Dear all,

I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.

As of today, there are 1001 City of Cambridge (Official) residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 91 residents have passed away. Learn more here: bit.ly/2J2BnQj. There are 100,805 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 22,224 in Middlesex County. 599,919 tests have been performed and 7,035 patients have passed away. Learn more here: bit.ly/3gILCIW.
Save the Date

I will be holding a town hall this Wednesday at 4PM on child care during the pandemic. Panelists will include Amy O’Leary, Director of Early Education for All, Bill Eddy, Executive Director of MADCA - Massachusetts Association of Early Education & Care, Lei-Anne Ellis, Early Childhood Director for the Birth-3rd Grade Partnership for the Cambridge Public School District (Official Site), and Khadija Barre a family child care owner. You can register for the Zoom here: bit.ly/2Kelp6l or join in by watching CCTV Channel 9 or Facebook Live. Please submit questions you have ahead of time to Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov, or submit them in the Q&A chat during the town hall. I hope to see you there.

I have been hosting town halls on various topics as they relate to COVID-19 weekly. Thanks to Cambridge Community Television, you can find recordings of past town halls here: www.cctvcambridge.org/decker.

Cambridge Updates

Phase 2 of allowed construction began today in the City. This adds horizontal construction, city building projects, 100% affordable housing developments, and larger buildings (over 25,000 square feet) previously permitted by ISD or DPW to the list of allowed construction activity. Learn more here: bit.ly/3gJeykk.

The Cambridge Health Alliance is offering COVID-19 testing to all Cambridge residents age 8 and older regardless of health insurance or immigration status at the CHA East Cambridge Care Center. This testing is not antibody testing, and will only test whether you currently have COVID-19. Testing is by appointment only and to schedule an appointment you should call 617-665-2928.

Multilingual resources are always available on the City of Cambridge's website. This includes translated information on city resources and about COVID-19. You can find them here:https://bit.ly/2wKXAzA.

State Action Updates

Today, Governor Baker issued an Executive Order which includes a detailed list of businesses and activities that can resume in phases II, III and IV of reopening. Phase II businesses are now allowed to reopen their physical workplaces to employees in order to conduct preparations for the start of phase II. You can learn more here: bit.ly/3dtok80.

Governor Baker also announced that day camps and child care facilities can open during phase II of reopening. Day camps and child care facilities will have to meet minimum health and safety requirements developed by the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department for Public Health, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Department for Children and Families and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. You can learn more about these minimum health and safety guidelines here: sforce.co/30a8snh.

Today, the Mass Cultural Council is launching a COVID-19 recovery survey, which will be used to help inform efforts on the specific cultural economic needs in the state. Cultural organizations can complete this survey here: bit.ly/2BfyScz.

Where to give

In light of the killing of George Floyd and the continued calls by members of the black and other communities of color for racial justice in this country, I ask that you consider giving to any of the following organizations who engage in this work:

The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, which is a center of healing, teaching and learning for those impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. You can make a donation here: bit.ly/2U0SkjV.

Families for Justice as Healing, which organizes formerly incarcerated women toward creating community wellness alternatives to incarceration that heal and rebuild families and communities. You can make a donation here: bit.ly/36T3o88.

Prisoners' Legal Services, which promotes the safe, humane, and lawful treatment of prisoners in Massachusetts through civil rights litigation, administrative advocacy, client counseling and outreach. You can make a donation here: bit.ly/2BrC1X7.

The NAACP Boston Branch, which works to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality and rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. You can make a donation here: bit.ly/2XqSS4R.

The Massachusetts Bail Fund, which pays up to $2000 bail so that low-income people can stay free while they work toward resolving their case. You can make a donation here: bit.ly/2MmIAMx.

The ACLU of Massachusetts, which works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, Bill Rights, and laws of the United States by working in the courts, in the legislature, and in communities. You can make a donation here: bit.ly/2Mipg2X.

I also encourage you to read the op-ed published today by Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville Bard. As Commissioner Bard writes in his piece, “Much more than words will be necessary to heal the fracture between law enforcement and members of the minority community.” The op-ed can be found here: cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20200601/op-ed-cambridge-police-commissioner-responds-to-george-fl...

This Friday June 5 Cambridge CoHousing will again be collecting food to go to Chelsea on Saturday.
Drop off is Friday between 10 am and 5pm at 175 Richdale Ave, the entrance to CoHousing, either in a paper bag or small box. If you don't see someone at the moment you come, please leave it just inside the gate where we will have boxes marked "FOR CHELSEA".

WHAT IS MOST NEEDED:
-bags of rice
-pasta
-dried beans
-cereal (none sweetened)
-tuna
-canned soups
-canned tomatoes and tomato sauce
-diapers and wipes
-pet food
Please no fresh foods -- those are supplied by a generous food producer
Also, no desserts, high sugar foods, or chips. THANK YOU!

Here is the LINK to the Chelsea Food Collaborative which this effort is supporting. Another option s to make a financial donation, via link at top of page.

Please email Anne Tonachel (annert@gmail.com) or Polly Attwood (polly.attwood@gmail.com) if you have any questions.

If you are able to give to others during this time, I also encourage you to look to the following places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19:

Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund: bit.ly/2X0hmR2.

Cambridge Health Alliance: bit.ly/2vWegUB

Cambridge Community Foundation: bit.ly/33ImGeE

Food For Free: bit.ly/3afFuEE

The Greater Boston Food Bank: www.gbfb.org/

Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts Emergency Essentials Fund: bit.ly/2WHOD4V

Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance Fund: bit.ly/2y7bBIe

Mount Auburn Hospital: bit.ly/3dxfEx4

The One Chelsea Fund: bit.ly/2W6dGO7

As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.

Sincerely,
Marjorie ... See MoreSee Less

37 minutes ago  ·  

Dear all,

I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.

As of today, there are 998 City of Cambridge (Official) residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 91 residents have passed away. Learn more here: bit.ly/2J2BnQj. There are 96,965 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 21,287 in Middlesex County. 592,853 tests have been performed, and 6,846 patients have passed away. Learn more here: bit.ly/2XkP2tZ.

I have been hosting weekly town halls on various topics as they relate to COVID-19 on Wednesdays at 4PM. Thanks to CCTV, you can find recordings of past town halls here: www.cctvcambridge.org/decker.

Save the Date

I will be holding a town hall this Wednesday at 4PM on child care. Panelists to follow. You can register for the Zoom here: bit.ly/2Kelp6l or join in by watching CCTV Channel 9 or Facebook Live. Please submit questions you have ahead of time to Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov, or submit them in the Q&A chat during the town hall. I hope to see you there.

Cambridge Updates

The City of Cambridge will hold a virtual vigil in memory of George Floyd tomorrow, June 1st, from 5-5:30PM to acknowledge the pain and remember the many lives lost to racism, intolerance, police brutality and other forms of violence. The vigil will take place on Facebook Live. Learn more here: bit.ly/36LL2pe.

The Cambridge Health Alliance is offering COVID-19 testing to all Cambridge residents age 8 and older regardless of health insurance or immigration status at the CHA East Cambridge Care Center. This testing is not antibody testing, and will only test whether you currently have COVID-19. Testing is by appointment only and to schedule an appointment you should call 617-665-2928.

Multilingual resources are always available on the City of Cambridge's website. This includes translated information on city resources and about COVID-19. You can find them here: bit.ly/2wKXAzA.

State Action Updates

The City of Boston is giving out facial coverings to those who do not have their own at protests tonight in the wake of the murder of George Floyd.

Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.

Where to give

If you are able to give to others during this time, I encourage you to look to the following places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19:

Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund: bit.ly/2X0hmR2.

Cambridge Health Alliance: bit.ly/2vWegUB

Cambridge Community Foundation: bit.ly/33ImGeE

Food For Free: bit.ly/3afFuEE

The Greater Boston Food Bank: www.gbfb.org/

Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts Emergency Essentials Fund: bit.ly/2WHOD4V

Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance Fund: bit.ly/2y7bBIe

Mount Auburn Hospital: bit.ly/3dxfEx4

The One Chelsea Fund: bit.ly/2W6dGO7

As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.

Sincerely,

Marjorie ... See MoreSee Less

23 hours ago  ·  

Dear all,

I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.

As of today, there are 993 City of Cambridge (Official) residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, and 91 residents have passed away. Learn more here:https://bit.ly/2J2BnQj. There are 96,301 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 21,124 in Middlesex County. 582,519 tests have been performed, and 6,768 patients have passed away. Learn more here: bit.ly/3eAgzxf.

I have been hosting weekly town halls on various topics as they relate to COVID-19 on Wednesdays at 4PM. Thanks to CCTV, you can find recordings of past town halls here: www.cctvcambridge.org/decker.

Cambridge Updates

Today, Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui issued a statement on the murder of George Floyd. Please read it here: bit.ly/2TUxgvi.

Former Cambridge Mayor and City Councilor E. Denise Simmons and Cambridge School Committee Vice-Chair Manikka Bowman are holding a five-part series on the impact of COVID-19 on Black Cambridge. Part II on public health and public safety will be held on June 7th at 1PM. You can sign up for the Zoom here: bit.ly/3gFa2mT or watch on Cambridge Community Television Channel 9.

Street cleaning will resume on June 1st. Residents will not be required to move their cars, but it would be appreciated if they did. Starting July 1st, residents will be required to move their cars for street cleaning. Learn more here: bit.ly/3cm9puW.

The Cambridge Health Alliance is offering COVID-19 testing to all Cambridge residents age 8 and older regardless of health insurance or immigration status at the CHA East Cambridge Care Center. This testing is not antibody testing, and will only test whether you currently have COVID-19. Testing is by appointment only and to schedule an appointment you should call 617-665-2928.
Multilingual resources are always available on the City of Cambridge's website. This includes translated information on city resources and about COVID-19. You can find them here: bit.ly/2wKXAzA.

State Action Updates

Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.

Where to give

If you are able to give to others during this time, I encourage you to look to the following places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19:

Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund: bit.ly/2X0hmR2.

Cambridge Health Alliance: bit.ly/2vWegUB

Cambridge Community Foundation: bit.ly/33ImGeE

Food For Free: bit.ly/3afFuEE

The Greater Boston Food Bank: www.gbfb.org/

Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts Emergency Essentials Fund: bit.ly/2WHOD4V

Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance Fund: bit.ly/2y7bBIe

Mount Auburn Hospital: bit.ly/3dxfEx4

The One Chelsea Fund: bit.ly/2W6dGO7

As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.

Sincerely,

Marjorie ... See MoreSee Less

2 days ago  ·  

Dear all,

I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.

As of today, there are 981 City of Cambridge (Official) residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 91 residents have passed away. Learn more here: bit.ly/2J2BnQj. There are 95,512 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 20,972 in Middlesex County. 571,745 tests have been performed, and 6,718 patients have passed away. Learn more here: bit.ly/2Aj4rlm.

I have been hosting weekly town halls on various topics as they relate to COVID-19 on Wednesdays at 4PM. Thanks to Cambridge Community Television, you can find recordings of past town halls here: www.cctvcambridge.org/decker.

Cambridge Updates

The City has cancelled the Annual City Dance Party that was scheduled to be held on June 26 in front of Cambridge City Hall.

All City-sponsored community events, athletic events, and public gatherings will be cancelled through July 1, 2020 or postponed to a later date.

Starting June 1st, the Board of Zoning Appeal, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission and Neighborhood Conservation Commissions, License Commission, Planning Board, Pole and Conduit Commission and Election Commission can begin holding meetings. These meetings will be held virtually and audio and video of the meeting will be streamed whenever possible. All meetings will allow for remote participation by members of the public.

You can learn more about the above updates here: bit.ly/2yQ0HYk.

The Cambridge Health Alliance is offering COVID-19 testing to all Cambridge residents age 8 and older regardless of health insurance or immigration status at the CHA East Cambridge Care Center. This testing is not antibody testing, and will only test whether you currently have COVID-19. Testing is by appointment only and to schedule an appointment you should call 617-665-2928.

Multilingual resources are always available on the City of Cambridge's website. This includes translated information on city resources and about COVID-19. You can find them here: bit.ly/2wKXAzA.

State Action Updates

Starting today, Massachusetts residents who receive SNAP benefits can use their EBT card to buy food online from Walmart and Amazon. You can learn more here: bit.ly/2AjhzXG.

MassDEP and the Attorney General’s Office will resume the enforcement of beverage container redemption requirements. Enforcement will resume at retailers using reverse vending machines on June 5th and at retailers accepting containers over the counter on June 19th. Learn more here: bit.ly/2TPyurI.

On Monday, Governor Baker will issue an executive order with a detailed list of sectors that fall into each phase of reopening and will allow phase II businesses to bring back employees to prepare for reopening.

Guidance was issued for the restaurant and lodging industries. Outdoor dining at restaurants will begin at the start of Phase II and indoor dining will begin later within Phase II. Tables will be spaced at least 6 feet apart, and the use of bars, except for spaced table seating, will not be permitted. You can find full restaurant guidance here: bit.ly/2Almasm.

Hotels, motels, and other lodging businesses can expand operations in Phase II. Event spaces must remain closed. Guests must be notified of the state’s policy urging travelers to self-quarantine for 14 days when arriving from out of the state. You can find the full lodging guidance here: bit.ly/2TOuk3d.

Where to give

If you are able to give to others during this time, I encourage you to look to the following places that are working to help those most affected by COVID-19:

Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund: bit.ly/2X0hmR2.

Cambridge Health Alliance: bit.ly/2vWegUB

Cambridge Community Foundation: bit.ly/33ImGeE

Food For Free: bit.ly/3afFuEE

The Greater Boston Food Bank: www.gbfb.org/

Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts Emergency Essentials Fund: bit.ly/2WHOD4V

Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance Fund: bit.ly/2y7bBIe

Mount Auburn Hospital: bit.ly/3dxfEx4

The One Chelsea Fund: bit.ly/2W6dGO7

As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.

Sincerely,
Marjorie ... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago  ·