U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy, III recently announced his Jobs and Justice initiative as part of his run for U.S. Senate.
Kennedy has been touring the state to get feedback on the plan and recently met with business owners in Quincy.
“Small business are the lifeblood of our economy in this county. They’re responsible for the vast majority of job creation, they’re a lifeline for every main street across our communities,” said Kennedy. “They need to have the support. You’ve got these incredibly innovative small business owners, whether that’s in restaurants, barber shops, salons, whatever they can possibly do to make ends meet, but they need help.”
Kennedy, a Democrat, is running for Senate against Democratic incumbent Ed Markey in the September primary.
He toured Cottage Street in Quincy, where part of the street has been closed to allow for outdoor dining.
A major focus is helping businesses and workers adjust to a new normal. His plan includes federal funding for sanitization and retrofitting restaurants to promote social distancing.
“Not just the COVID crisis and the economic devastation that it’s brought, but the long-term economic inequities and social inequities that we see that have made our society far more vulnerable to this moment,” said Kennedy. “Whether it’s restaurants here that are grateful for PPE and the lifeline that it provided, but recognizing that that alone is not going to allow them to stay alive forever.”
The Democratic primary is on September 1st.
