Dear all,
I write to you this evening with relevant COVID-19 updates and resources.
As of today, there are 1128 Cambridge residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 and 97 residents have passed away. Learn more here. There are 106,128 cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, including 24,652 in Middlesex County. 982,494 patients have been tested, and 8,152 have passed away. Learn more here.
Cambridge Updates
Tomorrow, myself and Cambridge Police Commissioner Branville Bard will be speaking at the Porter Square Neighbors Association meeting on police reform. The meeting will run from 7-9PM on Zoom.
The Cambridge Public Library will be hosting a Kids Books to Go pop-up event tomorrow 7/16 from 11AM-2PM outside of the Central Square Branch at 45 Pearl St. Youth and families will be able to borrow bags of library books for kids and teens without having to make an appointment or place catalog requests.
The Agassiz Baldwin Community will be holding a household goods pantry next Thursday 7/23 (rain date Friday 7/24) at the front porch of 20 Sacramento Street. Those who are struggling to cover the cost of household essentials are invited to go. Everyone over the age of 2 who does not have a medical exemption will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. The pantry will be first come, first served and will give out items until they are gone or until 7PM.
2019 Cambridge resident and visitor parking permits are set to expire on August 15th. If you still need to renew your 2019 parking permit, you can do so online, by mail, or in person. Those submitting applications online or by mail must do so by July 31st.
This year’s Head of the Charles Regatta, which was scheduled to take place in October, has been cancelled. The Board of Directors has announced that there will instead be a virtual event.
Where to get tested:
During the month of July, the Cambridge Public Health Department is offering free mobile testing for all Cambridge residents in North Cambridge, The Port, East Cambridge, and Harvard Square one day each week during designated hours. Currently, all appointments for the month of July at these sites have been booked.
Testing will be available at the Pisani Center on Saturdays 7/18, 7/25, and 8/1 from 11AM-7PM to to help meet the demand of the waitlist. You can now schedule an appointment online or by calling 617-665-3795.
Translation Resources Available:
Multilingual city resources and information on COVID-19 are available on the City’s multilingual help page.
State Action Updates
The House Committee on Ways and Means and Joint Committee on the Judiciary are holding a hearing on S.2820 An Act to reform police standards and shift resources to build a more equitable, fair and just commonwealth that values Black lives and communities of color. Comments can be emailed to Chair Aaron Michlewitz and Chair Claire Cronin at Testimony.HWMJudiciary@mahouse.gov. Those submitting testimony should provide your name, organization, and phone number. The deadline to submit testimony is this Friday, July 17th at 11AM.
Today, the Safe Communities Act was reported favorably out of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and into the House Committee on Ways and Means.
The MBTA will be returning to traditional front-door boarding on buses, above-ground Green Line trolleys and the Mattapan Line starting this Monday. Passengers will be asked to enter through front doors, where fare boxes are located, and exit through rear doors.
The Massachusetts Cultural Council announced that the cost of recovery for cultural nonprofits in the state is $441.8 million. The sector has lost $425 million in revenue and faces $117 million in reopening costs.
Governor Baker Press Conference Updates:
Governor Baker did not hold a press conference today.
Federal Action Updates
The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program resumed accepting applications on July 6th, and the new deadline to apply for a PPP loan is now August 8th. PPP loans are designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.
Where to Give
This Friday, Cambridge CoHousing will be collecting food to go to Chelsea on Saturday. Drop off is between 10 AM to 4PM 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 is to make a financial donation, via link at top of page.
Please email Anne Tonachel (annert@gmail.com) if you have any questions or would like to make a drop off at a different time.
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:
Cambridge Community Foundation
Cradles to Crayons Emergency Essentials Fund
Enroot Emergency Immigrant Cash Assistance Fund
I also encourage you to donate to the following organizations that are engaging in racial justice work:
Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
Families for Justice as Healing
As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie