Senator Rausch: COVID-19 Update #12

CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 UPDATE #12

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Hi friends,

I hope you are staying well and staying positive. We'll get through this together!

Today I have an exciting update about looking to the future: I crafted and filed legislation to create universal vote-by-mail for the 2020 primary and general elections in Massachusetts. The recent Wisconsin election and experiences in other states make clear that Massachusetts must act now to safeguard the right to vote during the unprecedented COVID-19 public health crisis. No one should be forced to choose between their vote and their health.

Here's how my 2020 Vote by Mail Act would work:

• For the general election, every voter would automatically be mailed their ballot. These ballots can be returned by mail with postage pre-paid by the state. If you do not want to vote by mail, you can still vote on election day, but we hope the foot traffic on election day will be reduced.
• For the primary election, every voter registered with a party will receive their party's primary ballot. Unenrolled voters may request a primary ballot for any party be mailed to them. Unfortunately, because unenrolled voters get to choose their primary ballot, they cannot be mailed automatically. Voters can also still vote in person on election day.
• The legislation also establishes election day as a holiday to ensure any polling places, like schools or town buildings, only have election related business occuring that day and to spread out the times when people come to the polls (usually there is a rush before 9 am and after 5 pm).
• The bill also requires that poll workers are provided with Personal Protective Equipment by the state.

Why now? We have no idea what the conditions will be this fall, and we must be prepared. If we wait to see what conditions will be like, it will be an overwhelming challenge to quickly make all the necessary changes to our elections systems.

Why do this at all? Free, open, and accessible elections are a central pillar of our democracy. We're facing a global pandemic that makes traditional in-person voting seriously concerning if not downright dangerous, so we must proactively pursue alternative voting methods. My legislation does this by expanding a process we already know to be viable in our Commonwealth. Under the 2020 Vote By Mail Act, every registered Massachusetts voter will receive a ballot that they can cast safely and securely, without jeopardizing their health or anyone else's, knowing that their ballot will be counted. COVID-19 must not strip us of our right and ability to vote; we must protect our elections, especially in times of crisis.

Want to engage in a conversation about this? Head over to Facebook and Twitter and get chatty. Details about the 2020 Vote by Mail Act, including bill text and FAQs, available on my website.

Yours in service,

Senator Becca Rausch

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full contents, please visit

https://mailchi.mp/cc4e10622175/covid19-update-12312522

My next Virtual Office Hours will be next Friday, April 24 from 10 am - 12 pm.

Sign up for a 15-minute appointment here

FTC Consumer Alert: COVID-19 scam reports, by the numbers

COVID-19 scam reports, by the numbers by Paul Witt, Lead Data Analyst, Division of Consumer Response & Operations If you're a regular reader of this blog — or of the news, you know that scammers are out in force, taking advantage of all aspects of the Coronavirus pandemic. We've spotted plenty of bogus cures and treatments, but many of you have told the FTC about straight-up scams, like texts/emails/calls from a "government agency" promising to get your relief money for you.  Others have told us about things that could be scams (or could be businesses catching up with the new reality) — like websites that promise scarce cleaning products or masks (that never arrive), or problems related to getting money back for cancelled travel plans. Read more https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/04/covid-19-scam-reports-numbers This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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FTC Consumer Alert: COVID-19 scam reports, by the numbers

Franklin Downtown Partnership: Offers Free Promotional Resource To All Franklin Businesses

If you own a small business in Franklin, the Franklin Downtown Partnership (FDP) wants to help publicize changes to your business during this time of social distancing. For example, have your business hours changed, do you offer delivery or curb-side pick up, do you sell gift cards, etc.? 

Businesses should contact the FDP at Downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com so they can get their updated business information listed on the Partnership website. Businesses do not need to be an FDP member to be listed.

Franklin Downtown Partnership

The FDP's goal is to provide Franklin residents with one place they can visit for all updated information on local businesses as well as one website that lists all the small businesses in Franklin that sell gift cards.

“During this time of social distancing, the Franklin Downtown Partnership is committed to helping our businesses weather this storm,” said FDP Executive Director Lisa Piana. “The FDP is currently working on a recovery plan for the months ahead to help our small businesses.”

Franklin business owners who would like to receive the monthly FDP newsletter should contact the FDP office to be added to the distribution list. The newsletter provides updates on local businesses, town news and information that affects local businesses. The FDP also provides lots of information through social media - follow the FDP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit, 501©3 organization made up of more than 280 business owners, community leaders and residents working to stimulate economic development downtown and create a positive impact throughout the area. 

Visit www.franklindowntownpartnership.org for more information

Treasury, IRS unveil online application to help with Economic Impact Payments

Working with the Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service today unveiled the new Get My Payment with features to let taxpayers check on their Economic Impact Payment date and update direct deposit information.

With an initial round of more than 80 million Economic Impact Payments starting to hit bank accounts over the weekend and throughout this week, this new tool will help address key common questions. Get My Payment will show the projected date when a deposit has been scheduled, similar to the "Where's My Refund tool" many taxpayers are already familiar with.

Get My Payment also allows people a chance to provide their bank information. People who did not use direct deposit on their last tax return will be able to input information to receive the payment by direct deposit into their bank account, expediting receipt.

"Get My Payment will offer people with a quick and easy way to find the status of their payment and, where possible, provide their bank account information if we don't already have it," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Our IRS employees have been working non-stop on the Economic Impact Payments to help taxpayers in need. In addition to successfully generating payments to more than 80 million people, IRS teams throughout the country proudly worked long days and weekends to quickly deliver Get My Payment ahead of schedule."

Get My Payment is updated once daily, usually overnight. The IRS urges taxpayers to only use Get My Payment once a day given the large number of people receiving Economic Impact Payments.

How to use Get My Payment
Available only on IRS.gov, the online application is safe and secure to use. Taxpayers only need a few pieces of information to quickly obtain the status of their payment and, where needed, provide their bank account information. Having a copy of their most recent tax return can help speed the process.

For taxpayers to track the status of their payment, this feature will show taxpayers the payment amount, scheduled delivery date by direct deposit or paper check and if a payment hasn't been scheduled. They will need to enter basic information including:

• Social Security number
• Date of birth, and
• ailing address used on their tax return.

Taxpayers needing to add their bank account information to speed receipt of their payment will also need to provide the following additional information:

• Their Adjusted Gross Income from their most recent tax return submitted, either 2019 or 2018
• The refund or amount owed from their latest filed tax return
• Bank account type, account and routing numbers

Get My Payment cannot update bank account information after an Economic Impact Payment has been scheduled for delivery. To help protect against potential fraud, the tool also does not allow people to change bank account information already on file with the IRS.

A Spanish version of Get My Payment is expected in a few weeks.

Don't normally file a tax return? Additional IRS tool helps non-filers
In addition to Get My Payment, Treasury and IRS have a second new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for those who don't normally file a tax return.

The Non-filers: Enter Payment Info tool, developed in partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, provides a free and easy option designed for people who don't have a return filing obligation, including those with too little income to file. The new web tool is available only on IRS.gov, and users should look for Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here to take them directly to the tool.

Non-filers: Enter Payment Info is designed for people who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who don't receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits. Additional information is available at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here.

No action needed by most taxpayers
Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for 2019 or 2018 will receive the payments automatically. Automatic payments will also go in the near future to those receiving Social Security retirement, or disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits and Railroad Retirement benefits.

General information about the Economic Impact Payments is available on a special section of IRS.gov: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center.

Watch out for scams related to Economic Impact Payments
The IRS urges taxpayers to be on the lookout for scams related to the Economic Impact Payments. To use the new app or get information, taxpayers should visit IRS.gov. People should watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments. Be careful and cautious: The IRS will not send unsolicited electronic communications asking people to open attachments, visit a website or share personal or financial information. Remember, go directly and solely to IRS.gov for official information.

More information
The IRS will post frequently asked questions on IRS.gov/coronavirus and will provide updates as soon as they are available.

REMINDER - 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting, Thursday 4/16/20, 7:00 PM

Hello, once again. We want to remind you about Thursday night's Zoom meeting (7:00), preview the agenda, and mention some upcoming activities and events, including a webinar to be held just before our meeting (6:00).  

 

Meeting: Topic: Greater Franklin Node Meeting

Time: Thursday, April 16, 2020, 7:00 pm.
Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/544734092?pwd=N3hwYzZBazRYZG9ycHRsbmliVkMxZz09

Meeting ID: 544 734 092

Password (if requested): 350ma
 

You can have audio through your laptop, or through your phone. I f you want or need to use your phone, dial: 1-646-876-9923.

Agenda:

As always, we will discuss ongoing and upcoming campaigns and activities and opportunities for each of us to contribute (phone calls, petitions, online trainings, etc. in lieu of demonstrations). Many of these items are included in the 350 Mass Climate Movement Weekly email, delivered on Tuesday. We'll also use the time to check in on one another as we go through this challenging situation.

Pending Activities Worth Noting:

Please consider participating in these events.

How to Stop the Money Pipeline: Climate Finance 101 Virtual Training

Thursday, April 16, 6:00 pm.
 

About: The national Stop the Money Pipeline coalition, in which 350 Mass participates, is offering some good basic education on how the financial community supports climate chaos. This training will empower anyone to take on Wall Street as a tool to tackle climate change.

Register here to join.  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/5415865490749/WN_YbwVklU8QP6j5jGjocc-_g

Note: When the training ends, somewhere around 7:00, you can join the node meeting.

Earth Day 2020

While we've had to cancel plans for public events to celebrate the 50 ^th Earth Day, there is still a lot happening. 350 Mass and other local organizations will begin the festivities this Saturday (April 18) with a Facebook Live Rally at 10:00 am. More events are scheduled throughout next week.  Here are some links you can follow:

• Earth Day 2020 Boston. https://www.earthday2020boston.org/  
• Facebook: Earth Day 2020 Boston
• Twitter: @2020_boston
• Instagram: @earthday2020boston

• Boston Facebook Live Rally, Saturday 4/18. https://www.facebook.com/events/2884330534982010/ 
• Sierra Club Massachusetts Earth Day Virtual Climate Advocacy Workshop, Friday 4/24. https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7013q0000028aX2AAI   
• Earth Day LiveStream, April 22-24. https://www.earthdaylive2020.org/
• Earth Day Digital Events, April 2020. https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/

If you wish to recommend other activities to our node, please bring the information to Thursday's meeting, and/or email them to Ralph.Halpern@comcast.net.

 

Thanks for remaining engaged and taking advantage of opportunities to raise your voice, promote the movement, and learn more about the climate crisis.

 

We hope to see you Thursday. All the best.

 

Node co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel

Ralph Halpern

 

In the News: please don't share that Yearbook photo; Old Sturbridge VIllage furlough

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"High school yearbook photos of shining flawless faces and decades’ worth of fringes, bouffants and feathered hairstyles on social media might bring back memories and offer hope for the days ahead.

Posting an old photo with graduation year and high school name seems like such an innocent thing.

But, the Better Business Bureau has sent out a word of caution (https://boston.app.bbb.org/medianews/bbb-tip-thinking-of-sharing-your-senior-photo-on-facebook-think-twice?) when it comes to sharing those “harmless” senior portraits.

Scamers and hackers surfing social media will look for these #ClassOf2020 posts and now have posters’ high school names and graduation years – which are often used for online security questions."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200415/read-this-before-posting-that-yearbook-photo-to-facebook

"Old Sturbridge Village is usually brimming with thousands of schoolchildren during the April school vacation week. That will not be the case this year.

“April vacation week alone is a big week. It’s the beginning of when things start getting busy for us,” said James E. Donahue, president and CEO of Old Sturbridge Village. “If we have nice weather, we could see a 1,000 people or more a day. So April vacation week can be a 10,000-person loss.”

If OSV is shut down through June, it would lose out on 25,000 to 30,000 schoolchildren visiting on field trips, Donahue said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200415/season-lost-old-sturbridge-village-to-furlough-some-employees/1

Visit Old Sturbridge Village online  https://www.osv.org/
Visit the "Virtual Village" on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/oldsturbridgevillage/
or on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/oldsturbridgevillage/

Visit the "Virtual Village" on Facebook

Foundation for MetroWest & MathWorks Provide $285,000 to Local Nonprofits

The Foundation for MetroWest, the community foundation serving the cities and towns of MetroWest, and MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have adapted and accelerated their 25th Anniversary Grant Program partnership to provide immediate support to all eligible program applicants.

The Grant Program, which was originally slated to provide $250,000 in funding to a select few non-profit organizations chosen through a community voting process, is instead delivering $5,000 grants to 57 MetroWest-serving nonprofits, increasing the total amount awarded to $285,000. The grants will help an array of nonprofits address any pressing needs they themselves identify, including family support, food insecurity and youth development.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is putting significant additional strain on community organizations that were already working to support so many neighbors in need,” stated Judy Salerno, executive director of the Foundation for MetroWest. “The decision to accelerate the grant program was immediately apparent and we are grateful to MathWorks for their partnership and their ongoing dedication to this community.”

The launch of the 25th Anniversary Grant Program coincided with the launch of Impact MetroWest, an interactive website designed to identify the area’s strengths and challenges and to jumpstart investments in long-term solutions and programs. The initiative highlighted strong civic engagement, generous open land and low crime rates as successes in the region while population changes, financial hardships, and educational disparities were noted as challenges impacting the daily lives of MetroWest residents. 

The Foundation, in partnership with MathWorks, planned to award $250,000 in grants to organizations that used the Impact MetroWest findings to create positive change in their community. In February, dozens of nonprofits submitted their innovative ideas through creative video applications, and a community-wide vote was scheduled for mid-April to select the winners.

“In difficult times like these, it is especially important that MathWorks supports our local community through the non-profit organizations serving it,” said Jeanne O’Keefe, senior vice president and CFO at MathWorks. “Adjusting the Grant Program to benefit more organizations sooner was simply the right thing to do.”

“The Foundation is grateful to all applicants for rising to the challenge and creating thoughtful and inspiring videos, and sharing their vision for a better, stronger MetroWest. COVID-19 has shown us that their passion and determination to better their community is truly indispensable,” added Salerno.

“We are humbled by the generosity and support of the Foundation for MetroWest and MathWorks,” said Lino Covarrubias, CEO of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest. “The 25th Anniversary Grant has enabled us to continue doing our important work, even in the face of the extraordinary challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re committed to helping our neighbors endure and emerge from this period stronger than before.”

To learn more about the Foundation for MetroWest or support their relief efforts, visit https://foundationmw.org/.

About Foundation for MetroWest

Established in 1995, the Foundation for MetroWest is the only community foundation serving the cities and towns in the region, encompassing 700,000 residents from Westborough to Waltham and Acton to Walpole. The Foundation promotes philanthropy across the area, helps donors maximize the impact of their local giving, serves as a resource for local nonprofits and enhances the quality of life for all our residents. The Foundation is supported by a wide range of businesses, individuals, community groups and other philanthropic organizations. Since inception, the Foundation has granted $19 million to its nonprofit partners and currently stewards more than $26 million in charitable assets for current needs and future impact. To learn more, please visit www.foundationformetrowest.org or call 508-647-2260.

About MathWorks

MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. MATLAB, the language of engineers and scientists, is a programming environment for algorithm development, data analysis, visualization, and numeric computation. Simulink is a block diagram environment for simulation and Model-Based Design of multidomain and embedded engineering systems. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on these product families to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development in automotive, aerospace, electronics, financial services, biotech-pharmaceutical, and other industries. MATLAB and Simulink are also fundamental teaching and research tools in the world’s universities and learning institutions. Founded in 1984, MathWorks employs more than 5000 people in 16 countries, with headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. For additional information, visit mathworks.com.