ISSUES
MY PRIORITIES FOR THE DISTRICT
HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE
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Fight to keep essential healthcare services in our district and accessible to those who need it most.
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Develop better mental health access and work to destigmatize those who struggle with mental health.
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Expand coverage and cut healthcare and prescription costs.
TODAY'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ARE THE FUTURE DRIVERS OF OUR ECONOMY
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Fight to ensure that the state follows-through on the promises, adopted in the Student Opportunity Act of 2019, to properly fund K-12 education, Better fund higher education, and commit to long-term funding to ensure a strong system and a healthy pipeline of leading talent in Massachusetts
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Build support for college alternatives– trades and career readiness programs are important and viable options
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Work to reduce student debt that diminishes the economic strength and vitality of our region
THE ECONOMY IS AT ITS BEST WHEN THE FOCUS IS ON STRENGTHENING AND GROWING OUR PIPELINE TO THE MIDDLE CLASS
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Build infrastructure for citizens to be competitive in the digital economy.
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Pursue policies that provide job-readiness and workforce retraining opportunities.
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During my tenure on the City Council:
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Property values have risen more than $209M
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$83 million in new commercial and industrial investment
CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE IS A ROADBLOCK TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
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Build a bipartisan, comprehensive infrastructure improvement bill.
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Take into account the diverse needs of our community including seniors that need access to the community, commuters traveling long distances out of the region for work, and college students moving between home and campus.
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Be forward-thinking about future capacity demands and opportunities to take advantage of emerging technologies.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION ARE RAVAGING OUR COMMUNITIES AND EXPOSING OUR FAMILIES TO LIFETIMES OF GRIEF AND TRAUMA
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Support first responders, public safety officers, and health care workers, so they are empowered to handle this issue.
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Better fund our human service and social service institutions that are on the front line of prevention and outreach, working with families before they become broken homes.
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Use organizations like the Gardner-based GAAMHA as models to innovate treatment and provide services across the Commonwealth.
THE ENVIRONMENT IS A SHARED COMMON RESOURCE THAT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO BOTH OUR PERSONAL AND ECONOMIC HEALTH
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Protect our parks, fight climate change, and reduce carbon loss by passing HD.3500, a bill that protects state land as parks or reserves and allows them to be guided primarily by natural processes.
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Reduce carbon emissions by passing HD.1419, a bill that removes incentives for incineration of garbage and biomass.
EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS THE RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE AND PROTECTED
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Build education programs and outreach initiatives within our schools and elder residential buildings.
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Address suicide rates and PTSD prevalence within the corrections and public safety community, address lower life expectancy rates.
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Build upon the work, and ensure the proper implementation of H.4012 passed in 2018 that provided reforms in key areas of the statewide criminal code and prison system.
CHILDCARE IS AS ESSENTIAL TO THE ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE AS OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES
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Work towards building a program that provides childcare opportunities for pre-K aged kids.
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Address “Childcare deserts” where there are not enough childcare slots to meet demand.
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COVID-19 is decimating our childcare infrastructure and only 11% of current facilities across the state are projected to survive this crisis without intervention. There is a need for immediate funding and intervention. 50k childcare slots, which means 50k children and, potentially, 50k families, are threatened by this problem.
AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR SENIORS
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Advocate for more community-based services instead of relying on preventing long-term care as the default action.
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Keep more elders at home, aging in place with support systems and family.
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Save taxpayers and families enormous costs.
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Continue to advocate for those for whom long-term care is still the best option.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
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Advocate for policies that will narrow the gender pay gap – which is still 83 cents per dollar In Massachusetts and nationally even worse for women of color.
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Dismantle barriers to access to sexual and reproductive health care, support women’s right to choose when, if, how they wish to pursue parenthood.
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During my time at Fitchburg State, I served as a Fitchburg Anti-Violence Education (FAVE) trainer to incoming students on a Department of Justice grant to reduce sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in our community. I will continue to advocate for victims of these crimes and work to end dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IS AN ISSUE WE'VE WAITED FAR TOO LONG TO TACKLE
As a straight, white, male, I will never experience the same systemic prejudices and inequalities that many in our community confront each day. I will never be able to “walk a mile” in your shoes” to understand what it is like. But I can pledge to be a representative who will be accessible to YOU and to listen to YOU. You will have my promise that your words, experiences, and challenges will be ever present in my thoughts and dialogue and I will work each day as a fearless and unapologetic advocate to translate your voice into concrete and actionable steps on Beacon Hill.
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Recently introduced legislation to promote racial equity and economic empowerment in Fitchburg. -
Authored and sponsored resolutions against hate speech, bigotry and racism -
Vocal advocate for our immigrant communities and supports the Work and Family Mobility Act -
Fearless advocate for LGBTQ+ issues, including the following bills: -
Ban Abusive Practice Known As Conversion Therapy, -
Banning Discrimination Of LGBTQ+ In Educational Institutions -
Inclusion Of LGBTQ+ Community In The Census -
Honoring Our LGBTQ+ Veterans
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