Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative, public health, and Cambridge updates.
In case you haven’t seen the exciting news, a member of our community, Robin Harris, was recently awarded the prestigious National Humanities Medal by President Joe Biden. The Medal “honors individuals whose work has deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities and broadened our citizens’ engagement with history, literature, languages, philosophy, and other humanities subjects.” Only 12 medals can be awarded each year, highlighting how incredible an honor this is.
It is so well-deserved. Robin is a fifth-generation Cambridge resident from the Riverside neighborhood who has always been a beacon for connection, equity, and achievement for her students at Fletcher Maynard Academy, Cambridge Public Schools, and in the community at large. She consistently innovated within her schools to increase family engagement, teacher retention, and, consequently student achievement. We are so lucky to have her in Cambridge, where she has left an indelible imprint on students for the past 20+ years. Congratulations, Robin!
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
Cambridge Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
Letter in Support of Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services Grant
This week, I wrote a letter of support for a grant that the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) applied to fund their Transportation Hub, which provides no-cost transportation services to older adults in the areas served by SCES via Green and Yellow Cab of Somerville. Through the SCES Transportation Hub, residents over the age of 60 can secure up to five monthly round-trip rides, regardless of income.
I have heard from many constituents that this resource has been invaluable for elderly residents as they complete daily activities such as grocery shopping, attending appointments, and maintaining social commitments. Many have come to rely on this essential, dependable community resource. I was glad to support such an important and innovative program, and hope to see SCES receive funding in order to continue it.
Comments on DPH Birth Center Regulations
This week, I submitted comments to the Public Health Council to further support the regulatory proposals that would expand access to birth centers and reaffirm the Commonwealth’s commitment to reproductive health care. Following the recent passage of my maternal health omnibus package, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, I encouraged the Department of Public Health to take additional steps to better align with national best practices, ensuring the safety and operational feasibility of birth centers. This includes efforts to:
support the consistent integration of certified professional midwives into all regulations that refer to providers,
promote diversity in birth center leadership and remove restrictive barriers to entry in the hiring process to broaden the pool of candidates to improve access to this vital workforce, and
ensure access to abortion services for individuals seeking care at birth centers, in accordance with the provisions established in the ROE Act passed in 2020.
The proposed regulatory changes represent a crucial opportunity to enhance access to birth centers and prioritize the delivery of holistic, high-quality services, transforming the landscape of maternity and reproductive care for families in the Commonwealth.
Public Health Updates
DPH Urges Residents to Get Vaccinated Before Peak Respiratory Virus Season
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has recently launched its Immunizations for Respiratory Diseases Dashboard for the 2024-2025 season, which is used to visualize trends in influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity and vaccination in Massachusetts. The data is updated weekly and sourced from immunization data and information from emergency departments, laboratory tests, and wastewater analysis. According to the dashboard, approximately 12.4% of Massachusetts residents have been vaccinated against COVID-19 this season, while 23.7% have received the influenza vaccine. The Department encourages individuals to schedule their seasonal COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, which are updated to match the currently circulating strains, to help reduce the risk of infection, severe illness, and hospitalization. Everyone aged 6 months and older is recommended to receive a seasonal flu vaccine and an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Residents unable to access a vaccination location can schedule an in-home COVID-19 and flu vaccination appointment by visiting the In-Home Vaccination Program website. For more information about vaccinations and to locate vaccination sites, please visit mass.gov/SeasonalVaccines.
Hundreds of Birthing People have Accessed Doula Services since Launch of MassHealth Program
Over 700 MassHealth members have utilized doula services during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period since MassHealth initiated its Doula Services Program last year. Launched in December 2023, the Doula Services Program allows coverage of doula services under MassHealth in an effort to address health disparities and advance health equity in the Commonwealth. Doulas are non-clinical professionals who provide emotional, physical, and informational support for pregnant people and their partners before, during, and after childbirth. Research shows that pregnant people who are supported by a doula during labor and childbirth are less likely to have C-sections or use pain medication and are more likely to have a short labor.
EPA Issues More Stringent Lead Dust Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized more stringent lead paint dust standards, further building upon the Biden-Harris administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan and advancing the EPA’s goal of addressing racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in lead exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 31 million housing units across the U.S. still contain lead paint, and 3.8 million of these units are home to children. When lead paint begins to peel or crack, it produces harmful lead paint chips and dust. Lead dust is commonly found around windows, floors, cabinets, and stairways– all areas where home occupants can easily be exposed. Furthermore, settled lead dust can be dispersed throughout the air when people clean or simply walk through their homes, resulting in direct inhalation of lead.
Cases of Walking Pneumonia Surging in the U.S., especially in Young Children
Cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia, also known as walking pneumonia or M. pneumoniae, are spiking across the United States. While people of all ages can contract this illness, adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 historically are the most affected. However, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight a notable shift in the age groups most impacted by the current surge of M. pneumoniae, with young children ages 2 to 4 being especially vulnerable to infection. In March of this year, 2-4-year-olds only made up 1% of all confirmed cases of walking pneumonia— they now comprise 7.2% of all cases, a nearly seven-fold increase. Walking pneumonia is a bacterial infection that impacts the respiratory system. Like other respiratory infections, M. pneumoniae is spread when people inhale respiratory droplets from an infected individual.
New Data Shows Decline in Overdose Deaths
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data showing that fatal overdoses have fallen 12.7% over the past year, a second meaningful improvement after data released last month showed a 10.6% decrease in fatalities from street drugs. October marks the sixth consecutive month of reported decreases in fatal overdoses and, if this trend continues, this year is expected to be the first since 2020 in which overdose deaths fall below 100,000. Researchers are now investigating the drivers of this decline. Some point to greater accessibility of Narcan, an overdose reversal drug, that became available for over-the-counter purchase in September. Others point to a change in the drug supply, which may only be responsible for the downward trend in the short term. Fentanyl, which entered the U.S. street drug supply in 2012 and gained popularity because it’s cheap and easy to make, is becoming less available across the U.S.
Cambridge Updates
DCR Traffic Advisory for Memorial Drive Improvements
From Tuesday, October 15, through Tuesday, November 26 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will intermittently close lanes and implement detours along Memorial Drive from Magazine Street to Audrey Street via the BU Bridge rotary to accommodate more than $1.5 million in safety upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists.
The safety improvement work includes widening the shared use path leading to the BU rotary; improving and reconfiguring wheelchair ramps and median islands at the intersection of Memorial Drive and the BU Bridge; replacing nearly 700 linear feet of existing Boston Pattern Fence; restriping the crosswalks; and implementing a speed limit reduction to 25 mph along the BU Bridge corridor. Traffic patterns will be clearly marked, and a police detail will be on site. More information on the work can be found here.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
On Friday, I attended the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus’s annual Latino Excellence Awards where Dennis Benzan, a former Cambridge City Councillor and current Cambridge small business owner, won a 2024 Latino Excellence Award.
Dennis grew up in Columbia Terrace in Central Square and attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. After graduating from Howard University, he returned to Cambridge. Dennis has devoted his entire life to advocacy and service to the Cambridge community. He became the first Latino elected to the Cambridge City Council where he championed social and economic initiatives, and is now a small business owner. He owns La Fabrica Central and is the co-founder of the Western Front. Between both companies, Dennis has over 100 full- and part-time employees, of which 90% are Black and Latino. Dennis firmly believes in the importance of local community representation in the business sector. He personally invests in the growth of those he hires while emphasizing job opportunities for immigrants.
Dennis is a testament to what local people can achieve when given the chance to succeed. He is an incredible leader, mentor, and partner in our community, and I was proud to nominate him and excited to celebrate him. You can read my complete nomination of Dennis here.
On Sunday, I stopped by the unveiling ceremony for the Monumental Catrina sculpture in commemoration of Dia de Muertos at the Charles Hotel. Dia de Muertos is a day in Mexican culture when people are called to remember their ancestors. I was honored to attend the event with the Mayor of Atlixco, Ariadna Ayala, Rep. Judith Garcia, Mayor Denise Simmons, and the incredible Gladys Vega from La Collaborativa.
The sculpture, La Catrina - Atlixco, is an incredible piece of art that represents both Mexican and Atlixco culture, and it will be on display through November 4 in Harvard Square.
The entire Porter Square neighborhood came out to celebrate Sajid Bhatti on Sunday, who is retiring from owning the UPS Store on Mass Ave. It was great to celebrate a cherished friend of the Cambridge community, and a beloved small business, with so many neighbors. Congratulations to Sajid as he begins his next adventure — a five-year global journey kicked off with a trip to St. Croix.
It was great to speak at and attend the ribbon cutting of Science Club For Girls’ new Kendall Square office! SCFG encourages girls and gender-expansive youth to enter into STEM fields with fun, hands-on experiments, and access to mentors from underrepresented backgrounds. Their no-cost programs have fostered a love of learning and discovery in more than 4,000 young people in Cambridge and beyond over the past 30 years. I am grateful for the devotion of their staff, board, and hundreds of volunteer mentors to this incredible program.
I am so grateful to the Pipefitters Local 537 and their Business Manager Danny O’Brien, for their incredibly generous $15,000 donation to the Cambridge Community Center (CCC). The Pipefitters work tirelessly to provide meaningful careers in family-sustaining jobs that can both lift families out of poverty and allow them to thrive. Local 537 recognizes that community centers play a similar role in uplifting vulnerable members of the community by offering resources and programs, which is why they continue to be eager to support CCC. This funding will go directly to support two amazing community programs at CCC: The Hip Hop Transformation (THHT) and Mental Health Advancement of Culturally Competent Education to Stop Stigma (ACCESS).
THHT, led by Imam “Flash” Firmin, teaches teens about the history of hip-hop culture and equips them with the skill set to produce, write, record, and perform their own hip-hop music. Dr. Kwame Dance leads the Mental Health ACCESS program, which seeks to destigmatize mental health care, expose kids to the mental health field, and ultimately increase the number of providers of color in mental health fields.
The Cambridge Community Center is unmatched in its dedication to engaging the community and ensuring its programs are reflective of the needs and interests of Cambridge. It has been and continues to be an incredible resource for the city and especially the Riverside neighborhood, and I am grateful for the leadership of Darrin Korte and all the staff there who make it such a special place.
Cambridge Public Health Helpline Supports Residents with COVID-19
To speak with someone, call the confidential COVID-19 Hotline at 617-933-0797. Learn more here.
Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Helpline
This initiative is designed to prevent intimate partner violence by fostering accountability and change in people who harm or may harm their partner. You can find more information at 10to10helpline.org or by calling 877-898-3411.
SafeSpot Overdose Prevention Helpline
SafeSpot is a virtual spotting/overdose detection service for people who use drugs. Learn more at safe-spot.me or access it by calling 800-972-0590.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
De Novo is a Cambridge-based nonprofit that provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling to people with low incomes. You can learn more about their services at denovo.org.
MassLegalHelp.org is a resource to help Massachusetts residents learn about their legal rights. The website does not offer legal advice or answer individual questions but has a page about options for finding a lawyer. It does provide resources for those facing legal issues, such as a landlord refusing to make repairs, appealing the denial of SNAP benefits, and questions about getting a CORI sealed.
As always, please contact me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie