In an attempt to better learn about the issues facing local businesses a group of elected officials and their aids joined the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce for a tour of some Burlington companies last week.
Author: Cindy Friedman
Burlington DTC holds meeting Bedford Minuteman
The Burlington Democratic Town Committee recently held its first meeting of the 2017-18 year, with State Sen. Cindy Friedman delivering an update on legislative priorities.
Friedman’s priorities include preserving access to and coverage for health care; support of paid family leave; and support of the Fair Share Amendment, which would tax income over $1 million as an investment in public transportation and public education. Friedman is also focused on increasing worker protections and rights and is currently leading the effort in the Senate to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2021.
Billerica making a longshot bid for Amazon HQ2 Wicked Local Billerica
Amazon’s search for HQ2 has generated quite a buzz across the continent, attracting nearly every major U.S. city to consider a bid, as the technology giant searches for a second home.
Among the likes of Los Angeles, New York City, and Toronto, Billerica might seem a small fish. But, after checking off the prerequisites to apply, the town is moving forward to bid for the second Amazon campus.
State Sen. Cindy Friedman and state Rep. Marc Lombardo support Billerica’s bid, which must be filed by Oct. 19. Amazon is expected to choose its new headquarters location sometime in 2018.
Emotions high on both sides of L’Italien’s right-to-die bill The Lowell Sun
BOSTON — It’s a deeply personal and sensitive subject that’s divided lawmakers on both sides of the aisle: should a terminally ill patient have the option to end his life medically?
More than 40 lawmakers have signed into the most recent bill, including the late Arlington Sen. Kenneth Donnelly. Sen. Cindy Friedman, his former chief of staff who won a special election for his seat, said a patient’s personal end-of-life decisions are ‘nobody’s business but your own.
“I want to ensure there are safeguards for ensuring that it isn’t misused for people who aren’t able to speak for themselves,” said Friedman, a Democrat who also represents Lexington, Billerica and Burlington. “But in general I think that’s a very personal decision.”
How to be an Effective “Citizen Advocate”
Last week, I joined Colleen Kirby, Lori Kenschaft, First Parish UU of Arlington’s Mass Incarceration Working Group, and several members of the Arlington community to discuss some of my legislative priorities as well as best practices for being an effective “citizen lobbyist.”
I have spoken with many people since last November’s presidential election who have asked me how they can influence state government and make a real difference in the current political climate. I encourage you to read this article to learn about some of the effective strategies we discussed in our meeting that you can implement as a citizen of the Commonwealth.
Additionally, here are two helpful documents: (1) Making Government Work For You, by Colleen Kirby; and (2) The Citizen Lobbyist, by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact my office at (617) 722-1432 or email me directly at Cindy.Friedman@masenate.gov.
Woburn Boys & Girls Club open for business Woburn Daily Times
“WOBURN — Wow! The ‘wow factor’ was much in evidence on Saturday as many members of the general public were overwhelmed and had their first look at the new James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club.
President Donaghey was quick to point out, “I want to first and foremost thank Mayor Scott Galvin, Rich Haggerty and the entire City Council who helped us ‘rise from the ashes’ in our ‘darkest days’ when we were going to be ‘essentially homeless for one year.’” Donaghey also exclaimed in a smiling fashion when he thought, “OMG — the city might bill me for all the times I called their cell phones saying ‘Help.’”
The club, he pointed out from a podium in a sun-filled parking lot to attendees, is now “rebuilt and ready to serve the youth of the area. Because of our expanded building we can now easily double the youth we serve.”
He had special praise for other public officials in attendance like Senator Cindy Friedman “who is new to her position. She helped Sen Ken Donnnelly (now deceased) secure our temporary home at the old Clapp School.”
Sen. Friedman testifies in support of $15 minimum wage Billerica Minuteman
At today’s $11 minimum wage, a full-time worker working 40 hours a week with no vacation would earn just $22,880 annually. When adjusting for the cost of living, the $11 minimum wage is still worth less than the state’s minimum wage in 1968.
“This decline in purchasing power means low-wage families have to work longer hours just to achieve the standard of living that was considered the bare minimum almost half a century ago,” said Friedman. “Giving these working families a raise should not be a controversial decision.”
According to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour would benefit nearly 1 million workers statewide. Of those affected earners, less than 10 percent are teenagers, over half are women, and almost two-thirds work full time. Additionally, nearly one-third of children in the commonwealth come from a household that would see a raise in their incomes.
Rappin’ with the Rep Episode 41
State Senator Cindy Friedman of the 4th Middlesex District and Chair of Joint Committee on Public Service joins State Rep. Ken Gordon to discuss issues pertinent to Burlington.
Minimum Wage Hearing with Fight for 15 Somerville Neighborhood News
Fight For 15 Mass and Raise Up Massachusetts went to the State House for a legislative hearing on Tuesday, September 19th to advocate for raising the minimum wage to $15. Advocates and legislators, including Senator Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), offered their remarks.
Friedman fighting for $15 minimum wage bill The Lowell Sun
BOSTON — Increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour would give more than a million people across Massachusetts — a third of all workers — a pay increase, state Sen. Cindy Friedman told a legislative committee Tuesday.
Friedman, an Arlington Democrat whose district includes Billerica, Burlington, Woburn and parts of Lexington, testified before the Legislature’s Committee on Labor and Workforce Development on behalf of a minimum wage bill originally sponsored by her predecessor, the late Sen. Kenneth Donnelly, who died in April from brain cancer.
Donnelly’s bill, if passed, would increase the hourly minimum wage by $1 per hour every year, eventually reaching $15 by 2021. The bill would also increase the minimum wage for workers who receive tips outside of their hourly pay.