LYNN — State House representatives from the North Shore stated two areas of focus for the city in the coming year: transportation reform and housing.
State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), who represents Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Saugus and Swampscott, said that 2022 will be a year of progress and accomplishments. He is looking forward to advancing the electrification of the Newbury/Rockport line, which connects Lynn with Boston, Revere and Chelsea.
“We hit a wall in progress in 2020 due to the pandemic, but we are very close to the next phase of electrifying the Commuter Rail,” said Crighton.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)’s Fiscal and Management Board voted in 2019 to create a “commuter-rail-transformation office” to study electrified pilot programs, lower fees and increased service for the Newbury/Rockport line, the Providence/Stoughton line and the Fairmount line. The study and report will be completed by March.
State Rep. Peter Capano (D-Lynn), who represents Lynn and Nahant, said he is looking forward to beginning the transition to electrification, explaining that this would help to reduce carbon emissions and revolutionize Lynn’s public transportation.
“There’s a climate crisis, and this will help with emissions reduction. We also need to modernize Lynn transport for the future,” said Capano.
State Rep. Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn) said he too was excited about electrification, but said that the process will take some time and will not finish in one year.
“This is going to take time. We have to do studies and building; it’s not going to be all done in 2022,” Cahill said.
Nevertheless, Cahill said that the transition to electric power is necessary as the city moves away from fossil fuels.
“I’m not an engineer, but we are now actively under a mandate to reduce gases and fossil fuels,” said Cahill.
Another goal for legislators in 2022 is to continue building and supporting affordable public housing.
In October 2021, the state legislature passed a $3.82 billion spending bill to distribute funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. From that legislation, $600 million was allocated towards housing, with $150 million directed towards maintaining and supporting public housing and $150 million for supportive housing.
Crighton, who served as the chairman of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Housing from 2019-20 said affordable housing in Lynn is necessary. He wants the city to build on its efforts to increase public housing and improve access to public transportation.
“Community housing should be built with access to the MBTA,” he said. “Let’s let the community build upon that. We need housing of all types in Lynn with roofs over people’s heads.”
Capano agreed with Crighton about the need for affordable housing, and introduced a bill this year that would incentivize towns and cities to build more affordable housing for a tax break. He also co-sponsored a bill that would promote fair housing by preventing discrimination against affordable housing.
Capano said that the City of Lynn needs housing for the people who are making a living in the city, and not just those who come from Boston with a disposable income.
“We are building a lot of housing already in Lynn, but it is not for the people living here,” Capano said. “Most of these big projects are for people coming from Boston who have disposable income. We need to do something about that.”
In addition to these two goals, some legislators hope to continue personal projects they have worked on for the past two years.
State Rep.Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody) said he hopes to work with the Senate to advance a bill that legalizes sports betting — which was passed by the House in July.
“We are going to be going into a conference committee as soon as we get back from the new year,” Walsh said. “People have been asking me about this everywhere I go.”
State Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead), who represents Marblehead, Swampscott and East Lynn, said she is looking forward to starting a commission next year that would study the benefits of local journalism in the commonwealth. The commission, which is co-sponsored by Crighton, would study the history of local news in Massachusetts, create policies to help sustain media outlets and identify career paths for aspiring journalists.
“Journalism is important to me,” Ehrlich said. “We are going to get started on this immediately.”
The upcoming year is also set to be a period of transitions in leadership, as Lynn Mayor-elect Jared Nicholson will replace current Mayor Thomas M. McGee on Jan. 3, and Gov. Charlie Baker, who is not seeking reelection, will depart from his position at the end of the year.
Capano said that Nicholson will bring in new energy for the city and said there will be a strong relationship between the mayor and the City Council.
“I think the relationship between the mayor and City Council will be very good. We are in a much better place with new leadership,” said Capano.
As for Baker, Cahill said that leaders come and go, and Baker is leaving on a high note. He added that he’s watching the 2022 gubernatorial primary closely, and hopes that Attorney General Maura Healey will enter the race.
“I’m excited to talk to the field of candidates (about) their vision,” said Cahill. “Hopefully, Maura Healey runs.”
