Downtown Wakefield Economic Development Funding Veto Overridden

A release from the office of Senator Jason Lewis:

Senator Jason Lewis is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Senate successfully protected funding for a key Wakefield priority in the Fiscal Year 2018 state budget.

Governor Charles Baker vetoed $100,000 in funding for the Wakefield Main Streets initiative. Wakefield Main Streets’ mission is to establish and promote downtown Wakefield as a vibrant, inviting destination by fostering historic preservation, economic renewal, and community involvement. After input from the community, Wakefield Main Streets has a plan to install new tree lighting, new benches, informational kiosks, and other downtown improvements.

“Wakefield Main Streets is doing terrific work helping strengthen the economic potential of downtown Wakefield as a regional destination. The investments being made will pay dividends for the community,” said Senator Lewis. “I’m very pleased that funding was protected for this purpose for the Town of Wakefield.”

In addition to this key local priority, Senator Lewis also successfully advocated for the restoration of funding for several regional priorities whose funding had been vetoed by Governor Baker. Among the restored funding priorities whose vetoes were overridden include: $100,000 for educational and other services for homeless children through Housing Families’ GREAT program, as well as other emergency shelter and eviction prevention programs at Housing Families; $150,000 for support programs for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, via Portal to Hope; $100,000 for Triangle’s School-to-Career program to equip high school students with disabilities and recent graduates with the tools to start careers in their local communities; and, a restoration of $350,000 vetoed out of $4.35 million allocated to Zoo New England, which operates the Stone Zoo, a prominent recreational and educational institution in our region.

All of these priorities have also had their vetoes overridden in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, with Representatives Paul Brodeur and Donald Wong leading the effort for Wakefield in the House. As such, the overrides in the Senate confirm the inclusion of these funding priorities in the FY18 state budget.