This May marked my sixth “budget month.” Last week the Senate debated 1,101 amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget — endeavoring to ensure that the $58 billion budget works for all of our communities.
Nothing in government happens without collaboration and partnership, and your advocacy is at the center of it all. This newsletter is packed with examples of us being stronger together.
(At the end — sadly — please see a message about internet trolls on Facebook.)
Read on!
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Clarifying work on Quabbin water |
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Let’s begin by clarifying two issues regarding the Quabbin Reservoir and my efforts to seek just recompense for the region that experienced the disincorporation, removal, and flooding of four towns 86 years ago, and continues to steward the land and water today.
I filed legislation (S.447) in partnership with Representative Aaron Saunders that seeks to accomplish four things:
- Add two western Mass seats on the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) board of directors;
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Adjust the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) formula so that communities are compensated for the land under the water as well the land surrounding the water;
- Establish a fund for the Quabbin region to better address social and economic challenges resulting from a stagnant (and often frozen) economy; and
- Require the MWRA to complete a water system evaluation for western Mass municipalities.
There has been some confusion on the last point, #4 — related to our region’s access to potable water.
As part of our advocacy around the legislation, the MWRA has launched an exploration of potable water access for Quabbin watershed communities, which I view as a first — albeit limited — step in a necessary region-wide exploration. (The legislation I filed contemplates a much larger exploration across multiple watersheds.)
The MWRA is surveying watershed towns so that it can help determine what will work best for those communities into the future. It’s likely that the price tag for accessing Quabbin water would be very steep for many communities — but we should know that definitively and we should know what other options may exist to guarantee residents access to potable water into the future — supported by state funds.
Until now, ALL of the MWRA’s survey work has been focused on expanding access to Quabbin water for communities east of Worcester. I believe the state has a responsibility to understand and make public the water challenges and opportunities in ALL Commonwealth communities. This piece of work is future-facing. It may not pay off in five years or ten years, but it’s our job to think 25 or 50 years into the future (and beyond).
More on all of this in a public response to a constituent here.
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People’s Town Hall
June 10, 5:30 p.m.
Greenfield Community College
1 College Drive
Greenfield
Join me and my team for a Town Hall — an in-person gathering in the Cohn Family Dining Common, on the first floor of the Main Building at Greenfield Community College, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on June 10.
We’ll offer timely updates and look forward to what’s ahead. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and offer feedback.
Simultaneous American Sign Language and Spanish and Haitian Creole interpretation will be available, as well as large print slides. The gathering is physically accessible and free to all. We’ll provide beverages and healthy-ish snacks.
The Town Hall will be recorded and shared online for those who are unable to attend in-person.
Family Town Hall — a gathering for families
June 23, 4:00 p.m.
Basement of Edwards Church
297 Main St.
Northampton
As a mom of teenagers, I remember how challenging it is to engage in events that haven’t been right-sized for the most important people — children!
That’s why, going forward, our team is committed to holding kid-friendly town halls in kid-centered spaces around the district. These will be less formal and likely more fun.
Join me for the first-ever Family Town Hall at Edwards Church in Northampton, beginning at 4:00 p.m. on June 23. I will offer a few updates, share the story of how the Podokesaurus Holyokensis became the official dinosaur of the Commonwealth, and take your questions and feedback.
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Podokesaurus holyokensis (aka the “Swift-footed lizard”)
The gathering is physically accessible and free to all. We’ll have juice boxes and Goldfish.
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The Senate passed its budget. What now? |
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From the time the Governor files her fiscal year budget in January, until the beginning of the next fiscal year on July 1, my team and I are focused on the impact of state spending on our region. This is especially true now that I’m on the Ways and Means Committee. In February and March, I attended hearings on the Governor’s budget throughout the state, giving me the opportunity to work on the Senate’s budget before it was released on May 7.
I remain heartened by the many ways that the Senate Ways and Means Committee baked in regional equity throughout the budget. I reflected on this here.
The week of May 20 was the Senate’s opportunity to debate this budget. My colleagues and I adopted 440 of the 1,101 amendments filed, helping to strengthen the budget proposal and address the unique needs of each of our districts.
The week of budget debate is high-stakes and intense. In addition to ensuring our region gets a fair share of spending, it’s also full of can’t-miss opportunities to connect in-person with colleagues and advocates. I stayed in Boston throughout the week, spending my time in the Senate Chamber, in the halls, and across meals — speaking with colleagues on pending budget amendments and an array of forthcoming legislation.
Ultimately, my advocacy was not confined to inside the building. When a fire alarm forced us out of the Senate Chamber at 10:55 p.m. on Thursday night, I found Minority Leader Bruce Tarr in the parking lot with the hope of securing Republican votes on one of the two remaining amendments still pending (complete with a funny video narrated by Chief of Staff Jared Freedman, here). Thank you to the Minority Leader for his goodwill and partnership — and his vote.
Now, the House and Senate will each choose three Conference Committee members to reconcile the differences between the House and the Senate budgets before sending the final FY25 proposal to the Governor for her review (see the star in the graphic below). If you're following something in either the House or Senate budget that you would like to see in the final compromise package, please let me know and I can forward your message to the Conference Committee members once they have been chosen. Remember, it’s not enough to pass a good policy or budget provision in one branch — we have to see it across the finish line.
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Here are some of the local wins my team and I are celebrating:
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$350,000 for Seven Sisters Midwifery (currently the only free-standing birth center in the state). Thank you to Senator Cindy Friedman for her unwavering partnership.
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$294,000 to launch a police training program at Greenfield Community College
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$250,000 for the Baystate Family Medicine Residency program in Greenfield
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$106,000 for new doors and repairs to existing doors at Swift River School
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$50,000 for the construction of an outdoor stage at the Forbes Library in Northampton
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$50,000 for improvements to the New Dawn Arts Center building in Ashburnham
My team and I compiled a summary of our local priorities, certain key amendments, and the final Senate budget. It’s here.
I am pleased that we successfully restored millions in funding for the Equitable Approaches to Public Safety grants in partnership with Senator Adam Gomez, which help fund non-police emergency response services like CRESS in Amherst and the Division of Community Care in Northampton. We worked to fully fund grants for local and regional public health work, benefitting every municipality in our district.
The Senate also included the text of legislation I share with Representative Mindy Domb to require a nonbinary gender option on state documents, including birth certificates, drivers licenses, and all other state forms that require gender information.
Additionally, thanks to tremendous advocacy from constituents, we blocked cuts to the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program. The PCA program is a MassHealth service that helps people with permanent or chronic disabilities maintain their independence.
The Senate also passed a provision to stop the heartless and unconstitutional practice of home equity theft. In practice home equity theft allows cities and towns to keep the full value of a home under foreclosure for a smaller back taxes debt. Thank you to Senator Mark Montigny for leading on the amendment. I was proud to support this in honor of Greenfield constituents Joan Marie Jackson, Mitchell Speight, and Al Norman, who prompted me to file a similar piece of legislation which passed favorably out of the Joint Committee on Revenue. I thanked them publicly here.
Thank you also to Senator Becca Rausch who led a successful amendment based on a bill I filed to add the suicide hotline number to all school identification cards as a critical measure of prevention.
You can see my votes on budget amendments, along with all of our 178 roll call votes so far this session, here.
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More from the budget — A new state flag, seal, and motto
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I was very grateful to partner with Senator Jason Lewis on an amendment to complete the work to change the Massachusetts state flag, seal, and motto, and I spoke in strong support of this work. You can watch my floor speech here.
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Day three of the Senate budget debate focused a great deal on K-12 education.
We unanimously passed a number of crucial amendments including:
- Increasing minimum aid to $110 per student,
- Approving an additional $2.5 million for rural school aid, bringing the total to $17.5 million in the Senate budget, and
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Establishing a task force on the school funding formula (known as Chapter 70) to make recommendations for updating the calculation of required local contribution — which I view as the Senate’s first step in a full Chapter 70 formula review. Read more about the task force here.
During the debate, I spoke in support of re-opening the Chapter 70 formula to a full review and in support of increasing rural school funding — advocating for the boldest possible approaches. I spoke about the ravages of minimum aid funding, the perils faced by rural schools, and the inequity baked into the required local contribution. You can watch here.
We must also examine how we fund special education, how to make good on our commitment to regional school transportation, and more. I will keep pushing in partnership with constituents and municipal leaders. We’re on our way, but we’re not nearly done. I will not yield until we have made the significant progress necessary for our region.
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Universally free community college |
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On May 6, I joined Senate President Karen Spilka; Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues; Senators Edward Kennedy, Pavel Payano, and Brendan Crighton; and Greenfield Community College President Michelle Schutt at Middlesex Community College to announce MassEducate — the Senate’s plan for bold investments in education from “cradle to career” (pictured below).
We focused on the Senate's leap to universally-free community college, as well as groundbreaking investments for affordable four-year public higher education.
With the FY25 budget, the Senate has doubled down on our commitment to build back the power and promise of public higher education — a commitment to the state’s students and families and all who are living and working to ensure that Massachusetts is a state where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, my team and I have been deeply involved in this critical work. I consider this a major milestone, not the stopping point. The Senate investments will propel the Commonwealth forward toward greater social equity and economic competitiveness. We’ll secure this in FY25 and keep pressing forward.
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FirstLight Power's relicensing |
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I joined Representatives Natalie Blais, Dan Carey, Mindy Domb, Lindsay Sabadosa, and Aaron Saunders to submit a joint public comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding the relicensing of FirstLight Power’s Turners Falls Hydroelectric Project and Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project.
You can read our public comment, calling for a consideration of a number of critical environmental concerns here. Representative Blais and I also testified at the first 401 Water Quality hearing on May 29 conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), reinforcing the testimony of our constituents and Towns.
Thanks to District Director Elena Cohen’s leadership, our team is highly engaged in this process, along with local, state, and federal officials.
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Timely updates on solar siting |
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I have heard from many constituents with concerns about recent, final recommendations made by the Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting to Governor Healey. Constituents have written with particular worries about losing natural and working lands to solar installations and concerns about a loss of local control. I wrote to Secretary Rebecca Tepper and Undersecretary Michael Judge of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) with my comments on these recommendations. Read my letter here.
I am grateful to Undersecretary Judge for participating in the upcoming western Massachusetts solar forum to discuss these recommendations further (see below).
I emphasized in my letter that western and rural Massachusetts cannot shoulder the burden for the state’s current lack of progress on solar, and that every effort must be made to site solar on the built environment and to protect natural and working lands.
I have also conveyed significant input as the Senate works to develop clean energy legislation.
I join constituents in wanting the green future that’s ahead of us. My job is to help ensure that future is equitable.
Western Massachusetts Solar Forum — Part II:
In partnership with the UMass Amherst Clean Energy Extension, Representative Mindy Domb, and western Mass state legislators, we are launching Part II of the Western Massachusetts Solar Forum.
Date and Time: June 4, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Part I took place in fall 2023. Recordings on topics related to state renewable energy goals, land use, equity, and stakeholder perspectives can be found on the Forum web page: ag.umass.edu/solarforum.
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A focus on regional economic development |
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At a May 7 hearing, I delivered a bipartisan, bicameral letter signed by 28 rural-serving legislators in support of rural economic development provisions in the Mass Leads Act, the Governor’s proposed economic development legislation. Here's the letter. I was glad to lead this organizing with Representative Natalie Blais.
The provisions we’re supporting — thanks to the counsel and leadership of the Rural Policy Advisory Commission (RPAC) — have the potential to be game changers for our region, including creating a Rural Communities designation (like the existing Gateway Cities designation), $100 million in investments for rural development, and more.
(The picture below is what you’d see on the screen if you were watching the hearing: One camera on the Chairs, the other on the person testifying, and then the clock which tracks the time of those testifying.)
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As a member of the Joint Committee on Economic Development, I then scooted behind the hearing table to listen to a broad and diverse array of speakers asking us to seize the promise of this moment. |
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Go time for housing legislation |
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The Governor’s housing bond bill, the Affordable Homes Act, is making its way to the floor of the House of Representatives and then over to the Senate for debate and a vote. Since the bill was first filed, I have sought the counsel of housing experts and advocates from our district. With their leadership and expertise, I helped coordinate a letter from legislators representing rural communities, which you can read here, as well as a letter on concerns specific to the Connecticut River Valley, which you can read here.
One policy that has been the subject of much discussion and debate is a bill I filed to allow municipalities to raise revenue for affordable housing by placing a fee on the sale of luxury real estate. Our gutsy Governor included a version of this policy in the Affordable Homes Act. I discussed the differences between our versions with State House News, here.
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Government officials come to visit |
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I always say that it's my job to make sure that folks in Boston come to our region to meet our people and see our places. There's no substitute for human relationships and experiences when my team and I are in the pursuit (as we are, always) of regional equity and equitable state investment in our communities.
That's why I joined Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa in inviting Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao and Undersecretary Ashley Stolba to Northampton for a tour of the Coca-Cola bottling plant and downtown Northampton's arts and culture scene on April 29 — with a special stop at the Iron Horse Music Hall.
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Then, on May 1, I joined UMass Amherst colleagues and Representative Mindy Domb in welcoming Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper to learn more about the university's clean energy work. We toured the UMass Water and Energy Testing lab which is doing state-of-the-art work on water quality improvement and is one of my favorite places on campus. |
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Sargent Shriver Public Service Award |
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On May 3, I cheered — along with a packed crowd — for Community Action Pioneer Valley’s (CAPV) 60 years of transformative work.
And I was deeply honored to receive CAPV’s Sargent Shriver Public Service Award, which is presented to an “elected or appointed official demonstrating outstanding public service on behalf of people living with low incomes.”
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Out and about — a quick summary of where we’ve been
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On April 27, I participated in a deep dive on rural issues at an annual conference held by the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA).
We heard from Director of Rural Affairs Anne Gobi, learned from a gifted panel on housing featuring Gina Govoni (FCRHRA) and Keith Fairey (Wayfinders), and more.
I presented with Franklin Regional Council of Governments' Linda Dunlavy and MMA's Adrienne Nunez — focused on the building blocks of a rural agenda.
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On May 4, I joined Congressman Jim McGovern, Senator Jake Oliviera, Hampshire County Register of Deeds Mark Ames, and Representatives Dan Carey, Mindy Domb, and Aaron Saunders at the Hampshire County Pride Parade. A beautiful day with extraordinary colleagues. |
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Congratulations to the Town of Deerfield for beginning a major renovation of the Tilton Library. I joined Representative Natalie Blais, library staff and trustees, local officials, and Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioner Karen Traub in the time-honored tradition of breaking ground. You may remember that last session, Representatives Mindy Domb and Natalie Blais and I joined colleagues statewide to advocate for more funding for library projects experiencing overages due to pandemic-era inflation. I was delighted to be able to help bring home $470,000 in additional funding for Deerfield in partnership with Rep. Blais. |
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School committee members from across the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district traveled to Beacon Hill on May 6 for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees advocacy day.
Chief of Staff Jared Freedman organized meetings for school committee members with the Education Committee and with the Senate Ways and Means Committee to talk about the fiscal crises their districts are experiencing.
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On May 14, I began my day with an inspiring visit with Greenfield Community College (GCC) students (now graduates), faculty, and GCC President Michelle Schutt.
Together, we focused on the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) course offered by GCC and the hunger for GCC graduates to fill the many open positions regionally in hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and beyond.
The students described the GCC course as a launching pad, as they have goals for further education and look forward to a lifetime of work in the healthcare industry.
Since being elected, my team and I have focused on making CNA training and testing much more accessible thanks to advocacy from constituents. We've had some modest wins, but there's more to do. I promise that we’ll stay on it.
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On the evening of May 14, I was thrilled to cheer for the Iron Horse at its soft opening to celebrate the massive number of donors and community supporters who have helped make this rebirth possible.
Thank you to District Director Elena Cohen who has offered critical support to the Iron Horse team.
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On May 15, District Director Elena Cohen spoke at the 22nd Annual Mental Health and Wellness Fair at Energy Park in Greenfield, hosted by Clinical and Support Options Inc. Clubhouse programs. Thanks to everyone who attended and made this resource fair possible. My team and I are grateful for the network of providers and the resources available to serve constituents in our district. |
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In Boston on May 15, I had the pleasure of joining Legislative Director Brian Rosman in a meeting with students and faculty from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baystate Medical Center during the Massachusetts Section of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lobby day.
One of their top priorities is a bill I filed, An Act to support families. Under current Massachusetts law, the birth of a substance-exposed newborn child triggers an automatic obligation for health care providers to report the birthing parent for suspected abuse or neglect. This is required even if the pregnant individual was taking prescribed medication for addiction treatment. By conflating prenatal substance exposure with child abuse, these reports stigmatize people receiving medically-recommended treatment and harm the birthing parent and child.
Here’s a factsheet on the legislation from Boston Medical Center.
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Chief of Staff Jared Freedman also met with constituents who are members of SEIU on human services workforce needs. Our team is grateful for their critical work and advocacy. |
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On May 22, a beautiful sea of gold engulfed the State House for Caring Force Lobby Day!
These advocates traveled to Boston on behalf of Riverside Industries to speak with Legislative Director Brian Rosman about the importance of investing in human services and expanded opportunities for people living with disabilities.
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Also on May 22, we took a moment during budget debate to celebrate the New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) State Division 3 Champion Oakmont-Overlook Marching band. Go Spartans! I joined with Representative Jon Zlotnik to welcome the students and faculty to the Senate chamber and asked my colleagues to join me in applauding their success.
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May 25 was a joyous day — Greenfield Community College’s graduation. Congratulations to the graduates and families! It was all so moving that I started crying before I parked my car. Have mercy. You can see President Schutt rocking GCC high top sneakers below, as well as a sea of beautiful graduates. |
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On May 26, I joined Senators Jake Oliviera and Peter Durant and Representatives Todd Smola and Aaron Saunders at the annual Memorial Day event at the Quabbin Cemetery. More than 7,000 graves were disinterred as the communities of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott were disincorporated and flooded. Over 6,000 remains were moved to the Quabbin Cemetery. (Pictured below, the surrounding towns display banners to honor those who have died across the region and the region’s history.)
The next day, on Memorial Day, I joined Governor Maura Healey, Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago, and Representative Jon Zlotnik at a Memorial Day Observance at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. (Pictured below, the Governor and Secretary place a wreath during the memorial program.)
At both ceremonies we honored the sacrifice of those who died in the service of our nation and we honored their loved ones.
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On May 28, I attended a Vesak celebration at the State House hosted by Representative Carmine Gentile and the Asian Caucus. Vesak is a sacred day of commemoration for Buddhists where they honor the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. What an honor to have the Nipponzan-Myōhōji monks of the New England Peace Pagoda in Leverett participate. |
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We’ll stop here, with gratitude for making it to the end, and sending our love to you,
Jo, Brian, Jared, Katelyn, Elena, and Rachel
P.S. If you follow my official Facebook page, you may have noticed a recent frequent commenter. This individual is not a constituent but reacts to my posts, usually within seconds of the content being published, using provocative language.
I am a public figure and as such, I am rightfully not permitted to block users or comments on my public pages. It’s my job to listen to and learn from criticism.
Over years of organizing, I have developed what I call a “rhino hide.”’ Yet it is hard to see this particular individual also respond to comments from constituents with hurtful language. I am sorry to those of you who have felt unsettled or frightened by this person’s comments. Thank you to those of you who reached out to let me know how you felt. Please know that my team and I are working to understand what our options are to maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive online forum for productive discourse.
This person is known to law enforcement. Other offices have experienced his similar Facebook trolling, but never anything beyond Facebook comments and phone calls.
I am not replying to this individual (as much as I'd like to) because I believe it’s not wise to engage.
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Did you find the content of this email useful?
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Boston office
(617) 722-1532
State House
Room 410
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Amherst office
(413) 367-4656
UMass Amherst
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Please send all mail correspondence to the Boston office. |
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