Fourth of July

The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News | What Does the Fourth of July Mean Now - The Vineyard Gazette 

Mr. Cyr also reflected on the current political climate. “Certainly, in this really trying moment in our national politics, where we have such division and I see our federal government pursuing what I feel is very deeply un-American policies and rhetoric where we are attacking vulnerable people and we are closing off from each other and from the world, it’s very trying and troublesome,” he said. “But I don’t want to surrender patriotism to the MAGA side. I think there is so much in Cape Cod and Island values and New England values that are really at the core of the American experience.” 

Nantucket & Offshore Wind

$10.5M for Nantucket from offshore wind blade maker draws criticism
- Cape Cod Times 

“This seems like a mutually agreed-upon outcome and a substantial sum of money that will help offset both the town’s costs and the losses suffered by local businesses,” he said. “With this settlement, we’re seeing further commitment to make things right.”

“Lead or leave:” Town hits Vineyard Wind with list of demands
 - The Inquirer and Mirror

Cyr issued a response shortly after the press conference saying that while he remains a strong supporter of renewable energy, he stands with the Town of Nantucket and believes it’s demands are “reasonable and achievable.” Cyr said he will work with state leaders to help enforce the Good Neighbor Agreement and ensure Vineyard Wind engages with Nantucket in good faith.

Bills, Bills, Bills

Governor Healey voices support for school cell phone ban bill
 - CapeCod.com

Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in support of the “STUDY Act”, which was introduced by a group of lawmakers including Cape and Islands State Senator Julian Cyr.

Senate school cellphone bill leaves key details to districts
 - Franklin Observer

The Education Committee's senators built their bill by redrafting a proposal from Sen. Julian Cyr of Provincetown (S 335). They left out one significant piece: unlike the Cyr bill, the version newly on the move does not implement any new regulations or guardrails around social media use by minors.

Massachusetts lawmakers push for statewide ban of cellphones in public schools - New Bedford Guide

Sponsored by state Senator Julian Cyr, the proposal recently cleared a key Senate committee and allows exceptions for parental communication, with districts crafting enforcement plans.Supporters, including the Massachusetts Teachers Association, argue that cellphones disrupt education by enabling social media engagement, fostering conflicts, and hindering progress.

Mass. bills aimed at protecting librarians, preventing book bans get hearing 
- WAMC

“It prevents book bans - it requires school and public libraries to maintain transparent, educationally-grounded policies for selecting materials and it prevents materials from being removed unless proven to lack any value by clear, convincing evidence,” the Cape and Islands Democrat said. “It protects librarians and educators - it shields librarians and school employees from retaliation, including the loss of licensure, termination or disciplinary action for selecting and defending access to materials in good faith under established policy…”

Bill seeks to let students, campers use sunscreen
- Boston 25 News

“We know how important it is for young people and all walks of life to get outside and spend time in nature and recess,” he said. “So sunscreen application just seems like a basic health and safety measure that should be available to our students, so that’s why this is a common sense bill, and something I’m hoping we’ll finally get a little traction on.”

Massachusetts to Follow NYC in Making Landlords Pay Broker Fees
 - Bloomberg

The broker fee changes that Healey said she will sign into law are a “common sense reform that will help keep money in the pockets of Bay State renters who need it more than ever,” said State Senator Julian Cyr, a Democrat representing Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket who oversees the legislature’s joint committee on housing.

State Makes Moves to Protect Transgender Care
 - The Provincetown Independent

“We’re trying to figure out how we can continue to provide those services to residents of Massachusetts,” Cyr said. The aim is to ensure “that trans people will continue to access care and services in Massachusetts regardless of what happens in Washington.”

Opinion | Lawmakers, protect us from PFAS
 - The Boston Globe

To protect our health and our water, we must stop PFAS at their sources by ending industrial discharges of PFAS into our waterways, eliminating PFAS from consumer goods and products, and providing more resources for testing and mitigation. A bill pending in the Legislature, filed by Senator Julian Cyr, of Provincetown, and Representative Kate Hogan, of Stow, would do all those things. Passing this legislation must be a top priority.

Boston City Council Backs Road to Opportunity Act to End Economic Punishment - Davis Vanguard

Cyr echoed that view, saying the resolution reflects a belief in second chances and a commitment to removing “needless barriers that stand in the way of opportunity,” the NCLC stated.

New AMBER alert-like system would send alerts to people’s phones when a shark is nearby - The Independent

“The practicality of this law on Outer Cape beaches is limited,” Cyr told Boston 25 News. “For our Atlantic-facing beaches on Cape Cod, we’ve had a real challenge around cell phone access.”

FY26 Budget

Governor Healey wished the Commonwealth a happy Fourth of July by signing the FY26 budget that afternoon to the tune of $60.9 billion. This is a budget that invests in public education, expands access to health care and housing, and meets this moment of economic uncertainty with responsibility and compassion. Through this budget, we codified fare-free regional transit, supported child and adult care access for political candidates, and provided new investments in food security, climate resiliency, and mental health supports. I had my eye on budget line items that are particularly important considering certain federal funding cuts and was thrilled that the HIV/AIDS and Community Health Center line items received (nearly) level funding from the prior fiscal year – huge wins in a tough budget climate.

The final budget also included the creation of an Affirming Health Care Trust – language that was filed by Representatives Sam Montaño and Marjorie Decker during the House’s debate – with initial funding of $1 million. This is a huge victory for Massachusetts that will allow us to continue building a plan to ensure continuity of access to (affordable) gender affirming health care. The federal government is taking every opportunity to threaten such access, but we're hard at work fighting back – and this trust is an essential component of the work.  

As the Senate chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, I’m particularly encouraged by the progress made on housing production and affordability. One particularly impactful new policy included in the budget relates to real estate broker fees – which now must be paid by the party that hires the broker, ensuring that tenants aren’t unfairly burdened with a steep price tag just for signing a new lease. My amendment that sought to jumpstart several of the top recommendations from the housing production report “Building for Tomorrow” (from the Governor’s Unlocking Housing Production Commission) also survived the conference committee process. That amendment will now deliver three special commissions to explore a sales tax exemption for multifamily housing construction materials; piloting third-party inspections to speed up permitting; and a local option to exempt affordable housing from Proposition 2½ constraints.  These commissions are a good first step towards allowing us to build much needed housing units in Massachusetts at a time when permitting and building couldn’t be harder – or more expensive.  

I also secured the creation of a statewide commission on children’s behavioral health, which will chart a path toward a more coordinated, accessible, and responsive mental health system for young people and their families. Getting children into mental health services is simply too difficult. This commission will bring together relevant state agencies and stakeholders to assess system gaps, improve coordination, and develop a five-year strategy to make it easier for families to find critical mental health care for their children. 

In addition to these policy wins, I also secured important statewide investments, including $500,000 for the Boston Alliance of LGBTQ+ Youth (“BAGLY”) to continue its important work supporting LGBTQ+ homeless youth, and $200,000 for the Massachusetts Center for Employee Ownership – an organization I helped create in the 2022 economic development bill to better support worker-owned business models.  

Closer to home, I was proud to partner with my House colleagues to secure targeted investments for the Cape and Islands. The FY26 budget includes substantial investments in elder care, affordable housing, shelter services, scientific research, and cultural preservation—sectors that are foundational to Cape & Island life but too often struggle for sustained funding.  

One of the most meaningful local wins in this year’s budget is a $3.8 million investment in Navigator Homes of Martha’s Vineyard, which will replace the aging Windemere Nursing Facility with a state-of-the-art, small-home model of elder care. This new model promises a more modern, dignified, and community-centered approach to long-term care on the island. But with higher staffing and operational needs—and limited access to Medicare reimbursements due to the hospital’s critical access designation—Navigator Homes faces real funding challenges. This funding will help close that gap and ensure Island seniors can receive high-quality care close to home, without being forced to leave the Vineyard. A big thank you to my colleagues, Representative Thomas Moakley and Representative Thomas Stanley for their collaboration in this effort.  

All of the amendments I filed for local organizations and projects survived the conference committee process, including $150,000 for shellfish propagation in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties; $70,000 for Barnstable’s Launch Transitions program to buy a new van to transport students with disabilities; and $60,000 for the Cape Cod Bridges Coalition to support businesses during the upcoming bridge replacement projects. For a full list of local wins, please visit my June newsletter! 

Did somebody say 'Happy Hour'?

In early July, I delivered testimony in support of a bill I’ve filed with my good friend and colleague, Representative Sam Montaño—An Act relative to conviviality and downtown revitalization, more commonly known as the “Happy Hour” bill. And boy, has this one gotten a lot of airtime:

Mass. lawmakers make latest push to lift Happy Hour ban - Boston 25 News

Senator pitches happy hour bill from Provincetown brewery - Cape Cod Times 

Could happy hour return to Massachusetts - Spectrum News 

Cape lawmaker wants bars and restaurants to have happy hours again - CapeCod.com

Will Massachusetts' Happy Hour Ban Ever Be Repealed? - 105.7 WROR 

State Sen. Julian Cyr takes another shot at bringing back ‘Happy Hour’ - MSN 

Senator pitches happy hour bill from Provincetown brewery - Lowell Sun

Senator pitches happy hour bill from brewery - New Bedford Light 

Senator pitches happy hour bill as restaurants, package stores unite in opposition - Worcester Business Journal 

Just in time for summer, Cape lawmaker tries again to return Happy Hour to Mass. - MassLive.com 

This legislation would repeal the outdated statewide ban on happy hour drink specials and give cities and towns the option to allow them if they choose. And that’s what this bill is really about—choice. It’s not a mandate. No business would be forced to offer happy hour, and no community would be required to allow it. It simply gives local governments and local establishments the ability to decide what works for them. 

Massachusetts banned happy hour back in 1984, two years before I was born. The policy came in response to a tragic drunk driving death and was driven by a real and valid concern for public safety. But a lot has changed in the four decades since. Today, we have stricter DUI laws, better enforcement, and technological tools—like rideshare apps—that didn’t exist in the 1980s. In every state that has reintroduced happy hour in recent years, including Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas, the data is clear: alcohol-related incidents have not increased. 

So if we banned happy hour because it was once seen as a threat to public safety, and the data now shows it no longer poses that risk—why are we still holding onto a decades-old prohibition? 

I filed this bill because I believe our communities deserve more tools to support small businesses, bring people together, and revitalize our main streets. Whether you're in a seasonal town like Wellfleet or a city neighborhood in Boston, a thoughtfully implemented happy hour can help attract foot traffic and offer a little joy during tough times. 

As most of you know, I grew up in my family’s restaurant Adrian’s in North Truro. No one on the Outer Cape is likely to choose to offer happy hour discounts on drinks in the high season of July and August, but it sure would be nice to have the choice to do so to extend the shoulder season. Let’s give our communities the freedom to decide what works for them.

Housing Committee Hearing

This month, the Joint Committee on Housing held its fifth hearing of the legislative session, focusing on a range of proposals, mostly relating to programs administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. These hearings are a heavy lift for legislative offices, between the coordination required and the volume of testimony we receive and carefully review. Still, I continue to enjoy hearing from such dedicated stakeholders across the Commonwealth who are working tirelessly to address our housing crisis from every angle.

Pine Street Inn

My team joined Housing Committee Co-Chair Representative Richard Haggerty and members of the Joint Committee on Housing for a visit to Pine Street Inn’s emergency shelter and supportive services campus in Boston. The visit offered a firsthand look at the range of programs and partnerships that make Pine Street Inn a cornerstone of the state’s response to homelessness. 

Staff walked the Committee through the many ways they support individuals on their path toward housing—from brief overnight stays and basic health services to longer-term case management and housing placement. Pine Street Inn runs an in-house clinic and pharmacy, helps connect residents with transportation and outside providers, and partners with developers to secure long-term supportive housing for their clients. 

We were especially struck by Pine Street’s job training programs, which are entirely self-funded and focused on preparing residents for stable careers in food service and hospitality. From resume workshops to professional communication training, these services offer individuals a real path forward.

It was another busy month for legislative hearings and briefings! I hosted a legislative briefing on a deeply personal and overdue piece of legislation I filed—S.1389, An Act modernizing the six fundamental rights. These six rights, which apply to people receiving care in programs run, contracted, or licensed by the Department of Mental Health, are about preserving basic human dignity: access to communication, visitors, privacy, and fresh air. But they haven’t been updated in decades. Our bill would clarify, modernize, and strengthen these rights, ensuring things like access to email, appropriate personal care items, and the ability to see legal advocates and peer supporters. Many thanks the advocates, survivors, and allies who joined us at the State House to share their stories and call for action to protect the rights of people navigating our mental health system.

I also lent my voice to a briefing on harm reduction at the State House—an event that brought public health leaders, harm reduction experts, and advocates together to talk candidly and urgently about saving lives. We’ve made critical strides in overdose prevention across Massachusetts, but we must go further. From syringe exchange programs to drug checking and overdose prevention centers (OPCs), we heard about the continuum of care that meets people where they are and keeps them alive. I was especially moved by the stories from frontline harm reductionists and by the update from Rhode Island, where the nation’s first legally sanctioned OPC is already showing promising results. I shared why I filed S.1393, An Act relative to preventing overdose deaths and increasing access to treatment - because every life is worth saving, and Massachusetts should lead with compassion, evidence, and urgency.

July brought important steps to bring fairness and compassion to several areas of law that deeply affect Massachusetts families, as the Senate passed five important pieces of legislation. These bills will modernize our laws and better reflect the values of dignity, equity, and inclusion. 

First, the Senate passed the Debt Collection Fairness Act to crack down on predatory debt collection practices. This legislation seeks to lower interest rates on old debts, protect wages and child support from garnishment, and make clear that no one should face jail time for unpaid consumer debt.  

We also advanced long-overdue updates to our child custody laws by adopting the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The UCCJEA is a law adopted by every other U.S. state to establish clear, consistent rules for determining which state has jurisdiction over child custody cases. Its primary goals are to prevent jurisdictional conflicts between states, discourage forum shopping by parents, and ensure that custody decisions are made in the child's home state. These reforms will make custody cases less painful for families and more protective of children.

The Senate also passed the Blue Envelope bill, which would make permanent a program that supports safer, more respectful interactions between police officers and individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This bill requires the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to make free “blue envelopes” available for individuals with ASD or their guardians for when they’re driving in a car. The blue envelope helps signal to law enforcement that a driver may have communication challenges and includes clear guidance and documentation to prevent misunderstandings during traffic stops. This simple tool has already proven effective in practice, and now it will be embedded in state law to benefit neurodiverse residents and their families. 

The Senate (again) passed An Act relative to archaic laws, which repeals outdated criminal offenses – including those that criminalized blasphemy and consensual relationships between adults. I was especially proud to lead the effort to strike references to “common night walkers” and “common street walkers” from Massachusetts law. These vague, antiquated terms have long been used to target and criminalize transgender people, low-income women, and particularly women of color — often based on nothing more than subjective judgment or bias. This bill also establishes a permanent commission to periodically review the Massachusetts General Laws for language and provisions that are out of step with constitutional rights and modern civil liberties - ensuring that no resident is subjected to discrimination based on laws that should have been left in the past. 

Finally, the Senate advanced An Act amending certain laws relative to individuals with disabilities, which eliminates offensive and outdated terminology from over 360 sections of state law. The bill updates the legal code to use person-first, respectful language that better reflects how people with disabilities define themselves and deserve to be treated. Our laws should indeed reflect the full humanity and dignity of every person in the Commonwealth. 

I voted in favor of each of these bills, which now head to the House for consideration. All in all, July was a productive month in which the Senate moved many meaningful bills early in the legislative session. I’m encouraged by the momentum we’re building and optimistic about the good work we can accomplish for the people of Massachusetts between now and the end of the session next year.

Last week, the Town of Nantucket publicly and clearly articulated its ongoing concerns with Vineyard Wind, the first utility-scale offshore wind project in U.S. waters. I stand with the Town and support Nantucket’s call for greater transparency, responsiveness, and accountability. Nantucket’s demands are reasonable and achievable, and I will be working with local and state colleagues to ensure they are met.

The success of offshore wind in Massachusetts depends not only on technical execution, but on a foundation of trust and respect with the communities most directly affected by renewable energy projects. Nantucket has been a partner to Vineyard Wind from the beginning—engaged, thoughtful, and constructive. The Town of Nantucket entered into the Good Neighbor Agreement with Vineyard Wind in good faith, expecting open communication and shared problem-solving in return. Vineyard Wind also reached Good Neighbor Agreements with the island of Martha’s Vineyard and the Town of Barnstable. The same cannot be said of other offshore wind developers pursing projects in the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Earlier this month, at the Town’s request, I refrained from intervening directly in this matter to to give Nantucket time to work through its own channels. I honored that request out of respect for local leadership. But given last week’s public statement, I am now move forward in marshaling the Commonwealth’s resources and influence to help bring all parties back to the table and ensure the spirit and letter of the Good Neighbor Agreement is realized.

I’ve been in contact with Governor Healey’s Office, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Secretary Rebecca Tepper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Representative Thomas Moakley, and local officials. Together, we will work to make sure Vineyard Wind engages in good faith with Nantucket and delivers on the expectations outlined by the town.

I remain a strong supporter of our transition to renewable energy, and offshore wind is a key part of the Commonwealth’s broader strategy to lower energy costs and power our future responsibly. For the coastal communities where I live and represent, that transition is urgent and essential—rising seas are already flooding our downtowns and waterfronts. Yet that transition must occur in sustained partnership with the communities that host renewable energy projects. Nantucket deserves clear answers, better communication, and a seat at the table with this and every offshore project that impacts the island.

I joined Governor Maura Healey in Harwich to visit the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, where we witnessed firsthand the critical role this organization plays in feeding our neighbors. With new federal cuts to SNAP and other food security programs taking hold, food pantries like the Family Pantry are bracing for a surge in need.

Governor Healey recently launched a statewide Anti-Hunger Task Force to address this crisis. The task force brings together state officials, lawmakers, and advocates to identify immediate solutions and long-term strategies to reduce hunger across the Commonwealth. Our visit highlighted the urgency of this work: the Family Pantry is already serving more than 800 families each week — a number that is expected to grow as federal cuts leave more people without support. 

Cape Cod may be known for its beautiful summers, but year-round, one in three residents on the Cape and Islands faces food insecurity. Behind the vacation postcards are working families, seniors, and veterans struggling to keep food on the table — often while working multiple jobs and navigating a housing market that continues to push them to the margins. 

I’m especially grateful to local partners like the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance and the Chatham Harvesters’ Cooperative, helping food pantries access local seafood and meet this moment with innovation and compassion. 

As the state responds to this hunger crisis, I will continue working with Governor Healey, Rep. Hadley Luddy, and community leaders to protect the most vulnerable and advance real solutions — including building more housing and expanding local food access — so that no one in our region has to go hungry. 

State Braces For Hunger Crisis As Trump SNAP Cuts Bite - Cape Cod Chronicle

 “The reality is that 34 percent of Cape Codders and islanders face food insecurity,” Cyr said. There are “beautiful beaches and vacations and all the rest, but the people who make your vacation possible...the year-round folks who are living here — really kind of hanging on —  are so reliant on organizations like the Family Pantry,” he said.

Seventy-five years ago, the Korean War began when North Korean forces, backed by the Soviet Union and China, crossed the 38th parallel and invaded South Korea—a young democracy the United States stepped in to defend. The conflict, which claimed millions of lives and ended in a fragile armistice rather than a peace treaty, remains a defining moment in the struggle against authoritarianism. Today, as federal actions threaten to undermine democratic institutions and veer us toward autocracy, remembering the Korean War and those who served in it is more important than ever. Democracy is never guaranteed—it must be protected and renewed in every generation. 

 I was honored to speak at the ribbon cutting for the newly restored Korean War Memorial plaques at the Route 6 Welcome Center—a tribute to the Cape and Islands veterans who served in this critical chapter of global history.

This restoration was a true community effort. My sincere thanks to Mary Vilbon and the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce, who manage the Welcome Center and helped lead the charge to restore and beautify the site. The Hyannis Rotary Club—celebrating 100 years of service this year—oversaw the garden restoration, with plantings generously donated by Hyannis Country Garden. Their work has transformed the area into a peaceful and dignified place of remembrance. 

We were joined by many local veterans and community members, including Jim Seymour of the Cape and Islands Veterans Outreach Center, whose moving remarks reminded us of the enduring legacy of those who served. 

May this memorial continue to serve as a place of reflection, pride, and a reminder of the work we must do to preserve our freedoms.

In mid-July, I joined neighbors, friends, and changemakers on Martha’s Vineyard for the Island Housing Trust (IHT) Summer Benefit Brunch—a gathering that felt less like a fundraiser and more like a call to action. We heard stories that are becoming all too familiar: teachers leaving, workers couch-surfing, families giving up hope of ever buying a home. I spoke about my own experiences—leases lost, dreams deferred— the growing anxiety of trying to build a future in a place where the price of housing increasingly denies that possibility. 

 But I also spoke with hope. Because IHT is doing the work. They’re breaking ground on 130 new homes this year, including 60 rentals at Tackenash Knoll that will give working families a real shot at staying. This isn’t just about housing—it’s about preserving the soul of the Island. And the energy in that tent made it clear: people are ready to fight for it.

The work IHT is able to complete is remarkable, especially in the context in which they’re building. On the islands, everything costs more. Labor, materials, permitting and transportation add up when there isn’t a Home Depot around the corner. And yet, despite those headwinds, IHT is delivering. With deep partnerships, donor support, and smart public leverage—every $1 donated generates $10 in public funding—they’re making these homes a reality. 

But this work can’t fall on nonprofits alone. That’s why I also spoke about the urgent need for bold statewide housing policy because it is clear that the broader policy landscape is shifting. From zoning reform for small-scale multifamily housing to eliminating exclusionary minimum lot sizes, to streamlining environmental permitting, we’re seeing growing recognition that we can’t build the homes we need under the rules that got us here. The housing crisis is no longer a quiet emergency it echoes in every corner of our Commonwealth, from the Berkshires to Boston and especially on the Vineyard and across the Cape. We cannot stick to the status quo as our friends and families continue to be priced out of a future of living along side of us. 

This moment demands more from all of us —more urgency, more creativity, and more courage. And it was clear, once again, to me from the stories shared that housing is not a place where we are divided.  It's where we come together. Cape Cod and the Islands are ready, and I intend to meet that readiness with action.

Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus and MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay visited Oak Bluffs Town Hall to discuss the unique housing challenges facing Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Local leaders and housing organizations reviewed progress on key projects—such as Meshacket in Edgartown, Tackenash in Oak Bluffs, and 6 Fairgrounds on Nantucket—and explored ways to better support year-round municipal employees and other workers priced out of the islands. The conversation also emphasized the importance of rapid rehousing strategies and the need for state partnerships to address the lack of year-round shelters and affordable options. A central theme of the meeting was the new Seasonal Communities Designation, which acknowledges the unique pressures that seasonal markets place on housing availability and affordability. This designation will help island communities access policies and resources tailored to their distinct challenges. The visit from Secretary Augustus and CEO Kornegay underscores the state’s commitment to tackling these urgent issues in collaboration with local stakeholders. 

The groundbreaking of Tackenash Knoll in Oak Bluffs is a next step in addressing the urgent need for year-round housing on Martha’s Vineyard. Recently, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus and MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay gathered with Philippe Jordi of Island Housing Trust, local officials, and community partners to celebrate the launch of the island's largest affordable workforce housing project. This development will sit on a 7.8-acre town-owned parcel and will consist of 60 thoughtfully designed apartments, meeting Passive House standards. Aimed at serving residents earning between 30 and 120 percent of the area median income, these homes will range from one-bedroom to three-bedroom unit options. The project is the result of years of careful planning and collaboration, with support from over $27 million in state and federal tax credits and $11 million from MassHousing financing. With only 38 percent of Vineyard homes occupied year-round, Tackenash Knoll represents an essential step toward supporting our year-round residents and sustaining a viable year-round community. Set to be completed by spring 2027, this project promises to enhance the lives of many and strengthen the workforce on Martha's Vineyard. 

Did you know there are more than 35,000 people of Brazilian descent living on the Cape and Islands? I recently met with Ambassador Santiago Mourão and Deputy Consul General Lauro de Castro Beltrão Filho in Hyannis for a productive conversation about how we can better serve our growing Brazilian population who call the Cape and Islands home. We discussed strengthening collaboration on consular services, plans for this fall’s Brazilian flag-raising ceremony, and options for hosting voting sites for the 2026 Brazilian presidential election. 

I also raised a serious concern that many in our community share: ongoing federal immigration enforcement actions on the Cape and Islands. I warned that efforts to concentrate thousands of Brazilian nationals in a single location—even for something as important as voting—could make them vulnerable to harmful and unnecessary federal targeting. We must remain vigilant and prioritize the safety and dignity of our immigrant communities.

 Thank you to Michael Mecenas for organizing and hosting this important meeting, and to my colleagues—Representative Kip Diggs, Sheriff Donna Buckley, Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells, and other local leaders—for joining the conversation. Brazilian residents are an essential part of our region’s workforce and culture. They are contractors, parents, workers, business owners, and restaurant employees—our neighbors and friends. We’re committed to ensuring their voices are heard and their rights protected. 

I had the pleasure of meeting with Reverend Michael Horvath, the rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Barnstable Village. Over the past year, since moving to the Cape, Reverend Horvath has had the opportunity to build deep connections within the congregation and the broader community—and it was a gift to hear about his experience stepping into this role.

We spoke about the essential role that faith communities play in promoting connection, compassion, and justice. Reverend Horvath and I discussed how St. Mary’s can continue to support efforts that advance equity and well-being on the Cape, especially for those most in need. It was startling, and yet unfortunately unsurprising, to hear that even the church struggled to attract and retain staff as a result of the exorbitant cost of housing in our district. I’m grateful for his leadership and look forward to continued partnership with the congregation.

I had the opportunity to meet with Executive Director Barbara Cotton and Community Disaster Program Manager Maria Zuniga of the Cape and Islands and South Coast Red Cross. It was enlightening to learn how the chapter has grown since we worked close together through the COVID-19 pandemic response efforts—including upgrades to their historic Hyannis office.

Barbara walked us through the many ways her team supports our communities every single day: organizing blood drives, offering fire safety education, and preparing for the kinds of disasters we hope never come—but must always be ready for. That’s especially true in a coastal region like ours, where the risks of flooding and hurricanes continue to grow with the effects of climate change.

We also discussed the chapter’s remarkable volunteer residential fire inspection program, led by Maria, which has succeeded in large part due to the Red Cross’s trusted relationships with immigrant and first-generation families across the Cape. It’s a model of what community-rooted, proactive preparedness can look like.

What impressed me most is that all of this happens with a full-time staff of just three people—powered by a network of hundreds of dedicated volunteers and strong coordination with local, county, and state partners. The Red Cross continues to be a vital part of our public safety and public health infrastructure, and I’m deeply grateful for their work.

At the end of June, I made an appearance on my favorite locally produced morning talk show, "Wake Up! in Provincetown" to wish a happy fifth birthday to the show and its hosts Bob Keary* and Harrison Fish (my appearance begins around the 1:02 mark). It's hard to believe the show was born five years ago, just a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic. The hosts' goal back then was to give a little glimpse and taste of Provincetown to the many people who wanted to be there but could not visit due to travel restrictions. I was on the show a lot back then and it was a great way to relay information about the most serious public health crisis of my generation. Five years on and it's nice to talk to the guys about housing and Pride celebrations instead.

*Bob joined my team as Director of Communications and Community Engagement at the beginning of the year.

My staff had the pleasure of joining Secretary Lauren Jones from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development for a visit to one of the Cape’s most quietly impressive success stories—Sencorp White, a world-class manufacturing facility right here in our region. 

Sencorp is one of those places you might drive by without realizing the extraordinary things happening inside. With over 150 employees, the company produces everything from massive aircraft hangars to aerospace components and precision machines that hermetically seal medical pouches for life-saving devices like stents and implants. They recently completed a 173-foot-tall, $10 million elevator for Tiffany & Co.—yes, that Tiffany.

What stood out most on the visit was that these are machines built to work with people, not replace them. That commitment to human-centered manufacturing is something we should celebrate and support. 

Secretary Jones spent the day touring workforce and industry assets across the Cape, and she lifted up the powerful role that regional collaboration plays in driving economic innovation—from MassHire Cape & Islands to partnerships with higher ed and local employers. At Sencorp, we saw firsthand how investments in workforce development and technical training are fueling cutting-edge production that reaches across the globe, all from right here on Cape Cod.

After the visit to Sencorp White, the day continued with Secretary Lauren Jones and Representative Kip Diggs at the McDonald’s on Iyannough Road in Hyannis to mark a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of Archways to Opportunity, a workforce initiative that’s quietly transforming lives across Massachusetts.

One out of every eight people in the U.S. has worked in a McDonald's, and every McDonald’s in our state is a family-owned small business. The couple who own this restaurant have invested over $1 million in their employees’ education, helping team members learn English, earn college degrees, and build a foundation for long-term success. In recognition of their incredible support, they were honored with an award from McDonald’s leadership.

Moving stories were shared by employees who’ve worked for this employer for over a decade, including a manager who has earned three college degrees through the Archways program. These aren’t just jobs—they’re launchpads into careers in or out of food service.