We want to encourage citizen participation in government and voting is our primary and essential tool of citizen participation. To help citizens make decisions, we provide information in a variety of formats. We do not support candidates—we are nonpartisan and that means the public relies on us to be accurate and fair. But we do have Zoom meetings, candidate’s forums and voter’s guides. See below for details on our upcoming educational forum with Stan Rosenberg discussing the various state offices: what they are and what they do.

The League’s Position on the Four Questions LWVMA has taken no position on three of the four questions, so on those we are free to take whatever position we like—as long as we do or say nothing to suggest that our position is that of the League. The League does advocate for Question 4, which is supported by a position on immigration adopted by concurrence at the 2019 State Convention. Our Legislative Action Committee endorsed and lobbied for House Bill 4805, which became law.

LWVMA-Sponsored Forums LWVMA is sponsoring three forums on Ballot Questions. Two will have been held by the time you receive this newsletter, but you will be able to watch them later: check https://lwvma.org to find out when they become available. Consult those for more information than can be given here.

Ballot Question #4 LWVMA and the Transportation for Massachusetts coalition (T4MA) are organizing an advocacy forum for for Question #4. The panel discussion entitled “Safer Roads for a Stronger Commonwealth” will take place October 12, 4:00 p.m. LWVMA supports a YES vote on Question 4.

PRO: The central LWVMA argument is that roads will be safer when undocumented immigrants can get drivers’ licenses after showing knowledge of the rules of the road and getting insurance. The Registry of Motor Vehicles already issues licenses to people who cannot vote; it will be adding another group to holders of green cards and teenagers under 18. 

CON: The opposition campaign focuses on its concern on the possibility of enabling undocumented people to vote. The League of Women Voters encourages voting: for citizens. We would not be supporting this question if we thought noncitizens would be voting as a result. Seventeen other states have passed similar laws without any impact on who is voting.

CONFUSION: There is, as a recent Globe article pointed out, another confusing factor about this proposal. Massachusetts voters are used to voting no if they do not want an existing law rejected. But for Question 4, if you favor retaining the law, you need to vote yes. Another possible source of confusion: the opposition campaign is “Fair and Secure Massachusetts”, similar to “Fair Share Massachusetts” the name of the campaign supporting Question 1 (“The Millionaire’s Tax”).

Local Leagues agreed to organize forums on Questions 1, 2, and 3, on which the League takes no position. The campaigns Supporting and Opposing the questions will present their cases. Remember: you may take whatever position you like on these AS AN INDIVIDUAL, but do or say nothing to suggest this is a LEAGUE POSITION.

Ballot Question #1 (Additional Tax on Income Over One Million Dollars)

Additional Tax on Income over One Million Dollars:  The forum is October 13 at 6:45 p.m. In case you have forgotten why the League takes no position on Question one, it is because we have both a strong position in support of a graduated income tax (and this would be the first step to one) but also a very strong position against laws which contain earmarks (in this case, funding directed to transportation and education). For more information on this, see the LWVMA statement here.

Fair Share Massachusetts says that the taxpayers would benefit tremendously from better roads and bridges and more funding for public schools, K through College/University and that the new tax would not be felt by 99% of Massachusetts tax-payers.

The Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike campaign says it would drive businesses out of the state and harm many owners of small businesses.

Ballot Question #2 (Regulation of Dental Insurance) & Ballot Question #3 (Expanded Availability of Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages)

Questions 2 and 3 will be presented together. They are treated together because there is no active campaign against question 3 at this time.

Question 2: Regulation of Dental Insurance.  Currently, those who sell medical insurance, because of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), have to refund part of the premiums they collect when they spend less than 88% of premiums on the medical costs of the people they insure. There is no limit for dental insurance plans.  This law would set a minimum of 83% for payment on dental costs. If insurers pay less, they must refund the appropriate part of the premiums they collected. Question 2 is broadly supported by organizations of dentists, and opposed by insurance companies.

Question 3: Expanded Availability of Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages. This is a confusing proposal about expanded availability of numbers and types of licenses which seems mainly to negatively impact stores which sell groceries and alcoholic beverages, which would be more limited than package stores in the number and type of licenses they could get.

For further information: consult Ballotpedia Massachusetts 2022 here,  or the Secretary of State’s website here.

NOTE: Question 4 was not included in the Red Book from the Secretary’s Office because it was accepted as a ballot question after the date of printing. There is a special site for it here.

We all thought this race would be decided with the primary, but not so fast, folks! This will be a two-person contest between incumbent Patrick Cahillane and write-in Yvonne Gittelson. If you missed our forum from August you can join the over 1,200 people who have watched it on YouTube! Congratulations, everyone in the Amherst and Northampton Area Leauges that made the forum such a success! Watch it here, or the Spanish translation here.

Don't forget Vote411.org for all your election needs: voting sites, candidate information, ballot information, registration verification, and more.

1.     East Gables, the project on Northampton Road, is being constructed

2.     East Street / Belchertown Road property

Way Finders’ has been chosen to be the developer of this project. A new three-story building facing the East Street Common will have about 23 units, and be connected to the renovated East Street School. About 6 apartments will be put in the renovated school building. On Belchertown Road, a three-story building will house 40 apartments. Way Finder's proposal states that approximately 45 of the ~70 apartments will be dedicated to low-income households, of which 15–20 will be eligible for "deeper affordability with project-based vouchers." Both sites will have a management office, community room, laundry room and mail room. Way Finders’ is in the process of requesting funding, including CPA funds from the town. They hope to start construction in 2025 and have full occupancy by the end of 2026. If funding is delayed, the building cannot be completed until 2027.

The apartments will be for four different levels of affordability:

1.     “Extremely Low Income” (30% of the Area Median Income)

2.     “Low Income” (60% of Area Median Income)

3.     “Workforce Housing” (60%–100% of Area Median Income– approximately 15 units)

4.     “Market Rate” – for people who don’t qualify for the other programs – approximately 10 units

Several organizations interested in housing issues have submitted letters supporting Way Finders’ application for CPA funds.

3.     Amherst Community Connections (ACC) is seeing a three-year grant of CPA funds to continue its Rental Subsidy Program. The program assists qualifying people / families who have a temporary problem paying their rent. Qualifications include having an income equal to or less than 50% of Area Median Income, being an Amherst resident who is not a student,  having a regular income and having a rental lease.

4.     Ball Lane

There is an active proposal to build 30 duplex units on Ball Lane in North Amherst. Valley CDC owns the land. CPA funding is being sought; developers attended a barbecue with the District One Neighborhood Association.

5.     Other sites / ideas

Studies are being done to see if something can be built on some town-owned land off Strong Street, whether a house can be moved to town-owned land on Old Farm Road, and the possibility of building housing on the land near the road at Hickory Ridge. Also people are working to create a permanent shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

6.     Proposed Special Act to allow Amherst to charge a 2% fee on certain real estate transactions (I believe it’s sales to people/entities that are not going to live in the unit). Two town Councilors briefed the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, seeking support. This item will be on the agenda for the November meeting.

7.     Request for another person!

Most of the real work on housing affordability issues occurs during the meetings of the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust; they meet on the 2^nd Thursdays of each month, generally. I can’t go because I have a class on Thursday evenings. I read the agendas and minutes, but the League really should have someone attending regularly given all these projects.

~ Elisa Campbell

LWVUS is partnering with VOT-ER to make get-out-the-vote calls to voters who have been registered to vote by healthcare providers and organizations. Register for phonebanks by clicking here.

LWVMA is working with partners ACLU Massachusetts, Common Cause, and the Urban League in an election protection effort spearheaded by Lawyers for Civil Rights. There will be opportunities to help with the November 8 general election, including monitoring polls which have historically had problems on Election Day, working in the hotline call center on Election Day (for lawyers), and working from home leading up to the election to identify misinformation on social media sites. Read more.

Recordings of two recent LWVMA meeting are available to watch:

The September League leader program: “Voter Education, Local Journalism and YOU!” Learn how local League members have mobilized to support community journalism and how local Leagues have used local media to educate and engage citizens and strengthen their communities despite the hollowing out of local news. See program here. 

LWVMA is launching a student membership drive starting September 16 through October 31. All high school (grade 9 and up) and college students who enroll in a free student membership using this form, will be entered into a free drawing to win a new Apple iPad Air—a $600 value! All Leagues are invited to participate in the drive.

The most recent Mass League Action contained the information that LWVUS has launched a campaign requesting state Leagues weigh in with their senators to support senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 1) which, if passed, would remove the timeline for ERA ratification. Read LWVMA’s letters to Senator Markey and Senator Warren. 

The most recent League Update (Oct 6) of LWVUS referred to some of the steps LWVUS is taking:

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The Editor of the LWVAmherst e-Bulletin, Jessica Ryan can be contacted here. The Associate Editors are Trish Farrington and Susan Millinger; Assistant Editors are Phyllis Lehrer, Sue Lowery, and Kay Fite who checks the links. Contributors to this month's e-Bulletin include LWVA members, Elisa Campbell, Phyllis Lehrer, Susan Millinger, and Rebecca Fricke. Material on LWVMA and LWVUS comes from Mass League Action newsletter and lwvma.org; League Update and lwvus.org, respectively, selected by Susan Millinger.