Greetings!
As I started pulling together this newsletter announcing the ONE Massachusetts network's "No, No, No" stance on the three ballot questions up for vote in the November 2nd elections, I worried if (while being very memorable), the message was too negative: NO to eliminating the alcohol tax, NO to eliminating the affordable housing law, NO to reducing the sales tax.
But I realized that, by voting no to these ballot questions, we are really shouting YES for our communities. YES, we want stable, healthy communities with opportunities for recovery. YES, we believe that all of our friends and neighbors deserve safe homes and neighborhoods. YES, we understand that our shared investment is essential to expanding economic opportunity and prosperity in Massachusetts.
And THAT is why ONE Massachusetts members and allies are working to defeat all three ballot questions in the Massachusetts elections on November 2, 2010:
 VOTE NO to build healthier, more stable communities by safeguarding funding to treatment programs. This proposed law would remove the Massachusetts sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol, where the sale of such beverages and alcohol or their importation into the state is already subject to a separate excise tax under state law...
 VOTE NO to protect the housing laws that provide opportunities for all residents in our state to afford safe, healthy homes. This proposed law would repeal an existing state law that allows a
qualified organization wishing to build government-subsidized housing
that includes low- or moderate-income units to apply for a single
comprehensive permit from a city or town's zoning board of appeals
(ZBA)...
 VOTE NO to protect all of our schools, parks, roads, youth programs, and services for seniors. This proposed law would reduce the state sales and use tax rates
(which were 6.25% as of September 2009) to 3% as of January 1, 2011. It
would make the same reduction in the rate used to determine the amount
to be deposited with the state Commissioner of Revenue by non-resident
building contractors as security for the payment of sales and use tax on
tangible personal property used in carrying out their contracts...
The time is critical to get good conversations going in our neighborhoods and community organizations!
Today, you can download a printer-friendly flier on all three ballot questions in English or Spanish, and contact
us to arrange a free on-site training for your organization or neighbors.
Over the next few weeks, we will be posting
more materials on our
2010 Ballot Questions page for each of the ballot questions. Check back soon for sample phone scripts, neighborhood presentations, and more.
And, as always, please feel free to contact us with any questions!
Sincerely,
Harmony Blakeway
Director of Operations, ONE Massachusetts
harmony@realclout.org | 617-999-846
|
