Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with public health and Cambridge updates.
In case you missed it: I am hosting my annual Diaper Drive winter celebration tomorrow from 10-11:30am at Raymond Park (106 Raymond Street). We will have hot cocoa, donuts, and cookie decorating. Kids are welcome, so please bring your family!
This is an opportunity to come by to say hello and to connect in person on legislative updates or constituent concerns. If you can, please consider bringing a box of diapers that will be donated to the Cambridge Community Center and Transition House. I look forward to seeing you there!
Table of Contents
Cambridge Updates
Public Health Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Services and Resources
Cambridge Updates
Boomerangs by More Than Words
On Thursday, my staff had the opportunity to join More Than Words at the ribbon cutting for their new store, Boomerangs by More Than Words. As you likely know, Boomerangs has been an institution in Central Square for 20+ years, previously raising funds for HIV/AIDS service first through AIDS Action and then Fenway Health. Now, More Than Words is continuing the mission-driven thrift efforts, providing customers the same sense of community that existed for years at Boomerangs, and expanding the program that supports young adults in foster care, court, homeless, or out-of-school to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business.
DCR Traffic Advisory for Memorial Drive Improvements
Beginning on Sunday, December 15, 2024, and continuing through Friday, December 20, 2024 (excluding weekends), the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will close a lane (in both directions) along Memorial Drive from Magazine Street to Audrey Street via the BU Bridge rotary in the City of Cambridge from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the detour removal.
DCR has completed more than $1.75 million in safety upgrades for pedestrians and cyclists along Memorial Drive from Magazine Street to Audrey Street via the BU Bridge rotary in the City of Cambridge. The safety improvement work has included widening the shared use path leading to the BU rotary, improving and reconfiguring wheelchair ramps and median islands at the intersection of Memorial Drive and the BU Bridge, restriping the crosswalks, and implementing a speed limit reduction to 25 mph along the BU Bridge corridor.
While the work is substantially complete, there is still some finishing work to be completed, including replacing 700 linear feet of existing Boston Pattern Fencing and mill, overlay, and restriping on the Commonwealth Avenue side of the BU Bridge.
Public Health Updates
Draft Recommendations Add Self-Testing Option for Cervical Cancer Screenings
On Tuesday, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released draft recommendations targeted at getting more people screened for cancer-causing HPV and stressing that women can collect their own vaginal samples to test for the virus. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection that, while it usually goes away on its own, can cause almost all cervical cancers. While doctors regularly advise that women begin screening for cervical cancer at age 21 by receiving a Pap smear every three years, the task force now advises that women between the ages of 30 and 65 can test for HPV every five years, either through clinician- or self-collected samples. In May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a kit that allows women to collect their own vaginal samples for HPV screening. Currently, the tests can only be used in healthcare settings, but home testing may be an option in the future.
California Child Tests Positive for Bird Flu Strain Similar to Those Found in Livestock
Federal health officials reported a strain of bird flu has been detected in a California child with similarities to the strain spreading through livestock throughout the country. According to a health update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tests demonstrated that the particular strain of the virus is very similar to viruses found in dairy cattle and poultry, as well as viruses identified in dairy workers in the state. The child, however, had no known exposure to infected animals. County health officials reported that the child drank raw milk before getting sick, although the investigation as to how the child was infected is still ongoing. In a statement released last week, California health officials confirmed that the child was treated with flu antivirals and has since recovered. Additionally, health officials have not detected person-to-person spread of the virus and the child’s family members have tested negative for bird flu. According to the CDC, there have been 58 confirmed reported human cases of H5 bird flu in the U.S. this year. Most of these cases have come from California, with 32 confirmed infections.
New Research Estimates 1 in 6 People with Asthma Struggle to Afford Prescribed Medications
A new poll estimates that over three million Americans with asthma cannot afford to take their medications as prescribed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 13 people in the U.S. have asthma. Researchers monitored data released by major U.S. federal health surveys between 2011 and 2022 and found that about 1 in 6 people with asthma have difficulty covering the costs of inhalers and other medications. The poll also revealed that about 18% of respondents reported that they forwent some level of recommended care for their asthma due to the high cost of medications. In Massachusetts, many families have spent a year struggling to find affordable alternatives to a widely-prescribed children’s asthma medication, Flovent HFA, after it was discontinued in December 2023. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the pharmaceutical company that produced the medication, discontinued Flovent in response to newly imposed federal price limits and introduced an identical authorized generic version; GSK claimed that offering the generic version would keep a critical medication available at a lower cost. However, the generic is generally more expensive and is covered by fewer insurers.
Rhode Island Is Set to Open First State-Sanctioned Overdose Prevention Center
On Tuesday, Rhode Island held its ribbon cutting for the country’s first state-sanctioned overdose prevention center (OPC), offering a medically supervised space for individuals using their own pre-obtained substance safely. Last year, over 400 people in Rhode Island died of an overdose, highlighting the need for interventions to address the opioid crisis. OPCs, also known as harm-reduction centers or supervised injection sites, provide a safe environment for drug use under medical supervision to help prevent accidental overdoses and deaths. The establishment of this center follows a Rhode Island law passed in 2021 that created a pilot program for supervised consumption. The facility will primarily be funded through $2.6 million from opioid settlement dollars and offer harm reduction services. Currently, OnPoint, a New York-based nonprofit organization, is the only provider of similar services in the U.S., operating two locations in Manhattan since late 2021.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
On Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining the Cambridge Community Center Sisters of the Center Awards Brunch in honor of Janet “Ms. K” Kendrick. Every year, the CCC honors women who leave an indelible impact on the center. This year, the awardees were Evette Layne, Corinne Espinoza, and Erin Gullage.
Evette is a lifelong Cambridge resident and grew up going to the center. She has worked at MIT for the past 40 years and has served in numerous capacities within the MIT/Wellesley Upward Bound Program, where she has left an indelible mark on generations of Cambridge kids. She later served on the Board.
Corinne has been involved with the CCC since their son began attending in 2007. They served on the CCC Board of Directors for over 10 years and stepped in as Interim Executive Director. Corinne is now a Co-Director at Cambridge HEART, where they continue to create positive change in the Cambridge community.
Erin Gullage was born and raised in Cambridge. In the summer of 2003, she fortuitously saw Ms. K walking down Western Ave. Ms. K invited her to stop by the CCC the following week, which led to an 18+ year career working in various roles at the center. She was always a kind and welcoming presence and loved meeting the new children who joined the center programming each September. Erin sadly passed away after a brief illness last winter and is dearly missed.
I continue to be so thankful for the strong community fostered at the CCC, and the incredible resources they provide the Riverside neighborhood and beyond. I am proud to have secured them state funding in the last seven budgets and will continue to uplift their impactful initiatives like The Hip Hop Transformation and Mental Health ACCESS programs.
On Tuesday, I attended the signing of the Mass Leads Act, an economic development package that invests nearly $4 billion into the Commonwealth’s economy.
As a reminder, the package includes major investments in the life science, climate tech, and AI sectors, in addition to tax credits for small businesses like live theaters. The bill also includes policy provisions, including allowing candidates for public office to use campaign funds for childcare, as well as strengthening local and regional public health by implementing minimum public health standards for communities, allowing boards of health to share public health services, establishing uniform data collection, and creating sustainable funding mechanisms for local boards of health and health departments.
Thank you to House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, Economic Development Committee Chair Jerry Parisella, and Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao for all of their hard work on this legislation. I am grateful that Governor Healey signed this important bill into law.
Preparations for the next legislative session, which begins on January 1, continue as we draft new legislation and meet with advocates to talk about priority bills, all while working on bills that are still in play. On Wednesday, I met with Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CfJJ) and the Center for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) to discuss the bills I filed with them this session and plan for next session. Both CfJJ and CPCS have been incredible partners on legislation related to justice system-involved young people for many years, and I look forward to working alongside them again next session.
Cambridge Public Health Helpline Supports Residents with COVID-19
To speak with someone, call the confidential COVID-19 Hotline at 617-933-0797. Learn more here.
Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Helpline
This initiative is designed to prevent intimate partner violence by fostering accountability and change in people who harm or may harm their partner. You can find more information at 10to10helpline.org or by calling 877-898-3411.
SafeSpot Overdose Prevention Helpline
SafeSpot is a virtual spotting/overdose detection service for people who use drugs. Learn more at safe-spot.me or access it by calling 800-972-0590.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
De Novo is a Cambridge-based nonprofit that provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling to people with low incomes. You can learn more about their services at denovo.org.
MassLegalHelp.org is a resource to help Massachusetts residents learn about their legal rights. The website does not offer legal advice or answer individual questions but has a page about options for finding a lawyer. It does provide resources for those facing legal issues, such as a landlord refusing to make repairs, appealing the denial of SNAP benefits, and questions about getting a CORI sealed.
As always, please contact me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie