Vigils planned for West Roxbury, Hyde Park

I do think that movements like this, and organizing for it, are among the ways we can find new people to elect. West Roxbury has changed a lot, there are hordes of “new people” in the last ten years. No better evidence than the urgency and highly stressed behavior of the folks determined to stop any change. It takes time for people to realize what’s what and align behind new politicians. But it’s going to happen. WR isn’t a block of people that think the same anymore. Even if those representing that old mindset still have outsized visibility.

Photos don't make claims, they illustrate. This group holds forums for voters to meet candidates and for candidates to debate. They organize around issues in front of local and state government. All are welcome to join.

The median age in West Roxbury is 40% higher than Boston. In West Roxbury 77.70% of the population is White.In West Roxbury 10.91% of the population is Black or African American.
In West Roxbury 6.88% of the population is Asian.

The median age in Roslindale is 24% higher than Boston. In Roslindale 59.70% of the population is White. In Roslindale 24.76% of the population is Black or African American.
In Roslindale 2.70% of the population is Asian.

Recent Issue:

MA House Votes Down Important Voting Protections
ISSUES COMMITTEE, PROGRESSIVE MASS, JUNE 05, 2020 ·

Yesterday, the MA House voted for a bill that took some important steps, but contained some glaring omissions. Here are some of the key parts of the bill.

* Sending an application to vote by mail to every registered voter for both the September 1 primary election and the November 3 general election
* Ensuring all applications and ballots sent by mail include prepaid return postage
* Ensuring that ballots postmarked by Election Day will be counted (but for the general election only)
* Allowing voters to apply to vote by mail through an online portal and enabling any voter who wants to vote absentee to do so this year
* Expanding early voting for the primary and the general

However, there were major omissions. And most reps passed on an opportunity to address them.
* As noted above, the requirement to count every ballot postmarked by the election only applies to the general, not the primary. (The House ruled an amendment to do so, filed by Rep. Maria Robinson of Framingham, as "out of order.")
* The bill reduced the 20-day voter registration blackout period to a 10-day blackout period. But with our primary happening on move-in day, housing instability high, voter registration drives impossible this summer, and physical voter registration forms hard to come by, that does not address the fundamental reasons why we need Election Day Registration. Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton) filed an amendment to authorize Election Day Registration and to create a streamlined online registration process, but the House voted it down.