Will Brownsberger -- State Representative, Democrat, 24th Middlesex District

For the past 10 years, I have been among conservation advocates hoping to find a way to preserve the Silver Maple Forest property adjacent to the Alewife reservation. We are still struggling.

The final Senate budget is based on a lower revenue estimate than the House budget and includes lower numbers for local aid and many other critical programs.

Summary of a meeting that occurred at the State House (September 25) regarding the status of Department of Conservation and Recreation issues in the Alewife area.

I’m very disappointed to report that Governor Patrick chose to veto the
language that we worked to place in the Environmental Bond Bill regarding
the Silver Maple Forest acquisition.

Thanks to Senator Tolman, the Silver Maple Forest language described below
is now also in the Senate version of the Environmental Bond Bill.

I’m pleased to report some progress on the Silver Maple Forest issue.

For those of you who are following the issue of the Silver Maple Forest, I want to report a small step forward.

I am writing to provide an update for those who are concerned about
preserving the Silver Maple Forest or Belmont Uplands property.  A group met last week with Governor Patrick to discuss the issue.

Today the House accepted the final Tidelands bill back from the Conference
Committee.  

After months of quiet negotiations, the “tidelands” issue finally took
visible shape in the House of Representatives today.

I’m writing to you to urge that you weigh in with the Patrick administration
and let them know how you feel about saving the Belmont Uplands.

The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets gave our bill to acquire the Belmont Uplands a hearing yesterday and the hearing accomplished our initial goal: to make the proposal visible on the radar screen of capital planners in the legislature.

Regional transportation planning, educational excellence, health care, environmental protection.