Jonathan Cohn, the political director of Progressive Massachusetts, a state group that supports criminal justice reforms, says Hayden’s backtracking is a major mistake.
“There’s a strong and growing body of research that shows that declining to prosecute nonviolent misdemeanor cases not only minimizes individuals’ current involvement with the criminal legal system, but also substantially reduces the probability of future involvement,” Cohn told Bolts.
Election Day is exactly 8 months away: November 8, 2022.
In Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Vermont, prospective voters will be able to register or update their registration at the polls. But in Massachusetts, they won’t be able to because of our arbitrary, exclusionary, and outdated voter registration cutoff.
Late last month, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted in favor of the VOTES Act, pledging their support for making permanent critical electoral reforms like mail-in and early in-person voting. However, the House chose to leave out the heart of the VOTES Act: Election Day Registration (EDR). Now, because the House and Senate versions of the VOTES Act differ, a small group of legislators are finalizing the bill in conference committee.
EDR has been proven to make elections more equitable and efficient in 20 states. By reducing voter registration barriers, EDR boosts voter turnout for all, especially BIPOC, low-income, immigrant, and young voters. It also decreases administrative burdens of running elections by allowing election workers to update registration information on the spot.
Before November will be the primaries on September 6 to determine who advances. And before that will be the party conventions in June that determine who even makes the ballot in the first place.
Over the past month, Democratic ward and town committees have been holding caucuses to elect delegates to the state party convention. If you want to take part, check out the caucus calendar here to see if your caucus has happened yet or is still to come.
And if you didn’t get elected or can’t make your caucus, you might still be able to become a delegate. You can find additional opportunities here.
Know What’s on the Ballot
Do you know what an Attorney General, an Auditor, or a Secretary of the Commonwealth does?
Do you want to know?
And do you want to find out more about what the candidates vying for these important statewide positions plan to do with these offices?
Tomorrow, the MA House is voting on a bill to generate revenue for an offshore wind investment fund and establish a slate of tax credits and incentives to promote offshore wind.
Massachusetts is well-positioned to be a leader in the renewable energy economy, but as we grow that sector, it is important that we make sure that all communities, especially the underserved, can benefit from the new opportunities provided.
Last month, the MA House voted 120 to 36 to pass the Work & Family Mobility Act (often referred to as the “Driver’s License Bill”), which would enable all qualified state residents to apply for a standard Massachusetts driver’s license or identification card regardless of immigrant status.
The case for the bill is clear. Many MA residents depend on a car to get to work, to school, to the hospital, etc., and immigration status shouldn’t be a barrier to getting a license. If all drivers have passed the same test and know the same rules of the road, and are properly insured, we all benefit from the safer roads that result.
Despite this, the bill had been stalled in the Legislature session after session. But the years of hard work done by advocates, especially those from immigrant-led organizations, paid off.
Progressive Massachusetts reached out in late December to gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates with our comprehensive policy questionnaire. In mid-February, we polled our statewide membership on whom and whether to endorse, and the results were clear: Sonia Chang-Díaz for Governor and Tami Gouveia for Lt. Governor.
Each received a commanding 78% of the vote in our member poll, far clearing the 60% threshold required for endorsement.
Each has consistently and persistently demonstrated a commitment to our fundamental mantra that “We all do better when we all do better.” They each bring a deep commitment to equity and justice and a proven track record.
Why Sonia Chang-Díaz for Governor
When we think of the big achievements of our Legislature from the past five years, the bills that were far-reaching and agenda-setting, they have one thing in common: Sonia Chang-Díaz. She has been a leader in the fights to ensure that members of the trans community are able to exist in public life with full respect and access, to reform our criminal legal system, to update our decades-old education funding formula to help close deep inequities, and to strengthen police accountability. And we know Sonia doesn’t only fight: she wins. And she does so by building coalitions both inside and outside the Legislature and by listening to the voices of those most impacted. But she has been more than just a legislator. She brings the experience of a former teacher and a working parent, ready to roll up her sleeves to invest in our commonwealth to make it a better place for current and future generations.
Here is what some of our members had to say about why they support Sonia Chang-Díaz for Governor.
“I have been impressed with Sonia Chang-Díaz since she has been a state senator. I think her focus on education and social justice will bring fresh air to the Governor’s office.”
“Sonia has fought and won in the Senate for so many of our progressive values, like education funding and criminal justice reform. Sonia has proven that she not only shares these values, but can deliver results.”
“Sonia is smart, driven, empathetic, inclusive, and creative. Whereas many politicians take credit for things, Sonia leads and gets things done. I don’t think anybody in state government has more impressive progressive wins in the last decade than Sonia.”
“Sonia is that rare combination of principled and pragmatic. She is clear about where she stands, she sticks to her guns, and knows when to push and stand firm and when to move forward.”
“Sonia Chang-Díaz has a track record of accomplishing big, progressive goals in our Commonwealth. She led on education funding reform and criminal justice reform by highlighting the stories of real stakeholders, and was able to bring reluctant legislators around on these crucial issues.”
“Sonia has a proven record of progressive leadership and getting impossible things done on Beacon Hill. She’s the reformer we need with the vision and principles to make our Commonwealth more equitable and just.”
“Sonia is the only candidate who supports single-payer healthcare. She’s got an extensive track record of progressive stances AND of work done to promote them. The Student Opportunity Act alone was the achievement of a legislator’s lifetime and she was the driving force behind it.”
“Sonia leads with equity in everything she does, and she has demonstrated her commitment to bold progressive change by building large collaborative coalitions to get that change passed.”
Tami Gouveia brings a powerful combination of deeply progressive values and policy expertise, rooted in an understanding that a focus on public health is essential if we want a Commonwealth in which all can thrive. She fought for this goal in her decades as a social worker, leading efforts to protect children from exposure to environmental toxins and to develop a holistic regional approach to the opioid crisis. And she’s done so as a state representative, fighting for both critical community investments and bold, equitable policy solutions. The Lt. Governor can have a powerful role as an advocate and convener, and we are convinced that she will excel in such a role.
Here is what some of our members had to say about why they support Tami Gouveia for Lt. Governor.
“As a public health and social work professional along with being a current elected Rep., she will bring focus to ‘soft infrastructure’ needs like quality and affordable daycare, increasing pay and benefits for caregivers, health and mental health needs, and so much more.”
“Dr. Gouveia has a very consistent track record of fighting for what’s right and what’s good for her constituents without regard to how those votes may affect her ‘career.’ She is a true public servant who can be trusted to always vote her values and not her pocketbook.”
“I have seen the things that Dr. Gouveia has done for her district and what she advocates for in the State House. She listens. She is not afraid to speak up for progressive policies. She pushed early for a strong response to COVID-19 and is in it for the long game – to make things better for all of us. She also advocates for those of us that don’t always get invited to the table. When my district was without a rep, she made herself available to us.”
“Tami Gouveia is a progressive fighter and has not shied away from standing up for her beliefs while a state Senator. I have been impressed with her focus on public health and equity during the pandemic.”
“This moment calls out for a leader with Tami’s unique expertise and experience in public health, social work and building progressive coalitions on Beacon Hill. No one will work harder on behalf of every resident of the Commonwealth.”
“We’ve seen what happens during a pandemic when politicians listen to public health experts and then do whatever they wanted anyway. As a public health expert herself, Tami can help us navigate the end of this pandemic and prepare as best we can for the next one.”
Earlier this week, we sent office-specific, comprehensive policy questionnaires to the candidates for Attorney General, Auditor, and Secretary of the Commonwealth. Stay tuned.
“For the first time in nearly two decades since the question of whether to allow unauthorized immigrants to apply for a driver’s license first came up on Beacon Hill, House Speaker Ron Mariano plans to — wait for it — bring the issue up for debate and a floor vote Wednesday, and force lawmakers to go on record for or against it. Shocking, indeed, given that one longstanding tradition on Beacon Hill is a tendency to hammer out policy behind closed doors and then hold pro forma, unanimous votes to approve it, something that makes it impossible to know what an individual legislator really said or did. Former speaker Robert DeLeo perfected the art form, making House votes about as suspenseful as Russian elections.”
“Opponents included Kade Crockford, speaking on behalf of the ACLU of Massachusetts, who said the measure could have “far-reaching negative effects and open up a Pandora’s box of potential unintended consequences, including political harassment and intimidation.””
“Over the last three years, there’s been a decrease in women incarcerated, which shows that we can really be a model and an example to what different looks like,” James said. “The prison and jail moratorium bill is just kind of us planting the seed to say that we don’t need — not just a women’s prison — but we don’t need any more prisons and jails, period, in Massachusetts.”
“Law enforcement officers have become the default first responders in situations involving those in crisis who do not have access to adequate mental and behavioral health care. These are often those suffering from addiction, mental illness, and a lack of housing. This police-as-default response mechanism disproportionally affects communities of color. These types of crises most often do not require a response by armed law enforcement officers and the presence of the police can in many situations exacerbate an already tenuous situation and actually cause harm to those needing help. “
“Our work is like everybody else’s work,” she said. “If we compromise employment rights, we’re going to have a whole lot of people, including ourselves, who are second-class.”
“The ACES Act calls for something a little bit different,” said Rebekah Gewirtz, executive director at the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, which spearheaded the bill. “The community-based organizations and municipalities working closely together to create a program versus community-based organizations and police departments creating a program. So, it’s an important distinction.”
“Strong economic growth requires robust and accessible transportation and an educated, well trained workforce. Right now, Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure is teetering and its education system is expensive and inequitable. The Fair Share Amendment, through a modest tax on those who can most afford it, will provide long-term funding to revitalize those essential building blocks of a prosperous Commonwealth.”
“Law enforcement officers have become the default first responders in situations involving those in crisis who do not have access to adequate mental and behavioral health care. These are often those suffering from addiction, mental illness, and a lack of housing. This police-as-default response mechanism disproportionally affects communities of color. These types of crises most often do not require a response by armed law enforcement officers and the presence of the police can in many situations exacerbate an already tenuous situation and actually cause harm to those needing help.”
“Jim Aloisi, the former state transportation secretary and current TransitMatters board member, is a big fan of Wu’s embrace of doing away with fares on buses. He believes eliminating fares on the bus network would attract more passengers and allow them to board buses quickly, which will speed up service. Better service, in turn, will attract even more riders, he says.”
“These children understand what Gov. Charlie Baker and Massachusetts Education Commissioner Riley do not. Ending the mask mandate in schools on Monday will not bring us back to normal. Rather, it will lead to more preventable infections and outbreaks, at the expense of our society’s most vulnerable. As primary care physicians who care for children and adults, and a parent of two children under 3, we are appalled to see the Baker administration once again prematurely lift data-driven policies that are needed to keep our children and communities safe.”
The Governor and Lt. Governor’s races offer Massachusetts an opportunity to shift course from the complacency and conservatism of the Baker-Polito administration. We must make sure that our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic puts our commonwealth on a more equitable foundation, one that does right by workers, local businesses, and historically disenfranchised communities; one that provides our teachers and students the resources they need to thrive; and one that is rooted in an understanding of the importance of investing in our future, from child care to public education to public transit and beyond. Massachusetts also must address long-standing crises of medical debt, student loan debt, housing instability, runaway climate change, and systemic racism. We have a lot to do, and we need proactive leaders, backed by an engaged public, to do it.
Progressive Massachusetts reached out to all announced and likely-to-announce candidates in December 2021, inviting them to fill out our comprehensive questionnaire about their policies, priorities, and leadership style. We view these questionnaires as a vital opportunity to educate candidates about issues that matter to progressive voters, get candidates on record, and create a more informed and engaged electorate.
If a candidate declined to fill out the questionnaire or submitted a questionnaire after others were publicly posted, they are not included below.
Attorney General, Auditor, & Secretary of the Commonwealth
This year, Massachusetts will have open races for Attorney General and Auditor, as well as a contested race for Secretary of the Commonwealth.
These offices, although often overlooked compared to Governor, can and will have a major impact on the future of the Commonwealth and our ability to advance an agenda of equity, justice, democracy, and sustainability.
Progressive Massachusetts reached out to all candidates, inviting them to fill out our comprehensive questionnaire about their policies, priorities, and leadership style. We view these questionnaires as a vital opportunity to educate candidates about issues that matter to progressive voters, get candidates on record, and create a more informed and engaged electorate.
Earlier today, the MA House passed the Work & Family Mobility Act, which would allow any qualified driver—regardless of immigration status—to obtain a driver’s license, by an overwhelming, veto-proof margin of 120 to 36.
The success was the testament to the hard work of the Driving Families Forward coalition, led by SEIU 32BJ and the Brazilian Workers Center, as well as bill sponsors Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield) and Christine Barber (D-Somerville).
Sixteen states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico already allow residents the right to apply for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status, including our neighbors New York, Vermont, and Connecticut. And Massachusetts is poised to be next.
The bill is a win-win all around. It recognizes the essential contributions of our immigrant brothers and sisters, who often depend on a car to get to work, to school, to the hospital, etc. Immigration status shouldn’t be a barrier to getting a license. The bill would help make the roads safer for all, lower insurance rates, bring in more revenue for the state (through license fees), and strengthen our economy.
Despite the clear case for the bill and the proven results in other states, every Republican voted against it, and they were joined by Democrats Mark Cusack (D-Braintree), Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), Patrick Kearney (D-Scituate), Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth), Brian Murray (D-Milford), Dave Robertson (D-Tewksbury), Jeff Turco (D-Winthrop), and Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody).
During the floor debate, the House rejected two amendments from Republican Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading): one (#5) that sought to fear-monger around the idea of undocumented immigrants voting because of being able to obtain a driver’s license (a dishonest misinterpretation of the Automatic Voter Registration policy and the Senate’s proposed Same Day Registration language) and a second (#6) that sought to give law enforcement unfettered access to RMV documents. Both failed on identical 31-125 votes, with Garry, Kearney, and Robertson joining Republicans in voting for them.
“But the campaign against reproductive justice doesn’t start and end at abortion. As legal abortion access hangs in the balance, it is clear that attacks on reproductive health care and attacks on policies that support families and children are all part of an orchestrated plot to maintain the status quo and keep it from those who have been left out and left behind.”
“Wu indicated that the fare-free service is just the first step toward a larger goal of making all buses — and eventually all public transit — in Boston free, something she campaigned on and hopes to achieve through partnerships with other municipalities, the Legislature, and the federal government.”
“Birchmore, who has lived in the U.S. for 21 years after moving from Brazil, said she originally wasn’t expecting to receive anything when she took time off to recover from COVID-19. It was supposed to be a “tough time for us,” she said, “because less money but the bills are still the same, you know, you are always worried about that.”
“But the [sick leave payments], it was something amazing, okay, it helped me so much because I received my regular paycheck. I didn’t have any problems with that,” she said.”
“The fight over gig work is ugly, expensive, and nowhere near over,” Protocol
“Here we have corporations that are willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to use a ballot measure process to buy a law,” he said. “We are talking about workers — workers are going to be a very centered strategy, and drivers are part of the strategy. But if we allow the conversation to strictly be about one thing, the amount of resources and money [these companies] have to sort of confuse that issue is undeniable.”
“A millionaire tax would advance economic and racial justice in Massachusetts, both in the way the tax is collected – from very high-income households, which are predominantly white – and through the ongoing investments it would make possible.”
“We will all do better when we all do better. Taxes are the cost of a civilized society, and all should share them, fairly. Yet now they are overwhelmingly borne by the workers while avoided by the wealthy. It is high time the highest income brackets contributed their fair share. It’s time we put our collective resources to work where our espoused and constitutionally enshrined interests and values are. Please vote for the Fair Share Amendment on November 8.”
“Since 1976, the United States government has officially recognized February as Black History Month, and with each passing year, incredible displays of Black art and culture, as well as important education initiatives, have come into the spotlight for public consumption. This February, we’ve gathered a selection of inspiring and creative ways to learn about and celebrate Black history and Black life, both online and throughout the Boston area. For the next 28 days — and beyond.”
“Over the last 100 years, rent control has been the norm. It’s just that 25 years ago, the real estate lobby used some sneaky tactics (and millions of dollars) to ban it in Massachusetts. Today we talk with State Rep Mike Connolly and Beth Huang about how we’re moving toward cities being able to enact this crucial tool for keeping our housing safe and affordable.”
“Today we talk to Shaleen Title from the Parabola Center, who has been actively involved in the effort to put equity and justice at the heart of drug policy here in Massachusetts. We talk about how our state was early to make marijuana legal through a ballot initiative, but our legislature has been slow to enact the details that would make our drug policy fair.”
“Today we talk with Dr Jennifer Childs-Roshak from Planned Parenthood about reproductive rights. With the likelihood that the US Supreme Court will strike down Roe, we talk about what that means for reproductive rights around the country and here in Massachusetts.”
“We know that the DOC and sheriffs are experts at building walls. Walls to keep people in. Their walls are also designed to keep information locked in. Data may sound like subject for nerds. Who cares about data? Clearly the answer is that sheriffs and the DOC do. They know that standardized data will hold them accountable.”
Chairman Hinds, Chairman Cusack, and Members of the Joint Committee on Revenue:
My name is Jonathan Cohn, and I am the Policy Director of Progressive Massachusetts, a statewide grassroots advocacy group committed to fighting for an equitable, just, democratic, and sustainable Commonwealth.
We urge a favorable report for H.3080 and S.1874: An Act relative to payments in lieu of taxation by organizations exempt from the property tax (Rep. Uyterhoeven & Sen. Gomez).
Massachusetts is lucky to be home to many world-class hospitals and universities. But these large institutions, despite often operating indistinguishably from for-profit institutions, do not have to pay taxes. Given their large footprint, that is a fiscal drain for many communities across the Commonwealth, especially as communities are looking to find much-needed funds for investments in schools, housing, and infrastructure.
This bill would address this discrepancy by requiring large hospitals and universities to pay 25% of commercial property taxes to municipalities, based on the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement in Boston. Under this bill, municipalities could opt in to requiring a mandatory PILOT rather than having to engage in drawn-out negotiations or chasing down institutions one by one.
Why 25%? This number reflects the costs posed by such large institutions to municipal services like police, fire departments, and departments of public works. It is still a good deal for the institutions, who are still paying far less in property taxes than an individual would have to pay. And, by applying only to institutions with property worth over $15 million, the bill would avoid risking any adverse impact on smaller institutions.
We need to be empowering municipalities to take action to address the many crises before us, but they need the funds to do so. And when they have wealthy institutional neighbors, they shouldn’t be forced to be stuck in struggling fiscal straits.
Moreover, municipalities across the Commonwealth, as well as the state government itself, would benefit from a clearer understanding of how much money gets lost through such tax exemptions each year. We thus also urge a favorable report for H.3802 An Act establishing a study to examine lost municipal real estate tax revenue (Rep. Robinson), which would provide a clearer assessment of just what that lost revenue is.
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