RAPID RESPONSE TEAM ACTION LIST FOR AUGUST 30, 2022

Solidarity Lowell Events and Actions

Marius Needs Assistance

From: Merrimack Valley Interfaith Sanctuary Network (MVISN)
Unfortunately, Marius has had some bad luck this month. The truck that he had been using for work caught fire and was a total loss. He is currently seeking employment so if anyone has any leads, please pass them along to marissa@solidaritylowell.com. He will also need financial assistance until he is able to find another job. And with the baby coming, he and Lillian need all the help they can get! Please donate through the GoFundMe. Any assistance is appreciated!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/47gvz-marius

Lowell Events

Tara Hong’s Scheduled Standouts

Tuesday, August 30 4:00-6:00pm near K Market (School and Westford, 258 Westford)
Wednesday, August 31 4:00-6:00pm Chelmsford St 99 (Chelmsford and Steadman, 850 Chelmsford)
Thursday, September 1 4:00-6:00pm Senior Center (276 Broadway)
Friday, September 2 4:00-6:00pm near K Market (School and Westford, 258 Westford)

Who Wants to be a State Rep (Candidate forum for 16th Middlesex)

Thursday, September 1, 5:30pm (Programs starts 6:00pm)
St. Michaels Church
https://www.facebook.com/events/3154124494903414

Join Lowell Votes for a night of food, fun, and a forum with your Candidates for State Representative! Live interpretation will be provided in Spanish and Khmer.

Join in person or virtually as candidates Zoe Dzineku, Rodney Elliott, and possibly Karla Miller answer questions on issues ranging from public education to the economy.

Can’t watch in person? Watch live on Channel 8 in Lowell or on LTC Youtube at: https://youtu.be/3Fl4Da5oOho

Lowell Litter Krewe

The LLK is in full swing helping to beautify our area.
To connect with them: https://linktr.ee/lowelllitterkrewe
Sign up to volunteer, check out their schedule and more.

Next events

Saturday September 3, 9am-12pm ~ East Pawtucketville Sweep
Meet at Cumnock Hall, UMass Lowell (31 University Ave)

Saturday September 10, 9am-11am ~ Upper Merrimack/Market Sweep
Prior to Taste the Acre and Vibe Fest
Meet at Nibbana Café (12 Cardinal O’Connell Pkwy)

~Lunch provided by City Hall Café between events~

Saturday September 10, 1:30am-4:30pm ~ Recycling Team
Taste the Acre and Vibe Fest
JFK Plaza

Saturday September 17, 9am-2pm ~ Volunteer Your Support!
Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race
https://www.lowellkinetic.com/take-action

Saturday September 24, 9am-11am ~ Public Lands Day
With Canalwaters and NPS
Meet at Davidson St

Cleanups every Thursday 3:30pm-6pm with Life Connections’ Jump Start Jobs Program

Other Events

Help Get Out the Vote-When More People Vote, More Progressives Win

Wednesdays, August 31 12pm-3pm
Join a Mass Voter Table phone bank encouraging folks to vote by mail.
https://actionnetwork.org/campaigns/2022-mvt-phone-banks

State of the Auditor’s Race with Chris Dempsey and Auditor Bump

Wednesday, August 31, 7:00-7:45pm

Suggested donations: $1000 / $500 / $250 / $100 / $50
All are welcome!

RSVP at www.dempseyforauditor.com/events or email finance@dempseyforauditor.com

Democracy Corner

Quentin Palfrey Drops Out of Attorney General Race

We urge you to check a voter’s guide for your other choices. There’s a good one from the League of Women Voters at Vote411.org that lets you compare candidates for a particular race.

Have You Voted in the Primary Yet?

Don’t miss your chance! Early voting has already begun.There are some great progressive candidates running this year who could use your vote. In the 16th Middlesex, Zoe Dzineku brings experience with constituent services (in Senator Kennedy’s office) to the job, and concern for access to mental health care and transportation. In the 18th Middlesex, Tara Hong brings a commitment to transparency in government and constituent services along with support for many progressive issues, including the Fair Share amendment. The three candidates for 18th Middlesex running in the primary are all registered as Democrats, so THE RACE WILL BE DECIDED IN THE PRIMARY.

Mail-in ballots
Drop boxes are in place on Merrimack Street in front of City Hall and at the door to City Hall from JFK Plaza. You may also turn in mail-in ballots at polling places.

Early voting: August 27-September 2
ALL in-person early voting takes place at Senior Center (276 Broadway, corner of Fletcher and Broadway). Polls open at 8am.

Election Day: Tuesday, September 6
Polls are open 7am to 8pm.

Lowell Needs Poll Workers

The City of Lowell employs approximately 225 poll workers per election, including Wardens, Clerks, Inspectors and translators. All poll workers are paid, and subject to very specific rules/guidelines/policies. Early voting begins August 27, so hiring must be done before then. Just a few weeks away.

Poll workers are essential to running an election. If you have the time, please consider signing up. For more information, see  https://www.lowellma.gov/317/Election-Workers.

Our Endorsed Candidates for State Representative Welcome Volunteers

Our endorsees in contested races have also been endorsed by Progressive Massachusetts! Below are contacts for our members and endorsed candidates running for local state representative. If you are interested in helping our endorsed candidates running for statewide office, or efforts to elect more reasonable candidates in other states, you will find links to organizations here: https://tinyurl.com/ycxysmhw

Zoe Dzineku, Lowell 16th Middlesex
https://www.govotezoe.com/

  • Volunteers for Saturday doorknocking would be greatly appreciated. Choose from two shifts.
  • Field captains are needed to be responsible for checking people in for a shift, providing training as necessary, and checking them back out.

Tara Hong, Lowell 18th Middlesex
https://www.tarahong.com/

  • Volunteers needed for phonebanking and canvassing. Volunteer on the site.
  • Phonebanking every Wednesday 6-7PM and on your own as comfortable.

Teresa English, Billerica
https://www.voteteresaenglish.org/

Support Progressive Candidates

Progressive candidates get elected when progressive folks do the work to support them. Whether you like phonebanking, texting, or doorknocking, there’s something you can do. Pick a campaign and volunteer.  They ALL have environmental chops.

Daily Opportunities in support of Dr. Tami Gouveia
PM Endorsee for Lieutenant Governor
Almost daily through September 6, 10am-8pm (times vary)
Phonebanking every Sunday.
https://www.tamigouveia.com/events/

Canvassing and Phonebanking for Tanisha Sullivan
PM endorsee for Secretary of State
Almost daily through September 6, 5-8pm (times vary)
https://tanishasullivan.com/join-us/

Support Chris Dempsey’s Campaign for Auditor
https://dempseyforauditor.com/

Act on Mass Endorsed Candidates for State Representative in Greater Lowell
https://actonmass.org/endorsements-2022

ActOnMass has endorsed both Vivian Birchall and Teresa English. Act on Mass works for greater transparency in state government. At the link you will find links to the campaigns of endorsed candidates.

State-level Actions

Help Get the Fair Share Amendment Passed – Canvass and/or Phonebank!

This amendment, a priority of Progressive Massachusetts, would add an additional 4% tax on incomes over $1 million, with revenue to be directed to improve our transportation systems (roads, bridges, and public transportation) and our schools. It is estimated that it would raise $2 billion per year. For years, Massachusetts has skimped on its transportation system and the maintenance and upgrades now required amount to billions of dollars. We saw another example of the cost of ignoring that last week when an Orange line train caught fire during rush hour and 200 passengers had to walk to safety from a bridge. Clearly it can’t wait any longer.

The amendment is Question #1 on the ballot this November. But getting it passed means a lot of voter education through door-knocking and phonebanking. If you’d like to help, you can sign up at  https://tinyurl.com/bdcwp7xa

Sign the petition for Youth Mental Health Access

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-a-petition-for-youth-mental-health?source=direct_link&

America has an urgent youth mental health crisis. In 2019, more than one in five high school students seriously considered suicide and one in three reported feeling persistent sadness. The pandemic has only made that worse.  An estimated 67,000 children in Massachusetts suffer from major depression. Of those, some 44,000, OVER HALF, do not receive treatment.

Every young person should be able to get the help they need to be safe, happy, and healthy. Sign the petition to urge legislators to take action by passing legislation that expands mental health care in our schools.

Our State Legislators’ Info

House Speaker Ronald Mariano: Ronald.Mariano@mahouse.gov 617-722-2500
Senate President: Karen E. Spilka: Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov 617-722-1500
Rep. Thomas Golden Thomas.Golden@mahouse.gov  617-722-2263
Rep. Vanna Howard Vanna.Howard@mahouse.gov  617-722-2800 x7302 / Google Voice: 978-272-9078
Rep. Rady Mom Rady.Mom@mahouse.gov 617-722-2460
Rep. Colleen Garry Colleen.Garry@mahouse.gov 617-722-2380
Rep. Tram Nguyen tram.nguyen@mahouse.gov 617-722-2425
Sen. Edward Kennedy edward.kennedy@masenate.gov 617-722-1630
Sen. Michael Barrett Mike.Barrett@masenate.gov 617-722-1572
Sen. Jamie Eldridge James.Eldridge@masenate.gov 617-722-1120
Sen. Barry Finegold Barry.Finegold@masenate.gov 617-722-1612
(… or find yours here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator)

Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02133

National Actions

Our Federal Legislators’ Info

Senator Elizabeth Warren: 617-565-3170
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
https://www.warren.senate.gov/contact/shareyouropinion

Senator Edward Markey: 617-565-8519
255 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
https://www.markey.senate.gov/contact/share-your-opinion

Representative Lori Trahan: 978-459-0101 / 202-225-3411
https://trahan.house.gov/contact/write-your-rep.htm

Representative Seth Moulton: 978-531-1669 / 202-225-8020
https://moulton.house.gov/contact

The RRT (Rapid Response Team) Action List compiles action items from the week and upcoming events into one place. If you would like to add anything to the weekly update, please send it to Dee Halzack at dee@solidaritylowell.com.

Solidarity Lowell is a volunteer group of community members of Greater Lowell working toward social justice by defending the human rights, dignity, and equality of all persons against all forms of hate and discrimination.

Visit the Solidarity Lowell website at solidaritylowell.com

For more events not listed here, visit the full Events calendar: https://solidaritylowell.com/events/

June meeting notes:
https://tinyurl.com/2p9ke9h4

June meeting recording:
https://youtu.be/BKXwSQB0UFo

See recordings of past Solidarity Lowell meetings in our YouTube channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCohwMIkVdabQdDHsVTLIGsQ

For positive news visit Solidarity Lowell Upbeat on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/326202548419687

Solidarity Lowell is a chapter of Progressive Massachusetts. Join at: https://www.progressivemass.com/donate/