Southampton – Senator John Velis

December 13, 2020December 14, 2020

December 13th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hi Everyone,

I can’t believe that it’s already December, it’s getting colder every day!

This week the state released its initial COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan with the hope that vaccine inoculations can begin as early as next week. The distribution timeline is divided into phases, and the first phase will prioritize health care workers and the most vulnerable residents in our communities. The vaccine will be free to all and insurers will not charge co-pays or out-of-pocket costs. These developments are really encouraging, but it’s important to remember that this is not going to be an immediate process. COVID-19 is just as dangerous today as it was before this news, and we need to continue to wear masks and social distance so that we can get through this together. You can find out more about the vaccine distribution at Mass.gov/COVIDvaccine.

This past Monday, I hosted a Zoom forum with legislative colleagues and Commissioner Jane Ryder of the Department of Developmental Services. We discussed challenges that Adult Day Programs in our region are facing and how to improve communications and financial supports from DDS to these organizations. Tuesday night I joined the Holyoke Democratic City Committee for their virtual meeting honoring State Representative Vega as Democrat of the year. Representative Vega has been an incredible advocate for Holyoke during his time as a legislator, and I was proud to speak about my friendship with him and our work together.

Wednesday and Thursday were full of meetings in the community. I joined Holyoke’s Public Safety Committee meeting Wednesday night and had another informative meeting with Southampton Town Administrator Ed Gibson on Thursday afternoon. On Wednesday I also met with Jay Kumar, the owner of Universal Plastics in Holyoke, to hear about challenges businesses like his have been facing.

This Saturday Army and Navy played 121^st football game in their historic rivalry. One of my colleagues, Senator Mike Rush, is a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy and we realized that this is the first time in modern history that the Senate has a sitting Senator enlisted in each of the branches. Considering this, we decided to make a friendly wager on the game: loser must post a video singing the opposing branch’s fight song. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to hearing Senator Rush’s beautiful rendition. For updates on our wager, feel free to visit my social media channels at @SenJohnVelis.

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

November 24, 2020

After victory, Velis prepares for first full term in state Senate

November 11, 2020 – The Reminder – Dennis Hackett, Reminder Publishing File Photo

WESTERN MASS. – After securing the Second Hampden and Hampshire District state Senate seat during the Nov. 3 election, state Sen. John Velis discussed his goals and challenges ahead of his first full term in office.

Before getting into anything, Velis said one of his top priorities was helping the area recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“First and foremost has to be COVID-19 recovery; it’s going to be an immediate and all-consuming issue in terms of how we recover. Small business, the hardships people are facing in the Second Hampden and Hampshire District, it’s absolutely critical to advocate for them,” he said.

While the Senate and House are facing difficult budget seasons, Velis said he is going to make sure his constituents have a seat at the table.

“We’re entering a difficult budget season with the House releasing theirs next week and then the state Senate releasing theirs the following week. Every lawmaker is going to be asked to do more with less. I need to zealously advocate for the constituents that elected me to ensure we have a seat at the table,” he said.

One of the ways Velis said he wants to stand out in legislature is by providing a bipartisan voice in the state Senate.

“One thing that is a priority of mine is continuing to be that voice in Massachusetts politics that doesn’t look at things just through the lens of the political party that happens to be next to my name. I think that’s critical to our nation, the healing and the working together,” he said.

October 26, 2020

October 25th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hi all,

I hope this week was good to everyone! It was certainly a busy week for me. I want to remind everyone that in addition to in-person voting on November 3^rd, there is early in-person voting at a secure location in your City or Town until October 30^th. You can go to MassEarlyVote.com for more information or give my office a call-we’d be happy to help. Make sure you have a plan to vote!

Based on this Thursday’s COVD-19 Community-Level Data report, there has been an increase in cases recently in our district. Westfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee are currently in the “red” (higher risk) category, while Southwick, Agawam and Easthampton are currently in the “yellow” (moderate risk) category. We need to continue to wear masks and socially distance in order to stop this spread and keep our families safe. Free State testing is still available in Holyoke at Holyoke Community College and the Holyoke Veterans Benefits Department. Please contact my office with any questions about testing and resources.

This week, we held our first public hearings for the Legislature’s Soldiers’ Home Oversight Committee where we heard directly from family members who lost loved ones. Tuesday’s hearing was held at Holyoke Community College, and Thursday’s hearing was held virtually. The stories that were shared were heartbreaking, and I can tell you that each of us on the Committee were deeply affected. Hearing these experiences was essential to fully understand what changes must be made at the Home. I’m so grateful to those who testified and those who have spoken to me personally. Their strength is inspiring, and we will continue to work closely with family members as we move through this process. Next week, the Committee will be holding two public hearings for staff connected to the Soldiers’ Home to share their perspective, with an in-person hearing on Tuesday at Holyoke Community College and a virtual hearing on Thursday.

This past Thursday the Senate convened in an informal session and unanimously adopted a resolution to support bringing F-35A Fighter Jets to the 104^th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base. The resolution, which is directed towards U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and Major General Gary Keefe noted the importance of bringing these F-35As to Westfield. Last month, I sent my own letter to Secretary Barrett advocating for the 104^th Fighter Wing to be selected for the F-35As—I’m ecstatic to have the support of the entire State Senate on this as well. The impact this airframe conversion would have, not just on the Fighter Wing but on the entire Westfield community, cannot be understated. I will continue advocating however I can.

I also had a number of great meetings with constituents and local organizations this week. Early Monday, I met with the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce to discuss various topics such as the Soldiers’ Home and East-West Rail possibilities. On Wednesday, I spent the day at the Statehouse for some meetings, including a virtual meeting with the Holyoke Taxpayers Association. I appreciate them taking the time out of their evening to discuss how taxpayers have been impacted by the pandemic. On Monday, I had an informative legislative briefing with Holyoke Community College officials, where we discussed some of the College’s priorities and budgetary needs. We need to support our schools at all levels, and I am strongly advocating for at least level funding for our public education systems throughout the budget process. After the briefing, I went over to Mount Tom Quarry to learn more about ongoing projects at the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Friday brought with it a Committee Hearing for the Mental Health, Substance Use & Recovery Committee, where we held a listening session on trends in behavioral healthcare during the pandemic. We must remember to always check in with those around us, even if they might seem okay, and my office is always available to share resources and connect people with the help they need.

I know some of you reached out to my office this week about the South Maple Street Bridge in Westfield and where it stands. After some conversations with MassDOT officials this week, I can tell you that the project is definitely progressing. On Tuesday, MassDOT had a preconstruction meeting and next week the Department is meeting with utility companies and town officials. Prior to bridge construction work, some relocation work by the utility companies is required and I know that the contractors are already starting to submit their baseline schedule. I will be sure to keep everyone updated as this moves along.

Sincerely,

John C. Velis

The Legislature’s Soldiers Home Oversight Committee at their 1st public hearing on Tuesday, October 20th at Holyoke Community College

October 13, 2020

October 11th, 2020 – Weekly Update

Hello all,

I hope everyone is doing well. I know we had some intense storms this week and I want to send my thanks to all the municipal public safety and public works departments who were on call for storm damage and power outages. Southampton in particular had over 400 residents without power and my office was able to facilitate communication between Eversource Energy and the Southampton Fire Department; who were then able to work together to restore power.

This week I hosted a meeting with legislative colleagues, community activists, and UMass Amherst researchers on the existence and dangers of PFAS in our food sources. Among other things, we discussed the possibility of a pilot study at UMass that would look at eggshells from communities with high PFAS levels like Westfield and Hyannis. This pilot study could lead to expanded studies that would help us determine what products have PFAS in them, where they come from, and how we can best address PFAS in our food sources. Our communities deserve to know what we are consuming and there was great legislative interest in the study.

I also want to acknowledge that this past week was Mental Illness Awareness Week. Those dealing with mental and behavioral health issues often do not get the help and support they need because of the stigma surrounding the topic. These issues are only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and we have seen rates of depression increase during these past several months. As a member of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery, I am proud that the State has launched their new “More to the Story Campaign”, which is focused on normalizing conversations and reducing the stigma around mental and behavioral health issues. People often mask what they are going through. But there is always more to the story and we can all do more to help those who are struggling. To find out more about the campaign and other related resources, please contact my office.

This past Monday morning I had a meeting at the Holyoke Health Center with E.D. Jay Breines, Representative Vega, and Representative-Elect Pat Duffy on the impact of the health center on the greater Holyoke area and how we in the legislature can support them. Later on Monday I joined Mayor Sapelli of Agawam for a tour of Belt Technologies. It’s always eye-opening to see how businesses have adapted to meet the challenges of COVID-19. We need to continue to provide support to them as we go through these recovery stages.

Tuesday morning, I went over to the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Food Pantry to spend some time helping out. Food insecurity is still one of our largest challenges for our most vulnerable populations and it is great to see how these organizations and volunteers go above and beyond to provide groceries and resources.

On Friday, I had a virtual meeting with Secretary Sudders from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and many legislative colleagues on the proposed closing of Farren Health in Turner Falls and the proposed patient transfer to Mount Saint Vincent in Holyoke. My colleagues and I have deep concerns about such a change taking place during this pandemic, and I advocated for delaying the move and for increased guidelines and resources to be provided for residents, staff, and families. After this meeting, I went over to Holyoke to present Esme Power with an official Senate Citation. Esme was recently named a delegate to the national Girl Scout Council, and has spent time advocating for people to vote and use their voice! I am so proud of the great youth in our communities, and congratulations to Esme.

I wrapped up Friday night by spending several hours on a ride-along with the Westfield Police Department. I believe in rolling up my sleeves and seeing things first hand and these ride-alongs are an important opportunity to see the daily work of our law enforcement officers. I am grateful to WPD for letting me come along.

This week I also had a variety of meetings with economic experts and the Ways and Means Committee to talk about the State Economy. The fact remains that it is still hard to predict exactly what our economic recovery is going to look like without a federal package. This budget is going to require strategic planning and we are looking at all options. We need to be fiscally responsible for the long-term and not dig ourselves into a hole while at the same time provide funding and clarity for those struggling in our communities. I will continue to update you all as the budget moves along.

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

August 26, 2020August 26, 2020

Lawmakers Want Free Testing In Hampshire County

August 26, 2020 – WBUR – Chris Lisinski – State House News Service

The Baker administration’s current COVID-19 monitoring “fails to paint a nuanced picture” for many western Massachusetts communities, state lawmakers warned Monday as they called for the establishment of a free testing site in Hampshire County.

Officials launched the Stop the Spread campaign to make testing more widely available in communities that lack access to it, and the three sites in the western part of the state are all in Hampden County, which lawmakers said renders the resources inaccessible to many of Hampshire’s residents.

The impending return of students to K-12 schools and colleges further underscores the need for a testing site, they said, because of the risks associated with travel between different communities. They also flagged concerns that the administration’s community categories imply that many areas face no risk of the highly infectious virus.

“Our request is made all the more urgent by the ways in which the current community data map fails to paint a nuanced picture for small communities like the ones we represent,” the 11 lawmakers said in their letter. “We have considerable concern that our communities are interpreting their ‘white’ status on the map as an indication of zero risk (when that’s absolutely not necessarily the case) leaving our region more vulnerable to spikes like the ones that hit South Hadley and Granby.”

Earlier in the summer, state officials launched a pop-up testing site in Northampton, but that option expired. Lawmakers said that the town of Amherst, which is also home to the UMass flagship campus, has expressed interest in hosting a Stop the Spread location.

Six representatives and five senators signed the letter: Democratic Reps. Mindy Domb, Natalie Blais, Daniel Carey and Thomas Petrolati, Republican Rep. Todd Smola and independent Rep. Susannah Whipps, as well as Democratic Sens. Jo Comerford, Anne Gobi, Adam Hinds, Eric Lesser and John Velis.

August 25, 2020August 25, 2020

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.