[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6369368,"mediaKeyId","2154860-9ddc75b2f2497c952b3bc75c33ecc4c7","parentId",2154860,"title","Everett firefighter outreach worker reports opioid‑response decline, outlines follow‑up and prevention work","audioSeconds",563,"startMs",4775000,"endMs",5338000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154860-9ddc75b2f2497c952b3bc75c33ecc4c7&start=4775&end=5338","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154860-9ddc75b2f2497c952b3bc75c33ecc4c7/thumbnail_4775000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6369368/Massachusetts/Everett-firefighter-outreach-worker-reports-opioidresponse-decline-outlines-followup-and-prevention-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369368-117220665c2e673263b77f267bbd6d4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051222&Signature=jbHe1SPaflTY8pGd6SZehjc5crGjzHHjpW8KvKC5I15aSTqIJwcbokPgnw3iq~Vyud1T6MAP9mgkePC6V0e2P5WcoMC~aFM94QX5mLX33fm8V6~ByuA4NdDqauz1uz2jPw4wLKBbU-IUF1Ntjh99yDjT7AIBX1V669KWVqLhE1TZdR0fR2Co4YjQPlAXa11OuUarw5f~CXC3bTSqVLdAs6sA5lVJf~j89UBrKsZ8HN7jVAmrqw1mmDNyW57emE4g9a0UFtSUktCuj1u03BaH8qe0HMrXgBudWFqjoNsc5CO74Pin~febc1HOcAvLSGpdcJ2hzdMaK3N49hKdSmWnVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Everett City, MA","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","Paul Garrino, the addiction recovery resource specialist attached to the Everett Fire Department, briefed the City Council on Monday about the department’s outreach and follow-up work under the “Roadmap to Recovery” effort.

Garrino told the council the city’s overdose response numbers have fallen since the peak of the crisis: “Back in 2017, we had over 180 incidences… this past year we had 40 incidents,” he said, adding that the Fire Department’s incident reporting and a follow‑up program contribute to the decline.

Garrino described an outreach model that includes follow-up door knocks within 24 to 48 hours of an overdose, distribution of naloxone (Narcan) training and test strips, and connections to detox and recovery housing. He said his team helped 24 people enter detox programs and placed 17 in vetted sober homes over the past year. The specialist also cited prevention work in schools — trainings for students and teachers about counterfeit pills and fentanyl risk — and collaboration with the police department’s social-worker resources.

Councilors praised the work and asked how the City Council and administration could support expanded services. Garrino and councilors noted gaps in local mental‑health and animal‑control capacity, and several councilors recommended exploring additional funding and staffing, including a dedicated behavioral-health navigation position that could coordinate post‑hospital care and help reduce repeat crisis calls.

Garrino said the program uses grants and collaborative placements and that he receives data from firefighters and EMS for near-real-time follow-up. He also offered his contact information for referrals.

Councilors voted to excuse Garrino after his presentation and to refer the item back to the sponsor for follow-up. Several council members asked staff to consider whether additional positions or resources should be included in upcoming budget and program planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Everett City Council Meeting 01-27-25","oneSentenceSummary","Paul Garrino, the Fire Department’s addiction recovery resource specialist, told the City Council the department’s outreach helped reduce recorded overdose incidents from about 180 in 2017 to roughly 40 last year and described follow-up and prevention work.","taxTitle","Everett City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",78383,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6369373,"Council sends live‑animal testing ordinance back to sponsor after weeks of public opposition",2013,2585000,4598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154860-9ddc75b2f2497c952b3bc75c33ecc4c7&start=2585&end=4598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154860-9ddc75b2f2497c952b3bc75c33ecc4c7/thumbnail_2585000.jpg","/articles/6369373/Massachusetts/Council-sends-liveanimal-testing-ordinance-back-to-sponsor-after-weeks-of-public-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369373-a1adce9524c6d107e6760245f1c24211/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051222&Signature=j08LKcoZ9rY1dd4PHrfZ~vpxCaeBpdc55Atx4F121QS8-b9Gox47NPVYUdRlrvlKmV8yuwx9Tch71RUa5YntaTqom58n4GT5RcGk3Izz51bCe6HMLs3omDRABoZ9doly4UZQ7DnzPW27p596~vJp16bHtqlxOMziUocWBvJh6W4ed-PZPBxziFWo1HdOS3bVA~As9o4RNtFexYVHQ5zYnTwuInJrO1Q8sx1OlVqgk6X7fsTRFlAQkrbDrSmhz5RX6KDUMDAslfgd9lX8evJ4xe~V8sgQnJ7v0ER33ZsGvH~9rlsrj-9ZksIyvBiYku78buJ-G3jMvTlZSm6qC9VmtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A proposed revision to Everett’s ban on live-animal testing drew more than a dozen speakers during public participation and a split council discussion before members voted to refer the ordinance back to its sponsor for further review.

Councilor Stephanie Smith introduced the ordinance (item 20) that would amend the city’s existing restrictions on live-animal testing. Smith said she supports alternative, non‑animal testing methods but argued the city was losing out on potential commercial tax revenue while federal and industry transitions to non-animal methods continue. “Until there is a federal ban, Everett's losing out on the revenues that our neighboring cities are getting,” Smith said.

Public comment at the meeting was heavily weighted against loosening the city’s ban. Prayal Patel, Massachusetts state director for the Humane Society of the United States, urged the council to “oppose the amendment that seeks to weaken Everett's current ban on animal testing,” saying modern non‑animal methods (3‑D human tissue models, organs‑on‑chips, computational models) are “faster, more cost effective, and avoid the ethical concerns surrounding animal testing.” Other residents and advocacy groups, including representatives from Salem Save the Animals, Boston Dog Lawyers and local animal-welfare activists, also urged the council to retain the city’s ban.

Speakers raised technical and logistical concerns: who would regulate private labs, whether Everett has staff or facilities to oversee biohazard risks, and the potential cost to taxpayers to fund oversight such as an institutional animal care committee or veterinarian. Councilor Stephanie Marchese and Councilor Patty Rogers emphasized local administrative and training gaps, noting Everett lacks an animal shelter and comprehensive animal-control programs.

Council debate reflected those tensions. Councilor Marchese argued for broader public engagement and said the issue would have been better considered as part of the Innovation Zoning District process. Councilor Smith said she had discussed the matter with Planning and understood Davis Company (a developer referenced in public comment) had been told site plan review would not allow animal testing, and that no tenant had been identified. After discussion, the council voted to refer the ordinance back to the sponsor (Councilor Smith) for additional work and outreach rather than moving it forward for ordainment.

The referral means the ordinance will not be advanced at this meeting and sponsors and staff said they plan to pursue additional public engagement and, if necessary, a formal committee referral for further study. The council did not adopt the ordinance or change the ban at this meeting.","After hours of public comment — mostly opposed — the Everett City Council referred an ordinance that would amend the city's ban on live-animal testing back to the sponsor for further work and public engagement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6369378,"Everett council approves enrollment of ordinance lowering inclusionary housing AMI from 80% to 60%",921,178000,1099000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154860-9ddc75b2f2497c952b3bc75c33ecc4c7&start=178&end=1099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154860-9ddc75b2f2497c952b3bc75c33ecc4c7/thumbnail_178000.jpg","/articles/6369378/Massachusetts/Everett-council-approves-enrollment-of-ordinance-lowering-inclusionary-housing-AMI-from-80-to-60","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369378-6494a0756c4458534cee7e6d5dcf3300/orig.mp4?Expires=1771051223&Signature=iyL2ll97HS5TX6kq9IGvsYmfaOKDM6VBi0GKLEKsSP15k~dwYQenQbcNc4t6V91MWcSz7OhPXUwmvp6gw~6A13D9h4Cu~RNkzmIvXCPioVobaqlPLl15GosMU6FDvm7N~A23OiCiYjRjv0SjZuTZqBcvhrzUxgKTXz3eGltHAIq7t-g9vlSad9D0Vs-JFWudHJvxTnTL~4dXkIEdRmiKk9tWf5R1CCpwKfQje7bkWyhc~ghOPtCOIibCP68h3fR9cFE-SJ1180E7rJoFP74ScxiFiwPSeNh6kDpo5zp5No6blnW1yogC5F-81QOzIn~KhPzaqvzBsoyYVa4M37zqgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Everett City Council on Monday voted to enroll an ordinance that would lower the affordability threshold in the city’s inclusionary zoning rules from 80% of area median income (AMI) to 60% AMI. The first-reading vote for enrollment passed 6–5, and proponents said the change aims to expand access to units for lower-income Everett residents.

Councilor Stephanie Smith, sponsor of the ordinance, said she and co-sponsor Councilor Stephanie Martins worked with the Planning Department for nearly a year on the change. “We’re making AMI at 60%, so we’re bringing it down from 80% to 60% to allow for more affordable housing for Everett,” Councilor Smith said at the meeting.

The ordinance amends Section 32b of the city zoning code (inclusionary zoning) in two places where the AMI share is referenced. Councilors who backed the enrollment argued the change will move rents closer to what many Everett residents can afford. Councilor Smith offered a concrete example during the discussion: under the proposed 60% AMI standard, a $2,000 unit would be priced at about $1,200 for an income-qualified, affordable unit.

Opponents said the change does not address the scale of new development and raised broader concerns about density, infrastructure and local decision-making. Multiple residents who spoke during the public hearing said new developments are worsening traffic, parking and school overcrowding and questioned whether the change primarily benefits large developers. Peggy Serino of Lafayette Street and Paula Staridi each urged the council to oppose the amendment, saying it would mostly help developers and increase strain on city services.

Councilors asked staff to clarify that the amendment affects affordability thresholds for new developments going forward, not projects already under construction. Council members also confirmed the ordinance applies to new construction that begins after the zoning change takes effect and that the existing inclusionary requirement (trigger at developments of 10 or more units) remains in place. The council was told the ordinance’s first-reading enrollment passed and that a two-thirds vote will be required at the next meeting to ordain the change.

The council closed the public hearing on the item and voted on enrollment; the motion passed 6 yeas to 5 nays. Councilors and staff said the ordinance will return for a second vote at the next regular council meeting for ordainment, at which point a two-thirds majority will be required.","On first reading the Everett City Council voted 6–5 to enroll an ordinance amending Section 32b of the zoning code to require affordable units at 60% of area median income instead of 80%. A second (two-thirds) vote will be required to ordain the change.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Everett firefighter outreach worker reports opioid‑response decline, outlines follow‑up and prevention work

Council sends live‑animal testing ordinance back to sponsor after weeks of public opposition

Everett council approves enrollment of ordinance lowering inclusionary housing AMI from 80% to 60%