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, Danielle Gregoire, Audrey Hall, Jim Hansen, Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley, Shahid Khan, Doug Lawrence, Barbara LeDuc, Caraline Levy, Chris Lorant, Jack Patrick Lewis, David Magnani, Tom Mahoney, Betty Muto, Kathie McCarthy, Amanda Northrup, Phil Ottaviani, Isabella Petroni, Cindy Rubin, Margareth Shepard, Norma Shulman, Priscila Sousa, Yvonne Spicer, Adam Steiner, John Stefanini, Cesar Stewart-Morales, Jim Stockless, Larry Stoodt, Cheryl Tully-Stoll, Parwez Wahid, Mel Warshaw, Leslie White Harvey
Associate Members: Brook Harvey, Tilia Klebenov-Jacobs, William LaBarge, Diane Markowitz, Joan Rastani, Pamela Roberts, Ricardo Robles, Meghan Todd, Brandon Ward, Joel Winett
Guests: Ann Jeffris, Mayor Charles Sisitsky, Matt Chilliak, Susan Petroni, Kate Donoghue, Jonathan Cohn, Michael Cannon
AGENDA
7:00-7:05PM Welcome and Reading of FDC Mission Statement – Rozzy Hooper-Hamersley, Co-Chair
7:05 – 7:10 Preliminary announcements – Cesar Stewart-Morales, Co-Chair
7:10 – 7:15 Treasurer’s Report – Larry Stoodt
7:15 – 7:25 Acceptance of Minutes – Doug Lawrence – May 2023, June 2023, August 2023
7:25 – 8:00 Guest: Framingham Mayor Charles Sisitsky, Update: Refugees in Framingham, other matters as time permits
8:00 – 8:10 Jessie Mermell, President, DeWit Impact Group – DEFERRED TO OCTOBER MEETING
Jessie will speak on the Transportation Network Driver Bill of Rights, a bill enabling basic benefits and unionization of Uber and Lyft.
8:10 – 8:20 Matt Chilliak, Political Director, Congressman Seth Moulton’s office
Matt will speak on a proposal to set aside Add-On Seats for military veterans at future Massachusetts State Democratic Conventions.
8:20 – 8:30 FDC Member Nominations – Vote to be held at October Meeting (C. Stewart-Morales)
- Nominations for 3 Full Member vacancies
- Nominations for Associate Members
8:30 – 8:40 Announcement of future FDC Meetings, discussion of proposed weekday meetings
– Parwez Wahid
8:40 – 8:50 Reports from City Council, School Committee
8:50 – 9:00 Reports from our Legislative Delegation
9:00 – 9:05 Reports from State Dem Committee: Norma Shulman, Parwez Wahid, Kathie McCarthy
Upcoming: State Convention 23rd, Tsongas Center, Lowell
9:05 – 9:05 Sub – Committee Reports – will be deferred to October
9:05 – 9:10 Announcements – from members, future events, etc.
9:10 Adjourn
MINUTES
7:04-7:05PM Welcome and Reading of FDC Mission Statement – Rozzy Hooper-Hamersley, Co-Chair
7:05 – 7:10 Preliminary announcements – Cesar Stewart-Morales, Co-Chair
Thanks for Democrats supporting the refugee appeal from CS Morales. We will continue to seek to help the refugee situation, and support agencies that have taken the lead in relief efforts.
7:10 – 7:15 Treasurer’s Report – Larry Stoodt (in Larry’s absence, As Read by Doug Lawrence)
Balance as on 05/23/23 $ 4275.87
Income
Dividend as on 06/30/23 $ 00.17
Dividend as on 07/31/23 $ 00.18
Dividend as on 08/31/23 $ 00.18
Total Income $ .53
Previous Balance + Income $ 4276.40
Total Expenses $ 00.00
BALANCE AS OF 9/01/23 $ 4276.40
Motion to Approve: C. Lorant, Second: K. McCarthy. Passed Unanimously
7:15 – 7:25 Acceptance of Minutes – Doug Lawrence – May 2023, June 2023, August 2023
Doug called for amendments to each of the 3 sets of minutes in turn. No amendments were offered, so Doug moved that we hold a single vote to approve all minutes together.
Motion to approve: C. Lorant, Second: K . McCarthy. Passes Unanimously
7:25 – 8:00 Guest: Framingham Mayor Charles Sisitsky, Update: Refugees in Framingham
Issue started end July with an email from state. 10 families were transferred to Red Roof Inn, with no plans to feed or clothe them. Legislators Lewis, Donoghue and Sousa started organizing relief. Food, clothing diapers were needed. Daniel’s Table did meals on weekends, United Way did weekdays in the initial period.
After first weekend Jewish Family Services took over relief coordination. The State is becoming overwhelmed, with >75 towns supporting refugees. 3 hotels in Framingham are now employed, Red Roof Inn and 2 others being kept anonymous to reduce the chance of further white supremacist demonstrations.
The City ran a 50 agency meeting to coordinate response. S. Petroni was coordinating on behalf of the City. Recently the State contracted with SMOC to take over the other 2 hotels. The state is providing nurses and doctors, did medical evaluations. 59 families in the hotels as of today and 47 kids now in Framingham schools.
Saturday afternoon white supremacists were picketing in front of Red Roof Inn with banners that have been used at similar protests in other towns. This has upset Red Roof, and they may pull out of the relief program. FPD is on site during any demonstrations. We were told the National Guard would not come to Framingham, but they did come to all 3 hotels. Protesters were restricted to public spaces and moved on fairly quickly.
Challenges remain: Whole families are staying in single rooms. Feds are dragging their feet on work permits for immigrants, preventing them from earning wages despite very low unemployment in MA, and we have a statewide housing shortage. The City has poor visibility to how many more people may be coming and potential arrival dates. State will provide education funds to reimburse the City. Spinellis now doing 3/7 days meals. Gov Healey called Charlie concerned about picketing, and grateful for our actions. We need to fix immigration laws and add housing. Thank you to everyone who donated, distributed food, etc
To help, contact S. Petroni at her city email is spetroni@framinghamma.gov.
Comments from Democrats: Will be a challenge for the schools, Haitian Creole is a new language group. Would be easy to overwhelm local resources if numbers were to eg. double again. Gov Healey is dealing with this statewide, 76 towns currently hosting people. Need help from Feds on speeding work permits.
8:00 – 8:20 Matt Chilliak, Political Director, Congressman Seth Moulton’s office
Matt will speak on a proposal to set aside Add-On Seats for military veterans at future Massachusetts State Democratic Conventions.
Mr. Chilliak’s remarks: Thanks to Parwez for helping coordinate my appearance this evening. There will be a charter amendment on add-on delegates offered at the State Convention next week. Democrats work hard to be representative of our state population. We add on and create spaces (fair delegate numbers) for underrepresented communities, (disability, LGBTQ, racial, youth etc). Proposal is that in future years that we add a 5th category for veterans. We have roughly 4% of State population who are veterans. We suspect we are hitting 1-2% representation. Vets face difficulties reintegrating, including mental health, homelessness, etc. Taking this action will benefit the Democratic Party, by not allowing GOP to monopolize patriotism/support for vets. There will be no change to the state committee (which has vet seats now), only the delegate body. This is widely supported in small group meetings we have held over the summer. Among over 500 delegates spoken with, roughly 70% are in support, including Healey, Young Dems of Mass, NAACP Pres. Tanisha Sullivan, etc. If you are a delegate, we ask for your support!
Comments from Dems: Veterans can be delegates in many categories, maybe numbers are high already. Perhaps we should collect data for a year? Acknowledge what vets are already doing. A: Veterans group believe we have a problem, and that there is historic discrimination. The military is underrepresented by military vets in the state despite a few very visible Democrats, including Cong. Moulton. Giving an opportunity to draw in vets will be beneficial. There is a terrible legacy of treatment of returning Vietnam vets. Recent (lat 20 years) vets are often activated National Guard who are going through college and paid with years of their lives for their education.
I have become leary of some add-ons, including people who attack democrats. We need to screen add-ons or limit add-ons to people discriminated against, to avoid enabling enemies of the Democratic party a back door into positions they could not win in an election, not because of discrimination, but because fellow Dems feel they are bad for the Party..
Letter to Delegates from Rep. Moulton: https://docs.google.com/document/d/152K2v4EeXkndvh2__P47qaMhwCTz15UIdfjcfKnF8As
Amendment language and FAQ: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wpo8rOCuTd5QYjexubaimeHDAii6wGhy-NFRVD3y19M/
Matt Chilliak’s email is: [email protected]
8:20 – 8:30 FDC Member Nominations – C. Stewart-Morales
Seeking Nominations for 3 Full Member vacancies:
2 nominations have been carried for several meetings now without voting:
Leslie White Harvey
Isabel Petroni
New Nominations (to be voted on in October):
Brandon Ward – Nominated by R. Hooper-Hamersley, Seconded by K. McCarthy
Motion to close Full Member nominations – C. Lorant, Second K. McCarthy.
Motion to vote on 2 full members we have nominated months ago tonight: N. Shulman, Seconded by K. McCarthy
Chair invited Isabella and Leslie spoke for approx. 1 minute each.
Chair held a vote to accept these 2 new members: unanimous vote to accept L.W. Harvey and I. Petroni as Full Members.
Nominations for Associate Members
Motion from the Chair: Approve each separately:
2 Prior nominees In Favor Opposed Abstention
Ricardo Robles 23 0 0
Meghan Todd 21 0 2
8:30 – 8:40 Announcement of future FDC Meetings, discussion of weekday meetings – Parwez Wahid
There is difficulty locating in person meeting space on Sunday nights. We will do a written proposal for the next years’ meetings, targeting Thursday night, 6:30 at a City Library. We can discuss this further at the October meeting. Note that the October meeting will be on Thursday, October 19th at 6:30 PM at McAuliffe.
8:40 – 8:50 Reports from City Council and School Committee
City Council – Adam Steiner: Unanimous vote to approve Rich Robles for School Committee unfinished term formerly held by B. Hugo. Community Center: Mayor has been authorized by Council to buy the former Marian HS. Lots of discussion ahead. Auditorium and Gym available and in excellent condition. The new South Side Elementary has also progressed as City have come to agreement with Sisters of St Joseph on the 32 acre Bethany Hill property. Once we own the land, City will be applying to State for funds to build.
School Comm – Adam Freudberg: I am very proud of Framingham response to support asylum seekers. 450 new kids entering the schools. Beverly Hugo is being replaced by Rich Robles on SC who looks like he will be very strong. 8 of 9 school comm members are returning / unopposed, and 1 new member is unopposed, so composition of School Comm is largely known and will be experienced people. Charter Review committee feedback is being prepared. FY25 capital budget kickoff is starting. Vaccines will be starting this month. Get your boosters!
Willy LaBarge – Issue of having lots of ESL kids in schools, Creole French will be a new challenge.
8:50 – 9:00 Reports from our Legislative Delegation – Kate Donoghue spoke briefly to say that the Legislative Delegation worked together with Mayor and Council on refugees. It is a crisis throughout the State. Defer other remarks until the rest of the delegation can be coordinated.
9:00 – 9:05 Reports from State Dem Committee: Norma Shulman, Parwez Wahid, Kathie McCarthy
Upcoming: State Convention 23rd, Tsongas Center, Lowell
Norma: Parwez ran delegate training; video will be posted on MassDems.org. State Dems are sending emails in the lead up to convention. There will be 2 Breakfasts on Sat AM: 1 by Seth Moulton, 1 by Sen Warren and Labor. If you need a carpool, approach one of the State Comm Members. Parwez: Call to order will be at 10am, breakfasts at 9am, workshops at 8am. Kathie: Would be interested in Carpooling, contact us. Kurt: Will be there Sat 7AM for Thrive Act (end high stakes testing), seeking signatures.
9:05 – 9:05 Sub – Committee Reports – will be deferred to October
9:05 – 9:10 Announcements – from members, future events, etc.
From Larry Stoodt: You are invited to attend Framingham’s City Council Candidates Climate Forum on Saturday,October 21, 2023. This forum is being sponsored by Energize Framingham, the Plymouth Church UCC – Green Team, the First Parish UUA – Climate Action Team and Transition Framingham. At our 2021 event, we had over 100 real-time attendees and nearly 300 views of the recording within 48 hours.
Phil Ottaviani will be holding an event for Lt Gov. K. Driscoll on Oct 11th at his home.
9:10 Adjourn Moved by R. Hooper-Hamersley, seconded by K. McCarthy, unanimously accepted.