big unknown is whether or not there will be any federal relief. While there is still an outside chance of that happening, we simply have to keep moving forward on the state level as best we can. There will really be no end to our budgeting work because as soon as we finish the budget for FY21, we will immediately begin work on FY22. These two budget years are structurally intertwined in a way that we really haven’t seen before which means that a lot of work from the FY21 budget is going to carry into the FY22 budget. I have been meeting with groups that depend on state funding all over the district and know how important this budget will be for organizations during this pandemic. I will keep you all updated on the process as it continues.  

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

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September 27th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello Everyone,  

I hope you all had a great week. I have some updates regarding PFAS, Climate Project Grants, and RMV services to share this week, in addition to sharing about some meetings I had.  

This past Thursday, the Department of Environmental Protection announced new regulations to protect our drinking water from PFAS with the biggest change being a new Maximum Containment Level of 20 ppt per the sum of 6 compounds. This new level provides a much higher degree of protection compared to the previous guidance of 70 ppt and Public Water Systems will have to begin quarterly sampling for PFAS in 2021. This is such an important change; one that has been truly years in the making. Westfield was selected along with nine other communities to receive a $200,000 grant to continue their research and engineering on completely removing PFAS contamination from our water systems. As Westfield’s State Rep., I worked closely with City Councilor Kristen Mello and other community members to bring our concerns to the State’s attention. After hard work from all involved, I’m ecstatic that action like this is finally taking place. The ultimate goal is to have water completely free of PFAS.  These new regulations and funding are important steps towards that goal and in the meantime help to protect our communities and our health.  

Earlier this month, the RMV announced special hours for those 74 and older to renew their licenses in person. While this is an excellent initiative, the lack of currently open locations in Western Massachusetts means that many residents are unable to access these special hours. Last week, I joined many of my Western Mass. legislative colleagues in writing a letter to Secretary Pollack of MassDOT expressing concerns and requesting that the RMV locations in Greenfield and Easthampton be reopened.  Our letter pointed out many of the transportation issues that exist with current locations and stressed the importance of extending senior hours to Western Mass. residents. This week, MassDOT announced that the Greenfield RMV location will be reopening on October 13th, with dedicated Senior Service hours on Wednesdays. While this is no doubt an improvement, I am disappointed that Easthampton was not included, and am going to continue to work with my colleagues on this issue. If you are ever experiencing difficulties with the RMV, whether it be getting a license or even just getting in contact with someone, please reach out to my office. We will place an inquiry, and have been highly successful at resolving issues. 

Last week it was also announced that the State would be providing climate resiliency grants to cities and towns through the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program. The goal of this program is to identify climate hazards, develop strategies to improve resilience, and implement action to adapt to climate change. Several communities in the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire received grants. Holyoke received a $135,000 grant for their Urban Forest Equity Plan. Easthampton received a $175,000 grant for Green Infrastructure and Resiliency Design for the City’s Cherry Street Project. Agawam received a $216,000 grant for their Stormwater Master Plan. Granville also received a $27,000 grant for further Climate Change planning. It’s critical that we continue to address climate hazards that arise and these funds will go a long way in helping our communities invest in that work.  

This past Tuesday evening, I had a meeting with the Russell Board of Selectman to discuss the Woronoco Bridge project. I look forward to continued conversations as I learn more about how I can best assist with this project as well as others in the town.  

Wednesday was a day full of virtual meetings for me.  I began with a Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus Meeting where I discussed some of the district specific issues we are facing with my legislative colleagues.  Later that afternoon, Representative Dan Carey and I hosted a virtual discussion and briefing on Adult Day Programs in Western Mass with many of our legislative colleagues in attendance.  We had quite a few groups join us, including Riverside Industries, Valley Educational Associates, and Sunshine Village.  It was eye-opening to hear of some of the challenges they have faced as a result of  COVID-19 and it is clear that many are struggling during these difficult financial times.  I’m grateful for their work in our communities and I will continue to work to help them respond and recover. Later that afternoon, I had a legislative call with Senator-Elect Adam Gomez and local restaurant owners where we discussed Sports Gambling legislation and its possible impacts on our businesses and communities.  

On Thursday I joined the Department of Veterans Services, the architecture firm Payette, and various veteran organizations for a zoom call discussing the plans for a new Holyoke Soldiers Home. It is critical that the input of veterans organizations and community members who know the home well is taken into account. Payette is looking for more input from the community and if anyone is interested in completing a survey in regards to what the new Home should provide, please reach out to my office.  

Friday my staff joined the Easthampton Council on Aging to hand out lunches to residents who came by. Later that afternoon I had my bi-weekly meeting with President Royal of Holyoke Community College, where we discussed how the start of classes has been going. On Saturday, I joined community members and volunteers to spend some time cleaning up the Westfield River. It’s always encouraging to see so many of our community out working together and it always feels good to get outside and make a tangible impact on our natural surroundings.   

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

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September 20th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello all,

This week was the start of school for many in our district and I hope all students had a great first week. We are all so thankful for our teachers, who have adapted in so many different ways, and for all the staff behind the scenes who have been working so hard to welcome our students back.

I thought I would share some updates on the Commonwealth’s budget process this week. As some of you may know, the legislature did not pass a full fiscal-year budget this past summer as usual; instead opting for a interim budget that carries us through October. One reason for this is because we did not know how the federal government was going to act or what their budget was going to look like. As much our budget is based off what we receive from the federal government, this lack of federal action has made handling our state budget difficult.  Furthermore, since the income tax deadline was extended from March 15 to July 15, final tax revenues were delayed, and it would’ve been hard to do a budget without knowing our total revenue. All this being said, we are still working hard on a full fiscal-year budget that will take us from November through the end of July. With groups and entities being asked to do more with less, this year more than ever Senators and Representatives are going to have to work extremely hard to make sure their districts get what they need.

October will be a crucial month for budget deliberation, and my job will be to meet with as many stakeholders out there as possible so that I can learn more about their needs and advocate for them. I have no doubt that this coming month will be one of the busiest I have ever had in elected office as I work to ensure that Westfield and the other 10 cities and towns in our [C(1] district get their fair share in the budget. This work has really already started, as this past Wednesday I met with Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues to talk about the budget, our districts needs, and the priorities I have for this year.

On Wednesday, I also had an in-depth meeting with Tapestry Health in Holyoke. I currently sit on the Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Joint Committee in the legislature and it’s crucial for me to get out and see the actual work taking place on the ground. In addition to running our local rapid COVID-19 testing site in Agawam, Tapestry has a huge impact on those dealing with mental health and substance use and we need to continue to support those in our community who are facing these issues.

Tuesday morning, I joined Southwick’s Council on Aging to talk with seniors as part of their “Tuesday Talks” with elected officials. It was great to have a chance to talk to directly to constituents about what’s on their minds, and explain a little bit about my work.

At the end of our Senate session this past Thursday, I was honored to put forth a motion to adjourn in memory of long-time Holyoke resident Marty Dunn. Marty was a former Mayor of Holyoke, a former State Senator from the Hampden and Hampshire district, and an incredible community leader. He taught me so much about Holyoke and beyond. His kindness and generosity were known far and wide. I will miss him greatly and am proud I could put forth this motion in his honor.

Earlier Thursday morning, I joined the Holyoke Taxpayers Association virtually for their annual meeting where it was great to see some new and friendly faces. During lunchtime, I headed over to the Westfield Senior Center to join the Council on Aging and the Westfield Police Department to  hand out some drive-by lunches to residents. We handed out over 180 lunches, all while wearing purple to honor World Alzheimer’s month this September. I had some great conversations, and can’t thank the WPD and the COA enough for all that they do. After some work in the office, I had a walking meeting with Rebecca Hart regarding the Westfield Food Pantry. They’re applying for a grant for a mobile food truck and it was great to hear about the expansion! I wrapped up my day by joining Westfield State’s Annual Foundation Meeting to talk about some of the great work the they do for our students.

This past Friday was National Prisoners of War/Missing Action (POW/MIA) Recognition day. We must always remember and recognize the sacrifices of those in our military who were Prisoners of War and those who are still missing to those day. Their service to our nation will never be forgotten and we must never cease our search for all those who remain missing.  Wednesday evening, I attended a MIA/POW Candlelight Ceremony at Pine Hill Cemetery Chapel in Westfield where I gave our service members and their families my thoughts and prayers.

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,

John C. Velis

Senator Velis at the Westfield Senior Center on Thursday with the Westfield Police Department and Westfield Council on Aging. They handed out over 180 lunches and wore purple in honor of World Alzheimer’s Month
Senator Velis at the Southwick Senior Center on Tuesday for their “Tuesday Talks with Elected Officials”
Adjournment order for Martin J. Dunn of Holyoke, Senate Session 9/17/2020
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September 13th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello everyone, 

I hope you all had a great week, and were able to enjoy the long weekend a little bit. I have some updates regarding unemployment assistance, COVID-19 testing, and some events from this week, but first I want to acknowledge the 19th anniversary of 9/11 this past Friday. 

September 11th, 2001, will forever be engrained in my mind, as I remember all those that lost their lives that day, including those from our own Westfield community; Brian Murphy, Tara Shea Creamer and Daniel Trant. The atrocious terrorist acts of 9/11 changed our country forever. Through tragic loss, we saw how truly selfless and brave our first responders were, as they ran towards danger that morning and not away from it. And we saw the courage of all Americans in the days following. We must always stand together against acts of evil and hate, and never forget the day we lost so many. I spent Friday morning with the Westfield Fire Department for their annual ceremony of reflection and remembrance in honor of first responders. I then joined other elected officials and the families of Westfield Natives who fell victim to the attacks for a Wreath laying at the 9/11 Monument on North Elm Street.  

Two years ago, while I was deployed in Afghanistan, I participated in a 9/11 remembrance ceremony in Kabul, not far from where the attacks were planned. Soldiers and marines of all ages gathered, and all understood the importance and meaning of why we were there. It was one of the most moving experiences I can remember. To see some of the younger soldiers have tears in their eyes for events that occurred before they were alive, or when they were just a very young child, is something that I will never forget. To this day we still have men and women in harms way in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and we must never forget their sacrifices and service as well.  

Senator Velis speaking at the 9/11 ceremony in Westfield

A few weeks ago, Massachusetts was approved for grant funding to pay an additional weekly unemployment benefit to claimants under the Federal Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program for the 3 weeks ending 8/1, 8/8, and 8/15. I am now happy to report that we have also been approved for the weeks ending 8/22, and 8/29! An additional application for a 6th week of 9/5 is currently being reviewed as well. While we are still waiting on a long-term package from the Federal Government, this funding will provide $300 a week to those who were eligible. No action is needed, and payments are expected to be in claimants bank accounts around 9/15/2020. 

The State’s Stop-The-Spread COVID-19 testing has been expanded in Holyoke. In addition to testing at Holyoke Community College, free testing is now offered at Holyoke Veterans Benefits Dept., in the parking lot across from 310 Appleton St. Walkup testing is available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2-6PM. You may contact 413-322-5595 with questions. 

On Monday, I went over to Springfield City Hall for a rally put on by the Western mass affiliate of the AFL-CIO. The action was part of a statewide Labor Day mobilization that demanded a recovery to our economy that works for the working class. I was proud to stand with so many union members, and was joined by co-legislators Rep. Aaron Vega, Sen. Jo Comerford, and Sen. Elect Adam Gomez. We need to make sure our economic recovery focuses on the working class, those who have been contributing and providing for our communities since day one.  

Tuesday morning began with a meeting with Western Mass Housing First, where my staff and I received an update on Homelessness in Western Mass. Later that day I went over to the Easthampton Community Center for a tour. The community center has provided food, including fresh vegetables, to so many community members prior to COVID-19, but has really stepped up during this pandemic. I wrapped up my day by having an extensive zoom meeting discussion with constituents. I always want to hear what’s on peoples minds, and speaking directly with constituents is my favorite part of the job!  

On Wednesday morning, I drove over to Easthampton to meet with Chief Norris and the Easthampton Fire Department. They showed me their operation, and even took me up in the 100 foot ladder truck! After this, I headed over to the Holyoke Senior Center to help hand out some Grab and Go Lunches to constituents. Later that afternoon I had a very informative meeting with Holyoke City Councilor Terry Murphy regarding housing subsidies. I want to highlight Caden, a sophomore at WHS who shadowed me for part of Wednesday. Caden was enthusiastic and very helpful, and it was great to have him along. I can’t wait to see what he goes on to do! 

Senator Velis with the Easthampton Fire Department on Wednesday

Thursday was a day full of meetings for me! I met with Westfield City Councilor Kristen Mello to receive a PFAS update and discuss some possible legislative options moving forward. Afterwards, staff and I joined the Hilltown Domestic Violence Task Force for their monthly meeting, where I found out more about their work. In the later afternoon, I had a meeting with some of the leadership team at Providence Behavioral Health, where we discussed the different services they provided and how they are transitioning during this time. I wrapped up my afternoon with a Zoom Forum hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Payette (the architecture firm tapped for the Holyoke Soldiers Home project). The firm is still in the initial planning phase of the project, and I shared a lot of input on what I’ve been hearing from residents, families, and staff about how they want the new home to look. I think it’s crucial that this project accounts for those who will be relying on the Home in the future, and understands the needs of the next generation of Veterans, so that we have a facility that is sustainable for years to come.  

Later Friday afternoon, I joined One Holyoke CDC and the Food Bank of Western Mass to help out with some food distribution and census collection efforts. I finished my day by helping out at a Drive-In Movie showing in Southwick that is helping the Southwick Civic Fund and the Wick 338  fundraise for a future Veteran’s memorial.  

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

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September 6th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello everyone! 

I feel like I was all over the district this week for different events and meetings, both in-person and virtually, as I continue to hear from people in our communities. COVID-19 has affected our lives in so many different ways, and the economic and public health challenges we face moving forward are clear. One area that I don’t think is being talked about enough is the effect this pandemic has had on mental health and those struggling with substance use disorders. These are issues we cannot ignore, and I believe this pandemic has put even more pressure on those struggling with mental health and addiction. That is why in the coming weeks, I will be putting together a group of relevant stakeholders and health experts, to hold conversations about these issues and discuss how we can help those struggling in our communities moving forward. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to me.  

I began my Monday by having a meeting over phone with Lynn Clark, the Superintendent of Schools in Chicopee. Chicopee will begin school in a hybrid model starting on September 15th, and we will be monitoring all school systems in our district as the year begins. Shortly after this call, my staff and I had a very informative meeting with the MassDOT Highway Division. We went over a number of projects that are being planned around our district, including the Route 10/202 (Southwick Rd.) bridge replacement project in Westfield. This project will realign Southwick Rd/South Maple St. to provide a softer curve and improve the intersections of City View and Mill, and will include Northbound left turn lanes and buffered bike lines. I will keep pushing for these projects in our district that will greatly improve quality of life for our residents. I wrapped up my Monday by having a meeting with ROCA, a non-profit organization that focuses on helping high-risk young men and young mothers in our communities through a 4 year intervention model. They focus on outreach and building relationships with young people, and help them get the resources they need to maintain jobs and stay out of dangerous situations. 

Tuesday morning I headed over to the 104th Fighter Wing to meet with Mayor Humason and Wing Commander Col. William T. Bladen. As the third largest employer for our local economy I look forward to these continued conversations, as it is vital we keep our jobs growing. Later Tuesday afternoon, I had a meeting with John Bowen of the Westfield Planning Board, where a lot of our focus was on the Westfield Bike and Levee Project.  

Wednesday was all Agawam! I began the day by having a meeting with the Agawam Housing Authority, where I learned more about the different residencies in Agawam and all the different resources they provide. I then joined the Agawam Council on Aging at the Senior Center to pass out lunches to constituents who came by. Later that afternoon, I had an introductory meeting with Peter Carmichael from Six Flags New England about the current state of affairs for the park and how their employees are doing, many of whom reside in Agawam and all over our district. 

I began Thursday morning with some coffee with constituents at Circuit Coffee in Westfield. Speaking directly to constituents, and hearing what is on their mind is my favorite part of the job, and I pride my office on being as accessible as possible to you all. Shortly after, I headed over to Easthampton to tour and talk to some local businesses alongside City Councilor Owen Zaret. We started off at Tandem Bagel Company, and hit a bunch of businesses on Cottage Street, including Wedge Works Art & Home and The Water’s Fine Goods and Coffee. I fully understand the decimating impact that COVID-19 has had on our economy, and I will continue to talk to small businesses and help wherever I can. I’m grateful to Council Zaret for showing me around, and we stopped by the Easthampton Fire Department to talk with Chief Norris as well. I finished the day in Westfield, where I met with some more constituents, MassDOT, and City Officials to continue to listen in on the conversations surrounding the Westfield Bike and Levee Project.  

Friday Morning started with a meeting with Western Mass Housing first, and other local community partners, where we discussed housing and food insecurity issues in our communities. Shortly after this meeting, I joined State Representative Aaron Vega for lunch at the Crave Food Truck in Holyoke. Rep. Vega will be finishing up his time in the legislature this session, and while I will deeply miss our collaboration, I know that our friendship will continue on. Post lunch, Rep. Vega and I met with Damien Cote, Holyoke’s Building Commissioner to discuss building regulations and legislation. I then drove over to Granville, where I was proud to present a Senate Citation to Cooley Buy, and her company for their new business opening! Their new store at 66 Granby Road is a renovation of an old barn, and promotes local artists work such as pottery, woodworking, textiles, and glasswork. I encourage you all to check them out.  

While this week was busy traveling across the district, I was able to pause for a moment to pay my respects and express my condolences to the loved ones of two incredible members of the Westfield community that we lost this week, Brian Hoose and John Knapik. Their dedication and advocacy to our community was known far and wide, and they will be greatly missed. 

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or phone: (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com. 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

Senator Velis with Easthampton City Councilor Owen Zaret and Fire Chief Norris
Senator Velis visiting The Water’s Fine Goods & Coffee in Easthampton
Cooley & Company, a new store showcasing local artists work at 66 Granby Rd. in Granville
Senator Velis presenting Cooley Buy of Cooley & Company, with a Senate citation celebrating the opening

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August 30th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Happy end of August! 

It feels very strange to be at the end of summer, but here we are. This week was full of meetings and events in the district, with some important COVID and unemployment updates as well. 

I started off Monday morning by having a virtual meeting with Riverside Industries, who provides individualized skill development and employment options for adults living with developmental disabilities. Later that afternoon, I had calls with Dr. Vazquez Matos, Holyoke’s Superintendent, and Jen Willard, Southwick/Tolland/Granville Regional’s Superintendent to talk about their reopening plans. I will continue working with administration, teachers, and families moving forward as the school year begins. I wrapped up Monday by meeting with Baystate Health and Mike Knapik. I have been able to secure funding earmarks for Baystate over the past several years, and it was great to discuss some of the good work that has come about as a result.  

Tuesday afternoon, I was in Russell at the Senior Center and Town Hall where I passed out lunches and talked to residents about the things that are on their minds. Many thanks to Russell’s Council on Aging for organizing these lunches, which will be continued in September on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. Make sure to reach out to 413-862-6205 to reserve a lunch! I am always trying to get out and meet with constituents whenever possible, and was able to attend a Zoom Meeting with Southwick residents of the Lake Management Committee on Thursday to hear about their work with Congamond Lake. 

On Wednesday morning, I had the pleasure of attending the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of Runway 15-33 at Barnes Regional Airport. The reconstruction work was completed on-time and under budget, thanks to federal, state and local funding sources. These types of projects are great for the airport, and for our community, and I’m happy I could be a part! Later that afternoon, I had a meeting with Mayor Sapelli of Agawam. We discussed a number of issues, and went over to the Agawam Fire Department to go over some of their specific needs as a department. 

Thursday was one of the most eye-opening days I can remember of recent. I woke up early to join the Violent Fugitive Apprehension West Unit (VFAS) of the State Police for a ride-along. The VFAS Unit handles some of the most dangerous and complex criminal investigations in our state, which on this day, involved pursuing a major drug distributer in Holyoke among other things. Seeing the officers in action, and learning about how they plan and carry out these comprehensive investigations, was an incredible experience, and one I will not forget.  

Friday Morning, I had an extensive meeting with Secretary of Veterans Services Cheryl Poppe at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Secretary Poppe was recently appointed by Governor Baker, and we had a in-depth conversation on funding levels for the Home, and how the Home will look moving forward. My office has requested enormous amounts of data and records so that we can do a deep dive into how the Home can improve, and I will continue to advocate for the needs of residents and staff wherever possible. Later Friday afternoon, I had my bi-weekly meeting with the administration of Holyoke Community College, where we talked about the fall and how the school is adapting its plans.  

This week, the Commonwealth’s Stop-The-Spread COVID-19 free testing initiative was expanded to Holyoke. The testing will be done by Drive-Through at Holyoke Community College, with no appointment needed. You do not have to be a resident of Holyoke, or have any symptoms of COVID-19 to get a test. The site will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7-11AM, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-7PM. You can contact (413) 322-5595 with questions, or you can reach out to my office.  

This State also announced this week that Massachusetts has been approved by FEMA to receive grant funding for the federal Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program. This grant will fund an additional $300 weekly unemployment benefit to those who were eligible for unemployment and made claims for the weeks ending 8/1/20, 8/8/20, and 8/15/20. Eligible claimants currently receiving benefits do not need to take any action, and the State anticipates the funds will be delivered automatically to claimants by 9/15/20. 

As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or phone: (413) 572-3920. Additionally, my new website: senatorjohnvelis.com is being updated each day! 

Sincerely,  

John C. Velis 

Senator Velis in Russell with constituents
Ribbon cutting ceremony for runway 15-33 at Barnes Regional Airport
Senator Velis speaking at ribbon cutting ceremony at Barnes Regional Airport

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Sheriff’s office, partners to hand out 2,000 filled backpacks to schoolchildren

August 20, 2020 – Daily Hampshire Gazette – Michael Connors

LUDLOW — As students across Holyoke prepare for a new school year, the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative will be handing out 2,000 backpacks filled with supplies to the city’s schoolchildren.

Unable to distribute the supplies at its traditional back-to-school event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative will instead hold 11 individual “grab-and-go” events at schools across Holyoke beginning this week and lasting until school begins in September. Dates and times for those events will be communicated to families by the individual schools as they are finalized, said Edward Caisse of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, the director of the Holyoke Safe Neighborhood Initiative, which is overseen by the sheriff’s department.

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State Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, said that the supplies in the backpacks are “absolutely critical.”

“This right here, these books, these backpacks, this education, this is the key — this is the foundation to everything,” Velis said. “If you have an educated population … anything is possible.”

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Governor takes 1st step to renovate and expand Holyoke Soldiers’ Home: Calls for expedited planning and building

August 17, 2020 – MassLive – Jeanette DeForge

HOLYOKE – The state announced it has hired a Boston-based architecture firm to conduct a fast-tracked assessment that will be the first step in renovating or expanding the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

Payette, of Boston has been awarded a contract for the first phase of what is being called the “expedited capital project to reimagine the future of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke.” The firm was given 12 weeks to complete a needs assessment and meet with stakeholders to discuss the improvements, according to a statement from Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.

The company has been charged with identifying a “sustainable, public health-centered, implementation roadmap to provide significant upgrades to the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home,” the statement said.

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State Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, who has been a strong veterans advocate, applauded the decision to move forward with the plans and said he supported the idea of hiring Payette because of the firm’s experience with the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home.

“We need to make sure that there are appropriate infection control strategies in place for the rest of this pandemic,” he said. “We also need to make sure there are enough beds, resources and accomodations for the growing veteran population that will rely on the home years down the road.”

He called for the study to also look at what will be the needs of future generations of veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“In order for the home to be sustainable for years to come, the needs assessment has to be wide-ranging and comprehensive so that our veterans get the quality of care they deserve,” Velis said.

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Velis secures $7.5 million for district roads

July 18, 2020 – The Westfield News – Hope E. Tremblay

BOSTON – Funding for Westfield, Southwick and surrounding communities was included in a $17 billion borrowing bill approved July 16 by the Sente for transportation and infrastructure improvements.

State Sen. John C. Velis, D-Westfield, helped secure $7.5 million for transportation projects in the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District, which is comprised of Agawam, Easthampton, Granville, Holyoke, Montgomery, Russell, Southampton, Southwick, Tolland, Westfield and part of Chicopee.

“At the end of the day, what matters most to me is being able to bring my work on Beacon Hill back home,” said Velis. “Advocating for our improvements to our roadways and transportation infrastructure will always be a major priority of mine, and I am proud that I was able to secure $7.5 million in the Senate Bond Bill for transportation projects across our cities and towns. I am thankful to all the local officials who worked with my office on this bill, and hope that the Governor now taps these projects to be included in his capital plan.”

The bill passed 36-4, with the Senate’s four-man Republican caucus voting in opposition. Explaining why he would not support the bill, Minority Leader Bruce Tarr cited the inclusion of a business-opposed provision to allow municipalities to increase local taxes and use the funding for transportation projects, reports Sam Doran of State House News Service. An amendment by Democrat Sen. Diana DiZoglio which would have struck that section was defeated 8-31. Sen. Susan Moran, who joined the Senate after a May special election, gave her inaugural speech on a successful amendment to add $350 million in funding toward replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges. Also Thursday, the Senate and House worked in concert to send to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk bills addressing mosquito control and take-out cocktails during the COVID-19 era.

Velis secured the following local funds:

$2.5mil for Northampton St./RT.5 in Holyoke

$870,000 for Greenway bikeway in Southampton

$600,000 for Congamond Road in Southwick

$1mil for roadway improvements in Westfield

$2.53 mil to be shared equally in Agawam, Easthampton, Granville, Montgomery and Russell for road improvements.

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Sen. John Velis hopes probe of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home COVID-19 disaster will help future generations of veterans

July 21, 2020 – MassLive – Stephanie Barry

State Sen. John Velis’ first listening session with family members of veterans who died of COVID-19 contracted at the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke lasted for more than three hours on Friday.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, according to the newly elected senator from Westfield — one of six Western Massachusetts legislators appointed to a legislative oversight committee investigating an apparent management failure at the long-term care facility when coronavirus overtook patients and staff in late March.

By June, 76 veterans had died and 84 survivors had tested positive for the virus, as did more than 80 staff members.

Gov. Charlie Baker commissioned an independent analysis on the matter by Boston attorney Mark Pearlstein. The former federal prosecutor conducted 100 interviews, delved into 114,000 pages of records and concluded ousted Soldiers’ Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh failed miserably along with his top clinical staff.

Walsh, fired the day the report was released in late June, argues state officials’ early criticisms were “outrageous.” His attorney has said publicly Walsh has been unfairly scapegoated.

Bennett has scheduled a news conference Thursday. He held another conference May 26, releasing a stack of emails between Walsh and state officials that appeared to debunk early accusations Walsh was trying to hide the outbreak. At that time, the death toll at the Soldiers’ Home continued to climb.

Pearlstein used words like “catastrophic” and “baffling” when assessing decisions top staff made during the early days of the crisis, also portraying state officials as checked out on the Soldiers’ Home until the crisis peaked.

Velis said families of veterans reported watching helplessly, and in horror, until they were prevented from visiting their loved ones altogether.

“The family members, more so than anybody, were there when all this was happening,” said Velis, a former state representative and combat veteran. “You don’t need a medical degree to make observations, and you better believe I’m going to bring those observations back to Boston.”

Velis was named to the Special Joint Oversight Committee on the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home along with Sen. James T. Welch of West Springfield and state Reps. Joseph Wagner of Chicopee, Michael Finn of West Springfield, Aaron Vega of Holyoke and Mindy Domb of Amherst. All are Democrats.

The western delegates will join 11 of their colleagues from eastern Massachusetts including Rep. Linda Dean-Campbell, D-Methuen, and Sen. Walter Timilty, D-Milton, who also head the legislature’s Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.

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