Jamie Murphy learned the meaning of family, hard work and responsibility at an early age. His father, James Sr., immigrated from County Kerry, Ireland and met Jamie’s mother Maureen. They were married and moved to Weymouth in the 1960’s where Jamie and his sister Heather were born. In 1975, they opened a family automobile business which still operates today. His parents taught Jamie by example and have been active members of neighborhood organizations and civic clubs in Weymouth for years.
Faced with an economy buffeted by COVID-19 State Representative James Murphy joined Speaker DeLeo and their colleagues in the House to pass a bill to give a shot in the arm to the state’s economy by legalizing sports gaming, facilitating housing development and providing more than $450 million in state funding to spur growth.
“During tough economic times, it’s vital that we turn to time-honored tactics, innovative tools and creative ideas to create and preserve jobs in Massachusetts,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “I’m grateful to Chairs Ferrante, Michlewitz, Honan and my colleagues in the House for their work on this bill that will shore up and spur our economy.”
“This bill will bring needed funding to our community. Weymouth’s prosperous small businesses were hard hit during the Pandemic.” Stated Representative James Murphy. “The legislation balances smart economic development for these business with increases to local aid, housing and creates jobs in industries that have been most adversely affected by Covid-19.”
The bill pairs initiatives to improve the housing market for buyers while providing protections for tenants. It authorizes the Housing Choice concept, reducing the voting requirement for a range of housing-related zoning changes and special permits at the local level, from a two-thirds threshold to a simple majority. The legislation also creates a local option for the tenant right to purchase/first right of refusal to purchase buildings landlords put up for sale, increases the low-income housing tax credit from $20 million to $40 million, and requires DHCD to notify tenants they have a right to mediation with landlords prior to the eviction process.
The bill establishes the Rural Jobs Tax Credit for businesses that make a capital contribution to a rural growth fund, which will be established within the Office of Business Development. It allows for the creation of Tourism Destination Marketing Districts, which, following local approval, can add an additional 2% surcharge on room occupancy taxes to fund tourism marketing activities within these districts. The legislation also creates a Cultural Council Recovery Commission to review and develop recommendations for the recovery, promotion and continued growth and vitality of the cultural and creative sector in the commonwealth.
The bill initiates a system for legal sports gaming in Massachusetts enabling the independent Massachusetts Gaming Commission to grant in-person licenses to existing casinos and racing facilities. Mobile applications and casinos are also eligible to receive mobile gaming licenses. In addition to licensing fees, the state will receive 15% of all sports betting proceeds — $50 million annually — (with an additional 1% for games played in Massachusetts going to a fund to ensure the integrity of the game.) The proceeds will be distributed in the following fashion:
Representative James Murphy (D-Weymouth) and House Majority Leader Ronald Mariano (D-Weymouth) are pleased to announce House Bill 4076, ‘An Act establishing a women’s rights history trail,’ has been passed by the House of Representatives. The bill seeks to develop and implement a Women’s Rights History Trail program. The History Trail would designate properties and sites that are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women’s rights and women’s suffrage.
“Abigail Adams played an important role in American history. We are very proud that Weymouth is her birth place, and have always celebrated her legacy and achievements” said Representative Murphy. “This bill will help ensure that the contributions of Abigail Adams, and all of the women of the Commonwealth, are recognized and commemorated,” Murphy added.
“Much of our public spaces are marked by monuments and tributes that memorialize the contributions of men throughout our history. The Women’s Rights History Trail represents a long-overdue effort to celebrate equally the impact of women on our state and nation,” said Majority Leader Ronald Mariano.
The program will promote education and awareness of the struggle of women’s rights in the Commonwealth. Educational materials; such as maps, exhibits, uniform signs and electronic information would be provided. Additionally, vacation itineraries would be developed based on the Trail Program. The Representatives look forward to working with the Women’s Rights Task Force to ensure that the Abigail Adams Birthplace is a part of the Women’s History Trail Program. This legislation now moves to the State Senate for consideration.
Today, Representative James M. Murphy (D-Weymouth) announced that the towns of Weymouth and Hingham have been awarded grants for fire safety. The Weymouth Fire Department will receive $5,000.00 for Gear Extractor Equipment and the Hingham Fire Department will receive $4,800.00 for turnout gear equipment.
“I am happy that the Hingham and Weymouth Fire Departments will be receiving state funds for gear and equipment for that will reduce firefighters’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals on the job. Our firefighters face hazards on a daily basis, and we are thankful for their commitment to our communities. I look forward to continuing to work with the Professional Firefighters to ensure they have the assets they need to help keep their members safe and healthy.”
Through the Washer-Extractor Equipment Grant, $420,000 was awarded to 75 departments that will obtain a new washer-extractor to clean their structural firefighting gear after contact with smoke and other toxic chemicals. Because some of the recipient agencies are acquiring regional-use machines, 84 departments will benefit from them. A national standard set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) on the care and cleaning of structural firefighting gear delineates specific types of machines that should be used to successfully eliminate cancer-causing chemicals after each fire. Every washer-extractors purchased with this grant will meet this standard, and allow personnel to wear clean gear each time they leave the fire station for an emergency,
Representative James M. Murphy (D-Weymouth) has recently hosted Weymouth Seniors as part of a free workshop on financial education and security at the Whipple Senior Center in Weymouth.
The Office of Economic Empowerment (EOEE) provides financial education workshops for senior citizens. They enlighten older members of the community about ways to manage their finances in addition to updating people about ways to avoid financial exploitation. These sessions include fraud and scam prevention, banking, credit, savings, financial recovery, and more. Qualified volunteer financial educators present the FDIC’s Money Smart for Older Adults curriculum to constituents.
Representative Murphy hopes that these events will help ensure seniors recognize the risk of scams, guard against identity theft, arrange for financial disasters and prepare for possible loss of ability to manage funds. “I would like to thank the State Treasurer’s office and EOEE for coming to our great town and presenting at the Whipple Senior Center” Representative Murphy said. “It is a true honor being able to represent our community in our State Legislature, and I look forward to seeing this successful event continue for years to come.”
Representative James M. Murphy (D-Weymouth) is pleased to announce that the town of Weymouth has been awarded state funding for a Cybersecurity Awareness grant. Weymouth will receive approximately $3,000 for 535 employees to be able to better detect and defend against cyber threats.
“I am happy Weymouth will be receiving this critical money for our municipal employees, stated Representative James Murphy.” “As State Representative for the past eighteen years safety for constituents and all of Massachusetts has always been a top priority.”
The grant is administered through the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS). It is a competitive grant program that municipalities and public schools are eligible to apply for. This is the first cyber security-related grant program administered by the Commonwealth. Applications are assessed on their commitment to prioritizing cyber security awareness. These crucial grants will equip municipal and school employees with important training to better identify and circumvent cyber threats. Awarded communities will receive licenses for user training, assessment and phishing simulation, procured and managed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ EOTSS.
Representative James Murphy sponsored an amendment that will provide critical funding toward cancer screenings for firefighters. Working closely with the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, the legislature identified an urgent need to help address the troubling trend between cancer rates and firefighters.
The amendment which was passed through the House on Wednesday provides $100,000 for firefighter cancer screenings. The money will be administered by the fire marshal to municipal fire departments for the advanced screenings which include blood testing and imaging.
“We are forever indebted to these men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” stated Representative Murphy. “In providing this preventative screening to municipal fire departments we are in some small part protecting our firefighters from harm’s way,” added Representative Murphy.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute published a health communication stating that due to a wide range of exposures on the job, firefighters are at increased risk of several kinds of cancer, including lung, gastrointestinal system, kidney, skin melanoma, prostate, and multiple myeloma, when compared to the general public. Cancer screening can help to identify cancer before a person has symptoms. Early detection may aid in identifying cancers before a firefighter develops symptoms and may make it easier to treat or cure the cancer.