Education

As the first woman of color elected Chair by my School Committee colleagues, my focus is on all the children in the Framingham School District. It is this advocacy I will take to Beacon Hill:

• Continue the work ensuring Framingham’s students receive the state funding they deserve;
• Support the building of a southside school at the Bethany property. I am the only candidate who supports a school in this neighborhood. At least two-thirds of our children live at an extraordinary distance from where they go to school. The extend of the inequities this causes for every Framingham child is significant and addressing these issues is worth every effort possible;
• Bring high quality early education to Framingham. Less than 50% of children in our district have access to the preschool education that sets them up for academic, social and developmental success. They begin their kindergarten journey already miles behind other children. That is a tremendous burden on five year olds. Most of whom look like me and my immigrant community;
• Advocate for a re-evaluation of MCAS as a graduation requirement;
• Support expanding educational opportunities and working to keep higher education affordable for all, including continued funding of the Commonwealth Commitment program.

Traffic & Transportation

We need a transportation system that strengthens our economy and communities, while also being modern, safe, affordable and reliable. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to have a transportation system that our Commonwealth deserves.

• Advocate for increased funding for the MBTA to make the improvements on the deteriorating system, purchase new cars and trains, electrify the train lines between Boston and Worcester, keep fares affordable and increase reliable all day rail service to and from Boston;
• Contact the Executive Office of Administration and Finance to release previously earmarked funding for the construction of a downtown parking garage and traffic calming measures like flashing signs;
• Support the growth of regional transportation authorities, especially our MetroWest Regional Transportation Authority, and address demands for increased service and  routes to connect them to more neighborhoods, rail trails and centers of commerce;
• Advocate for Framingham and MetroWest regarding the upcoming Allston Mass Pike Multimodal Project. This project will impact Framingham for nearly a decade as work is done on the Mass Pike through Allston-Brighton;
• Work with MassDOT to address safety concerns and problems with local state roads, such as installing much needed crosswalks on Route 135, pedestrian walkways or bridges over Route 9, especially at Prospect Street and Shopper’s World;
• Expand rail trails, such as the Upper Charles Trail and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, by securing the funding needed to design and construct these alternative modes of transportation.

Environment

As Chair of the Framingham School Committee I was excited to participate as we became the first district in the Commonwealth to pass a climate change policy - a policy I had the privilege of working on since its inception at the beginning of 2020. 

• South Framingham is currently home to no less than three contaminated sites. These sites are near residential buildings, playgrounds and all three less than a mile and a half from an elementary school. It’s near Weld Street where I grew up.  The presence of these sites for nearly a decade tells us we don’t care about the families who live south of Route 135. Through ARPA funds we were able to begin the clean up on one of them, thanks to the collaboration with Senate President Karen Spilka, but even with the cleanup company’s use of cutting edge proprietary technology, the funding constraints did not allow for a full clean up of all sites. As State Representative, I will fight for these funds in order to resolve this equity issue. 
• Make affordable renewable energy more accessible and less predatory. Utility companies have the power to deny and delay transition to renewable power while collecting months and months of exorbitant bill amounts. Homeowners need to have better access to the information on the programs available today, utility companies need to be held accountable and we must increase access to renewable energy to our hardworking renter population.
• Air quality control for underserved communities: communities of color are disproportionately affected by air pollutants, poor ventilation in homes in densely populated areas which exacerbates inequities when the inevitable health issues arise. Children in these areas, like in the 6th Middlesex District, are disproportionately affected by pulmonary conditions like asthma and their parents in underserved communities must manage the added burden of navigating a health system that brings its own equity issues. We need to hold landlords, property managers and builders responsible for air quality management in rentable units and expand access to legal remedies for residents who are disproportionately impacted.
• Increasing accessibility of EVs and sustainable transportation: owning an electric vehicle is still a matter of privilege that requires living near or around the few scattered charging stations, if owning a vehicle is an option at all. It is important to explore clean energy alternatives for our public transportation to reduce the carbon footprint of those who are outside of the electric vehicle zone of privilege and make green transportation more accessible to all communities, including communities of color.

Affordability & Housing

Having personally knocked on thousands of doors in our neighborhoods, the number one issue people talk to me about is affordability. Far too many families and seniors in our community across racial and geographical lines are bills juggling, medication cutting and facing food insecurity.  

• Support the Fair Share Act to ensure our seniors and workers are not continuing to bear the brunt of keeping our systems functioning through their pockets;
• Support legislation that increases the production of affordable and workforce housing, remove restrictive zoning barriers, and propose innovative solutions for land use in Massachusetts.
• Advocate for fair and affordable rental costs.
• Keep healthcare affordable by tackling high costs in prescription medication and high administrative overhead for healthcare.
• Work to eliminate food deserts in communities like the ones south of Route 135 that creates food insecurity in far too many households, and an undue burden of rising utility costs because of manufactured energy supply issues. 

Economic Development & Small Businesses

As a small business owner who once operated a store in Downtown Framingham, I understand first hand the struggles of our small businesses. 

Recovery from the pandemic requires all of us, the legislative delegation, city leaders and the business community to work together and focus on how we attract businesses to start and grow in Framingham, provide jobs for our residents and resources for our city services. 

Framingham is the heart of MetroWest, and conveniently located along the Mass Pike, Route 9 and Route 495. We can grow our biotech and pharmaceutical company portfolio, be home to a vibrant creative economy and start-ups. 

As our full-time representative, I will bring my entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of Framingham to obtain the state support that Framingham needs:

• Identify grants, investments and programs that will grow our economic base and help tell the Framingham story to potential businesses, encouraging them to come to our community;
• Work with the city government and all interested parties in an open collaborative process to develop plans that reflect our values and meet our needs. 

Working with local business owners, I will work to address their concerns and to make changes on a state level that encourage businesses to flourish here and throughout the Commonwealth.

Transparency & Ethics

As the Chair of the School Committee, handling questions and requests from the public and the media are a core part of my role. As a full time state representative, constituent services and working with the media will continue to be a major part of my work. 

• Throughout this campaign, I have made my email and phone number (508-250-9439) available on my materials and website. You should know you can call, text or email me at any time to ask questions, share ideas or request assistance.
• Opened a campaign headquarters at 68 South Street for people to feel welcome and volunteer. I believe it is critical to be in the heart of the community I serve. Hopefully, this headquarters, or somewhere like it, will be my state representative district office where I will hold regular office hours.
• The media is an important part of our democracy. Answering questions in a timely manner and sharing good news with all media outlets will be a priority.
• The Legislature is exempt from Open Meeting Law. I firmly believe the rules and regulations I have to follow as a member of the School Committee should apply to those serving in the Legislature. I will advocate for the rights of the media and more transparency in the State House, not less.