Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven

Labor and education activists made a strong case for legislation to allow educators and other public employees to legally strike once six months of good-faith bargaining has failed to produce results with employers.

At a hearing at the State House, MTA leadership, educators from Brookline, Malden, Haverhill and Quincy, union members representing SAG-AFTRA, UAW Local 422, SEIU 509 and Massachusetts AFL-CIO State Fed testified before the Joint Committee on Workforce and Labor Development. The bill, which exempts public safety workers, also received support from United Teachers Los Angeles President Cecily Myart-Cruz, a Brookline parent, and Jasmine Kerrissey, who is the director of the Labor Center at UMass.

Haverhill Education Association President Barry Davis told legislators, “We tried everything we could” to fix the problems facing our schools, but the district chose not to act in good faith and we were left with no choice but to strike in October 2022.

Davis added, “Without this tool, we run the risk of losing Massachusetts’ greatest export, its education system.”

Special thanks to the bill sponsors, Senator Becca Rausch, Rep. Mike Connolly and Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven.

This holiday season, please consider giving to the Somerville Unafraid Dreamers Scholarship! This scholarship is for SHS grads who do not have documents & therefore have to pay out-of-state tuition. This year they are funding 7 young scholars!

Blackbaud

On Nov. 14 at 6 the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority - MBTA is having another meeting on the Bus Network Redesign to get feedback from the public. Click the link below to register for the zoom meeting.

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Bus Network Redesign Public Meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting. Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Bus Network Redesign Public Meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Somerville lost one of our great community leaders this week Barbara Cassesso. I first learned about Barbara's trailblazing leadership when she and number of fellow mothers and community members blocked the bulldozers tearing down East Somerville to build what would later become the I-93. Her courage and moral clarity to fight for our community lives on, thank you for everything Barbara, we all feel immense gratitude and honor to continue our shared struggle for justice.

Her wake and memorial service is today from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to a Somerville or global charity committed to social equity.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/barbara-cassesso-obituary?id=36848838&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=obitsharebeta&fbclid=IwAR2xhx8YtLkGdoGpfeIyNTpbZQTF-Ie-5GY6y3bs6hnt2FLiYDYtSP8UFv4

BARBARA CASSESSO Obituary (2022) Boston Globe View BARBARA CASSESSO's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

Join school committee member Sarah Phillips, Ben Ewen-Campen, Ward 3 City Councilor, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven and I for a fireside chat at the Growing Center on October 26th.
I love these chances to visit with neighbors and listen to their ideas and concerns.

Just left a meeting organized by Christine Barber - State Representative with MBTA, city officials from Somerville and Medford, and Rep. Mike Connolly and Erika Uyterhoeven for State Representative. We asked about the chokepoint where both Orange and Green Line buses will cross the Museum of Science Bridge and were told that discussions are going on with the Museum, as well as presumably DCR about preventing drawbridge openings during bus traffic. We learned that they don't know the routes for diversion, but hope to know them today. We learned that they haven't conducted test runs of the routes, but typically there are five test runs. We heard that Somerville transportation staff have had trouble reaching the T team to plan the routes through congested Union Square, but that they will be put in contact today.
I was very glad to have this meeting and to hear promises of frequent updates, but it is pretty frustrating that so little is finalized four days before the Orange Line closure and a week before Union Square closes, and that collaboration with city planners about bus routes that will use both city and state roads.

Massachusetts just passed a massive climate and clean energy bill Some cities and towns will be allowed to ban fossil fuel infrastructure in new and major construction projects.

ensures that every kid has access to the food they need to thrive by providing free, nutritious meals throughout the summer! Join us & Project Bread to support and promote this critical summer meal program. Need help finding a site? Visit http://projectbread.org/summereats

Had a great time with the AAPI Caucus at the Kowloon Restaurant last night! Thanks to Rep. Wong and State Representative Tackey Chan for organizing this event.

Join me, Senator Pat Jehlen, & JT Scott for Ward 2 for our joint coffee chat and office hours this Sunday! We will be at Lincoln Park from 10am-12pm with some coffee, donuts, and conversation!

THANK YOU Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and the over 100 who came out for our coffee chat today! ! Thank you for all your questions and advocacy, so honored to represent our amazing community

Tomorrow, join me and special guest Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for a Coffee Chat in Lincoln Park in Somerville!

Please sign up in advance at: http://tinyurl.com/SomervilleCoffee

See you all then!

Coffee chat with Rep. Uyterhoeven and special guest Congresswoman Pressley

A big thank you to everyone who came to the Poetry and Politics event featuring live poetry read by former Rep. Denise Provost. It was wonderful answering constituents' questions with Senator Pat Jehlen.

Congrats again to Denise for her 2nd poetry book publication!

Today, I vote in favor of H.4930, to protect and expand access to reproductive healthcare in Massachusetts. First, the bill prevents law enforcement from aiding legal action against out-of-state patients. The bill also ensures that health care workers cannot be subjected to criminal or civil liability or professional disciplinary actions for providing services that are in accordance with MA law.

It also mandates that insurers fully cover abortion and related care. The bill will allow anyone with MassHealth or private insurance to access free emergency contraceptives at a pharmacy. Health insurers will be given 6 months to implement these changes. This bill will expand legal access to abortions after 24 weeks in cases of severe or lethal fetal anomaly. We must ensure that our state laws do not impose superfluous barriers to accessing abortions.

If you or someone you know is considering or seeking abortion care, you can find a comprehensive list of providers at https://abortioncarenewengland.org

In Massachusetts, abortions are not yet free for everyone — in fact, they can cost upwards of $600. Abortion funds are available to help people pay for their abortion and logistical expenses such as travel, lodging, child care, doula, and translation services.

https://abortionfunds.org/funds/

Thank you to Speaker Ron Mariano, House Ways and Means Chair State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Judiciary Chair State Representative Michael Day, & Marjorie Decker for your swift, bold leadership in the face of the horrific Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, just four days ago.

Join me and special guest Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for a Coffee Chat in Lincoln Park in , next Thursday at 1:30pm-2:30pm.

Please sign up in advance at: tinyurl.com/SomervilleCoffee

See you all then!

Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven
State Representative Vanna Howard
State Representative Paul Schmid
Rep. Donald Wong
Rep. Rady Mom

Yesterday the House passed the prison moratorium! Thank you to all of the tireless work of advocates including Families for Justice as Healing, Black and Pink Massachusetts, & Building Up People Not Prisons: Reimagining Communities. Thank you to State Rep. Chynah Tyler and everyone in the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus.

This spring I cast my vote to pass the Work and Family Mobility Act, and the Senate has now also voted in favor of providing drivers licenses for immigrants, regardless of documentation status. Both chambers have approved the measure with a veto-proof majority. I commend all the tireless work immigrants, organizers, and advocates of Driving Families Forward Coalition, and the lead sponsors, Christine Barber - State Representative, Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Brendan Crighton for State Senate, & Senator Adam Gomez have done to ensure we are able to pass this critical bill with a veto-proof majority.

Thanks again to Somerville Times for covering these important local & state issues.

State legislature passes the Work and Family Mobility Act, and next steps to ensure justice for our immigrant communities In our Commonwealth, diversity is our greatest strength. Somerville is a shining example, where 25% of the community in our vibrant city are immigrants. Our city thrives on the many people and cultures in which we build community together.

So honored to be in community with our beautiful AAPI community. Thank you to Danielle Kim for holding it down, so grateful to hold space for our youth and elders with Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭, Tram T Nguyen, State Representative Tackey Chan, State Representative Vanna Howard, & Wakefield Town Councilor Mehreen Butt. Thanks to New England Chinese American Alliance, The Boston Foundation ACF (Asian Community Fund), and Coalition for Anti-Racism & Equity in Education for sponsoring this event to celebrate the AAPI Heritage month!

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The opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade has shown that the Supreme Court has become an illegitimate institution. 5 of 9 justices were appointed by president that lost the pop vote. Our system is deeply flawed, undemocratic, and in need of structural change.

https://www.thesomervilletimes.com/archives/116471

There is some not-bad news: in MA, we have a solid foundation of abortion protections that will hold firm, regardless of what the SC does. 16 months ago, we passed the ROE Act in MA, thanks to the work of advocates like Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts and Jay Livingstone & State Representative Pat Haddad. That means if Roe v. Wade gets overturned by the Supreme Court, you will still be able to access abortion care in Massachusetts! While abortion access is currently and will remain fully legal here, we still face a public health crisis in abortion care.

There are nearly 30 crisis pregnancy centers (also known as CPCs or fake clinics) across the state of Massachusetts. The State House has the ability and responsibility to ban CPCs statewide.

In MA, abortions can cost upwards of $600. Abortion funds are available to help people pay for their abortion and logistical expenses like travel, lodging, child care, doula, and translation services. You can find a full list of abortion funds at abortionfunds.org/funds.

There is much work to be done at all levels of government. This Saturday, May 14: rally in Boston, Northampton, and Worcester. Sign up at http://bansoff.org.

Thanks to Somerville Times for your continued coverage on the attack on abortion rights.

The threat to abortion access is an existential threat to our democracy (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

I filed H.713 to abolish the MCAS because our education system should be a place where children learn, and become critical and creative thinkers. It shouldn't benefit for-profit companies that continuously push more standardized tests on students and educators. Thank you to WBZ NewsRadio for covering this important story.

State Lawmaker Calls Out Plan To Raise MCAS Graduation Requirements | WBZ NewsRadio 1030 The plan would raise the graduation requirement for students in the classes of 2026 to 2029.