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This week’s newsletter covers two upcoming opportunities to meet me, the candidate for State Representative, in person; disability issues at the state level; and endorsement announcements from Progressive Mass and the local Progressive Newton chapter.
Meet me tomorrow evening!
I have two back yard campaign meet-and-greet events in the next few days, to give voters a chance to hear from me directly about my candidacy for State Representative.
If you would like to host one (or help get people to these events), get in touch with me and my Events Coordinator Liz Hiser will help you get started.
The first event is a meet and greet at the home of former Newton Democrats Chair Shawn Fitzgibbons and veterinary doctor / gun control activist Kate Wissel tomorrow (Sunday June 23) from 5:30-7 PM at 300 Homer St (RSVP to Shawn directly)
I’ll give some remarks about my background, how I plan to approach this job to promote my mission of building a Commonwealth for everyone, and what a State Representative does. Then I’ll answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to come to this event whether you are undecided or already on board and looking to take your support to the next level. So far at all my events, everyone seems pretty fired up by the time they depart!
I’ve knocked more than 4,800 doors myself this year, and this is a great chance to hear me in a different setting as well.
A conversation with Bill on Tuesday about disability advocacy
You might have read the front page Boston Globe story today about the activists with disabilities and their caregivers who are pushing back, alongside legislators, to proposed budget cutbacks to personal care assistance at home. This issue, along with some related ones I have been discussing with the 1199 SEIU and SEIU 509 unions who represent many of the state’s home care workers, matter enormously in many people’s lives and those lives are not just lines on a spreadsheet.
Trying to nickel and dime home care for people with disabilities is not only morally wrong but also fiscally incoherent: Programs that spend a bit to help people live on their own with autonomy are significantly less expensive than nursing facility care, which is the inappropriate but common fallback for many younger and middle-aged residents with permanent or lifelong disabilities when their home assistance needs are not funded. And many of these cutbacks, if carried out, will simply take money out of the pockets of dedicated family members who are taking care of relatives with disabilities whether or not the state helps to lighten the load.
Legislators have an enormous role to play in the budget process and with state agencies on behalf of the residents of their districts who have disabilities and for anyone who helps care for those who do. When we build a society for full inclusion and accessibility, where everyone’s basic human rights are safeguarded and affirmatively advanced, everyone’s life gets tangibly better, even for those people who are not considered to be direct beneficiaries. A society is strongest and most resilient when it embraces human differences.
That’s why I’m excited to be inviting disability advocates in Newton and Brookline to talk with me about these issues on Tuesday evening this coming week!
Please join us for “Disability Advocacy at the State Level - a conversation with Bill Humphrey,” hosted by Ima Jonsdottir, Nathan Persampieri, Katherine Read, and Robert Solomon on Tuesday June 25 from 6:30-7:30 PM at 156 Warren St in Newton Centre (RSVP to Ima here).
I have also been fortunate enough to have many conversations door to door with residents who have a wide range of disabilities and assistance needs from the state. They are amazing advocates, and it’s important for them to have a partner in the House of Representatives.
Today, for example, I spoke to three residents with disabilities about the MassHealth “asset recovery” (i.e. posthumous asset seizure) problem, disabled veteran property tax relief, and public transit access.
Human society has been finding ways to care for people with disabilities since prehistoric times, even prior to the evolution of modern humans. If we're not stepping up to help these folks live full lives in the 21st century with everything we now have at our disposal, our government is not doing its job.
Progressive Massachusetts endorsement!
Progressive Massachusetts is a statewide, member-driven grassroots organization committed to fighting for a vision of shared prosperity, racial and social justice, good government, and environmental sustainability in Massachusetts. I’m thrilled to have earned their members’ endorsement in my campaign for State Representative this year:
"Bill Humphrey knows Massachusetts can do more to live up to its progressive reputation and that our legislature can't coast forever on past successes. Bill's proven determination to help shape a political vision for a better future for everyone made him the clear choice for the Progressive Massachusetts members’ endorsement in the 12th Middlesex House race."
– Jonathan Cohn, Policy Director for Progressive Massachusetts
I have also received the members’ endorsement of the local chapter in Newton:
"Whenever Bill Humphrey is 'ahead of the curve' on a progressive policy idea, he has a gift for persuading others that it is the next sensible move; soon after, he is usually in good company."
– Warren S. Goldstein, Acting Chair of Progressive Newton
Progressive Massachusetts joins the Mass Nurses Association, Mass Alliance, and other liberal organizations that frequently lobby the House of Representatives on state policy in endorsing my candidacy for this open seat in Newton and Brookline. Stay tuned for more soon…
Thanks for reading! As always, if you are able to make a contribution to support my campaign, it is very helpful and greatly appreciated! You can request a lawn sign online (or sign up to volunteer in some other way).