Immediate Action Alert

James Gage sends this:

IMMEDIATE ACTION ALERT

ATTEMPTS TO GUT THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND YOUR CHILDREN'S HERITAGE

Senate 2053 is a bill (See http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S02053) that would reduce the Massachusetts Historical Commission's (MHC) review of state projects that have an adverse effect on historic properties (buildings,districts,and sites) that are in MHC's Inventory but not yet listed in the State Register of Historic Places, by permitting the project proponent to ignore MHC's recommendations for preservation or mitigation. The bill would also be retroactive to any previous project reviews that MHC has done in the past.

We need an immediate response from everyone on this issue as the bill may be heard next week. This is your children's heritage which the MHC has worked to protect since its inception. Do not let the politicians determine your heritage - let the science of anthropology and archaeology do its job!!

The bill is presently in the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Opposition (letters, email, and phone calls) should be directed to the two chairmen and your local state senator and representative (See http://www.malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J25 for committee contact information). The two chairmen are Senate Chair Kenneth J. Donnelly and House Chair Peter V. Kocot. The two Vice Chairmen are Senate Vice Chair James T. Welch and House Vice Chair James M. Murphy. Senate Committee Members include: Susan C. Fargo, John F. Keenan, Michael J. Rodrigues, and Bruce E. Tarr. House Committee Members include David M. Nangle, Michael D. Brady, Jason M. Lewis, James J. Lyons Jr., Kevin Agular, Kate Hogan, Edward F. Coppinger, and Steven L. Levy

(See http://www.malegislature.gov/People/ Search for your local state senator and representative).