PAX Centurion - Winter 2016 - 2017

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • Winter 2016-2017 • Page 11 Heard on the Hill: Lawrence A. Calderone, BPPA Legislative Agent Congratulations to President-Elect Trump T he 2016 elections came to a close this past November with Donald Trump collecting over sixty-one million votes (306 electoral votes), thus winning the 2016 Presidential Election. Congratulations to President-Elect Trump! Hopefully, over the next four years, President-Elect Trump will support law enforcement across the country and assist us in acquiring more equipment, more personnel, and more training to help keep us and the country safe. On Capitol Hill, Massachusetts was fortunate to have all of their Congressional Members re- elected to their positions. All nine Massachusetts Representatives, Richard Neal, JimMcGovern, Niki Tsongas, Joe Kennedy, Katherine Clark, Seth Moulton, Mike Capuano, Stephen Lynch, and Bill Keating, have been re-elected to their seats and will continue to represent us in Washington D.C., congratulations! We look forward to our continued relationship with all of you and to keep Massachusetts safe and strong in the future. The elections back here in Massachusetts were equally interesting. There were four ballot questions that Massachusetts voters had to consider (Boston had a fifth). The first was to expand slot machine gaming. Question One failed to pass by roughly twenty two percent (61-39%). The second was to expand charter schools in Massachusetts. Question Two also failed to pass by roughly twenty four percent (62-38%). The third was to improve the living conditions of farm animals, better known as “the chicken question.” Question Three passed by a wide margin of about fifty six percent (78-22%). The Fourth was the legalization of Marijuana. This was a very closely decided question. However, it did pass by a six percent margin (53-47%). The fifth question was for Boston Residents only. Question Five was known as the “Community PreservationAct.” It was passed by the Citizens of Boston and allows the City of Boston to create a fund by assessing a one percent property tax surcharge to its homeowners. The Community PreservationAct (Question 5 above) is very interesting. It allows for a creation of a fund that over one hundred and sixty one communities have adopted since the year 2000. Any proposed surcharge cannot exceed three percent of the assessed value of a property. Again, here in Boston, it was voted on and passed at a one percent surcharge. The average homeowner in Boston with a property assessed at approximately $500,000 will see their tax bill increase by about $24 per year. State matching funds equal to some of the local tax revenue, incentivizes communities to join. However, this fund has struggled to remain at a high level over the years as more and more communities adopt the CPA. Hopefully, the fund will continue to exist for many years come, as I’m sure this was considered by the voters in Boston prior to making their decision in November. In 2001, the voters in Boston voted against adopting a CPA requesting a two percent surcharge (57-43%). There were not many changes in the House or Senate Elections here in Massachusetts, but there were many races that were being supported and watched by the BPPA. Congratulations to Senate President Stan Rosenberg, Senators Marc Pacheco, John Keenan, Walter Timilty, Barbara L’Italien, Jason Lewis, Michael Moore, Richard Ross, and House Representatives Harold Naughton, James Cantwell, Tom Calter, Linda Campbell, Danielle Gregoire, Thomas Stanley, Rady Mom, Michael Day, John Rogers, Evandro Carvalho, Liz Malia, Kate Campanale, Shawn Dooley, Paul Frost, Shauna O’Connell and David Vieira for winning your re-elections! Congratulations to all of our elected friends that are returning and were unopposed. We look forward to working with all of our elected officials, new and experienced, over the next two year legislative cycle. Congratulations are also extended to the former Boston City Councilor and newly-elected Registrar of Deeds (Suffolk County) Stephen Murphy and Kevin Coppinger, newly-elected Sheriff of Essex County. Steve has been a friend of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association for many years and will continue to do a great job representing the citizens of Boston in his new position. Kevin Coppinger is currently the Chief of Police in the City of Lynn and will be taking over his new role of Essex County Sheriff in January. In closing, I would like to take a moment to remind all of you to remember your loved ones this holiday season more than ever. There is so much hatred and violence out there and all too often it’s being directed at law enforcement. Our loved ones think of us every time we walk out that door and head off to work. They have to live with the fear that every day may be the last time they see you. Remember to have fun with them, hug them, kiss them, and hold them tight. They are the most important thing in the world. Please be careful out there and have a very Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holiday!