NO COVID-19 LIABILITY

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By Bob Katzen

The House and Senate approved and sent to Governor Charlie Baker legislation that would make health care professionals and health care facilities immune from lawsuits and civil liability for any damages alleged to have been sustained by an act or omission by the health care professional or health care facility in the course of providing health care services during the period of the COVID-19 emergency. Continue reading NO COVID-19 LIABILITY

VOTE BY MAIL?

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By Bob Katzen

Senator Becca Rausch and Representative  Adrian Madaro have filed bills to permit voting by mail for all state primaries and general elections. Under the bill, which would be effective beginning with the 2020 election, the secretary of state would send every registered voter affiliated with a party a ballot by mail with a prepaid return envelope 18 days before the Sept. 1 primary election and the Nov. 3 general election. Continue reading VOTE BY MAIL?

COURT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO GET ON THE BALLOT

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By Bob Katzen

On Friday, April 17, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) ruled that the number of required signatures for all elected offices in the September 1 primary be reduced by 50 percent because of the difficulty and health risks of collecting signatures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading COURT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO GET ON THE BALLOT

SENATE APPROVED A BILL THAT DIDN’T LOWER THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE

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By Bob Katzen

On April 16, the day before the SJC ruling, the Senate approved and sent to the House a bill which mirrors the SJC decision except it did not reduce the signatures required for candidates for the state Legislature. Continue reading SENATE APPROVED A BILL THAT DIDN’T LOWER THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE

Mayor Curtatone & Board of Health Issue Order Allowing Restaurants to Sell Groceries

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Restaurants can sell grocery items as part of pick-up and/or delivery services.

SOMERVILLE, MA – In an effort to both expand resident access to groceries and help restaurants affected by the COVID-19 crisis, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone and the Somerville Board of Health have issued an order allowing restaurants to sell grocery items for the duration of Somerville’s local state of emergency. Continue reading Mayor Curtatone & Board of Health Issue Order Allowing Restaurants to Sell Groceries

Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund Announced

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Mayor Curtatone orders CDBG funds be made available for emergency small business support

SOMERVILLE, MA – Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone today announced the launch of a $1 million Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide financial support of up to $10,000 to Somerville small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading Somerville Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund Announced

Mt. Pleasant Senior Apartments Somerville Placed Under Mandatory Quarantine

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Mayor Curtatone and the Board of Health issue quarantine order for 65-unit building with 8 confirmed COVID-19 cases

Saturday, April 18, 2020
Residents of the Mt. Pleasant senior apartment building in Somerville have been placed under a mandatory minimum 14-day quarantine after eight cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at the residence. Continue reading Mt. Pleasant Senior Apartments Somerville Placed Under Mandatory Quarantine