Massachusetts – Everett Leader Herald

PUA benefits ends, many left without financial lifeline

AUGUST 28: The food line at the Grace Everett Food Pantry. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

By JOSH RESNEK

For the past 52 weeks, many unemployed Everett residents have been collect- ing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) in addition to Massachusetts unemployment compensation.

Everything ended on September 4.

The extra Federal stimulus payment of $300 per week supplementing nominal Massachusetts unemployment compensation gave a safety net of protection to those boxed out of the current labor market by changes brought on by the COVID-19.

The near-collapse of the US economy in 2020 forced the government to extend as well as enhance unemployment for the first time in modern history.

The aid and comfort given to many thousands of people in Massachusetts was a Godsend.

Now, the party is over, so to speak.

Those out of work need to find work and fast.

State sues local companies for asbestos violations

A.G. says public health at risk with unsafe worksites

An Everett construction company and its president have been sued over claims of illegal work on asbestos water mains in Everett and Braintree, along with the Boston and Revere companies that transported the asbestos waste and illegally stored it at their Revere facility, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

“We allege that these defendants put the health of the public and their workers at risk by conducting illegal and unsafe asbestos work in the middle of city streets, including in environmental justice communities that already bear disproportionate environmental risks,” said Healey. “We will hold accountable people and companies who violate the laws intended to protect the public from this dangerous material.”

The AG’s lawsuit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court Monday, alleges that GTA Co., Inc. and its president, Gregory T. Antonelli, violated the state’s Clean Air Act when they removed and demolished asbestos-containing municipal water pipes without complying with required asbestos work practices as part of the water main replacement projects the City of Everett and the Town of Braintree hired them to complete.

State reports it has taken in $700M in taxes from gaming

STAFF REPORT

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission reported today that the month of January 2021 at Plainridge Park Casino (PPC), MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor generated approximately $548 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).

More vaccine due soon as Covid-19 cases worsening

A Pfizer technician prepares vials for the firm’s Covid-19 vaccine at the NY facility. (Photo courtesy of Pfizer)

Mayor blames residents for virus spread

By JOSH RESNEK

Everett counted nearly 700 new cases of the COVID-19 virus during the past seven days.

The week began with elevated numbers of new infections in this city and among all our neighboring cities and towns.

The mayor has placed the blame for the spread of the virus on residents.

He claims the virus is being spread from apartment to apartment and from home to home by families failing to adhere to pleas for social distancing and face masks.

Massachusetts reported more than 5,500 new cases last week and 77 deaths.

State infections numbers rose to about 40,000 new cases in the past seven days.

At the former Whidden Hospital now owned and run by the Cambridge Health Alliance here in Everett, beds are hard to find.

The hospital is crowded and busy.

“The hospital is packed. It is not entirely filled with COVID-19 patients. A lot of people are sick,” said an employee of the hospital who wished to remain unnamed.

Polito applauds state for new law enforcement reform bill

Official Massachusetts portrait of Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. (Courtesy of Mass.gov)

Governor Charlie Baker signed “An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth,” which creates a mandatory certification process for police officers, increases accountability and transparency in law enforcement, and gives police departments a greater ability to hire or promote only qualified applicants.