CRLSstrong     AND THE  MARATHON DAY BOMBINGS




Cambridge, Mass. -- The CRLSstrong Community Gathering (twitter: #CRLSstrong) will be held on Sunday, April 28, 2013 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Joan Lorentz Park on the corner of Ellery Street and Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138.




In the aftermath of the Marathon Day bombings,  all of us continue to grieve for those who died and their families and those who were seriously injured and their families. The resiliency of the community is remarkable but, even on these spring days, there is a strong chill in the air due to these events.

For many people in Cambridge, these events have come very close to home. For our neighbors, family members were seriously hurt. Others have friends who were affected.

Especially for young people, the fact that one of the bombers was a a member of the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School community, a very highly regarded recent graduate, is shocking. After this news spread over night, our children, and those of other friends, called early in the morning to report the news in case we had not heard. Classmates and teachers of the suspect expressed dismay and even disbelief -- having known him is a responsible,  friendly, smart person.

CRLS is known for its diversity and the learning experience that comes from going to school with people of many backgrounds. Sure there are cliques as there are among teenagers and we do not think of it as Utopia  There are plenty of challenges and difficulties there. But we in Cambridge do think of CRLS as a community that fosters learning and personal growth.

So this has been a time of sadness for many here in Cambridge.

Thus on Sunday, there will be a gathering to show the strength of community around Cambridge rindge and Latin School.  

BE SHOCKED   --   FAMILY HOMELESSNESS IN MA
   


The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute came out with a report today that documents how badly low-income homeless families are being treated in Massachusetts. I worked on this issue when I was in the Legislature. While there are some positive, though underfunded, efforts underway to provide longer term housing, these efforts are far from assuring that all families have a roof over their heads.

The safety net has more than frayed in this period of recession in which family situations are tougher for more families. It has large holes.

I am particularly concerned about the children in these families. We now have research that shows the enormously negative impact that great stress has on the brains of young children. Continued stress is toxic and this is a life time impact on the brain and life of these children.

Read the report:

http://www.mlri.org/uploads/12/fc/12fc1058ba4fdb3d0d4883d082aed86d/Out-in-the-Cold-FINAL.pdf

VULNERABLE FAMILIES: PLATFORM PLANKS FOR DEMOCRATS

Alice K. Wolf

48 Huron Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 Phone (617) 868 - 9653 E-mail Alicekwolf@gmail.com www.alicewolf.org

MA Democratic platform hearing – Cambridge –April 6 2013

PROPOSED PLATFORM PLANKS RELATED TO LOW-INCOME, AT RISK FAMILIES

Supporting the lives of low-income families at risk through appropriate financial support and by providing assistance to exit this status is basic to Democratic values. This is an imperative for humane reasons and also ultimately impacts the economic future of the Commonwealth. This is especially true regarding the manner in which State policy impacts poor children.

1.    Improve the economic stability of low-income households by recognizing the enormous loss in buying power of welfare grants over the last 25 years and increasing those grants; supporting increased education and training and transportation assistance for those able potentially to move from welfare to work; and providing adequate staffing and technology to improve the TAFDC system.

2.    Move more rapidly toward the goal of a permanent roof over the heads of families who are now homeless, while maintaining the fall back of homeless shelters for families including those who are at imminent risk of having to stay in places not meant for human habitation.

3.    Recognizing that research now shows that the early years are critical in successful education for all children, but especially those who have some of the risk factors of poverty, instability or trauma in family life, or disabilities, assure that high quality, early education and care opportunities are available for all children who are at risk.

MORE ON THE VALUE AND NEED FOR EARLY EDUCATION

ECONOMIC SCENE Studies Highlight Benefits of Early Education BY EDUARDO PORTER Some economists say the government should focus on programs for infants and toddlers, which may be better at reducing inequalities between the rich and the poor.

Or, copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://nyti.ms/16uFmdB

MARY BONAUTO -- A HERO IN THE GLBTQ COMMUNITY  


The following article highlighting the years of strategic leadership and legal work by Mary Bonauto appeared in the New York Times yesterday after  US Supreme Court hearings on the constitutionality of proposition 8 in California and on the federal DOMA.

Maine Lawyer Credited in Fight for Gay Marriage BY SHERYL GAY STOLBERG Mary Bonauto, of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, has only a sideline seat this week, but she spent a decade plotting a careful strategy.

Or, copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://nyti.ms/XGBWyG

The article gives Mary appropriate credit for her work on same-sex marriage. 

For me, there is more to say. Mary was the lawyer who helped me and the members of the Domestic Partners task force I created when I was Mayor of Cambridge in 1990 to draft the Cambridge Domestic Partners' ordinance. Remember part of recent history is, when that ordinance passed the Cambridge City Council in 1992, (by a 5-4 vote that was a bold step.  

Mary was also involved in my years of legislative work on both domestic partners and same sex marriage.

I had the pleasure of being present for the oral arguments in the Massachusetts marriage case. Mary's presentation was superb and, of course, the outcome changed history.

Besides her superb strategic sense and legal capabilities, Mary is one of the nicest people I know. That comes across in her sensitivity to the judges and, though I am not an expert on this, would give her a leg up before any judge. 

I am proud to know Mary Bonauto and consider her a friend. 

SAME SEX MARRIAGE  --  FASCINATING LEGAL HISTORY


Thanks to Arthur Lipkin for emailing this article to me.

Wedding Bells - NYTimes.com BY LINDA GREENHOUSE As the Supreme Court prepares to take up the question of same-sex marriage, it seems worth remembering how much has changed without the Supreme Court’s ever addressing the issue directly.

As someone who has been a leader in furthering gay rights for many years, the history is fascinating and the progress is gratifying. Let us remember, however, there are still many places where discrimination reigns and where people are hurt as a result.

MA DEMS HOLD PLATFORM HEARING APRIL 6

             

Party platforms sometimes seem like only words. However, they do represent the views of the party at a given period of time. They can be more than words if elected officials are held accountable for the planks they contain.

There is an extensive process of hearings in which  the public can make known their concerns . Then a Platform Committee crafts the actual document. The party convention then endorses, or amends, that document to have a final platform for the coming years.

The hearing described below is part of the Massachusetts Democratic party  process to adopt a platform for the state party. Participate. Let your views and concerns be known.

      FINAL MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM HEARING IN CAMBRIDGE 

                     Saturday, April 6   1 Pm  Main Cambridge Public Library  Broadway 

Please join us on April 6^th to help shape the values and vision for the Massachusetts Democratic Party for the next four years.

·         What should Mass Dems stand for when it comes to climate change and sustainability?

·         How should we address vulnerable populations and issues such as homelessness, poverty, and immigration?

·         How do we feel about the progressive revenues and expenditures proposals presented by Governor Patrick?

·         What are the Democratic solutions to housing, transportation, and infrastructure?

This will be the last opportunity to weigh in before Cambridge’s thoughts on the platform are sent to the drafting committee and voted on at the convention