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Weekly Roundup
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July 31st, 2009
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Greetings!
We all have issues in our state that we are passionate about, beyond other public concerns. Community advocates and public officials have worked for years on each of these issues to build a stronger, more vibrant communities.
And now all of these communities are faced with the fact that declining state revenues have limited the states ability to help local communities maintain and repair the public structures that educate their children, keep their streets safe and their water clean.
Check out ONE Mass's News Roundup to read story after story of how local communities are coping with declining revenues in Massachusetts and then check the latest ONE Mass Blog about how other states are dealing with their declining revenues.
Here is a look at what has been going on across Massachusetts: [Skip Ahead: Civic Engagement | Revenue | Government Reform]
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 Civic Engagement
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Goal: By 2013, the voice and input of the state's multi-racial, multi-ethnic communities will create a counterweight to the currently dominant voice and will be tangibly reflected in the public decision making process.
Upcoming:
- Statewide Spanish-Language Trainings. ONE Massachusetts is building a calendar of Spanish-language workshops focusing on our state budget and how to effectively advocate for and talk about state and local policies. For more information on scheduling one of these events for your community or organization, or to get in contact with folks who have already received this training, please contact Carmen Arce-Bowen. [Flyer: Entrenamientos - Verano & Otoņo 2009]
 Census 2010 - Ensure That ALL Are Counted. The Boston Regional Census Center is launching efforts to ensure each and every person in our region (New England, New York, and Puerto Rico) is accurately counted. In order to ensure that our friends and neighbors understand that this process is "safe, easy, and important," the center will be recruiting multilingual community members for both paid and volunteer positions. For more information on how you, your nonprofit or faith-based organization can get involved, contact Cesar A. Monzon, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau Boston Regional Census Center.
- Important Census 2010 Dates:
- July 2009 · Activities Update
- Fall 2009 · Recruitment begins for local census jobs for 2010 Census operations.
- Feb - Mar 2010 · Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
- April 2010 · Residents fill out and return Census questionnaires.
- April - July 2010 · Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
- December 2010 · By law, Census Bureau delivers population counts to President for apportionment.
- March 2011 · By law, Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.
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| Revenue |
Goal: By 2013, a fair, adequate, and stable tax system will be implemented. It will raise sufficient revenue so that state and local governments can fund the array of services needed.
Upcoming:
- July 23rd - How Would You Support Our State and Local Communities?
In Massachusetts, our public structures allow us to build the kind of communities that enable us to build safe, healthy lives. Many we could not provide as individuals: safe drinking water, quality education for all, and emergency services are just a small sample.
 Please join us for a special Insider Budget Briefing, where Representative Jay Kaufman, Co-chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue, will lead our discussion on the implications of our revenue decisions, and how you think we should fund our communities.
Please RSVP to Judy Meredith at Judy@realclout.org
Ongoing- What Needs Our Support? One example of state budget shortfalls affecting the health our communities is the recent drop in Shannon Grants - funding that goes to youth job, training, and outreach programs. Michael Jacoby Brown, director of Metropolitan Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope, said the money has made an impact. "It's a lot easier to get someone before they're in a gang
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they're younger than it is dealing with the problems later," Brown said. [MetroWest Article] Lew Finfer, Director of the Massachusetts Community Action Network noted, "I think the bigger problem is the lack of revenue. If
we passed an income tax increase only equal to what we were paying
during the last recession, it wouldn't restore all the cuts, but it
would lessen them." [WBUR Article]
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Government Reform
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Goal: By 2013, a transparent, accessible and accountable state and local policy-making process will be in place.
Upcoming:- Late September - Lobbying Changes for Nonprofits. The lobbying reform bill that was passed this spring (and will go into effect January 1st, 2010) was one of many
ways that our public officials - both the legislature and governor -
worked to build public trust. But what do these lobbying reforms mean for the small nonprofit
organizations statewide that advocate for a wide range of issues? Who
must register as a lobbyist? Just dedicated beacon hill lobbyists? All
of your staff? Your volunteers? These are the questions that we will explore at two special Insider
Budget Briefings late this September - one in the Boston area and one
in Western Massachusetts! Stay tuned for locations, dates, and times.
Ongoing:- Can Residents Help Manage Cities and Towns? Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone launched the ResiStat program to allow City staff and Board of Aldermen
officials to share data on City operations with residents to solicit
their feedback and ideas. The suggestions of residents are compiled in
this first ever Resident Report, along with data analyzed by
neighborhood and ResiStat group.
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