@Katiefor4th
Katie's Priorities
The people of Marshfield, Norwell and Scituate are calling for courageous reality checks on what it means to be able to live and thrive affordably in our towns. They are tired of state policies and laws that come from a belief that “one size fits all.” They want clearer, equitable, timely and reasonable budgets that stabilize the strengths of schools, libraries, small businesses and services in our municipalities. They want to raise their families in these very towns that they called home as youth. They want to age in place and have access to affordable, reliable healthcare, home care and pharmacies.
They want water to come out of the tap clean and free of contaminants. They want veterans to be respected and housed. They want a sensible, low-cost transition to reliable clean energy sources. They want transportation by local buses, commuter rail and ferry to be steadfast, cost efficient options. They want the coastal lands and waters protected.
None of these are extraordinary wants in Katie’s mind. People of 4th Plymouth want to thrive confidently as they progress through life’s stages knowing that they can count on living affordably in these towns. Future generations want to trust that they are gaining ground instead of facing a deficit of basic opportunities due to neglected infrastructure, shortages in
resources, outdated or impractical funding formulas, and under-developed programs and services that stop short of providing easy, cost-efficient access to job training, education, and temporary support during trying times of unemployment, homelessness, and illness.
Katie often looks to John Adams words written into Article VII of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as touchpoints in considering legislative duty:
"Government is instituted for the Common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family or Class of men. Therefore the people alone have an incontestible, unalienable, and indefensible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity and happiness require it."
As your future State Representative Katie will work to deliver more than the status quo. She’ll focus on a range of targeted, synergized approaches for creating cost-effective infrastructure, solving the myriad of housing needs, the burden of energy costs, the uncertainty of access to healthcare for all, the protection of our towns’ natural environment, and the state’s assumptions in deciding how our municipalities ought to be governed.
Housing For All
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Our towns’ Housing Production Plans indicate clearly that we need an array of housing to meet the actual needs of residents.
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Veterans; single, aging elders; disabled and behaviorally challenged adults aging out of the youth transitional housing programs;
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Work to repeal the section of the 40B Housing law that allows developers to build on conservation determination land (wetland).
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Monitor the way the state is trying to meet the housing production quotas by inserting legislation into various legislation – State Budget; Supplemental Budget; Economic Development Bill; Environment Bill.
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Reasonable land growth and development.
Aging In Place
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Creating Blue Zone solutions to aging in our district that are focused on nutrition, activity, transportation, socialization, housing and some incentives for retrofitting existing housing for senior living.
Education And Literacy
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Schools and libraries to cultivate learning and job training.
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Transportation options including the local GATRA routes and cost effective means for getting unhoused Marshfield students to school.
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Update the Ch 70 Formula - This is the 5th and final year of the Student Opportunity Act.
Protection Of Environment
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Protecting coastal lands and waters protection.
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Sustainable clean water – PFAS elimination.
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Maintaining adequate water supplies through effective drought management.
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Sustaining the Massachusetts Community Climate Bank.
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Managed Retreat Options as Strategy for our local business districts and key economic centers to stay afloat as extreme storms and flooding damage our vulnerable locations.
Other Deliverables People Desire From Their Representative
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Demystify Government through dependable transparency of decision-making, committee activity, resource appropriations, contractual agreements, and funding.
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Deliver civics education through community meetings and listening sessions
where conversations go beyond the surface treatment of critical issues, funding
and impending legislation. -
Implement and support purposeful internship and mentoring programs in the
district to grow future leaders.