March 2025 Newsletter
It all begins with an idea.
Welcome to Our Monthly Newsletter
Representative Gòmez is committed to full transparency and accessibility in public service. To extend this mission, we are launching a monthly newsletter to keep you updated on key issues affecting our state and district. Each edition will highlight the challenges we are tackling, legislative updates, and resources for further reading or assistance.
We encourage you to stay engaged - if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Representative Gòmez or his legislative aide, Veronica Frantz-Eggleston, will get back to you as soon as possible.
Together, we can build a stronger more connected community
Contact and Office Hour Information
Representative Gòmez: Homar.gomez@mahouse.gov
Legislative Aide: Veronica Frantz-Eggleston Veronica.frantz-eggleston@mahouse.gov
Phone: 413.977.2676 (please note this is a cell phone so you may text)
Office Hours:
1st Monday of every month - 10am-2pm Granby Senior Center 10 W. State St, Granby MA
2nd Monday of every month - 10am-2pm Hadley Senior Center 46 Middle St, Hadley, MA
3rd Monday of every month - 10am-2pm South Hadley Senior Center 45 Dayton St, South Hadley, MA
4th Monday of every month - 12pm-2pm Easthampton Senior Center 19 Union St, Easthampton, MA
*If a holiday falls on a Monday we will move our hours to Tuesday
COMMITTEES
We are proud to announce that Representative Gòmez has been selected to serve on the following committees:
AGRICULTURE
MUNICIPALITIES and REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC SAFETY and HOMELAND SECURITY
REVENUE
We look forward to working alongside fellow legislators and, most importantly, the constituents of the 2nd Hampshire District to bring meaningful legislation to the forefront - laws that will directly impact and improve the lives of those in Western Massachusetts.
Your voice MATTERS in this process. STAY ENGAGED! And as always, feel free to reach out with your thoughts and concerns.
EVERSOURCE - ENERGY BILLS
We hear your concerns about the excessive delivery fees imposed by Eversource—we understand the burden this places on families, especially our elderly and lower-income constituents. Alongside 70 fellow representatives and senators, we have formally condemned these rate hikes, recognizing the financial strain they bring to households across Massachusetts.
We are actively working with the Governor and the Attorney General to find solutions and push for lower, fairer utility costs. This fight is far from over, and we will continue advocating for relief. Stay tuned for updates, please reach out if you need assistance.
Energy Assistance Links and Resources:
Western MA Energy Assistance:
https://www.communityaction.us/program/fuel-assistance/
Energy Bill Check-Up Assistance
All in Energy, a local organization, offers this service for residents. These check-ups can help with energy bills by assisting them in switching from third-party suppliers to municipal aggregation or basic rates, as well as connecting them to local energy projects such as community solar. It can also help residents to access discounted electric and gas rates, utility arrearage programs, as well as connect them to Mass Save. This service is offered free of charge and could be a very useful resource for the constituent. More information is included on their bill check-up webpage. All in Energy has flagged gabe@allinenergy.org as the point person for this service.
Solar PV
If a constituent is interested in traditional solar generation for their home as well as resources on community solar. These resources provide general information and detail the various incentive programs that affect system economics or may be available to otherwise assist with the costs.
We first recommend looking into MassCEC’s Solar Electricity Page. This page provides general information about solar electricity, including a variety of articles at the bottom of the page about how solar works, financing and ownership options, tips and resources on finding an installer, and more. For more information on solar financing and incentives specifically, please refer to our Incentives, Financing, and Ownership page and CESA’s Homeowner's Guide to Solar Financing, which both provide an overview of ownership and financing options. Finally, we recommend looking into the the Energy Saver Home Loan program, offered by Mass Housing, for low-and moderate-income MA residents. The program underwrites low-to no-interest loans for a variety of energy-related home improvements including solar PV. If high energy bills are a concern, this could be a beneficial resource.
Community solar could serve as a helpful solution if the constituent is interested in getting involved with solar without a system on their property. MassCEC hosts a general Community Solar webpage and a How to Find a Community Solar Project webpage, which go into more detail on the benefits of community solar as well as active projects. For the most up-to-date information, the EnergySage Community Solar Marketplace may also be helpful.
Working Together for Our Community
Over the past two months, Representative Gómez and our office have been actively engaged in assisting constituents by working closely with several state departments, including:
Department of Unemployment
Department of Public Health
Department of Safety
MassHealth
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
Veterans’ Services
Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs
…and many others.
In addition, Representative Gómez has met with delegates and staff from numerous organizations committed to improving the lives of Massachusetts residents, including:
Riverside Industries
Massachusetts Teachers Association
Mass Laborers Union
SEIU 1099
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Local Police and Fire Departments
State Fire Services
Local Chamber Meetings
Local Boy Scout Meetings
State Superintendents
Western MA Public Health Institute
MHAP for Kids
Local Community Colleges
Disability Policy Consortium
NAGE
AARP
Coalition for Homeless Individuals
…and many more.
Rep. Gómez is honored to collaborate with such distinguished groups and remains committed to advocating for the needs of our community. Whether working on legislative solutions, connecting residents with vital services, or engaging directly with organizations making a difference, our office is here to help.
If you or someone you know needs assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to continuing our work and making a meaningful impact together!