Baker-Polito Administration Files $5 Billion General Government Bond Bill

 Baker-Polito Administration Files $5 Billion General Government Bond Bill

 Proposal seeks critical authorization for investments in cybersecurity, public safety, workforce skills

 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today filed legislation seeking $4.991 billion in capital funds to support core improvements that will enable the Commonwealth to continue delivering critical state services to the people of Massachusetts. 

 

The proposal, titled An Act Financing the General Governmental Infrastructure of the Commonwealth, includes $4.15 billion to maintain, repair, and modernize assets that serve those most in need across the Commonwealth, help educate the future workforce, deliver on key environmental objectives, and keep the Commonwealth’s communities and workers safe.  It also includes $841 million to continue existing, successful grant programs that support Massachusetts communities, to improve cybersecurity and other technology infrastructure, and to acquire critical public safety equipment.

 

“This bill supports essential capital investments that will deliver long-lasting benefits to Massachusetts residents for years to come, with a focus on safety, resiliency and opportunity,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Legislature to make these important investments, which will pave the way for the continued efficient delivery of government services and economic growth.”

 

“The proposed investments in this bill continue our Administration’s work to improve a wide range of critical infrastructure and foster growth and development across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These funds will ensure the continuity of proven programs and enable impactful future economic, health and safety initiatives that will benefit the Commonwealth’s communities, businesses and residents.”

 

The bill filed today makes authorization available through Fiscal Year 2028 that would support $2.4 billion in existing maintenance and resiliency projects through the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). DCAMM maintains nearly 1,700 major buildings covering 60.8 million gross square feet of property across the Commonwealth, including higher education buildings, health and human services facilities, public safety facilities, and trial courts. It also leads decarbonization and resiliency efforts in accordance with Executive Order 594, Leading by Example: Decarbonizing and Minimizing Environmental Impacts of State Government, which was issued by Governor Baker in April of 2021 and directs efforts to reduce gas emissions in Massachusetts facilities. The bond bill proposes $400 million in energy efficiency initiatives at facilities statewide. 

 

An additional $1.8 million in DCAMM authorization is proposed to meet new facilities’ needs and mitigate future risks. This includes an increased focus on incorporating lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic related to the physical space and layout of facilities.

 

The bill also proposes $185 million in authorization for the Executive Office of Technology Services and Services (EOTSS) to support a variety of cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and application modernizations initiatives. This includes projects that would modernize the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Online system and build out an integrated eligibility and enrollment system to streamline the benefits application process across multiple state agencies. $50 million is proposed to improve virtual and physical security infrastructure at the Trial Courts facilities, including intrusion detection and video monitoring. Further public safety investments include $60 million for equipment for fire services, corrections, and communications towers, and $100 million for the replacement of approximately 300 Massachusetts State Police vehicles per year, half of which will be hybrid vehicles. 

 

“This $5 billion bond bill reflects the Baker-Polito Administration’s dual commitment to supporting the Commonwealth’s assets and making sustainable, fiscally responsible capital investments,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “The projects proposed are key to maintaining core government operations and will keep the state moving forward, and we are looking forward to working with the Legislature to pass this bill into law.”

 

The bill seeks to support Massachusetts’ communities by authorizing $496 million for established and successful grant and community programs that have a track record of providing valuable resources for workforce development, economic development, housing, and more to communities across the state. This includes the Workforce Skills Capital Grants Program, the Community Compact IT Grants Program, the Cultural Facilities Fund, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Housing Stabilization Fund and the Housing Choice Capital Grants Program.

 

In June 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration finalized its Capital Investment Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026, and the authorizations in this bond bill would support investments and initiatives in the upcoming annual update to the Capital Investment Plan, which will include capital spending for Fiscal Years 2023-2027.

 

Highlights of the bond bill include:

 

• $185 million for various cybersecurity and IT infrastructure initiatives, including:
• $100 million for cybersecurity investments and to support existing large business applications modernization projects
• $50 million for virtual and physical security infrastructure at the Trial Courts facilities, such as intrusion detection, duress, physical screening, access control, video monitoring, and communications
• $35 million to upgrade Lottery gaming systems, decommission end-of-life equipment, and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities

 

• $160 million for public safety investments, including:
• $100 million for the replacement of approximately 300+ vehicles per year, half of which will be hybrid
• $60 million for public safety equipment for fire services, corrections, state police & parole vehicles, and communications towers

 

• $100 million to continue support for the Workforce Skills capital grants program, which provides grants to high schools, community colleges, training programs, and non-profit organizations to purchase equipment that will help expand access to career technical education programs 
• $100 million for municipal grants to support a broad range of local infrastructure improvements and projects

 

• $64 million to support the Massachusetts State Revolving Fund (SRF) – specifically, for the Commonwealth’s matching funds required to secure federal dollars for the Fund, which helps cities and towns in improve water supply infrastructure and drinking water safety

 

• $60 million for the Housing Stabilization Fund, which provides funding for municipalities, non-profit, for-profit developers and local housing authorities in support of affordable rental housing production and rehabilitation

 

• $51 million for the continuation of the Food Security program, which improves food security for the people of the Commonwealth through grants aimed at enhancing access to and production of local food for the next two years at current funding level

 

• $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund to continue providing grants for planning, acquisition, rehabilitation and construction of cultural facilities administered through Massachusetts Cultural Council and MassDevelopment

 

• $30 million for the Community Compact IT competitive grant program aimed at driving innovation at the local level and available to any municipality that is part of Community Compact Cabinet Initiative 

 

• $25 million for Housing Choice grants to municipalities that receive a Housing Choice designation through high housing production and/or demonstration of best practices

 

• $16 million for MassVentures START grants, which help businesses commercialize ideas that have been backed with federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding

波士頓市長吳弭匯報美沙酮英里帳篷已清拆 流民均安置

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)在松街客棧庭院開記者會，抗議規定打疫苗群眾在牆外
高呼「打疫苗的自由 (Freedom Over Vaccine)」。(周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 12月16日通知，1月12日154名流民獲得安置，「美沙酮英里」行人道上帳篷清空。波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 圓滿完成了就任市長以來的第一項大考驗。

           儘管12日，13日，14日，仍然有30到50名流民，一小群一小群的散聚在「百福批發總匯 (Food Pak)」座落的南安普頓街 (Southampton)上，但至少是沒有了帳篷。人們也都知道，波士頓市政府要整頓這吸毒者群聚地區，已經說了不下10年，卻一直都沒能改變的情況，也不太可能一下子就消失無蹤。

           但現在警察增加了在這一地區的巡邏，社工也繼續訪視，情況是比去年悄然冒出上百個帳棚好多了。

          波士頓市長吳弭1月13日一早，率同資深顧問Monica Bharel博士，波士頓房屋長Sheila Dillon，波士頓公共衛生局主任Bisola Ojikutu博士，波士頓警察局街道外展主警官Peter Messina，來到松街客棧 (Pine Street Inn)的婦女客棧，和該機構執行長Lyndia Downie，以及波士頓市不分區市議員Erin Murphy，第7區市議員Tania Fernandes Anderson一起，舉行了記者會。

          吳弭說，「這是個轉捩點」。她想強調，在市政府各部門的合作、努力下，她們為流民們提供了庇護所，低門檻的臨時住宅，將來爭取永久住宅的途徑，以及協助他們戒毒，醫療的各種資源，期間沒有人被捕，也沒有人被強迫離開。

          吳弭還仔細的報告，這些流民有40人被轉介到了「勝利項目(Victory )」經營的Envision旅館，21人被轉介到波士頓公共衛生局經營，位於南安普頓街112號的1號宿舍，24人被安置到聖法蘭西斯屋所經營的Wood Mullen庇護所，10人被轉介到麻州護理聯盟，以及Eliot社區人民服務所經營的Shattuck小屋社區，31人被轉介到波士頓醫療中心所經營的圓屋旅館（Roundhouse），28人被轉介到松街客棧在Shattuck的庇護所。

          在去年底時，在南安普頓街，以及Atkinson 街和新市場村一帶，有不下70個帳篷，後來增加到將近100個。

          吳弭表示，清拆帳篷的另一原因是冬天來了，天氣太冷，人們露宿街頭的話，既沒有自來水，也沒暖氣，電燈，衛生條件太糟糕，生命安全可慮。波士頓市政府希望在這臨時做法之後，繼續研議中長期的解決辦法，前一陣子她和市府要員巡視長島，已經確認那兒有很大的地方，樓宇設施可用，只是還得解決交通，醫療諮詢等問題。

          在匯報中，Sheila Dillon表示波士頓市政府正在繼續尋覓低門檻房屋，松街客棧執行長表示該機構正在擴展，將在幾個月內破土動工，打造一批新的收容場所，甚至可為流民們提供永久性居屋。

          波士頓警察證實了在過去這星期內，南安普頓街一帶的流民聚居地，共發現了２具屍體，其中１具為男性成人，案件細節因仍在調查，無法透露。由波士頓第一線工作人員組成的「Live Boston 617」，則在他們自行發表的網上刊物稱，死者之一是一名29歲男生。

MAYOR WU SHARES UPDATE ON WORK TO ADDRESS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS CENTERED AT MASS. AVE. AND MELNEA CASS BOULEVARD Work continues to create medium- and long-term strategies to address crisis

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu gave updates on Mass & Cass. (Photo by Chutze Chou) BOSTON - Thursday, January 13, 2022 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu hosted a press conference at the Women's Inn at Pine Street in the South End, alongside President and Executive Director at Pine Street Inn Lyndia Downie; Senior Advisor Dr. Monica Bharel; Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon; Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission Dr. Bisola Ojikutu; and BPD Lieutenant Peter Messina of the Street Outreach Unit to give an update on the actions taken to address the humanitarian crisis centered in the area of Mass Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard. By Thursday morning, 154 individuals were referred to low-threshold shelter or housing options and no arrests were made. Following Wednesday’s efforts to place individuals into emergency housing, Mayor Wu is leading the city in creating medium- and long-term actions to address the crisis. “This is a turning point towards creating better resources and pathways to meet the needs of individuals living unsheltered. The encampments posed a serious risk to public health and safety. I am grateful to all of our partners, including our BPHC outreach workers, our Public Works team, the Boston Police Department, and all of our state and provider partners,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This is an important step as we continue to work together to create medium- and long-term plans to support those experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder or mental health challenges, centered in the Mass. Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard area.” The Boston Public Health Commission’s Recovery Services Street Outreach Team engages with individuals on the street on a daily basis. On December 16, the Street Outreach Team notified individuals living in the encampment that no tents would be allowed starting on January 12 and shared that shelter, housing, and treatment resources are available. In addition to the street outreach that the Street Outreach Team leads every day, additional outreach teams (including staff from BPHC’s Homeless Services Bureau, Pine Street Inn, and St. Francis House) increased their street outreach from January 5-January 12. They also accompanied the Inspectional Services Department when notices were posted on January 5 and January 10 to help individuals connect to resources. The outreach teams offered storage bins to all individuals living in the encampment to help with their transition, in partnership with a program run by the Newmarket Business Association. As of January 12, 154 individuals had been referred to the new low-threshold shelter and housing that the City brought online during the housing surge, in collaboration with State partners. This included 40 individuals referred to the Envision Hotel, run by Victory Programs; 21 people referred to Dorm 1 at 112 Southampton Street Shelter, run by Boston Public Health Commission; 24 people referred to Willows at Woods, run by St. Francis House in the Woods Mullen Shelter; 10 people referred to the Cottage Community at the Shattuck, run by Commonwealth Care Alliance and Eliot Community Human Services; 31 people referred to the Roundhouse Hotel, run by Boston Medical Center; and 28 people referred to Pine Street Inn’s shelter at the Shattuck. Across the sites, individuals are provided with wraparound services including connections to medical, mental health and substance use care, housing search and stabilization services, harm reduction services, and recovery coaching.  Recently, Mayor Wu visited Long Island with members of her team to evaluate its potential uses to address intermediate and long-term needs for supportive housing and recovery services. The trip was a part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to audit city-owned properties to identify opportunities to expand long-term and permanent supportive housing, substance use treatment, and other recovery services.

Baker-Polito Administration Awards Additional $13.5 Million for COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Efforts

 Baker-Polito Administration Awards Additional $13.5 Million for COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Efforts

 

Funding builds on ongoing efforts to increase awareness and access to vaccines in communities hardest hit by the pandemic

 

BOSTON (January 13, 2022) – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $13.5 million to support community organizations working in the cities and towns hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the Massachusetts Vaccine Equity Initiative to increase awareness, acceptance and access to the COVID-19 vaccine. These latest grants are part of the Administration’s investment of more than $46.5 million to address vaccine hesitancy.

 

With these funds, community organizations continue the work of reducing barriers to vaccine access and promoting primary vaccines and boosters for communities and populations most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

 

“These trusted community-based organizations and leaders know their communities and neighborhoods best,” said Acting Department of Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke. “These organizations expand and amplify the efforts of our Vaccine Equity Initiative by helping address the immediate and long-term health equity needs in priority communities – needs that have been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.” 

 

The $13.5 million includes:

 

• $10.65 million to launch the Massachusetts Community Health Workers for Resilient Communities (MA CRC) program. Ten organizations in nine priority communities have been awarded three-year grants to support community health workers in clinical care settings and support local boards of health in increasing COVID-19 vaccination efforts. 

 

• $2.2 million has been awarded through June 2022 to extend current outreach and education funding to 45 community- and faith-based organizations, including Tribal and Indigenous People-serving organizations. These organizations will continue hosting and promoting vaccine clinics in the 20 Massachusetts communities most impacted by COVID-19. Funded organizations will also engage families and children to support pediatric vaccinations.

 

• $675,000 has been awarded to 9 community organizations to support a new COVID-19 vaccine equity program to support the unique needs of rural communities. 

The grants are the result of three major funding awards from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the Commonwealth, building on the state’s investment to increase vaccine awareness and acceptance in communities hardest hit by COVID-19.

 

 

Award Recipients:

 

Massachusetts Community Health Workers for Resilient Communities (MA CRC) (CHW) $10.65M ($3.55M per year for 3 years) 

• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
• Whittier Street Health Center
• Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
• MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center
• Cambridge Health Alliance - Everett Care Center
• Cambridge Health Alliance - Malden Care Center
• Cambridge Health Alliance - Revere Care Center
• Lowell Community Health Center 
• Baystate Health and Caring Health Center 
• Family Health Center of Worcester

 

Rural Vaccine Program                                                                                                                                            $675,000 (funded organizations will receive $75,000 each) 

• Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
• CHNA 9 (North Central)
• CHNA 9 (East Quabbin)
• Island Health
• Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
• North Quabbin Community Coalition
• Outer Cape Community Solutions
• Southern Berkshire Rural Health Network
• Town of Ware

 

Vaccine Community Access Partners (HRiA) $2,105,754                                                                                                                                     Grant size: $35,000 - $50,000 per organization

• African Community Education Program
• Asian American Civic Association
• Asian Women for Health
• Association Ministerial Evangelical de Lawrence
• Association of Islamic Charitable Project
• Autism Sprinter
• Black Springfield COVID-19 Coalition (Springfield Partners for Community Action)
• Black Boston COVID Coalition
• Brockton Area Multi Services, Inc.
• Building Audacity, Inc.
• Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell, Inc.
• Catholic Social Services of Fall River, Inc.
• Centro Communitario de Trabajadores (TIPSO)
• Chelsea Black Community, Inc.
• La Colaborativa
• CHICA Project, Inc.
• Community Economic Development Center
• Disability Policy Consortium
• The Everett Haitian Community Center
• Greater Lowell Health Alliance
• GreenRoots
• Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe, Plymouth (TIPSO)
• Immigrants Assistance Center
• International Institute of New England, Inc.
• JAHAN Women and Youth Intercultural
• Massachusetts Council of Churches
• New American Association of Massachusetts
• New Life Community Empowerment Center
• New North Citizens’ Council, Inc.
• Ohketeau Cultural Center (TIPSO)
• One Holyoke CDC
• Pinnacle Partnership Corp
• Pioneer Valley Project
• Randolph Community Partnership
• Somali Parents Advocacy Center for Education (SPACE)
• Southeast Asian Coalition of Central MA
• Spanish American Center
• The Boston Project Ministries
• The Center for Hope and Healing
• The Joint Committee for Children’s Health Care
• The Latino Health Insurance Program
• The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
• Who’s Got Morale
• Worcester Interfaith
• YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts

波士頓市長吳弭提醒民眾1/15起 進餐館等室內場所需出示疫苗證明 (中文視頻)

 

麻州文化協會撥款150萬元給72個以青少年為對象的項目

Mass Cultural Council Awards more than $1.5M to Programs Serving Massachusetts Youth

BOSTON – Mass Cultural Council today announces that grants totaling $1,584,000 have been awarded to 72 programs in communities across the Commonwealth that focus on infusing youth development with creative experiences in the arts, humanities, and sciences.   “The importance of Creative Youth Development programming at this time in history cannot be overstated,” said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “These programs not only foster creativity in young people, but they also provide supports – for mental health, promoting racial justice, and food insecurity. As a child, I found solace and comfort in the arts when stress, struggle, and anger surfaced in my life. I am pleased Mass Cultural Council is able to continue to invest in these important programs at a time when young people need them the most.”   Creative Youth Development programs foster creative expression while supporting core social and emotional skills, engaging young people of all ages as empowered agents in their own lives. As a practice, Creative Youth Development draws from a belief that culture plays a major role in the growth of creative, productive, and independent-minded citizens and thriving communities.   Mass Cultural Council’s YouthReach initiative is the longest continually running support program for Creative Youth Development (CYD) work in the United States. With this latest round of funding, YouthReach has invested more than $15 million into more than 100 Massachusetts organizations in its 27-year history. Each of the 72 grantees will receive $22,000 in this round to support their work, including: Berkshire Pulse, Great Barrington - to provide dance, world music and performing arts instruction after school and during summer breaks for at-risk youth in Southern Berkshire County. Elevated Thought Foundation, Lawrence - for youth to examine societal issues and explore new ideas through discussion and debate, poetry, organizing, and the use of various visual art mediums. New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford - to provide 18 low-income, academically motivated high school students with resources and experiences to deepen community engagement, promote personal and professional development, and cultivate college and career readiness. A complete funding list and project descriptions for the FY22 YouthReach grantees is available online.                       A key pillar of the Agency’s Strategic Plan is Empowering a Creative Generation. YouthReach accomplishes this goal by providing targeted resources and training to increase the depth and quality of creative learning for young people and advancing the Agency’s national leadership role in Creative Youth Development through advocacy, field building, and partnerships.                  Mass Cultural Council will hold its next Creative Youth Development Community Meeting on January 27 at 3:30pm. This virtual open meeting offers a space for those working in the field of Creative Youth Development to connect, problem-solve, and spotlight best practices in a rapidly changing environment.

堅持防疫需打疫苗戴口罩 波士頓市長吳弭家門外出現抗議群

           (Boston Orange 整理編譯) 波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 當初競選時，已在社交媒體貼文上經常收到歧視、仇恨的留言，當選市長，宣佈市府員工必須打疫苗後，抗議者的喧囂，竟然從波士頓市府大樓甚至推進到了她家門口外。

             波士頓環球報1月12日的一篇報導形容，一大早7點剛過，就有5人頂著嚴寒天氣，拿著「大聲公」來到羅森岱爾 (Roslindale)，大喊「早安，早安」的兒歌。一名有2個小孩，身為母親的慢跑者經過，對他們說，「你在吵醒她的小孩」，「你想要抗議，可以去市政府大樓」。

               這5人中有1人是聲稱州政府規定讓她失去工作的獄政工作人員Melissa George，1人是經波士頓警察局內部事務組調查後，目前停職，自稱因組織「波士頓第一線工作人員團結 (Boston First Responders United)」反對接種疫苗規定，遭到報復的Shana Cottone。

                    Shana Cottone拿著的標語牌寫著，「同性戀等 (LGBT) 第一線工作人員反對強迫的醫藥」。她說，抗議者來到市長家門外是因為波士頓市政府關閉了，這是他們最後的辦法。她說她自已反對規定是因為她的宗教信仰，但她拒絕說明。她反對政府干預個人的醫療護理決定，即使是為了保護公眾的健康。她說，「誰是政府，可以來告訴我，我沒有死的權利」。

                    這幾名抗議者喊著，「吳市長，我們也不想吵你的鄰居，但是你拿走了我的工作」。他們也說，疫苗並不能防止新冠病毒的散佈，尤其是具高度傳染性的奧米克戎變種。

                 一名羅森岱爾居民Nolan 說，「這是讓人無法接受的行為」。

             吳弭在本週早前的一次訪談中表示，她盡量不把這些抗議個人化，認為抗議聲浪更大主要源自整個世界對新冠病毒相關訊息的不信任。她說，「看到國家那麼分裂，人們的情緒被牽引進仇恨言論，實在讓人難過」。

             抗議者逼近到家門口，近年似已成為政治人物都難免面對的夢靨。麻州州長查理貝克 (Charlie Baker) 從2020年起，就接二連三的有抗議者為了住宅，氣候變化，毒品危機等等各種議題，跑到他家門外抗議。去年9月甚至有8人抗議得過頭而被警方以擅闖私人物業的理由逮捕。

        在新罕布夏州 (NH) ，州長 Chris Sununu 去年也因為他家院子外面開始出現攜帶武器的反對戴口罩規定抗議者，取消了原定在戶外舉行的就職典禮。

            去年10月，推動聯邦氣候變化法案的活躍份子，就划到西維琴尼亞州參議員Joe Manchin的船屋去，也有人一路追他追到碼頭。學生活躍份子把亞歷桑納州參議員Kysten Sinema圍堵在公共廁所內。

           共和黨籍的麻州眾議員Steven Howitt表示，「每個人都認為，如果你是一名民選人員，你有沒有隱私權」，但他認為政客及其家人應有權得到合理的保護，去年他遞交法案，禁止示威者踏進任何民選官員家100碼之內。

OVER A DOZEN MORE MASSACHUSETTS OFFICIALS BACK SONIA CHANG-DÍAZ FOR GOVERNOR

OVER A DOZEN MORE MASSACHUSETTS OFFICIALS BACK SONIA CHANG-DÍAZ FOR GOVERNOR 

BOSTON, MA - State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz announced 13 new endorsements from state and local officials in her campaign for Massachusetts Governor today. The new endorsers join a growing group of elected leaders and progressive organizations who are throwing their weight behind Chang-Díaz’s candidacy.

These 13 new endorsers bring her campaign to 50 endorsements from elected officials, including state lawmakers, city councilors, and school committee members hailing from across the state. Chang-Díaz has also earned the endorsements of the national progressive group People’s Action and statewide grassroots organization Neighbor to Neighbor, which has thousands of members in chapters across the state.

“Fifty elected officials and progressive organizations are backing Sonia because she’s building strong partnerships with local leaders across the state,” said Joshua Wolfsun, Chang-Díaz’s Acting Campaign Manager. “Sonia’s taken on — and won — tough fights throughout her whole career, and she knows that to win real change, the next governor of Massachusetts can’t take any Bay Staters for granted. That’s why she’s building a coalition in every community across the Commonwealth.”

Chang-Díaz, who entered the Governor’s race in June, is known on Beacon Hill for her work passing major progressive reforms, including $1.5 billion in progressive education funding, criminal justice reform, and LGBTQ equal rights legislation. She was elected Massachusetts’ first Latina and Asian American State Senator in 2008.

The new slate of endorsers praised Chang-Díaz for her work on Beacon Hill to win progressive change with an eye towards equity and for her willingness to engage her campaign across the state.

“Sonia Chang-Díaz has the experience, vision, and political courage Massachusetts needs in our next governor,” said State Representative Marcos Devers of Lawrence. I’ve been proud to partner with her in the State House and the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus to tackle our state’s most pressing issues. Sonia didn’t wait around to take on hard fights like the Student Opportunity Act, and she’s not waiting around now—she’s putting in the work in communities across the state to earn people’s support and build a grassroots coalition.”

“I’m endorsing Sonia Chang-Díaz because she understands that there is a cost to inaction, and she has the progressive visions and plans to create a Massachusetts that works for each and every one of us,” said Medford City Councilor Justin Tseng. “She does her homework, she’s not afraid to speak truth to power, and she is the ally that communities like Medford need in the Governor’s office.”

“From her first days in the senate, Sonia has demonstrated over and over again a real commitment to urgently needed criminal law and social justice reform,” said Northampton City Councilor Marissa Elkins. “More importantly, she is effective - delivering tangible, progressive change with these and other priorities such as equity in housing, the cannabis industry, and education. Sonia is the partner Western Massachusetts and all of the Commonwealth needs in the corner office to bring transformative change to every community and meaningful results to every family.”

“Sonia Chang-Díaz fully embodies the authenticity and accountability we need in the next Governor of Massachusetts,” said Needham Select Board Member Marcus Nelson. “She has proven this time after time with her leadership on Criminal Justice Reform, the Promise Act, and her Green New Deal. Rather than wait for progress to happen by chance, she demands it. Chang-Díaz holds herself to the same high standards that she asks of her colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate, and consistently goes above and beyond for her constituents. Her genuine concern and care for the communities that make up our great Commonwealth, especially those among us that are often overlooked and underrepresented, is sure to unite Massachusetts and create a stronger ‘us.’”

"Our Commonwealth needs a governor who will match aspirations with actions to make Massachusetts’ progressive reputation a reality,” said Somerville City Councilor Willie Burnley, Jr. “Sonia Chang-Díaz has shown that by partnering with our movements for justice, she can do just that. With so many critical needs on the line for our communities, Sonia has earned my support by promising to stand with and use her power for our neighbors rather than to empower a status quo that isn’t working for working families."

The slate of new endorsers includes:

• Marcos Devers, State Representative, 16th Essex
• Kendra Lara, Boston City Councilor
• Thu Nguyen, Worcester City Councilor
• Jesse Gordon, Randolph City Councilor
• Dylan Clark, Barre Select Board Member
• Marissa Elkins, Northampton City Councilor
• Marcus Nelson, Needham Select Board Member
• Justin Tseng, Medford City Councilor
• Vivian Nguyen, Everett City Councilor
• Willie Burnley, Jr., Somerville City Councilor
• Charlotte Kelly, Somerville City Councilor
• Nick Lazzaro, Millbury School Committee Member
• Ilana Krepchin, Somerville School Committee Member

See all endorsements