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Momentum Building
for No, No, No!
| Thursday, September 30th, 2010
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Greetings!
As we draw nearer to voting on November 2nd, the media becomes more and more packed with electoral debates and stories: Who is in the lead for governor? How will state elections nationwide effect the congressional balance in Washington? Who has the largest campaign coffers?
It is easy to get sucked into these types of stories - they can be intriguing, stressful, sometimes funny - but they're not the only show in town.
Momentum is building in Massachusetts to defeat all three ballot questions! Folks truly understand why their three "No" votes are key to building and maintaining a stronger state. ![Community Overview [niehs.nih.gov]](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs037/1101662827233/img/300.jpg?a=1103732332264 "Edit Image") Those votes will help build healthier, more stable communities (No on 1), ensure that all families have access to safe, affordable homes (No on 2), and fund the public structures that make our state a great place to live - from our education systems that provide all children with an opportunity to learn to the infrastructure that makes Massachusetts an enticing place to do business (No on 3).
Our three "No" votes are also a great way for us to demonstrate that all of our neighborhoods are engaged as active, informed, and valuable voices within our state government!
Folks across the commonwealth are already having conversations with their friends and neighbors about how critical it is that we support our state - from Senator Jamie Eldridge's talks with constituents about the relationship between taxes and funding priorities to the growing number of nonprofit and community organizations urging their members to vote No, No, No!
Contact one of the local or statewide organizations working in your region on the "No, No No!" campaign, or contact us today if you are interested in hosting a free on-site training for your organization or neighborhood!
Sincerely,
Harmony Blakeway
Director of Operations, ONE Massachusetts
harmony@realclout.org | 617-999-846
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![Senator Eldridge [massbeacon.com]](http://massbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Jamie-Eldridge-e1266947482813.jpg)  Making the Connection
By Senator Jamie Eldridge
It's campaign season, which means I'm spending a lot of my time going door-to-door, talking with constituents about their concerns. It's a great way to connect with people - both so I can hear what is on their minds, and so I can answer questions and provide them with information about their government and how it works.
One thing I've been particularly struck by this year is the immense disconnect that seems to exist in most people's minds between the government services they need and demand, and how these services are paid for.
Over and over, I hear voters tell me - in the same breath - that their taxes are too high, and that the state needs to do more for education, or for our veterans, or to fix our roads and bridges. For whatever reason, they don't seem to be making the connection between the taxes they pay and the government services they like.
In just one recent day on the campaign trail, I heard this theme three times. In Shirley, it was from a voter who wanted her taxes to be cut - but also wanted to see more funding for summer jobs programs for local children. In Hudson, a group of young men thought government spending was too high - and yet one was looking for help from the government with job training, and the other relied on MassHealth coverage following a car accident. Finally, in Harvard, I heard a citizen complain that government was too big and spent too much - but also wanted my help in securing state funding to fix his road.
When I take the time to have a conversation with these constituents about the connection between the taxes they pay and the services they need, most do start to understand -- but it does take that conversation before they get there. It's clear to me that we have a lot of work to do, and that we all need to spend a lot more time having real conversations with our friends and neighbors about what we want our government to do, and how we pay for those things.
Questions or Comments for Senator Eldridge?
617 570-6500 x1126 (office - direct line)
617-722-1120 (office - main line)
617-435-8386 (cell)
State House Room 213-A
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No, No, No Efforts by Region
Contact an organization in your area to get involved!
ONE Massachusetts is working in coalition with groups statewide, coordinating a campaign to defeat of all three ballot questions. Our staff has been actively training members across the state - in English and Spanish - on the importance of the upcoming ballot questions. Just this week, our own Carmen Arce-Bowen visited the Chelsea Collaborative to train a group of bilingual doorknockers that is now informed and energized to start working in spreading the word about why we need to vote no this November 2nd!
You can help in the weeks leading up to the election by helping a local organization conduct phone banks and door-to-door voter outreach. On Nov. 2, join our network members and allies in get-out-the-vote work and by helping us cover more than 700 polling locations across the state!
For more information on how you can get involved, contact an organization working in your region:
Because the Massachusetts Democratic Committee has officially endorsed No, No, No, many ward committees are also moving forward in their individual efforts. Contact your ward committee to get involved!
Are we missing your organization in our list? Let us know, and we'll keep updating it on our No, No, No page!
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No, No, No Endorsements
Local and Statewide Organizations are Taking a Stand to Defeat All Three Ballot Questions on November 2nd!
- Dorchester Bay EDC Youth
- Hyde Square Task Force
- League of Women Voters of Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants
- Massachusetts Community Action Network
- Massachusetts Democratic Committee
- Massachusetts Senior Action Council
- MassVOTE
- Neighbors United for a Better East Boston
- New England United for Justice
- ONE Massachusetts
- Pioneer Valley Project
- Project R.I.G.H.T.
- Providers' Council
- Public Policy Institute
- Yes Northampton
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 Want more information on ONE Massachusetts and how you can get involved? Check out our: |
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