In the densely populated communities of metropolitan Boston, every resident deserves equal access to healthy air and clean water. Massachusetts has continually failed to meet the standards of the Clean Air Act and we must push hard to do everything we can to clean up our region’s dirty air and make the state and our neighborhoods a healthier place to live. Part of the solution is cracking down on polluting industries but just as important is encouraging activities and programs that produce cleaner air and reduce our dependence on pollution-producing activities.

I work every day to advocate for cleaner air and better transportation alternatives for my constituents, including additional public transportation options, bicycle and pedestrian paths, and increased environmental enforcement in environmental justice communities -- communities that have for too long borne the burden of the state’s environmental pollution.
 

Promoting Clean and Health Communities

All citizens of the Commonwealth are entitled to live in a healthy community.  Currently, however, polluting facilities such as incinerators, landfills, and toxic chemical plants are disproportionately likely to be located in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.  These facilities not only damage the environment and quality of life in these areas, but can also pose serious health problems for residents.  Yet the communities with the most exposure to this pollution also have the fewest resources for preventing these threats.

For example, in two of my communities already overwhelmed with air pollution, Everett and Chelsea, diesel power plants have been proposed. In Everett, I worked with Everett Common Councilman Joseph McGonagle to express concerns about the proposed plant – plans that were eventually dropped. In Chelsea, I have met with community members and the company proposing plant to discuss the potentially negative impacts of the plant on the community.

But it’s not enough to work for cleaner air on a project by project basis. That’s why I have sponsored an environmental justice bill to encourage redevelopment of old industrial parcels (the right sort of development) and focusing environmental clean-up and enforcement on those areas that need it most. The bill also officially establishes an environmental justice program charged with identifying and providing resources to environmental justice communities and empowering low-income communities to stay pollution-free. The bill includes strict requirements for enhanced enforcement and increased outreach to low-income and minority communities. Massachusetts residents deserve environmental justice no matter where they live.

Updates:

In May 2006 the Senate passed my environmental justice bill as part of a larger bill on permitting. This marked the second straight year in a row the Senate passed the bill, but unfortunately both times the effort died in the House where the bill didn’t come up for a vote.  So this year, I am sponsoring legislation, S. 129, An Act Promoting Healthy Communities and the Environment, which would continue my fight for overburdened communities to have increased protections from projects that would increase pollution.

Why this Bill is Necessary:

There are Large Disparities in Health Outcomes Between Communities. For example:
• The top ten communities for asthma hospitalizations are on the list of the 15 most intensively overburdened communities with polluting facilities and excessive air pollutants.
• Asthma mortality rates are three times higher among Blacks and four times higher among Hispanics than among Whites. The infant mortality rate among Blacks is twice as high as that of Whites.

There is no law or program that addresses how projects affect the problem:
• There is no law that provides for a thorough assessment of the health impacts of a proposed project.
• The Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Environmental Justice Policy is discretionary, limited to EOEA agencies and programs, and does not assess public health impacts of projects on environmental justice communities.

What this Bill Does:

This bill establishes a COMMUNITY HEALTH DISPARITIES PROGRAM within the Department of Public Health (DPH):
• Using existing data, DPH would create and update a Communities Health Index to identify communities with disproportionately high levels of serious disease and premature deaths and the worst health outcomes (most vulnerable communities).
• Projects subject to MEPA review, and other projects identified by DPH, would require notice to DPH. DPH could require a project proponent to complete and submit a Health Impact Assessment of a project proposed for a most vulnerable community before the project could proceed. The process would run simultaneously with MEPA.
• DPH would determine whether the health impact assessment is adequate, mitigation is required, and appropriate mitigation identified.

To view the legislation, please click.

Increasing Access to the Mystic River

I have long been an advocate for the Mystic River, promoting increased awareness and access for residents who live along the river. In 2006, I was honored as a “Mystic River Mover and Shaker” by the Mystic River Watershed Association for his work to protect the Mystic River. He is now leading the effort to create a Mystic River Legislative Caucus to help push advocate for the Mystic River in the State House.

Senator Barrios has been actively working to increase access to the Mystic River by pushing the state to develop a bike and pedestrian crossing across the Amelia Earhart Dam. The Mystic Crossing project would connect Somerville to Everett and would allow residents in northern communities with quick and easy access to Assembly Square and Sullivan Square. Additionally, Senator Barrios has been actively pushing the state to quickly design and create a bike and pedestrian path along the Mystic River bordering the MBTA bus facility in Charlestown that would link the Amelia Earhart Dam area with the Rte. 99 bridge.
Updates:

• In the FY06 budget I helped secure $250,000 to support a Mystic River Master Plan to help guide the state’s activities along the Mystic River. I also worked to secure a promise from the state’s parks agency to include the lower Mystic communities of East Somerville, Charlestown, Chelsea and Everett in the Master Plan.

• In June, I joined with the Mystic River Watershed Association and Charlestown neighborhood leaders on a boat tour of the lower Mystic to discuss efforts to clean up the Mystic and increase accessibility to the waterfront.
   

Bringing the Green Line to Union Square and Somerville

In 1990, the Commonwealth made a simple, straightforward promise to its residents and taxpayers for better transportation services and cleaner air in neighborhoods long underserved.  The EOT agreed to fulfill a host of transit commitments as required by the state’s non-attainment under the federal Clean Air Act and to mitigate for the inconvenience and cost of the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. 

Now, over ten years later the state has finally re-affirmed its commitment to complete the Green Line extension and I am working with the other members of Somerville’s legislative delegation to push the state to complete the project on-time and on-budget. The densely populated neighborhoods surrounding Boston have far too long suffered from inadequate public transportation and the negative health affects of air pollution from I-93 and commuter rail trains (that do not stop in the community). The Green Line extension will not only mean cleaner air for the people of Somerville, it means better transportation options and more jobs from economic development.

Green Line updates:

• Spur to Union Square: I worked with Mayor Curtatone, residents and Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership to successfully win a Green Line spur to Union Square in the state’s revised State Implementation Plan.
• Bridge Widths: I joined with Somerville’s other elected officials at a meeting with Highway officials (who have taken over planning of the project) to discuss the problem of widening bridges along the proposed Green Line extension route. Several bridges will have to be widened and we have been assured that all future design concepts for bridges along the route will include maximum width requirements for the proposed Green Line extension.
• Finalizing the SIP: Right now, the Governor’s Administration and Finance Secretary is holding off on a final sign-off on the revised Clean Air Act State Implementation Plan (that includes the re-commitment to build the Green Line extension). I am pushing for the SIP to be approved as soon as possible so design and construction can begin as soon as possible.

Fighting for Better Public Transportation

Many constituents in my urban district depend on public transportation – whether for work or play. It is essential that the trains and buses run on time and service is a priority. In all of my communities I have fought to improve the transit conditions.

In Somerville, I am pressuring the state to design and construct the promised Green Line extension as fast as possible. In Chelsea, I worked with local officials and residents to protect the Route 112 bus route from reductions and to increase the number of buses on Route 111. In another big victory, I worked with the Chelsea T-Riders Union to win bike racks on the Route 111 bus and personally asked the MBTA to add additional stop times at the commuter rail stop during the morning commute for Everett and Chelsea residents.

At a rally outside the state’s transportation building in March 2005, I spoke out strongly against a MBTA’s plan to scrap the Night Owl service. The Night Owl buses, which provide service to much of my district, are a key public safety and transportation service that the state can not afford to eliminate. The “Save the Night Owl” rally was organized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, unions, night club owners, and university leaders. Boston City Councilor Michael Ross organized the rally to make the case for the Night Owl on the eve of a MBTA Board of Directors meeting when the fate of the late night service was slated to be decided. Unfortunately, the Board decided to eliminate Night Owl Service, but I will continue to fight for restoration of this important public safety service.
 

Encouraging Bicycling

Biking is not only fun it’s a great way to clean up the air and stay healthy!  I am a long-time supporter of bicyclists and expanding the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists on our roadways to encourage this alternative form of transportation.  In addition to sponsoring the Bicyclists Bill of Rights, I work closely with MassBike every year to promote funding for bike paths and projects throughout the state.  In 2004, my efforts earned me MassBike’s Influence Pedaler of the Year Award. 

To encourage biking and pedestrian activity in my district, my two major priorities have been the construction of the Bike to the Sea bike path from Everett to the Lynn seashore and the Mystic Crossing pedestrian path over the Amelia Earhart Dam.  The Mystic Crossing project would link Everett with Somerville over the Mystic River, providing a key multi-modal link for bicyclists and pedestrians north of Boston.

In Somerville, I fought for the Community Path -- the extension of the Minuteman Bike Path all the way through Somerville to North Station. I believe the construction of the path is essential for recreational bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as bike commuters. In dense, urban communities the state needs to be doing everything it can to encourage the use of public transportation and alternative modes of transportation.
 

Reducing Toxic Chemicals

In 2006, I supported the passage of two important bills that will reduce the prevalence of toxic chemicals in our environment. These chemicals can have sever health impacts for children and adults. The bill to reduce mercury use bans the sale of products containing mercury such as button cell batteries, cell phones, thermometers and mercury switches in automobiles. It also sets up events to exchange products to reduce mercury waste. The Toxics Reduction Act directs state environmental agencies to initiate programs and regulations to reduce toxins in the environment and establishes a Toxics Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts Lowell to promote environmental management practices.

Energy Efficiency

In 2006, I supported the energy efficiency bill that passed the House and Senate. The new law set stricter efficiency standards for appliances being sold in Massachusetts, a move that will help reduce energy consumption. I have also supported efforts to encourage the use of hybrid cars by commuters.

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