REPRESENTATIVE JOHN P. FRESOLO ANNOUNCES

RE-ELECTION BID

Four-term State Representative John P. Fresolo has formally announced his re-election campaign for the 16th Worcester District seat on Friday, May 19th at his Campaign Kickoff Party at the P.N.I. Club, 290 Millbury Street at 6:00 pm.

As a life-long resident of the 16th Worcester District, Representative Fresolo shares the same priorities and values as his constituents: public safety, education, affordable housing, transportation and the protection of our children and elderly citizens.

For the last eight years, Rep. Fresolo has taken great pride in securing nearly $800,000 in additional community policing funds for the Union Hill, Vernon Hill, Grafton Hill, Quinsigamond Village and Green Island neighborhoods of Worcester.  With this funding, the Worcester Police Department has been able to add much needed neighborhood foot patrols that have reduced illegal drug use, violent crimes and gang formation in the 16th Worcester District.

As the father of two children in the Worcester public school system, Representative Fresolo has fought for education funding reform and affordable childcare.  Rep. Fresolo and his colleagues in the House were able to secure an additional $6.5 million for a total of $167.5 million in Chapter 70 funding for Worcester Public Schools in the FY07 Budget and continues to fight for reform in underperforming schools.

Realizing that much of his district is made up of hard working, mostly blue collar families, Rep. Fresolo has been instrumental in acquiring state and grant funding to allow for low and moderate income housing.  Within Rep. Fresolo's last term, he secured funding for the Hadley Building Project, which will bring 40 affordable housing units to the former David Burwick Furniture Building. The sources of funding included $630,000.00 from the Federal Low Income Tax Housing Credit, and $550,000.00 from the Department of Housing and Community Development's Housing Stabilization Fund. Rep. Fresolo also helped secure $4.23 million in funding to help The Church of Ascension construct a 35 unit affordable senior housing complex.  He has also worked with the South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Corporation to renovate and rehab abandoned and blighted buildings in the South Worcester area including affordable housing at the corner of Cambridge and Hacker Streets.

Rep. Fresolo has worked diligently to make the $300 million Rt. 146 Massachusetts Turnpike Project a reality for Central MA commuters.  The project includes over $150 million dedicated solely to Worcester; with the development and renovation of Hurley and Brosnihan Squares in Worcester, and that securing land takings and funding to widen the intersection of Cambridge and Southbridge Streets for dedicated right and left turn lanes. Recently, Fresolo has been working toward securing the $1.6 million state contribution to the new Blackstone Gateway Visitors’ Center and it has been added to the House budget.

Fresolo stays connected with his district and constituents with active memberships in many civic organizations; the Grafton Hill Neighborhood Association, Grafton Hill Business Association, Oak Hill Community Development Corporation, College Hill Civic Association, Sons of Italy Lodge #168, East Side Improvement Club, Emerald Club, Worcester Elks Lodge #243, Vernon Hill American Legion Post #435, Polish Naturalization Independent Club (Associate Member), Friends of Hope Cemetery, and the Brown Square Civic Club.  Fresolo is also active in his parish of Ascension Church, where he serves as Cantor and Finance Committee Chairman.

The 16th Worcester District consists of precincts 1,2,4, and 5, of ward 5, all precincts of ward 6, and precincts 1 and 5 of ward 8 in the City of Worcester.  State primary election will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2006.  The State general election will be held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006.