My letter to you

Good morning!

With the blink of an eye, it’s November. Almost Election Day. In Massachusetts, we will have a new Governor and Lieutenant Governor and a cadre of new Constitutional Officers. Pressing ballot questions will also be decided. (More below.)

This is an everything all at once moment. On the national level, we’re riveted and many of you are organizing. For me, what's happening at the state level is also so acutely necessary, so immediate – and even hopeful, that I am drawn to go deeper and fight harder for our region.

With so much at stake, if you haven’t already: Please make a plan to vote. Visit the Secretary of State’s website for information on the ballot questions and on how to return your mail-in ballot (if you have one) or how to vote on Election Day.

The past six weeks have been intense. In addition to our team’s work, I’ve spent a great deal of time on ballot question advocacy and campaign-related work for colleagues in statewide and tight races.

(Remember, this is a Senate office letter to you. As such, I cannot go into great detail about campaign matters. For that kind of information, you can join my campaign mailing list or check out my social media accounts.)

As you leap forward into my (mostly) monthly letter to you, which is packed with pretty major updates, please do your best to make it all the way to the P.S. for news and a job posting.

Finally: A resolve to the economic development bond bill

The House and Senate reached agreement on a $3.76 billion spending package that will help ease the financial strain felt by constituents, communities, businesses, and nonprofits, while also closing the books on fiscal year 2022.

You can read a comprehensive summary of the funding in this bill here.

Thanks to your advocacy, I’ve been fighting for investments in health care, housing production, human service workers, nursing and rest homes, home heating relief, clean energy development and rebates, clean water, small businesses, support for victims of crime and assault (VOCA), refugee resettlement, early education and care, food security, and much more.

(Please remember, we’ll be back in the new year to allocate the remaining $1.75 billion in ARPA funds. I am already committed to fighting for more funding for climate resilience and mitigation and for public higher education.)

My team and I were able to direct $1 million in earmarked spending to our district (see graphic). My amendment for $20 million in additional, much-needed Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding was also included in the final bill.

And, after a six-alarm fire burned multiple buildings in the Town of Orange, leaving a football-field-sized pile of toxic rubble, I worked in partnership with Representative Susannah Whipps and Congressman Jim McGovern to deliver $3.4 million to Orange in this bill.

I’m also relieved and delighted (and I know that is nothing compared to what UMass faculty are feeling) that the Legislature included language needed to ratify UMass Amherst collective bargaining raises, held in painful limbo for months.

An Act relating to economic growth and relief for the Commonwealth is now on the Governor’s desk for his signature.

Refunds Coming To Taxpayers

The Chapter 62F provisions, which I wrote to you about in September, are also rolling out this week – $2.94 billion in total. 62F rebates will disproportionately benefit higher income earners. The legislature is also committed to revisiting tax relief directed at middle and lower-income individuals and families in the coming session. My hope is that this will come in the form of a much-expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) (as you may remember, I filed legislation to expand EITC). I also support the Senate’s commitment to the child tax credit, senior tax credit, and provisions to support caregivers of dependents.

Honoring Representative Peter Kocot

In October, the late Representative Peter Kocot was celebrated by the City of Northampton, the State of Massachusetts, and Congressman Jim McGovern with a plaque unveiling at the Northampton train station and an announcement that the Valley Flyer pilot, which Peter helped create, has turned into permanent north/south service.

I was honored to join Mrs. Shauneen O'Donnell Kocot, Peter's sons Jake and Luke, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Congressman Jim McGovern, former Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, MassDOT Rail & Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger, legislative and municipal colleagues past and present, Regional Planning Agency teams, and many others at this auspicious and moving event. (Partial group pictured below.)

Special shout out to Trains In The Valley for its dogged advocacy on behalf of this rail service over the last years.

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

On September 28, more than one thousand people convened in Washington, D.C. for a White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health with the stated goals of ending hunger in the United States by 2030, strengthening the nation’s food system, and tackling preventable, nutrition-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. I was proud to join them for this historic meeting and grateful to Congressman McGovern for the invitation.

The last such gathering occurred 50 years ago and sparked new programs like WIC and SNAP. Thanks to folks like our own Jim McGovern, whose vision, tenacity and urgency manifested this conference, we have a chance to build on the gains of our predecessors.

There is much to digest. Here are just a few of my initial takeaways.

My legislative colleagues who attended – Representatives Domb, Kane, and Vargas and Senator DiDominico – and I are hosting a debrief for the Legislature in December, and we’re at work on related bills and spending priorities for the coming session.

The Biden-Harris Administration released a national strategy as part of the conference. You can read it here.

Step therapy protocols curtailed in Massachusetts

Last week, the Senate and the House passed a bill I cosponsored to limit the use of step therapy, or ‘fail first’ protocols that too often direct patients to cheaper medications rather than those more suitable to treat their condition. The bill, An Act relative to step therapy and patient safety (read it here), now signed into law, gives providers more ability to determine the most effective treatment options for patients, saving patients expensive and painful regimens on medications they know to be ineffective or harmful. The legislation builds on similar legislation passed by the Senate in 2020.

Step therapy is not limited to specific diseases. It affects patients across the health care spectrum, with particularly dramatic impacts on the allergy and asthma, antipsychotic, arthritis, cancer, coronary artery, depression, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s patient communities.

Awards awards awards

I nominated Javier Luengo-Garrido for a Latino Excellence Award given by the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus to trailblazers and changemakers who contribute significantly to the Commonwealth. Javier is the Organizing Strategist and Community Advocate for the ACLU of Massachusetts as well as Deputy Field Director of the Yes on 4 Campaign. (We're together below at a canvas kickoff.)

No shortcuts for Eversource

This is yet another #StrongerTogether update. In August municipal officials contacted our office about outreach they received from Eversource regarding a tree-clearing project from Northfield to Belchertown, called a Transmission Right of Way Reliability Project for which Eversource needs state permitting. Eversource had approached the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office (MEPA) seeking an expedited process – basically one plan, reviewed, and done.

We worked with House colleagues and planning agencies to organize a delegation meeting with Eversource. If you’re interested, it’s worth a watch. Following the call, the state delegation, advocates, and municipal officials mounted a regional response in connection with colleagues at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).

I’m glad to report that MEPA denied Eversource's request for an expedited process and instead is requiring Eversource to develop and submit a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) that includes alternative analyses which will go through a formal public comment process. You can read the full MEPA response here. It’s worth a read as it contains detailed information about what Eversource must now consider, do, and produce (and you can see a list of the 285 comments received by MEPA during this initial process).

All of us must remain vigilant minimize any upheaval to the environment, cultural artifacts, and communities.

Celebrating $8.25 million in economic development funding

(in one week)

Thanks to the determination, skill, and vision of local officials and strong partnerships with planning agencies and state and federal offices, our district saw $8.25 million flow from Boston to the Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester district last week alone through grants bundled together in what’s called a Community One Stop for Growth application.

Every year, the cities and towns in our district rely on state grants from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and MassDevelopment to help pay for municipal capital projects. These projects provide the foundation for our region’s economic growth and development; they spur the development of new affordable housing; and they improve roadway safety, fix culverts, and support other local priorities of our smallest communities.

This year, District Director Elena Cohen led our office’s work on a grant workshop series for municipal officials in partnership with Representative Natalie Blais, western Mass Senators, Franklin Regional Council of Government’s Linda Dunlavy, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission’s Kimberly Robinson, and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s Thomas Matuszko. The goal of the series was to break down barriers to accessing state grants for our communities and help state colleagues better understand our communities’ strengths and challenges.

Deeply grateful to Secretary Mike Kennealy and Juan Vega and Ashley Stolba at the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) for their continued commitment to bring resources to western Massachusetts.

You can bet that Elena is going to help propel this forward again next year, this time including nonprofit agencies!

Net zero building code launched

Following the signing into law of the 2021 omnibus Next Generation Climate Act, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) began work on language for state building code changes that would encourage builders to shift away from fossil fuel heating in favor of electrification and advanced building methods – to address the approximately 35% of carbon emissions attributed to the Commonwealth’s building sector.

The impetus for these building code changes was a Net Zero bill I filed with Representatives Mindy Domb and Tami Gouveia, in partnership with Mass Climate Action Now (MCAN) which was ultimately included in the omnibus climate bill.

Our bill targeted Green Communities (299 of 351 Massachusetts cities and towns are Green Communities) which are held to higher environmental standards and offered more state resources and technical assistance. Green Communities don’t use base building codes. They are held to stretch codes (or building codes that reduce building emissions and energy use). But after many years – and with the climate crisis looming – the stretch code was no longer a stretch. DOER has updated the existing stretch code and created a specialized net zero energy code which communities will have the option to adopt.

The draft released earlier this year by DOER was lacking, so I joined with MCAN and others to urge the agency to consider affordability, indoor air quality, renovations, and a greater emphasis on all-electric buildings. While much stronger, the final specialized code still leaves room for the use of fossil fuels, which is concerning – so we’ll keep pressing. As we say: It’s not enough to pass a good bill. We have to see it through.

Climate change work at UMass Amherst

The tireless Senator Mike Barrett (Chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee and Senate lead on the two most recent climate bills) visited the University of Massachusett Amherst for a lecture and deep-dive conversations on the University's audacious Carbon Zero plan to transition the University off fossil fuels by 2032: https://www.umass.edu/carbon-neutrality/.

While the goal of carbon neutrality by 2032 is extraordinarily compelling and necessary, what is equally amazing is the opportunity for the University to learn and teach lessons, build statewide capacity, and launch thousands of students with 21st century skills, vision, and passion. This will take state support to make happen so you can expect that I'll be extending more invitations to more great Senate colleagues to visit the University and meet its passionate students, staff, and faculty.

Out and about

Honored to join Greenfield Community College's truly inspirational 60th Anniversary Celebration. GCC's new president Dr. Michelle Schutt (below) spoke passionately about GCC's commitment to breaking down barriers to access, coupled with ensuring students graduate with meaningful employment. President Schutt also spoke about her own powerful journey.

Delighted to join a host of regional colleagues and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy and his awesome team at ServiceNet's Prospect Meadow Farm, an inspirational place in our region offering supported employment. We were gathered for a groundbreaking (below) of Prospect Meadow's new Vocational Training & Production Center made possible, in part, by a $595,000 grant from the state.

Super happy to meet Representative Natalie Blais at a pullout along the bank of the Connecticut River in Deerfield (below) to pick up trash as part of the Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC)'s Source to Sea Cleanup.

This is what happened:

(1) We hauled out three large bags of garbage plus a bunch of things that were way too big for the bags AND

(2) We understood deeply that we can and should do this kind of service work (by ourselves, with our families, with friends) any time during the year – on trail walks, or in targeted hour-long clean ups by a river. (You can get a lot done!)

Reeeeaaaalllly grateful to CRC for calling us all into the service of our waterways and our wider environment. Thank you to everyone who made the Source to Sea Cleanup a giant success.

I look forward to the coming session and supporting legislation to end the use of single-use plastic and expand the bottle bill to include nips!

Amazing to be out on bikes with Safe Streets Northampton, a group of bicycle advocates and enthusiasts who invited Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Northampton Councilors Elkins, Moulton, Foster, Jarrett, and me to join them on a bike tour of the roads surrounding downtown Northampton.

We experienced the infrastructure that's working and many pain points and places of concern.

The aim of Safe Streets Northampton is to help make the city more of a safe and fun place to ride for recreation and commuting – and organizers are also laser-focused on equity, climate, and access for all.

It was a piece of classically good organizing which I won't soon forget.

I'm pictured (below) bringing up the rear (way in the back) in a wildly inappropriate outfit.

💓🥧 Big pie love to the Leyden Town Democratic Committee (below) for a stunning afternoon of pie tasting and politics. (I baked a "Leyden Lime" pie for the occasion.) Delighted to be representing the great folks of Leyden in the coming session with Congressman Jim McGovern and Representative Natalie Blais.

A women's wave washed over western Massachusetts thanks to the truly stellar organizing of Alice Jenkins, a high school junior at Hampshire Regional High School (below).

Like many of you, I've been to a lot of rallies, but I found this one particularly energizing and inspiring because it was called for by young organizers, supported passionately by long-time organizers, intersectional, and fierce in its calls to action. Cheers for a great rally line up led by Alice Jenkins and followed by the Raging Grannies, Generation Ratify's Inanna Balkin, me, Dr. Carrie Baker, Beth Lev representing Indivisible Northampton - Swing Left Western Mass, and Congressman Jim McGovern.

Thank you to Generation Ratify, Planned Parenthood, and Yes on #1 and #4 organizers who showed up with needed information and ways to get involved!

What's next?

This month, what's next depends on you. Please vote on November 8.

Sending our love to you,

Jo, Brian, Rachel, Elena, and Jared

P.S. Our team is hiring!

Last month, we said bon voyage to our colleague Cameron Lease who transitioned from our office’s Director of Communication and Engagement to the Legislative Director for the wonderful Senator Su Moran. The team and I wish Cameron all the best. We are so grateful for his two and a half years of service – from constituent services to district events to leading our office's communication work across all platforms.

Check out the job posting. Interviews are rolling so please don’t delay in sending in your cover letter and resume.

P.P.S. How am I voting on the ballot questions?

Personally, I am YES on binding ballot questions 1 through 4 and YES on non-binding ballot question 5 where it appears in the district. (Note that Question 5 will differ by city/town. It could focus either on carbon fees or Medicare for All. I'm for both.)