events

What resources does it take to provide quality education to all our children in the Commonwealth?  You'd think by now we'd know the answer to that question.  After all, within the past 2 decades years there have been two major education lawsuits regarding funding our public education system to provide quality education.  One of the reasons for education reform in MA is due to funding.

It's about time our legislature got serious and moved forward with the education funding adequacy study.

An adequacy study determines how much money it takes to deliver a baseline adequate eduaction to each and every student in the Commonwealth, based on such factors as the number of kids in each grade, how many low-income students a district serves, and how many special education students a district serves, among other factors.

Come to the event on Monday, Dec 5th, and join in the conversation with Representatives Tom Sannicandro and Jason Lewis to discuss how this legislation can positively impact your children and your community.

State Senator Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, will discuss the redistricting of Massachusetts, on July 28 at 7:30 p.m. at South Hadley Town Hall, 116 Main St. Even though it's late in the process, the talk by Rosenberg will help answer questions about what's ahead, said Sarah Etelman, chairwoman of the Democratic Town Committee in South Hadley..

"It's an important issue," she said, "and it's important for people in Western Massachusetts to understand what it means." Etelman said. [Full Article: MassLive]

If you live in Lynn or know people who do, tell them about this redistricting meeting taking place tonight at 6:00 pm at Lynn City Hall!:

"We expect a big turnout," said Bill Luster, executive director of the North Shore Alliance for Economic Development. "We know that residents of the 6th District are taking this very seriously." ...Supporters of preserving the 6th Congressional District will have their say tonight when state lawmakers on the joint legislative redistricting committee hold a public hearing in Lynn. The 6th District is threatened because Massachusetts must eliminate one of its 10 congressional districts by the 2012 elections. [Full Article: Salem News]

Monday, June 13th at Brookline Town Hall...

“State Revenue Lost and Found: A Forum on Solving the Fiscal Crisis” will focus on the state budget process, solutions to the budget crisis and the Act to Invest in Our Communities (SB1416/HB2553), which would raise more than $1 billion and help stop deep budget cuts jeopardizing education, public safety, and other essential services. [Full Article:  Wicked Local Brookline]

The Joint Committee on Revenue has scheduled a hearing Thursday on dozens of bills aimed at changing the state's tax code. Several are intended to give tax breaks, including lifting the sales tax on children's books, certain medical supplies and boats that are built or rebuilt in Massachusetts. [Full Article: Boston Globe]

For more information about grassroots efforts on redistricting contact MassVote:

The state-level redistricting effort, led by Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) and Rep. Michael Moran (D-Brighton), is due in Boston on May 14 as part of its dozen or so hearings around the Bay State. That hearing is scheduled for the Lee Elementary School on Talbot Ave. in Dorchester at 10 a.m. [Full Article: Dorchester Reporter]

Women's Pipeline for Change, a new initiative "designed to support progressive women of color and improve civic participation and equal representation in the political pipeline" will be launched Thursday. Boston City Councilor At-Large Ayanna Pressley will be the keynote speaker. The initiative is a project backed by The Partnership for Democracy and Education. Attendees will announce a new collaboration with UMass Boston's Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy and media will be introduced to five women who will take part in fellowships under the collaboration: Gladys Lebron-Martinez, Holyoke School Committee member; Sheneal Parker, Boston public schools teacher; Martina Cruz, Lawrence School Committee member; Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong and Elizabeth Cardona, director of Gov. Patrick's western Massachusetts office in Springfield. Auditor Suzanne Bump plans to deliver remarks as well. Women make up 24 percent of the state Legislature and about 20 percent of all local elected officials, according to event organizers (Thursday, noon, Grand Staircase)

Check out this webinar by NonprofitVote, MassVOTE's national partner organization...

Lessons from 1994's Campaign for Guaranteed Tax Relief

You've probably heard Jim Braude asking tough questions on NECN's NewsNight, and on WTKK's Jim & Margery. In our last Insider Budget Briefing, ONE Massachusetts members had a chance to ask Jim their own questions!

On Wednesday, December 17th, the second in our series of Insider Budget Briefings analyzing the current public debates on tax policy, Jim Braude, former Executive Director of the Tax Equity Alliance of Massachusetts, debriefed 30 attendees on the lessons he learned during the Campaign for Guaranteed Tax Relief in 1994.

Keep your eye out for future events!