ORGANIZING NOTES
August 6th, 2024
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Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR.us) has purchased billboard space for September in Greenfield, MA, near the Route 91 rotary. Other organizations are welcome to use this idea. Please be in touch if you need more information.
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The Massachusetts State Legislature Gets A “D”
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As the legislative cycle came to an end, Massachusetts State Representatives’ and Senators’ trash-talking of each other highlighted some of the worst legislative dysfunction in the nation. Massachusetts is fourth from the bottom in percentage of bills passed in the United States.
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In spite of Democratic control of the Senate, the House and the Governorship, bills popular with the majority of MA citizens like climate crisis mitigation, single payer health care, universal childcare, and local options for rent control and ranked choice voting, are sent to study or just not voted on year after year. Reinforcing the status quo, in 2022, (a 220,000 shortage of homes, wealth inequality close to the worst in the nation, an unabated opioid epidemic and a desperately underfunded transportation infrastructure), Massachusetts passed only 5.82% of submitted bills, (FiscalNote)
Former Sierra Club lobbyist, Philip Sego, broke the lobbyist taboo against criticizing the State House several years ago when he laid out clearly in Commonwealth Magazine,(12/19/18), how the constitutionally mandated Speaker of the House leverages his power to appoint loyal committee chairs with concomitant salary increases and luxurious offices with additional staff, to ensure he gets the votes he wants.
Boston Globe, 8/5/24 And on every joint legislative committee, there are ten representatives and 6 senators, further amplifying the Speaker’s influence.
Votes in most committees are secret so it is not uncommon for Representatives to co-sponsor, or even sponsor a bill and not vote for it. Further machinations are behind veils of secrecy so that constituents are in the dark and cannot demand accountability. Periodically a Representative will rebel and vote in opposition to the Speaker but punishment, in the form of removal of staff and banishment to a basement office, is swift.
In this year’s elections, 65% of State Representatives are running unopposed as, predictably, many deem the position a miserable job. Also unsurprising, Massachusetts has one of the highest rates in the country of returning incumbents to office.
There is a growing civic conversation about how to make the legislature more responsive to the desires of the electorate for public investment in social goods. Act on Mass publishes weekly on corruption and inaction in the State House. Incorruptible Mass produces regular podcasts on the potential of our State Government and its failures. Progressive Mass engages activists to bring progressive change to Massachusetts and publishes a scorecard based on what is known about how state legislators have voted. Robert Kuttner in his article in American Prospect, Massachusetts Blues , advises the unification of the different Massachusetts progressive advocacy and electoral groups to increase the number of elected leaders who will stand firm for policies that benefit middle and working class constituents. Money that now goes out of state to defeat Trumpian forces needs also to be invested in strategic coordination of campaigns and platforms to elect Massachusetts candidates who are committed to a platform to advance social goods and that can hold them accountable.
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ORMA is proud to endorse Allison Cartwright for Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County. The Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) is another little-known but important role in our judicial system. One of the reasons most voters don’t know about this role is because it has very little turnover; the current office holder was elected in 1996.
At its core, the Clerk is an administrative role, responsible for maintaining court records, running court sessions, ensuring the smooth operation of the court’s daily activities—from handling the filing of appeals to the dissemination of court decisions—as well as overseeing lawyer discipline and bar admission. This position demands a person with exceptional organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, a deep understanding of the legal system and legal procedures, and a commitment to upholding the principles of justice and fairness.
Allison Cartwright brings more than three decades of practicing law to the role. Perhaps more important for the position, she has a proven track record in management. She currently serves as the Managing Director of the Public Defender Division’s Central region, overseeing 75 staff members. As a progressive organization, we are particularly encouraged by the fact that the type of justice she chose to practice is in the public defender’s office. Her work as a public defender with the Committee for Public Counsel Services has equipped her with firsthand experience in addressing the systemic injustices within our legal system, which includes an understanding of how poor administrative functions can compound these injustices.
Allison’s campaign has earned the support of many progressive elected officials and organizations, including Mayor Michelle Wu, our JP State Representative Sam Montaño, the UAW representing legal aid workers, the Boston Teachers Union, and too many others to name. The full list can be found at her websiteOne of the reasons there is so much interest in this race is because her opponent is current Boston City Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy, who has a history of opposing progressive policies during her time on the Boston City Council and also lacks any relevant legal or management experience necessary for this role. Allison Cartwright represents the forward-thinking and inclusive approach that our community needs. Questionnaire “
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ORMA is proud to endorse Stacey Borden for the Massachusetts Governor’s Council District 4. The Massachusetts Governor’s Council is responsible for approving the governor’s appointments to the judiciary. That’s right, the judges. Perhaps now, more than ever, we are learning how critically important these judicial appointments are to safeguarding our individual rights and our democracy itself. But this office has gone largely unnoticed by most voters, which goes a long way to explain why the incumbent has held this seat for the past 32 years. It’s time for change on the Council and Stacey embodies exactly the kind of change we need.
In addition to confirming judicial appointments, the Council is responsible for approving the governor’s appointments to the parole board as well as advising the governor on pardons and commutations, impacting the lives of countless individuals.
Stacey’s lifelong dedication to advocating for marginalized communities, particularly her work in criminal justice reform, demonstrates her unwavering commitment to creating a fairer and more just society. As an advocate, Stacey has fought for clemency and supported those affected by wrongful convictions and racial discrimination. She understands the urgent need for reform within our justice system and the important role that judges, parole board members, and pardons play in achieving this desired change.
Stacey’s lived experiences as a formerly incarcerated person provide her with a profound understanding of the injustices and challenges faced by those within the criminal justice system. Stacey’s master’s degree in mental health counseling and first-hand knowledge of the carceral system led her to found New Beginnings Reentry Services, a reentry residence assisting formerly incarcerated women in integrating into society.
Her leadership has not only transformed lives but also showcased her ability to implement impactful, community-focused solutions. In the role of Governor’s Councilor, Stacey’s perspective is not just valuable but essential; she will bring this lens to her assessment of candidates for these important positions.
We are particularly excited about Stacey’s commitment to build transparency and awareness about the Governor’s Council among her constituents. We need elected officials who care enough to proactively educate and engage the public in their offices rather than just collect a paycheck.
With Stacey Borden’s unique background and commitment to justice, we are confident that she will advocate for appointments and decisions with a focus on fairness, rehabilitation, and community well-being. Her commitment to transparency stands out in comparison to the other candidates in the race. For example, she was the only candidate in the race to respond to the Progressive Mass questionnaire, which can be found here. Progressive Mass Questionnaire
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ORMA Endorses Mara Dolan For Governor’s Council District 3
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Since SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade, jurisdiction over abortion and social justice rights has moved to the states. It now becomes more important than ever to elect Pro-Choice judges.
In Massachusetts, the Governor nominates state judges. An independent elected body, The Governor’s Council, must approve nominations. There are eight Councilors, representing eight districts. For people who live in the 3rd district, the incumbent, Marilyn Petitto Devaney, has supported the appointment of an anti-abortion judge to the MA Superior Courts and in past years was endorsed by an anti-choice group.
On September 3 in the Democratic Primary, anti-abortion Councilor Devaney will face a challenger, Mara Dolan, who is 100% pro-choice. In Massachusetts, it is the Superior Court judges who approve or deny requests from underage women who seek abortions without parental consent.
The Governor’s Council also decides which prisoners receive commutations and pardons. Mara has worked for many years as a Public Defender and is pledged to end practices that victimize working-class prisoners and prisoners of color.
Mara pledges to ensure that all judicial appointees are dedicated to upholding state abortion laws, understand the science of addiction, treat juveniles not as adults but as the youth they are, and are committed to addressing racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
Our next Councilor will be decided in the primary; whoever becomes the Democratic nominee in this very “Blue” district, will be the overwhelming favorite in November. Our Revolution affiliates in Governor’s Council District 3 -Arlington, Cambridge, Concord, MetroWest – have endorsed Mara Dolan. We want you to help us spread the word about this important race!
Whether you are voting early or on September 3, look down-ballot to vote for Governors Council candidate Mara Dolan. Support abortion, reproductive rights, and social justice in MA!
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Swing Blue Alliance carefully selects volunteer programs poised to make the most impact in upcoming elections. Below are the top actions from our calendar to support Democrats in the 2024 election.
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More than a century after it was “lost”, the New Guinea big-eared bat has been discovered by Queensland researchers working in Papua New Guinea’s forests. The critically endangered bat was thought to be extinct, and the discovery shows there is still much to learn about biodiversity in our region.
On July 25, 2012, Catherine Hughes and Julie Broken-Brow caught a small, female bat in a trap at the edge of a forest in southeast Papua New Guinea (PNG). But the bat didn’t match any species known to exist. And so began a fascinating detective story about a species that hadn’t been spotted for more than 120 years. Read More HERE
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If you would like to work with ORMA Members on
- Climate Change
- Community-Based Alternative Emergency Response Teams
- Ranked-Choice Voting
- Housing For All
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Please send requests for action items, articles or upcoming events
for the next Organizing Notes to
beccobrien.orma@gmail.com by Thursday, August 15th.
We’d love to have you send us your favorite pictures of Bernie here in MA!
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Campaigns End, Movements Endure
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