Dear Neighbor,
Last year, many of us worked and voted to pass Question 2, which passed 59-41%. It eliminated the requirement that students pass MCAS exams to get their high school diplomas. I wrote about why I supported Question 2 here, with lots of evidence of how standardized tests don't help, and can harm students.
In January, Gov. Healey, who opposed Question 2, created a Massachusetts Statewide K-12 Graduation Council to examine new graduation requirements.
Dear Neighbor,
It's been a busy time at the state house! I don't expect you to read everything here, but to give you a taste of some of the things we work on.
First I want to let you know that the wonderful Vicki Halal, who has worked with me for many years on education and aging policy, is now my chief of staff! And Tara Christian has joined our team as legislative aide. You can see all our staff bios here.
SENATE AGAIN PASSES MENSTRUAL EQUITY BILL
Dear Neighbors,
ABDUCTIONS IN SOMERVILLE, INCLUDING VIDEOS
There have been at least thirty Somerville residents or workers taken by ICE this year. Last Saturday, four people were detained and sent to Buffalo NY, according to city officials, as reported by WGBH.
The report contains a link to Councilor JT Scott's video of the detention of Magdaleno Pineda Avelar by ICE and a US Marshall. Pineda Avelar knows and asserts his rights. The agents refuse to show a warrant, and eventually handcuff and take him away. Councilor Scott reports that "I did not get video of about the first 30 seconds of this interaction, during which the resident asked if he was being detained (he was not) and if there was a warrant for him.
Dear Neighbor,
Yesterday I joined a group including Massachusetts Peace Action, Veterans for Peace, If Not Now Boston, and Jewish Voice for Peace Boston to deliver a letter to Minority Whip Katherine Clark, asking her to support the Block the Bombs Act, which would prohibit the President from selling, or exporting certain defense articles like bunker busting bombs and 155m artillery ammunition (2 feet long, 100 pounds) without Congressional authorization and Israeli assurances that the weapons would not be used in violation of international human rights laws. Ayanna Pressley, who represents Somerville and part of Cambridge, is a co-sponsor of Block the Bombs.
Here's what I said…
Dear Neighbor,
This newsletter is the first of a series of "secrets:" facts that aren't widely known and are absent from public discussion..
Just building new housing won't come close to solving our biggest housing crisis or preventing more people from becoming unhoused.
We need to preserve existing, relatively affordable, homes, with rent stabilization, tenant opportunity to purchase, and transfer fees.
Dear Neighbors, particularly those in Somerville,
This newsletter is from me as a person (yes, I'm not just a senator). It's about an issue in Somerville. I'll write soon about the budget.
Very few people in Somerville or in the affected area know about the Somernova development proposed on tiny residential streets near Market Basket. Yet many of us can vote Wednesday June 4 on a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).
If the CBA passes, the City Council is likely to approve this huge development.
That's why I'll be voting no.
Can you vote? Anyone who lives, works, volunteers, or owns a business in the “catchment area” can vote this Wednesday, June 4, from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm at St. Anthony’s School on Somerville Ave. There’s more here, including details of the benefits, and how you need to identify yourself. You can vote remotely if you sign up on that site by noon, tomorrow (Tuesday).