State Senator Cindy Friedman appeared on the Woburn Spotlight to provide a legislative update and discuss some of the work she has been doing in the Massachusetts Senate to benefit Woburn, the 4th Middlesex district and the Commonwealth. The interview included a discussion about what is being done on the state-level to address the opioid crisis, improve public education, advance workforce development, improve public transportation, and create more housing options for Massachusetts residents.
Arlington cop’s columns pulled by Mass. Police Association after call to violence WCVB Boston
ARLINGTON, Mass. — A statewide nonprofit that advocates for police retracted a trio of columns it published in its newsletter, penned by an Arlington police officer, that rejected police tactics like “de-escalation” and called for violence against offenders, according to the Arlington Advocate.
“I sincerely believe that the troubling views expressed in the newsletter do not reflect the values of our Town, our hard-working and compassionate police department, or our residents,” state Sen. Cindy Friedman said in a statement. “I strongly support the decision by Police Chief Fred Ryan to immediately relieve Lieutenant Pedrini of his police duties. Such inflammatory rhetoric and behavior has absolutely no place in our police force or our community.”
Cindy’s Quarterly Newsletter, October 2018
Since I was sworn into the Senate last July, it has been an honor to serve the people of the 4th Middlesex district and fight for policies that benefit everyone in Massachusetts. This session, I worked hard to move important legislative initiatives forward, secure vital resources for our district, and vote for bills that ensure Massachusetts continues to progress. I‘m especially proud that we passed a comprehensive Opioid Bill, raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour, and made substantial reforms to our criminal justice system. We accomplished a lot this session, but there is still much more work to do.
Cindy Friedman: Legislative Update (October 2018) Arlington Public News Media (ACMi)
State Senator Cindy Friedman visits Arlington Public News Media to provide an update from the State House. Tune in to hear the latest word on the MBTA, the minimum wage, criminal justice reform, and Cindy’s candid views on a range of other issues.
A few updates regarding the MBTA
A lot has been going on at the MBTA, so I wanted to provide you with a brief update.
I understand that many of you use the Alewife parking garage on a daily basis. As you know, the MBTA closed the garage in mid-August to address safety concerns after concrete fell from the ceiling and damaged a parked vehicle. The garage reopened on August 20 after repairs were made and the garage was determined safe for use.
Funding secured for Billerica’s Lexington and Glad Valley Project in FY19 Budget The Lowell Sun
BILLERICA — The town is expected to receive $75,000 from the state toward the design and construction of a project on Boston Road at the intersections with Lexington Road and Glad Valley Drive, according to a press release from state Senator Cindy Friedman’s office.
The funding for the project was secured by Friedman in the state’s fiscal year 2019 budget, according to the release.
The $2 million project proposes extending the sidewalk and apron near the intersection and landscaping the area between the two roads.
Senator Friedman joins Governor, Lt. Governor to Discuss School Safety Initiative BCAT TV
Senator Friedman joined the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, legislative colleagues, mental health experts, teachers and others this week for a community conversation at Burlington High School on how to improve school safety for students in the 4th Middlesex district and throughout Massachusetts.
Arlington officials address Alewife garage damage Arlington Public News Media
Friedman, Jehlen and Garballey testify at MBTA meeting Your Arlington
A news release from Friedman‘s office details testimony from Friedman, Democrat of Arlington; Sen. Patricia Jehlen, Democrat of Somerville; and Garballey, Democrat of Arlington:
The three implored the MBTA’s Fiscal Management and Control Board to promptly provide both short- and long-term plans for repairs to the garage’s infrastructure to increase safety and improve the quality of life for commuters.
“The decrepit conditions of the Alewife garage are well-known to the thousands of commuters who use the garage daily to get to work,” Friedman said in the release. “It’s time for the MBTA to stop with the patchwork repairs and invest in long-term fixes to improve the safety and usability of the garage. There is no reason why people should be paying so much to park in a garage that is in such poor condition.”
Baker holds school safety roundtable in Burlington Burlington Union
Gov. Charlie Baker was joined by more than a dozen legislators, superintendents and police chiefs on Monday, Aug. 20 for a roundtable discussing his supplemental spending plan to aid public school security.
State Senator Cindy Friedman, D-Arlington, applauded the funding, but also said that unless the state begins to work with insurance providers to enhance mental health coverage, the long term improvements will be hindered by a lack of access to services that would make a difference.
“The members of our public schools and public safety officers are doing a phenomenal job, it is a real honor to be a resident of Massachusetts and working with those officials,” Friedman said. “But if we don’t engage our insurance companies and our providers and people who make decisions about the value they play in our communities, we are not going to solve this problem. It’s all going to be put on the schools and the public safety administrators, so we have to look at that piece really seriously and I think it has to be part of anything we do.’”