Dear Neighbor,

In December, I wrote about Governor Healey's Graduation Council's Interim Report.  After voters passed Question 2 by almost 3-2, eliminating MCAS as a graduation requirement, districts have been allowed to set their own graduation standards.  Healey (who opposed that elimination) established a Graduation Council to propose replacements for the test as a graduation requirement.

Dear Neighbor,

Last week:
     - I filed a bill to unmask ICE 
     - The Assisted Living Commission filed our report and commendations
     - The Senate passed my Senior Property Tax Deferral bill

Dear Neighbor,

Happy New Year!  

I always start every year full of optimism.  This year, almost all bills have been reported out of their primary committees.  Many are now waiting for action in the Ways and Means committees.  So we have a lot to work on.

Thanks to all of you who sent kind words after I announced that I won't be running for re-election this year!  

Here's a roundup of some recent news reports on issues I'm working on.

Dear Neighbor,

l love being a senator and representing the people in our district!  But I’ve been in the Senate for 20 years, and it’s time to move on.  I won’t be running for re-election next year.  

But I’ll still represent you for all of 2026, and there’s a lot to continue working on together. 

Dear Neighbor,

Last year, many of us worked and voted to pass Question 2, which passed 59-41%.  It eliminated the requirement that students pass MCAS exams to get their high school diplomas.  I wrote about why I supported Question 2 here, with lots of evidence of how standardized tests don't help, and can harm students.

In January, Gov. Healey, who opposed Question 2, created a Massachusetts Statewide K-12 Graduation Council to examine new graduation requirements. 

Dear Neighbor,
 
Here's some pre-election news, including my recommendations for two ballot questions in Somerville, and recordings of recent candidate forums.  More Senate news soon. 

Dear Neighbor,

It's been a busy time at the state house!  I don't expect you to read everything here, but to give you a taste of some of the things we work on.

First I want to let you know that the wonderful Vicki Halal, who has worked with me for many years on education and aging policy, is now my chief of staff!  And Tara Christian has joined our team as legislative aide.  You can see all our staff bios here.  

SENATE AGAIN PASSES MENSTRUAL EQUITY BILL

Dear Neighbor,
It's been very busy everywhere, but I thought I should let you know about some ways to learn about the candidates for local office, in addition to those I sent out earlier.  Here are my last two newsletters with information: Forums and Labor Day. 

Dear Neighbors,

ABDUCTIONS IN SOMERVILLE, INCLUDING VIDEOS

There have been at least thirty Somerville residents or workers taken by ICE this year.  Last Saturday, four people were detained and sent to Buffalo NY, according to city officials, as reported by WGBH. 

The report contains a link to Councilor JT Scott's video of the detention of Magdaleno Pineda Avelar by ICE and a US Marshall.  Pineda Avelar knows and asserts his rights.  The agents refuse to show a warrant, and eventually handcuff and take him away.  Councilor Scott reports that "I did not get video of about the first 30 seconds of this interaction, during which the resident asked if he was being detained (he was not) and if there was a warrant for him.

Dear Neighbor,

This Labor Day I was thinking about the contrast between the first US Secretary of Labor and the current one, both women.  And then about the many women in labor history.

SO MANY CANDIDATES!  SO MANY FORUMS!

Dear Neighbor,

People want to know more about all the candidates running in the cities in our district, and I'm trying to keep track of candidate forums and questionnaires.  Let me know what else you know about!  I'll be doing a Labor Day newsletter very soon.

Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday I joined a group including Massachusetts Peace Action, Veterans for Peace, If Not Now Boston, and Jewish Voice for Peace Boston to deliver a letter to Minority Whip Katherine Clark, asking her to support the Block the Bombs Act, which would prohibit the President from selling, or exporting certain defense articles like bunker busting bombs and 155m artillery ammunition (2 feet long, 100 pounds) without Congressional authorization and Israeli assurances that the weapons would not be used in violation of international human rights laws.  Ayanna Pressley, who represents Somerville and part of Cambridge, is a co-sponsor of Block the Bombs.

Here's what I said…