Foster Parent Recruitment Funding in the State Budget is Priceless ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR IVES

Foster Parent Recruitment Funding in the State Budget is Priceless ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR IVES

By: State Senator Ives – July, 2018 One of my budgetary priorities this year was to increase funding for the Foster Care Parent Campaign line item in the Fiscal Year 2019 State Budget. The House Budget maintained the funding levels at $250,000. The Senate version of the budget allocated $750,000 to expand the Foster Parent […]

DEP Fines Safety-Kleen Systems in Salisbury for Hazardous Waste,  Underground Storage Tank Violations

DEP Fines Safety-Kleen Systems in Salisbury for Hazardous Waste,  Underground Storage Tank Violations

Company Works to Address Violations and Bring Facility Back into Compliance   BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., in Salisbury (a Wisconsin-based company), $75,575 for environmental violations found during routine inspections of the company’s licensed hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facility at 90 Rabbit Road in […]

Public Awareness for Compromised Public Waterways

Public Awareness for Compromised Public Waterways

By: Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives – Dec. 2017 I recently testified in front of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture on a bill I co-sponsored, S448 An Act Promoting Awareness of Safe Recreation in Public Waterways requesting that it be given a favorable recommendation. This bill will institute a statewide sewage discharge […]

Salisbury Project Violates Grant Restrictions

Salisbury Project Violates Grant Restrictions

How quickly Salisbury officials forget. In 1985, Salisbury officials signed a “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Sewer Special Grant” condition agreeing “[Salisbury] shall prohibit connections to the sewerage system from any new development built within a 100-year flood plain, wetland, or barrier beach (Salisbury Beach)”. Salisbury received $18 Million in federal and state grants to construct […]

* CAPTURED* Lawrence Police Capture One Man Crime Spree in Early Morning Raid

* CAPTURED* Lawrence Police Capture One Man Crime Spree in Early Morning Raid

UPDATED: 9-8-17 LAWRENCE –  Lawrence Police have apprehended a violent felon who was wanted by multiple area law enforcement agencies on numerous charges. In the early morning hours of Sunday September 3, 2017 – with the assistance of State Trooper Dolan of the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Squad – the Lawrence Police Department’s Emergency Response Team […]

State Senate Passes Youth Group Homes in the Valley and the Commonwealth

State Senate Passes Youth Group Homes in the Valley and the Commonwealth

By State Senator Katy Ives – Aug 2017 The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Department of Mental Health license youth group homes throughout the state that house adolescents removed from their families. Over the past few years, the City of Haverhill has seen a significant surge in calls from group home staff, […]

MA Senate Passes Bill To Ban ALL Hand Held Cell Phone Use, Electronic Devices While Driving

MA Senate Passes Bill To Ban ALL Hand Held Cell Phone Use, Electronic Devices While Driving

BOSTON – Today, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a piece of legislation which claims will reduce motor vehicle accidents and fatalities by prohibiting the use of ALL hand held electronic mobile devices while operating a motor vehicle.          “The technological capabilities of cell phones have given drivers more opportunities to become distracted at […]

Strengthening Prescription Drug Safety ~ IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES

Strengthening Prescription Drug Safety ~ IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR IVES

By: State Senator Katy O’Connor Ives – June, 2017 The Massachusetts State Senate debated the Fiscal Year 2018 state budget last month, where I advocated for key provisions that will be beneficial to the constituents of my district and the Commonwealth. One of the amendments in the Senate Fiscal Year 2018 budget, which I co-sponsored, […]

Residents Deserve Beaches That Are Safe and Affordable

Residents Deserve Beaches That Are Safe and Affordable

By: State Senator Katy Ives May, 2017 The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is responsible for the stewardship of over 450,000 acres of land which include parks, beaches, forests, pools, skating rinks and campgrounds. DCR lost nearly 400 full-time positions (31% of its workforce) in the last seven years. As such, we need to […]

Early Voting Can Be a FUNDED Mandate – IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR KATY IVES

Early Voting Can Be a FUNDED Mandate – IN YOUR CORNER WITH SENATOR KATY IVES

By: State Senator Katy Ives – April, 2017 Early Voting passed into law in 2014 and this past presidential election was the first in which residents were allowed to vote before Election Day. This is an advantageous concept for many people that want to vote but can’t get to the ballot box on one given […]

Massachusetts Senate Opposes Trump’s National Security Measures

Massachusetts Senate Opposes Trump’s National Security Measures

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a resolution Thursday to condemn the recent Executive Order issued by President Donald J. Trump which bars entry to the United States for certain nationals from seven Muslim-majority nations. The resolution recognizes the unique importance of immigration to the history of Massachusetts since its founding, through the present. […]

Changing Sewer-User Fees Rejected By Town Meeting

Changing Sewer-User Fees Rejected By Town Meeting

November, 2016 At Annual Town Meeting, Article 18 (Sewer User Fees charged by Actual Metered Water Method) the Selectmen/Sewer Commissioners voted against the interests of the single families, seniors and those who conserve water in the Town of Salisbury. According to them, it is perfectly fair for the Town of Salisbury to charge senior citizens […]

Strengthening Public Health and Safety ~ IN YOUR CORNER WITH KATY IVES

Strengthening Public Health and Safety  ~ IN YOUR CORNER WITH KATY IVES

By: State Senator Katy Ives – Oct. 2016 On July 31, the formal legislative session technically ended, meaning that between August and January, no formal voting on major bills takes place. In the months leading up to the beginning of a new formal session in January, I’m focusing in on what bills are priorities for […]