Chamber News
February 23, 2010
Healthcare Reform for Cities & Towns is Needed Now!
In preparation for the healthcare reform discussion that is taking place in the state legislature, we we ask you to consider sending / e-mailing this Draft Letter (on your company's letterhead) to your legislators in the town you work and/or the town you live (or scan and e-mail it to the Salem Chamber). The goal is to have the State legislators amend Massachusetts General Law Chapter 32B to allow cities and towns the authority to update and design municipal health insurance plans outside of the collective bargaining process. Please see the below list of area politicians. If you need more information please contact the Salem Chamber of Commerce.
Beverly
Senator Fred Berry
State House, Room 333
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1410
Fax: 617-722-1347
Email: Frederick.Berry@State.MA.US
Representative Mary E. Grant
State House, Room 236
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2430
Email: Rep.Mary.Grant@Hou.State.MA.US
Essex
Senator Bruce E. Tarr
State House, Room 313-A
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1600
Email: Bruce.Tarr@State.MA.US
Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante
State House, Room 26
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2080
Email: Ann-MargaretFerrante@Hou.State.MA.US
Gloucester
Senator Bruce E. Tarr
State House, Room 313-A
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1600
Email: Bruce.Tarr@State.MA.US
Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante
State House, Room 26
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2080
Email: Ann-MargaretFerrante@Hou.State.MA.US
Ipswich
Senator Bruce E. Tarr
State House, Room 313-A
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1600
Email: Bruce.Tarr@State.MA.US
Representative Bradford Hill
State House, Room 128
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2100
Email: Brad.Hill@State.MA.US
Lynn
Senator Thomas M. McGee
State House, Room 112
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1350
Email: Thomas.McGee@State.MA.US
Representative Mark V. Falzone
State House, Room 527A
Tel: 617-722-2020
Email: Rep.MarkFalzone@Hou.State.MA.US
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Senator Bruce E. Tarr
State House, Room 313-A
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1600
Email: Bruce.Tarr@State.MA.US
Representative Bradford Hill
State House, Room 128
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2100
Email: Brad.Hill@State.MA.US
Marblehead
Senator Thomas M. McGee
State House, Room 112
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1350
Email: Thomas.McGee@State.MA.US
Representative Lori A. Ehrlich
State House, Room 472
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2013
Email: Rep.LoriEhrlich@Hou.State.MA.US
Nahant
Senator Thomas M. McGee
State House, Room 112
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1350
Email: Thomas.McGee@State.MA.US
Representative Steven Myles Walsh
State House, room 22
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2140
Fax: 617-722-2339
Email: Rep.StevenWalsh@Hou.State.MA.US
Newburyport
Senator Steven A. Baddour
State House Room 208
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1604
Email: Steven.Baddour@State.MA.US
Representative Michael A. Costello
State House Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2230
Email: Rep.MichaelCostello@Hou.State.MA.US
Peabody
Senator Fred Berry
State House, Room 333
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1410
Fax: 617-722-1347
Email: Frederick.Berry@State.MA.US
Representative Joyce A. Spiliotis
State House Room 236
Senator Fred Berry
State House, Room 333
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2430
Email: Rep.JoyceSpiliotis@Hou.State.MA.US
Representative Theodore C. Speliotis
State House Room 43
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2030
Email: TheodoreSpeliotis@Hou.State.MA.US
Rockport
Senator Bruce E. Tarr
State House, Room 313-A
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1600
Email: Bruce.Tarr@State.MA.US
Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante
State House, Room 26
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2080
Email: Ann-MargaretFerrante@Hou.State.MA.US
Rowley
Senator Bruce E. Tarr
State House, Room 313-A
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1600
Email: Bruce.Tarr@State.MA.US
Representative Harriett L. Stanley
State House Room 236
Tel: 617-722-2430
Email: Rep.HarriettStanley@Hou.State.MA.US
Salem
Senator Fred Berry
State House, Room 333
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1410
Fax: 617-722-1347
Email: Frederick.Berry@State.MA.US
Representative John Keenan
State House Room 135
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2015
Email: Rep.JohnDKeenan@Hou.State.MA.US
Swampscott
Senator Thomas M. McGee
State House, Room 112
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1350
Email: Thomas.McGee@State.MA.US
Representative Lori A. Ehrlich
State House, Room 472
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2013
Email: Rep.LoriEhrlich@Hou.State.MA.US
Topsfield
Senator Fred Berry
State House, Room 333
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1410
Fax: 617-722-1347
Email: Frederick.Berry@State.MA.US
Representative Theodore C. Speliotis
State House Room 43
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2030
Email: TheodoreSpeliotis@Hou.State.MA.US
Wakefield
Senator Richard R. Tisei
State House Room 308
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-1206
Email: Richard:Tisei@State.MA.US
Representative Mark V. Falzone
State House, Room 527A
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2020
Email: Rep.MarkFalzone@Hou.State.MA.US
Representative Katherine Clark
State House Room 254
Boston, MA 02133
Tel: 617-722-2220
Email: Rep.KatherineClark@Hou.State.MA.US
August 12, 2009
Bridge Street Neck - Neighborhood Pride Contest
Show your pride, help beautify the neighborhood, wine some recognition.....and some great gift certificates! (Gift Certificates donated by: Aqua Hair Salon, Once & Again Antiques, Bill & Bob's, Coffee Time, Damata's Pizza, Salem Chamber of Commerce and The Black Lobster).
Best Landscaping / Flowers & Most Improved Overall Appearance. Residential & Commercial Winners in Each Category! Properties will be judged on their view from the street - including all side streets. To nominated your own or someone else's property, click HERE to fill out the entry form and mail it to Coffee Time Bake Shop, 96 Bridge Street, Salem, MA. Judging will take place the week of September 25.
July 2, 2009
How to contact your legislator:
Representative John D. Keenan
7th Essex District - Salem
State House, Room 136
Boston, MA 02133-1054
P 617-722-2396 F 617-722-2819
E-mail: Rep.JohnDKeenan@Hou.State.MA.US
Senator Fred Berry
State House
Room 333
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: (617) 722-1410
Fax: (617) 722-1347
E-mail: Frederick.Berry@state.ma.us
Governor Deval Patrick
Massachusetts State House
Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
P. 617.725.4005 / F. 617.727.9725
June 24, 2009
Downtown Shop & Dine Map
In a joint partnership the Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Main Streets and Destination Salem are developing a Shop & Dine Map (Folded Map 4" x 9" FC). First run will be 50,000 copies, with an estimated shelf life of 4-6 months. All downtown restaurants and businesses will be listed, both on the map as well as on-line. Funding for the map will be done 100% through advertising. If you are interested in advertising, please contact Rinus Oosthoek (Salem Chamber, 978-744-0004) or Ann Massey (Rouge Cosmetics, 978-740-1044). Advertising options are half and full size panels ($500 / $1,000).
June 4, 2009
Letter to the membership: Taxation - Be pro-active!
Representatives from the Salem Chamber had another meeting with our representative John Keenan to discuss the state budget. Our message to John and all members of the legislature, as well as the Governor: "Reform First" - our members live it every day.
Starting this week, representatives from both the House and the Senate will go in conference to create a final proposal, and the goal is to send a final budget to Governor Patrick on June 21st or 22nd, who will have 10 days to approve or veto the budget.
Your help is needed. Today is the right day to send a message to both chairs. At the bottom of this page you'll find their contact info. Cutting public budgets is unpleasant work, but difficult economic times require courageous decisions. We feel there is not enough focus on core priorities, too little structural reform, too much resistance to reining in health insurance costs and to reforming pensions. Employers are making painful decisions to curtail expansion plans, defer critical expenditures, and drop product or service lines to focus on core businesses. Layoffs, pay freezes, reduced work hours, and altered staffing plans, salary reduction programs, modification of retirement plans, creative ways to deal with increases in employee contributions to health-insurance premiums - all involve hard decisions.
Based on our discussion of this morning with Representative Keenan, it seems all but certain that the increased sales tax (to 6.25%) will remain in the budget (predicted new revenue: $600 - $900 million).
One of the other taxes that has been proposed is the so-called 2% Local Option Tax on Hotels and Restaurants. It is your Chambers opinion that local towns and cities should not be in the business of raising individual taxes on select businesses, creating unfair competition between towns and cities within the Commonwealth. And, the border is definitely getting closer, as competition with neighboring states will become more difficult.
Some of the other proposals include:
- A tax increase on alcohol sales
- A 25% fee on the sales price for liquor license transfers
- and more.
Not in either the Senate or House budget proposals:
- A gas tax
- A tax increase on candy, soda and sweetened beverages
- Toll increases
We ask you to be proactive. Contact the chairs of the Conference Committee today (e-mail / fax / mail). Contact John Keenan and Fred Berry. And contact the Governor. We will approach all North Shore Chambers to do the same, to make sure the legislators and Governor Patrick hear from the business community.
The Salem Chamber is not simply a naysayer. We recognize that the Commonwealth may need new revenues - among other things. However, increasing revenues should be a last resort. A sales tax increase, as the governor says, can be considered only after "final and satisfactory action on the several reform proposals" now pending. The public, too, wants meaningful reform first.
Rinus Oosthoek, Executive Director
Salem Chamber of Commerce
Please contact:
Representative John D. Keenan
7th Essex District - Salem
State House, Room 136
Boston, MA 02133-1054
P 617-722-2396 F 617-722-2819
E-mail: Rep.JohnDKeenan@Hou.State.MA.US
Senator Fred Berry
State House
Room 333
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: (617) 722-1410
Fax: (617) 722-1347
E-mail: Frederick.Berry@state.ma.us
Governor Deval Patrick
Massachusetts State House
Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
P. 617.725.4005 / F. 617.727.9725
JOINT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Senator Steven Panagiotakos (Chair)
State House - Room 212
Boston, MA 02133
T. 617-722-1630
eMail: Steven.Panagiotakos@state.ma.us
Representative Charley Murphy (Chair)
State House - Room 243
Boston, MA 02133
T. 617-722-2990
F. 617-722-2998
eMail: Rep.CharlesMurphy@hwm.state.ma.us
_________________________________________________________
February 3, 2009
Letter to Deval Patrick:
The Salem Chamber of Commerce opposes the Patrick Administration’s initiative to increase the state sales tax on meals by 1%, and is strongly opposed to a second proposal to give communities the option of levying a 1% local meals tax on top of that. The Patrick Administration’s Plan also allows for a similar increase in the Hotel/Motel Tax (from 5.75% to 6.75%), and allows communities a 1% levy on top of that as well. read more >>
February 26, 2009
Our view: Lots happening in Salem
Chamber of Commerce executive director Rinus Oosthoek says he'd like people to think of Salem as a place where there's something happening all the time — day or night, winter or summer. read more >>
December 9, 2008
Letter to Deval Patrick:
As the Executive Director of the Salem Chamber of Commerce, I am writing to you on behalf of 550 members, to voice our opposition to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority’s proposed toll increases because they single-out and inflict disproportionate harm on the residents and businesses of our region. We urge you to freeze any toll increases until a comprehensive statewide transportation plan is completed that presents a fair solution for all regions. read more >>
Lowes/Walmart
Letter to Salem City Council:
Salem Chamber urges City Council to support Lowes/Walmart Development
Salem Chamber Executive Director Rinus Oosthoek announced today that the Salem Chamber has worked diligently over the past month in support of the revised zoning amendment to allow the Lowes/Walmart development to move forward. read more >>
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