Governor Deval Patrick reminded residents and legislators of the state’s accomplishments in the last year while warning them of future economic challenges in his annual State of the Commonwealth address Thursday evening.
Patrick congratulated lawmakers for ‘one of the most productive legislative sessions in a generation,’ thanking them for their progress on health care, clean energy and education. The ‘economic cloud darker than any this nation has faced in three generations,’ however, will force the government to make tough decisions regarding the state’s budget, Patrick said.
To bridge the state’s budget gap, lawmakers will be forced to make cuts.
‘Local services will be cut, and in many cases, police, firefighters and teachers will face layoffs,’ Patrick said.
Patrick said his executive branch would make more funding cuts in addition to the $800 million he cut from the budget last October. His Emergency Recovery Plan will cut another $1.1 billion, Patrick said.
‘At the same time, this crisis also presents us with opportunities,’ Patrick said. ‘The times demand that we confront some issues that we may have avoided in ordinary times.’
Patrick outlined five focus points for legislators: giving local cities and towns ‘greater authority over local decisions’, public transportation reform, pension reform, passing an Anti-Crime Bill and ethics and lobbying reform.
The governor also outlined specific goals for both lawmakers and citizens alike. He urged Commonwealth citizens toward charitable acts, such as donating to their local food banks, checking on elderly neighbors and donating unused coats.
‘We are going to have to learn to lean on each other, to live as member of a community,’ Patrick said.
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino told the Daily Free Press the governor delivered an on-point speech.
‘The government, business and public all have to work together to get through this problem,’ Menino said. ‘This isn’t a problem we’re going to solve overnight.’
Chicopee resident Deb Kozikowski said Patrick’s speech was ‘realistic, but not negative.’
‘When you’re facing touch economic problems it’s easy to fall into ‘woe is me’,’ Kozikowski said.
Kozikowski said she was happy Patrick addressed the technology gap in his speech, but was disappointed that he didn’t talk about childhood obesity issues, which she thinks are vitally important in terms of long-term health care costs for the state.
While Patrick was inside speaking about how the state would cope with the troubled economy, about fifty members of the Stop the Pike Hike campaign gathered on the steps of the Statehouse to protest proposed toll increases for the Massachusetts Turnpike.
East Boston residents Eric and Tracy Lawton said the proposed tolls are unfair and would cut off access to the rest of the city.
‘It’s extortion. It’s crazy,’ Eric said. ‘East Boston is part of Boston. Why should I have to pay $7.00 to stay in my own city?’
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