A Monthly Newsletter from Senator Julian Cyr
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April 2025
Dear Friends,

I want to tell you a story.

The month of March was an absolute blur. In ten days, my office received more than 60 requests for meetings. SIXTY. We managed to schedule a whole lot of them, meetings with school superintendents, high school students, community college students, housing advocates, disability rights advocates, a healthcare workers’ union, librarians, Realtors, and two Select Boards, and that was just when I wasn’t delivering Meals on Wheels or attending the 105th birthday party of the oldest surviving veteran from the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Phew!

But the meeting that sticks out most for me is one that we did not plan. On a particularly busy day, between our fourth and fifth event of the afternoon, we decided to stop and grab some coffee at a gas station in Dennis (I’m not sure about America but I certainly ran on Dunkin’ that day). As I lifted the paper cup to my lips, I could hear someone approaching me from behind when he said, “Oh look, it’s Julian Cyr.” I wouldn’t say his tone was menacing, but it certainly was not the sound of a friend or a fan.

Now look. Those of us in this line of work don’t get into it to make friends or have fans. We know we are going to have our detractors and critics too; it’s just part of the job. And now in my fifth term, I’ve learned how to tune out the haters and trolls. But I could tell he was neither of those.

The man, let’s call him Dennis since that’s where we met, was a deeply concerned citizen who I’m pretty sure did not vote for me ever. He told me some of the things that are bothering him. He’s a hard-working father who is struggling to make ends meet due to the incredibly high costs of living in this area (including half his wife’s salary on childcare alone). He doesn’t understand why Massachusetts’ elected leaders choose to allocate money to programs that benefit people who were not born and raised in the U.S. I listened. I pushed back on some of the things he got wrong. He listened. A couple times he actually agreed with me. And just like I know my allies and supporters are not likely to agree with me on everything, I am just as happy to say that my detractors and critics don’t disagree with me on everything. There is always common ground. Sometimes you just have to scratch below the surface a little to find it.

While we are striving to listen and find mutual understanding here, all of us are facing mounting headwinds from the utter chaos in Washington. Tens of millions of dollars in federal funding for veterans, public health, K-12 education, medical research, public lands, and so many more has been callously (and arguably illegally) cut. Legal residents have had their rights and due process stripped in raids designed to instill fear and terror among immigrant communities. The likelihood of recession looms greater with this week’s announcement of the largest tax increase (tariff = tax) on working Americans since the late 18th Century. Indeed, business confidence in Massachusetts has plummeted to its lowest level since 2020 when we were in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate announced RESPONSE 2025, a coordinated effort to protect the people of Massachusetts, defend our values, and lead us through what is certain to be a difficult time under the second Trump Administration.

Under the direction of Senate President Spilka, the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy will spearhead RESPONSE 2025, working closely with policy experts and Senate committee chairs like myself to prioritize state policies and responses based on need, feasibility, and effectiveness. We aim to provide clarity to the public by cutting through misinformation and helping residents understand the state’s role in protecting your rights and services. There’s lots more to come, so stay tuned. We are here for you, and we’re going to try to get through this together.

I am grateful to serve in such consequential times. As the story above reminds me, I am not just the Cape and Islands Senator for the people who voted for me (but thank you to those of you who have!). If you live on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, or Nantucket, I’m your State Senator whether you voted for me or not, and I’m working hard to protect, defend, and lead on behalf of everyone who makes a life in our most special corner of the Commonwealth.

In solidarity,
Julian Cyr
Updates & Newsroom
International Transgender Day of Visibility
Since 2009, International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) has been observed on March 31st to celebrate the resilience, creativity, beauty, and fortitude of the trans community. And now, in 2025, as trans people continue to be scapegoated and weaponized for craven political gain, it is more important than ever to recognize our trans friends and community members for their incredible contributions in the social movement for equal rights for all.
I was honored to host TDOV at the State House with Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Senate President Karen Spilka, my colleagues in the LGBTQ+ Caucus, and trans activists and community leaders who took to the podium one by one to remind the packed house why representation, visibility, and unity matter as much today as ever before.
In 2023–2024, dozens of states passed laws banning or restricting trans health care for youth. Nearly 40% of trans youth now live in states where such care is banned. And we are now witnessing a hateful effort to erase trans people from public life. These are coordinated, deliberate attacks – and we must call them what they are: state-sponsored discrimination. But we will not take the bait here in Massachusetts. We will not vilify and humiliate the smallest of minorities in our Commonwealth and country for purposes of distraction and short-term political gain. Because we know our support of trans people isn’t about ‘wokeness’ or political correctness. It's about realizing the dignity and self-determination inherent in each of us.
Watch This
Boston 25 News with Drew Karedes ([link removed])
“Municipal police training is something we’ve worked hard on,” Cyr said. “This has been a bipartisan effort across the Cape and Islands.”
Listen to This

The Creative Exchange Podcast with Julie Wake ([link removed])

“If we want to continue to be a vibrant meaningful place that’s more than just our natural beauty… we’ve got to be good stewards of our creative economy and creative community. I’m really proud that the Affordable Homes Act contains this provision.”

The Circle Podcast with Tim Bish and Eric Bomyea ([link removed])

"When people and societies enter into a state of shock, they lose their identities and their footing. Hence, calm is a form of resistance. Calm is the precondition for focus, for the capacity to prioritize. If shock induced a loss of identity, then calm is the condition under which we return to ourselves.”
News from around the District

Leading Massachusetts: Politicians to watch in 2025 ([link removed]) - March 20, 2025 – Mass Live

It’s already well-established that a crisis of housing affordability and access is one of the Bay State’s biggest public policy challenges. Last year, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey signed a massive housing bond bill into law that will go a long way toward addressing it.

And now, as the Senate’s chairperson of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing, state Sen. Julian Cyr is going to have a big say in how that bill gets implemented and how housing policy will be shaped for the next two years.

“Housing is the most urgent challenge facing our region and the commonwealth,” Cyr, D-Cape and Islands, told The Inquirer and Mirror on Nantucket last month. “Young people, families and even businesses are being priced out of our communities because we’ve fallen behind on housing.”

State Sen. Cyr looks to an insurance system that enshrines 'health care as a right' in MA ([link removed]) - March 12, 2025 – Cape Cod Times

Saying "health care is a right," state Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Provincetown, has submitted a bill calling for a study that would determine whether Massachusetts could establish a single-payer health care system that outperforms the current model.

“We should really start to consider alternative solutions. We need a roadmap to get there. I think the broader single-payer bills would be quite ambitious for us to implement, particularly given the very uncertain federal environment,” he said.

“I think we need to be honest about the complexity of the current health care system and what it would take to actually move towards single-payer health care.”

Cape and Islands Bridge Coalition stresses economic development impact of new bridges ([link removed]) - March 15, 2025 – Cape Cod Times

On its March 8 roadtrip, the coalition group stopped first at the Associated Industry of Massachusetts, then went to Beacon Hill where they were joined by state Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Cape and Islands, and former state Rep. Sarah Peake, now an adviser on intergovernmental affairs in the governor’s office. Luisa Paiewonsky, executive director of the state's Megaprojects Delivery Office, provided updates on the bridge project that is currently undergoing extensive environmental reviews.

At the State House, the group met with chairs of Senate and House transportation committees and other leaders on economic development and grants.

See protesters against cuts to veteran services gather to demonstrate in Hyannis ([link removed]) - March 14, 2025 – Cape Cod Times

State Senator Julian Cyr, second from left, visited with demonstrators for veterans’ support, circling the Airport Rotary in Hyannis at noontime to protest the cuts coming from the federal government to veterans services.

'Lights have been on 24/7.' Vineyard Wind tests on-off night lights for wind turbines ([link removed]) - March 5, 2025 – Cape Cod Times

State Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Provincetown, and Rep. Thomas Moakley, D-Falmouth, who were both present at the Nantucket Select Board meeting on Feb. 19, said they understand and share the frustrations.

"I think folks are right to be quite upset," Cyr added. "I can’t believe these lights are still on. This is the most simple, relatively simple, technology that should be implemented."

A Policy Buffet ([link removed]) - March 26, 2025 – The Provincetown Independent

At the March 25 select board meeting, state Sen. Julian Cyr urged Truro to adopt the state’s new “seasonal community designation” that will appear on the May town meeting warrant.

The designation was part of the Affordable Homes Act that passed last year, and Cyr described it as a critical tool for towns like Truro, where 67 percent of the housing stock is “reserved for seasonal or occasional use,” according to the American Community Survey. If adopted, it would give Truro access to a bundle of housing policies, including the right to create perpetual deed restrictions for year-round occupancy, the ability to develop housing specifically for town staff or artists, and the option to expand the residential property tax exemption to 50 percent of the average home value in Truro.

Without the designation, Cyr said, the town could be ineligible for future state grants aimed at the housing crisis.

Because most of the policies allowed to seasonal communities are optional, Cyr described the program as “a buffet — you can choose what you put on your plate. I expect you’re probably going to need these tools,” he added, “but implementation will be up to the town.”

Budget Cuts Could Cost MassHealth $2 Billion Per Year ([link removed]) - March 26, 2025 – The Provincetown Independent

“It’s still really early in the session,” said state Sen. Julian Cyr — but he is hoping that Senate Bill 711 or something like it could become law. The bill would require commercial insurance companies to match the rates MassHealth pays to community health centers. Earlier this year, Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation creating a task force on primary care access, delivery, and payment, and Cyr said that rate equity could become a priority for that task force.

“When we look at who is providing primary care, mental health care, and prenatal care to some of the most vulnerable people in Massachusetts, community health centers are the leaders in that care,” Cyr said.

Finding solutions for turbulent insurance market ([link removed]) - March 27, 2025 – MV Times

State Senator Julian Cyr recently filed the two bills — one would increase accessibility for homeowners to private flood insurance, while the other would provide grant funding to residents looking to fortify their homes.

Both have the potential to make the Vineyard insurance market more competitive, according to agents here, which could eventually lead to lower costs.

One of the bills — Bill S.719: An Act Relative to Private Flood Insurance — could help change that. Cyr’s intention is to reduce reliance on the national flood plan, and, as he told The Times, “promote a more robust flood insurance market.”

Hearings for Cyr’s bills will be open to the public this spring, summer, and fall. Locals can tune in through the Massachusetts legislature website.

“It’ll be really crucial for Islanders to weigh in at those hearings about the need for encouraging private flood insurance, the need for assistance related to resident homes and making upgrades to our homes,” Cyr said.

Lawmakers Push for More Staffing at Edgartown Courthouse ([link removed]) - March 4, 2025 – The Vineyard Gazette

Senator Cyr, a Democrat from Truro, said he hoped the legislature would make progress on the long-simmering issue, and expected Mr. Moakley’s background in the field could help the Island.

“I know it’s been hard for Islanders to access state resources within the judiciary,” Mr. Cyr said last month. “I think we can do better, and I’m really grateful to have Thomas’s expertise in an area of state government. This is going to be very helpful for us.”


Lightning strike zaps offshore wind turbine ([link removed]) - March 3, 2025 – State House News Service

"I've been in touch with the select board chair and the town manager, we just need to continue, we need Vineyard Wind to engage as a good neighbor to the island of Nantucket and Martha Vineyard," Cyr said. "Thorough, timely communication is always appreciated regarding any incident related to the wind farm, certainly this summer's incident and its aftermath was very challenging for islanders. And while it appears this lightning strike was much more narrow in scope, timely and thorough communication is what islanders expect and what we expect from any good neighbor."

Physician assistants say they could help the primary care crisis. Will Mass. lawmakers agree? ([link removed]) - March 16, 2025 – Mass Live

“My constituents are desperate for primary care providers to be taking new patients,” Cyr said. “I think many folks may not even know the difference in practice (of PAs). The physician supervising of PAs is not much more than something on a piece of paper.”

Cyr said most patients in Massachusetts seek “just anyone who can provide basic care,” whether it be a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

Responding to the Massachusetts Medical Society’s opposition to his bill, Cyr said physicians have an interest in “maximizing the market share.”
Legislation Corner

Extending Remote & Hybrid Meeting Allowances for Public Bodies

I’ve heard from many constituents in support of extending remote and hybrid meeting allowances for public bodies. This month, the Legislature approved such an extension through June of 2027, a bill that Governor Healey promptly signed into law. This critical measure, originally introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensures that local governments can continue to operate with flexibility while expanding civic participation.
These provisions allow municipal boards and committees to meet virtually or in hybrid formats, reducing barriers to engagement and making government more accessible to residents. This extension also maintains policies that lower the quorum requirement for Town Meetings and enable representative Town Meetings to include remote participation.

Looking ahead, Beacon Hill plans to make this extension permanent before its expiration. I am committed to ensuring that our local and state government remains transparent, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all constituents, whether they attend meetings in person or remotely.
Senate Art Committee
Representation matters—not just in policy, but in the symbols that adorn the halls of power. For far too long, the contributions of women who shaped our Commonwealth and nation have been absent from the artwork that adorns the State House, including in the Senate Chamber. As Chair of the renewed Senate Art Committee, with the encouragement and support of Senate President Karen Spilka, I led the effort to bring greater representation to the Massachusetts State House.
I joined Senate President Spilka for the announcement on March 27, which dovetailed with the unveiling of HERstory Vol III, a photographic exhibition of 90 “trailblazers and disruptors” in the Senate President’s chambers.

I joined Senate President Spilka for the announcement on March 27, which dovetailed with the unveiling of HERstory Vol III, a photographic exhibition of 90 “trailblazers and disruptors” in the Senate President’s chambers.

The committee’s first task was to select a woman to be honored with a bust, making her the first to receive such a tribute in the chamber. After reviewing over 300 nominations from across Massachusetts, the committee made recommendation to the members of the Senate, and the Senators chose Abigail Adams and Elizabeth Freeman—two extraordinary figures in our state’s history.

Elizabeth Freeman (c. 1744–1829), also known as Mum Bett, played a pivotal role in ending slavery in Massachusetts. Born into slavery, she seized an opportunity for justice when she learned about the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, which declared that all people were “born free and equal.” With the help of attorney Theodore Sedgwick, she sued for her freedom in the landmark case Brom & Bett v. Ashley (1781). The court ruled in her favor, stating that slavery was inconsistent with the state’s new constitution. This case helped set a legal precedent that contributed to the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts just a few years later. Freeman’s bravery and determination not only secured her own freedom but helped pave the way for countless others. She remained a respected figure in her Western Massachusetts community, working for the Sedgwick family and ultimately purchasing her own home—a powerful symbol of self-determination and justice.

Abigail Adams (1744–1818) was a brilliant political thinker, a steadfast advocate for women’s rights, and a key advisor to her husband, President John Adams. In an era when women had no formal political power, Abigail used her voice to challenge the status quo. Her famous 1776 letter to John Adams—where she urged him to “remember the ladies” while drafting new laws for the young nation—was a bold demand for women’s inclusion in democracy at a time when such ideas were radical. Abigail also believed deeply in education for women and rejected the notion that they should be confined to domestic roles. Through her letters and influence, she laid the groundwork for future generations fighting for gender equality. Her legacy continues to inspire advocates for women’s rights and civic participation today.

The next step in this historic process is to commission artists to create the busts of these remarkable women. This initiative builds on our commitment to ensuring that the art in the State House truly reflects the diversity and values of Massachusetts. I look forward to seeing this project take shape and to continuing the work of making our government spaces more inclusive and representative for all.

‘Sending a clear message ... you belong here’: State Senate wants to diversify art and symbolism in its chamber ([link removed]) - March 5, 2025 – The Boston Globe

Members of the committee, chaired by Senator Julian Cyr, were sworn in at a public meeting last Wednesday.

“Now more than ever, the art that adorns the halls of the State House should reflect who we are as a Commonwealth and embody the values of Massachusetts,” Cyr, a Provincetown Democrat, said in a statement. “I am thrilled and honored to lead a renewed Senate Art Committee, one that will work to expand inclusivity and representation in the art that beautifies the State House.”

Busts of Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Freeman planned to diversify State House art ([link removed]) - March 27, 2025 – GBH News

Sen. Julian Cyr, who chairs the Senate Art Committee, said the panel “grappled” with the idea of picking just one woman.

“There are hundreds of women, thousands of women who’ve made immeasurable contributions to this commonwealth,” Cyr said. “By having two busts, I think we’re trying to send a really strong message that we are working hard to ensure that we are living up to the fullness of our history.”

The busts of Freeman and Adams will join a bust of abolitionist Frederick Douglass as new additions to the Senate chamber. The committee that Cyr chairs is tasked with diversifying the state Senate’s symbols to better reflect the population.
Standing with Health Care Workers

On a sunny March afternoon, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East gathered for a rally right outside my office window at the State House. I was joined by my colleague on the Joint Committee on Public Health Chair Marjorie Decker in speaking to the hundreds of people who traveled across the Commonwealth that day to advocate for the rights of healthcare workers. 1199SEIU represents almost 80,000 healthcare professionals throughout Massachusetts and is the most politically active union in the Commonwealth. They have successfully campaigned for higher job standards such as fair wages, affordable healthcare, and a pathway to $25/hour for personal care attendants. They are a true testament to the power of uniting for a cause and making a collective of voices impossible to ignore.
More Bills to Spotlight:

The Road to Opportunity Act

I’ve partnered with Representative Brandy Fluker-Oakley on The road to opportunity act (H.3662 & S.2368 ([link removed]) ), a commonsense bill to end the practice of suspending driver’s licenses in Massachusetts simply because someone can’t afford to pay a fine or fee.

Right now, our state suspends tens of thousands of licenses each year over unpaid traffic tickets, tolls, and other fees — not because of unsafe driving. This punitive system is counterproductive. People need to drive to get to work, care for their families, and access essential services, especially in regions like ours where public transportation is limited. Taking away someone’s license because they’re struggling financially traps them in a cycle of poverty, further burdens our court system, and diverts law enforcement from focusing on public safety.

The Road to opportunity act puts a stop to this nonsensical cycle. This legislation eliminates debt-based license suspensions while preserving penalties for truly dangerous driving. It also improves how we collect fines by adding tools like payment reminders and fee waivers for those who can’t afford to pay. This legislation is about restoring opportunity, protecting public safety, and making government work better for everyone.

An Act relative to LGBTQ+ health disparities

Along with my colleague and fellow LGBTQ+ caucus member Representative Sam Montaño, I refiled An Act relative to LGBTQ+ health disparities that seeks to improve sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection in Massachusetts.

Ensuring that LGBTQ+ people receive equitable, high-quality healthcare starts with better data collection. This bill establishes a framework for collecting voluntary SOGI data across health, education, and human services departments in Massachusetts - a crucial step in identifying and addressing the health disparities that LGBTQ+ residents face.

Right now, a lack of comprehensive data means that too many LGBTQ+ individuals go unseen in our healthcare system, leading to gaps in care, higher rates of untreated chronic conditions, and disparities in mental health outcomes. By improving SOGI data collection, we can better understand the unique health challenges our community faces—and, more importantly, develop targeted policies and programs to address them.
Latest Events- In the District and Beyond!
Cape & Islands DELEGATION MEETINGS

Cape Cod Regional Technical High School

My colleagues in the Cape and Islands legislative delegation and I were treated to a scrumptious breakfast at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School while we discussed with members of the school’s administration the challenges facing secondary schools in the area. As our region’s housing affordability crisis continues to deepen, the need to home grow our workforce is only going to increase. As it stands, a sizable chunk our workforce commutes over the bridge to get to work on Cape Cod. Don’t you think nurses, plumbers, mechanics and chefs deserve to be able to live close to where they work? That is how communities thrive and flourish. If the corned beef hash they served us is any indication, I certainly hope these ace culinary students choose to start and build their careers and lives right here at home. Yes, Massachusetts is #1 in the nation for education, but what good does that do us if every promising student moves somewhere else because they can’t afford to live here? It is imperative
we do everything we can to ensure that the next generation of Cape and Islanders can build a life here.

I’m really hoping Connor Detellis and Bailey McMakin open restaurants on the Cape someday!

Cape and Islands Association of Realtors

Next up the Cape and Islands legislative delegation met with the Cape and Islands Association of Realtors (CIAOR) about the pressing housing challenges facing our region—challenges the realty community understands deeply through their daily work helping residents navigate the path to homeownership.

This panel discussion offered an important opportunity for CIAOR members to learn more about key provisions in the Affordable Homes Act, including the newly proposed Seasonal Communities designation, which aims to better recognize and respond to the housing pressures in high-cost, tourism-driven areas like the Cape and Islands. This designation would create a pathway for targeted policy solutions—including dedicated funding and regulatory relief—tailored to the unique needs of communities with large seasonal populations and constrained year-round housing stock.

Additional topics we discussed included proposed legislation to allow local real estate transfer fees to fund year-round housing, wastewater infrastructure challenges amid strained state and federal funding, and the growing regulatory landscape around short-term rentals.

Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

Later that afternoon, the Cape and Islands delegation met with the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce for a robust conversation on the issues shaping our region’s economy, infrastructure, and workforce. We were welcomed by Chamber CEO Paul Niedzwiecki and had a chance to introduce ourselves before diving into a productive agenda.

The discussion kicked off with an update from the Cape & Islands Bridges Coalition, including the complex work of relocating utilities ahead of bridge replacements. We explored opportunities for state support to keep these generational infrastructure projects moving—and on schedule.

We also dug into the intersection of infrastructure, housing, and wastewater—the building blocks of a resilient year-round economy. We discussed how a forthcoming Environmental Bond Bill and the proposed Seasonal Communities designation can bring targeted resources to the Cape and Islands to meet these challenges head-on.

Finally, we turned our attention to the region’s economic drivers. The Chamber shared an update on tourism industry performance and laid out their priorities for the season ahead. We touched on pending legislation and policy areas critical to small businesses, including unemployment insurance, the proposed catastrophic insurance fund, and local revenue tools included in the Municipal Empowerment Act. As always, we’re grateful for the Chamber’s partnership and their commitment to a thriving Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Community College

Our final delegation meeting of the month was at Cape Cod Community College (4Cs). The Senate led the way in funding free community college in this year’s budget, and no community college in the state has seen a greater surge in enrollment than at 4Cs! We got to hear from some current students whose lives have been forever changed for the better because of enrollment at 4Cs. My hope for these students, much like my wish for the students at Cape Cod Tech, is for these soon-to-be graduates to be able to make a life here on the Cape and Islands after graduation. We need you here! Please stay. Your Cape and Islands legislative delegation are doing everything in our power to make it so you can.

Ptown Year-Rounders Fest

Representative Hadley Luddy and I attended the 38th annual Provincetown and Outer Cape Year Rounders Festival at Provincetown Town Hall.

This is one of my favorite winter events in town, in part because its place on the calendar portends the arrival of spring, but mostly because it’s an excuse for so many in our community who may have been hunkered down for the colder months to come back out and reconnect with each other in person.

Amy Raff, Provincetown’s Library Director, and I discussed my anti-book banning bill S.2328 An Act regarding free expression ([link removed])

Over the course of the day, almost 1000 people popped in to shop local (27 artists had tables with everything ranging from paintings to pottery to original novels) and learn more about what’s going on in town (30 nonprofits and town committees were represented). Seeing so many in my hometown community showing up for and supporting each other at the Year Rounders Festival is a fantastic reminder of why I am so happy and fortunate to call Provincetown home.

Librarians vs. Book Bans

I stopped by the Eldredge Public Library in Chatham to discuss my anti-book banning bill (S.2328 An Act regarding free expression ([link removed]) ) with a group of lovely librarians. You might think that here in solidly blue Massachusetts, we wouldn’t need to worry about attempts to ban books. Yet in reality, the Bay State is fourth in the nation in such attempts. One of the librarians I met with said she received death threats over a book she had the audacity to say she liked. DEATH THREATS. This has got to stop. When people use threats and fear-mongering as a tactic to repress free speech and expression, we cannot let them win. I urge everyone to support their public libraries and the people who work in them in every way possible. I can’t believe I even have to say this, but I guess this is where we are in 2025: BOOKS ARE GOOD. LIBRARIES ARE GOOD. READING IS GOOD. LEARNING IS GOOD.

Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled

The Cape Organization for Rights of the Disabled (CORD) has been helping the community since 1984. When you think of a local nonprofit organization with a genuinely noble mission, CORD should be the image that pops into your head. As the current federal administration aims to make giant cuts to Medicaid, organizations like CORD worry that they won’t receive the funding necessary to keep operations running. I will always do what I can to fight for funding to community-centered organizations whose sole mission is to help the most vulnerable segments of our population.

Cape Cod Commission Affordable Homes Act update

Representative Luddy and I had a very constructive visit with the Cape Cod Commission (CCC) to brief their entire staff on the Affordable Homes Act, in particular the newly minted seasonal communities designation. The mission of the CCC is very much in line with my own priorities, “coordinating a balanced relationship between environmental protection and economic progress” for our region. Right at the top of their website is their Regional Housing Strategy (CCC Regional Housing Strategy ([link removed]) ), and it helps me sleep at night knowing we in the legislature have such strong, thoughtful allies right up the road working in tandem with us on solutions to the Cape’s housing crisis. This was my first visit with the CCC since being named Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, and it brings me great pride to be the official housing advocate for the Cape and Islands on Beacon Hill

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School Alliance of Lesbian, Gay, & Straight Students

I have to admit something. Even though I grew up just minutes from the gay mecca of Provincetown, it was not easy for me to come out in the early 2000s. Bullying was still very much a thing during my formative years. Since the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, when same-sex marriage became federal law, it was starting to seem like even the torturous coming out process was a thing of the past. After spending an afternoon with the Alliance of Lesbian, Gay, & Straight Students (ALGSS) of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, I was reminded that as much as things change, things tend to stay the same. With LGBTQ+ Americans, especially transgender people, under attack, and there is always more work to do to protect the LGBTQ+ community. I was humbled by this remarkable group of students I met and spoke with that day. They’re smart. They’re organized. They’re funny and thoughtful. They wanted to know what they can do to effect positive change in these uncertain times, and I
told them they’re already doing it. Convening and sharing ideas and joining voices and forces, especially at such a young age, is a tremendous first step. I want to extend special gratitude to their faculty advisor Ms. Williams for organizing the meeting. When I spend time with young people like these, it renews my hope for the next generation. The kids are all right indeed.

Restoring the Bass River

Fun fact: the Bass River flows from freshwater streams in Yarmouth Port nine miles south to Nantucket Sound, making it the longest river on all of Cape Cod. Not so fun fact: nitrogen levels in Mill Pond – where Bass River starts its journey toward the ocean – have reached such toxic levels that fishing is no longer permitted there. Add in the storm runoff from nearby bridges and roads, as well as the erosion caused by storm surge and rising water levels, and you have the makings of a spiraling ecological tragedy. That’s where the Friends of Bass River come in. Thanks to the Friends’ thoughtful advocacy, Governor Healey’s administration recently awarded the Town of Yarmouth a $25,000 grant to support preliminary design work for the Upper Bass River Restoration project, which will restore 57 acres of retired cranberry bogs back to natural wetlands. This award is part of a larger $2.1 million package that will aid similar restoration projects in 17 communities across the Commonwealth. We are
so grateful the governor’s administration is such a strong ally in our efforts to not only preserve the natural beauty for which our region is famous, but to restore wildlife habitat, reduce flood risks, improve water quality, and make our estuaries and waterways more resilient to climate change.

Dennis and Truro Select Board Meetings

After stopping by Select Board meetings in Wellfleet, Eastham, and Nantucket in February, it was Dennis’ and Truro’s turn in March. As with the other Select Board meetings I’ve recently attended, we discussed how housing and wastewater go hand-in-hand. You really can’t have a conversation about one without mentioning the other. Fortunately, Dennis is rapidly making up ground on addressing the wastewater crisis (their 960-page Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan came out in November of 2021). I briefed the members of the Dennis Select Board on state funding for wastewater and the soon to be implemented Seasonal Communities Designation. Included in the Governor’s $5.1 billion Affordable Homes Act, the Seasonal Communities Designation is a suite of tools that Towns across the region and the Commonwealth have asked to implement through the home rule petition process. Like the other towns of the Cape and Islands, Dennis can benefit from this housing toolkit that will make it possible for
the town to, among other things, create a dedicated year-round housing trust, purchase and hold in perpetuity year-round residential deed restrictions, and build housing for municipal employees and artists without running afoul of fair housing laws. The housing crisis in our region is a multi-faceted problem that is going to require a multi-pronged approach, and there is no silver bullet, but seasonal communities designation will make a difference.

For Truro’s part, 67% of their housing stock is “reserved for seasonal or occasional use,” according to the American Community Survey. They, like Dennis and the other towns I’ve spoken to, are really going to want to employ most if not all of the Seasonal Communities Designation tools, such as the right to create perpetual deed restrictions for year-round occupancy and municipal workers.

Meals on Wheels

Rep. Luddy and I had a great time during our Meals on Wheels ride-along with Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands (ESCCI). MOW is an invaluable program for our elder population, which is only getting larger. On the Cape, Meals on Wheels delivers approximately 6,100 meals a week to over 1,500 happy customers, and each meal delivery serves as a daily safety check. Sadly, there is a waitlist of over 100 people since July due to a volunteer shortage, so if you are looking for a worthy cause to donate your time to and you live in or near the Mid- to Upper Cape (on our delivery day, we performed seven deliveries between Harwich and Dennis Port), please consider Meals on Wheels! Just follow this link: Volunteer with ESCCI ([link removed])
Supporting our Veterans

Freeman K. Johnson’s 105th Birthday

I’m willing to bet that very few of you who are reading this remember December 7, 1941, the day Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, thrusting our nation into World War II. Not only was he alive then, but Massachusetts native and Centerville resident Freeman K. Johnson was there that day on Oahu, serving in the Navy. On March 11, Freeman turned 105, making him the oldest survivor of that fateful day that continues to live in infamy. My colleague Representative Kip Diggs organized a fantastic birthday party for Freeman at the Barnstable Adult Community Center in Hyannis on March 19th and I was so honored to be invited to speak and sit with Freeman during the ceremony thanking him for his incredible contribution to American history. Rep. Diggs made sure the red carpet was rolled out for Mr. Johnson, as he was greeted with an enormous American flag on the Hyannis Fire Department aerial truck, a line of Naval and police officers, and Barnstable intermediate and high school
students led by a color guard of the Barnstable High School Coast Guard and Junior ROTC.

Thank you for your service, Mr. Johnson. Massachusetts and especially Cape Cod are very proud to call you one of ours.

Rally at Hyannis Rotary

On March 14, at the Airport Rotary in Hyannis, hundreds of Cape Cod residents gathered in a powerful show of solidarity to support our veterans in the face of callous cuts in federal funding. The rally, organized by local advocates and veterans' groups, brought together people from all walks of life to demand that our country honor its promises to those who have served in uniform. It was a moving testament to the unwavering commitment of our community to ensure that veterans receive the respect, care, and support they deserve.

In the midst of a time when veterans are facing unprecedented challenges—especially with the recent changes under the current federal administration—many are losing their jobs within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) due to harmful cuts and a slash-and-burn firing policy. In 2024, the VA said it was working hard to fill its 66,000 vacancies, an enormous staffing shortage that resulted in unreasonably long wait times for care. Now, just one year later, the VA faces the cutting of 83,000 jobs, about a quarter of which are veterans themselves.

But despite these difficult circumstances, the rally was a vibrant expression of solidarity with those who serve. Residents came together, with banners waving and voices rising in unison, to demand accountability and justice for those who have given so much. It was a reminder that we, as a community, will not stand idly by while those who have fought for our freedom are left behind. Together, we will continue to fight for the well-being and dignity of our veterans.

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