Amy on the Issues

Climate change is an existential threat facing all of humanity. Massachusetts is considered a leader in climate action thanks to the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act and the 2021 Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy, but there is much more to do.

It is the responsibility of the Commonwealth to ensure that everyone has access to safe, habitable, and inclusive housing. I will work collaboratively with federal, state, and local agencies and organizations to support programs that preserve existing housing and provide incentives to create new affordable housing opportunities.

Our residents deserve a safe, modern, well-functioning transportation system, and that includes roads and bridges, as well as our public transportation system - buses, subways, and trains. If we are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, we must provide an alternative to single-occupancy vehicles powered by gasoline.

Keeping Massachusetts strong and competitive requires the following: strategic investments in sectors that will make Massachusetts a global leader, such as life sciences and climate tech; supporting arts and culture as an economic driver; creating a business-friendly climate so businesses will want to locate and expand; and creating more housing opportunities and workforce development to attract and retain talent.

Newton prides itself on the quality of education we provide our students but we know that the needs of students have grown exponentially in the wake of the pandemic. As your State Rep, I will work to direct more resources toward social and emotional learning, mental health support, and funding to pay our teachers and aides competitive wages.

Massachusetts is a leader in gun violence prevention, with the lowest rate of gun deaths in the nation. Even so, the state must continue to combat the gun violence epidemic facing our communities.

In 2018, reforms were enacted in our criminal justice system; since then, Massachusetts has seen a number of notable improvements. A Boston Foundation report indicates that the reforms have led to a decline in crime and incarceration rates. However, the report also suggests that there is still more to be done to address racial disparities and to divert young adults from entering the criminal justice system.

We must stand together to combat the rise in antisemitism, hate and hate crimes, and harassment. The FBI’s 2022 Hate Crimes Statistics Report found an increase in hate crime incidents by 794 in 2022.

Arts and culture strengthen our community, connect us to each other, create a welcoming sense of place, and improve our quality of life. In our economy, arts and culture promote tourism, stimulate significant economic activity, and encourage innovation and a creative workforce.

Rep. Kay Khan has done an outstanding job obtaining funding for important projects in our district, and I look forward to hearing what you see as our pressing needs. I have already heard requests for investments in arts and culture, parks, reducing invasive plants in the Charles River, and helping our small businesses thrive.