Next FDC Meeting Date: June 12th, 2022 at 7:00

 

Meeting Attendees:  All FDC members listed, those in BOLD were present

Members: Lori Bornstein, Christopher Broyles, Tracey Bryant, Jeanne Bullock, Jerry Desilets,  Patrick Dunne,  Mary Kate Feeney,  Barbara Fontes,  Adam Freudberg,  Kurt Fusaris, Linda Fields , Ruth Litter, Audrey Hall, Jim Hansen, Leslie White Harvey,  Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley, Beverly Hugo,  Mike Hugo, Shahid Khan,  Ohad Klopman, Doug Lawrence, Barbara LeDuc,  Caraline Levy, Chris Lorant, Jack Patrick Lewis, David Magnani, Thom Mahoney, Betty Muto, Kathie McCarthy, Amanda Northrup, Phil Ottaviani, Isabella Petroni, Cindy Rubin, Margareth Shepard,  Norma Shulman,  Ravi Simon, Priscila Sousa, Yvonne Spicer,  Adam Steiner, John Stephanini, Cesar Stewart-Morales, Jim Stockless,  Larry Stoodt, Cheryl Tully-Stoll,  Parwez Wahid,  Mel Warshaw 

 

Associate Members: Maureen Dunne, Ricky Finlay, Karen Garafolo, David Gordon, Tilia Klebenov Jacobs, Andrew Machkasov, Joan Rastani, Pamela Roberts, Brandon Ward, Joel Winett

 

Guests: William LaBarge, Mark Dassoni, Peter Chisholm, Jaqueline Crawford Haas – Weston, Bret Bero, David Rosenblum, Kate Donaghue, Brooke Harvey, Danielle Gregoire, Judy Leavey, Juan Gallego (Team Driscoll), Lucas Benjamin, Adam Hinds, Tami Gouveia, Josh Troop, Chuck Lidz, Alex Bausch

 

7:02 – 7:04 Welcome, Announcements and Updates – Chair Mike Hugo

 

7:05 – 8:15 Meet the Lt. Governor Candidates 

– all were offered 12 minutes total for a statement and Q&A

Brett Bero spoke for  12 minutes

Mayor Kim Driscoll spoke for 12 minutes, local Meet and Greet this Saturday at Adam Steiner’s home

Sen. Adam Hinds – spoke for 12 minutes

Rep. Tami Gouveia – spoke for 12 minutes

Sen. Eric Lesser – spoke for 12 minutes

 

8:02- 8:05 Mission Statement review – Rozzy Hooper-Hammersley read the new Democrats mission statement

 

8:05 – 8:07 Treasurer’s Report – Larry Stoodt 

• Most members owe dues for the new year, please PAY!
• In the last month, we collected $ 155.00 in dues, $0.17 in interest, paid no bills and have an ending bank balance of 4185.28
•  New dues cycle began April 2022.  $20 Member /$15 Associate can pay by Act Blue, but check is preferred, to save $0.79 Act Blue admin fee,  please mail to Larry Stoodt at 615 Belknap Road, 01701.
• Motion to approve McCarthy, seconded Shulman, approved unanimously.

 

8:18      Acceptance of Minutes – Doug Lawrence, Secretary

` Motion to accept:  McCarthy, unanimously approved

 

8:20 Reports from City Council, School Committee and Mayor

 

Councilor Steiner – relatively quiet time, but budget is very active for Adam who is on the Finance Sub Committee.  The revitalized Welcoming Ordinance committee had its first meeting, reconvened by Mayor Sisitsky, Adam is chair, Priscila, Cesar are on the committee.  Sensitive discussion of limiting soliciting in traffic on highways is under way.   Public hearing on budget is 23rd.

 

School Comm Chair Priscila Sousa – Member Finley resigned, working to fill position.  Framingham is the first School District in Commonwealth to pass a Climate Change Policy, in the works since 2019.   SC has joined a lawsuit against Juul vaping.   Framingham will return to MASC, with City leaders on panels.   Title IX anniversary is 1 June.   We will hold our first graduation on a Friday night, and School Comm members will address assembled students for the first time in all 3 major languages spoken in the City.

 

School Comm Adam Freudberg – Budget season $4.43M of Ch 70 money did not go directly to schools, but will go to City education costs.  Health costs rising 7%, inflation will strain budgets.

 

School Comm Beverly Hugo – Following first reading, 4-0 vote to refer Climate Change policy back to full School Committee for Second reading.   On Wed night, second reading and implementation.  Public comment at start of SC Meeting is welcome, or via internet.

 

School Comm William Labarge – Hello!

 

8:35 Report from our Legislative Delegation  

 

Jack Patrick Lewis –   $11.8M additional Ch 70 funding for Framingham in new State budget..  Drivers License for people without legal immigrant status bill has passed with margin to overcome governor’s veto.   Budget process is underway, legal aid to be increased, universal school meals, bill to ban child marriage, bill for Common Application for state benefits.   MA will be a state supporting reproductive justice, including people from out of state.

Danielle Gregoire – Danielle serves as joint chair of house committee on Bonding.  Governor is seeking to bond excessive amount, lock in his priorities as term ends.   Transport bond bill, Economic Development bond bill.  House is precluding expansion of Dept of Corrections.  Meeting with Mayor Sisitsky about state support for the City.

 

8:48 State Committee Report & Convention Update – Parwez Wahid & Norma Shulman 

• Convention briefing was conducted last Saturday, hybrid convention on Zoom and at Library
  • Facebook Live is on FDC website, Parwez will send out the slide deck via email
• VOATZ app will be used for voting, so download the app and install ahead of time,  should vote faster
  • check-in and voting will be on the app
  • remote or in-person participation options
  • some Friday night parties
  • 10am gavel, 11am role call
  • Important to fulfill your delegate responsibilities
  • DON’T leave early, some votes may be near the end of the day
  • Indoor masking will be required
  • Credentials should be issued by 16th, if you don’t have them by 22nd, call the State party at 617-939-0800, Joe Sherlock is the MPD contact

9:00    Subcommittee Reports, discussions, actions, and votes:

• • Bylaws – Mel Warshaw – no report

• Communications – Jim Hansen – no report

• Civics Education – Beverly Hugo  – we met today, strategic goals:   1) Where to vote/how to vote, 2) 6th Middlesex candidate questionnaire, candidate forum, and profiles on website 3) GOTV.  Next meeting June 12 4-5pm

• Environmental/Climate Change – Larry Stoodt

• Legislative – Doug Lawrence  => Ravi Simon

• • • Resolution: Andrew Machkasov presented a resolution opposing a ballot measure to force the state to class drivers (Uber Lyft, etc) as independent contractors.   Heavily financially backed by big tech companies.  Lyft alone donated $13M to back campaign. At suggestion of the FDC Chair, tabled to be read for a vote at the next meeting in June.  

• Outreach – Parwez Wahid

• Programming – Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley & Cesar Stewart-Morales

• • Anti-Racisim working group met, the third phase is beginning.   Mission Statement, Vision Statement are prepared, a  buddy system for welcoming prospective members is proposed.
    • Survey:  we had 66% of FDC members returned surveys, analysing data to be shared
    • Ran spectrum of responses: some find it an invitation to shake up FDC, some are threatened.
    • What would move someone to join FDC?
    • Importance of sharing power
    • Need actionable measurable goals
    • Does FDC encourage a perception as a safe space?

9:15 New Business, member announcements, general announcements for the good of the order

• MetroWest Blue & Beyond, Voter Suppression Project, Sen. David Magnani & Nanette Magnani

• • • you will get email on Metrowest Blue and Beyond with invite to an event: 
    • May 25th zoom call 7pm for 1 hour event with Dir of Turn PA Blue, The New PA project
      • Organizing Core 2020 is template, but OC2020 is no longer functioning
      • Focus on Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina (NC event raised $7K)

• Election activities and opportunities

• • Margareth’s kickoff event is tomorrow evening at Tropical Cafe, mask required, all are welcome

9:33      Adjourned at 9:33 –  moved by Kathy McCarthy, seconded by L Stoodt, passed by acclamation

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Doug Lawrence
Secretary, FDC

 

Special Note: If you or a loved one are experiencing any issues that we can help with during this extraordinary time please contact the Chair or any Officer and we will do all we can to get services or meet any needs that we can for that person, we would be honored to render discreet aid to anyone in need, to the best of our abilities.

Next FDC Meeting Date: June 12th, 2022 at 7:00PM