Gun Violence Prevention
When I receive a press release from Governor Charlie Baker about the way he’s giving away our money, I don’t question where those funds are going because I cannot judge the validity of the grant. The following three paragraphs were taken from such communication.
The Baker Administration has awarded more than $8 million to 10 community organizations to prevent and reduce gun violence and other violent crime among youth and young adults. The funding will support communities with some of the highest rates of gun violence in the Commonwealth.
“Massachusetts’ strong gun laws have helped lead to some of the lowest rates of gun violence in the nation but there is always more that we can do to keep the Commonwealth’s communities safe,” said Governor Baker. “Since taking office, our Administration has committed more than $40 million to prevent youth violence and combat gang activity in the Commonwealth and we look forward to the work these agencies will do with these grants in their local communities.”
In 2016, there were 245 firearm deaths in Massachusetts, of which just over a third were homicides. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for 17-24 years olds in the Commonwealth, with 63 percent of homicides due to a firearm. While Massachusetts has the lowest firearm death rate in the nation, over half of all victims of firearm-related injuries (55 percent) are between the ages of 15-24, and black youth ages 15-24 had 32 times the rate of hospitalizations due to a firearm assault compared to white youth.
Among the organizations receiving $900,000 is UTEC (Lawrence) a company located at 250 Canal St. They pick up mattresses and box springs and recycle them “while learning valuable workplace skills,” according to their website.
There’s no explanation as to how they will be used and I don’t understand that need. Governor Baker admitted above that Massachusetts has some of the best gun laws in the nation. And there are still issues associated with gun violence that requires taxing people and using that money for what? Educating thugs about guns?
If gun violence, in Massachusetts is a big issue, then that means that the gun laws are not working.
One point of interest I found is that Will Vilas-Novas, the Director of Career Pathways is married to the director of Lawrence Public Library, the former Jessica Valentin, now Jessica Vilas-Novas.
PIE Program at NECC
I have a press release from Northern Essex Community College about their PIE Program and we thought it might be appropriate for the May 15th edition. That’s the day Rumbo turns 23 and we should do a little reminiscing of how that program got started with a special interview with Nunzio DiMarca and Ana Levy.
Wigs and hairpieces on TV
Have you noticed that women are wearing long hair wigs on television? Some are so long and exaggerated that they are obvious. I try judging which is real hair versus synthetic and some look really cheap.
After using my investigatory skills, I found out that the news personalities and hostesses wear them because they don’t want to be recognized in public. Some women think they are handy; they keep their hair short and flip it on when going out.
I’m going to buy a bright red one to confuse everybody.
