Boston, Mass.- April 30, 2010 - Hank Phillippi Ryan, investigative
reporter for Channel 7 (WHDH) reported this week on why many people
in Massachusetts - including residents of East Boston - are
convinced their neighborhoods are making them sick and how the state
has squandered their tax dollars conducting health studies that were
dropped before their results could be published.
The state spent $1.3 million on the Logan Airport study. Then, 10
years into the study, and with only months to go before publishing
their findings, the Department of Public Health (DPH) said they
couldn't afford to finish the study.
Gov. Deval Patrick struck funds earmarked by the legislature to
complete the East Boston study from the budget.
The Channel 7 investigation revealed a list from the DPH showing
that on-going health studies in Abington, Falmouth, Pembroke,
Rockland, Weymouth, and Wilmington were also halted.
Officials at the Department of Public Health say they are trying to
get the funding restored, and have given lawmakers a report on the
Logan study.
According to Michael Sulprizio, an aide to Rep. Carlo Basile (D-East
Boston), the representative filed an amendment to the budget
that earmarked $195,000 -- all that was needed to complete the East
Boston health study. The House did not include it the budget,
however.
The next step, according to Suprizio, would be for Sen. Anthony
Petrucelli (D-First Suffolk & Middlesex) to try to get it into the
Senate budget.
