Funding for the public schools is a critical issue both on the local level and the state level. It’s important to me that our district is represented in those state level discussions and that our state partners work closely with the local school departments to ensure adequate funding. We should be advocating for increased funding, that reflects the changing needs of each district and address equity in the formula for these funds.  The focus should always be to make sure students and teachers are supported and that schools have the resources they needed to appropriately and effectively support students. 

I am committed to advancing policies for older adults allowing them to stay safely in their communities, if they choose, with affordable and appropriate services or have alternatives that are safe, financially feasible and meet their health care needs. It is critical to raise the profile of issues facing older adults since they are so often overlooked and not a policy priority.  We need solutions to assist older adults with financing very pricey long term care whether that’s services at home or in an alternative community based care residence so they are not spending all of their life savings. I am also committed to making sure older adults and their families are able to easily find affordable, quality care when they need it. 

We need bold changes to finance long term care so people are not spending every last penny they’ve made over their lifetime.  We need ways lower and middle income older adults can finance long term care and give people more options for receiving community based care in their homes.  We also need greater consumer protections for older adults in assisted livings, continuing care retirement communities and independent living. 

Health Care is hitting a crisis point in Massachusetts with rising premiums, the reductions in the ACA, increased uninsured, and federal cuts to Medicaid.  Advocacy is needed to maintain coverage for vulnerable populations, to find alternatives and maintain coverage for families, individuals and older adults.  We are all impacted by these cuts in direct and indirect ways and solutions must be considered so no group is left behind.

Next year when Medicaid cuts go into place, many people will find themselves ineligible for coverage.  Massachusetts was the leader in creating an affordable health care system, the precursor to the ACA.  Massachusetts should be the leader again to find a path forward expanding access to current health care options.

I am concerned about protecting the rule of law and due process for everyone which should be fundamental and not as fragile as it currently seems.  I am also deeply concerned about the fear many communities are feeling and the decrease in attendance at schools as a result. I am committed to working to ensure that immigrants’ rights are a priority at the State House.

Supporting LGBTQ equality will always be absolutely essential but it is especially critical now that these rights are under attack.  Protecting these rights has my unwavering support and commitment.

Supporting and maintaining  access to reproductive health care is absolutely essential to maintain the dignity, health and freedom of women and cannot be compromised. 

I fully support environmentally friendly policies that make our community healthier and advance climate change policies. Protecting our waterways and open spaces are critical to me especially at a time when regulation and oversight has been reduced. I am also concerned about the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals and their impact on the environment, wildlife, and our families.  I would like to make sure that programs like MassSave continue to be funded appropriately to ensure Massachusetts is a leader on the environment.

Protecting families’, kids’ and older adults’ access to nutrition programs is remarkably fragile with significant federal cuts to these programs.  So many individuals will lose or see reductions in access to nutrition programs and it will be important to advocate and support ways to serve individuals through state initiatives.  We need additional funding for nutrition programs for families and older adults.  I understand that food pantries have many more older adults visiting and older adult nutrition programs have seen an increase in need.  Having enough food is fundamental, and should be an absolute priority.

It is important that there is affordable housing so older adults can remain in our community while also making it affordable for young families and young people to live in and return to the district without finding it financially impossible.  There are a lot of possibilities to address housing and this district should be engaged in those discussions to make sure we are able to take advantage and advocate for the policies that best fit our community.

So many communities like ours face increasing funding challenges that need creative solutions and state partners that work with them to maintain stable finances. All of us are impacted by the strength of our municipalities from public works to schools to senior center services.  We have to advocate for different ways to maintain and create stable revenue for our cities and towns.

43% of district residents currently drive alone to work; only 16% use public transit. We can do better. Investing in more reliable, more frequent service that actually works for families with school pickups and demanding schedules — so commuters have a real choice beyond sitting in traffic.