Rausch Report: Springtime on Beacon Hill (April 2024)

Your monthly Beacon Hill update from Senator Becca Rausch. 

View this email in your browser Dear Neighbor, Earth Month is a beautiful time of year on Beacon Hill! If you've never been to the State House, or even if you have droves of times, I encourage you to come for a visit and check out everything the people's house offers, inside and out.  Last week I welcomed 10 talented high schoolers hailing from across our district to the State House for our Spring Youth Summit. This annual event gives young adults direct access to the workings of our democracy. The Summit featured an intro session with me and my team, a State House tour, a pizza and policy lunch, and deep discussions on a range of issues including homelessness, AI and social media, youth mental health, and health care access and coverage. With guidance from my staff, students developed and debated ideas, insights, and proposals, culminating with policy pitches to me and my Legislative Director. Take it from me: there is promise in our future leadership.       Youth Summit participants pose on the Senate rostrum with Senator Rausch (left) and present their policy pitches (right). Bringing students together to analyze the issues that matter to them is a great hands-on civics workshop, but that's not the only reason these events are so important. Hearing the concerns of our youth is a key component of representing all of my constituents' needs and interests. During a virtual youth town hall session I convened in 2021, young people spoke courageously about mental health challenges and the need for better and different supports. Working with Samaritans, Inc., within a few weeks I secured funding for a youth mental health text line called Hey Sam. This confidential, peer-to-peer resource has been a tremendous success, connecting thousands of young people to the help they need. Hey Sam is your tax dollars at work, saving lives and helping our youth, both those who text in and those who volunteer.   Read on in this month's Rausch Report for more info about Samaritans' 50th Anniversary celebration, legislative updates, a roundup of upcoming May events and activities in our district, and more.  For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.      Yours in service,     Senator Becca Rausch    Our mailing address is: The Office of Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts State House, Room 215 24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133   This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full contents, please visit ->   https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-17763604?e=409dce3a6f

An Update From Congressman Jake Auchincloss for past 2 weeks (as of May 1, 2024)

Aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW I'm your representative in Congress and I write to keep you informed. Voting in defense of our allies in Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan  Helping Ukraine win CCP's state-sponsored fentanyl poisoning of the United States Advocating for more federal aid to address the migrant crisis           — Bringing drug-pricing policy center stage with the New England Council, Pioneer Institute, and Mass Biotech Council Upholding U.S.-Japanese ties with Consul General Suzuki Speaking to next-generation leaders at MIT Honoring MA-04's own heroic letter carrier Celebrating local talent for the Congressional Art Competition On the Hill Voting in defense of our allies in Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan: During a special Saturday session, I voted to defend our fellow democracies against the axis of China, Russia, and Iran. These autocracies are working together to upend the Pax Americana that has supported freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. The United States must respond by working together with our allies to fight back. The three bills, which will send $95.3 billion to aid our democratic allies, include $60.8 billion to Ukraine, $26.4 billion to Israel, and $8.1 billion to Taiwan, as well as $9.2 billion in humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and elsewhere.  Despite the big price tag, this national security bill is a bargain. For a tenth of what Congress spends annually on the military, we are investing in a free world that is more strong, self-reliant, and safe. The passage of these aid bills is even more critical following Iran's attack on Israel. As I told the Boston Globe:  "If the response to this attack is focused purely on Iran, it would miss the geopolitical reality that Iran, China, and Russia are inextricably linked in an axis opposed to the United States," Auchincloss said. "And they are working together to undermine freedom, democracy, and the rule of law." Helping Ukraine win: I joined MSNBC's "Way Too Early" before the vote to reiterate my support for our allies, and I spoke with Julie Mason afterward to remind listeners that victory in Ukraine is possible. The Ukrainians have the willpower to win, but they need Congress and the President to deliver the firepower. Victory looks like: a secure eastern border, freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, and accession to the European Union in the near term.  The House also passed a bill to increase sanctions against Russia and Iran and to allow the Biden administration to re-possess ~$5 billion in Russian assets, already frozen in the United States, to send to Ukraine. NATO should invest these assets into Ukraine's defense industrial base.  Should Speaker Johnson's job be threatened because he allowed aid to Ukraine to pass, I will vote to table the motion. My colleagues and I are in Washington to govern, and letting extremists sow chaos in the House benefits only the purveyors of clickbait. CCP's state-sponsored fentanyl poisoning of the United States: I expressed my concern about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s encouragement of fentanyl trafficking during a recent Select Committee on China hearing. The Committee released a report on April 16, which you can read here, that details how the CCP is not just facilitating, but subsidizing and abetting the manufacture and export of 97% of all fentanyl precursors. Chinese nationals are also assisting the drug cartels in laundering money from fentanyl trafficking. As I said in the hearing, an authoritarian government that can lock down its population overnight is capable of stopping fentanyl precursor manufacturers from breaking domestic and international laws. Instead, the CCP subsidizes them. The fentanyl crisis we're experiencing in the United States is tantamount to the state-sponsored poisoning of Americans by a foreign adversary. I am working in a bipartisan manner on a legislative response. Advocating for more aid to address the migrant crisis: I joined my colleagues in sending another letter to FEMA Administrator Criswell requesting the swift allocation of Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding to address the migrant crisis. Additionally, the letter requested that FEMA broaden the eligibility criteria for SSP funding, which would allow new non-profit agencies, religious organizations, and groups that have not previously applied or received grants to apply for funding.  Nearly $7 million in SSP funds are on their way to Massachusetts, but this is still not enough to address the full financial scope of shelter and services for migrants. In the second half of 2023, Massachusetts saw a significant increase in families arriving, placing an even greater strain on the shelter system. The last round of SSP funding, allocated in September 2023, did not take into account this increase and failed to provide adequate resources at the time. Today, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development is housing over 3,800 families in hotels in addition to the more than 3,600 families currently in traditional shelters.  I will continue to advocate for the rapid disbursement of remaining FY24 federal funds and work to secure additional funding for Fiscal Year 2025. More fundamentally, America desperately needs immigration reform. I am a cosponsor of the DIGNITY Act, which is bipartisan and comprehensive legislation to upgrade border security and rationalize the naturalization process. I also continue to support the bipartisan border security bill agreed in the Senate but torpedoed by former president Trump for political purposes. Make your voice heard → I want to hear from you. Do you support increased federal Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding for Massachusetts? Onwards, Jake WASHINGTON 15 Independence Avenue SE 1524 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5931 NEWTON 29 Crafts Street Suite 375 Newton, MA 02458 Phone: (617) 332-3333 ATTLEBORO 8 North Main Steet Suite 200 Attleboro, MA 02703 Phone: (508) 431-1110 Contact This newsletter was shortened for publication here. You need to subscribe to get your own copy to get the full contents. Or send me an email and I'll send you the full copy of this. Steve PS - You can also check online ->   https://auchincloss.house.gov/media/enewsletters  this edition is not yet posted there but it may be evntually

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Thursday, May 2, 2024

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Thursday

9:00a/12:00p/6:00p   Franklin Faith Forum

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p   Frank’s Music – Frank Falvey and Jim Derick

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm   Frank Presents – Frank Falvey Presents

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = Thursday

7:00 am Town of Franklin Fallen Heroes Pt 2

8:00 am Veterans' Call: Veterans' Treatment

9:00 am Arts Advocacy: Fundraising

10:30 am SAFE Coalition: Woody Geissman

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Fish

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Meatballs

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Chicken Parmesan

1:00 pm Strawberry Stroll 2022

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Shrimp, Tomato & Greens Pizzetta

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 8

3:00 pm Riffing on Main Street: Michael Walker Jones

4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

5:00 pm Celebration of the Arts

6:30 pm Extended Play Sessions: Season 10 Show 6 - Swinging Steaks

8:00 pm Frank's Musings: Return to Israel

8:30 pm Frank Presents: Dom DeBaggis

9:00 pm Endless Konnections: Natasha Ward Pt 2

10:00 pm Pack 92 Pinewood Derby 2022

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = Thursday

7:00 am MICCA Festival 2019

8:30 am Public School Concert: Horace Mann Winter Music 2023

10:00 am FHS Varsity Baseball v North Attleboro 04-22-24

1:30 pm ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

2:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

6:00 pm Public School Concert: FHS Spring Jazz '22

7:30 pm Critical Conversations: Social Media

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = Thursday

8:00 am Conservation Commission 04-18-24

12:30 pm Master Plan Committee 04-17-24

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 04-18-24

7:00 pm  Conservation Commission  LIVE Chambers  992 4686 7224

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

What's happening Wednesday, May 1, 2024?

Wednesday, May 1

10:00am Veterans Coffee Social
5:30pm SAFE Gala
6:30pm Franklin Art Association

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Meeting schedule

Board of Health Meeting

Event Date:  Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 5:00 pm

Conference Room, 3rd Floor

• audio recording by Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio for podcast later

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_5.1.24_-_google_docs.pdf

Franklin Public Schools Comprehensive Facilities Planning Sub Committee Meeting

Event Date:  Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 5:00 pm

3rd floor training room

• audio recording by Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio for podcast later

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/franklin_public_schools_comprehensive_facilities_planning_sub_committee_meeting.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee

Event Date:  Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 5:45 pm

Council Chambers

• broadcast via cable to Comcast 9, Verizon 29
• broadcast to YouTube at  http://bit.ly/43lBwVE 
• Zoom info - 5:45 pm  EDC  LIVE Chambers  see agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/2024-05-01_edc_agenda_packet.pdf

Town Council Meeting

Event Date:  Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 7:00 pm

Council Chambers

• broadcast via cable to Comcast 9, Verizon 29
• broadcast to YouTube at  http://bit.ly/43lBwVE 
• Zoom info - 7:00 pm Town Council  LIVE Chambers  see agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/tc_agenda_5.1.24.pdf

What's happening Wednesday, May 1, 2024?

Why are there multiple calendars?

There is a Cultural events calendar upon which other community events are layered to create the Community calendar.

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

Watch Listen Read for all the news that matters in Franklin, MA

Watch!  What’s on? Just go to Franklin●TV for our weekly program guide

Watch

• All-Access TV makes sure you have great seats at major Franklin events. Watch the Concerts on the Common, Holiday Celebrations, Parades, Events, Festivals and more – all on local TV. All-Access: We’re all about Franklin.
• Franklin Pride TV spotlights school events. When your kids win, you win. When your kids shine brightly, you beam with pride. If it takes a village to raise a child, then why not let the whole town watch? Celebrate their special moments. – We do. What’s better than bragging rights? Bragging rights on TV – Franklin Pride TV.
• Town Hall TV takes you inside local government. Franklin’s government sets the standard for open meetings. Town Hall TV offers more live, open coverage of more meetings than most community channels. If you want to know what’s happening in Franklin – as it happens – then Town Hall TV is definitely your channel.

All three channels also have programs available on YouTube

• All-Access TV ->  https://bit.ly/3JURLCl
• Franklin Pride TV  -> https://bit.ly/3JTQhYY
• Town Hall TV  -> http://bit.ly/43lBwVE

Listen!  wfpr●fm. or 102.9 on the local Franklin area fm radio dial

• Each week we feature local community conversations by your Franklin friends and neighbors, along with music that spans decades of memorable standards – and all that jazz. You can listen on-line 24/7 – anytime, anywhere – at our website: wfpr●fm.

  

  Franklin Public Radio

• If you have an idea for your own radio program or podcast, we can show you how and get you started. Join our great and growing group of public radio volunteers – our Radio Gang.
• Questions? Want to check out our studio? Just call – or email us at info@wfpr.fm We’d love to hear from you.

Read! If it matters to Franklin, it’s in Franklin Matters  

• Franklin Matters covers as many Town Council, School Committee, and other government meetings as possible; reporting on all the proceedings and details as each meeting progresses. 

  

  Franklin Matters

• Subscribe to the Franklin Matters Newsletter, delivered daily via email. It provides the TV & radio schedule Monday through Friday along with the meeting and event reporting over the past 24 hours. Spend a few  minutes a day to keep up with what matters in Franklin.  
• Visit www.franklin.news/ to subscribe

Earth day, earth month, conversation with Breeki Li, Ryan, Amy & Jamie leads to songs about weather (audio)

FM #1184 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1184 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, Conservation Agent Breeki Li Goodlander and Recreation Director Ryan Jette on Monday, April 29, 2024.    

We get a very brief recap of current events (it’s all about the budget) and jump right into Earth Day and the other activities of the Conservation and Recreation departments

Conservation

• Projects more this year than last
• Friends of Conservation group forming

Recreation 

• Growth in participation 
• Field upgrades at Fletcher & King St
• Beaver Pond has a new kayak launch

We close out with discussion and laughter around the Top 35 songs about weather

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Eu2npqGS0fH9N0Uc0iB5WCitoawIMFdJ/view?usp=drive_link 

Our conversation runs about 41 minutes.    Audio link -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin--A-Podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office---April-29--2024-e2j2h3e/a-ab7j5t3

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Contact info: for Jamie & Amy -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator 

Conservation page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation 

Recreation page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department 

Fact checking update:

• In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be observed on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations. A month later, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea to hold a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970. He hired a young activist, Denis Hayes, to be the National Coordinator. Nelson and Hayes renamed the event "Earth Day"  https://www.earthday.org/history/   

• The group garnered worldwide attention with 1987 album Diesel and Dust. Its singles "The Dead Heart" and "Beds Are Burning" illuminated the plight of indigenous Australians  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Oil 

YouTube playlist of the "weather songs" ->

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2XKlvMgLAnp1WMUR3vAtWNuAJ6ziK1d&si=tNTGfeWOCn7JAKPw

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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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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"

Earth day, earth month, conversation with Breeki Li, Ryan, Amy & Jamie leads to songs about weather (audio)

School Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)

The School Committee Budget Subcommittee met as scheduled on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 6:00 PM. The started late, left just before 7 PM and hence the full Committee meeting started a little late.

The agenda doc ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/franklin_public_schools_budget_sub_committee_meeting.pdf

Download the PDF  handout of fee increases ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-9L1xop0J7YXYmy9K0rcb0cuMehLj9gy/view?usp=drive_link

My notes captured during the meeting

• Chair David McNeill opens meeting at 6:09 PM, business meeting public invited with watch listen, to participate at discretion of the chair
• Recap of the 4/24 Joint Meeting by Supt Giguere. Coordinated with OCPF to get opinion on videos prepared, can host, can't send directly
• Once the TA FY 2025 budget was released, they could work toward how to cover the shortfall ($6.3m) if the override is not approved by the Town Council, or if approved but does not pass the community vote. Some fee increases, anticipating approx 30 FTE...
• Reduction of supplies within buildings across the board, stipends, mentor, etc. $4.7m reductions after the fee increases. 30 FTE is a significant reduction, negative impact to quality of education, class size, offerings, extra curricular activities, etc.
• The model was put forward, if any variation, that would require an adjustment somewhere else in the budget
• No decisions have been made on positions or roles specifically, they will continue to look at the numbers as the scenario develops/evolves (i.e. override yes and what the # might be)
• Potential use of retirement to help balance but that position is removed ... A loss to the district if the position is not filled
• Fee increases proposed were designed to self fund the program, not to generate additional revenue to be used overall (can't be done anyway). The natural area to look at is class size, then to the required programs looking at electives and AP classes, can't charge for an ...AP course, can only charge for the AP exam.
• Even with fee increases to meet the purpose, as astronomical as they appear, they don't help alleviate the other cuts. Largest expense for the district is staff, period. So reducing expenses means reducing staff
• Athletics first, total cost for each sport, then worked to get to a cost per student, divided into tier, largest cost tier 1
• All programs for athletics is about $1m; approx $400k from fees currently, $600k balance previously covered by budget ...
• Tier 1 fees approx $1k, tier 2 at about $600, tier 3 at about $350 Does include post season costs assuming teams were successful enough to gain that.
• Attrition could be seen at the JV and subJV levels affecting the varsity level at some point with talent feed/development
• Transportation currently at $600 could go to $1100/per to self funding this program. Even with an override, transportation fees may rise anyway to keep pace with cost
• 20% increase for ECDC anticipated, IEP students do not pay, building use rental increase of 5% projected tier level of support required
• Possible parking fee, $125/vehicle to manage overall parking process
• Model can be posted, didn't want to get ahead of the guidance of the subcmte
• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0
  

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1185-fps-budget-subcmte-mtg-04-30-24

-------------

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"

School Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)