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Saturday, January 22, 2022
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
MA Political News: Downing withdraws; Auchincloss reflects during The Codcast (audio)
Democratic gubernatorial race change
"Ben Downing, the Democratic former state senator who staked his gubernatorial bid on progressive policies like universal child care and aggressive climate action but struggled to gain traction in fund-raising, said Tuesday that he is ending his campaign.
Downing, 40, pointed to financial challenges as the reason for dropping out of the race, adding that he made the decision “with a heavy heart.”
“You don’t get into a race with this as the intended outcome or even the expected outcome,” he said in a phone interview Tuesday. “But I’d like to think and hope we added a little bit to it along the way.”
"REP. JAKE AUCHINCLOSS, the newest member of the state’s congressional delegation, is finishing his first year in the House. To say it’s been a tumultuous initiation to Congress would be an understatement. His first days in office saw a mob-led insurrection in the Capitol building, and he faced a vote soon after on impeachment of a sitting president.Auchincloss, a 33-year-old Newton Democrat who won the seat vacated by Joe Kennedy, says on The Codcast that the jarring events of his early days in office have cast into sharp relief the natural tension that exists between staying true to the values of the constituents you represent while also working to advance their priorities."
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| Auchincloss reflects during The Codcast (audio) |
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
An Update from Your Congressman - Jake Auchincloss
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Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Strong Towns Event @ THE BLACK BOX - 11/15/21 (audio)
FM #661 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 661 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Strong Towns Town Hall event with Congressman Jake Auchincloss, State Rep Jeff Roy, Franklin Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo, and Charles Marohn from Strong Towns.
The event was held at THE BLACK BOX and broadcast via Franklin TV and Zoom.
After a round of opening remarks, there is a question and answer period with audience participation. Each question asker identifies themselves so you should be able to follow along.
The recording runs about 1 hour and 14 minutes, so let’s listen to the Strong Towns Event on Nov 15, 2021. Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9af1799e-c16d-4b73-8329-74515b343b2f
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My notes from the session
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-strong-towns-event-fostering.html
More about Strong Towns can be found online -> https://www.strongtowns.org/
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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Talk Franklin: Strong Towns, FY 2022 budget adjustments, Critical Conversations and restaurant alcohol licenses (audio)
FM #660 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 660 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Marketing Communication Specialist Lily Rivera. We had our conversation in person in Jamie’s office in the Franklin Municipal Building.
We talk about:
The Strong Towns event at THE BLACK BOX
Finance Committee
Budget adjustments
Overall budget cycle, tax rate hearing coming to close, but capital budget for FY 2023 underway
Town Council
Swearing in, re-org
Open meeting law, Ethics, records review
Meeting conduct reminders
Critical Conversations – Nov 18
Substance abuse and mental health panel and breakout sessions
Links to the key references are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Lily.
Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/96623c72-eadb-4095-b468-70bd35dab55e--------------
Finance Committee meeting agenda -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-11-10_finance_committee_agenda_1.pdf
My meeting notes & meeting audio -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/fm-655-finance-committee-mtg-111021.html
Town Council Agenda (98 page PDF agenda and docs released for this meeting)
The Worcester Regional Research Bureau restaurant license report referenced during our conversation -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/191cph8dOCd8DJnmB8xQg1rpwkfwRhqz8/view?usp=sharing
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| Talk Franklin: Strong Towns, FY 2022 budget adjustments, Critical Conversations and restaurant alcohol licenses (audio) |
Massachusetts Wins in The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
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Monday, November 15, 2021
Diwali Festival celebrated at Franklin Library
The Indian Diwali Festival was celebrated by around 400 people on Saturday afternoon. 4th District Congressman Jake Auchincloss along with District Director Dana Hanson joined the festivities at America's First Public Library.
The significance of the Indian Festival of Lights Diwali is victory of Good over Evil.
The program started with prayer and followed by colorful Bollywood Dances and Indian traditional kid dances.
Yummy sweets and brunch boxes were served for Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians.
Photos and text submitted by community correspondent KP Sompally
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| Congressman Auchincloss poses with some of the gathering |
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| Congressman Auchincloss gives remarks to the gathering |
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| some of the sweets gathered comments |
Sunday, November 14, 2021
Link for Strong Towns event Nov 15 - 9:30 AM (updated)
When: Monday, November 15 from 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Where: THE BLACK BOX theater (Home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company) at 15 West Central St, Franklin MA 02038
• Free parking is available next to and behind the theater, and on Main Street.
• We request that participants wear face coverings at this indoor event. We will have masks and hand sanitizer available at the entrance to the event.
• Questions? Please contact Dana Hanson at dana.hanson@mail.house.gov.
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| Link for Strong Towns event Nov 15 - 9:30 AM |
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Strong Towns Conversation - Nov 15
Please feel free to forward this invitation to staff or any other interested stakeholders in your cities and towns.
Event Details for Congressman Jake Auchincloss’s Municipal Leaders Town Hall featuring Special Guests Charles Marohn of Strong Towns, State Representative Jeff Roy, and Franklin Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo
When: Monday, November 15 from 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Where: THE BLACK BOX theater (Home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company) at 15 West Central St, Franklin MA 02038
• Free parking is available next to and behind the theater, and on Main Street.
• We request that participants wear face coverings at this indoor event. We will have masks and hand sanitizer available at the entrance to the event.
• Questions? Please contact Dana Hanson at dana.hanson@mail.house.gov.
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| Strong Towns Conversation - Nov 15 |
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
VIDEO: Auchincloss: BIF A Big Deal
VIDEO: Auchincloss: BIF A Big Deal
This morning (11/08/21), Jake joined "Way Too Early" on MSNBC to discuss passage of the historic bipartisan infrastructure package, what comes next for the Build Back Better Act, and how Democrats can sell a winning progressive agenda through the Midterms and beyond. Happy Infrastructure Week (for real this time)!
WATCH: https://youtu.be/AdFOroQOXjc
KEY EXCERPTS:
On BIF: "A Big Deal":
"It is a big win for Democrats. More importantly, it's a big win for the United States. We have just made long overdue investments in this country's infrastructure and our economic competitiveness. We are upgrading our roads and our bridges and our public transportation system; we are ensuring that every family has access to clean water; and we are providing high-speed internet to rural, suburban, and urban cities and counties throughout the country – the 21st Century version of electricity. And, by the way, we're also upgrading the electoral grid as well. This is about core, physical infrastructure. This is about allowing the United States to compete on the world stage against China, and it's also about boosting the earning potential of working and middle class families. It's a big deal.
On Next Steps to Passing Build Back Better:
"I'm confident we'll pass [the Build Back Better Act] and as you said, there's going to be twists and turns along the way. We're trying to do big things with small margins, so that's going to require intense negotiations. That's important, better policy comes out the other end of a good, vigorous back-and-forth of ideas. It's the exact opposite of what we see from the Republican Party under Donald Trump where they are really a cult of personality in lock-step with whatever their leader Tweets. Here in the Democratic Party, we want to debate ideas. And we have fashioned a Build Back Better agenda that really meets the moment.
"It is going to provide Social Security for kids. That means expanded tax allowance for working and middle class families with kids, so they have more disposable income to spend on high-quality nutrition and other needs. That means guaranteed three and four year old early education for every kid in the country, and that means more affordable childcare for families in all fifty states. This is improving outcomes for kids across America and it's going to be historic.
"We are also taking a big bite out of healthcare costs – what people pay at the counter for prescription drugs, what seniors pay for long term care, what Americans in states without access to Obamacare pay to get coverage.
"And finally, we are finally going to take the big, bold action necessary to meet the climate emergency with clean energy tax credits and a host of other climate resiliency measures. The Build Back Better agenda is historic, it's necessary, and we are going to get it done."
On Selling the Progressive Agenda:
"[Passing this legislation is] critical. Americans need to feel, not just hear, about the legislation that Democrats are enacting. I'm from Massachusetts as you mentioned, right next to Boston. And we just saw on Election Night my friend Michelle Wu become the next Mayor of Boston. Michelle ran on a progressive platform, but with a 'get it done' attitude and agenda. And I think that is the balance that Democrats are going to want to strike nationally. We are going to be unapologetic, be big and bold about what we're trying to accomplish for this country, whether it is ensuring voting rights, whether it is investing in our infrastructure, whether it is improving outcomes for kids. But we're going to do it in a way that is concrete and really lets people feel the deliverables that we're enacting."
To learn more about Jake Auchincloss, visit https://jakeforma.com or connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.