Posts & other media

During the recent Senate budget debate, I voted in favor of the Civil Rights and Safety amendment (#1147), which was adopted in the Senate budget. Some of you might be familiar with this language, as it carries a similar intent to Senator Eldridge’s S.1305, better known as the “Safe Communities Act.” There has been a lot of misinformation regarding this amendment, so I would like to take a moment to clear up any confusion.

The amendment would: (1) ensure that local law enforcement resources are used to fight crime and keep local communities safe, not to assist federal immigration enforcement; (2) prohibit state collaboration with the federal government for the purpose of creating a federal registry program based on national origin or other protected characteristics; and (3) guarantee basic due process rights for immigrants detained in state and local facilities.

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Last week, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (SWM) released its Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) Budget proposal. With a total investment of $41.42 billion, the proposal continues to support vital government services, invest in our state’s strengths and confront obstacles to continued growth. I was especially pleased to see the proposed budget include substantial investments in public education, transportation, mental health treatment, and working families.

As you may know, my colleagues and I will be debating this budget proposal on the Senate floor next week. While this proposal includes significant investments and important policy initiatives, I look forward to strengthening the final Senate Budget during the amendment process. To that end, I’ve filed 24 amendments on several topics, including increasing access to mental health and substance use treatment, protecting medically complex and fragile children in the Commonwealth, securing a prevailing wage for quasi-state agency employees, and investing in community organizations and local initiatives throughout the 4^th Middlesex district.

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During National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Massachusetts’ Advocacy Day, I had the chance to hear from a young man named Taylor who courageously shared a story about his terrifying experience with law enforcement as an individual with mental illness. Taylor’s story illustrates, in the clearest way possible, how important it is to train our first responders to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, to equip them with de-escalation techniques, and to provide them with appropriate treatment referral options.

This session, I’m advocating for legislation (S.1090) that would create statewide resources for comprehensive crisis intervention training (CIT) for municipal police departments and other first responders. Taylor gave me permission to use his story, and I invite you to read it to gain a better understanding of why CIT for police officers is so important.

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I hope you are well as we continue to wait for a warmer spring season. As we enter the final six months of formal sessions for the 2017-18 legislative session, please take a look at my most recent newsletter, which includes an update on recent major legislative accomplishments and an overview of what I’ve been working on since the start of 2018.

As always, hearing from you on the issues you care most about helps inform my day-to-day work in the Senate. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by contacting me via the contact form on my website, by phone at (617) 722-1432, by email at Cindy.Friedman@masenate.gov, or by mail at Senator Cindy Friedman, State House, Room 413-D, Boston, MA 02133.

Click here to view my quarterly newsletter

Senator Friedman joined the Woburn Rotary Club on February 13, 2018 to discuss the state’s role in addressing transportation issues and combatting the opioid crisis in Massachusetts.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. As we approach the New Year, please take a look at my inaugural quarterly newsletter using the link below. It provides a brief update on what the Senate has accomplished this fall, and highlights some of my major priorities moving forward.

As always, hearing from you on the issues you care most about helps inform my day-to-day work in the Senate. Please do not hesitate to make your voice heard by contacting me via the contact form on my website, by telephone at (617) 722-1432, by email at Cindy.Friedman@masenate.gov, or by mail at Senator Cindy Friedman, State House, Room 413-D, Boston, MA 02133.

Click here to view my quarterly newsletter

Click here to view the full 2017-2018 Senate Session Report

Today marks my 100th day in office! During the campaign, I said that I’d be “ready on Day 1,” and I meant it.

Since August, I’ve had the pleasure of travelling throughout the 4^th Middlesex district to meet with constituents, attend and speak at community events, and discuss important issues that affect all of us. I also eagerly began my legislative duties at the State House in Boston and took part in several key votes in the Senate to reform our criminal justice system, contain healthcare costs, reduce property tax rates for our seniors, military personnel, and the disabled, and much more. It’s been a busy few months and I’ve enjoyed every minute representing you on Beacon Hill.

To better understand what I’ve been up to, click here to view 100 moments from the past 100 days.