Hello Everyone,
I hope you’re all doing well and enjoying this New England Spring. Although if anyone out there is a suffering from spring allergies, my best goes out to you.
As we push further into the Fiscal Year 2025 budget process, my staff and I have had full schedules taking meetings with stakeholders from all across the district to find how the legislature can best work for Western Massachusetts. Community Leaders, local organizations, and my fellow constituents have all been working with my team to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
Monday morning, I was proud to join many from across the region at the Westfield-Barnes Municipal Airport for the ribbon cutting of their new taxiway on the airfield. This project represents the collaboration of so many agencies and organizations from every level of government and community. I was proud to have done my part to help see this to fruition and I can’t wait to see all the positive effects this will have on the air base, the municipal airport, and our entire community.
Later that morning, I joined Representative Dan Carey of Easthampton, Chief Housing Officer Emily Cooper from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and many other housing and elder advocates from around the Valley to have a discussion with our seniors on how housing issues are affecting them. It was a very productive conversation and as a member of the Joint Committee on Housing and the Senate Vice-Chair on the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, these insights are crucial to my work in the legislature in making sure our seniors are not left behind in the housing market.
Wednesday marked the passage of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day that honors peace officers from all levels of government who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. To further honor these brave men women, I attended the Western Massachusetts Police Memorial Ceremony yesterday morning, to commemorate those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe a debt to those who have done so and their families. Thank you to the MPTC Holyoke Police Academy for hosting us all yesterday morning.
This afternoon I will be attending the induction ceremony for Agawam’s newest Eagle Scout, Shannon Newsome. After years of dedication to your community, this title is well deserved! Congratulations to you Shannon! We’re lucky to have you.
This week my team hosted office hours at the Chicopee COA on Tuesday and at the Holyoke COA on Wednesday. Next week my team will be hosting our office hours at the Easthampton COA on Tuesday May 21st from 10:30am to 11:30am. If you can’t make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.
Sincerely,
John Velis