Vote on or Before November 8th!
For several
years now we have written and shared with friends and allies our opinions about
candidates running for office and about ballot issues. We began compiling
and sharing our recommendations after receiving requests from some of our
friends who respect and appreciate our attention to things political and
electoral. It is a continual source of amazement to us that we get
such requests, and we acknowledge the tremendous responsibility this confidence
places on us. We emphasize that we offer our suggestions based on our
values as unapologetically progressive, feminist, and anti-racist. We recognize that you may disagree partially
or even completely. We urge you to vote your own conscience. If you
so choose, please share our views with your friends and allies as well.
We welcome your sharing your own views with us.
In
our election recommendations for the 2022 general election, we will primarily
focus on the initiative questions on your November ballot. Regarding candidates, we only focus on a few
local and regional ones (see below). We
urge you to vote for the Democratic nominees in all of the statewide races. While most of these candidates were not our
first choices, any differences we have among Democrats pale in contrast to the
MAGA-aligned candidates that the Republicans have nominated.
Jim McGovern for Congress
Jim
has been our friend for decades and is a stalwart voice for all kinds of federal
policies promoting environmental protection, human rights, worker rights, and
reproductive freedom. It is very important
to return him to office.
Robyn Kennedy for State Senator
in the First Worcester District
Robyn
won the Democratic nomination against substantial odds and faces an unenrolled
candidate on the November ballot. She is
poised to bring transformational leadership. Robyn's work experience, both in
state government where she held several high-ranking policy positions and more
recently at Worcester’s YWCA, makes her a highly qualified policy expert.
She is also staunchly progressive and willing to be vocal and serve as a
champion on controversial issues, especially those regarding racial justice.
Paul DePalo for Governor’s
Council
Paul is a strong
advocate for justice and has served well in this rather obscure office whose
charge is approving judges and members of the Parole Board. He faces a Republican opponent in a district
with a lot of “red” areas, so he needs our vote.
We have worked
closely with David LeBoeuf for many years. He is a problem solver, a
smart, hardworking, and courageous progressive whose re-election would have
been a certainty if not for a drunk driving arrest (thankfully, no one was
hurt) last spring. David immediately acknowledged his failings and sought
ongoing help (he has gone six months without a drink). His truly
frightening Trumpian opponent and local and state GOP actors have put a target on
his back. David deserves our support and needs our help.
Ballot Questions
Yes on 1: Fair Share Amendment
The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot –
will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education
systems by making very wealthy residents pay their fair share. We believe it is
a fair share because for many years, households in the top 1% of income have
paid a smaller percentage of their income in state and local taxes than any
other income group.
Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the
portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and constitutionally
dedicate the funds to be spent on transportation and public education. Only
people who bring in more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us
won’t pay a penny more. The opposition has raised the specter of a burdensome
tax on home sales – but since only the increase in value, not the total value
of a property – is taxed, and the tax would only apply to any portion above $1
million, only about 1% of home sales would be affected.
It is a constitutional amendment rather than a
simple law because at this point the Massachusetts constitution mandates a flat
income tax. Over the years, this has
resulted in more and more tax burden on lower income taxpayers. To ensure that the amendment continues to
apply only to the highest income taxpayers, who have the ability to pay more,
the $1 million threshold would be adjusted each year to reflect cost-of-living
increases.
And we’ll all benefit from better schools,
roads, bridges, and public transportation. Learn
more here.
Yes on 2: Better Dental Care
Current law under Obamacare requires medical insurance plans to
spend at least 88% of all money taken in by premiums on health care or efforts
to improve the quality of health care delivery. However, no such requirement
exists for dental insurance, enabling insurance companies to siphon off as much
as they want to line executives' pockets. Question 2 would establish a similar
requirement – actually 83% – for dental insurance plans so that dental
insurance premiums go toward care, rather than profit, and strengthen financial
transparency and regulation of dental insurance companies. More information here.
We do
not make a recommendation on Question 3.
YES on 4: Safer Roads
A victory for YES on 4 will uphold the Work and Family Mobility Act, a bill passed by 75% of the MA Legislature. It will allow all drivers in Massachusetts to be properly vetted for licenses (by providing proof of identity, date of birth, and residency), pass required tests and buy insurance, regardless of immigration status. This law means safer roads and better tools for law enforcement to do their jobs. In 16 states with similar laws, passage led to declines in uninsured drivers and hit-and-run crashes. That’s why this measure is endorsed by over 60 law enforcement officials statewide—including most sheriffs, district attorneys, and all 42 police chiefs in the Massachusetts Major Cities Chief of Police Association. The law helps families and workers by ensuring they can drive legally to school and work. It makes sense for all of us and will not allow non-citizens to vote.
After the bill passed the Legislature in June, opponents of the measure used misinformation and fear-mongering tactics to gather enough signatures to force a question that could repeal it onto the ballot. However, a YES vote upholds the law.
This is
a clear racial justice issue. The opposition is using eye-popping racist
rhetoric to sow fear and demonize immigrants.
If this question goes down, it will substantially increase the foothold
of such a position in Massachusetts, will keep undocumented immigrants in
danger of deportation, and will set back any progress on this issue for
decades. Learn more and get involved
at https://saferroadsma.com/.
Worcester’s Question 5: Community Preservation Act
We urge Worcester voters to vote YES on Question 5 to adopt the Community Preservation Act. The CPA is a state law that empowers cities and towns, by a binding public vote, to impose a small fee on property taxpayers to fund open space, historic preservation, affordable housing, and outdoor recreational facilities. Most Massachusetts communities have opted to participate. By not participating up to now, Worcester has missed out on millions of dollars in matches from state funds.
If enacted by the voters, owners of a home assessed at, for example, $400,000 would pay an additional $67.50 each year, and a business assessed at $500,000 would pay an additional $199.98. The funds collected locally also trigger a state match. A local board consisting of a wide swath of stakeholders will approve all allocations. You can find more information here.
Some helpful information for voting:
Fortunately, you have options for how to vote this year (and, indeed, you may have already voted!)
For
Worcester voters, you can find all of the information about early voting times
and locations, drop boxes, and deadlines on this page.
·
Vote by mail: If you haven't sent in
a vote-by-mail application yet and wish to do so, you can download a form here. If
you've already received your ballot, you can send it back via mail or find a drop box
anywhere in the state. And if you want to
confirm receipt, you can track
your ballot.
·
Vote early in person: Early
voting has already started. You can find locations anywhere in the state here.
·
Vote on Election Day: As
always, you can confirm your polling place at wheredoivotema.com.
And
remember, the deadline to register to vote or update your registration is Saturday,
October 29. You can register online here if
you need to.
Thank
you for your attention and for participating in our voting process!
