By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton – July 2024 I hope everyone enjoyed the Fourth of July. It’s always a great time to celebrate America’s birthday with family and friends. This past month, the House has been busy. In this edition of the Valley Patriot, I will discuss two significant pieces of legislation the House […]
By: State Senator Pavel Payano – July, 224 In a decisive move aimed at tackling Massachusetts’ ongoing housing crisis, the Massachusetts Senate has unanimously passed S.2834, also known as the Affordable Homes Act. This legislation marks a significant step forward in addressing housing affordability, availability, and equity across the state. The Affordable Homes Act is […]
By: State Senator Pavel Payano – 6/24 In a landmark decision, the Massachusetts Senate has unanimously passed a budget totaling $57.999 billion for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). This significant decision followed three days of robust and bipartisan debate, resulting in the adoption of over 400 amendments and 43 roll call votes. The Senate added […]
By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton – 6/24 Last week, I proudly voted to pass a comprehensive Bill to enhance veterans’ benefits. The Massachusetts Legislature has gone forward with Bill H.4661, comprehensive legislation aimed at bolstering benefits and support for veterans across the state. This bill encompasses many changes, from increasing tax credits for businesses hiring […]
By: Lenny Mirra – 5/24 Sometimes the system works! Voters soundly rejected a plan for a new Whittier Vocational Tech building at a cost of $444.6 million, and when I say soundly, I mean angrily too. Comments I heard in person and on social media showed voters were turned off not only by the price […]
By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton 5-24 I’m happy to report that the House Budget has been passed and that Methuen and Haverhill did well in this year’s house budget. In Chapter 70, Methuen received 68.62 million, while Haverhill received 87.97 million. In Unrestricted local aid, Methuen received 6.56 million, and Haverhill received 11.87 million. For […]
State Senator Pavel Payano 05/24 This month, the Massachusetts Senate passed three important consumer protection bills aimed at safeguarding our community members from unfair practices across several sectors. The passage of S.2738 is a milestone in curbing the deceptive practices of third-party electric suppliers. This legislation prevents these entities from enrolling new residential customers, protecting […]
By: John Cuddy – 4-24 The Valley Patriot this March, met with Haverhill’s Veteran Services Director, US Army and Massachusetts National Guard Veteran Jeffrey Hollett and discussed the five basic needs of our Nation’s Veterans. Most Veterans consider those needs to be housing, health care, access to education, employment, and most importantly, support and […]
By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton – 4/24 After the ballot question to build a new Whittier Technical High School was soundly defeated a few months ago, the school’s future was uncertain. As somebody who has toured the campus multiple times, we need a new school or a total renovation. The current status quo at Whittier […]
May, 2024 It’s hard to imagine how a country such as ours can survive as a constitutional republic much longer when local officials in every community are free to use the agencies of government to enact revenge against their political opposition. Yet here we are. While the actions of corrupt Haverhill officials like Mayor Melinda […]
State Senator Pavel Payano – 4-24 Amidst a flurry of legislative activity, myself and my colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate have been hard at work this month, addressing a myriad of pressing issues impacting residents across the Commonwealth. From passing significant laws to gearing up for this year’s budget discussions, engaging with constituent cases, to […]
PDF of the APRIL 2024 Valley Patriot Print Edition
By: State Rep. Ryan Hamilton – 3/24 Congratulations to the Valley Patriot on their 20th anniversary. I appreciate the opportunity they give me every month to inform the residents of Haverhill and Methuen about what is happening on Beacon Hill. As we enter the month of March, I’d like to wish everyone a happy St. […]
HAVERHILL – Audits are a process typically thought of as painful inconveniences to businesses and organizations. Recently, however, several Merrimack Valley mayors joined with State Auditor Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen) to highlight the positive experience that went along with a routine audit of MeVa. “While audits can be daunting, Auditor DiZoglio and her office understood […]
By: State Senator Pavel Payano – 03/24 As the warmth of spring approaches, my dedicated team and I are working tirelessly to strengthen community bonds and advance key legislative initiatives. A recent and pivotal highlight was the historic unveiling of Frederick Douglass’s bust in the Massachusetts Senate, symbolizing not only our commitment to justice and equality […]