As a proud mom and community activist, Jenny’s diverse experiences have inspired her to run for state representative and take on the issues that matter most to families in Marblehead, Swampscott, and Lynn.
In Massachusetts, the 2021 Climate Act provides a solid roadmap, but how we get there requires thoughtful approaches to decarbonizing our communities and building a healthier planet for future generations:
Foster Resilient Communities: First, we need to tackle the damage that has already been done by climate change, shoring up coastal structures that are badly in need of repair, incorporating sea level rise projections by 2070 so that we are not caught in a cycle of spending taxpayer dollars to repair the same locations repeatedly. New waterfront development needs to be thoughtfully considered, perhaps avoided when possible. Critical infrastructure vulnerable to sea level rise and increasing storm intensity needs to be protected or repositioned.
Clean the Grid: We need to ensure a rapidly increasing supply of renewable energy—wind, solar, hydroelectric sources to reach a 100% carbon free electric grid- (near term this will require continued use of existing nuclear plants) along with immediately incorporating battery storage as a major part of the grid. It is imperative that we put the brakes on the Peaker plant being built in Peabody for the provision of power to 14 communities, including Marblehead. There is a much greater capacity to use large batteries to store energy than when the Peaker plant was designed in 2015. Evaluating using a battery energy storage system (BESS) (as is being done in many other states to supply electricity during times of peak demand) instead of a gas and oil fueled plant, should be done before the Peaker plant project moves forward.
Build a Better Building Code: Buildings represent 27 percent of the state’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. How we build matters, which is why the state must give communities the option of experimenting with all-electric building codes. Net zero building codes for new construction is low-hanging fruit that should be picked immediately. For older buildings, which is a large part of our district's housing stock, incentivizing and subsidizing retrofits, and requiring and subsidizing additions and renovations to meet Net zero building codes are hugely important steps to reduce emissions.
Electrify Public Transportation: For the North Shore, a cleaner, faster MBTA line would make rail commuting a more attractive option for workers. State Senator Brendan Crighton’s amendment to the Senate’s recently-passed climate bill creates a much-needed hard stop at 2030 for purchasing diesel-powered trains. Converting the MBTA buses to electric is another urgent step forward.
Incentivize Electric Vehicles: We can help accelerate sales of EV’s by boosting the state rebate and by installing many more EV charging stations. State government itself needs to end its own purchase of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles.
Explore Carbon Pricing: The price of renewables is higher than fossil fuels because we fail to incorporate the social and environmental costs of carbon emissions into the cost of “natural” gas, oil, diesel, gasoline. There are different ways to do it: a cap-and-trade system, or taxation at the source and rebates to lower income households. And there are a variety of considerations: How much does emitting a ton of carbon cost? Who pays? These questions need to be explored at the state and national levels.
Sequester Carbon: Planting trees is a natural climate solution that pulls carbon pollution from the air. Trees also cool homes and streets during major heat events (ISO-New England recorded 30 such days in 2021). Former Rep. Lori Ehrlich introduced legislation to establish a municipal reforestation program, which I will continue to pursue if elected.
Reduce Single-Use Plastic and Encourage Green Boating & Recreation: With 17 billion tons of plastic dumped in the ocean every year, reducing plastic pollution requires behavioral changes of every human, especially when we are utilizing our water, beaches, and other natural spaces for recreation.
Clean Up King’s Beach in Lynn and Swampscott: Every citizen of our coastal district deserves to enjoy clean, healthy beaches, but Lynn’s only beach—King’s Beach—consistently ranks as the second dirtiest in the Commonwealth. King’s Beach is also a part of Swampscott. High bacteria levels are due to stormwater outfalls contaminated by aging sewage infrastructure in both communities. Former Rep. Ehrlich and State Senator Brendan Crighton secured $5 million in ARPA funds to help address the problem. I will continue their tireless work to find solutions and secure funding at both the state and federal levels.
Our state’s unparalleled intellectual resources and spirit of innovation give me hope that we will find solutions to our pressing environmental challenges. The state’s clean energy sector has grown 86 percent since 2010 and currently employs more than 100,000 people. With the right investment and leadership, these numbers will only increase over the next several years—as will our ability to tackle climate change and environmental degradation.
We have a collective responsibility to make all of our public schools safe and supportive environments where teachers and staff feel valued, and students can gain critical skills necessary to be successful in school and life. Marblehead, Swampscott, and Lynn all have good schools with hard-working, dedicated teachers and staff. But differences in education quality persist – across the 8th Essex district and the Commonwealth – especially for low-income students and students of color.
The past two plus years have been hard on all of us, but they were particularly hard on students and parents. It is critical that as we emerge from the pandemic, we pay special attention to our children, who have had to endure a confusing, and sometimes traumatic, upending of daily life. Too many students are not working at grade level. They understandably fell behind during remote learning – and they have yet to catch up. Their ability to do so is complicated by a mental health crisis that is challenging families and schools. Now more than ever, we must take action to support the whole student – their social, emotional, AND academic well-being.
Using existing federal dollars and new state funds, Massachusetts should create a focused effort to bridge the gaps and build the skills missed during COVID – a COVID Recovery for Kids that takes a holistic approach to supporting children and educators. Our city and town budgets have been pushed to their limits. They need help from state government, especially if we are to ensure that recovery takes place equitably in every community for every child. These funds could provide:
Additional adjustment counselors in schools to meet individual student needs, including wrap-around services that provide targeted support. These counselors could create mental health programming for the wider school community, including educators and parents.
Professional development to help teachers build supportive relationships with students.
Community-based and school-based activities that help our youngest learners learn social/emotional skills. This includes after-school programming.
Robust extracurricular options for high school students. Studies show older learners find their motivation and inspiration from extracurriculars, which in turn, inspire greater classroom engagement and achievement.
This year’s kindergarten class is the first to have gone without pre-K programming (for those who could afford it). Talk to a kindergarten teacher. They will explain the behavioral challenges and learning gaps they are valiantly managing right now. These real-time experiences underscore the need for quality, affordable early education and care in Massachusetts. Supporting children in their earliest years helps close the achievement gaps that emerge later; it saves special education dollars because students are less likely to need those services; and early education creates a solid foundation that builds right through high school graduation.
As our State Representative, I will support The Common Start Coalition’s legislation that develops a five-year pathway to a universal system of early education and care, making it affordable for our lowest-income families and increasing pay for educators. We have known for a long time that inequality starts well before kindergarten. COVID has provided real-time proof.
We must address these issues head on, and we know it often comes down to resources. To that end, I fully support the proposed “Fair Share Amendment” to increase the tax on income over $1 million by 4%, with the resulting revenue devoted to education and transportation needs. In addition, the state is currently benefiting from soaring tax revenues, a portion of which should be set aside for education.
In addition, let’s work together to:
Assess our reliance on standardized tests. Research shows that standardized test scores are simply not a good way to measure a school’s performance. By relying on standardized tests, we only measure a small fraction of what we need to understand if our kids are learning and thriving, while unfairly dedicating an inordinate amount of classroom time “teaching to a test.” We need new ways of measuring school quality that more fairly and comprehensively gauge educational effectiveness. To do this, we must start by gathering input from our communities – including teachers, advocacy groups, parents, and community members whose primary language is not English – on what they believe constitutes a good school. And we need to include student voices in the discussion about school quality. If elected, I will seek to fund pilot programs that explore alternative assessment frameworks that incorporate multiple factors, such as surveys on school culture, test score growth, and the adequacy of a school’s facilities and curriculum, to more holistically measure school performance. And I will use my voice to call out this need.
Support early college programs in our high schools. These programs allow high school students to take career-oriented college classes during the course of their school day – at no cost. They accrue credits that can save them time and money later, and they develop skills and habits that enable them to be successful once they enter college or a profession. Those not heading to a four-year degree program can also earn certifications that enable them to find well-paying jobs after graduation.
Continue the push for equity in our schools. In 2019, Massachusetts enacted the Student Opportunities Act, which updated the foundation budget formula and brought a much-needed infusion of resources and support to school districts across the Commonwealth. This law is essential to achieving educational equity, especially for low-income students, students with special needs, and English Language Learners. I fully support this law, and will work tirelessly to ensure that it is adequately funded. Moreover, with research showing the adverse effects of segregation in Massachusetts schools, I will support measures – such as this bill by our district’s Senator Crighton – that work to further school integration and create diverse school environments that are welcoming to all.
As much as any community in the Commonwealth, Marblehead, Swampscott, and Lynn are acutely feeling the effects of rising prices on our daily lives. With limited housing supply, it’s nearly impossible to find a home in the area. Even if you can, prices are surging: the median sale price of a home in Marblehead today is over 50% higher than it was in 2010; and recent data show that the rental cost of a two-bedroom apartment in Lynn has increased by 12% over the last several months. Prescription drug costs are likewise going through the roof – hammering family budgets, especially for those with chronic conditions in need of regular medication. In 2019 alone, gross pharmaceutical spending in Massachusetts increased by a whopping 7.2%. And while our beautiful location on the North Shore provides incredible access to nature, scenic coastlines, and attractive amenities, our access to affordable, efficient transportation options needs significant improvement. Studies have shown that in Lynn, for example, transit plays a critical role in providing access to Boston, yet fare costs are prohibitive for many residents.
All of these factors expand economic inequality, drive families and senior citizens to other locations, and cause undue stress and anxiety for everyone else. Simply put, we have a lot of work to do to make our communities more affordable.
As a longtime resident and activist, I know these concerns all too well. I’ve seen firsthand the stark realities faced by our neighbors who have struggled to afford care for ailing family members. I’ve seen friends leave our amazing communities because they couldn’t justify sitting for hours in a car that’s guzzling gas when they could be spending quality time at home with their loved ones. We need a State Representative who will prioritize policies that bring down costs for residents, and commit to following through on our incredible potential to be the most desirable place to live and work in Massachusetts.
This is why I am proposing a 3-part plan to address rising costs of living with regard to housing, prescription drugs, and public transportation. Here’s my plan:
Aggressively Expand Our Housing Supply. We have to use all the tools at our disposal to increase the housing supply and make housing more affordable. This includes, but is not limited to, making the most of our affordable housing laws (such as Chapter 40B and Chapter 40R) and implementing the state’s 2021 Economic Development Bill that gives local communities greater flexibility to change zoning laws and incentivises the creation of transit-oriented housing in MBTA communities. But we can’t just stop there. We need a new infusion of funding that works to increase the housing stock. To that end, I support the HERO Coalition’s efforts to pass a bill that would double the deeds excise tax and generate as much as $600 million in new revenue each year – 50% of which would be geared toward affordable housing programs. While it’s true that the state is fortunate to currently have federal ARPA funding, that funding is temporary – and if we don’t act immediately to address this housing crisis, more and more families will be squeezed out of our neighborhoods. If elected, I will always seek to innovatively expand housing options by pushing for new funding streams at the state level and I will work with local officials to reduce zoning barriers that stifle housing creation.
Reduce Prescription Drug Costs. The cost of prescription drugs is sapping family budgets. No one should ever be forced to dangerously reduce intake of medicine they need due to high prices. It’s immoral – and it places pressure on our health care system. Fortunately, the state Senate has recently passed legislation that empowers the Health Policy Commission to review the cost of various drugs and identify price levels that pose a public health risk. The bill also brings much-needed relief to those who suffer from diabetes – permanently capping co-pays for insulin at $25 per 30-day supply. I support this measure, and urge the House to follow suit and send the bill to the Governor’s desk. As our next State Representative, I will be vigilant in pushing for greater drug price transparency and work with consumer advocates and public health experts to improve access to affordable medicine and care.
Make Transit More Accessible. Climate change is a real, existential threat to our health and way of life, especially for our communities that lie along the coast. Yet, it also presents a tremendous opportunity to reimagine decades-old systems that are inefficient and inaccessible. In order to do this, we must take bold steps to fund transportation initiatives. That’s why I support the Fair Share Amendment, which will not only provide critical resources to improve our roads and bridges but also fund innovative transit projects that work to meet our carbon reduction goals. These investments will help us electrify our MBTA rail lines and expand reliable transportation options for people to drive less. Lynn, with its unique geographic location, diverse immigrant community, and projected growth and development, can truly be at the center of this historic transformation. If elected, I will push to see many of the Lynn Transit Action Plan recommendations become a reality: more buses on roadways, improved physical access to public transit stops, and larger network changes, such as resuming ferry services to downtown Boston. This doesn’t just benefit the residents of Lynn – it benefits us all. If we can make transit more accessible, we can become the economic hub for the North Shore as well as a more convenient commuter destination for those working in Boston.
I am confident that we can get this done. It will take hard work and determination, but I am energized by the challenge. We need an advocate on Beacon Hill who will work tirelessly to reduce the cost burdens we all face and help us realize our incredible potential. That’s why I am running – and, if elected, that’s what I’ll do.
As you know by now, the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, a legal precedent that protected a woman’s right to privacy and abortion access for nearly 50 years.
The decision isn't surprising. We've known for weeks now that the Court was likely going to do this. But it doesn't make me any less angry. In the days and weeks ahead, we will see total bans on abortion in more than two dozen states. This is, quite simply, a horrific and dark moment in our nation's history.
This is personal for me. I served as an intern at Planned Parenthood during graduate school. I sat on the board of the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus for years. I will fight with everything I’ve got for the right to safe, accessible abortions and reproductive health services for all women.
Yes, this development is absolutely terrifying and enraging. But we can not give up hope and we have to take action – together.
As your State Representative, I will work to:
Make Massachusetts a safe harbor for others while protecting our in-state providers and privacy. In 2020, Massachusetts passed the Roe Act that codified various reproductive protections into law, such as allowing abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy in cases with a fatal fetal anomaly and lowering the age at which individuals can seek an abortion without the consent of a parent or a judge from 18 to 16. The Roe Act was a good and necessary legal and policy development, but it is not enough. We must expand protections to those from other states seeking access to reproductive care services. This includes protecting our own in-state providers as well as non-Massachusetts patients from out-of-state investigations, and preventing the forced disclosure of out-of-state patient’s medical records. It also includes strengthening our state’s privacy laws to ban techniques such as keyword search engine warrants or geofence warrants that enable the digital tracking of people who seek information about abortion or abortion providers. Connecticut, California, and New York are already beginning to take action, and we must do the same in order to stay a national leader in the fight to protect women’s reproductive freedoms.
Get the funding we need to increase access, infrastructure, and security. I will always work to ensure that our promises to protect women’s rights are fully funded. Fortunately, the state Senate recently proposed $2 million to expand access to abortion services in its budget. This funding would take the form of grants to providers – the Jane Fund of Central Massachusetts, the Abortion Rights Fund of Western Massachusetts and the Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund – to improve access, infrastructure, and security. Additionally, we must increase MassHealth reimbursement rates for family planning and abortion care services, so that providers are properly compensated and can continue to offer such critical care. We can’t ever take our eyes off the ball – laws are often only as good as the resources allocated to implement them.
Reduce existing cost barriers to prenatal and abortion care. Due to the frequency of high-deductible insurance plans, many people face high costs when seeking the full spectrum of pregnancy care. As such, I would support legislation such as An Act Ensuring Access to Full Spectrum Pregnancy Care (H1196, S673) that would “require health insurance plans to cover all pregnancy care–including abortion care, miscarriage management, prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care–without any kind of cost-sharing.” This problem is particularly salient for black women in Massachusetts, who are nearly twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
Serve as a helpful guide for resources and information. I will make my office a point of contact, to the extent allowed by law, where constituents can get helpful information and resources on how to get reproductive health care that they need. I will hold town halls and constituent office hours that enable constituents to ask questions and receive support. I strongly believe that a state rep should be a resource for the community on the issues that matter most. If elected, I will do just that.