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The town of Lenox has quickly learned that the lodging tax that it imposed last year and the meals tax it is proposing to add next year are not enough.  My fellow residents are being asked to fill out a survey by December 6 to tell the Selectmen “which services are the highest priority.”  The town “faces the prospect of either needing to reduce services to keep in line with the financial resources available to us OR seeking voter approval for a Proposition 2-1/2 override in order to increase our property tax revenues to pay for the services you want.”

As I witnessed on the campaign trail, the long-term effects of regressive taxation are regressive service cuts.  Translation:  lower and middle income residents are asked to shoulder more of the tax burden, as a percentage of their income and assets, while the services they most depend upon are disproportionately cut.

The legislature does not provide towns with many tools to deal with the problem.  Local aid has been cut by over 45% in the last decade.  The lodging tax and meals tax are simply band-aids that don’t change the underlying trends.  Even regionalization of services, often described as ‘transformational’ is simply a more difficult band-aid to administer.  I’m not against regionalization where it makes sense, but it is not transformational.  There will be a one or two year blip to slow the trends somewhat, but the benefits will not be sustainable.  These band-aids have no effect on slowing down health care costs or of reversing the regressive burden of taxation.

Many towns in the area are further down the regressive tax and benefits spiral than Lenox is, but the legislature’s inaction is pulling many communities further down the drain every year, especially in the western part of the Commonwealth.

My answers to the three survey questions follow.

Continue reading Services Regression

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A local media personage recently slammed a newspaper that had endorsed my 2010 candidacy for State Representative in the 4th Berkshire District.  Election results were cited as explanation for why the endorsement was unwarranted.

Huh?  Endorsements are not validated or invalidated by election results.  They will be validated or invalidated by the actions of public figures like me and my opponent down the road.  In the case of my campaign we worked hard.  We answered all questionnaires that were sent to us and reported our answers on our web site.  We knocked on doors; we stood out; we attended public meetings.  I’m sure there were those who were dismissive of the campaign right up to election day, but as we made contact with people and with editorial boards and with other community groups, our support grew.  It’s a long road; it was never about one election cycle.  It is about being persistent, clear and positive, and setting an example that, in the future, voters will demand more of.  The work continues to demonstrate that the endorsements and praise which our campaign earned is deserving.

Continue reading Ego Media

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Once again Jason Pramas from the Open Media Group has written a wonderful piece. This one in support of Chuck Turner. mikeheichman :: article in support of Chuck Turner Keep Chuck Turner Out of Jail and Let Him Serve Out His Full Council Term

Originally I held up this week’s edition until today to cover yesterday’s rally in support of Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner. The event was announced on understandably short notice after Turner was found guilty on charges that he took a $1000 bribe in 2007 and later lied about it to federal agents. He faces up to 35 years in prison at his sentencing hearing on January 25th. My plan was that I’d write a straight news piece about the rally, and then a short editorial about Turner’s verdict. So I went and covered the rally as planned. And then I sat in front of my computer for a while. And then I thought, “what’s the point of doing a news piece on the rally?” Right? What can one say at this point that hasn’t already been said? Turner lost the trial. His supporters called a rally. A multiracial crowd of over 100 attended. Turner spoke. Said a lot of political and some spiritual stuff. Said he was going to fight to keep his council seat. Said he is going to fight for probation instead of jail time. Councilor Charles Yancey showed up in his support, and said some nice stuff. And that was basically it. The rest of the Boston press corps has already weighed in on the rally. I can’t say much different in a news story. So why bother?  

Continue reading article in support of Chuck Turner

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From the Green-Rainbow Party

November 3, 2010

The Green Rainbow Party congratulates Deval Patrick and all of the winners in yesterday’s election. We thank all candidates for offering their public service, especially the independent candidates for various offices who faced an uphill fight against financial disadvantages and media bias. We wish the Patrick administration and the legislators the best of luck in dealing with the issues facing the Commonwealth.

“It’s clear that the Green-Rainbow Party has a vital role to play in being the voice for some urgently needed solutions that are not going to be put on the table without us” said Michael Horan, Green-Rainbow Party Co-chair.  

“The Green-Rainbow Party made some major advances in yesterday’s elections, and achieved most of its goals despite the fact that our long-shot campaigns fell short of dislodging the major party grip on elected offices.”

Continue reading GREEN-RAINBOW PARTY NOTES PROGRESS IN 2010 ELECTION SEES OPPORTUNITIES IN COMING YEARS
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Dear friends,

THANK YOU for standing up, facing the heat, and shining your light in these worrisome times. Without our voices in this race, the governors campaign would have been no more than a choice between two versions of corporate-sponsored business as usual. One is accompanied by crocodile tears and the other by unapologetic crowing. But they lead us to the same place in the end. Amidst this murky false-choice, our campaign was the beacon of integrity, justice and democracy that’s needed to scatter the gathering political thunderclouds.

While the media blackout combined with an intensive spoiler fear campaign to peel innumerable voters away – resulting in 1.4% support overall – we ran as strong as 12% in communities in Western Massachusetts. No small feat in light of the drumbeat to scare progressives into silence.

Still we emerge from this race stronger than ever. Our ranks have swelled with inspired activists prompted by this latest election-charade to leave corporate-sponsored politics for good. Many former Democratic stalwarts have now joined us in building a clean-money politics of integrity in the Green-Rainbow Party.

Continue reading Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
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I have the privilege of representing Southbridge on the Southern Worcester County Regional School Committee. Like most school systems in the Commonwealth we are always looking for ways to reduce costs but to improve education.  The Bay Path Vocational School has a reputation for excellence in everything that she does and turning to sustainable energy is no exception.  The vision came from the superintendent David Papagni a few years back to harness the great wind power that we have on the hill in Charlton where the school is located.  It would seem we have a sustained wind about 300 days of the year.

After much research and planning approval has been given to start the process to install a wind turbine on the campus of the school.  

Continue reading The Greening of a local School
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Today, because of the hard work and dedication of a brave troupe of candidates–Nat Fortune, Rick Purcell, Jill Stein, Scott Laugenour, and Mark Miller–and their corps of volunteers, voters actually have real choices on the ballot that stand for real change. Candidates devoted to actually fixing what’s broken.

Tonight we are celebrating all of YOUR efforts in making these choices avilable. We hope you can make your way to one of three regional celebrations — in Lee, in Holyoke, and in Boston. Details after the jump.

Tomorrow (after a little rest) we’ll get back to work, building on your work throughout this election to build THE progressive political alternative to the Beacon Hill political machine. After bringing your vision and your values to the voting booth today, we hope you’re planning to bring them to the Green-Rainbow Party state convention on Sunday, Nov. 14, at Clark University in Worcester. Let’s keep building the independent political force that can take our government back and get it working. See www.green-rainbow.org for more information on the convention and REGISTER TODAY!

VICTORY PARTIES TONIGHT

EASTERN MASS: 7:30-10:00 pm, Jill Stein Campaign Headquarters, 1558 Dorchester Avenue, Boston (Jill to speak about 9pm). We’ll have pizza on hand; please bring your own beverage and any additional food you’re moved to supply. Come out and hear the campaign band of Ken Selcer, Rich Collagero, Pat Keaney and friends (joined by Jill) MAP HERE. To RSVP or for more information, write theo@jillstein.org

PIONEER VALLEY: 7:30-11:00pm, TNT Pizza on 548 South Street in Holyoke. Rick Purcell and Nat Fortune will be there. – long time supporters of Rick Purcell – are opening up especially for us Tuesday evening 7:30 – 11 for the Jill Stein/Rick Purcell/Nat Fortune victory party. There’s plenty of room – let’s fill the place and cheer the election returns from our valley and the state at large! Let us know you’re coming! Send an email to mlikins@natfortune.org or RSVP on the Nat Fortune for Massachusetts State Auditor page on Facebook. No outside food or beverage. Thanks!

BERKSHIRES: Join Green-Rainbow Party State Rep. candidates Scott Laugenour and Mark Miller in Lee when the polls close for a celebration, which will be held at The Locker Room pub, located at 232 Main St. For more information, call Dave Eisenberg, 413 243 2662.

Continue reading GRP Election NIght Parties

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[Here’s an update on what’s going on with the Green-Rainbow campaigns.]

November 2, 2010

Press Release – Jill Stein for Governor

IN FINAL PUSH, STEIN NEARS SUCCESS ON KEY GOALS

Campaigning in Western Massachusetts today, Green-Rainbow gubernatorial candidate Jill Stein expressed confidence that her campaign was on the verge of achieving its critical goals – including setting up “a clean money political force that can challenge business-as-usual”.  Stein is having a busy day, lending support to two Green-Rainbow candidates for state representative, Mark Miller and Scott Laugenour, who are mounting stiff challenges to entrenched Democratic Party incumbents in the 3rd and 4th Berkshire districts.  “The groundswell of support for an alternative to the usual Beacon Hill incumbents is really exciting” said Stein.  “This is a year in which people are looking for alternatives – and they are resonating to candidates that aren’t part of the big money machines.  Miller and Laugenour are tapping into voters who have been unhappy with Beacon Hill for quite a while, but had nowhere to go.  It’s a sign that the Green-Rainbow Party can step up to provide a progressive alternative to the Tea Party movement.”

Stein also had praise for Green-Rainbow candidate for State Auditor, Nat Fortune.  “Despite an almost total lack of media attention – and exclusion from both print articles and television interviews – Nat is making a mark in the auditor race.”

Stein noted that a major goal of the Green-Rainbow Party is to have at least one statewide candidate poll above the 3 per cent threshold.  That is required to avoid certain restrictive laws that apply to smaller parties.  For example, while the Democratic Party is legally pouring millions of dollars into support for Deval Patrick, the entire Green-Rainbow Party is currently limited to donating no more than $500 to Jill Stein.  Stein noted that Fortune would probably easily exceed the 3 percent threshold since he was currently polling at around 7 per cent.  “We don’t live in the same democracy as the Democrats.” Stein explained.  “But we’re about to eliminate one of the discriminatory barriers to limits our full participation in the electoral process.”

Stein has also raised the most money ever raised by a Green-Rainbow Candidate, and expects to finish the campaign with a total of over $150,000 being raised.  “It’s small compared to the dollars being raked in by the machine candidates” Stein admits, “But we’re trying to show that a clean money campaign is possible.  We’re making good use of a lean budget – which mostly means that we aren’t running those annoying 30-second television ads that make elections so expensive.”

As a matter of principal, Stein, along with other Green-Rainbow candidates, refuses to accept donations from registered lobbyists or from the officers of corporations that employ lobbyists.  “The Green-Rainbow Party is trying to raise the standards.” Stein noted.  “When you vote for one of our candidates, you can be assured that they haven’t sold out to the usual big money interests.”

Campaign manager Daryl Sprague said that Stein’s tour of Western Massachusetts was taking advantage of an outpouring of support in that part of the state.  “There’s been an effective news blackout on Jill by the Boston Media Consortium” he explained.  “The Boston Globe, WGBH, and NECN have been running stories about the ‘three major candidates’ and not even acknowledging that Jill is in the race.  It’s refreshing to get outside of Boston and meet journalistic organizations that want to get the complete story and don’t pride themselves on controlling the dialogue to reflect their own prejudices.  More objective press coverage is allowing us to poll 4 or 5 times higher out west.  Voters there are hearing about all their choices, and this lets them discover that the Green-Rainbow candidates are the ones that best reflect their values.”

Stein plans to vote in Lexington at 6:30pm and end her day with an address to supporters at 9pm at her Dorchester campaign office.  Her Lieutenant Governor running mate, Rick Purcell, will join State Auditor candidate Nat Fortune at a victory party in Holyoke.  Miller and Laugenour will host a victory party in Lee.

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Continue reading IN FINAL PUSH, STEIN NEARS SUCCESS ON KEY GOALS
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