GERRYMANDERING STEALS ELECTIONS: LEARN HOW IT’S DONE AND HOW TO STOP IT

SMITH COLLEGE CAMPUS CENTER, CARROLL RM. MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 12TH 6:00-8:00 PM
 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Mass. State Rep. Paul Mark, Chair of Massachusetts House Redistricting Committee
FEATURING PANELISTS:
U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern
DR. Nestor Guillen, UMass Amherst
DR. Adam Hilton, Mt Holyoke College
Josh Silver, Founder of Represent.us
SPECIAL GUEST MODERATOR: Clare Higgins

This event was covered by the Daily Hampshire Gazette  

SETTI WARREN

TOWN HALL

FEB. 9, 2018

BELCHERTOWN, MA

Rapid Response

We have stayed clear of much of the controversy surrounding the Russia investigation and Trump's assertions around that. We have preferred to allow that process to proceed while keeping ourselves focused on the task at hand -- resisting the terrible policy moves and plans of radical right wing interests  led by a president apparently unable to respect his office or the Constitution he has been sworn to uphold. By now it is painfully clear to all of us that upholding the law is not something those currently in power feel compelled to do.  So, we stand ready to compel them. PDA will continue insisting on progressive policy solutions -- like Medicare for all, climate justice, and a clean DACA bill -- and PDA will also be prepared with our allies to rise when Trump or his devotees attempt to avoid the scrutiny of the Mueller investigation.  Several groups are working together to be prepared to respond rapidly should the need arise to make it clear that Donald Trump is not above the law.  Should he attempt to fire the special prosecutor or shut down the investigation before it reaches its natural conclusion, those who join this effort will be quickly alerted to appropriate ways to respond most effectively. Sign up to attend one of the hundreds of rapid response events here. One of the good things coming out of this difficult period for our nation and our planet is the solidarity many groups are showing as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the barricades.  No one is above the law.  No matter who we may be or our stations in life, no one of us is above the law. Our strength is our solidarity. See you in the streets! Peace, Donna Smith and Mike Fox for the national PDA team Progressive Democrats of America http://pda.nationbuilder.com/

Democratic Public Policy Committee

Last week, our member Mike Politshnak attended the State Democratic Party Public Policy Committee meeting. He goes to most of those meetings, and it is really good that someone from Belchertown is there and reports back. Thank you, Mike!

Help is needed in next week's Virginia Governor's race, especially now that the Republican candidate has made preservation of Confederate monuments a wedge campaign issue.

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Mike reports that key items dicussed at the Public Policy Committee included:

 

a. There is organizing for a proposed Massachusetts referendum that is hostile to transgender rights. The Democratic State Committee wants everyone to pay attention to it. 

b. Action on the Safe Communities Act is expected as well.

c.  There is an interest in making climate change a higher profile issue.

d.  They were giving out petitions to sign for minimum wage and paid sick leave, and I reported that we did our thing at the Belchertown Fair and gathered a lot of signatures.

Raise Up Massachusetts is a grassroots coalition of community organizations, religious groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that works for all of us. We’re focused on three issues of critical importance to working families in Massachusetts: 

• Paid Family and Medical Leave
• $15/hr Minimum Wage
• Fair Share Tax

 The Fair Share Amendment will be on the ballot in November 2018. This fall, we’re collecting signatures to put Paid Family and Medical Leave and a $15 minimum wage on the ballot as well, while continuing campaigns for both issues in the Legislature. The Belchertown Democratic Committee collected 120 signatures during the Belchertown Fair, but more work needs to be done. If you have an hour or two to volunteer gathering signatures at Stop & Shop contact Jim Walker at jwwalker60@gmail.com. 

For more information about Raise Up Massachusetts and the the ballot initiatives go to: 

•  http://raiseupma.org/
• https://twitter.com/RaiseUpMA
• https://www.facebook.com/RaiseupMA/

Belchertown Town Election

The Belchertown town election will be held on May 15 at the Belchertown High School. Members of the Belchertown Democratic Committee who are running for office are: Carla Dell'Olio - Board of Selectman and Randi Shenkman - School Committee, one year seat. The Belchertown Democratic Committee supports Heidi Gutekenst who is running for the three year seat on the School Committee.

If you want to help elect Carla:

Sign holding at south end of town common

Thursdays 4 to 6:00 p.m.

Fridays 4 to 6;00 p.m.

Saturdays 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

April 27, 28, 29

May 4,5,6

May 11, 12, 13

Email Randi at rshenkman@hotmail.com for information 

Email Heidi at hgutekenst@yahoo.com for information

Masssachusetts Democrats Platform Hearings

The Massachusetts Democratic Party is in the process of rewriting the Party platform. The Party has a Committee of Democratic party members holding hearing around the state to gather input from citizens about what changes they want to make to the Platform. 

The Committee is being chaired by Former Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Murphy, Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins, and Paul Feeney, the Legislative Director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2222 and former Massachusetts State Director for Bernie Sanders for America. These three Democratic leaders have decades of experience working on behalf of Massachusetts residents and voters. They will be overseeing the entire Platform Committee, which is made up of local Democratic activists, officials, and organizers. “Considering the state of our democracy and nation, people are concerned about where we’re headed and we’ve seen a swell in momentum at the local level,” said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford. “We’re excited to get these hearings underway and learn about the issues our residents and voters are most concerned about. I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Murphy, Sheriff Tompkins, and Paul Feeney for their dedicated work on behalf of the Party and its members.”
Following the hearings, the Platform Committee will draft the proposed 2017 state Party Platform. The Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform is a statement of values and reflects the current policy positions of the Party. 

The Committee held hearings in Springfield on April 8th at Van Sickle Middle School. About 100 democrats attended and around 25 gave testimony about changes and additions they would like to see in the Platform. Some of the additions and changes proposed included: college student debt forgiveness, climate change, arts and humanities support, unfunded mandate for schools, world peace, raise minimum wages, funding of pubic schools, senior citizens, voting fraud, equal pay for women and single payer health care. 

If you are unable to attend a hearing or were unable to offer testimony at a hearing, please submit written testimony here: http://bit.ly/2017writtentestimony. Written testimony should include your name, address, email and phone number and be in a PDF or Word document format.