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The cost of living in MA is out of control. Almost half of all MA residents have considered leaving due to cost. The leading reason for the high costs are housing and childcare.
I support repealing unnecessary and restricting local zoning laws that have effectively banned building new housing for decades. Demand has far outpaced supply, so we need to increase the supply.
I also support establishing a statewide universal pre-K program for all 3-4-5 year olds. This should be free to the user, just like elementary school, but should be funded by the states millionaires' tax, so as not to overburden municipal budgets that are already stretched too thin.
I would also like to increase the state Child Tax Credit to match the federal CTC.
I believe we need to make significant investments into the improvement and expansion of the MBTA system-wide. The T system needs massive improvements including FINALLY getting new cars for the Red and Green lines, as well as new tracks, and signals to improve speeds. After that, I would like to focus on expanding the T further into communities that want it. We also need to electrify the Commuter Rail. Electrifying the CR will reduce maintenance costs and cut down on breakdowns as electric engines have less moving parts. More reliability will allow more commuters to opt for the train instead of the car, thereby reducing carbon emissions.
I believe healthcare is a human right! I support creating a national single-payer system like Medicare for All. However, given the current state of the federal government, I don't believe that is possible anytime soon. Therefore, I support creating a state-based single payer system. There are already other states that have shown interest in this too. With enough states creating their own systems, we could create a system of reciprocity, which would allow our residents to maintain single-payer coverage even when traveling out of state.
I believe Proposition 2 1/2 should be amended to tie the cap to the rise of inflation. A cap is a good idea, but setting the cap at an arbitrary number is putting undue burden on our municipal budgets and forcing towns to cut vital services to education or fire departments. Continuing down this road will lead to an ever widening educational gap between wealthy communities who can vote to override, and working class communities who cannot. Every kid in this state deserves a well funded school. We owe them that.
Independent and fair elections are the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. We must resist any attempt from the federal government to insert itself into our state's right to run its own elections. Our strongest tool is to use the courts, and our AG has been incredibly successful at pushing back against intrusions from this administration. We must take bold steps to protect poll workers, and public servants who administer elections. Election workers have been receiving increased threats all over the country and that simply cannot stand. Transparency trumps all, though. Shining light on the shady actions of this president is the best thing we can do. Allowing more observers in polling locations is a must.
The state made a good first step in protecting our immigrant neighbors by creating an immigrant defense fund, but that's not enough. We need to forbid any local or state employee from coordinating with, aiding, or communicating with any federal immigration officer, or any other federal employee working to help deport nonviolent immigrants in Massachusetts. We are a nation of immigrants, but more importantly, we are a Commonwealth, which means we are supposed to look out for the common good of everyone. If the federal government isn't looking out for the common good, then we cannot assist in any way.
Affordability means different things to different people, but the stress caused by an unaffordable region needs real and lasting solutions. Here are a few specific policy initiatives I will champion when elected:
• Fighting for free and universal early childhood care, starting with state tax credits to reduce costs.
• Supporting policy measures to expedite the creation of more housing and expand first-time homebuyer programs.
• Reducing utility bills for ratepayers by diversifying our energy supply, cutting unnecessary charges, expanding consumer oversight, and utilizing targeted utility relief.
• Working with municipalities to expand programs that provide tax relief to seniors, as I did as a City Councilor in Melrose.
I will advance legislation that accelerates clean energy, reduces carbon emissions, and grows our green economy. By investing in renewable energy, expanding public transit, reducing waste and plastic use, promoting recycling and composting, and supporting environmental justice, I will help create a healthier, more affordable and more sustainable future for all residents.
As State Representative, I will support policies that expand access to affordable coverage, strengthen community health centers, protect reproductive health services, address maternal health disparities, and invest in mental health care. By lowering prescription drug costs, implementing cost-containment measures, and taking on PBMs that drive up healthcare costs we can make an incredible impact on a healthcare system that is unaffordable and inaccessible for too many. I am proud to have been endorsed by Reproductive Equity Now due to my commitment to investing in affordable and accessible healthcare and reproductive care in Massachusetts.
As fmr Melrose City Council President and strong supporter of the successful override of Prop 2 ½, I understand firsthand the financial constraints that municipalities face when delivering services to residents. Overriding Prop 2 ½ is a tool for municipalities to help increase revenue. However, looking across the Commonwealth, we are seeing more and more communities seeking overrides. This points, in part, to systemic funding constraints, not just one time spikes on costs. Since the federal government is doing nothing to help prevent the skyrocketing inflation rates, the state government needs to consider more options. One place to start would be to reexamine how the state funds public education through Ch. 70 and review local aid formulas.
I will defend the integrity of our elections by protecting secure voting systems, expanding access to the ballot (including supporting same-day registration and continuing universal early vote by mail), and ensuring every eligible voter can participate without intimidation. I will oppose federal efforts that undermine Massachusetts' authority to administer free and fair elections, protect local election officials from political interference, and uphold the Commonwealth's longstanding commitment to democratic institutions, transparency, and the rule of law.
As the daughter of a Pakistani immigrant father, this is deeply personal to me.. What we have all witnessed under the current Trump Administration is abhorrent, cruel, and illegal. As State Representative, I will seek to limit ICE overreach and champion measures such as restricting local participation in federal immigration enforcement, strengthening due process protections, funding legal assistance programs, establishing guidelines for information sharing, and clarifying the roles of state and local agencies.
