Campaign Phone
6178622045
Measures
Yes on audit, Yes on MCAS reform, Yes on TNC driver unionization, Yes on medicinal/therapeutic psychedelics legalization, Yes on tipped minimum wage reform
Yes, I have been a supporter of election day voter registration for many years, and sponsored a resolution by the Newton Democratic City Committee after the 2016 election in support of this and a wide range of other election participation reforms. Election day voter registration, which our neighbors in NH have had for a very long time, allows greater electoral participation by residents, especially those who move around more frequently, such as students and other renters. Given the typical proximity of MA state primaries to the September 1st moving day in the vicinity of our many higher education institutions, there is a real barrier to participation if there is a window where registration is not permitted at a new address.
We need a Green New Deal that unites the economic transition to clean, renewable energy with our allies in organized labor who are looking for good-paying work converting our buildings and transportation to an electrified and passively high-efficiency future (and building the prerequisite grid improvements). Many property owners will need help making the jump, and through a public Green Banking system, we can come out ahead financially (even before we compare against the costs of inaction). We should facilitate a business climate where innovative technological breakthroughs are happening here – not on the far side of the world. We should fund “green” stormwater infrastructure to limit the cost of culvert, bridge, main, and dam replacement.
For affordable housing, the legislature should fund rehabilitation and preservation funding for existing stock, expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for specialist developers, pass the Real Estate Transfer Fee to fund local affordable trusts, and directly build quality, mixed-price social rental homes anyone would be proud to live in.
For middle-income housing, there should be an all-price-points comprehensive strategy featuring further intervention into zoning reform and codes that promote smaller units, legalizing Accessory Dwelling Units statewide, capitalizing a public bank with the state’s deposits to offer discounted financing to restart stalled projects, and piloting social ownership units for downsizing middle-income seniors.
I support the Right to Shelter Law without the recent time limits. We can reorganize the program for longer stays at a more efficient cost than the ad hoc daily approach we have been taking. Paying daily fees for hotel rooms and food delivery cannot be less expensive than the state providing safe and clean dormitory facilities with in-house kitchens, but this requires committing to sheltering people for a longer period and not treating this as a blip. We have the resources in this state to provide shelter until federal intervention arrives and until people find work (which they must be permitted to do), if we have the political will. I am not willing to compromise the international rights of refugees and asylum seekers or turn them away.
In this district, the focus is on Green Line reliability. The T’s new management is doing good work, but they will need political support, especially for reaching agreements on appropriate and equitable outside funding sources. This funding is necessary to hire enough drivers to avoid service cancelations, to pay for regular and decades of deferred maintenance to end shutdowns, and to restructure debt without cutbacks to service. Even residents who don’t use the T benefit from less congestion!
State aid increases for municipal road repair would also address a key concern of voters in our district. Statewide, we should think about rail infrastructure at least equally to highway infrastructure, for maintenance, expansion, and electrification.
Campaign Phone
617-817-5956
Yes. As the danger of another Donald Trump presidency rises, we should be making it easier as a state for eligible people to vote, not harder. Election day voter registration also disproportionately helps young people engage in the democratic process, as they are more likely to be transient students and renters. Almost half of the states already have election day voter registration, showing us that this policy is both possible and effective. Our current “10 days before an election” rule is an arbitrary restriction that keeps people from participating in our democracy. We also need to create a framework for our election officials to properly handle this change, but I am confident we can based on the success in other states.
The Legislature should first pass policies that reduce reliance on fossil fuels, such as those supporting the electrification of public transit, the decarbonization of existing buildings, and a moratorium on new gas projects. Second, the legislature should strengthen energy efficiency initiatives such as Mass Save to ensure greater access to incentives for residents and businesses. Third, the legislature should support legislation to promote the development of EV charging infrastructure, such as the “Next Generation Roadmap” bill to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Finally, the Legislature should encourage investment in green tech and support economic opportunities related to environmental sustainability.
The primary role of the state in increasing housing supply is providing funding and empowering local actors. Public and private actors are both needed to address our housing crisis. Given my unique combination of experience in real estate and government, I will prioritize facilitating these partnerships and will be effective in forming them.
We also must develop and support programs that facilitate pathways to homeownership, especially for first-time buyers. This includes creating incentives for affordable housing development and working with municipalities to streamline zoning/permitting processes.
I support the Right to Shelter Law ensuring families with children have safe places to live. I would support amendments that refine criteria to ensure that those who are most in need receive priority.
I support streamlining the process to reduce bureaucracy and ensure quicker shelter. I support bolstering services such as job training, pathways to work, and mental health counseling for all immigrants. I would also focus on transitioning people from emergency shelter to permanent housing. I will push to create more public-private partnerships and maximize federal grants/programs to address current needs.
First, I will advocate for increased funding to modernize the MBTA. This includes upgrading infrastructure, improving safety measures, and implementing state-of-the-art technology to enhance reliability and efficiency. Second, I will push to expand public transit access in underserved areas. By increasing connectivity, we can make public transportation a viable option for more residents, reducing reliance on personal vehicles and easing traffic congestion. Third, I will seek to enhance multimodal transportation. I will champion the integration of biking, walking, and other alternative modes of transit with the existing public transportation network. This approach will create a more flexible and user friendly transit system.
Yes. The more people vote, the more reflective the results are of people's real choices.
We must work with utmost speed to avert the coming crisis - we need to move away from fossil fuels, stop spending money on new gas infrastructure, transition to electric and geothermal. We need to incentivize use of EV's, public transit, and efficient appliances.
We can do so much at the state level to increase affordable and middle-market housing - more direct public investment, tax incentives, transfer of state-owned land, and allowing accessory dwelling units -- all of which have been included in the Governor's housing bill.
We are a welcoming state and one that has benefited from new immigrants throughout our history. I support the governor's approach to living up to our goals, while also making efforts to limit the budgetary impact - by fast-tracking work authorizations and more economical housing strategies for immigrants.
I have been a daily T-rider for >20 yrs to work and back, so I know what we need to improve the quality, safety, and reliability of our transit system. If you build it, people will use it! So we need to invest (with oversight) in the system, restore bus routes and expand the system as much as possible.
