Mayor of Weymouth accepts hush money from Enbridge

Mayor Hedlund announced today that he has accepted $10 million in hush money from Enbridge. We are disappointed with the Mayor’s decision. We are calling on the community to voice their disapproval of the Town of Weymouth dropping their legal battle with Enbridge in return for $10M. You can read our full press statement below. More on the story from The Patriot Ledger.

State Senator Patrick O’Connor released the following statement: “Disappointed in the Town of Weymouth for settling with Enbridge. There is no price tag you can place on the health of our children and neighbors. In my mind the fight continues, it is very sad to lose the Town of Weymouth as a partner.”

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For Immediate Release: October 30, 2020

Media Contact: Alice Arena, nocompressor@gmail.com

Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station disappointed with Mayor’s decision to accept hush money from Enbridge

Local community organization and its members call for Town to continue to fight the operation of the Enbridge compressor station

Weymouth, MA – The Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station (FRRACS) is calling on their members to voice their disapproval of the Town of Weymouth dropping their legal battle with Enbridge in return for $10M. This small sum will not cover the loss of the security, safety, health, environment, and property value that will be borne by the residents of the Fore River Basin.

Today, Mayor Hedlund of Weymouth announced the acceptance of mitigation monies in a host community agreement for the Enbridge compressor station. Mayor Hedlund has also stated that Enbridge will work for a tax code change to be legislated at the state level in order for the Town to receive more tax revenues from the hosting of the compressor station.

Alice Arena, president of FRRACS, stated, “Four years ago, Enbridge came to Weymouth with a $47M offer, half of which was predicated on a state level tax code change. Now, with their threat of the compressor almost fully realized, they offer one fourth of the amount at a time when the Town needs even more to cover the cost of additional fire and police training and equipment due to the siting of their toxic and dangerous facility. We have no faith that this tax code change will ever occur. This paltry sum will never make the community whole after Enbridge has taken our health—and possibly our property and lives—away. While we thank the Town for their legal efforts up to this point, we are more than disappointed that the Town did not consider what the life of even one citizen is worth. FRRACS will continue to fight the operation of this facility.”