Candidate Survey Response: MA Voter Table
The survey introduction and questions are provided as written. I have omitted questions and responses that were purely administrative or designated in the survey as not relevant to the 9th Middlesex District. While the survey questions were purely Yes/No options, I have provided additional commentary next to some responses to provide my constituents with additional clarity.
I thank the MA Voter Table organization for reaching out with this survey.
Democracy HUBS 2024 Candidate Questionnaire
This questionnaire is made up of 20 questions. The answers to this questionnaire will become a non-partisan voter guide that will be distributed to educate voters ahead of the 2024 elections. We will publish the full responses on our website.
The 2024 Democracy HUBs are made up of thirty-six 501c3 organizations that operate across the state of Massachusetts to heighten civic access and engagement. As a coalition, we fight for resources, representation, and power for communities of color, working-class people, new citizens, and youth in Massachusetts.
If elected, would you support implementing rent control?
No - see my Affordable Housing platform for more details
If elected, would you support making more affordable housing available?
Yes - see my Affordable Housing platform for more details
If elected, would you support tenant right to counsel and protection from eviction?
Yes — see my Housing survey response to Progress Mass for related policy positions
If elected, would you support affordable or free child care?
Yes
If elected, would you support expanding access to Family, Friend, and Neighbor Care (H.456)?
Yes — I made this determination by reviewing the most current version of this legislation as amended (S.2707). On balance this appears to be a positive piece of legislation.
If elected, would you support the THRIVE Act, which aims to eliminate the MCAS and school receiverships?
Yes — I made this determination by reviewing the most current version of this legislation (S.246). This appears to include thoughtful provisions for ending the process of state receivership for existing school districts and minimizing the need for state intervention in the future.
If elected, would you support restoring voting rights for all incarcerated people?
Yes — To clarify I support restoring voting rights upon completion of a sentence and/or release on parole for all formerly incarcerated people. I would approach with skepticism any legislation that allowed currently incarcerated people who have been convicted of felonies with the right to vote while still in prison or actively serving their sentence.
If elected, would you support non-police community violence intervention programs such as H.2264?
Yes — I made this determination by reviewing the most current version of this legislation (H.2264). This appears to build on other similar programs in the state that have shown success over the past decade.
If elected, would you support raising the minimum wage to $20?
No — see my Jobs & the Economy survey response to Progressive Mass for more details
If elected, would you support efforts to tackle wage theft?
Yes
If elected, would you support Participatory Budgeting?
Yes — Overall I support this concept, but I would need to carefully review and evaluate any particular proposal about Participatory Budgeting before making a final decision.
If elected, would you support fixing the offshore corporate tax loopholes (H.2754 & S.1925/H.2708)?
Yes — It is always difficult to understand how effective attempts to close tax loopholes will be, but overall I’m support of attempts that make it more difficult for multi-national corporations to evade paying taxes that they rightfully should.
If elected, would you support initiatives to improve language access and in-language education (ESOL)?
Yes — This is very important for improving language accessibility.
If elected, would you support allowing non-citizens to vote in municipal elections?
No — At this time, I am not convinced that non-citizens should be eligible to vote in municipal elections, but I could be persuaded otherwise with a carefully crafted proposal.
If elected, would you support allowing refugee and immigrant protection from deportation or forcible relocation?
No — Based on the manner this question is worded I cannot support it, but I am in favor of implementing rules that respect everyone’s time and attention while understanding that the government does need to have reasonable limits and controls in place to address the arrival, deportation, and residence of immigrants and refugees in the US.
If elected, would you support same-day voter registration?
Yes
If elected, would you support initiatives to decrease gas emissions through reliable transportation infrastructure, such as buses and trains?
If elected, would you support fare free transit?
No — I do support fare-free public transit when it is the most effective option for a community; however, I would support reliable and accessible public transit over fare-free public transit every time!
If elected, would you support initiatives to improve regional transit?
Yes
If elected, would you support funding for local health care centers in BIPOC and low-income communities?
Yes — I would absolutely support funding to improve local health care centers in low-income communities (and to the extent that those correlate with BIPOC communities I would support that as well).