Can you believe that it’s May already? That means warmer weather, blooming flowers, and both upcoming deadlines at the Legislature and opportunities to take action.
Wednesday, May 4: Lobby & Learn Evening
Join us this Wednesday, 5/4, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm to learn more about some of our top legislative priorities and how to take action to support them.
The first hour will consist of info sessions on legislation. The second hour will consist of breakout groups for taking action in this critical part of the session.
Featured Speakers:
Chrystel Murrieta, Political Coordinator, SEIU 32BJ
Cabell Eames, Political Director, 350 Mass / Better Future Project
Sana Fadel, Deputy Director, Citizens for Juvenile Justice
Vanessa Snow, Director of Organizing & Policy, MassVOTE
This Thursday: The MA Senate Votes on the Work & Family Mobility Act
Our event on Wednesday is timely because the next day, the MA Senate will be voting on the Work & Family Mobility Act.
Allowing Bay Staters to apply for driver’s licenses, regardless of immigration status, is common sense public policy that improves public safety for all Massachusetts families.
Please email your state senator to urge them to VOTE YES on the Work & Family Mobility Act this week!
Saturday, May 7: Free Our Mothers Car Rally in Framingham
This Sunday is Mother’s Day, but not everyone will have the opportunity to spend quality time with their mother due to a carceral system that rips families apart.
Join Families for Justice as Healing and The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls for their annual car rally in Framingham this Saturday (May 7) 1 pm to 3 pm. Come let the community know—No New Women’s Prison, No Old Women’s Prison, No More Women’s Prison.
To get more details, RSVP here.
Take Action to Address the Housing Affordability Crisis!
Massachusetts has an affordability crisis, and cities and towns lack the tools to adequately respond.
That’s why we’ve been working in coalition with groups across the state to pass Real Estate Transfer Fee Enabling Legislation (H.137S.868: An Act empowering cities and towns to impose a fee on certain real estate transactions to support affordable housing). These bills would enable cities and towns to impose a modest fee on high-end real estate transactions to create a funding source for affordable housing.
The bill faces an important deadline of May 9th (one week from today) in the Joint Committee on Housing. If no action is taken by this date, the session will be over for this bill.
Can you email House & Senate Leadership in support of this key bill?
The first hour will consist of deep dives on legislation. The second hour will consist of breakout groups for taking action in this critical part of the session: whether phone banking or text-banking to constituents of key legislators, relational organizing, or letter-writing.
Featured Speakers:
Chrystel Murrieta, Political Coordinator, SEIU 32BJ
Cabell Eames, Political Coordinator, 350 Mass / Better Future Project
Sana Fadel, Deputy Director, Citizens for Juvenile Justice
Vanessa Snow, Director of Organizing & Policy, MassVOTE
Fair Share Amendment Canvass Kickoffs!
Join the Fair Share Amendment Campaign to kick off the effort’s first regional canvasses of 2022!
We’ll be joining allies from across the Commonwealth in Raise Up Mass to hit the doors and talk to voters about how the Fair Share Amendment could transform our communities—from well-resourced and affordable public education to safe roads and bridges and reliable public transportation. A successful response to climate change depends on robust, ongoing investments in public transit, and the Fair Share Amendment will provide the sustainable revenue to make that a reality.
Join an event near you to get connected, get trained, and help us spread the word about YES on Fair Share this November!
Canvass Kickoffs are being held in:
Lynn – Saturday, April 30 Boston – Saturday, April 30 New Bedford – Saturday, April 30
The Fair Share Amendment is a proposal to add a small tax on annual individual incomes exceeding $1 million. While the amendment is expected to impact fewer than 1% of taxpayers, it is projected to raise nearly $2 billion each year for investments in public education and infrastructure improvements. The Fair Share Amendment is on the ballot statewide on November 8, 2022.
First of all, happy Earth Day! This Earth Day, I’m thinking about how the investments from the Fair Share Amendment will help us improve our public transit systems, a vital part of our response to climate change (as well as reducing air pollution and expanding economic opportunity). The Fair Share campaign recently launched new social media accounts, so if you haven’t followed them yet, make sure to do so on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
A Budget Is a Moral Document
Last week, the MA House Ways & Means Committee released its budget for the next fiscal year.
The Good: The budget avoids the regressive tax cuts for the rich proposed by Republican Governor Charlie Baker, includes the new investments in public schools required by the Student Opportunity Act, and ends the exploitative practice of charging incarcerated individuals for phone calls to loved ones.
The Bad: At the same time, the budget continues our chronic underfunding of public transit and fails to deliver on the investments in child care necessary for true affordability and accessibility.
How the Budget Could Be Better: The House will be considering various amendments next week to improve the budget and better deliver on the promise of shared prosperity and justice for all.
Amendment #47 (New American Voters Fund), filed by Reps. Ultrino & Donato: Would allocate $4 million to municipalities and community organizations to hire bilingual election workers, pay for professional translators and interpreters, and train elections departments.
Justice for All
Amendment #902 (ACES), filed by Rep. Sabadosa: Would ensure that every call to 911 gets the best response by providing funding to communities that want to develop alternatives to police response for calls better handled by mental and community health providers, like social workers and peer specialists.
Amendment #936 (Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant), filed by Rep. Mary Keefe: Would provide $15 Million for the Community Empowerment Reinvestment Grant Program, which funds reentry and intervention programs.
Amendment #1346 (Youth Bail Fees), filed by Rep. Fluker Oakley: Would (1) eliminate the statutorily-required $40 administrative bail fees charged to juveniles when they are arrested overnight and (2) shift the decision to release a child to their parent or to impose cash bail decisions from the police officer on call to the Bail Magistrate, a neutral 3rd party.
The House budget remains poised to earmark millions of dollars for the incarceration of men civilly committed for treatment of substance use disorder under the statute known as “Section 35” (M.G.L. c.123 s.35).
Amendment #332 (Section 35), filed by Rep. Balser: Would eliminate the Governor’s proposed funding for correctional section 35 facilities.
Amendment #333 (Access to Addiction Services), filed by Rep. Balser: Would ensure sufficient bed space in DPH or DMH facilities for men committed under section 35.
Economic Security for All
Amendment #181 (Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty FY23), filed by Rep. Decker: Would raise cash assistance grants for very low-income families with children, elders, and persons with disabilities by 20% for FY 23.
Amendment #640 (Excluding Temporary COVID Relief Income from FY23 Means Testing), filed by Rep. Elugardo: Would ensure that economic assistance from the CARES Act does not count against anyone’s eligibility for means-tested public assistance programs.
Amendment #802 (Including underemployed and unstably housed youth in “at-risk”), filed by Rep. Elugardo: Would add a focus of creating economic opportunity for youth experiencing homelessness to the YouthWorks Youth Jobs program.
Amendment #881 (Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program), filed by Rep. Madaro: Would cap tenant rent share to 30% income instead of 40% and expand mobile vouchers to cover tenant-paid utilities, among other measures.
Amendments #1068 (RTA Funding) & #1070 (RTA Funding Distribution), filed by Representative Sarah Peake: Would make $101 million in base funding available to the RTAs (an increase from $94 million).
Amendment #1268 (Housing Protections), filed by Rep. Moran: Would extend Chapter 257 eviction protections to cases where landlords seek to recover arrears for non-payment of rent – effectively closing the non-payment loophole – and require landlords to participate in the rental assistance process in good faith before being permitted to file an eviction case in court.
Amendment #1371 (Rental Assistance for Families in Transition), filed by Rep. Decker: Would expand eligibility for RAFT to households with incomes from 50% of the area median income (AMI) up to 60% AMI.
Safe & Welcoming Schools for All
Amendment #1133 (Targeted Intervention to Enhance the Learning of Students in Early Grades), filed by Rep. Uyterhoeven: Would provide funding for student specific supports and interventions that enhance learning during preschool through the third grade and that support the elimination of disciplinary sanctions for this population of students
Amendment #1138 (Student Wellness School Support), filed by Rep. Uyterhoeven: Would provide funding to reduce school exclusion for students in prekindergarten through the third grade by utilizing best practices, increased parent engagement and community-based services to support teachers and school staff to employ alternatives to suspensions and expulsions to address student misbehavior in the early grades
Amendment #1321 (Holistic School Health and Safety Practices Grant Program), filed by Rep. Khan: Would create a grant program, administered by the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to support public schools and school districts in transitioning to safety models that do not rely on stationing police in schools.
Chang-Díaz’s platform web pages link to news articles, studies, and votes the senator has taken while serving on Beacon Hill, going into great detail with bulleted lists of actions she would take as governor. She’s been endorsed by groups like Progressive Massachusetts, which require lengthy, detailed questionnaires. Chang-Díaz’s was 48 pages long.
Healey did not file a questionnaire with the group, and thus did not partake in its endorsement process. Instead, Healey’scampaign sent the group an e-mail with an abbreviated version of her record as attorney general.
Progressive Massachusetts reached out earlier this year to candidates for Secretary of the Commonwealth, Attorney General, and state Auditor with ourcomprehensive policy questionnaire. And then we interviewedthose who filled out a questionnaire last month.
We then sent the question to our members: whom, and whether, to endorse, with a high threshold of 60% for endorsement.
We are thus proud to endorse Tanisha Sullivan for Secretary of the Commonwealth (93% of our member vote), Quentin Palfrey for Attorney General (62% of our member vote), and Chris Dempsey for State Auditor (78% of our member vote).
Secretary of the Commonwealth: Tanisha Sullivan
Tanisha Sullivan has been an inspiration as President of the Greater Boston NAACP, and we are excited by what she could do as our state’s Chief Democracy Officer and Chief Information Officer. Tanisha will be a strong champion for strengthening voting rights in our Commonwealth and knows that democracy is year-round, not just at the ballot box. She would be a creative and proactive leader in ensuring that racial and economic equity are at the center of all aspects of the office’s work, including the office’s role in corporate governance and historic preservation. Massachusetts has, for too often, been a laggard on voting rights and government transparency when we should be a leader. We have the opportunity to change that.
Here’s what our members said about Tanisha:
“Tanisha has demonstrated an understanding of how a more activist SoC can be helpful to all people.”
“She has the background to be successful in this position & has new ideas to make voting easier.”
“Tanisha will be a tenacious defender of voting rights. She will modernize the office, and ensure that everyone’s right to vote will be defended.”
“Tanisha will bring a new perspective to the role and is committed to transparency and connecting more communities across the Commonwealth.”
“I look forward to Tanisha Sullivan serving as the Chief Democracy Officer of the state. Reading her questionnaire made me feel hopeful — like maybe the future is not as grim as it’s been looking.”
“She is a smart progressive woman of color. We need more than transactions. We need transformations.”
“We need this change. Experience means nothing if you aren’t willing to make changes. Tanisha will bring the change we need!”
“Tanisha Sullivan will bring new energy and ideas, and a different lived experience to the job.”
“Tanisha Sullivan is an accomplished attorney & civil rights advocate who will both: bring much needed modernization to the office, and serve as an invaluable & insightful voice on vital issues in Massachusetts and nationally.”
“Tanisha is an amazing candidate who has a great track record working as the President of the NAACP. She will put racial justice first in her work in the Secretary’s office.”
” Tanisha is a breath of fresh air, and her experience as a corporate attorney and as a racial equity advocate will ensure the corporations division expands its role in ensuring economic access to entrepreneurship.”
“Tanisha Sullivan, with her experience of advancing equity and access, will be a fabulous Secretary of the Commonwealth! Her vision of making the office more than procedural – who knew this branch of government could have been doing more all along, even today? We must have election systems that engage more people, historic preservation that represents everyone’s histories, information that is actually accessible, and a corporate division that supports small and micro-businesses that help communities thrive.”
Learn more about Tanisha at https://www.tanishasullivan.com/.
Attorney General: Quentin Palfrey
Whether taking on health insurance and pharmaceutical companies as an Assistant Attorney General, advocating across the country for voting rights, or advising on policy and strategy in Washington, Quentin Palfrey has demonstrated a keen sense of how to use the law to advance and protect the public good. Quentin would be an effective and proactive Attorney General, ready for the work of holding big corporations accountable, protecting the civil rights of all, strengthening our response to climate change, and reforming our criminal legal system.
Here’s what our members said about Quentin:
“Palfrey combines a passion for progressive causes with the knowledge of what the power of the AG office can do.”
“Quentin is strong across all policy areas and has experience working as an attorney in government, working in the office of the attorney general and as a government attorney, and managing large staffs of lawyers at all levels, not to mention doing so for voter protection efforts.”
“Quentin has devoted his career to public service, and he is a highly experienced lawyer who has advocated for progressive causes.”
“He has a long record of supporting progressive policy in public sector legal offices across the United States.”
“Quentin is clearly the most progressive candidate and is someone we can trust to get progressive policy done.”
“Quentin has the clearest plan with keen determination.”
“His experience, passion, and vision are perfect for this moment.”
“He’s got the combination of progressive vision and experience.”
“He’s a high-caliber candidate with a wealth of experience; he’s the only candidate to support all these progressive agenda items that matter to me: single payer health care, safe consumption sites, a cap on charter schools, fare-free public transportation, and ending qualified immunity.”
“Quentin Palfrey’s experience & policy positions are the right fit, full stop. I think Palfrey’s experience in office would better allow him to hit the ground running using the AG’s office proactively from day one.”
“He’s bright, thoughtful and caring. Public service is in his genes. Quentin is a doer. He is strong and committed to issues of importance to me. I share his values. He doesn’t just talk about ideas; he walks the walk and makes things happen.”
“I’m impressed with Quentin Palfrey’s breadth and depth of legal experience across so many different critical areas, and his leadership of huge efforts, including the healthcare division of the AG’s office itself. I can’t imagine anyone more prepared to step right into the role of Attorney General, ready to be the people’s attorney, pushing us toward greater equity, justice, health, and sustainability. Quentin has the experience to interrupt our state’s indefensible practices, and to push or work with other branches of government when either is called for.”
Learn more about Quentin at https://www.quentinpalfrey.com/.
State Auditor: Chris Dempsey
Throughout his career in public service and advocacy, Chris Dempsey has been committed to making state government work better for everyday people—whether that’s through innovations at the Department of Transportation, standing up against special interests and misuse of public funds in the fight against Boston’s Olympic bid, or advocating for equitable and efficient transportation. A systems thinker and a coalition builder, Chris has demonstrated creativity in his approach to what the Office of the State Auditor can do on climate change and police accountability. An Auditor needs to uncover data and then use it to advocate for a better Commonwealth, and Chris has the track record to do it.
Here’s what our members said about Chris:
“I am energized by Chris’s commitment to making the Auditor’s Office the first in the country to incorporate carbon accounting. We need a leader who isn’t afraid to stand up and hold state government accountable for the climate goals we’ve written into law.”
“Chris Dempsey has an expansive vision of the role of the state auditor’s office. He also has the technical and managerial skills to do the job.”
“Chris Dempsey is the clear progressive choice and he has the requisite experience to hit the ground on day one and hold those in power accountable.”
“He’s a strong strategic thinker. What is there to not like about a state auditor who is strategic, has vision, and personal tools to carry it out?”
“Chris’ history of coalition building and his focus on improving government efficiency both financially and with his climate audit make him a clear choice of PM. “
“Chris is smart, courageous & proved his willingness to take on the status quo with his opposition to the Olympics proposal.”
“In his leadership with No Boston Olympics, Chris Dempsey demonstrated his commitment to holding power accountable and to taking on influential special interests. And, Dempsey is a vocal public transit advocate. As someone who wants to see massive public transit investment to improve the quality and accessibility of service, I think Dempsey would be a stronger advocate in statewide office.”
“Chris Dempsey is professional, forward looking and insightful. He has an activist vision for the Auditor’s office.”
“I met Chris when we led the Campaign for No to the Boston Olympics. He took on powerful business leaders to spare us from chaos, wasteful spending that would have put the Commonwealth in debt had we hosted the Olympics. His team argued the facts and prevailed. He showed guts, conviction and didn’t cower when the campaign was backed by power brokers. We need Chris in the Auditor’s office to make sure our tax dollars are spent wisely and in the manner they were intended to be spent.”
“Chris Dempsey brings a whole new vision to what the Auditor’s office can do! He has the values to choose investigations that matter to MA residents, and the experience to both carry out those investigations and make sure the findings are acted on.”
Learn more about Chris at https://dempseyforauditor.com/.
Today marks the end of Women’s History Month, which should remind us of how far we’ve come and how far we have to go to achieve gender equity.
Gender inequities, especially at the workplace, are a result of policy or lack thereof. And by being intentional, legislators can—through policies, rules, and culture—remove systemic barriers that women face and build a better, more equitable world for all.
Everyone Deserves a Safe Workplace…And Yes, That Includes the State House
In 2018, amid the #MeToo reckoning, the Massachusetts House of Representatives created a new position, an “independent” Equal Employment Opportunity officer to examine allegations of harassment or discrimination while protecting the confidentiality of accusers and witnesses. They filled the job in June 2019, but the officeholder left for an new job in November 2020. It has been vacant ever since.
That’s right: for 15 months, this office, which remains essential in ensuring that the MA State House is a safe and welcoming workplace for all, has remained empty.
The House cannot run out the rest of the legislative session without filling this position. Let your state rep know that this isn’t acceptable–and that such an office needs more than just nominal independence.
RSVP Today! Saturday, April 9: Spring into Action for Common Start
Join the Common Start Coalition to celebrate the milestones of our campaign and to hear how YOU can help us ensure a stronger future for every child! For more information about the Common Start Coalition, please go to: www.commonstartma.org Date: Saturday, April 9 Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
Place: Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand
RSVP at https://bit.ly/csrallyrsvp The rally is family friendly and free to attend. Bus transportation with snacks and beverages will be provided from key locations across Massachusetts. With state Covid-19 mask requirements still in place on public and private transportation, including buses, please plan to wear a mask, except while eating snacks or drinking beverages provided to passengers.
Earlier today, our friends at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition held their annual Immigrants’ Day at the State House. The event celebrated victories such as the transformative Driving Families Forward campaign and House vote, a successful and inclusive Redistricting campaign, our Commonwealth’s growing number of immigrant and BIPOC officeholders and candidates, and the promise that these developments hold for creating a more welcoming, safe, and just Commonwealth for immigrants and refugees.
But the work isn’t done yet. And here’s how you can play your part.
Get the Work & Family Mobility Act Over the Finish Line!
The Work & Family Mobility Act would extend eligibility for Massachusetts standard driver’s licenses to all qualified state residents, regardless of immigration status. The bill ensures that all drivers are trained, licensed, and insured, and removes unlicensed driving as a key entry point to the deportation pipeline.
After a House supermajority vote for passage on February 16, the bill is poised for passage by the Senate. Let’s make Massachusetts the 19th jurisdiction (17 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico) to issue licenses to all qualified drivers.
Are they already a supporter? That’s awesome! You can still thank them for their support and ask them to urge Senate Leadership to bring the bill to the floor as soon as possible.
Pass the Safe Communities Act!
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the impact of decades of state and local involvement in deportations—undermining testing, treatment and contract tracing efforts in immigrant communities and impeding access to court and police protection for immigrant victims of exploitation and crime.
The Safe Communities Act would restore trust in local institutions by ending the use of our public safety resources for federal immigration enforcement. Given the Biden Administration’s failure to end local entanglement with ICE, this bill is as important as ever. The Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security has until May 4th to recommend the bill for passage.
Email your legislatorsand ask them to weigh in with the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security before May 4th!
Many thanks to the Globe for reporting about the empty Equal Employment Opportunity officer position in the Massachusetts House (“Empty post has House staff doubting commitment to equity,” Page A1, March 18). The idea was a good one as far as it went. A number of states require harassment education for legislators and their staffs, and many more recommend it. If we are going to lead the way, though, training is far from enough. This training has not been found to move the needle significantly. Harassment and sexual misconduct are baked into our culture, and we are hard pressed to change unconscious tendencies that have gone mostly unnoticed and unpunished for hundreds of years.
What’s more, it is common sense that staff are unlikely to confide in someone who is hired and fired by the Legislature, the very body that must be scrutinized. This position must be fully independent. And there must be transparency and data to assess whether progress is being made. The best way to measure the degree of the problem and whether improvements are being made is an anonymous survey of the workplace climate. The results should be made public to improve trust.
Most leaders have little to no information about the degree of harassment or abuse in their workplaces. Workers who are harassed tend to be those with the least power, and most historically have remained silent. This silence encourages leaders’ complacency. The recently passed federal Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021will eventually give employers more information because workers will have additional tools to stand up and fight.
I would challenge our Legislature not to wait, and to lead the way to increasing the safety and dignity of our workforce.
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.
“When you are an attorney general, there tends to be a built-in relationship [with police] and she has definitely been too deferential to state and local police,” said Progressive Massachusetts policy director Jonathan Cohn. “There are many good things she has done as attorney general, but she has not been a leader on criminal justice issues.”
