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Daily Update 11/10: Partnering with our Cities and Towns

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Governor’s Daily Update
Innovation, Education, Infrastructure and Regional Focus
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

 

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 – Regional Focus: Partnering with our Cities and Towns

 

  • Today, Governor Patrick, the Lt. Governor Murray, and cabinet officials met with newly elected mayors from across the state and reiterated their shared commitment to partnering with local leaders to provide the services people value and depend on. "I am so pleased to have these mayors by my side as we fight for the values of the people of the Commonwealth," said Governor Patrick. "In times like these we need a close working partnership to protect our investment in our children's education, preserve local aid for cities and towns and make the tough but responsible decisions necessary to carry us through to a brighter tomorrow. I know that these mayors are up to that challenge."

 

  

Governor Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Murray, and Director of Municipal Affairs Robert Nunes speak with newly elected mayors from across the Commonwealth today at the State House.
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  • Also this morning, Governor Patrick met with French Ambassador M. Pierre Vimont and Consul General M. Christophe Guilhou at the State House.

 

  • This evening, Governor Patrick offers remarks at the Understanding Our Differences 30th Anniversary Celebration in Newton.

In the Press:

 

Worcester Senior Center by you.      Asian Longhorn Beetle Eradication Program Briefing by you.

Governor Patrick visited with seniors and staff at the Worcester Senior Center and joined with Lieutenant Governor Murray, USDA Secretary Vilsack, and Congressman McGovern for a briefing relative to the Asian Longhorn Beetle Eradication Program during his visit to Worcester yesterday.

Focus on Safety Net Services

  • Support for Hunger Prevention – Yesterday, Governor Patrick joined with Lt. Governor Murray, USDA Secretary Vilsack, and Congressman McGovern to make an announcement about hunger prevention at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Governor Patrick spoke in support of Congressman McGovern’s proposal, which calls upon hospitals across the state to become more active in educating malnourished patients and helping them receive the care they need: "By collaborating with hospitals across the Commonwealth, we can create a strong statewide network of support for those struggling to put food on the table," Governor Patrick said. “We’re going to have to start asking ourselves what kind of community we want to be. We cannot accept hunger in the richest and most powerful country on earth.”

Investing in Our Infrastructure

  • Assistance for Small Businesses – Delivering on the themes of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Economic Summit held in October, Governor Deval Patrick yesterday announced that the Administration is partnering with the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation (CDFC) to help small, minority and women-owned businesses and contractors bid on and participate in federal stimulus-funded construction projects. “Small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses are the backbone of our economy,” said Governor Patrick. “Our collaboration with CDFC relieves what was previously a huge challenge that kept many of these companies from competing for construction contracts. Helping these businesses helps our economy, helps our state – and in this case helps level the playing field.” Learn more here.

 

  • Improving the Safety of the MBTA – In response to recent safety concerns laid out in the recent D’Alessandro Report, state transportation officials yesterday announced the approval of $2.5 million engineering contract designed to study a leak and corrosion problem on the Red Line tracks that was identified in the review, as well as plans to assign a high-level employee to oversee safety at the agency.

 

  • Governor Praises Heroic Actions of Orange Line MBTA Employees – Two MBTA employees took heroic steps Friday night to save the life of a woman who had fallen on to the Orange Line tracks at North Station.  Governor Patrick made congratulatory calls to the T employees, who were honored in person by the MassDOT Board Tuesday for their lifesaving efforts. 

 

  • University of Massachusetts – Governor Patrick’s Office issued the following statement in response to reports that convicted terrorist Raymond Levasseur had been invited to speak at UMass Amherst:

“Governor Patrick is outraged and extremely disappointed at reports that the University of Massachusetts has again extended a speaking invitation to Raymond Luc Levasseur. When the Governor first learned of his scheduled appearance last week, the Administration contacted the university to express serious concerns and the appearance was swiftly and appropriately cancelled. While the Governor recognizes the fundamental right to freedom of speech, he believed then and believes now that this event should not go forward on a public campus out of respect for the families of his victims and law enforcement. The Administration has asked President Wilson’s Office to immediately review this matter.”

 

This Week:

  • On Saturday, Governor Patrick attended the funeral of Captain Eric Jones at John Wesley United Methodist Church in Falmouth.
  • On Sunday, Governor Patrick offered remarks at the American Association of Medical Colleges in Boston.
  • On Monday morning, Governor Patrick joined USDA Secretary Vilsack, Congressman McGovern and Lieutenant Governor Murray for a briefing relative to the Asian Longhorn Beetle Eradication Program and made an announcement relative to hunger prevention at the UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
  • Monday afternoon, Governor Patrick visited with seniors and staff at the Worcester Senior Center.
  • Later yesterday afternoon, Governor Patrick attended a legislative leadership meeting at the State House.