The Massachusetts House of Representatives 1st Franklin District (my district) is currently vacant, as our previous representative has stepped down.  While our unique and beautiful Pioneer Valley is in more ways than one a secret garden paradise, if you are reading this, you probably already know the challenges we are facing here as well, particularly in Franklin County; An aging, underserved population, high rates of car dependence, gentrification, incomes almost 25% lower than the rest of the Commonwealth, a growing homelessness crisis, a lack of good-paying, union jobs, crumbling infrastructure and federal concerns like ICE.

Most of these problems are fixable at the local level, and I intend to do so, if elected to represent Franklin's 1st House District in the General Court. 

If I am elected, on day one I will introduce a bill I have already written called the Valley Commons Act, which is a comprehensive legislative proposal designed to transform the Pioneer Valley through radical social and structural reforms, all funded locally with a small 1-3% sales tax on purchases made in the PV.  These would fund:

• A Universal Basic Income pilot program, guaranteeing YOU an income of between $1,200 and $1,500 per month, not including EBT/WIC & regardless of employment status. 

• Establishment of a new agency called the Pioneer Valley Community Housing Authority (PVCHA) to acquire immediate cost-effective housing to address the homeless emergency, support renters in need and stabilize market rents with subsidies.

• Recognize the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the Supreme Law of the land, alongside the US Constitution. 

• Dramatically expand the existing public transportation in the valley with more frequent, later bus service and expanding the existing FRTA Access micro-transit service to Hampshire and Hampden Counties.

• Stabilize municipal finances by addressing the Chapter 70 Rural Schools Funding gap and the "rural school death spiral".

• Give the Commonwealth the opportunity to save Hampshire College by converting it into a Community College, addressing regional gentrification with free College (and ensuring support throughout the valley). 

• Studies and construction funding for the potential conversion of the most heavily ridden PVTA and FRTA bus routes into modern, environmentally friendly light rail; Particularly Routes 30 and 31 in our area, which can see up to 2 Million annual passengers.

• Rural Heritage Trolley pilot program, studying the extension of the Shelburne Falls & Colraine (a portion of which survives as the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum) to test the viability of lower-cost heritage rail or hybrid light-rail as a functional addition to the existing transit system with a dual historic-transportation purpose, and the possibility of extensions along the abandoned New Haven railroad route via the historic Conway Electric route to Ashfield and South Deerfield.

• New Amtrak Stations, and the acquisition of historic Union Station in Northampton & Richardson in Holyoke for passenger use.

• Studies and potential track upgrades needed to bring passenger rail service back to Amherst and Leverett along the existing track between Brattleboro and New London, possibly in partnership with CT Rail.

• Exploration of additional projects, with flexibility to grow and a focus on reestablishing lost connections from the past, such as historic trolley routes.

• Kicking ICE out of MA, although the recently passed Senate PROTECT act may render this part redundant.

• Funding for the existing Compass Rail and Route 2 Rail Projects.

As you can see, the list of projects is considerable, and the bill is actually designed to grow.  In order to pass both houses and reach the governor's desk, additional projects outside the Pioneer Valley will likely need to be added, and as such, the funding district expanded, increasing the overall financial strength of the bill.  

For instance, if Boston wished to join in the funding district, a project to link North & South Stations, or Light Rail in Worcester.

When we control our own pursestrings, we don't have to ask anyone's permission; We can create strong union jobs, house the homeless, and protect our Valley from hostile leadership.