Representative Keenan Reacts to Funding
BOSTON – Representative John Keenan (D-Salem) reacted enthusiastically today following an announcement from Governor Mitt Romney that funding amounting to $106 million for the renovation and expansion of the Salem courts campus would be a part of his latest $1.3 billion capital budget. The Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) has estimated the complete cost of the project at $106 million. The announcement was made by Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healy, Chief Justice for Administration and Management Robert Mulligan, and DCAM Commissioner David Perrini at a press conference on the steps of the Salem courthouse this morning, which Representative Keenan attended. The announcement comes just one week after Representative Keenan sat down with Governor Romney to discuss the status of the new courthouse project in Salem. While Governor Romney had initially included $3 million for the project in his version of the FY06 state budget in late January, he later amended his recommendations in late March, eliminating the earmark for the project. Representative Keenan arranged the meeting in order to express the shared support for the project by the community and the urgent need for the first stages of the design phase to move forward. Also in attendance at the meeting with Governor Romney were Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healy, Salem Mayor Stanley Usovicz, Justice Robert Cornetta of the Salem District Court, and Vic DiGravio of State Senator Frederick Berry’s office. In his first meeting with the Governor since his inauguration in January, Representative Keenan spoke earnestly in support of a project that will be an economic, cultural, and judicial boon to Salem and the North Shore region. The meeting came on the heels of another meeting held two weeks prior between Representative Keenan, State Senator Frederick Berry, and Secretary of Administration Eric Kriss to discuss Division of Capital Asset Management funding for the project. “I am delighted that the Governor has recognized the importance of this long-overdue project,” said Representative Keenan today, “By including the funding for this project in his capital budget, he is signaling his commitment to economic growth and development for our region and his dedication to improving the infrastructure of some of our Commonwealth’s most important and heavily-used court buildings.” “The courts and the legal community are the economic engine of downtown Salem,” said Representative Keenan, “This project guarantees the economic vitality of Salem as we move forward. The city of Salem is in the midst of a great renaissance and this is key component of that. This is truly a wonderful day for Salem.” “Congratulations are due to the Salem Partnership, Mayor Usovicz, and Senator Berry,” continued Representative Keenan, “Without their persistent advocacy and unified front on this issue it would not have come to fruition.”
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