Around New England

Some Massachusetts Democrats Tell Governor Baker: Extend The Shutdown Until June

May 19, 2020

At a time when the state’s unemployment rate is 25 percent, some Democrats in the Massachusetts Legislature think May 18 is too early to start reopening the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As MassLive reports, about a dozen of them signed a letter urging Baker to extend the state’s shutdown until June 1. 

“We seem to be rushing toward a reopening without having adequately addressed the concerns of people who are incarcerated, people who are experiencing homelessness, undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable groups that are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19,” the group wrote.

Signers of the letter include:

State Representatives Mike Connolly (Cambridge); Lindsay Sabadosa (Northampton); Christine Barber (Somerville); Michelle DuBois (Brockton); Nika Elugardo (Boston); Jack Lewis (Framingham); Maria Robinson (Framingham); Carmine Gentile (Sudbury); Tami Gouveia (Acton); Kay Khan (Newton); Denise Provost (Somerville); and state Senator Jamie Eldridge (Acton).

All are Democrats.