Dear Neighbor,
 
Here's some pre-election news, including my recommendations for two ballot questions in Somerville, and recordings of recent candidate forums.  More Senate news soon. 

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 Neighbor,
It's been very busy everywhere, but I thought I should let you know about some ways to learn about the candidates for local office, in addition to those I sent out earlier.  Here are my last two newsletters with information: Forums and Labor Day. 

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,

This Labor Day I was thinking about the contrast between the first US Secretary of Labor and the current one, both women.  And then about the many women in labor history.

SO MANY CANDIDATES!  SO MANY FORUMS!

Dear Neighbor,

People want to know more about all the candidates running in the cities in our district, and I'm trying to keep track of candidate forums and questionnaires.  Let me know what else you know about!  I'll be doing a Labor Day newsletter very soon.

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,

I hope to update you soon on all the hearings, committee and commission meetings, and other events in the past month.
Today, it's just about one day: Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Senate finally passes bill to dignify individuals with disabilities

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).   

Dear Neighbor,

It's been a busy month, and a long time since I wrote.  The last newsletter was about a conversation in Cambridge about the graduation requirement.    Better late than never, letting you know about an official listening session tonight.

LISTENING SESSION TONIGHT ON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Do we need new statewide high school graduation requirements?
Tonight at Somerville High School, the governor's High School Graduation Council, is holding a "listening" session at which you can speak your mind about that.   5 to 7pm, 81 Highland Ave. (Registration is optional.)

Last November, the voters eliminated the requirement that students pass the MCAS to get their diplomas by passing Question 2, 59 to 41 percent. I supported Question 2 because I think the laser focus on MCAS scores did a lot of harm to our students' high school education and virtually no good.

Dear Neighbor, 

In November, Massachusetts voters passed Question 2 to eliminate MCAS scores as a high school graduation requirement.  The vote was 59%-41%

There's a lot of data showing the MCAS requirement didn't improve national test scores, and hurt students.  I wrote about that data last fall.

Now there’s a drive to create new graduation requirements, rather than leaving it to local decision-makers. This newsletter is about how you can participate in that process.

Last fall, Senator Jason Lewis of Winchester, co-chair of the Education Committee, said if the measure passed, he would propose legislation to require students to pass MassCore recommended courses.  His bill would establish an advisory council to advise the Department of Education on establishing "a program of study intended to align high school coursework with college and career expectations and promote civic engagement."  

Gov. Healey established a Graduation Council to do similar work.

Many teachers, parents, and students opposed the MCAS graduation requirement. But officials who make education policy were determined to keep it. That’s why it took a ballot question to end it. 

Before coming up with new requirements, we need to listen to and respect the views of the people most affected by our high schools.