Lowell City Council Tuesday – Show of Support Needed for Two Causes!

Solidarity Lowell Events and Actions

Next Solidarity Lowell Hybrid Meeting
Sunday, May 21, 5:30-7pm (NOTE date change due to Memorial Day)
In person at Christ Church United, 10 Arlington St, Dracut
Online link to be announced

Hear the latest news regarding our petition for better treatment of Lowell’s unhoused population, which was presented to the City Council at the April 11 meeting. We will also hear from Mark Martinez, Housing Attorney for the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.

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Support for Asylum-Seeker Marius
Marius is an asylum-seeker from Togo who we have assisted since he arrived here in 2018.
He and Lillian, an asylum-seeker from the Dominican Republic, had a baby last year. The baby, Yayrah, is in need of gift cards and monetary donations.

Gift cards can be given to Marissa Dupont.
Email marissa@solidaritylowell.com to coordinate drop-off

Cash donations may be made through GoFundMe.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/47gvz-marius

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Lowell Events & Actions

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Next City Council Meeting
Tuesday, April 25 at 6:30pm, at City Hall and online

Meetings are held weekly in Council Chamber Tuesdays at 6:30pm with public welcome. Attend in person or by using remote participation as follows: Members of the public may view the meeting via LTC.Org (Online; Live Streaming; Or Local Cable Channel 99).

See agenda for details:
https://www.lowellma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04252023-2706?html=true

Items of interest

Motion Responses:

5.1.O MOTION RESPONSE: 11/1/2022 – C. Robinson – Req. City Mgr. Have Proper Department Explore The Feasibility Of Offering Discounted Residential Property Tax Rates To Landlords Willing To Offer Discounted Rental Prices To Incentivize Affordable Housing Costs

Motions:

11.8 C. Robinson – Req. City Mgr. Have Appropriate Department Provide A Detailed Report On Feasibility Of Implementing A No Overnight Camping, Sleeping Or Loitering Ordinance In Our Business Districts, As Well As, In The Summer Street, Gallagher Terminal And South Common Area.

In direct opposition to our petition, City Councilor Corey Robinson has put forth a motion to make tenting in Lowell illegal in certain areas, which basically makes homelessness illegal in those areas. After we pointed out that making homelessness illegal in Massachusetts IS ILLEGAL. Starting with certain areas without giving people an alternative where they CAN camp only opens up opportunities for the Council to spread this action to the whole city.

We cannot let this stand. Please contact all of our City Councilors and ask them to condemn this motion. Stand up for our unhoused neighbors. We must continue to urge them to see these people as human beings instead of litter to be tossed aside.

Here is the contact form to email the City Councilors: https://www.lowellma.gov/…/city-council-contact-form-45

Better yet, sign up to speak at the City Council meeting on Tuesday. See below for how.

11.9. M. Chau/C. Yem – Req. City Mgr. Have Law Department Provide A Report Regarding The Establishment Of A Sister-City Agreement Between The City Of Lowell And Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Referencing An MOU Signed January 14, 2015.

11.10. M. Chau – Req. City Mgr. And/Or Appropriate Department Begin The Process To Establish A Sister-City Agreement Between Lowell And Battambang, Cambodia.

To participate in a sister city program with Cambodia at this time would undermine the efforts of our Lowell residents and their family and friends in Cambodia who have been working for democracy there. It gives illegitimate democracy credits to a regime that has become notorious for arresting its political opponents and intimidating voters. It also provides photo ops for an ally of China, with whom we are in an adversarial relationship and Lowell has better things to spend its money on.

To speak, you must register by 4pm the day of the meeting. Those wishing to speak regarding a specific agenda item must register to speak in advance of the meeting by sending an email to the City Clerk indicating the agenda item and a phone number to call so that you may be issued a Zoom link to the meeting if you wish to speak remotely. Email Address is MGEARY@LOWELLMA.GOV. If you have no access to email you may contact the City Clerk at 978-674-4161.

To contact any City Councilor, or the City Manager, by email, use this webform
https://www.lowellma.gov/formcenter/contact-the-city-council-5/city-council-contact-form-45
and check off who you’re writing to.

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Volunteer Opportunities at Lowell Transitional Living Center
The LTLC is in need of volunteers. This is another venue where Solidarity Lowell members can show their support for our unhoused neighbors.

From Tyler Bastysk, Volunteer Coordinator, “I believe that our collaboration can bring about meaningful change and benefit those in need… I am more than happy to provide further information about volunteering opportunities, answer any questions, or provide any assistance needed.”

Please contact Tyler at tbastys @ ltlc.org or (774)509-9901

Click here to donate to LTLC:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TT9PEP2KDCZPC

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Lowell Litter Krewe
LLK is in the running for an award from the We Share a Common Thread Foundation.
Once a quarter, the Foundation donates $1500 to a worthy area non-profit as voted by the community. Whoever receives the most votes via their Give a Click site wins. Please vote, once, before June 30.
https://www.jdcu.org/community-about/our-foundation/give-a-click/?#gf_33

Meanwhile, the LLK has begun their regular cleanups.
To connect with them: https://linktr.ee/lowelllitterkrewe
Sign up to volunteer, check out their schedule and more.

Next events

Saturday, April 29, 9:00am-12:00pm
Ecumenical Plaza and Western Canal Cleaning
Meet at Ecumenical Plaza (62 Lewis Street)
With DIY Lowell

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Lowell Fall Election

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Campaign Treasurers Needed
Several progressive campaigns are seeking experienced treasurers.
If interested, please email Lisa Arnold at likarnold @ gmail.com (delete spaces when using emails cited)
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Solidarity Lowell’s Election Subcommittee gearing up
If you are interested in helping to elect/re-elect progressive candidates for Lowell City CouncilCouncl and School Committee, please email Lisa Arnold (likarnold @ gmail.com) or Dee Halzack (dee.halz @ ix.netcom.com) (delete spaces when using emails cited)

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Other Events

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PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM: EXPOSE FAKE CLINICS!
Individual Mass Coalition Statewide Call
Tuesday, April 25, 7:15-8:30pm

To register: https://indivisibleandoverma.us16.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5bf1c06ea06f0ff374e404ea2&id=ccd3fabef5&e=5f6c46bade

What are fake clinics? There are 35 “Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs)” – more accurately named Anti-Abortion centers (AACs) — in MA alone. Across the country, there are 3 times more AACs than abortion providers. Mostly run by faith communities, these centers target unsuspecting, vulnerable women and lure them in for lies about abortion, pressure to continue unwanted pregnancies, and delays that may preclude abortion, all to deter women from seeking abortion and actual medical care at real health clinics.

Learn more about these fraudulent and harmful sites: Register for the Indivisible Mass Coalition (IMC) Statewide Call on Tues April 25, 7:15-8:30 PM. Hosted by IMC’s Feminist Action Team, this call features State Senator Becca Rausch, Roxanne Sutocky who has fought AACs in CT, and Tara Murtha, co-author of Designed to Deceive, a report on the shocking practices of these centers across the country, many of which receive public monies. Register here and get inspired to take action!

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Outfoxed
Thursday, April 27, 8pm
Sign up to watch:
https://www.mobilize.us/mediademocracyproject/event/557997/

Fox Action Project’s screening of the still-relevant 2004 documentary Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism After the screening we will empower you with actions you can take to help fight Rupert Murdoch’s Republican Fox propaganda.

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Can We (Ever) Fix the T?
Wednesday, April 26, 12pm
To register: https://wgbh.zoom.us/webinar/register/6016801111525/WN_QKLzIKDpRu2PGHi0TCcoVQ#/registration

Public transit is essential to the well being of the Commonwealth, and is key to addressing climate change, promoting social equity, and supporting a vibrant economy. Yet with a litany of safety challenges, the MBTA may be the worst public urban transit system in the nation – it is certainly the oldest – and the system most in need of repairs. Even with billions of dollars spent to try and fix the system, from the public’s perception it is worse than ever. And there is no public plan or timeline for when it will be fixed. With Governors and managers of the recent past failing to meet these challenges, can a new Governor and General Manager be expected to do the job? Can the Legislature? And what is the job that needs doing? Those are the questions we’ll be pursuing with our expert panel.

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Media and Democracy General Meeting
Monday, May 1, 7:00pm
Sign up at: https://mediaanddemocracyproject.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=db87ccef1fad9226a2e095065&id=0549b71a9e&e=8657db7fc6

This organization works towards a media that is truly supportive of democracy, including news organizations like Fox News. Bi-weekly General Meeting on Zoom – newcomers are always welcome. Will discuss different ways you can help #FixMediaNow

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State Level Actions

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Ask Governor Healey to Pause New Gas Infrastructure
Governor Healey has spoken of climate as a top priority. Please join Mass Power Forward in asking her to stop the construction of new gas systems until the State has a clear plan for transitioning to clean green energy use. There is no point in building capacity that we are trying to not have to need.

Sign the petition and add your comments at: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/nofutureforgas

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Contact your rep about their vote on the tax cut bill
All Lowell reps were among the 150 who voted in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. Call and email their office to express your disappointment. You can find a call and email script here.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12cb4l9RONItgbBTSgIy0Ucy3AhiZTgUZ4zvI8KWdWV4/edit?usp=sharing

or send a customizable prewritten email in just a few clicks here.
https://secure.everyaction.com/44YdORqI-EmqPWDDiZeUYA2

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Protect new Fair Share Amendment and state revenue in the FY24 Budget
Our state reps voted to support the proposed tax cuts for the wealthy. Our senators have not yet voted.

Write to your state senator: Let them know that it’s not okay to undermine Fair Share by giving big tax cuts to the rich. Massachusetts voters were clear: we want the rich to pay their fair share so that we can invest in public education and infrastructure. The Fair Share amendment was intended to raise additional revenue in order to bring our schools and transportation up to standard, not to replace revenue taken away by a tax cut.

You can specifically ask them to:

TARGET any estate tax reform exclusively to moderate estates, with no tax breaks to large multi-million-dollar estates;
REJECT the proposed cut to the short-term capital gains tax that would overwhelmingly benefit wealthy investors;
REJECT expanding the ‘single sales factor apportionment’ that would give a massive tax break to large, profitable multi-state corporations;
USE THOSE SAVINGS to invest in affordable housing, childcare, and reliable transportation.

Contact information appears at the end of this section. Follow up your call with an email for maximum effect.

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Help Call Fair Share Supporters to Ask Them to Reach Out to their Senators
Join a phonebank to call senators’ constituents

Tuesday, April 25, 4-7pm
To register: https://raiseupma.us/phonebank425

Wednesday, April 26, 4-7pm
To register: https://raiseupma.us/phonebank426

Thursday, April 27, 4-7pm
To register: https://raiseupma.us/phonebank427

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Ask of Your State Rep: Support No Cost Calls
For several years, progressives and prison reformers have been fighting for no-cost calls for prisoners. Maintaining relationships with loved ones while in prison is an important key to reducing recidivism. Yet currently, the excessive cost of calls to and from prisoners makes that difficult or impossible.

The good news is that the MA House included No Cost Calls language — that is, ending the predatory practice of prisons and jails charging incarcerated individuals for phone calls to loved ones — in its FY2024 budget proposal.

However, there are additional steps necessary to strengthen the guarantee of access to such free phone calls. Rep. Chynah Tyler filed an amendment to the budget (Amendment #1559) to do just that, ensuring a stronger baseline of access (i.e., including access to tablets and setting a minimum guarantee for call time).

Will you call your state rep to ask them to support Amendment #1559 to the House budget? Contact information at the end of this section,

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To Contact the Governor
Governor’s Office of Constituent Services (617) 725-4005
Call between 9am and 5pm and leave a message.

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Our State Legislators’ Info
Speaker Ronald Mariano Ronald.Mariano@mahouse.gov | 617-722-2500 | Rm 356
Senate President Karen Spilka Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov | 617-722-1500 | Rm 332
Rep. Rodney Elliott Rodney.Elliott@ma.house.gov | 617-722-2000 x7313 | Rm B1
Rep. Vanna Howard Vanna.Howard@mahouse.gov | 617-722-2060 | Rm 33
Local office: 25 Central Street, ground floor, Lowell
Rep. Rady Mom Rady.Mom@mahouse.gov | 617-722-2637 | Rm 544
Rep. Colleen Garry Colleen.Garry@mahouse.gov | 617-722-2380 | Rm 238
Senator Edward Kennedy edward.kennedy@masenate.gov | 617-722-1630 | Rm 109-E
Senator Michael Barrett Mike.Barrett@masenate.gov | 617-722-1572 | Rm 109-D
Senator Jamie Eldridge James.Eldridge@masenate.gov | 617-722-1120 | Rm 511-C
Senator Barry Finegold Barry.Finegold@masenate.gov | 617-722-1612 | Rm 511A
(… or find yours here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator)

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

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National Actions

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Looking for someone who’s trying to do something about gun violence?
Check out Everytown for Gun Safety
https://www.everytown.org/actions/

Join a local chapter, donate, help elect candidates who WILL work for sensible gun safety measures.

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Our Federal Legislators’ Info

Representative Lori Trahan
https://trahan.house.gov/contact/write-your-rep.htm
2439 Rayburn HOB | Washington, DC 20515 | 202-225-3411
126 John Street | Lowell, MA 01852 | 978-459-0101