Framingham Green Community Room
136 Maynard Rd., Framingham, MA 01701
Call to Order: Chair, Beverly Hugo, 7:12 PM
Welcome, Announcements & Updates: Concern – interference – talking during meeting;
Larry Stoodt – injury while canvassing in NH, broken leg, wishing him a speedy recovery;
Parwez Wahid – condolences in the passing of his mother.
Information available – important dates; how to run for delegate; what is special about FDC; call out for census workers/applications available $27.50/hr. will send link.
Invitation – Natick Town Hall – 2/26/20 “Swing Left” send postcards to voters in TX re: Roe Act.
Attendance: Members: Lori Bornstein, Christopher Broyles, Jeanne Bullock, Robert Case, Carmen Chico, Jack Duffy, Patrick Dunne, Barbara J. Fontes, Adam Freudberg, Kurt Fusaris, Gwen Holbrow, Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley, Beverly Hugo, Michael Hugo, Steve Joyce, Barbara LeDuc, Rep. Jack Lewis, Christopher Lorant, Farooq Mirza, Amanda Northrop, Rep. Maria Robinson, Cindy Rubin, Norma Shulman, Jim Stockless, Cheryl Tully-Stoll, Parwez Wahid, Mel Warshaw. Associate: Mario Alvarez, Doug Lawrence, Andrew Machkason, Pamela Roberts, Dhruba Sen, Cesar Stewart-Morales, Joel Winnett.
Reports: Capitol Hill: none. State House: State Reps. Jack Patrick Lewis & Maria D. Robinson – Roe Act extended to May 12, 2020. Under discussion gun safety, Election Day registration, immigration bill. Transportation bill: progressive side – revenue by corporation, corporate minimum by tier. I-90 Allston Project 2023, funding questionable.
March 16, 2020 Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis re-election kickoff.
Reports: City Council: Adam Steiner. Subcommittee assignments; second mtg.
City Council: G. King, Jr. Chair, A. Steiner, vice-chair. Economic Development: M. Cannon, Chair, C. Long, vice-chair. Environmental & Sustainability: C. Stewart-Morales, Chair, M. Shepard, vice-chair; first mtg. 3/2/2020, 7PM re: solar panels. Finance: A. Steiner, Chair, M. Cannon, vice-chair; discussion FY’21 budget; Perrini purchase. Ordinance & Rules: J. Stefanini, Chair, T. Bryant, vice-chair. Planning/Zoning: C. Long, Chair, P. Ottaviani, vice-chair. Public Health, Safety & Transportation: J. Leombruno, Chair, T. Bryant, vice-chair. Education, Library, Arts & Culture: R. Case, Chair, C. Stewart-Morales, vice-chair.
Office hours w/A. Steiner & G. King, Jr. – B. Sisters Café. R. Case – mtg. 2/25/20 re: Perrini
purchase. Michael Gatlin – Chair, SIFOC.
School Committee: B. Hugo & A. Freudberg w/ FPS Superintendent to meet w/ Sen. Pres. Karen Spilka – Ed. reform – Student Opportunity Act; 6.8 million more (preliminary), chap.70; Ed. Comissioner; 7 subcommittees. March 18, 2020, School Com. Budget.
B Hugo, concerns – teaching & learning, health & wellness, climate change.
Secretary’s Report: Barbara J. Fontes, Secretary. Minutes of 10/20/19 Business mtg.
Motion to accept – M. Hugo, second R. Hooper-Hamersley. Passes w/ 1 abstention.
Treasurer’s Report: March 27, 2020. Larry Stoodt, Treasurer
Balance as on February 29, 2020 $4618.69
Income
Dues 1/15/20 136.00
CU Dividend as on 1/31/20 0.39
CU Dividend as on 2/29/20 0.37
Previous Balance & Income $4755.45
Expenses
Total Expenses 0
BALANCE AS OF 2/29/20 $4755.45
Dues: M. Shepard, N. Shulman, B. Muto, J. Bullock, L. Stoodt.
Candidates & Campaigns: State: Joe Kennedy III – progressive Democrat, activist, “public face,” national stage, “future of Democratic Party” (A. Steiner). Sen. Ed Markey. Liam Horsman, Metrowest field organizer. Framingham Caucus 3/8/20.
Presidential: Primary 3/3/2020. M. Bloomberg – fossil fuel, gun reform. Sen. E. Warren – field offices in all states; phone bank – every Thursday, Framingham Green (N. Shulman).
Progressive Massachusetts. John P. Kirk, Needham. Citizen participation; 501c4. Interest in forming a Framingham chapter; every citizen > lobbyist for progressive change; focus –
state politics. Platform: economic, social & racial justice; advocate for those bills, school funding, criminal reform.
Subcommittee Reports: Communications: M. Hugo. Framingham Democrats – facebook – “open page”; twitter – ideological changes between twitter & instagram.
Hospitality: A. Northrop. Thank you!
Legislative: K. Fusaris/B. LeDuc. “We the People Act” 2015; constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. M. Hugo – 2015 we had signed into We the People. H 3999 – pipeline expansion; vaccinations & public health.
S 2359 – promoting community immunity. H 2010 extended to June 2020. S 929 non-disclosure agreement. Earth Day, April 25, 2020 – activities.
Programming & Charity: R. Hooper-Hamersley. Continue to represent local groups; exhibit our values. United Way of Tri-County, 46 Park St. Framingham, MA, Call2Talk 24 hr. suicide prevention hotline. Framingham Coalition – Isabella Perez – supports students & parents, advocates on their behalf.
Organizing Corps 2020: D. Magnani. Report (M. Hugo) National organization; recruits inner city college students and trains them with skills needed (get paid)to work on the 2020 Democratic Presidential campaign; return to their communities within the 7 battleground states – AZ, GA, FL, PA, NC, MI, WI.
Election of Associate Member – Andrew Machkason; contact Chair, express interest; vote next mtg. Motion – N. Shulman; second, C. Lorant. Congrats Andrew. Joel Winnett request membership, April vote.
Discussion of upcoming events: Caucus – Sunday, 3/8/20; begins 2:00 PM, registration by 2:15 PM; 34 slots, 17/17.
Annual mtg. & Reorganization – 30 days after 3/3/2020 primary – 4/5/2020.
MA Democratic State Convention – May 29-30, 2020, Tsongas Arena, Lowell.
Democratic Nat’l Convention – July 13-16, 2020, Milwaukee, WI.
State Committee Report: N. Shulman, info/papers available; 3/3/2020 absentee & early voting.
Lifetime Members: N. Shulman, P. Dunne, C. Tully-Stoll – honored at future date.
“Thank you for promoting our democratic values.” Beverly Hugo.
Motion to adjourn – M. Hugo; second R. Case, Passed.
FDC meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara J. Fontes, Secretary