One of Kerry's meetings in New Bedford was on Fishing and the Community Development Funding

[karynnj]

Here's a link to video on the fishing industry issues - Kerry will be speaking to Loche and NOAH and will have a hearing on abuses of the Asset Forfeiture Program in March.

http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/massachusetts/new-bedford-senator-john-kerry-discusses-fishing-industry-and-announces-grants-for-fire-department

Here's more on that - and details on what the fishing hearing will include:

Kerry, D-Mass., said during a daylong visit to the city that he plans to meet next week with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and representatives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding a wide range of regulatory issues that are devastating many small fishermen.

Kerry also said he plans to convene oversight committee hearings through the Senate Commerce Committee to examine NOAA's asset forfeiture proceedings.

The state's senior senator said he wants to know why the penalties assessed on New England fishermen far exceed those meted out elsewhere.

Kerry said the scope of the committee hearings will include the science used by regulators in determining catch shares, asset forfeitures and the catch shares themselves.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110222/NEWS/102220315/-1/NEWS06

The Boston Herald refers to the southcoasttoday article - http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/20110222sen_john_kerry_continues_pressure_on_fishing_regulators_plans_commerce_oversight_meetings/


Here's more on the Community Development Funding part.

"We're at a critical junction in funding for the (CDBG) program," Warren said, noting a House vote to cut the current fiscal year CDBG funding by 62.5 percent. "That would be devastating for communities," Warren said.

Warren is holding the meetings as part of his role as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayor's Community Development and Housing Committee. The Newton mayor has had numerous meetings in Washington D.C. on community development funding, including one with Housing and Urban Development officials.
<snip>

Money from the CDBG program, Warren said, is crucial to Newton services that help working families find childcare as well as building and protecting affordable housing.

Members from the New Bedford community also attended the meeting -- which was held at the New Bedford Art Museum -- and pointed out the need for CDBG funding in their community to help services such as fuel assistance programs for residents.

Here's the link - http://newton.patch.com/articles/mayor-critical-junction-for-community-development-funding

Who knows? There might be a nice contrast with a Junior Senator, with no empathy for today's family needing help, even though his own ability to be who he is now was dependent on his family getting help. (He's as good looking as Brown, more articulate, and as part of the MA NG, he deployed to Iraq.)

[Mass]

1. More here.

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x62852915/Kerry-steps-up-push-vs-NOAA

Kerry steps up push vs. NOAA

By Richard Gaines Staff Writer The Gloucester Daily Times Tue Feb 22, 2011, 11:31 PM EST

U.S. Sen. John Kerry has put his political weight behind the struggles of the fishing industry in its growing fight for relief from the regulatory, economic and law enforcement policies created and being carried out by the Obama administration.

Expressing disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress in a year's struggle dating to the Feb. 24, 2010, national fishermen's rally in Washington, D.C., Kerry announced plans organize a field hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee — somewhere in Massachusetts, and no later than April.
...

And on about Cape Wind, but still related to fishermen.

http://offshorewindwire.com/2011/02/23/roundup-frank-criticizes-planning/

MORNING ROUNDUP: Barney Frank Criticizes Offshore Wind Planning

Wed, Feb 23, 2011

Business, Federal, New England, Politics

Long-time Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank criticized offshore wind regulators and said that they should have been “more careful and deliberate” about their site planning, the Cape Cod Times reported today.

“I’m disappointed in both state and federal officials,” Frank said, referring to a recently released request for interest in 3,000 square miles of federal water south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The congressman — along with Massachusetts Rep. John Tierney and Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown — sent a letter Tuesday to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar asking for more time to comment on the RFI and for more consultation with fishermen.
...