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Please note: accuracy not verified.
Senator Barrios is recognized for his
efforts in support of gay marriage
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Religious
Coalition for the Freedom to Marry (RCFM) honored Cambridge Democrats
Sen. Jarrett Barrios and Rep. Alice Wolf for their efforts to stop the
anti-gay marriage petition. Feel free to check out the
full article from the Cambridge Chronicle.
Supported Effort to
Increase Education Funding
Over the last five years public schools
in the Commonwealth have struggled to keep up with rising education
costs. In its Fiscal Year 2007 budget the legislature acknowledged this
reality and increased education funding to cities and towns. While
altering the formula that provides Chapter 70 aid to localities, Senator
Barrios and the State Senate also drove the legislature’s efforts to
increase overall funding for education. In its Chapter 70 increases the
legislature removed the 4.5% cap on inflation to better reflect the
inflation rate of close to 6% for FY ’07; increased the English language
learner per pupil allotment by $50 and increased the low income student
per pupil allotment by $25. Under this new formula, Cambridge will get
$7,772,248 in Chapter 70 funding in FY 2007, an increase of over
$600,000 from the current formula.
Memorial Drive
Pedestrian Overpass
In 2006 a crane that was subcontracting for the MBTA crashed into and
damaged the pedestrian overpass that links the Cambridgeport
neighborhood to Magazine Beach. Rep. Marty Walz and Senator Barrios
worked hard to pressure the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
to repair the bridge in a timely matter. Within several weeks the DCR
did have the bridge repaired and reopened it in time for the opening of
the DCR pool at Magazine Beach.
Agassiz
Preschool
Lesley University, which purchased the church where the Agassiz
Preschool is located, has told the school it must find a new site
because Lesley wants to move the Art Institute of Boston into the
building. In April, Senator Barrios attended an Agassiz Neighborhood
Council meeting with Lesley and expressed his concern that the preschool
receive the time and assistance it needs to either stay at the existing
site, or move to one that is near to the families it serves in Cambridge
and Somerville. In a June letter to the Senator, Lesley University has
pledged to look into the possibility of keeping the school at its
current site, while also working with the school’s Relocation Committee,
to find a suitable alternate site should the plans to remain in the
Lesley building not be feasible.
Central Square
Theater
Senator Barrios and Representative Marty Walz were successful in include
a $200,000 appropriation for the Central Square Theater. This theater,
which is a collaborative project between MIT and the Underground Railway
and Nora Theater Companies, while provide a vibrant cultural center for
the Central Square Neighborhood. While the appropriation was vetoed by
Governor Romney, both Rep. Walz and Senator Barrios are fighting to have
the veto overridden so that construction on the theater may begin.
Fought to Save
the Amigos Program
Senator Barrios joined other Cambridge and Boston legislators to save
two way immersion schools like the Amigos program in Cambridge. When the
Unz Petition banning bilingual programs in Massachusetts’ schools was
passed by the voters in 2002, successful two-way immersion programs,
like the Amigos, were also inadvertently harmed. The Amigos students are
half English speaking and half Spanish speaking. By the time the 8th
graders graduate they are fluent in both languages. Research has shown
that these programs are successful in educating their students at a high
level.
Funding for
Adoption Services
Senator Barrios, working closely with Dr. Joyce McGuire Pavao of the
Center for Family Connections in Cambridge, was successful is securing
$200,000 in state funds for the agency. The CFFC works with Department
of Social Services to provide adoption services to families and their
adopted children. While CFFC does not do placement, its counselors help
children, particularly those who are older and more difficult to adopt,
secure permanent placement.
The
Cambridge Arts
Council offers a summer apprenticeship program for high school
students, summer street theater, grants, a variety of exhibitions and
information for both artists and visitors.
To obtain a disabled license plate that permits
access to parking spaces designated for drivers with disabilities and
information on wheelchair accessible taxis, please contact the
Commission for People with Disabilities.
The
Community Learning Center offers adult classes for the GED,
citizenship test, TOEFL, help with ESL, literacy programs, computer
lessons, and more.
To research a building, family name or tree, attend
lectures about history, or obtain information on historical grants,
visit the Cambridge Historical Commission's
website.
The
Cambridge Public Libraries offer book delivery services, museum
passes, adult literacy, reading groups, and more.
The Jarrett Barrios
Website is privately paid for and authorized by
The Barrios Committee, Daniel Schlozman, Treasurer
PO Box 391254, Cambridge, MA 02139
Problems? Contact
webmaster@senatorbarrios.org
To obtain a disabled license plate that permits
access to parking spaces designated for drivers with disabilities and
information on wheelchair accessible taxis, please contact the
