MASSACHUSETTS BLACK AND LATINO LEGISLATIVE RELEASES COMMUNITIES OF COLOR LISTENING TOUR SUMMARY REPORT AND AGENDA

MASSACHUSETTS BLACK AND LATINO LEGISLATIVE RELEASES COMMUNITIES OF COLOR LISTENING TOUR SUMMARY REPORT AND AGENDA

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) releases Communities of Color Agenda and Summary Report based on feedback garnered at the December 2016 Communities of Color Agenda Listening Tour which made stops in Boston (Roxbury), Lawrence, and Springfield. In total, the Listening Tour welcomed over 350 residents and received over 100 public testimonies.

The nine-page COC Agenda Summary Report outlines the written and oral testimony received at each Listening Tour stop. This testimony ranged from 14 different issue areas ranging from civic engagement to youth development. In the report, each issue category was later organized into three tiers: Tier 1- Highest cited issue areas (30+ comments); Tier 2- Moderately cited issues areas (12+ comments); and Tier 3- Least cited issues (2+ comments). Overall, issues related to economic development, criminal justice, public health, and housing were the highest cited topics among residents.

“We heard you. The priorities we should be focused on this legislative session are economic development, criminal justice, public health, and housing”, said MBLLC Chair, Rep. Russell Holmes (D – Boston).

The COC Agenda Summary Report also announces the COC Agenda, which is a set of 19 bills from the MBLLC legislative priorities that overlap with the issues raised at the COC Agenda Listening Tour. This proposed COC Agenda is largely comprised of bills sponsored by the MBLLC members, but also includes bills filed by non-MBLLC members.  The MBLLC intends to work alongside residents and advocates to advance during the remainder of the 190^th Legislative Session. 

In advance of the FY18 House budget debate, the MBLLC will go back in the community this April for the MBLLC Budget Listening Tour specifically dedicated to inform residents of the upcoming state budget process and gather feedback on budget priorities. The Budget Listening Tour will take place in Chelsea (4/10), Randolph (4/11), and Worcester (4/12).

For more information on the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, please visit: www.mablacklatinocaucus.com/.