On Wednesday, May 29, 2019 the MBLLC had the pleasure of hosting Boston University's Cyber Alliance to discuss bills with surveillance or data collection provisions, while addressing potential privacy and ethics implications. The conversation was critical as the Caucus and others approach important proposals that tackle issues such as distracted driving, racial profiling, drivers licenses, and other matters.
Those who attended included MBLLC Chair Carlos González, Rep. Nika Elugardo, Rep. Andy X. Vargas, Rep. Chynah Tyler, Rep. Mindy Domb, Rep. Joan Meschino, Rep. Tackey Chan, and many others.
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On Wednesday, May 15, 2019 the MBLLC met with members of the Players Coalition to discuss education funding, economic development, the Census, and much more. Devin Mccourty, Jason Mccourty, and Duron Harmon shared the priorities of the Players Coalition which consists of professional athletes who aim to "generate mass popular support and mobilize action to highlight and correct the systemic and civic inequalities in our country."
The meeting was a continuation of collaboration between the two organizations building on a previous meeting last legislative session. More information about the Players Coalition can be found here. On Tuesday, May 14, 2019 Members of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus stood alongside legislative allies to speak in support of proposed housing reform legislation filed by Rep. Andy X. Vargas and Rep. Kevin G. Honan. The MBLLC priority that they spoke on, H1288, would set a production goal of 427k units, reserve 20% of those units for affordable housing, foster transit equity, and much more. Rep. Andy X. Vargas, MBLLC Chair Carlos González, and Rep. Marjorie Decker each presented testimony on H1288 alongside State Representative Nika Elugardo, Rep. Liz Miranda, State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, Rep. Mary Keefe, State Representative Tom Walsh, and Rep. Tom Stanley. The full testimony can be seen below. On Wednesday, May 8, 2019 the MBLLC met with Assistant Majority Leader Joseph Wagner to discuss issues facing people of color in the Commonwealth. The Leader and Caucus members emphasized the importance of working together to to ensure protections and equity as matters come before the Legislature.
With distracted driving legislation as the dominating topic of the week, meeting attendees prioritized the matter as the Caucus noted the importance of preventing racial profiling through data collection. Others who participated in the meeting included Rep Bill Straus, Carlos Gonzalez, Andy X. Vargas, Aaron Vega State Rep, Chynah Tyler, State Representative Nika Elugardo, Rep Marcos Devers, Russell E. Holmes and Liz Miranda. On Tuesday, May 7, 2019 Representative Chynah Tyler testified in support of H2799. The resolve, filed by MBLLC member Representative Bud L. Williams, is one of the first steps in the MBLLC's plan to erect a commemorative plaque in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1965 address to the Massachusetts Legislature.
The commemorative plaque will be placed in the House Chamber and will bear the words of the iconic leader who once proclaimed to the Legislature that "It was from these shores that the vision of a new nation conceived in liberty was born, and it must be from these shores that liberty must be preserved." The full text of Dr. King's speech can be viewed here. |
AuthorMBLLC log posts are curated by the Caucus Executive Director. Archives
March 2021
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