Rep. Joe Kennedy III and Sen. Ed Markey each focused on economic relief from the coronavirus pandemic during separate events Sunday as their Senate Democratic primary race heats up.
Markey held a virtual news conference calling to extend the national moratorium on evictions.
He was joined by State Rep. Mike Connolly, Executive Director of City Life/Vida Urbana, Lisa Owen, and Annie Gordon, a renter in Mattapan.
During the conference, Owen said residents were approaching their grassroots organization for help during the pandemic. Owen added that renters often call with anxiety over being unable to pay rent or even partial rent after the eviction moratorium ends. There is also new worry over food insecurities during the pandemic.
"The thought of homelessness anytime is very traumatic, in itself," said Gordon. "But being homeless in a pandemic when you are advised to stay home, to stay healthy is beyond my understanding."
Meanwhile, Kennedy was scheduled to visit businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in Salem, Peabody, Beverly, Reading, Melrose and Everett as part of his statewide "Jobs and Justice Tour."
Additionally, the congressman was expected to tour the Lynn Community Health Center to see how they are responding to the pandemic.
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The state Housing Court estimates 20,000 eviction cases could be filed throughout the state as soon as the moratorium ends.
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, which Markey has called to be brought to the Senate floor for debate and a vote, includes a $100 million investment in renters assistance.
Additionally, he is advocating to keep the distribution of $600 per week for unemployment insurance. The insurance is scheduled to end at the end of July.
NBC10 Boston, Telemundo Boston and NECN will host the first of three televised U.S. Senate Democratic candidates scheduled for the summer of 2020.
And we want to know what questions you'd like to ask the candidates. Questions for Rep. Kennedy and Sen. Markey can be emailed to shareit@nbcboston.com or shareit@necn.com with "Debate" in the subject line. All questions must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The debate with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and challenger, U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, will be held on Sunday, July 26, from 7 to 8 p.m. from a secure and closed studio inside the NBCUniversal Boston Media Center in Needham. NBC10 Boston and NECN will broadcast the debate live, while Telemundo Boston will air the debate later that same evening at 11 p.m.
