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 190th
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/.