House Passes Sales Tax Holiday Amendment

Sets Tax-Free Weekend in August to Stimulate Local Business

 

  House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo today joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in approving an amendment that would allow a state sales tax holiday on August 14^th and 15^th of this year to encourage consumers to

shop at local businesses across the state. The amendment is part of an economic development bill currently under debate in the House.

  The amendment passed by a vote of 134-13.

  “Allowing a sales tax holiday will increase spending at Massachusetts stores and businesses at a time when businesses across the state are struggling to make ends meet,” Speaker DeLeo said. “The House has once again voted to stimulate economic growth in our commonwealth.”

  The amendment requires that the commissioner of revenue certify the amount of sales tax forgone as well as the amount of new revenue raised from personal and corporate income taxes and other sources as a result of the sales tax holiday. This certification must come by the end of this calendar year.

  The sales tax holiday applies to retail sales excluding any single item priced higher than $2,500. The sales tax holiday does not apply to gas, steam, electricity, motor vehicles, motorboats or meals.

REPRESENTATIVE FALZONE: HOUSE PASSES BILL TO INITIATE SILVER ALERT PROGRAM

Representatives Mark Falzone joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation to establish a Silver Alert program, which will assist in locating seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia who have gone missing.

  The Silver Alert program would provide for a coordinated approach to locating an individual with dementia. The bill directs law enforcement and other key response resources to focus in a geographic area consistent with the missing person’s last know location.

  Representative Falzone remarked, “The Silver Alert program will be a valuable asset to our Commonwealth. This new system is designed to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens and to ease the concerns of their families. When a person is missing, it is crucial that law enforcement officials have the capacity to disseminate information quickly. By enacting the Silver Alert, we will bring disoriented people home safely and undoubtedly save lives.”

   “With the establishment of the Silver Alert program, we hope to give the families of those with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia peace of mind while facilitating an efficient, effective method for finding their loved ones,” House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo said.

  “The Silver Alert will give comfort to families that are taking care, at home, of a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia,” said Representative Alice Wolf, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs. “People with these diseases often wander away. The bill sets up a coordinated, community system by trained first responders – EMTs, police, firefighters – to find wanderers quickly and thus keep them from harm.”

  The legislation requires training for law enforcement and key responders. This training will be incorporated into emergency personnel training that is already currently in practice. Some 120,000 people in Massachusetts have Alzheimer’s disease with the number expected to increase 17 percent by the year 2025.

  This legislation now heads to the Massachusetts Senate for consideration.




~ Incidents & Accidents of the Saugus Police Log ~

Wednesday, July 14

No – It wasn’t that “barefoot bandit”

  Saugus Police dispatch received a call from State Police who stated that they received a call on the report of a shoplifter at K-Mart on Main Street. The Saugus dispatch stated that they had not received any call from K-Mart with respect to a shoplifter, so the State Police reviewed their tape and confirmed that it was from the adjacent Stop & Shop and that an EMS has been requested for assistance for an alleged male shoplifter from Stop & Shop. Got it so far? The dispatcher further reports that the alleged shoplifter had been struck by a police cruiser and then continued his escape on foot. The male was described as white, in his early 20’s, 5 ft, 10 inches tall, with a beard, wearing jeans, a green shirt and barefoot. The K-9 officer was dispatched to the K-Mart parking lot but failed to flush out the shoeless suspect. According to the officer’s report, the suspect was running towards the back of the lot, suddenly changed direction and ran head-on into the cruiser. He then got up and continued running towards the entrance to the parking lot when he suddenly stopped and again, ran head-on into the cruiser. He then got up and fled across the highway. According to the report, there was no damage to the cruiser. Hours later, the manager of the Holiday Inn Express reported a suspicious male in the parking lot wearing a Hooters t-shirt and bleeding from the feet, believing the person to be the alleged suspect from the Stop & Shop incident. Police were sent and the suspect was transported to the Melrose-Wakefield Police Station. The suspect was later identified and was summoned by an officer.

 

Breaking up with bricks is hard to do

  A Falmouth Street caller alerted police that his girlfriend was outside his house acting irrationally demanding her property. Officers responded to the scene and discovered that the girlfriend had allegedly left the area prior to their arrival. According to the police report, the boyfriend stated that his girlfriend had allegedly threatened to throw bricks through his windows that night. The boyfriend placed all her property on the front steps.

 

There’s never a good day for drunkin’ bumper cars

  Police responded to multiple calls of a truck striking several parked vehicles along Central Street. Officers immediately made haste and located the suspected vehicle on Taylor Street. Police arrested Dario Chilel of Saugus for operating under the influence of liquor; leaving the scene of property damage; and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

 

Thursday, July 15

 

Refusing to learn her lessons

  During a motor vehicle stop, a Saugus police officer discovered that the driver had no business being behind the wheel of her Mitsubishi in Saugus. The officer charged Cassandra Dexter of Melrose with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; failure to stop/yield; registration not in possession; as well as default warrants for past motor vehicle violations.

 

Medical call provides relief – then jail

  Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call of a 39 year-old male on Waban Street having trouble breathing. According to the report, the victim, George Leo Goodwin, was transported to the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital for treatment – under the accompaniment of a police officer. Goodwin had an outstanding warrant for Identification fraud, forgery, and larceny.

 

Friday, July 16

 

Nail salon’s rates must have went up

  A Basswood Ave. resident called police to report that she had been the victim of a fraud from a check she had written to a nail salon at the Square One Mall. The woman arrived at police headquarters the next day with a copy of the check which was allegedly altered by an employee of the nail salon in the amount of $500. The matter was referred to detectives.

 

Saturday, July 17

 

Another reason to pass texting laws

  A Springdale Ave. resident walked into the police station and reported that he had allegedly been threatened by the former boyfriend of a woman he has had a “texting relationship” with. The man stated that he has no intention of continuing the “texting relationship” with the woman and does not want any contact with either of them. According to the report, an officer spoke to the alleged ex-boyfriend who stated that he was just upset and had no intention of harming the man. The officer also advised the woman to discontinue any contact with the complainant. Police advised the resident to respond to the station if the matter continues and to either apply for an emergency protective order or seek a complaint in court. And you thought all the drama was on TV.

 

Sunday, July 19

 

Multiple arrests, injuries in brawl on Golden Hills

  Police responded to several emergency calls of a fight taking place on Falmouth Street until additional calls arrived stating the location of the fight had changed to Golden Hills in the area of Sweetwater Street. Six males were arrested and charged, two were transported to the hospital for various injuries, and three vehicles were towed from the scene. Placed under arrest were: Danni Lopez of Lynn; Erroll Lamont Davis, Jr. of Lynn; Kashawn Perry Avery of Lynn; Frederick Lee Nieves, Jr., of Beverly; Jaquan Desaun Huston of Lynn; each charged with one count of assault & battery with a dangerous weapon, and one count of malicious destruction of property over $250. Desmond Lee Avery of Saugus was charged with two counts of assault & battery with a dangerous weapon and malicious destruction of property over $250.

 

Yes, officer – they got all the loose change

  An Atherton Street resident walked into the station to report that when he and his wife went out into the driveway to their respective vehicles to head to work in the early morning hours, they discovered that their vehicles were open and no damage was done to either vehicle – but some loose change was missing. Upon further interrogation, the resident finally admitted that both vehicles had been left unlocked. No word yet if it was an inside job.

 

First stop the lake – next stop, the landfill

  Fire fighters were called to Breakheart Reservation on the report from a cell caller stating that there was a brush fire in progress at the upper lake. Engine 3 responded and promptly extinguished the fire. Approximately 30 minutes later, fire fighters responded to a fire at a landfill on Main Street where Capt. Stephen Johnson reported finding a fire the “size of a football field” involved. Crews used brooms to knock down the running blaze until additional units arrived. After laying 300 feet of fire hose, fire fighters used 2000 gallons of water to wet down the area. By dark, the working fire was no more.