Newton Dems Official Blog

Gov. Patrick to Visit Newton on Saturday March 13

Shawn P. Fitzgibbons — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:33:16 +0000

The Governor playing bingo at the Newton Senior Center during a recent visit.

Governor Deval Patrick will be in Newton this coming SATURDAY, MARCH 13th at the law firm of Rosenberg, Friedman and Goldstein, 246 Walnut Street (across from Newtonville Camera) to talk with Newton residents about his reelection campaign.

The Governor will arrive at 10:30 and will discuss his campaign. Please bring a friend! We will have nomination papers and campaign materials (including bumper stickers and lapel stickers).

RSVP:danandmar@earthlink.net or 617-964-6318

NEWTV Program: More Gambling?

Tim Snyder — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:03:32 +0000

Producers Barbara John and Paul Sears recorded and edited a program from the public forum held on January 14, 2010 at the Scandinavian Living Center on the topic of Whether or Not to Expand Gambling in Massachusetts either with destination casinos or slot machines. The forum was moderated by forner Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.

It is on NewTV's Blue public access channel (Comcast 10, RCN 15, Verizon 34)

"Casino Gambling in Massachusetts: A Debate":

> Friday, March 5, 2:30 pm
> Thursday, March 11, 10:30 am
> Friday, March 19, 2:30 pm
> Thursday, March 25, 10:30 am
> Saturday, April 3, 12:00 am
> Thursday, April 8, 10:30 am
> Saturday, April 17, 12:00 am
> Thursday, April 22, 10:30 am

Reclaiming the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District MA Senate Seat for the Democratic Party

Shawn P. Fitzgibbons — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:00:40 +0000

There's an old saying: an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure.....

With Scott Brown off to Washington DC on (a temporary!) assignment Massachusetts Democrats have an opportunity to reclaim the State Senate seat he held. Right now there are two great Democrats who have declared their candidacies. I have been in touch with both their campaigns, and they would love to have help from their neighbors in Newton.

State Representative Lida Harkins

During her tenure at the State House, Harkins has been devoted to improving public education, advancing equal rights for women and minorities, expanding access to healthcare for Massachusetts residents, and advocating for strengthened labor conditions. Her leadership has helped save municipalities billions of dollars, most notably in her role to reform the school building construction financing program and through the restructuring of special education reimbursement law.

Peter Smulowitz, MD

Peter Smulowitz is running to be your State Senator to offer a new direction for Massachusetts. Peter offers a fresh perspective on our most pressing challenges: building jobs, fixing the cost of health care, preserving our environment, and ensuring the success of our schools. Peter Smulowitz is an ER doctor and engaged community member who has spent his career caring for and fighting for his patients, and he will do the same as our State Senator.

The special election's timeframe is short - primary on April 13 and general on May 13 - and one of these candidates will face a tough Republican opponent. It is important for Newton Dems to lend a hand in this race. Please take a moment to get to know the two declared Democratic candidates and contact their campaigns to help strengthen their candidacies so they are strong heading in to the general election.

Scott Brown: Let's Make Sure To Notice His Votes

Shawn P. Fitzgibbons — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:00:24 +0000

Don't let the truck and jacket fool you: Senator Scott Brown is no friend of working families in Massachusetts.

This week Scott Brown joined with his Republican colleagues to vote against President Obama's appointment of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board, a key agency which protects the rights of employees to organize and bargain collectively with employers. It was a "pro-jobs" vote, Brown said, not "anti-union."

Certainly illicited a strange reaction from the unions, then:

But labor unions, furious about the vote, characterized Brown’s decision as a display of unabashed partisanship.

“So much for his alleged independence,’’ Rich Rogers, executive secretary-treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council, said last night in a telephone interview. “He’s immediately capitulated to the Republicans.’’

Going forward here on the Newton Dems blog we'll keep highlighting votes that Senator Brown makes which are out of touch with the needs of Massachusetts working families. If we miss any, please let us know. There will no doubt be many.

2010 Congressional Outlook - Updated for March

Newton Dems — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:59:50 +0000

Update: Here is the outlook for March! - Congress and Senate

While cable-news pundits breathlessly talk about a 'wave of Democratic retirements' as some D's announce their departures, the fact is that more Republican members of the House and Senate have announced their retirements this year.

Regardless, 2010 will shape up to be an interesting year. The recent election of Scott Brown here in Massachusetts have many wondering ...will Dems hold on to their strong majorities in the House and Senate? Of course, the answer is yes! It's possible we'll lose seats, but not certain as several vulnerable (not venerable - there aren't any of those left) Republicans will also have to fight to hold on to their seats.

If you would like to see the details of who is retiring, who isn't and which races are contested so far, check out two very helpful spreadsheets prepared by Ward 4's Priscilla Leith. Click here to see information about the House, and click here for information about the Senate.

Newton Fundraiser for Paul Hodes, Feb 6th

Tim Snyder — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:42:21 +0000

Marianne Karmel & Murray Sackman, Ted Kurland & Ann Kurland, Bob Sherman & Kim Sawyer
and co-hosts
Rob Barber, Betsy Myers, Cheryl Cronin, Wm. Shaw McDermott, Ben Schwartz, Jarvis P. Kellogg, Jr., George & Kathy Ticknor, Dr. Kenneth & Janet Rosenfield, Roger Brown, Patti Stoll, Marcy Crary & Tim Hall, Judy & Jonathan Chiel, Herbert Gleason, Barry Bluestone & Mary Ellen Colten, and New England Women For Change

Invite you to join them in honoring Congressman Paul Hodes, candidate for US Senate in New Hampshire at a fundraiser at the the home of Marianne Karmel and Murray Sackman, 391 Highland St, West Newton on Saturday, February 6th from 5:00 to 7:30 pm.

Suggested Contributions
Friend $250 Supporter $500 *Sponsors $1,000 *Co-Hosts $2,400
*(Pre-reception & Photo with Congressman Hodes 5:00pm — 5:30pm)
[ Host Committee In Formation ]
RSVP REQUIRED
For more information or to RSVP, please contact: hodessenator61@gmail.com
or call Murray Sackman ☎ (617) 755-5100

Newton Kick-Off for Steve Grossman, Feb 7th

Tim Snyder — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:39:23 +0000

Newton Kick-Off
for
Steve Grossman
Candidate for
Massachusetts State Treasurer

Sunday, February 7th
11 am - 12:30 pm

The Windsor Club
1601 Beacon Street
Waban

This organizational meeting and reception will be a chance for Steve Grossman, former chair of the DNC and member of the Ward 7 Democratic Committee, to meet with his friends and supporters in Newton to plan for the caucus and beyond.

Please contact Francis Orlando at 617-872-5415 or email francis@stevegrossman.com to RSVP or if you have any questions.

Haiti Earthquake Relief

Shawn P. Fitzgibbons — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:56:36 +0000

If you're interested in supporting relief efforts in Haiti, please see below. Thanks to Ward 1 Chair Max Goldsmith for providing this information.

HAITI EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

To donate $10.00 to the American Red Cross from your cell phone text “HAITI” to 90999

DONATE ONLINE

Also, you can visit InterAction.org, a site which links to about 30 religious, anti-hunger and medical relief organizatiosn with specific Haiti missions.

DONATE BLOOD: Call 1-800-HELP-NOW for information on donor center locations and hours

We Need Martha in the Senate and Martha Needs You!

Tim Snyder — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:43:03 +0000

We Need Martha Coakley as the 60th Vote for Change in the Senate

And Martha Coakley needs you to help her get elected on Tuesday, January 19th!

Why? President Obama and the Senate cannot enact any of the Change Agenda (Health Care,
Finance Reform, Climate Change, Immigration, Job Growth, etc.) without a super majority of
60 votes. Currently Paul Kirk is one of those 60 and we need to hold on to that seat in the
Senate for the Democrats. Without Martha in the Senate, we lose any hope of making the
changes that we fought so hard for in the election of 2008. Let's not give up that hope.

How? Vote for Martha Coakley on January 19th or vote absentee right now if you will be out
of town that day. Monday, January 18th is a holiday so that the deadline for voting over the
counter at Newton City Hall will be noon, Friday, January 15th.

Work for Martha. Help Martha's campaign. You can volunteer on her website:

www.MarthaCoakley.com

or you can call her office - 617-681-0551

or you can help us make phone calls at the upcoming GOTV phonebanks in Newton:

Saturday, January 9, 1-4 pm 29 Crafts St, Suite 470

Sunday, January 10, 2-5 pm, 246 Walnut St, Suite 210

Saturday, January 16, 1-4 pm 29 Crafts St, Suite 470

Sunday, January 17, 2-5 pm, 246 Walnut St, Suite 210

Bring your cellphone and charger; there are a few landlines available too! Give an hour.
It's easy. You'll be calling other supporters to remind them to vote. FREE parking.

Volunteer on election day. Hold signs. Make phone calls. Knock on doors.
Contact the campaign HQ to sign up!

The NDCC NewTV Committee Needs You

Shawn P. Fitzgibbons — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 03:18:46 +0000

The New TV Committee is looking for interested members who would like to learn the “secrets” of video production. The Committee creates programs of interest to the voting public and need help with all aspects of the production process. For more information on NDCC NewTV programs, please click here.

You can become a member of New TV through the Democratic City Committee which has a number of membership openings. You can learn the skills needed for producing a local cable show including photography, lighting, editing, audio, studio productions and more. It's yet another way to communicate the work of Newton Democrats, and we hope you can help!

Contact Myra Tattenbaum at tattenbaum@verizon.net or Barbara John at barbaraj.massed1@rcn.com with any questions.