UCANE Interview

Rep esentative Ch istina Mini (D- Haver ill) u i

Representative Minicucci grew up in a family that believes service to community is a way of life. She has always been civically involved, sitting on boards or commissions, volunteering her time to various organizations, and helping out on political campaigns. When this State Representative seat opened up in 2018, she did not intend to step up and fill it. However, when she took a step back and realized that joining the legislature is truly an extension of the work that she has always done for her community, it seemed like a logical next step, and a good fit for her.

Q: With citizens being asked to stay at home more during the pandemic, access to clean drinking water and proper management of wastewater is critical. Please give us your thoughts relative to the importance of maintaining water, wastewater, and utility infrastructure.

A: I first realized that clean drinking water was a privilege when I was in middle school. In the mid-80s North Andover’s drinking water was contaminated with giardia. For close to nine months, we had to boil our tap water before drinking it. In October of 1986 the town invested in two ozonation systems as an interim solution, but the long-term fix took close to four years to complete. Fast forward a decade, and I moved to Quito, Ecuador for a year. Even in the capital city, tap water was not safe to drink without boiling and purchasing bottled water was prohibitively expensive for most. I used my time there to learn about water and sewer infrastructure and the negative impacts lack of potable water and wastewater capacity had on public health and economic development.

These experiences informed my legislative commitment to ensuring our drinking water stays clean. Even before I was elected, I was concerned with the health of our town drinking supply, thankful that the scare of the 80s instilled a sense of stewardship amongst residents and town leadership. Additionally, keeping the Merrimack River clean has been a priority of mine, focusing on the importance of separating combined systems and increasing holding capacity of wastewater treatment plants with CSOs that discharge into the River in storm events.

Q:

What do you believe will be the biggest challenges for your district and region with regard to economic recovery?

A: This question is a tough one. Covid-19 has hit Essex County hard, Lawrence being one of the hardest hit communities in the Commonwealth. There are going to be many layers to this recovery and the speed with which we are able to move forward is going to be entirely dependent in the short-term, on our commitment to wearing masks, following good hygiene and social distancing protocols to contain the virus. Long-term recovery is going to depend on finding an effective treatment and possibly a vaccine. Small business is the economic engine of my district, business partnerships, and Federal and State programs designed to help these businesses weather the storm are going to be the key to keeping our economy alive. Personally, I am a Shop Local Everything kind of gal, and I am hopeful that others will join me in keeping our dollars here in the Merrimack Valley to help our small businesses make it to the other side of this crisis.

Q: As we recover from this crisis, please give us your thoughts on how the state will continue to support local aid to cities and towns to help support basic municipal services, specifically water infrastructure.

A:

Right now, public health is center stage in the fight against this pandemic. Maintaining continued on page 21

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Interview continued from page 19 and increasing access to clean water and sanitary sewer is critical to this fight. One of the best ways to hold back the spread and contain the virus is through good personal hygiene. This requires clean water for hand-washing and laundering. Additionally, it is still unclear how the proliferation of this virus will affect the cleanliness of our water supply. We have to be prepared to innovate and invest in infrastructure supports as needed. With a heightened need for water use and more folks working from home, this is not the time for us to shy away from infrastructure investments, specifically as it relates to keeping our water clean and protected.

Q:

How has your job changed with the requirements of social distancing and working remotely?

A: With social distancing requirements and remote work, my job has shifted dramatically. Before Covid-19 I spent approximately 1/3 of my time at community events, in formal session, or committee hearings, 1/3 of my time in face-to-face meetings with constituents and advocacy groups, with the remainder of my time behind the computer or on the phone. Through March, April, and most of May, 100% of my time was spent on the phone or behind a computer screen. Each day is filled With a heightened need for water use and more folks working from home, this is not the time for us to shy away from infrastructure investments, specifically as it relates to keeping our water clean and protected.

with virtual “Zoom” meetings with colleagues, local nonprofits, and community leaders, talking on the phone with constituents helping them with unemployment claims, rental assistance, or accessing food, or responding to hundreds of emails. Never much of a social media person, I built up my Facebook following and at the height of the crisis was posting more than 10 updates per day, doing my best to get the word out about the constantly changing guidance to my constituents. After more than two full months at home, I have had one to two in-person events or meetings per week – outdoors, masked, and properly distanced – starting at the beginning of June. It’s an unusual shift, but feels good to get back to some sense of normalcy. The good news is that my side gig of helping my three children with school has come to a close. It wasn’t easy juggling both, but it provided me with important perspective throughout this time. A constant reminder that there is a “post-Covid” future and we have to keep our eye on the prize and keep moving forward. n

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