WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.470 align:middle line:90% 00:00:02.470 --> 00:00:04.390 align:middle line:90% Again, Congressman Auchincloss. 00:00:04.390 --> 00:00:08.360 align:middle line:84% So do we have closed captioning working? 00:00:08.360 --> 00:00:11.192 align:middle line:90% 00:00:11.192 --> 00:00:13.470 align:middle line:90% Is that working? 00:00:13.470 --> 00:00:14.400 align:middle line:90% Looks like it. 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:15.750 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:00:15.750 --> 00:00:16.250 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:00:16.250 --> 00:00:21.760 align:middle line:90% 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:22.260 align:middle line:90% Great. 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:25.410 align:middle line:90% 00:00:25.410 --> 00:00:28.740 align:middle line:84% So this is a hearing of the Joint Committee 00:00:28.740 --> 00:00:31.710 align:middle line:84% on Redistricting in Massachusetts. 00:00:31.710 --> 00:00:35.940 align:middle line:84% The scope of this hearing is the 4th congressional district. 00:00:35.940 --> 00:00:37.920 align:middle line:84% When we say the fourth congressional district, 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:40.540 align:middle line:84% we're referring to the district itself, 00:00:40.540 --> 00:00:44.610 align:middle line:84% but also to all the legislative districts that 00:00:44.610 --> 00:00:47.640 align:middle line:84% might be in the neighborhood of that district. 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:52.440 align:middle line:84% So we will start with testimony from Congressman Auchincloss, 00:00:52.440 --> 00:00:55.560 align:middle line:84% but let me make sure I've introduced myself, 00:00:55.560 --> 00:01:00.780 align:middle line:84% Will Brownsberger, State Senator Senate co-chair, and my house 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:04.830 align:middle line:84% co-chair, Representative Mike Moran, 00:01:04.830 --> 00:01:07.290 align:middle line:90% who is visible virtually here. 00:01:07.290 --> 00:01:09.870 align:middle line:90% 00:01:09.870 --> 00:01:15.390 align:middle line:84% When Representative Moran is present in person on the Zoom, 00:01:15.390 --> 00:01:19.420 align:middle line:84% we'll do some personal introductions from his side. 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:22.950 align:middle line:84% But for now, let me introduce my Vice Chair, Senator Anne 00:01:22.950 --> 00:01:28.350 align:middle line:84% Gobi, who is with us, and we'll recognize house members later. 00:01:28.350 --> 00:01:33.470 align:middle line:84% So without further ado, representative Auchincloss, 00:01:33.470 --> 00:01:36.880 align:middle line:84% we look forward to your thoughts about redistricting 00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:41.220 align:middle line:84% in fourth congressional district. 00:01:41.220 --> 00:01:42.160 align:middle line:90% Good afternoon. 00:01:42.160 --> 00:01:44.070 align:middle line:90% Thanks for having me. 00:01:44.070 --> 00:01:47.440 align:middle line:84% Chair Brownsberger, Chair Moran, and members 00:01:47.440 --> 00:01:49.440 align:middle line:84% of the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, 00:01:49.440 --> 00:01:52.080 align:middle line:84% I appreciate you hosting this event. 00:01:52.080 --> 00:01:53.640 align:middle line:84% The task in front of this committee 00:01:53.640 --> 00:01:56.860 align:middle line:84% is by no stretch of the imagination an easy one, 00:01:56.860 --> 00:01:59.820 align:middle line:84% and you've made it a goal to have an open, inclusive, 00:01:59.820 --> 00:02:01.320 align:middle line:90% and transparent process. 00:02:01.320 --> 00:02:03.690 align:middle line:84% And I'm happy to support these efforts as Massachusetts 00:02:03.690 --> 00:02:05.360 align:middle line:90% draws a new map. 00:02:05.360 --> 00:02:07.860 align:middle line:84% I also want to thank the elected officials and the community 00:02:07.860 --> 00:02:09.738 align:middle line:90% members who are joining today. 00:02:09.738 --> 00:02:12.030 align:middle line:84% Your participation will ensure that the committee hears 00:02:12.030 --> 00:02:14.610 align:middle line:84% from a breadth of views, as we all 00:02:14.610 --> 00:02:18.000 align:middle line:84% think about the future of the Massachusetts 4th. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:22.290 align:middle line:84% And I'll take a few minutes just to address this district 00:02:22.290 --> 00:02:24.600 align:middle line:90% and its unique attributes. 00:02:24.600 --> 00:02:26.790 align:middle line:84% The 4th Congressional District of Massachusetts 00:02:26.790 --> 00:02:30.060 align:middle line:84% is a powerhouse of talent and innervation. 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:32.670 align:middle line:84% From the Industrial Revolution to today, 00:02:32.670 --> 00:02:36.010 align:middle line:84% the district has been a hub for advanced manufacturing, energy, 00:02:36.010 --> 00:02:38.700 align:middle line:84% health care, life sciences, information technology 00:02:38.700 --> 00:02:42.390 align:middle line:84% and education, not to mention a nerve center for civil society 00:02:42.390 --> 00:02:44.340 align:middle line:90% and workforce development. 00:02:44.340 --> 00:02:48.060 align:middle line:84% Our district's status as a political and economic hub 00:02:48.060 --> 00:02:51.670 align:middle line:84% rests upon its wide range of thought and economics. 00:02:51.670 --> 00:02:56.730 align:middle line:84% Our 34 cities and towns are urban, suburban, and farmland. 00:02:56.730 --> 00:02:58.380 align:middle line:90% They vote blue and red. 00:02:58.380 --> 00:03:00.180 align:middle line:84% They commute to Boston and Providence, 00:03:00.180 --> 00:03:02.970 align:middle line:84% and they are increasingly internally diverse. 00:03:02.970 --> 00:03:05.670 align:middle line:84% Representing Fall River, Attleboro, and Taunton 00:03:05.670 --> 00:03:09.190 align:middle line:84% in southeastern Massachusetts through Boston's inner suburbs 00:03:09.190 --> 00:03:11.110 align:middle line:84% means that when I go to Washington, 00:03:11.110 --> 00:03:14.130 align:middle line:84% I go there with a multi-threaded handle on policy that 00:03:14.130 --> 00:03:17.370 align:middle line:84% affects the district, the state, and the country. 00:03:17.370 --> 00:03:19.410 align:middle line:84% As we think about the future of our district 00:03:19.410 --> 00:03:21.180 align:middle line:84% and what that might look like, I think 00:03:21.180 --> 00:03:24.810 align:middle line:84% we need to prioritize protecting the ideological, geographic, 00:03:24.810 --> 00:03:28.140 align:middle line:84% and economic diversity that allows this district 00:03:28.140 --> 00:03:30.660 align:middle line:84% to be a unique voice in the halls of Congress. 00:03:30.660 --> 00:03:33.177 align:middle line:84% I'm confident that the views expressed today 00:03:33.177 --> 00:03:35.010 align:middle line:84% are going to help solidify for the committee 00:03:35.010 --> 00:03:37.050 align:middle line:84% why our current makeup is so special, 00:03:37.050 --> 00:03:38.850 align:middle line:84% and why our collective voices are 00:03:38.850 --> 00:03:43.010 align:middle line:84% such an important part of our Democratic representation. 00:03:43.010 --> 00:03:45.350 align:middle line:84% I'd also be remiss if I didn't acknowledge 00:03:45.350 --> 00:03:48.530 align:middle line:84% that this process comes after a turbulent few months 00:03:48.530 --> 00:03:49.430 align:middle line:90% in Washington. 00:03:49.430 --> 00:03:50.930 align:middle line:84% My first few weeks in Congress were 00:03:50.930 --> 00:03:54.200 align:middle line:84% marked by an insurrection, an impeachment, an inauguration, 00:03:54.200 --> 00:03:59.600 align:middle line:84% and then massive legislation, the American Rescue Plan. 00:03:59.600 --> 00:04:02.450 align:middle line:84% Now an issue dominating the news is the right to vote 00:04:02.450 --> 00:04:04.910 align:middle line:84% and the integrity of our elections, how precious it 00:04:04.910 --> 00:04:08.600 align:middle line:84% is, how fragile it can be, and how much work 00:04:08.600 --> 00:04:11.420 align:middle line:84% we have to do to protect the franchise 00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:14.720 align:middle line:84% and to protect the integrity of our elections. 00:04:14.720 --> 00:04:17.600 align:middle line:84% That's why exercises like this are so important, including 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:19.279 align:middle line:84% citizens in our Democratic processes 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:22.493 align:middle line:84% and encouraging more participation, not less. 00:04:22.493 --> 00:04:25.160 align:middle line:84% I'm excited to hear from members of our community this afternoon 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:27.710 align:middle line:84% for as long as I'm able to be here before my flight down 00:04:27.710 --> 00:04:29.000 align:middle line:90% to Washington. 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:32.180 align:middle line:84% And with that, I'll turn back things to the committee for you 00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:34.640 align:middle line:90% to proceed with your agenda. 00:04:34.640 --> 00:04:37.160 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for your testimony, Congressman. 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:37.670 align:middle line:90% Let's see. 00:04:37.670 --> 00:04:39.410 align:middle line:84% I believe that representative Moran 00:04:39.410 --> 00:04:42.620 align:middle line:84% is in a position at this point to make some comments, 00:04:42.620 --> 00:04:44.990 align:middle line:84% and perhaps introduce some folks. 00:04:44.990 --> 00:04:45.680 align:middle line:90% I am, yes. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:47.600 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Senator. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:50.000 align:middle line:84% For the record, this is Representative Mike Moran. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:53.840 align:middle line:84% I am the house co-chair of the redistricting committee. 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:58.310 align:middle line:84% Welcome to everybody as we figure out 00:04:58.310 --> 00:05:00.680 align:middle line:84% this district, which is the 4th congressional district. 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:02.750 align:middle line:84% And as the Congressman said, this district 00:05:02.750 --> 00:05:07.190 align:middle line:84% is a very storied district, with leadership that has always 00:05:07.190 --> 00:05:09.920 align:middle line:84% been knowledgeable about what happens in Washington 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:14.567 align:middle line:84% and effective about bringing things back to our state. 00:05:14.567 --> 00:05:16.400 align:middle line:84% I would just like to, at this point in time, 00:05:16.400 --> 00:05:18.525 align:middle line:84% point out to everybody that this is our, I believe, 00:05:18.525 --> 00:05:19.670 align:middle line:90% ninth hearing. 00:05:19.670 --> 00:05:21.500 align:middle line:90% There are many to go. 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:24.560 align:middle line:84% This process is trying to reach out to as many people 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:27.830 align:middle line:84% as we can to make sure that if you want to be heard, 00:05:27.830 --> 00:05:29.550 align:middle line:90% you will be heard. 00:05:29.550 --> 00:05:32.570 align:middle line:84% And that's what the process thus far has been, and will 00:05:32.570 --> 00:05:35.090 align:middle line:90% remain until the very end. 00:05:35.090 --> 00:05:36.590 align:middle line:84% I would like, at this point in time, 00:05:36.590 --> 00:05:38.930 align:middle line:84% to introduce some of my colleagues 00:05:38.930 --> 00:05:42.950 align:middle line:84% that are here, and first and foremost the gentleman from-- 00:05:42.950 --> 00:05:44.960 align:middle line:84% my Vice Chair, the gentleman from Lawrence, 00:05:44.960 --> 00:05:46.040 align:middle line:90% gentleman Marcos Devers. 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:48.740 align:middle line:84% This is his second time doing redistricting. 00:05:48.740 --> 00:05:50.630 align:middle line:84% He was on this committee 10 years ago. 00:05:50.630 --> 00:05:53.000 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Marcos, for being here. 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:55.500 align:middle line:84% Representative Kip Diggs from Barnstable, Cape Cod, 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:57.500 align:middle line:84% thank you, Representative Diggs, for being here. 00:05:57.500 --> 00:06:00.890 align:middle line:84% Representative Straus from Mattapoisett, 00:06:00.890 --> 00:06:04.040 align:middle line:84% the great city of Mattapoisett, thank you for being here, 00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:06.090 align:middle line:84% representative Straus, and thank you for the work 00:06:06.090 --> 00:06:09.690 align:middle line:84% that you did last week on that transportation bill. 00:06:09.690 --> 00:06:11.060 align:middle line:90% Nice job. 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:13.690 align:middle line:84% All the way from Pittsfield, representative Farley-Bouvier 00:06:13.690 --> 00:06:14.190 align:middle line:90% is here. 00:06:14.190 --> 00:06:17.180 align:middle line:90% Thank you for being here. 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:21.847 align:middle line:84% The gentleman from Auburn who was the ranking minority 00:06:21.847 --> 00:06:23.930 align:middle line:84% member of the committee, Representative Paul Frost 00:06:23.930 --> 00:06:24.430 align:middle line:90% is here. 00:06:24.430 --> 00:06:26.000 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:30.200 align:middle line:84% And the gentlelady from Holden, representative Kim Ferguson 00:06:30.200 --> 00:06:31.430 align:middle line:90% is here. 00:06:31.430 --> 00:06:36.345 align:middle line:84% Next, I'd like to introduce a gentlelady from Fall River. 00:06:36.345 --> 00:06:38.720 align:middle line:84% She has been in the house, and she's in house leadership, 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:40.700 align:middle line:90% and she's on this committee. 00:06:40.700 --> 00:06:44.750 align:middle line:84% She chairs the Committee on Tourism and Arts and Culture 00:06:44.750 --> 00:06:46.320 align:middle line:90% and Development. 00:06:46.320 --> 00:06:47.720 align:middle line:90% She is a member of leadership. 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:49.430 align:middle line:84% She serves on this committee, and we've 00:06:49.430 --> 00:06:51.710 align:middle line:84% asked her to say a few words and bring greetings 00:06:51.710 --> 00:06:53.210 align:middle line:84% from the 4th congressional district, 00:06:53.210 --> 00:06:57.230 align:middle line:84% as she is a resident of that district, representative Carole 00:06:57.230 --> 00:06:58.660 align:middle line:90% Fiola. 00:06:58.660 --> 00:07:02.350 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Chairman, leader Moran, Chairman Brownsberger. 00:07:02.350 --> 00:07:04.450 align:middle line:84% Great to be here with all of you and those 00:07:04.450 --> 00:07:06.130 align:middle line:84% who are going to testify today, and who 00:07:06.130 --> 00:07:11.320 align:middle line:84% will send also written testimony to my committee members, 00:07:11.320 --> 00:07:12.490 align:middle line:90% fellow committee members. 00:07:12.490 --> 00:07:14.800 align:middle line:84% It's an honor to serve on this committee. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:16.570 align:middle line:90% I am in the district today. 00:07:16.570 --> 00:07:18.280 align:middle line:84% Actually, I'm the chair and the president 00:07:18.280 --> 00:07:22.090 align:middle line:84% of a foundation that is hosting a golf tournament today. 00:07:22.090 --> 00:07:27.880 align:middle line:84% So I'm doing what all of us do at times, is multitask, what 00:07:27.880 --> 00:07:30.070 align:middle line:90% we all do. 00:07:30.070 --> 00:07:31.570 align:middle line:84% But nothing is more important today 00:07:31.570 --> 00:07:35.950 align:middle line:84% than to hear from the residents of the 4th Congressional 00:07:35.950 --> 00:07:37.270 align:middle line:90% District. 00:07:37.270 --> 00:07:40.840 align:middle line:84% Redistricting, as we've known since census began, 00:07:40.840 --> 00:07:45.130 align:middle line:84% is one of the most vital efforts that we will take on. 00:07:45.130 --> 00:07:50.800 align:middle line:84% And while COVID certainly put us a little bit in a tailspin, 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.770 align:middle line:84% and the numbers are not fully in yet, 00:07:53.770 --> 00:07:56.470 align:middle line:84% we are starting to have an indication, 00:07:56.470 --> 00:07:59.630 align:middle line:84% and we will not know for a little bit longer. 00:07:59.630 --> 00:08:02.890 align:middle line:84% But how important it is to hear from the voices. 00:08:02.890 --> 00:08:06.700 align:middle line:84% I know I shared in my district to invite anyone 00:08:06.700 --> 00:08:08.650 align:middle line:90% who wanted to testify to do so. 00:08:08.650 --> 00:08:10.660 align:middle line:84% So I will look forward to the follow-up 00:08:10.660 --> 00:08:13.660 align:middle line:84% of this hearing and hearing what you have to say. 00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:18.050 align:middle line:84% As Leader Moran said, this has been a storied district. 00:08:18.050 --> 00:08:20.650 align:middle line:84% We all know Barney Frank held this district 00:08:20.650 --> 00:08:24.820 align:middle line:84% for many, many years, and things change. 00:08:24.820 --> 00:08:29.920 align:middle line:84% And I will tell you that as we stand here today, 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:33.460 align:middle line:84% while the conversation over one district continues to happen, 00:08:33.460 --> 00:08:35.799 align:middle line:84% I will have to admit, I have never 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:37.750 align:middle line:84% felt more confident in the leadership 00:08:37.750 --> 00:08:39.520 align:middle line:84% that we have here in the 4th Congressional 00:08:39.520 --> 00:08:41.890 align:middle line:90% District with Jake Auchincloss. 00:08:41.890 --> 00:08:44.560 align:middle line:84% It's no surprise I have been working closely 00:08:44.560 --> 00:08:48.040 align:middle line:84% with him, because it's important to do that, 00:08:48.040 --> 00:08:52.650 align:middle line:84% to make sure that our voices are heard in the federal level. 00:08:52.650 --> 00:08:55.650 align:middle line:84% And I can only say that Congressman Auchincloss 00:08:55.650 --> 00:08:57.130 align:middle line:90% has been most responsive. 00:08:57.130 --> 00:09:00.510 align:middle line:84% So I will look forward to hearing from everyone today. 00:09:00.510 --> 00:09:02.640 align:middle line:84% I'll always be available to those in my district 00:09:02.640 --> 00:09:04.950 align:middle line:84% who want to share their thoughts and ideas. 00:09:04.950 --> 00:09:08.220 align:middle line:84% And I want to once again thank Leader Moran, Chairman 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:10.170 align:middle line:84% Brownsberger, and the entire committee 00:09:10.170 --> 00:09:12.570 align:middle line:84% for paying such careful detailed attention, 00:09:12.570 --> 00:09:14.790 align:middle line:84% and for your leadership, chairman, 00:09:14.790 --> 00:09:18.630 align:middle line:84% for continuing this redistricting effort. 00:09:18.630 --> 00:09:20.280 align:middle line:90% You've led it 10 years ago. 00:09:20.280 --> 00:09:22.890 align:middle line:84% We're glad that you're back at the seat again, Chair Moran. 00:09:22.890 --> 00:09:27.120 align:middle line:84% And I know that we will make sure we have fair, balanced, 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:29.130 align:middle line:90% and well-represented districts. 00:09:29.130 --> 00:09:31.350 align:middle line:84% So with that, I'll turn it back to you. 00:09:31.350 --> 00:09:34.870 align:middle line:90% And have a great day everyone. 00:09:34.870 --> 00:09:36.030 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Carole. 00:09:36.030 --> 00:09:37.830 align:middle line:84% And thank you to all my colleagues 00:09:37.830 --> 00:09:40.300 align:middle line:90% that are on this call. 00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:42.280 align:middle line:84% I look forward to hearing more testimony. 00:09:42.280 --> 00:09:43.830 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Congressman Auchincloss. 00:09:43.830 --> 00:09:45.497 align:middle line:84% At this point in time, I'll turn it back 00:09:45.497 --> 00:09:48.420 align:middle line:84% to the Senator, my co-chair, Senator Brownsberger. 00:09:48.420 --> 00:09:50.700 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much. 00:09:50.700 --> 00:09:53.850 align:middle line:84% So we'll turn to the witnesses, starting first 00:09:53.850 --> 00:09:56.340 align:middle line:84% with representative Patricia Haddad 00:09:56.340 --> 00:09:58.140 align:middle line:90% from Somerset, if she's online. 00:09:58.140 --> 00:10:05.300 align:middle line:90% 00:10:05.300 --> 00:10:08.730 align:middle line:90% I don't believe so. 00:10:08.730 --> 00:10:09.230 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:10:09.230 --> 00:10:12.050 align:middle line:90% 00:10:12.050 --> 00:10:16.895 align:middle line:84% Let's turn to KC Kato from Wellesley, 00:10:16.895 --> 00:10:18.170 align:middle line:90% if he or she is online. 00:10:18.170 --> 00:10:25.610 align:middle line:90% 00:10:25.610 --> 00:10:28.790 align:middle line:84% I see the town clerk of Wellesley arriving. 00:10:28.790 --> 00:10:30.440 align:middle line:84% You're, at this point, on mute still. 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:35.640 align:middle line:90% 00:10:35.640 --> 00:10:36.820 align:middle line:90% There you go. 00:10:36.820 --> 00:10:37.660 align:middle line:90% Can you hear me? 00:10:37.660 --> 00:10:39.610 align:middle line:90% I have to check video. 00:10:39.610 --> 00:10:40.760 align:middle line:90% OK, great. 00:10:40.760 --> 00:10:42.730 align:middle line:90% There you go. 00:10:42.730 --> 00:10:44.180 align:middle line:90% Good afternoon. 00:10:44.180 --> 00:10:45.190 align:middle line:90% My name is KC Kato. 00:10:45.190 --> 00:10:47.170 align:middle line:84% I am the town clerk in Wellesley. 00:10:47.170 --> 00:10:49.330 align:middle line:84% And thank you very much for the opportunity 00:10:49.330 --> 00:10:52.730 align:middle line:84% to speak regarding the drawing of the new precinct lines. 00:10:52.730 --> 00:10:57.420 align:middle line:84% And actually, I'm speaking on behalf of a reprecincting 00:10:57.420 --> 00:10:59.680 align:middle line:84% working group that we're working internally 00:10:59.680 --> 00:11:02.350 align:middle line:84% with our executive director who reports 00:11:02.350 --> 00:11:06.280 align:middle line:84% to the select board, our GS manager, and a select board 00:11:06.280 --> 00:11:07.700 align:middle line:90% member, as well. 00:11:07.700 --> 00:11:10.715 align:middle line:84% So anyway, thank you again for your time. 00:11:10.715 --> 00:11:11.590 align:middle line:90% I'll make this quick. 00:11:11.590 --> 00:11:14.560 align:middle line:84% So we as a reprecincting group are 00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:17.680 align:middle line:84% asking in creating legislative districts based 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:19.533 align:middle line:90% on the new local precincts. 00:11:19.533 --> 00:11:21.700 align:middle line:84% And I know that there is different discussions going 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:27.290 align:middle line:84% on regarding the initiation of the process. 00:11:27.290 --> 00:11:29.650 align:middle line:84% But by basing it on the new local precincts, 00:11:29.650 --> 00:11:33.130 align:middle line:84% we allow municipalities the appropriate time 00:11:33.130 --> 00:11:36.280 align:middle line:84% to participate in the creation of the new local precincts. 00:11:36.280 --> 00:11:38.530 align:middle line:84% We recognize that the reprecincting process 00:11:38.530 --> 00:11:40.773 align:middle line:90% is challenging all of us. 00:11:40.773 --> 00:11:42.190 align:middle line:84% The additional complicating factor 00:11:42.190 --> 00:11:44.530 align:middle line:84% is that the data is considerably late in what 00:11:44.530 --> 00:11:48.160 align:middle line:84% would be considered a normal cycle, 00:11:48.160 --> 00:11:50.170 align:middle line:84% as well as, we need to get this done 00:11:50.170 --> 00:11:51.520 align:middle line:90% before the end of the year. 00:11:51.520 --> 00:11:53.680 align:middle line:84% And our regular business includes 00:11:53.680 --> 00:11:57.880 align:middle line:84% exceptionally busy fall town meetings and special elections. 00:11:57.880 --> 00:11:59.230 align:middle line:90% Wellesley is a midsize town. 00:11:59.230 --> 00:12:01.810 align:middle line:84% We're home to approximately 28,000 residents 00:12:01.810 --> 00:12:03.553 align:middle line:90% and 18,000 voters. 00:12:03.553 --> 00:12:05.470 align:middle line:84% We are a representative town meeting community 00:12:05.470 --> 00:12:09.730 align:middle line:84% with eight precincts split into two state senatorial districts. 00:12:09.730 --> 00:12:11.890 align:middle line:84% And based on the preliminary census data, 00:12:11.890 --> 00:12:13.540 align:middle line:90% we will stay at eight precincts. 00:12:13.540 --> 00:12:15.490 align:middle line:84% However, six out of eight precincts 00:12:15.490 --> 00:12:18.190 align:middle line:84% have changed to warrant reprecincting. 00:12:18.190 --> 00:12:19.780 align:middle line:84% And given the data, we will likely 00:12:19.780 --> 00:12:22.810 align:middle line:84% be adjusting all eight precincts. 00:12:22.810 --> 00:12:25.750 align:middle line:84% In addition, our preliminary review of the data 00:12:25.750 --> 00:12:29.410 align:middle line:84% has caused us to pause, as a few of the more significant changes 00:12:29.410 --> 00:12:31.360 align:middle line:84% were not what we expected, based on what 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.370 align:middle line:90% we see in our own community. 00:12:33.370 --> 00:12:37.030 align:middle line:84% One precinct increased by 21% from 2010, 00:12:37.030 --> 00:12:40.330 align:middle line:84% while others have decreased by over 10%. 00:12:40.330 --> 00:12:43.010 align:middle line:84% And of course, they aren't always adjacent to each other. 00:12:43.010 --> 00:12:47.230 align:middle line:84% So the reprecincting process is challenging. 00:12:47.230 --> 00:12:49.480 align:middle line:84% We know our community, the natural boundaries, 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:53.960 align:middle line:84% the new polling locations, and other local nuances. 00:12:53.960 --> 00:12:55.870 align:middle line:84% So if you begin with the old precincts, 00:12:55.870 --> 00:12:58.180 align:middle line:84% we know that they are not the right size, 00:12:58.180 --> 00:13:00.640 align:middle line:84% and can result in individual precincts being split 00:13:00.640 --> 00:13:03.700 align:middle line:84% across two legislative districts, which 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:06.670 align:middle line:84% would create elections operations issues and voter 00:13:06.670 --> 00:13:08.620 align:middle line:90% confusion. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:12.160 align:middle line:84% If the legislative districts are drawn before towns have created 00:13:12.160 --> 00:13:15.940 align:middle line:84% their own new precinct lines, what options and/or flexibility 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:19.270 align:middle line:84% do cities and towns have when drawing local precincts 00:13:19.270 --> 00:13:21.920 align:middle line:90% or districts? 00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:24.920 align:middle line:84% While we would like the process to begin at the local level, 00:13:24.920 --> 00:13:28.020 align:middle line:84% might this be a collaborative and iterative process? 00:13:28.020 --> 00:13:29.840 align:middle line:84% And so thinking about what flexibility 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:34.685 align:middle line:84% and other iterations go on after the lines are drawn. 00:13:34.685 --> 00:13:37.310 align:middle line:84% We would welcome the opportunity to work with you in developing 00:13:37.310 --> 00:13:38.510 align:middle line:90% the new precincts. 00:13:38.510 --> 00:13:41.840 align:middle line:84% Thank you for your time and service. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:42.530 align:middle line:90% OK, thank you. 00:13:42.530 --> 00:13:44.510 align:middle line:84% Let me just respond to that a little bit. 00:13:44.510 --> 00:13:45.860 align:middle line:90% I appreciate it. 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:48.380 align:middle line:84% The primary focus here is on the drawing 00:13:48.380 --> 00:13:50.990 align:middle line:84% of the Congressional districts and legislative districts. 00:13:50.990 --> 00:13:53.472 align:middle line:84% But you've brought up the reprecinct issue, 00:13:53.472 --> 00:13:55.430 align:middle line:84% and so let me just underline a couple of things 00:13:55.430 --> 00:13:56.370 align:middle line:90% about that for you. 00:13:56.370 --> 00:13:58.940 align:middle line:90% 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:09.740 align:middle line:84% Number one, we are very committed to working-- 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:13.700 align:middle line:84% we have a deadline to meet, at the legislative level. 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:17.210 align:middle line:84% We have to complete our redistricting process 00:14:17.210 --> 00:14:20.330 align:middle line:84% by October, or the end of October, 00:14:20.330 --> 00:14:22.970 align:middle line:84% and that includes a period of public comment and our voting 00:14:22.970 --> 00:14:23.550 align:middle line:90% process. 00:14:23.550 --> 00:14:26.900 align:middle line:84% So there is no feasible way for the legislature 00:14:26.900 --> 00:14:30.140 align:middle line:84% to wait for the local reprecincting process 00:14:30.140 --> 00:14:31.548 align:middle line:90% this year. 00:14:31.548 --> 00:14:33.090 align:middle line:84% We are going to have to move forward. 00:14:33.090 --> 00:14:35.090 align:middle line:84% We will be moving forward at the same time 00:14:35.090 --> 00:14:38.180 align:middle line:84% as the local reprecincting process, 00:14:38.180 --> 00:14:41.260 align:middle line:84% but we are going to do so in the most transparent way possible. 00:14:41.260 --> 00:14:43.340 align:middle line:84% We're going to put out the results of our work 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:47.210 align:middle line:84% so that you can comment on them, and we can perhaps 00:14:47.210 --> 00:14:51.320 align:middle line:84% make some adjustments in the final process, 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:53.960 align:middle line:84% and/or we're also giving you additional time 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:58.520 align:middle line:84% at the end of the process so that you can make adjustments 00:14:58.520 --> 00:15:01.040 align:middle line:84% based on what we've done, if that seems like something 00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:02.600 align:middle line:90% that you would want to do. 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:05.960 align:middle line:84% The key thing to underline is that we are not, 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:09.750 align:middle line:84% and will not, tie the hands of municipalities 00:15:09.750 --> 00:15:12.200 align:middle line:84% in how they choose to do their reprecincting, 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:15.140 align:middle line:84% so that the worst case is that there will be some voter 00:15:15.140 --> 00:15:18.920 align:middle line:84% headaches and some clerical headaches in some towns, 00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:21.440 align:middle line:84% where, yes, a precinct might be split 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:22.850 align:middle line:90% into two legislative districts. 00:15:22.850 --> 00:15:24.140 align:middle line:90% That could happen. 00:15:24.140 --> 00:15:26.180 align:middle line:90% But we'll be working with you. 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:29.060 align:middle line:84% We'll be working with all the clerks, 00:15:29.060 --> 00:15:31.033 align:middle line:84% and hopefully, as you say, a little bit 00:15:31.033 --> 00:15:33.200 align:middle line:84% of iteration, a little bit of back and forth, and we 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:37.280 align:middle line:84% can avoid as many problems as possible. 00:15:37.280 --> 00:15:39.563 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:15:39.563 --> 00:15:40.480 align:middle line:90% Thanks for being here. 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:42.790 align:middle line:84% And to underline again, our doors 00:15:42.790 --> 00:15:47.200 align:middle line:84% are open when you have any concerns at all, if you wanted 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:50.230 align:middle line:84% to check in as the process goes forward, as the data comes in, 00:15:50.230 --> 00:15:52.030 align:middle line:90% things start to crystallize. 00:15:52.030 --> 00:15:53.740 align:middle line:90% You know where to reach us. 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:57.400 align:middle line:90% Am I allowed to ask a question? 00:15:57.400 --> 00:15:58.240 align:middle line:90% Go ahead. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:58.780 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:15:58.780 --> 00:16:01.830 align:middle line:84% And you had said you will be putting out your work soon. 00:16:01.830 --> 00:16:03.510 align:middle line:90% When is that? 00:16:03.510 --> 00:16:06.970 align:middle line:84% Well, we'll get the data the same time 00:16:06.970 --> 00:16:09.350 align:middle line:84% as everybody else will get it, which will be mid-August. 00:16:09.350 --> 00:16:12.190 align:middle line:84% So then we'll be trying to move forward as quickly as possible. 00:16:12.190 --> 00:16:14.350 align:middle line:90% OK, thank you. 00:16:14.350 --> 00:16:16.360 align:middle line:84% Senator, can I add something to that? 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.920 align:middle line:90% Please. 00:16:17.920 --> 00:16:21.460 align:middle line:84% I would just say also that I don't 00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:27.490 align:middle line:84% know what data that you are referring to when you say 00:16:27.490 --> 00:16:29.290 align:middle line:84% certain precincts have gained by X, 00:16:29.290 --> 00:16:32.110 align:middle line:84% and certain precincts have lost by X. 00:16:32.110 --> 00:16:35.200 align:middle line:84% And quite frankly, it doesn't matter much to us, 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:39.490 align:middle line:84% because we are, by the Constitution, 00:16:39.490 --> 00:16:42.430 align:middle line:90% required to use census data. 00:16:42.430 --> 00:16:47.090 align:middle line:84% And since that census data hasn't come in, 00:16:47.090 --> 00:16:52.207 align:middle line:84% I'm not sure if your numbers are accurate. 00:16:52.207 --> 00:16:54.040 align:middle line:84% Well, I know your numbers can't be accurate, 00:16:54.040 --> 00:16:58.930 align:middle line:84% because the census hasn't given us the numbers yet. 00:16:58.930 --> 00:17:00.430 align:middle line:84% And they're saying they're not going 00:17:00.430 --> 00:17:04.460 align:middle line:84% to give us the official numbers until the 30th of September, 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:08.130 align:middle line:84% and they're going to give us some files in August, 00:17:08.130 --> 00:17:09.069 align:middle line:90% I believe. 00:17:09.069 --> 00:17:12.020 align:middle line:84% We're not sure if those are going to be-- 00:17:12.020 --> 00:17:14.079 align:middle line:84% or at least I can speak on the House side-- 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:17.200 align:middle line:84% we're not sure that those numbers, those files we get 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:21.339 align:middle line:84% are going to be the ones that we're going to use, 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:23.500 align:middle line:84% as we want to make sure that we're 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:26.079 align:middle line:84% in compliance with the Constitution, which says 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:29.560 align:middle line:90% we have to use census data. 00:17:29.560 --> 00:17:31.660 align:middle line:84% So I would be careful, and I would 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:36.640 align:middle line:84% be sort of cautious about anybody 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.280 align:middle line:84% referring to any actual numbers, because we 00:17:39.280 --> 00:17:41.224 align:middle line:90% don't know the numbers. 00:17:41.224 --> 00:17:42.850 align:middle line:84% It's impossible to know the numbers, 00:17:42.850 --> 00:17:44.890 align:middle line:84% because the census hasn't released them yet. 00:17:44.890 --> 00:17:47.800 align:middle line:90% 00:17:47.800 --> 00:17:49.360 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:50.750 align:middle line:90% Our doors remain open, KC. 00:17:50.750 --> 00:17:52.450 align:middle line:84% We look forward to staying in touch 00:17:52.450 --> 00:17:53.710 align:middle line:90% as the process moves forward. 00:17:53.710 --> 00:17:57.040 align:middle line:90% 00:17:57.040 --> 00:18:02.230 align:middle line:84% Going now to Diana Marie Painter of Fairhaven, if she's here. 00:18:02.230 --> 00:18:07.840 align:middle line:90% 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:08.980 align:middle line:90% I don't believe so. 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:13.850 align:middle line:84% But it does look like Mayor Coogan has his hand raised. 00:18:13.850 --> 00:18:15.430 align:middle line:90% So I wasn't sure. 00:18:15.430 --> 00:18:18.370 align:middle line:84% Oh, if we've got, yeah, let's recognize the mayor. 00:18:18.370 --> 00:18:25.265 align:middle line:90% 00:18:25.265 --> 00:18:26.265 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mayor Coogan. 00:18:26.265 --> 00:18:29.460 align:middle line:90% 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:32.500 align:middle line:84% Mayor Coogan, we're glad to have you with us. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:34.290 align:middle line:90% You need to unmute. 00:18:34.290 --> 00:18:37.480 align:middle line:90% There you go. 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.680 align:middle line:90% We welcome your testimony. 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:41.490 align:middle line:90% 00:18:41.490 --> 00:18:42.600 align:middle line:90% Can you hear me now? 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:44.580 align:middle line:90% Sure can. 00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:48.130 align:middle line:84% I just want to make a couple of points here. 00:18:48.130 --> 00:18:51.408 align:middle line:84% Fall River, obviously, is a city that gets-- 00:18:51.408 --> 00:18:53.200 align:middle line:84% first of all, I want to thank the chairman, 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.200 align:middle line:84% both chairmen for letting me have an opportunity 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:56.290 align:middle line:90% to speak today. 00:18:56.290 --> 00:18:59.020 align:middle line:84% It's very important that Fall River is well represented. 00:18:59.020 --> 00:19:01.660 align:middle line:84% Because as the rest of the states know, 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:03.580 align:middle line:84% as the rest of the state knows, Fall River 00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:05.710 align:middle line:90% is in need of a bunch of help. 00:19:05.710 --> 00:19:09.850 align:middle line:84% And we believe having two congressional people to help us 00:19:09.850 --> 00:19:12.280 align:middle line:84% in Washington is not a negative thing. 00:19:12.280 --> 00:19:16.660 align:middle line:84% Both Congressman Keating and Congressman Auchincloss, 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:19.990 align:middle line:84% who I have struck up a great relationship with-- 00:19:19.990 --> 00:19:23.230 align:middle line:84% I got to meet him before the election-- 00:19:23.230 --> 00:19:25.120 align:middle line:90% he comes to Fall River. 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:26.710 align:middle line:84% He takes an interest in our city. 00:19:26.710 --> 00:19:29.680 align:middle line:84% He's helping us with some of our development on the waterfront, 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:32.490 align:middle line:84% and I can't say enough things about him. 00:19:32.490 --> 00:19:36.310 align:middle line:84% He and I have no problem having a conversation on Friday night 00:19:36.310 --> 00:19:38.770 align:middle line:84% at 7 o'clock about something that will help the city. 00:19:38.770 --> 00:19:42.190 align:middle line:90% So I don't want to lose them. 00:19:42.190 --> 00:19:45.220 align:middle line:84% I do appreciate all that Congressman Keating does, too, 00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:47.030 align:middle line:90% in the south end of the city. 00:19:47.030 --> 00:19:49.788 align:middle line:84% But when I got to meet Jake during the campaign, 00:19:49.788 --> 00:19:51.580 align:middle line:84% I ended up endorsing him, because I thought 00:19:51.580 --> 00:19:53.140 align:middle line:90% he was a quality person. 00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:55.790 align:middle line:84% He's a straight shooter, and we just don't want to lose him. 00:19:55.790 --> 00:19:59.770 align:middle line:84% If we can stay with the district as configured now, 00:19:59.770 --> 00:20:01.450 align:middle line:90% that would help us immensely. 00:20:01.450 --> 00:20:04.930 align:middle line:84% But I respect whatever you guys decide to do, 00:20:04.930 --> 00:20:06.760 align:middle line:84% because you're the ones that are doing it. 00:20:06.760 --> 00:20:09.470 align:middle line:84% I actually used to work at the state house a long time ago. 00:20:09.470 --> 00:20:12.100 align:middle line:84% So I know this is a very difficult time for you. 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:15.310 align:middle line:84% But Congressman Auchencloss is someone who 00:20:15.310 --> 00:20:17.110 align:middle line:90% has a keen eye in Fall River. 00:20:17.110 --> 00:20:19.750 align:middle line:84% And he opened an office in the government center here, 00:20:19.750 --> 00:20:22.870 align:middle line:84% and he works with us closely on a myriad of city issues. 00:20:22.870 --> 00:20:24.910 align:middle line:84% And I just wanted to be clear, I don't 00:20:24.910 --> 00:20:27.185 align:middle line:90% want to lose him at this time. 00:20:27.185 --> 00:20:28.560 align:middle line:84% Thank you for weighing in, mayor. 00:20:28.560 --> 00:20:29.220 align:middle line:90% Appreciate it. 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:32.924 align:middle line:84% Any comments questions from members of the committee? 00:20:32.924 --> 00:20:35.890 align:middle line:90% 00:20:35.890 --> 00:20:36.970 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much, mayor. 00:20:36.970 --> 00:20:37.810 align:middle line:90% We hear you. 00:20:37.810 --> 00:20:40.473 align:middle line:90% Thank you very much. 00:20:40.473 --> 00:20:42.140 align:middle line:84% Maeve, who's the next person on the list 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:43.790 align:middle line:90% who appears to be present? 00:20:43.790 --> 00:20:46.800 align:middle line:84% Looks like we've got Sophie Kripp. 00:20:46.800 --> 00:20:48.950 align:middle line:84% OK I'm just going to call the names of the others, 00:20:48.950 --> 00:20:50.950 align:middle line:84% so they hear them, and they have the opportunity 00:20:50.950 --> 00:20:52.710 align:middle line:84% to indicate if we've missed them. 00:20:52.710 --> 00:20:59.250 align:middle line:84% Eileen Pinkus, [? Palovy ?] Mandy, Sandra Correiro, 00:20:59.250 --> 00:21:01.620 align:middle line:84% we don't see you, and we're going to move forward 00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:03.480 align:middle line:90% to Sophie Kripp. 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:05.430 align:middle line:90% Sophie, you're online. 00:21:05.430 --> 00:21:06.925 align:middle line:90% Yes, hello. 00:21:06.925 --> 00:21:08.550 align:middle line:84% Like you said, my name is Sophie Kripp. 00:21:08.550 --> 00:21:11.850 align:middle line:84% I am with the Coalition for Social Justice in Southeastern 00:21:11.850 --> 00:21:13.070 align:middle line:90% Massachusetts. 00:21:13.070 --> 00:21:14.820 align:middle line:84% My colleague, Jaden [? Appel, ?] will also 00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:16.950 align:middle line:84% be presenting at this meeting, and we 00:21:16.950 --> 00:21:19.590 align:middle line:84% plan to do our testimony together 00:21:19.590 --> 00:21:22.380 align:middle line:84% while not exceeding the total time limit for one person. 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:24.930 align:middle line:84% Would it be possible for her to be moved [INAUDIBLE] 00:21:24.930 --> 00:21:26.130 align:middle line:90% at this time as well? 00:21:26.130 --> 00:21:27.423 align:middle line:90% Jaden [? Appel? ?] 00:21:27.423 --> 00:21:28.170 align:middle line:90% Mhm. 00:21:28.170 --> 00:21:28.890 align:middle line:90% Sure. 00:21:28.890 --> 00:21:30.120 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:30.810 align:middle line:90% Go ahead, Maeve. 00:21:30.810 --> 00:21:33.880 align:middle line:90% 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:35.880 align:middle line:90% Great. 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:37.430 align:middle line:90% You're both here. 00:21:37.430 --> 00:21:40.050 align:middle line:90% Look forward to your testimony. 00:21:40.050 --> 00:21:42.090 align:middle line:84% So we would like to start by first thanking 00:21:42.090 --> 00:21:44.160 align:middle line:84% Chairs Brownsberger and Moran, as well 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:47.040 align:middle line:84% as the rest of the committee, for hosting this hearing. 00:21:47.040 --> 00:21:48.750 align:middle line:84% We, as members of the public, really 00:21:48.750 --> 00:21:51.720 align:middle line:84% appreciate the opportunity to engage with the committee 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:56.130 align:middle line:84% and outline the solution we feel is best for our community. 00:21:56.130 --> 00:21:58.440 align:middle line:84% So today, we would like to propose 00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:01.350 align:middle line:84% that in this redistricting cycle, the entirety of the city 00:22:01.350 --> 00:22:02.880 align:middle line:84% of Fall River, which is currently 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:05.410 align:middle line:84% split between congressional districts 4 and 9, 00:22:05.410 --> 00:22:08.070 align:middle line:84% be moved into congressional district 9. 00:22:08.070 --> 00:22:11.820 align:middle line:84% Not only have we found a way to balance this change 00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:13.980 align:middle line:84% by a numerical population standpoint, 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:16.890 align:middle line:84% but this solution also has a multitude of other benefits 00:22:16.890 --> 00:22:18.510 align:middle line:90% as well. 00:22:18.510 --> 00:22:21.090 align:middle line:84% First, Fall River is one of the most racially 00:22:21.090 --> 00:22:24.270 align:middle line:84% and socioeconomically diverse cities in Massachusetts, 00:22:24.270 --> 00:22:26.490 align:middle line:84% and keeping its population together in one 00:22:26.490 --> 00:22:29.070 align:middle line:84% cohesive voting bloc is vital to ensuring 00:22:29.070 --> 00:22:31.440 align:middle line:84% that the voices of our state's marginalized and 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:34.140 align:middle line:84% underrepresented residents are listened to. 00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:36.180 align:middle line:84% Because Fall River is currently split 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:38.700 align:middle line:84% between congressional districts 4 and 9, 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:40.590 align:middle line:84% this already marginalized community 00:22:40.590 --> 00:22:43.560 align:middle line:84% has even less power to make their voices heard. 00:22:43.560 --> 00:22:47.040 align:middle line:84% Currently, wards 4, 5, and 6 of the city 00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:50.340 align:middle line:84% are split along the 195 between congressional districts 00:22:50.340 --> 00:22:54.360 align:middle line:84% 4 and 9, and the population in these wards 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:57.100 align:middle line:84% has approximately 32% people of color, 00:22:57.100 --> 00:23:00.120 align:middle line:84% which is twice as high as the populations of people of color 00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:03.390 align:middle line:84% in non-split wards, which is a clear example 00:23:03.390 --> 00:23:05.500 align:middle line:90% of racial cracking. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:07.080 align:middle line:84% Next, the splitting of Fall River 00:23:07.080 --> 00:23:09.450 align:middle line:84% between congressional districts 4 and 9 00:23:09.450 --> 00:23:12.540 align:middle line:84% means that one city is left with two representatives, 00:23:12.540 --> 00:23:14.100 align:middle line:90% just like the mayor had said. 00:23:14.100 --> 00:23:16.680 align:middle line:84% But our conversations with citizens of Fall River 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:19.140 align:middle line:84% tell us that this divide creates confusion, 00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:21.360 align:middle line:84% not only on the part of voters, but also 00:23:21.360 --> 00:23:24.390 align:middle line:84% a diffusion of responsibility for representatives. 00:23:24.390 --> 00:23:27.120 align:middle line:84% This works often against accountability, something 00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:29.170 align:middle line:84% that is so important in democracy, 00:23:29.170 --> 00:23:31.110 align:middle line:84% especially for a large population 00:23:31.110 --> 00:23:35.290 align:middle line:84% of marginalized communities so present in Fall River. 00:23:35.290 --> 00:23:35.790 align:middle line:90% Yeah. 00:23:35.790 --> 00:23:38.370 align:middle line:84% So our conversations with residents in Fall River 00:23:38.370 --> 00:23:41.700 align:middle line:84% have also revealed a lack of alignment to the rest of CD4, 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:43.320 align:middle line:84% specifically some of the wealthier 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:47.160 align:middle line:84% northern cities, like Wellesley, Newton, Needham, and Brookline. 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.960 align:middle line:84% And instead, Fall Rivers population 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:52.080 align:middle line:84% feels more aligned to the nearby city of New Bedford, which is 00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:54.630 align:middle line:90% currently represented in CD 9. 00:23:54.630 --> 00:23:56.130 align:middle line:84% And since New Bedford and Fall River 00:23:56.130 --> 00:23:59.280 align:middle line:84% both have large populations of people of color, working class 00:23:59.280 --> 00:24:02.280 align:middle line:84% citizens, and immigrants, separating these two cities 00:24:02.280 --> 00:24:04.740 align:middle line:84% only is intensifying the current intercity 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:06.720 align:middle line:90% cracking of Fall River. 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:10.170 align:middle line:84% So as you know, CD4 is currently underpopulated 00:24:10.170 --> 00:24:13.020 align:middle line:84% by approximately 3,000 people, and CD 9 00:24:13.020 --> 00:24:16.890 align:middle line:84% is currently underpopulated by approximately 20,000 residents. 00:24:16.890 --> 00:24:18.720 align:middle line:84% And a key aspect of redistricting 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:21.180 align:middle line:84% is solving this population imbalance. 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:23.730 align:middle line:84% And so by moving Fall River into CD 9 00:24:23.730 --> 00:24:27.630 align:middle line:84% and moving Raynham, Middleboro, and Walpole into CD4, 00:24:27.630 --> 00:24:29.550 align:middle line:84% this will put both congressional districts 00:24:29.550 --> 00:24:33.810 align:middle line:84% within a 0.2% deviation from the target population. 00:24:33.810 --> 00:24:36.360 align:middle line:84% And this, again, would also empower the currently cracked 00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:39.180 align:middle line:84% voices of people of color and working class populations 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:40.230 align:middle line:90% in Fall River. 00:24:40.230 --> 00:24:43.230 align:middle line:84% It would also remove the current diffusion of responsibility, 00:24:43.230 --> 00:24:46.110 align:middle line:84% and would remove Fall River from a district in which residents 00:24:46.110 --> 00:24:50.490 align:middle line:84% feel it does not belong, as you'll hear later today. 00:24:50.490 --> 00:24:52.230 align:middle line:84% And so adopting this plan would bring 00:24:52.230 --> 00:24:56.190 align:middle line:84% approximately another 7,700 people of color into CD 9. 00:24:56.190 --> 00:24:59.220 align:middle line:84% It would also bring the entire, heavily working class 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:01.260 align:middle line:84% city of Fall River into the district. 00:25:01.260 --> 00:25:04.020 align:middle line:84% And we estimate that the Fall River working class population 00:25:04.020 --> 00:25:08.470 align:middle line:84% coming into CD 9 is about 25,000 workers and their families, 00:25:08.470 --> 00:25:10.140 align:middle line:84% which is putting CD 9 on the path 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:13.200 align:middle line:84% towards becoming another minority-majority working class 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.920 align:middle line:90% district in the future. 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.560 align:middle line:84% So we would once again like to thank 00:25:16.560 --> 00:25:18.840 align:middle line:84% the members of this committee on redistricting. 00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:21.030 align:middle line:84% And all of the ideas that we've presented today 00:25:21.030 --> 00:25:22.770 align:middle line:84% are organized and further explained 00:25:22.770 --> 00:25:26.310 align:middle line:84% in a letter that currently has 90 signatures from South Coast 00:25:26.310 --> 00:25:28.950 align:middle line:84% residents and grassroots organization leaders 00:25:28.950 --> 00:25:32.320 align:middle line:84% who understand the importance of making this plan a reality. 00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:34.320 align:middle line:90% Thank you guys. 00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.820 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much for weighing in. 00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:37.153 align:middle line:90% We do appreciate your testimony. 00:25:37.153 --> 00:25:41.060 align:middle line:84% Are there questions from any members of the committee? 00:25:41.060 --> 00:25:43.600 align:middle line:84% I would like to, if I would, Senator. 00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:44.600 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:25:44.600 --> 00:25:49.760 align:middle line:84% I just want to be very clear in the terminology that 00:25:49.760 --> 00:25:52.430 align:middle line:90% was just used. 00:25:52.430 --> 00:25:58.640 align:middle line:84% The CD district is not a majority-minority district, 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:01.400 align:middle line:84% or even close to being a minority-majority district. 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:05.000 align:middle line:84% And the word "cracking" is a dangerous word to use, 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:10.670 align:middle line:84% because cracking is when you are taking, massing a population, 00:26:10.670 --> 00:26:15.000 align:middle line:84% deliberately splitting it in half so that they cannot elect 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:16.620 align:middle line:90% the person of their choice. 00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:18.260 align:middle line:84% There may be an instance of cracking 00:26:18.260 --> 00:26:21.360 align:middle line:84% in a smaller district, a state rep district, perhaps, 00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:23.000 align:middle line:90% or even a state Senate district. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.950 align:middle line:84% But in a congressional district, which 00:26:24.950 --> 00:26:28.520 align:middle line:84% has upwards of 700,000 people in it, 00:26:28.520 --> 00:26:31.460 align:middle line:84% there is no instance, in this district, 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:34.880 align:middle line:84% that cracking can appear, let alone is appearing. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:38.870 align:middle line:84% I'd also say that when cracking appears, 00:26:38.870 --> 00:26:42.713 align:middle line:84% it has to be a protected class under Section 2 00:26:42.713 --> 00:26:45.800 align:middle line:90% of the Voting Rights Act. 00:26:45.800 --> 00:26:48.710 align:middle line:84% And there is no instance of Section 2 00:26:48.710 --> 00:26:52.940 align:middle line:84% of the Voting Rights happening in this congressional district. 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:57.500 align:middle line:84% While I appreciate the sentiments of the last person 00:26:57.500 --> 00:27:01.010 align:middle line:84% who testified, the argument I think that they're making 00:27:01.010 --> 00:27:04.790 align:middle line:84% is more of a community of interest argument, one 00:27:04.790 --> 00:27:09.020 align:middle line:84% which is trying to tie Fall River and New Bedford together. 00:27:09.020 --> 00:27:12.050 align:middle line:84% That is a legitimate argument to make, 00:27:12.050 --> 00:27:14.120 align:middle line:84% as is the mayors argument that they'd 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:17.950 align:middle line:84% like two congressional seats in Fall River. 00:27:17.950 --> 00:27:19.700 align:middle line:84% But those are community of interest ideas. 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:23.120 align:middle line:84% Those are far different than Section 2 of the Voting Rights 00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:26.870 align:middle line:84% Act in cracking, or in the opposite of that, packing 00:27:26.870 --> 00:27:31.880 align:middle line:84% a certain minority interest to diffuse their ability to elect 00:27:31.880 --> 00:27:33.110 align:middle line:90% the person of their choice. 00:27:33.110 --> 00:27:36.230 align:middle line:84% I just feel I need to correct that, because those issues, 00:27:36.230 --> 00:27:38.680 align:middle line:84% and those words can be very volatile, 00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:43.020 align:middle line:84% and I felt the need to just correct that last testimony. 00:27:43.020 --> 00:27:45.690 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:27:45.690 --> 00:27:46.590 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr Chair. 00:27:46.590 --> 00:27:52.270 align:middle line:84% I would concur in the legal statement that you made there. 00:27:52.270 --> 00:27:53.770 align:middle line:84% But we do appreciate your testimony, 00:27:53.770 --> 00:27:56.680 align:middle line:84% and take your points in the spirit of community 00:27:56.680 --> 00:28:00.190 align:middle line:84% of interest arguments, and they're well taken. 00:28:00.190 --> 00:28:02.978 align:middle line:84% So any other questions, comments, 00:28:02.978 --> 00:28:04.228 align:middle line:90% from members of the committee? 00:28:04.228 --> 00:28:07.220 align:middle line:90% 00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:10.190 align:middle line:84% Ms. Kripp, Ms. Appel, any other comments you wanted to add? 00:28:10.190 --> 00:28:13.210 align:middle line:90% 00:28:13.210 --> 00:28:14.110 align:middle line:90% I definitely do. 00:28:14.110 --> 00:28:16.637 align:middle line:84% I wanted to say thank you, Moran, for your feedback. 00:28:16.637 --> 00:28:18.720 align:middle line:84% And when we do talk about communities of interest, 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:20.010 align:middle line:84% it's definitely what we are talking 00:28:20.010 --> 00:28:22.200 align:middle line:84% about when we think about putting Fall River and New 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.955 align:middle line:90% Bedford together. 00:28:22.955 --> 00:28:25.080 align:middle line:84% I think when we think about cracking, you're right, 00:28:25.080 --> 00:28:26.622 align:middle line:84% that can't necessarily happen in such 00:28:26.622 --> 00:28:28.640 align:middle line:90% a large congressional district. 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:32.460 align:middle line:84% We're really focusing in and zooming in on those small wards 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:35.792 align:middle line:84% in Fall River in where we kind of felt as 00:28:35.792 --> 00:28:37.000 align:middle line:90% though we saw that happening. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:38.880 align:middle line:84% But I also understand, again, the power of those words 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:40.130 align:middle line:90% like "cracking" and "packing." 00:28:40.130 --> 00:28:43.010 align:middle line:84% So again, I thank you for your feedback. 00:28:43.010 --> 00:28:43.930 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:28:43.930 --> 00:28:47.130 align:middle line:84% And just for the numbers-- and I'll leave it at this-- 00:28:47.130 --> 00:28:52.180 align:middle line:84% this district CD4 is almost 85% people 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:55.990 align:middle line:84% of white, how it's described by the Census. 00:28:55.990 --> 00:28:58.870 align:middle line:90% It is 7% Asian, and 3% Black. 00:28:58.870 --> 00:29:04.080 align:middle line:84% So I just want to be clear on the actual numbers, 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:05.380 align:middle line:90% as it pertains to CD4. 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:08.060 align:middle line:90% Thanks. 00:29:08.060 --> 00:29:09.110 align:middle line:90% Great. 00:29:09.110 --> 00:29:11.910 align:middle line:84% OK, thank you both so much for your testimony, 00:29:11.910 --> 00:29:15.350 align:middle line:84% and look forward to staying in touch. 00:29:15.350 --> 00:29:17.550 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:29:17.550 --> 00:29:18.050 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:29:18.050 --> 00:29:21.260 align:middle line:90% 00:29:21.260 --> 00:29:22.490 align:middle line:90% Whose next, Maeve? 00:29:22.490 --> 00:29:26.130 align:middle line:90% I see we have Rep Haddad joined. 00:29:26.130 --> 00:29:26.690 align:middle line:90% Oh, great. 00:29:26.690 --> 00:29:28.880 align:middle line:90% Let's go back to Rep Haddad. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.950 align:middle line:90% Let's recognize Rep Pat Haddad. 00:29:30.950 --> 00:29:35.900 align:middle line:90% 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:39.050 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Chairman. 00:29:39.050 --> 00:29:41.270 align:middle line:84% I really don't have any prepared remarks. 00:29:41.270 --> 00:29:43.910 align:middle line:84% I just wanted to comment that I'm 00:29:43.910 --> 00:29:48.290 align:middle line:84% grateful that the two of you are chairs of this committee. 00:29:48.290 --> 00:29:50.780 align:middle line:84% 10 years ago, when I had the opportunity 00:29:50.780 --> 00:29:55.670 align:middle line:84% to be part of the committee, it was very obvious how difficult 00:29:55.670 --> 00:30:03.470 align:middle line:84% it is to make sure that you are being responsive to everyone, 00:30:03.470 --> 00:30:07.010 align:middle line:84% such as the people who just spoke before me, 00:30:07.010 --> 00:30:11.330 align:middle line:84% and try to be fair and understand that this 00:30:11.330 --> 00:30:13.700 align:middle line:90% is a big deal to many people. 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:17.900 align:middle line:84% I have been very grateful to be part 00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:21.770 align:middle line:84% of the 4th congressional district. 00:30:21.770 --> 00:30:27.110 align:middle line:84% Our current Congressman has just been doing a great job. 00:30:27.110 --> 00:30:28.970 align:middle line:84% And I know sometimes people talk about, 00:30:28.970 --> 00:30:35.840 align:middle line:84% there should be a South Coast, directly in the South Coast 00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:37.220 align:middle line:90% congressperson. 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:40.700 align:middle line:84% But I want to point out that the South Coast had an opportunity 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:43.100 align:middle line:84% to have someone run from the South 00:30:43.100 --> 00:30:45.320 align:middle line:90% Coast in this last election. 00:30:45.320 --> 00:30:48.740 align:middle line:84% And while I personally thought about it, 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:50.600 align:middle line:84% there weren't other people who were really 00:30:50.600 --> 00:30:52.530 align:middle line:90% serious about doing that. 00:30:52.530 --> 00:30:55.940 align:middle line:84% So I think if people are serious about having 00:30:55.940 --> 00:31:00.230 align:middle line:84% a different way of doing things, then they need to come forward, 00:31:00.230 --> 00:31:03.630 align:middle line:84% and they need to be part of the conversation and the process. 00:31:03.630 --> 00:31:05.360 align:middle line:84% So I just want to thank you once more 00:31:05.360 --> 00:31:07.640 align:middle line:84% and the members of the commission. 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:11.300 align:middle line:84% I don't envy you your job, but I will just 00:31:11.300 --> 00:31:14.360 align:middle line:84% say that if there is anything that I can do to be helpful, 00:31:14.360 --> 00:31:17.370 align:middle line:84% I would really like to provide that help for you. 00:31:17.370 --> 00:31:21.728 align:middle line:84% So thanks once again for having this event. 00:31:21.728 --> 00:31:22.770 align:middle line:90% Appreciate your comments. 00:31:22.770 --> 00:31:23.895 align:middle line:90% Appreciate your engagement. 00:31:23.895 --> 00:31:25.500 align:middle line:90% Appreciate your support. 00:31:25.500 --> 00:31:27.147 align:middle line:84% Are there other questions or comments 00:31:27.147 --> 00:31:28.230 align:middle line:90% from members of the panel? 00:31:28.230 --> 00:31:32.523 align:middle line:90% 00:31:32.523 --> 00:31:35.790 align:middle line:84% Well, thank you so much, Representative Haddad. 00:31:35.790 --> 00:31:37.410 align:middle line:90% I really appreciate having you. 00:31:37.410 --> 00:31:39.480 align:middle line:90% My pleasure. 00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:42.240 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:44.190 align:middle line:84% I'm going to go back to Shane Burgo, who 00:31:44.190 --> 00:31:46.065 align:middle line:84% we called on previously, but has now arrived. 00:31:46.065 --> 00:31:54.200 align:middle line:90% 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:55.840 align:middle line:90% Welcome. 00:31:55.840 --> 00:31:57.420 align:middle line:90% Hi, thank you. 00:31:57.420 --> 00:31:59.120 align:middle line:90% Can you hear me OK? 00:31:59.120 --> 00:32:01.410 align:middle line:90% Yes, you're on. 00:32:01.410 --> 00:32:02.420 align:middle line:90% OK, thank you. 00:32:02.420 --> 00:32:04.880 align:middle line:84% Good afternoon and thank you to the Committee Chair Senator 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:06.940 align:middle line:84% Brownsberger and Representative Moran, 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:08.690 align:middle line:84% as well as other members of the committee, 00:32:08.690 --> 00:32:10.460 align:middle line:90% for hosting this public hearing. 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:12.698 align:middle line:84% My name is Shane Burgo and I'm a lifelong resident 00:32:12.698 --> 00:32:14.615 align:middle line:84% of New Bedford, which is within Massachusetts' 00:32:14.615 --> 00:32:16.700 align:middle line:90% 9th congressional district. 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:18.920 align:middle line:84% I'm the affirmative action officer of the New Bedford 00:32:18.920 --> 00:32:21.590 align:middle line:84% Democratic City Committee, the Education Chair 00:32:21.590 --> 00:32:24.380 align:middle line:84% of the New Bedford branch of the NAACP, 00:32:24.380 --> 00:32:27.050 align:middle line:84% a leader from United Interfaith Action of Southeastern 00:32:27.050 --> 00:32:30.440 align:middle line:84% Massachusetts, a member of the Coalition for Social Justice, 00:32:30.440 --> 00:32:32.630 align:middle line:90% and many other community groups. 00:32:32.630 --> 00:32:34.730 align:middle line:84% During this past presidential election cycle, 00:32:34.730 --> 00:32:37.520 align:middle line:84% I had the privilege of serving our 9th congressional district 00:32:37.520 --> 00:32:39.800 align:middle line:84% as one of Joe Biden's National delegates 00:32:39.800 --> 00:32:42.440 align:middle line:84% at the Democratic National Convention. 00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:44.150 align:middle line:90% This was not an easy task. 00:32:44.150 --> 00:32:46.250 align:middle line:84% Not only was it my first time campaigning, 00:32:46.250 --> 00:32:47.900 align:middle line:84% but it was in the middle of a pandemic, 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:50.060 align:middle line:84% and I was unable to meet new people 00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:53.090 align:middle line:84% and build relationships outside of my usual network. 00:32:53.090 --> 00:32:56.210 align:middle line:84% I relied heavily on relational phone banking and video chats 00:32:56.210 --> 00:32:58.190 align:middle line:84% with other community groups that fell 00:32:58.190 --> 00:33:00.560 align:middle line:84% within our congressional district. 00:33:00.560 --> 00:33:03.260 align:middle line:84% One of the communities I did not expect to struggle in 00:33:03.260 --> 00:33:04.590 align:middle line:90% was Fall River. 00:33:04.590 --> 00:33:07.370 align:middle line:84% Although it is not a bordering city to New Bedford, 00:33:07.370 --> 00:33:09.380 align:middle line:90% it shares similar demographics. 00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:11.330 align:middle line:84% I have spent a lot of time in Fall River 00:33:11.330 --> 00:33:13.940 align:middle line:84% and have many friends and family that both work and live 00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:15.012 align:middle line:90% in Fall River. 00:33:15.012 --> 00:33:16.970 align:middle line:84% When I reached out to them, they were more than 00:33:16.970 --> 00:33:18.860 align:middle line:84% excited to request their mail-in ballots 00:33:18.860 --> 00:33:20.810 align:middle line:84% and help me get elected on the National level 00:33:20.810 --> 00:33:23.540 align:middle line:84% to bring a voice to not only the youth of our area, 00:33:23.540 --> 00:33:26.030 align:middle line:84% but to our Black indigenous people of color 00:33:26.030 --> 00:33:28.400 align:middle line:84% that are usually not center stage. 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:30.710 align:middle line:84% The top contenders in the race had always 00:33:30.710 --> 00:33:32.540 align:middle line:90% been elected to the DNC. 00:33:32.540 --> 00:33:34.783 align:middle line:84% They had the infrastructure and money to campaign 00:33:34.783 --> 00:33:36.200 align:middle line:84% throughout the district for votes, 00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:38.250 align:middle line:84% especially from areas within our district 00:33:38.250 --> 00:33:40.250 align:middle line:90% that are predominantly white. 00:33:40.250 --> 00:33:42.080 align:middle line:84% We knew we had to get a lot of our support 00:33:42.080 --> 00:33:46.040 align:middle line:84% from New Bedford and Fall River if we wanted to be successful. 00:33:46.040 --> 00:33:49.070 align:middle line:84% However, due to the current divide in Fall River, 00:33:49.070 --> 00:33:51.590 align:middle line:84% some of my supporters fell just over the line 00:33:51.590 --> 00:33:53.360 align:middle line:84% into the 4th Congressional District 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:55.160 align:middle line:90% and could not vote for me. 00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:58.100 align:middle line:84% That is why I'm here today, to share my testimony 00:33:58.100 --> 00:34:00.890 align:middle line:84% for those residents of Fall River that 00:34:00.890 --> 00:34:03.800 align:middle line:84% feel they are underrepresented on the national level 00:34:03.800 --> 00:34:05.870 align:middle line:84% because of how the districts are drawn up. 00:34:05.870 --> 00:34:07.970 align:middle line:84% It does not make sense for a city 00:34:07.970 --> 00:34:10.520 align:middle line:84% to be divided into two separate districts. 00:34:10.520 --> 00:34:12.620 align:middle line:84% It hurts the communities within Fall River 00:34:12.620 --> 00:34:15.719 align:middle line:84% and diminishes the voting power of minority groups. 00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:17.900 align:middle line:84% I urge this committee to stop the dilution 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.820 align:middle line:84% of our political power and help ease 00:34:19.820 --> 00:34:22.429 align:middle line:84% one of the many causes of voter apathy. 00:34:22.429 --> 00:34:24.989 align:middle line:84% If voters, specifically voters of color, 00:34:24.989 --> 00:34:26.989 align:middle line:84% and even youth and working class voters 00:34:26.989 --> 00:34:29.719 align:middle line:84% are in a predominantly white district, where their vote will 00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:32.480 align:middle line:84% not make as much of an impact, these voters 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:35.389 align:middle line:84% are likely to not turn out to vote at all. 00:34:35.389 --> 00:34:38.389 align:middle line:84% Do not miss this opportunity to place all of Fall River 00:34:38.389 --> 00:34:40.550 align:middle line:84% into the 9th Congressional District, which 00:34:40.550 --> 00:34:43.590 align:middle line:84% will help solve the current divide of our communities. 00:34:43.590 --> 00:34:46.268 align:middle line:84% Thank you for your time and consideration. 00:34:46.268 --> 00:34:47.810 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for your testimony. 00:34:47.810 --> 00:34:49.139 align:middle line:90% We appreciate it. 00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:51.280 align:middle line:84% Questions from members of the panel? 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:58.160 align:middle line:90% 00:34:58.160 --> 00:35:00.260 align:middle line:84% OK, thank you, sir, for weighing in. 00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:01.525 align:middle line:90% Much appreciated. 00:35:01.525 --> 00:35:04.500 align:middle line:90% 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:06.300 align:middle line:90% Maeve, who do you have next? 00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:09.060 align:middle line:84% We actually have Sandra Carreiro, just 00:35:09.060 --> 00:35:12.623 align:middle line:90% in a different name. 00:35:12.623 --> 00:35:13.790 align:middle line:90% OK, let's go back to Sandra. 00:35:13.790 --> 00:35:24.870 align:middle line:90% 00:35:24.870 --> 00:35:27.670 align:middle line:90% Hello? 00:35:27.670 --> 00:35:29.540 align:middle line:90% So I'm seeing Andrea Sheppard. 00:35:29.540 --> 00:35:30.040 align:middle line:90% Welcome. 00:35:30.040 --> 00:35:30.700 align:middle line:90% Yes, sorry. 00:35:30.700 --> 00:35:31.930 align:middle line:90% We'll take your testimony. 00:35:31.930 --> 00:35:34.930 align:middle line:84% Are you, or how do you relate to Sandra? 00:35:34.930 --> 00:35:36.280 align:middle line:90% I am Sandra. 00:35:36.280 --> 00:35:40.090 align:middle line:84% Sorry, it's a work account for the Zoom. 00:35:40.090 --> 00:35:43.410 align:middle line:84% So when I log in, I couldn't see what name I was logged into. 00:35:43.410 --> 00:35:44.800 align:middle line:90% OK, all right. 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:46.420 align:middle line:90% Sandra, glad to have you. 00:35:46.420 --> 00:35:46.930 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:35:46.930 --> 00:35:48.910 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much. 00:35:48.910 --> 00:35:51.460 align:middle line:90% So everybody can hear me well? 00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.450 align:middle line:90% Perfect. 00:35:52.450 --> 00:35:54.890 align:middle line:90% So good afternoon. 00:35:54.890 --> 00:35:56.290 align:middle line:90% My name is Sandra Carreiro. 00:35:56.290 --> 00:36:01.120 align:middle line:84% I live in Fall River on Ward 8, close to I-195. 00:36:01.120 --> 00:36:05.200 align:middle line:84% I was born in the city, and my son was also born in this city. 00:36:05.200 --> 00:36:09.200 align:middle line:84% Most of my family has been living here for over 50 years. 00:36:09.200 --> 00:36:11.920 align:middle line:84% We all came from the Azores in Portugal. 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:15.460 align:middle line:84% My dad moved here when he was a teenager in 1968, 00:36:15.460 --> 00:36:18.220 align:middle line:90% my mother in 1972. 00:36:18.220 --> 00:36:21.160 align:middle line:84% When my parents and other relatives just moved here, 00:36:21.160 --> 00:36:25.000 align:middle line:84% they started working in farms and manufacturing industries. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:27.760 align:middle line:84% As time went on, my family moved out 00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:30.130 align:middle line:84% from working in farms and factories. 00:36:30.130 --> 00:36:34.000 align:middle line:84% Today, a lot of my relatives own small businesses 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:37.300 align:middle line:84% in the area of carpentry, construction, landscaping, 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:38.470 align:middle line:90% and real estate. 00:36:38.470 --> 00:36:41.020 align:middle line:84% We are a working class family, and Fall River 00:36:41.020 --> 00:36:43.060 align:middle line:90% is a working class community. 00:36:43.060 --> 00:36:45.490 align:middle line:84% Tens of thousands of people in Fall River 00:36:45.490 --> 00:36:47.920 align:middle line:90% are Portuguese, like I am. 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:51.340 align:middle line:84% They live in the north of Fall River and the south area, 00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:52.960 align:middle line:84% and also in the Flint neighborhood, 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:55.390 align:middle line:90% close to the I-195. 00:36:55.390 --> 00:36:57.460 align:middle line:84% You see what I'm trying to do here? 00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:59.900 align:middle line:84% All of Fall River is one community, 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:02.980 align:middle line:84% whether we live in the highlands, on Columbia Street, 00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:07.060 align:middle line:84% or on the north, on the four corners of the globe. 00:37:07.060 --> 00:37:09.710 align:middle line:84% You will find Portuguese bakeries, restaurants, 00:37:09.710 --> 00:37:13.540 align:middle line:84% [INAUDIBLE],, and Portuguese churches all over these places 00:37:13.540 --> 00:37:14.890 align:middle line:90% that I just mentioned. 00:37:14.890 --> 00:37:17.800 align:middle line:84% Yet my community has been split to accommodate 00:37:17.800 --> 00:37:20.260 align:middle line:90% political boundaries. 00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:23.230 align:middle line:84% Or to use the right term, my community has been cracked. 00:37:23.230 --> 00:37:25.660 align:middle line:84% We can't vote for the same representative. 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:29.620 align:middle line:84% Our political power is diluted, even though the needs 00:37:29.620 --> 00:37:31.480 align:middle line:90% of our community are the same. 00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:35.110 align:middle line:84% Regardless of where we live, we can't speak with one voice 00:37:35.110 --> 00:37:38.140 align:middle line:84% to make sure we get what we need. 00:37:38.140 --> 00:37:42.100 align:middle line:84% I live in CD 4, but my son goes to school about a mile 00:37:42.100 --> 00:37:46.210 align:middle line:84% away at a Catholic school that happens to be in CD 9, 00:37:46.210 --> 00:37:48.190 align:middle line:90% in a Fall River neighborhood. 00:37:48.190 --> 00:37:50.770 align:middle line:84% My relatives, close to 100 of them, 00:37:50.770 --> 00:37:55.600 align:middle line:84% live in both districts, CD4 and CD9 neighborhoods. 00:37:55.600 --> 00:37:58.480 align:middle line:84% At any given time of the day, I shop at stores 00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:02.350 align:middle line:84% and go for walks in both CD4 and CD9, 00:38:02.350 --> 00:38:05.080 align:middle line:84% yet I don't understand why we're separated, 00:38:05.080 --> 00:38:07.120 align:middle line:90% and I would like this to stop. 00:38:07.120 --> 00:38:09.610 align:middle line:90% Why is my community separated? 00:38:09.610 --> 00:38:14.260 align:middle line:84% I am here asking you to end splitting of my community. 00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:18.640 align:middle line:84% We have more in common with the New Bedford community, who also 00:38:18.640 --> 00:38:22.780 align:middle line:84% has a very large working class, Portuguese community, 00:38:22.780 --> 00:38:26.230 align:middle line:84% then we are connected to the Wellesley or Brookline 00:38:26.230 --> 00:38:27.700 align:middle line:90% community. 00:38:27.700 --> 00:38:30.370 align:middle line:84% Members of the community, do what is right. 00:38:30.370 --> 00:38:32.650 align:middle line:84% Let Fall River speak with one voice 00:38:32.650 --> 00:38:35.620 align:middle line:84% and be part of a unified South Coast. 00:38:35.620 --> 00:38:38.560 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:38:38.560 --> 00:38:39.400 align:middle line:90% Thank you very much. 00:38:39.400 --> 00:38:41.380 align:middle line:90% Appreciate your testimony. 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:44.687 align:middle line:84% Do we have comments or questions from members of the committee? 00:38:44.687 --> 00:38:48.350 align:middle line:90% 00:38:48.350 --> 00:38:50.827 align:middle line:84% All right, thank you very much for weighing in. 00:38:50.827 --> 00:38:51.410 align:middle line:90% Appreciate it. 00:38:51.410 --> 00:38:54.880 align:middle line:90% 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:58.090 align:middle line:90% Who's up next, Maeve? 00:38:58.090 --> 00:39:00.230 align:middle line:84% Well, I see we have Rep Doherty has joined. 00:39:00.230 --> 00:39:02.450 align:middle line:84% I think she wanted to make a few comments. 00:39:02.450 --> 00:39:04.280 align:middle line:84% Oh, thank you very much, Rep Doherty. 00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:07.710 align:middle line:90% [INTERPOSING VOICES] 00:39:07.710 --> 00:39:10.460 align:middle line:90% Can you hear me? 00:39:10.460 --> 00:39:11.270 align:middle line:90% Hang on a second. 00:39:11.270 --> 00:39:13.850 align:middle line:84% Somebody is listening online, and it's feeding back. 00:39:13.850 --> 00:39:16.520 align:middle line:84% Members of the community, do what is right. 00:39:16.520 --> 00:39:18.800 align:middle line:84% Let Fall River speak with one voice 00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:20.855 align:middle line:84% and be part of a unified South Coast. 00:39:20.855 --> 00:39:26.320 align:middle line:90% 00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:27.820 align:middle line:84% Representative Doherty, are you sure 00:39:27.820 --> 00:39:30.112 align:middle line:84% you might not have something going on in the background 00:39:30.112 --> 00:39:30.730 align:middle line:90% there? 00:39:30.730 --> 00:39:33.730 align:middle line:84% Going to unmute Representative Doherty and see how it goes. 00:39:33.730 --> 00:39:37.960 align:middle line:90% 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:39.550 align:middle line:90% Yeah, no. 00:39:39.550 --> 00:39:42.100 align:middle line:84% Somehow you got some feedback going on there, Rep Doherty. 00:39:42.100 --> 00:39:43.900 align:middle line:90% I'm getting two tracks here. 00:39:43.900 --> 00:39:46.330 align:middle line:84% (PLAYBACK) Well, I see we have Rep Doherty has joined. 00:39:46.330 --> 00:39:48.550 align:middle line:84% I think she wanted to make a few comments. 00:39:48.550 --> 00:39:49.550 align:middle line:90% Oh, thank you very much. 00:39:49.550 --> 00:39:50.720 align:middle line:90% Rep Doherty. 00:39:50.720 --> 00:39:52.744 align:middle line:90% [INTERPOSING VOICES] 00:39:52.744 --> 00:39:55.530 align:middle line:84% Rep Doherty, you're going to have to figure out how to-- 00:39:55.530 --> 00:39:56.698 align:middle line:90% that's not going to work. 00:39:56.698 --> 00:39:57.740 align:middle line:90% You're going to have to-- 00:39:57.740 --> 00:39:59.170 align:middle line:90% [INTERPOSING VOICES] 00:39:59.170 --> 00:40:01.720 align:middle line:84% Mute yourself for now, and maybe come 00:40:01.720 --> 00:40:04.490 align:middle line:90% back in without that feedback. 00:40:04.490 --> 00:40:06.740 align:middle line:90% So we'll come back to you. 00:40:06.740 --> 00:40:09.700 align:middle line:84% We'll give Rep Doherty a chance to maybe log 00:40:09.700 --> 00:40:12.625 align:middle line:90% in a little different way. 00:40:12.625 --> 00:40:14.000 align:middle line:84% I'm not sure what the best way is 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:16.333 align:middle line:84% going to be for her to solve that problem, because we do 00:40:16.333 --> 00:40:19.035 align:middle line:90% want to hear her testimony. 00:40:19.035 --> 00:40:22.560 align:middle line:84% Why don't you log out and come back in, Rep Doherty. 00:40:22.560 --> 00:40:25.440 align:middle line:84% If you've been watching online, turn it off online, 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:26.890 align:middle line:84% and then log out and come back in. 00:40:26.890 --> 00:40:30.630 align:middle line:84% And we will be looking for you, and we'll get you back in. 00:40:30.630 --> 00:40:35.020 align:middle line:84% Meanwhile, other than Rep Doherty, who would be next? 00:40:35.020 --> 00:40:38.950 align:middle line:84% It looks like we've got Benjamin Cohen. 00:40:38.950 --> 00:40:39.575 align:middle line:90% Benjamin Cohen. 00:40:39.575 --> 00:40:41.283 align:middle line:84% Let me just say the names of other people 00:40:41.283 --> 00:40:43.000 align:middle line:84% in between who we are not recognizing, 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:44.470 align:middle line:90% because we don't see them. 00:40:44.470 --> 00:40:50.560 align:middle line:84% We don't see Lucas Johnson, Nancy Wagman, Jane Frantz, 00:40:50.560 --> 00:40:51.400 align:middle line:90% Henry Hahn. 00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:55.960 align:middle line:90% 00:40:55.960 --> 00:40:59.850 align:middle line:90% We don't see Sony Fernandez. 00:40:59.850 --> 00:41:03.000 align:middle line:84% And so we're down to Benjamin Scott Cohen. 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:05.550 align:middle line:84% If we called your name but we didn't recognize you, 00:41:05.550 --> 00:41:06.637 align:middle line:90% just make sure we know. 00:41:06.637 --> 00:41:07.720 align:middle line:90% Put something in the chat. 00:41:07.720 --> 00:41:09.830 align:middle line:90% We will come back to you. 00:41:09.830 --> 00:41:12.930 align:middle line:84% Let's let Benjamin Cohen go, and we'll try again 00:41:12.930 --> 00:41:15.092 align:middle line:90% with Rep Doherty after that. 00:41:15.092 --> 00:41:16.280 align:middle line:90% Hi. 00:41:16.280 --> 00:41:18.260 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:22.630 align:middle line:90% Yeah, please. 00:41:22.630 --> 00:41:27.880 align:middle line:84% I would like to extend my thanks to the Special Joint Committee 00:41:27.880 --> 00:41:30.940 align:middle line:84% on Redistricting for allowing me to speak before you all today, 00:41:30.940 --> 00:41:33.370 align:middle line:84% with special thanks extended to Representative 00:41:33.370 --> 00:41:36.670 align:middle line:84% Moran and Senator Brownsberger for chairing 00:41:36.670 --> 00:41:37.990 align:middle line:90% this all-important committee. 00:41:37.990 --> 00:41:39.730 align:middle line:84% And before I begin, I want to point out 00:41:39.730 --> 00:41:43.090 align:middle line:84% that attempting this exercise without the 2020 census 00:41:43.090 --> 00:41:45.460 align:middle line:84% data being released to the public is about as close 00:41:45.460 --> 00:41:48.170 align:middle line:84% to an exercise in futility as possible. 00:41:48.170 --> 00:41:51.980 align:middle line:84% But we have to work with what we have, so I digress. 00:41:51.980 --> 00:41:54.850 align:middle line:84% The 4th Congressional District has a compactness problem. 00:41:54.850 --> 00:41:57.070 align:middle line:84% It's one of the least compact congressional districts 00:41:57.070 --> 00:41:58.660 align:middle line:84% in the Commonwealth, and it directly 00:41:58.660 --> 00:42:01.150 align:middle line:84% affects other districts with compactness problems, 00:42:01.150 --> 00:42:05.500 align:middle line:84% such as the 5th, 8th, and 9th congressional districts that 00:42:05.500 --> 00:42:07.630 align:middle line:90% border it. 00:42:07.630 --> 00:42:09.520 align:middle line:84% For those who don't know what compactness is, 00:42:09.520 --> 00:42:11.320 align:middle line:84% compactness is the idea that districts 00:42:11.320 --> 00:42:13.758 align:middle line:84% should be drawn to be as small as possible, 00:42:13.758 --> 00:42:15.550 align:middle line:84% so that the people who live in the district 00:42:15.550 --> 00:42:18.700 align:middle line:84% are those who live closest to each other. 00:42:18.700 --> 00:42:21.370 align:middle line:84% I favor circular shapes and the REOC test 00:42:21.370 --> 00:42:24.010 align:middle line:84% for evaluating this, which calculates compactness 00:42:24.010 --> 00:42:26.950 align:middle line:84% by dividing the district's total square footage 00:42:26.950 --> 00:42:30.160 align:middle line:84% by the minimum bounding circle that could be drawn around it. 00:42:30.160 --> 00:42:32.860 align:middle line:84% So the South and parts of the middle of the district 00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:35.560 align:middle line:84% are fairly compact, with most of Bristol County 00:42:35.560 --> 00:42:39.010 align:middle line:84% and a solid block of towns on Norfolk County stretching 00:42:39.010 --> 00:42:41.770 align:middle line:84% from Franklin to Sharon making a lot of sense 00:42:41.770 --> 00:42:45.130 align:middle line:84% being grouped together, making a fairly compact shape by itself. 00:42:45.130 --> 00:42:47.140 align:middle line:84% Problems start to arise when we consider the two 00:42:47.140 --> 00:42:52.180 align:middle line:84% arm-like shapes of the district, with one arm being 00:42:52.180 --> 00:42:56.620 align:middle line:84% the towns of Hopkinton, [INAUDIBLE] and Bellingham, 00:42:56.620 --> 00:43:02.230 align:middle line:84% and the other arm having the towns of Dover, Needham, 00:43:02.230 --> 00:43:04.750 align:middle line:84% Wellesley, Newton, and Brookline. 00:43:04.750 --> 00:43:07.510 align:middle line:84% These arms end up making the district significantly less 00:43:07.510 --> 00:43:09.790 align:middle line:84% compact, spreading it out geographically, 00:43:09.790 --> 00:43:12.340 align:middle line:84% and I believe this is the primary way that we should 00:43:12.340 --> 00:43:15.280 align:middle line:84% address the issue in this district, 00:43:15.280 --> 00:43:17.680 align:middle line:84% by making those arms no longer arms. 00:43:17.680 --> 00:43:20.500 align:middle line:84% In my mind, the best way to solve this problem 00:43:20.500 --> 00:43:22.540 align:middle line:84% is by cutting out some of the towns 00:43:22.540 --> 00:43:27.460 align:middle line:84% in the south of the district to increase the compactness 00:43:27.460 --> 00:43:29.140 align:middle line:90% of the district overall. 00:43:29.140 --> 00:43:32.080 align:middle line:84% I've heard people argue in favor of this solution 00:43:32.080 --> 00:43:34.833 align:middle line:84% in a different way, arguing that a city like Fall River 00:43:34.833 --> 00:43:36.250 align:middle line:84% should not be in the same district 00:43:36.250 --> 00:43:39.370 align:middle line:84% as a town like Brookline on cultural arguments. 00:43:39.370 --> 00:43:42.580 align:middle line:84% And in my previous work in the 4th congressional district 00:43:42.580 --> 00:43:46.370 align:middle line:84% on a congressional campaign, Ben Siegel's campaign, 00:43:46.370 --> 00:43:48.940 align:middle line:84% I have to disagree with this cultural argument. 00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:51.640 align:middle line:84% I go to school in the south of the district, 00:43:51.640 --> 00:43:55.390 align:middle line:84% and I often visit friends and work and live in the north, 00:43:55.390 --> 00:43:56.440 align:middle line:90% as well. 00:43:56.440 --> 00:43:58.840 align:middle line:84% I believe that differences between the parts 00:43:58.840 --> 00:44:01.750 align:middle line:84% of the district are overstated, with all parts of the district 00:44:01.750 --> 00:44:04.270 align:middle line:84% simply containing people trying to do what they believe 00:44:04.270 --> 00:44:05.710 align:middle line:90% is best for their communities. 00:44:05.710 --> 00:44:07.510 align:middle line:84% With projects like South Coast Rail 00:44:07.510 --> 00:44:10.330 align:middle line:84% underway to expand transit access across the district, 00:44:10.330 --> 00:44:14.240 align:middle line:84% I think this perceived district is dramatically overstated. 00:44:14.240 --> 00:44:16.750 align:middle line:84% So all in all, I disagree with this cultural argument. 00:44:16.750 --> 00:44:20.090 align:middle line:84% However, I do recognize that it's really hard, 00:44:20.090 --> 00:44:22.990 align:middle line:84% if not impossible, to draw a compact district with Fall 00:44:22.990 --> 00:44:25.450 align:middle line:84% River and Brookline in the same district. 00:44:25.450 --> 00:44:28.030 align:middle line:84% So with this being said, I think removing the precincts 00:44:28.030 --> 00:44:31.240 align:middle line:84% from Fall River, Lakeville, and Freetown that are currently 00:44:31.240 --> 00:44:32.890 align:middle line:84% in the district and replacing them 00:44:32.890 --> 00:44:36.355 align:middle line:84% with precincts from the towns of Sherburne, 00:44:36.355 --> 00:44:38.920 align:middle line:84% and Holliston from the 5th Congressional District, 00:44:38.920 --> 00:44:41.440 align:middle line:84% Walpole from the 8th congressional district, as well 00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:45.430 align:middle line:84% as the missing precincts from Raynham and Bellingham 00:44:45.430 --> 00:44:48.700 align:middle line:84% that are currently split up between other congressional 00:44:48.700 --> 00:44:51.220 align:middle line:84% districts in the Commonwealth, would constitute 00:44:51.220 --> 00:44:54.370 align:middle line:84% a relatively equal exchange of population, while drastically 00:44:54.370 --> 00:44:56.830 align:middle line:84% increasing the compactness of the district overall. 00:44:56.830 --> 00:44:58.420 align:middle line:84% However, I'd like to, once again, 00:44:58.420 --> 00:45:00.640 align:middle line:84% mention that engaging in this process 00:45:00.640 --> 00:45:04.720 align:middle line:84% before the 2020 census data has been available to the public 00:45:04.720 --> 00:45:07.240 align:middle line:84% is somewhat silly, and I hope that another hearing would 00:45:07.240 --> 00:45:10.630 align:middle line:84% be scheduled soon for 4th congressional district 00:45:10.630 --> 00:45:13.010 align:middle line:84% residents following the release of the data. 00:45:13.010 --> 00:45:16.510 align:middle line:84% So in conclusion, I would like to reiterate my emphasis 00:45:16.510 --> 00:45:19.870 align:middle line:84% to the legislators involved in this process, 00:45:19.870 --> 00:45:21.580 align:middle line:90% that they consider compactness. 00:45:21.580 --> 00:45:24.280 align:middle line:84% And my belief that the best way to solve this problem 00:45:24.280 --> 00:45:26.890 align:middle line:84% is removing some towns and cities in the southern part 00:45:26.890 --> 00:45:27.650 align:middle line:90% of the district. 00:45:27.650 --> 00:45:29.240 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:45:29.240 --> 00:45:29.740 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:45:29.740 --> 00:45:34.960 align:middle line:84% So we think your comments are serious, and we respect them, 00:45:34.960 --> 00:45:38.860 align:middle line:84% and we don't think what we're doing is silly. 00:45:38.860 --> 00:45:43.060 align:middle line:84% We think that the data is available 00:45:43.060 --> 00:45:45.790 align:middle line:84% sufficient to make serious comments like the one you're 00:45:45.790 --> 00:45:49.310 align:middle line:84% making, and we are moving forward, taking those comments 00:45:49.310 --> 00:45:52.168 align:middle line:84% across the state and getting the input. 00:45:52.168 --> 00:45:53.710 align:middle line:84% Because we do have a pretty good idea 00:45:53.710 --> 00:45:57.880 align:middle line:84% of where things stand, with or without the final numbers. 00:45:57.880 --> 00:45:59.770 align:middle line:84% So we appreciate your serious testimony. 00:45:59.770 --> 00:46:02.560 align:middle line:84% And are there any questions or comments 00:46:02.560 --> 00:46:03.888 align:middle line:90% from members of the committee? 00:46:03.888 --> 00:46:06.820 align:middle line:90% 00:46:06.820 --> 00:46:08.830 align:middle line:84% Senator, I would like to just, if I could. 00:46:08.830 --> 00:46:11.920 align:middle line:90% 00:46:11.920 --> 00:46:12.700 align:middle line:90% Senator? 00:46:12.700 --> 00:46:15.100 align:middle line:90% Yes, please, Mr. Chairman. 00:46:15.100 --> 00:46:19.130 align:middle line:84% I would just like to remind people of a few things. 00:46:19.130 --> 00:46:24.130 align:middle line:84% One is, 10 years ago, to get rid of some of those fingers 00:46:24.130 --> 00:46:27.790 align:middle line:84% that Benjamin was referring to, we 00:46:27.790 --> 00:46:30.760 align:middle line:84% created an incumbent free district 00:46:30.760 --> 00:46:35.080 align:middle line:84% which includes Cape Cod, Provincetown, 00:46:35.080 --> 00:46:41.620 align:middle line:84% all the way to Marshfield and Norwell on the north. 00:46:41.620 --> 00:46:44.350 align:middle line:84% That was an incumbent free district. 00:46:44.350 --> 00:46:47.890 align:middle line:84% And then Congressman Keating, who was, at the time, 00:46:47.890 --> 00:46:53.800 align:middle line:84% living in Quincy, moved to Bourne and won that seat, 00:46:53.800 --> 00:46:58.720 align:middle line:84% thereby creating less oddly-shaped districts 00:46:58.720 --> 00:47:00.700 align:middle line:90% in that region. 00:47:00.700 --> 00:47:05.140 align:middle line:84% I would also want to remind you that to the north 00:47:05.140 --> 00:47:08.470 align:middle line:84% of these districts are our Congressional District 00:47:08.470 --> 00:47:13.930 align:middle line:84% 7, which is currently being represented by Ayanna Pressley. 00:47:13.930 --> 00:47:17.050 align:middle line:84% That is the only majority-minority congressional 00:47:17.050 --> 00:47:19.220 align:middle line:90% district that we have. 00:47:19.220 --> 00:47:23.290 align:middle line:84% So as you look at the districts that are south of that, 00:47:23.290 --> 00:47:27.040 align:middle line:84% there are two, and one of them is the 4th, 00:47:27.040 --> 00:47:29.380 align:middle line:90% and the other one is the 9th. 00:47:29.380 --> 00:47:34.270 align:middle line:84% So you need to be very careful about how you add to one 00:47:34.270 --> 00:47:36.280 align:middle line:90% and take away from the other. 00:47:36.280 --> 00:47:40.060 align:middle line:84% Because on the top of the district that 00:47:40.060 --> 00:47:44.410 align:middle line:84% is represented by Congressman Lynch, 00:47:44.410 --> 00:47:49.960 align:middle line:84% you have the entirety of the 7th Congressional 00:47:49.960 --> 00:47:52.510 align:middle line:84% District, which is our majority-minority district. 00:47:52.510 --> 00:47:56.800 align:middle line:84% So it gets a little hairy when you're trying to figure out, 00:47:56.800 --> 00:48:00.160 align:middle line:84% how do you add what they're suggesting, maybe 00:48:00.160 --> 00:48:02.800 align:middle line:84% as much as 20,000 people, to the 9th CD, 00:48:02.800 --> 00:48:04.720 align:middle line:90% which is Congressman Keatings. 00:48:04.720 --> 00:48:10.000 align:middle line:84% How do you add 20,000 to that while not harming 00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:14.350 align:middle line:84% the percentage of majority-minority people that 00:48:14.350 --> 00:48:19.250 align:middle line:84% are in our 7th CD, which is Congressman Pressley's. 00:48:19.250 --> 00:48:24.550 align:middle line:84% So these are tricky things that we have to figure out, 00:48:24.550 --> 00:48:29.500 align:middle line:84% and they do all connect like a giant puzzle. 00:48:29.500 --> 00:48:33.460 align:middle line:84% And Fall River is certainly a community 00:48:33.460 --> 00:48:37.390 align:middle line:84% that shares a working class past, and still a working class 00:48:37.390 --> 00:48:38.230 align:middle line:90% community. 00:48:38.230 --> 00:48:41.890 align:middle line:84% But as far as we're concerned with redistricting, 00:48:41.890 --> 00:48:44.610 align:middle line:90% it's 87% white. 00:48:44.610 --> 00:48:47.610 align:middle line:84% So that is one of the things we have 00:48:47.610 --> 00:48:50.640 align:middle line:84% to take into consideration as we draw these, 00:48:50.640 --> 00:48:53.790 align:middle line:84% and as how that relates to or could affect 00:48:53.790 --> 00:48:55.410 align:middle line:84% the 7th Congressional District, which 00:48:55.410 --> 00:48:58.590 align:middle line:84% is our only majority-minority district, which we also 00:48:58.590 --> 00:49:01.590 align:middle line:84% drew 10 years ago, first time ever 00:49:01.590 --> 00:49:04.140 align:middle line:84% drawing a strong majority-minority district, 00:49:04.140 --> 00:49:06.480 align:middle line:84% which eventually gave us Congressman Pressley. 00:49:06.480 --> 00:49:08.030 align:middle line:84% So that's some of the complexities 00:49:08.030 --> 00:49:09.780 align:middle line:84% and some of the issues we're dealing with, 00:49:09.780 --> 00:49:11.700 align:middle line:84% and I just wanted to put them out there 00:49:11.700 --> 00:49:16.500 align:middle line:84% so people can understand the difference between a Section 2 00:49:16.500 --> 00:49:20.100 align:middle line:84% voting rights issue, and a community of interest issue. 00:49:20.100 --> 00:49:23.130 align:middle line:84% And what I'm hearing here mostly is community 00:49:23.130 --> 00:49:25.110 align:middle line:90% of interest arguments. 00:49:25.110 --> 00:49:27.390 align:middle line:84% On the congressional level, as I said before, 00:49:27.390 --> 00:49:29.820 align:middle line:84% as it whittles down to House seats, 00:49:29.820 --> 00:49:33.150 align:middle line:84% you may, in fact, have a Section 2 issue 00:49:33.150 --> 00:49:35.400 align:middle line:90% around packing or cracking. 00:49:35.400 --> 00:49:38.100 align:middle line:84% But it just doesn't exist in this congressional district, 00:49:38.100 --> 00:49:40.290 align:middle line:90% as it currently is conformed. 00:49:40.290 --> 00:49:43.380 align:middle line:84% Thank you, Chairman Brownsberger. 00:49:43.380 --> 00:49:45.300 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 00:49:45.300 --> 00:49:48.070 align:middle line:84% Did you have a further comment, Mr. Cohen. 00:49:48.070 --> 00:49:48.860 align:middle line:90% Yeah, I did. 00:49:48.860 --> 00:49:50.470 align:middle line:84% I just wanted to be entirely clear, 00:49:50.470 --> 00:49:52.510 align:middle line:84% I'm not making a Section 2 argument. 00:49:52.510 --> 00:49:53.980 align:middle line:84% And also, I've been playing around 00:49:53.980 --> 00:49:56.260 align:middle line:84% with drawing some of the districts myself. 00:49:56.260 --> 00:49:59.980 align:middle line:84% It is entirely possible to fix the compactness problems 00:49:59.980 --> 00:50:02.650 align:middle line:84% of the 4th congressional district without impacting 00:50:02.650 --> 00:50:06.010 align:middle line:84% the status of the 9th, or of the 7th congressional district 00:50:06.010 --> 00:50:08.170 align:middle line:90% as a majority-minority district. 00:50:08.170 --> 00:50:09.600 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:50:09.600 --> 00:50:11.430 align:middle line:84% So we appreciate your serious testimony, 00:50:11.430 --> 00:50:13.200 align:middle line:84% and we'd welcome any, if you wanted 00:50:13.200 --> 00:50:15.570 align:middle line:84% to share any specific suggestions on that, 00:50:15.570 --> 00:50:17.645 align:middle line:84% we'd definitely give those a look. 00:50:17.645 --> 00:50:19.770 align:middle line:84% And you can see on the website where to send those, 00:50:19.770 --> 00:50:24.710 align:middle line:84% and we'll definitely take a close look at what you offer. 00:50:24.710 --> 00:50:25.620 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:50:25.620 --> 00:50:26.120 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:50:26.120 --> 00:50:29.390 align:middle line:90% 00:50:29.390 --> 00:50:33.800 align:middle line:84% Are there no other questions for members of the committee? 00:50:33.800 --> 00:50:37.430 align:middle line:84% We'll take another try at Representative Doherty. 00:50:37.430 --> 00:50:40.520 align:middle line:84% So let's see if you can turn on without hearing our echoes. 00:50:40.520 --> 00:50:41.750 align:middle line:90% You were absolutely right. 00:50:41.750 --> 00:50:45.080 align:middle line:84% I had my online live version going, 00:50:45.080 --> 00:50:46.983 align:middle line:84% and there's always a delay there. 00:50:46.983 --> 00:50:48.650 align:middle line:84% So thank you very much for indulging me. 00:50:48.650 --> 00:50:49.670 align:middle line:90% I appreciate it. 00:50:49.670 --> 00:50:51.218 align:middle line:90% Glad to have your testimony. 00:50:51.218 --> 00:50:52.010 align:middle line:90% Look forward to it. 00:50:52.010 --> 00:50:52.300 align:middle line:90% Go ahead. 00:50:52.300 --> 00:50:52.580 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:50:52.580 --> 00:50:54.663 align:middle line:84% Carol Doherty, representative of the 3rd, Bristol. 00:50:54.663 --> 00:50:58.250 align:middle line:84% I represent most of the city of Taunton, 00:50:58.250 --> 00:51:00.650 align:middle line:84% share that along with Rep Orrall and Rep Haddad, 00:51:00.650 --> 00:51:04.580 align:middle line:84% and also a little piece of Easton, which I 00:51:04.580 --> 00:51:06.950 align:middle line:90% share Easton with Leader Cronin. 00:51:06.950 --> 00:51:08.570 align:middle line:84% So thank you very much, and thank 00:51:08.570 --> 00:51:11.210 align:middle line:84% you Rep Moran and Senator Brownsberger 00:51:11.210 --> 00:51:13.220 align:middle line:90% for this opportunity. 00:51:13.220 --> 00:51:16.010 align:middle line:84% In my comment, when Rep Moran was 00:51:16.010 --> 00:51:18.200 align:middle line:84% going around talking to the legislators 00:51:18.200 --> 00:51:21.620 align:middle line:84% about redistricting, I appreciated the complexity 00:51:21.620 --> 00:51:23.990 align:middle line:84% and the difficulty that was placed 00:51:23.990 --> 00:51:28.100 align:middle line:84% before the committee in regard to the late coming 00:51:28.100 --> 00:51:29.160 align:middle line:90% of the census data. 00:51:29.160 --> 00:51:33.560 align:middle line:84% So I think that the effort that's being made, and we here 00:51:33.560 --> 00:51:35.120 align:middle line:84% having the opportunity to testify 00:51:35.120 --> 00:51:36.800 align:middle line:90% is really, really important. 00:51:36.800 --> 00:51:40.190 align:middle line:84% As has been pointed out, the 4th congressional district 00:51:40.190 --> 00:51:43.010 align:middle line:84% is a long, funny-shaped, snaking district 00:51:43.010 --> 00:51:45.440 align:middle line:84% with vast socioeconomic differences 00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:49.580 align:middle line:84% from the south end in Fall River, to the other end north, 00:51:49.580 --> 00:51:52.520 align:middle line:84% with Newton and Wellesley and other like communities. 00:51:52.520 --> 00:51:56.540 align:middle line:84% And I have to say that our Congressmen Auchencloss has 00:51:56.540 --> 00:51:59.030 align:middle line:84% made a huge and significant effort 00:51:59.030 --> 00:52:01.955 align:middle line:84% to address those differences across the district. 00:52:01.955 --> 00:52:04.730 align:middle line:84% He has spent a lot of time here in the district 00:52:04.730 --> 00:52:07.940 align:middle line:84% talking with us, being connected with our community, 00:52:07.940 --> 00:52:09.360 align:middle line:90% and meeting our needs. 00:52:09.360 --> 00:52:12.270 align:middle line:84% So whatever it is that you do at the end of the day, 00:52:12.270 --> 00:52:17.280 align:middle line:84% we would very much like to keep his hometown in our district, 00:52:17.280 --> 00:52:19.520 align:middle line:84% so that he can have the opportunity 00:52:19.520 --> 00:52:22.080 align:middle line:90% to continue to represent us. 00:52:22.080 --> 00:52:26.750 align:middle line:84% I will say that the 3rd Bristol town clerks in both Easton 00:52:26.750 --> 00:52:29.450 align:middle line:84% and Taunton were very much concerned when 00:52:29.450 --> 00:52:34.100 align:middle line:84% the legislature moved to adopt the reprecincting which 00:52:34.100 --> 00:52:38.720 align:middle line:84% is vastly different than the precincting that happened 00:52:38.720 --> 00:52:39.883 align:middle line:90% along the last 10 years. 00:52:39.883 --> 00:52:41.300 align:middle line:84% They're very concerned about that, 00:52:41.300 --> 00:52:43.490 align:middle line:84% the change, the difficulty that they 00:52:43.490 --> 00:52:46.065 align:middle line:84% were going to have being last on the list, 00:52:46.065 --> 00:52:47.690 align:middle line:84% rather than first on the list, in terms 00:52:47.690 --> 00:52:48.690 align:middle line:90% of drawing the district. 00:52:48.690 --> 00:52:52.580 align:middle line:84% So I'm sure that you are addressing those concerns as 00:52:52.580 --> 00:52:53.270 align:middle line:90% well. 00:52:53.270 --> 00:52:55.730 align:middle line:84% But my primary and prevailing concern 00:52:55.730 --> 00:52:58.910 align:middle line:84% has to do with the notion of equity, 00:52:58.910 --> 00:53:02.630 align:middle line:84% understanding what Rep Moran has said about 87% of our district 00:53:02.630 --> 00:53:06.110 align:middle line:84% being primarily white, and that is still true here 00:53:06.110 --> 00:53:07.400 align:middle line:90% in our community. 00:53:07.400 --> 00:53:09.800 align:middle line:84% We just want to be sure that the rule of thumb 00:53:09.800 --> 00:53:14.600 align:middle line:84% in finally drawing the lines around the district 00:53:14.600 --> 00:53:21.350 align:middle line:84% really provides an opportunity across the 4th for equity 00:53:21.350 --> 00:53:24.950 align:middle line:84% in terms of numbers, in terms of community profile, 00:53:24.950 --> 00:53:28.670 align:middle line:84% and in terms of opportunity for people to run for office, 00:53:28.670 --> 00:53:30.620 align:middle line:84% and also to vote for those people who 00:53:30.620 --> 00:53:31.970 align:middle line:90% are running for office. 00:53:31.970 --> 00:53:34.940 align:middle line:84% And lastly, a story, a personal story, 00:53:34.940 --> 00:53:37.970 align:middle line:84% one of my proudest moments as an educator 00:53:37.970 --> 00:53:40.490 align:middle line:84% has been in the very distant past 00:53:40.490 --> 00:53:45.380 align:middle line:84% to teach citizenship to those who were immigrants pursuing 00:53:45.380 --> 00:53:47.090 align:middle line:90% their citizenship. 00:53:47.090 --> 00:53:49.160 align:middle line:84% And when asked the question about why 00:53:49.160 --> 00:53:51.950 align:middle line:84% they wanted to become citizens of the United States, 00:53:51.950 --> 00:53:58.070 align:middle line:84% the response, without any kind of difference 00:53:58.070 --> 00:54:00.770 align:middle line:84% between and among them, is the right to vote. 00:54:00.770 --> 00:54:04.310 align:middle line:84% And we want to make sure that every single individual is 00:54:04.310 --> 00:54:07.880 align:middle line:84% in a place where they have an opportunity to cast that vote, 00:54:07.880 --> 00:54:10.320 align:middle line:90% as they so dearly wish. 00:54:10.320 --> 00:54:13.070 align:middle line:84% So thank you very much, Senator Brownsberger, 00:54:13.070 --> 00:54:15.560 align:middle line:84% for the opportunity to say just a few words. 00:54:15.560 --> 00:54:17.720 align:middle line:84% And I have confidence in your ability 00:54:17.720 --> 00:54:19.760 align:middle line:84% to draw this district in a way that's 00:54:19.760 --> 00:54:21.890 align:middle line:84% going to support the constituents in the district, 00:54:21.890 --> 00:54:22.390 align:middle line:90% as well. 00:54:22.390 --> 00:54:23.890 align:middle line:90% So thank you. 00:54:23.890 --> 00:54:26.520 align:middle line:84% We appreciate your kind testimony. 00:54:26.520 --> 00:54:29.930 align:middle line:84% Are there any comments, questions 00:54:29.930 --> 00:54:31.248 align:middle line:90% from members of the committee? 00:54:31.248 --> 00:54:34.840 align:middle line:90% 00:54:34.840 --> 00:54:37.930 align:middle line:84% Representative Doherty, thank you so much for being with us. 00:54:37.930 --> 00:54:39.310 align:middle line:90% Chairman Moran, did you-- 00:54:39.310 --> 00:54:41.630 align:middle line:84% Yeah, if I could at this point in time-- 00:54:41.630 --> 00:54:44.680 align:middle line:84% thank you, Chairman Brownsberger-- 00:54:44.680 --> 00:54:48.340 align:middle line:84% to just call on a couple of my colleagues who I know 00:54:48.340 --> 00:54:50.440 align:middle line:84% were on a leadership meeting earlier 00:54:50.440 --> 00:54:52.930 align:middle line:84% and couldn't sign in until later on this one, 00:54:52.930 --> 00:54:55.180 align:middle line:90% but that have joined us. 00:54:55.180 --> 00:54:57.910 align:middle line:84% Sarah Peake, the gentlelady from Provincetown is here. 00:54:57.910 --> 00:54:59.530 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Sarah. 00:54:59.530 --> 00:55:01.480 align:middle line:84% She has perfect attendance on these hearings. 00:55:01.480 --> 00:55:03.700 align:middle line:90% We appreciate that. 00:55:03.700 --> 00:55:08.140 align:middle line:84% The gentleman from Lawrence, same last name but not related, 00:55:08.140 --> 00:55:11.020 align:middle line:84% Frank Moran, thank you, Frank, for joining us. 00:55:11.020 --> 00:55:14.210 align:middle line:84% And lastly, but by no means least, 00:55:14.210 --> 00:55:17.080 align:middle line:84% the gentlelady from Boston, Representative Chynah Tyler. 00:55:17.080 --> 00:55:19.680 align:middle line:84% Chynah, thank you for taking time out of your schedule. 00:55:19.680 --> 00:55:21.430 align:middle line:84% I know you're dealing with a lot of stuff. 00:55:21.430 --> 00:55:25.120 align:middle line:90% So thank you for joining us. 00:55:25.120 --> 00:55:28.020 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 00:55:28.020 --> 00:55:30.930 align:middle line:84% And again, representative Tyler, thank you for being with us. 00:55:30.930 --> 00:55:33.510 align:middle line:84% I know, as the chairman said, we appreciate 00:55:33.510 --> 00:55:37.350 align:middle line:84% what you're going through, and we're here to support you. 00:55:37.350 --> 00:55:39.750 align:middle line:90% Is Prana [? Jagadeesh ?] here? 00:55:39.750 --> 00:55:44.151 align:middle line:90% 00:55:44.151 --> 00:55:45.410 align:middle line:90% Is he not hearing that? 00:55:45.410 --> 00:55:48.690 align:middle line:90% No, but Dax Crocker is. 00:55:48.690 --> 00:55:49.360 align:middle line:90% Very good. 00:55:49.360 --> 00:55:50.595 align:middle line:90% Dax Crocker, please. 00:55:50.595 --> 00:56:04.390 align:middle line:90% 00:56:04.390 --> 00:56:05.720 align:middle line:90% Can you hear me? 00:56:05.720 --> 00:56:07.360 align:middle line:90% Yes, you're on. 00:56:07.360 --> 00:56:08.330 align:middle line:90% OK, great. 00:56:08.330 --> 00:56:09.580 align:middle line:90% Thank you for having me. 00:56:09.580 --> 00:56:13.200 align:middle line:90% 00:56:13.200 --> 00:56:15.000 align:middle line:90% Thank you for coming. 00:56:15.000 --> 00:56:17.450 align:middle line:84% My name is Dax Crocker, and I am here 00:56:17.450 --> 00:56:22.010 align:middle line:84% representing Coalition for Social Justice, an organization 00:56:22.010 --> 00:56:25.670 align:middle line:84% working hard to improve the lives of working 00:56:25.670 --> 00:56:29.900 align:middle line:84% Class folks, people of color, new citizen 00:56:29.900 --> 00:56:32.840 align:middle line:90% immigrants, and young voters. 00:56:32.840 --> 00:56:37.800 align:middle line:84% Let me start by asking you, the committee and everyone here, 00:56:37.800 --> 00:56:39.410 align:middle line:84% how many of you remember the movie 00:56:39.410 --> 00:56:42.035 align:middle line:90% Mystic Pizza with Julia Roberts? 00:56:42.035 --> 00:56:44.270 align:middle line:84% The small town in Mystic, Connecticut, 00:56:44.270 --> 00:56:47.930 align:middle line:84% with Portuguese immigrants who worked cleaning seafood 00:56:47.930 --> 00:56:50.550 align:middle line:90% in the lobster warehouses. 00:56:50.550 --> 00:56:54.720 align:middle line:84% The family are immigrants, who had their daughters 00:56:54.720 --> 00:56:57.180 align:middle line:84% work in someone else's pizza place 00:56:57.180 --> 00:56:59.280 align:middle line:90% in order to make ends meet. 00:56:59.280 --> 00:57:01.410 align:middle line:84% The family in the movie came to this country 00:57:01.410 --> 00:57:03.320 align:middle line:90% pursuing their American dream. 00:57:03.320 --> 00:57:06.390 align:middle line:84% In Fall River, those Portuguese immigrants 00:57:06.390 --> 00:57:10.110 align:middle line:84% depicted in the movie came decades ago, and also worked 00:57:10.110 --> 00:57:12.090 align:middle line:90% in the lowest paying jobs. 00:57:12.090 --> 00:57:15.510 align:middle line:84% They then moved on from the fish houses and the factories 00:57:15.510 --> 00:57:17.550 align:middle line:84% and entered the working class, owning 00:57:17.550 --> 00:57:20.160 align:middle line:90% their own small businesses. 00:57:20.160 --> 00:57:24.300 align:middle line:84% Mystic Pizza Part 2, filmed in Fall River, 00:57:24.300 --> 00:57:26.160 align:middle line:90% would show that reality. 00:57:26.160 --> 00:57:30.540 align:middle line:84% But it would also show that the new entering immigrant class 00:57:30.540 --> 00:57:35.460 align:middle line:84% of US citizens in Fall River are from Brazil, from Cape Verde, 00:57:35.460 --> 00:57:38.550 align:middle line:84% from Guatemala, from Honduras, from El Salvador, 00:57:38.550 --> 00:57:39.660 align:middle line:90% from Cambodia. 00:57:39.660 --> 00:57:40.980 align:middle line:90% You name it. 00:57:40.980 --> 00:57:43.550 align:middle line:84% These new communities are here, too, 00:57:43.550 --> 00:57:47.310 align:middle line:84% to achieve their American dream, just like the Portuguese that 00:57:47.310 --> 00:57:50.430 align:middle line:84% came five decades ago and the Scandinavians who 00:57:50.430 --> 00:57:52.770 align:middle line:84% came when the Mills were being built. 00:57:52.770 --> 00:57:56.640 align:middle line:84% They all are here knitting their new community one piece 00:57:56.640 --> 00:58:00.630 align:middle line:84% at a time, one part-time job at a time. 00:58:00.630 --> 00:58:02.740 align:middle line:84% This is not a town of rich people. 00:58:02.740 --> 00:58:05.370 align:middle line:84% This is a town of working class folks. 00:58:05.370 --> 00:58:07.560 align:middle line:84% In fact, when I was speaking with my friend 00:58:07.560 --> 00:58:10.740 align:middle line:84% from Fall River, Chris Nielsen, a descendant 00:58:10.740 --> 00:58:13.830 align:middle line:84% of Swedish immigrants who came to Fall River, 00:58:13.830 --> 00:58:15.990 align:middle line:84% about a mother from Salvador who is 00:58:15.990 --> 00:58:20.160 align:middle line:84% working a factory job in Fall River today to make meats. 00:58:20.160 --> 00:58:24.120 align:middle line:84% And she also cooks lunches and then brings 00:58:24.120 --> 00:58:28.830 align:middle line:84% those lunches to be sold to her co-workers in the factory. 00:58:28.830 --> 00:58:31.980 align:middle line:84% Chris told me, my grandmother from Sweden 00:58:31.980 --> 00:58:36.120 align:middle line:84% did the same thing when she came to Fall River. 00:58:36.120 --> 00:58:38.820 align:middle line:84% Members of the committee, I'm here 00:58:38.820 --> 00:58:44.160 align:middle line:84% to ask you to keep Fall River together, to unify Fall river. 00:58:44.160 --> 00:58:46.740 align:middle line:90% This is a working class town. 00:58:46.740 --> 00:58:50.640 align:middle line:84% In fact, two, three days ago, I was at a press conference 00:58:50.640 --> 00:58:51.940 align:middle line:90% with the mayor. 00:58:51.940 --> 00:58:55.620 align:middle line:84% And we were talking to the press and to the community about all 00:58:55.620 --> 00:58:57.570 align:middle line:84% the people that, in Fall River, are 00:58:57.570 --> 00:59:01.650 align:middle line:84% about to lose their home because of the Moratorium 00:59:01.650 --> 00:59:06.940 align:middle line:84% provision being removed, that the mayor and other agencies 00:59:06.940 --> 00:59:09.820 align:middle line:84% and other organizations are working hard 00:59:09.820 --> 00:59:13.990 align:middle line:84% to make sure that people from Fall River, Portuguese-- 00:59:13.990 --> 00:59:18.370 align:middle line:84% I have visited many of them, many, many white, working class 00:59:18.370 --> 00:59:20.740 align:middle line:84% people who are about to lose their homes, 00:59:20.740 --> 00:59:25.070 align:middle line:84% Brazilians, et cetera, don't lose their homes. 00:59:25.070 --> 00:59:28.490 align:middle line:84% A lot of people here are working to make sure that happens. 00:59:28.490 --> 00:59:31.730 align:middle line:84% That is not the story of Wellesley. 00:59:31.730 --> 00:59:33.920 align:middle line:84% That is not the story of Brookline. 00:59:33.920 --> 00:59:35.720 align:middle line:90% That is the story of Fall River. 00:59:35.720 --> 00:59:37.850 align:middle line:84% That is the story of New Bedford. 00:59:37.850 --> 00:59:42.620 align:middle line:84% And the Chair explained a few minutes ago 00:59:42.620 --> 00:59:46.940 align:middle line:84% that perhaps this argument is not about cracking. 00:59:46.940 --> 00:59:48.410 align:middle line:90% Perhaps you're right. 00:59:48.410 --> 00:59:52.100 align:middle line:90% This is about a class argument. 00:59:52.100 --> 00:59:56.430 align:middle line:84% Working class white folks in Fall River 00:59:56.430 --> 00:59:59.000 align:middle line:84% have more in common with working class 00:59:59.000 --> 01:00:01.310 align:middle line:84% white folks in New Bedford than they 01:00:01.310 --> 01:00:03.710 align:middle line:84% have with white people who have a lot of money, 01:00:03.710 --> 01:00:09.170 align:middle line:84% with million-dollar homes in the north of CD4. 01:00:09.170 --> 01:00:11.180 align:middle line:84% Members of the committee, in the name 01:00:11.180 --> 01:00:14.060 align:middle line:84% of the people of Fall River and all the working class 01:00:14.060 --> 01:00:15.590 align:middle line:84% folks that I'm working with to make 01:00:15.590 --> 01:00:17.510 align:middle line:84% sure they don't lose their homes, 01:00:17.510 --> 01:00:20.540 align:middle line:84% I'm asking you, unify Fall River. 01:00:20.540 --> 01:00:22.820 align:middle line:90% Give us one voice. 01:00:22.820 --> 01:00:24.950 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:00:24.950 --> 01:00:26.540 align:middle line:90% Appreciate your testimony. 01:00:26.540 --> 01:00:29.030 align:middle line:84% Appreciate you being with us today. 01:00:29.030 --> 01:00:32.467 align:middle line:84% Do we have questions or comments from members of the committee? 01:00:32.467 --> 01:00:35.600 align:middle line:90% 01:00:35.600 --> 01:00:36.690 align:middle line:90% I want to thank you, sir. 01:00:36.690 --> 01:00:38.520 align:middle line:90% We have Mr. Chairman. 01:00:38.520 --> 01:00:45.300 align:middle line:84% Dax, so just out of curiosity, if, say, 01:00:45.300 --> 01:00:51.830 align:middle line:84% we were able to make Fall River whole and keep it in CD4, 01:00:51.830 --> 01:00:55.640 align:middle line:84% and we were to make it more compact by potentially 01:00:55.640 --> 01:00:59.180 align:middle line:84% dropping some parts of the top part of, 01:00:59.180 --> 01:01:02.090 align:middle line:84% at Wellesley or Brookline, or parts of Newton, 01:01:02.090 --> 01:01:06.750 align:middle line:84% is that something that you would find appealing? 01:01:06.750 --> 01:01:12.630 align:middle line:84% If you were able to keep CD4, all of Fall River into CD4? 01:01:12.630 --> 01:01:17.580 align:middle line:84% Yes, and you were able to take away some of the more-- 01:01:17.580 --> 01:01:19.830 align:middle line:84% I'm going to use terms you used, but you're correct-- 01:01:19.830 --> 01:01:21.630 align:middle line:84% some of the more affluent white votes 01:01:21.630 --> 01:01:24.840 align:middle line:84% that are people that are in Wellesley, Brookline, 01:01:24.840 --> 01:01:29.010 align:middle line:84% or Newton, would that satisfy your organization, 01:01:29.010 --> 01:01:30.240 align:middle line:90% or your position? 01:01:30.240 --> 01:01:36.390 align:middle line:84% I think that if you were able to find other towns in CD4 that 01:01:36.390 --> 01:01:39.570 align:middle line:90% were class working towns, yes. 01:01:39.570 --> 01:01:42.930 align:middle line:84% We're not arguing against representative Auchincloss, 01:01:42.930 --> 01:01:44.400 align:middle line:90% or that we don't want to be-- 01:01:44.400 --> 01:01:46.500 align:middle line:84% this is not a political statement. 01:01:46.500 --> 01:01:48.760 align:middle line:90% This is a district statement. 01:01:48.760 --> 01:01:50.790 align:middle line:84% The reason why we're asking for New Bedford 01:01:50.790 --> 01:01:53.610 align:middle line:84% is just because logically, New Bedford 01:01:53.610 --> 01:01:57.630 align:middle line:84% is 15 minutes from Fall River, and the demographics 01:01:57.630 --> 01:02:03.030 align:middle line:84% are about the same, 70% white, 60% white or so. 01:02:03.030 --> 01:02:06.510 align:middle line:84% It's about 40%, 30% people of color. 01:02:06.510 --> 01:02:07.800 align:middle line:90% It matches. 01:02:07.800 --> 01:02:14.630 align:middle line:84% If you were able to find towns like that, other towns in CD4, 01:02:14.630 --> 01:02:16.380 align:middle line:90% that wouldn't be a bad idea. 01:02:16.380 --> 01:02:20.730 align:middle line:84% But to give Fall River a unified voice, 01:02:20.730 --> 01:02:24.990 align:middle line:84% all of Fall River keeping one representative accountable 01:02:24.990 --> 01:02:28.960 align:middle line:84% when things are not delivered, is what we're asking for. 01:02:28.960 --> 01:02:29.460 align:middle line:90% OK. 01:02:29.460 --> 01:02:30.300 align:middle line:90% I just wanted to be clear. 01:02:30.300 --> 01:02:31.883 align:middle line:84% I mean, I see some of those towns that 01:02:31.883 --> 01:02:36.060 align:middle line:84% are in the northern part of this district that are clearly, 01:02:36.060 --> 01:02:40.558 align:middle line:84% both economically and socially, not in line with some 01:02:40.558 --> 01:02:41.850 align:middle line:90% of the towns on the lower part. 01:02:41.850 --> 01:02:46.350 align:middle line:84% When I think of towns like Attleboro and Taunton 01:02:46.350 --> 01:02:51.480 align:middle line:84% and Rehoboth, those towns are pretty working-class towns, 01:02:51.480 --> 01:02:54.000 align:middle line:84% and would probably be more in line 01:02:54.000 --> 01:02:57.570 align:middle line:84% with Fall River than some of those towns on the most 01:02:57.570 --> 01:02:58.320 align:middle line:90% northern part. 01:02:58.320 --> 01:02:59.430 align:middle line:90% Yeah, that's true. 01:02:59.430 --> 01:03:02.550 align:middle line:84% Like Wellesley, and Needham, and Newton, and Brookline. 01:03:02.550 --> 01:03:06.210 align:middle line:84% And I just wanted to, just was curious, 01:03:06.210 --> 01:03:11.430 align:middle line:84% just from that perspective, if that was a possibility, 01:03:11.430 --> 01:03:15.040 align:middle line:84% would that be something that people would be happy to see? 01:03:15.040 --> 01:03:15.540 align:middle line:90% That's all. 01:03:15.540 --> 01:03:18.150 align:middle line:84% I think it would be something that people here 01:03:18.150 --> 01:03:21.890 align:middle line:90% would love to consider. 01:03:21.890 --> 01:03:26.000 align:middle line:84% And obviously, the numbers, even though we 01:03:26.000 --> 01:03:29.810 align:middle line:84% don't have the census numbers yet, right, but the numbers 01:03:29.810 --> 01:03:35.930 align:middle line:84% that we can work with right now, 20,000 people lost in CD9. 01:03:35.930 --> 01:03:38.900 align:middle line:84% It's an easy move to move all of Fall River 01:03:38.900 --> 01:03:40.610 align:middle line:90% and make up that loss. 01:03:40.610 --> 01:03:42.120 align:middle line:90% Thank you for having me. 01:03:42.120 --> 01:03:42.980 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:03:42.980 --> 01:03:45.720 align:middle line:90% Thank you for your testimony. 01:03:45.720 --> 01:03:48.740 align:middle line:84% And appreciate your questions, Mr. Chairman, and your answers 01:03:48.740 --> 01:03:50.990 align:middle line:90% to those questions, Mr. Crocker. 01:03:50.990 --> 01:03:53.950 align:middle line:90% So that's very good. 01:03:53.950 --> 01:03:57.160 align:middle line:84% I guess we do have Eileen Sheehan available next. 01:03:57.160 --> 01:04:09.700 align:middle line:90% 01:04:09.700 --> 01:04:10.960 align:middle line:90% There you go. 01:04:10.960 --> 01:04:11.460 align:middle line:90% Welcome. 01:04:11.460 --> 01:04:14.380 align:middle line:90% 01:04:14.380 --> 01:04:17.980 align:middle line:90% So I would, just a second. 01:04:17.980 --> 01:04:18.730 align:middle line:90% You sound good. 01:04:18.730 --> 01:04:19.990 align:middle line:90% We see you. 01:04:19.990 --> 01:04:20.980 align:middle line:90% OK. 01:04:20.980 --> 01:04:22.810 align:middle line:84% I had the wrong background on here. 01:04:22.810 --> 01:04:23.320 align:middle line:90% I'm sorry. 01:04:23.320 --> 01:04:26.620 align:middle line:90% 01:04:26.620 --> 01:04:29.830 align:middle line:84% I am very new to this process and just learned about it, 01:04:29.830 --> 01:04:34.360 align:middle line:84% so please forgive the, perhaps, not very 01:04:34.360 --> 01:04:36.160 align:middle line:90% articulate presentation. 01:04:36.160 --> 01:04:40.270 align:middle line:84% I was born and brought up in Westport, Massachusetts, 01:04:40.270 --> 01:04:45.310 align:middle line:84% and have had a business in Fall River for 30-plus years. 01:04:45.310 --> 01:04:52.060 align:middle line:84% And the business, Able Associates, the primary job 01:04:52.060 --> 01:04:54.190 align:middle line:90% is to get people to work. 01:04:54.190 --> 01:04:57.610 align:middle line:84% And we struggle for a lot of the reasons 01:04:57.610 --> 01:05:01.030 align:middle line:84% that I'm sure people know very well. 01:05:01.030 --> 01:05:04.690 align:middle line:84% And there was a mention made that this may 01:05:04.690 --> 01:05:07.030 align:middle line:90% be a majority white district. 01:05:07.030 --> 01:05:10.270 align:middle line:84% But my experience with getting people to work 01:05:10.270 --> 01:05:14.800 align:middle line:84% is that it is not a wealthy community in Fall River, New 01:05:14.800 --> 01:05:16.990 align:middle line:90% Bedford, Taunton. 01:05:16.990 --> 01:05:20.750 align:middle line:84% Yes, there's a lot of similar stuff there. 01:05:20.750 --> 01:05:26.830 align:middle line:84% But I think we have a very, very different set of problems 01:05:26.830 --> 01:05:30.100 align:middle line:90% from the northern end of CD4. 01:05:30.100 --> 01:05:33.120 align:middle line:90% 01:05:33.120 --> 01:05:36.960 align:middle line:84% And I'm going to concentrate on the getting-to-work side of it. 01:05:36.960 --> 01:05:42.690 align:middle line:84% I joined the Southeast Regional Council on Transportation 01:05:42.690 --> 01:05:45.600 align:middle line:84% for a number of years to try to see how we could get 01:05:45.600 --> 01:05:48.240 align:middle line:84% transportation, because it's one of the major reasons that 01:05:48.240 --> 01:05:51.750 align:middle line:84% people cannot get to work, is that they don't have cars, 01:05:51.750 --> 01:05:55.770 align:middle line:84% and there is very little public transportation of the sort 01:05:55.770 --> 01:05:58.540 align:middle line:90% necessary to get people to work. 01:05:58.540 --> 01:06:01.920 align:middle line:84% The reason that this is important to this conversation, 01:06:01.920 --> 01:06:08.130 align:middle line:84% I believe, is that there is a logical area for people 01:06:08.130 --> 01:06:12.250 align:middle line:84% to go to work in this area between New Bedford and Fall 01:06:12.250 --> 01:06:12.750 align:middle line:90% River. 01:06:12.750 --> 01:06:16.512 align:middle line:84% We're going to have a wonderful new opportunity on the New 01:06:16.512 --> 01:06:17.970 align:middle line:84% Bedford waterfront, and we're going 01:06:17.970 --> 01:06:21.780 align:middle line:84% to have the problem of people to the west of that, 01:06:21.780 --> 01:06:25.890 align:middle line:84% that the transportation is not good. 01:06:25.890 --> 01:06:27.610 align:middle line:90% There is a reason for that. 01:06:27.610 --> 01:06:31.350 align:middle line:84% We are sort of the stepchild of some of the more 01:06:31.350 --> 01:06:34.920 align:middle line:90% affluent communities. 01:06:34.920 --> 01:06:38.040 align:middle line:84% And although people are certainly very caring, 01:06:38.040 --> 01:06:40.740 align:middle line:84% and the representatives are high-quality, 01:06:40.740 --> 01:06:43.080 align:middle line:84% I think that we would be far better served 01:06:43.080 --> 01:06:46.500 align:middle line:84% if we were a more compact area and could 01:06:46.500 --> 01:06:49.650 align:middle line:84% look at things like the ability for people 01:06:49.650 --> 01:06:52.035 align:middle line:84% to use public transportation to get to the jobs. 01:06:52.035 --> 01:06:56.850 align:middle line:90% 01:06:56.850 --> 01:06:58.800 align:middle line:84% I understand that we might be talking 01:06:58.800 --> 01:07:00.930 align:middle line:84% about congressional districts before we 01:07:00.930 --> 01:07:04.140 align:middle line:84% talk about other districts, and it seems to me 01:07:04.140 --> 01:07:06.030 align:middle line:90% that that might be a mistake. 01:07:06.030 --> 01:07:08.820 align:middle line:84% Not an expert, but because I'd really 01:07:08.820 --> 01:07:13.350 align:middle line:84% love to see a more cohesive and mutually supportive 01:07:13.350 --> 01:07:14.820 align:middle line:90% area down here. 01:07:14.820 --> 01:07:17.550 align:middle line:84% I would very much appreciate if you 01:07:17.550 --> 01:07:22.230 align:middle line:84% could develop the congressional districts in line 01:07:22.230 --> 01:07:26.820 align:middle line:84% with what is developed for the municipal and legislative 01:07:26.820 --> 01:07:27.990 align:middle line:90% districts. 01:07:27.990 --> 01:07:33.180 align:middle line:84% And one other comment, just from what I've heard so far, 01:07:33.180 --> 01:07:35.760 align:middle line:84% is I think it would be a terrible shame 01:07:35.760 --> 01:07:39.300 align:middle line:84% to design a district because of where 01:07:39.300 --> 01:07:42.480 align:middle line:84% the current representative lives or a future representative 01:07:42.480 --> 01:07:43.590 align:middle line:90% might live. 01:07:43.590 --> 01:07:46.560 align:middle line:84% I hope that any of those comments, even if they're 01:07:46.560 --> 01:07:49.830 align:middle line:84% made to flatter somebody or to support somebody, 01:07:49.830 --> 01:07:53.970 align:middle line:84% that we do not look at where the current representative lives, 01:07:53.970 --> 01:07:57.720 align:middle line:84% but rather look at the welfare of the citizens 01:07:57.720 --> 01:07:59.250 align:middle line:90% within those districts. 01:07:59.250 --> 01:08:01.970 align:middle line:84% Thank you very much for listening to me. 01:08:01.970 --> 01:08:05.040 align:middle line:84% Appreciate your testimony very much. 01:08:05.040 --> 01:08:08.697 align:middle line:84% Any comments or questions from members of the committee? 01:08:08.697 --> 01:08:12.040 align:middle line:90% 01:08:12.040 --> 01:08:14.770 align:middle line:84% I want to thank you for weighing in. 01:08:14.770 --> 01:08:15.280 align:middle line:90% We hear you. 01:08:15.280 --> 01:08:18.899 align:middle line:90% 01:08:18.899 --> 01:08:26.920 align:middle line:84% Is DJ online, Maeve, Desire James? 01:08:26.920 --> 01:08:29.399 align:middle line:90% Yes. 01:08:29.399 --> 01:08:29.899 align:middle line:90% Great. 01:08:29.899 --> 01:08:32.560 align:middle line:90% Welcome. 01:08:32.560 --> 01:08:33.235 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:08:33.235 --> 01:08:34.700 align:middle line:90% Can you hear me? 01:08:34.700 --> 01:08:35.200 align:middle line:90% Yes. 01:08:35.200 --> 01:08:35.800 align:middle line:90% We see you. 01:08:35.800 --> 01:08:37.040 align:middle line:90% We hear you. 01:08:37.040 --> 01:08:38.170 align:middle line:90% Awesome. 01:08:38.170 --> 01:08:39.560 align:middle line:90% Good afternoon. 01:08:39.560 --> 01:08:42.220 align:middle line:84% My name is Desire James Arsene Versailles. 01:08:42.220 --> 01:08:46.689 align:middle line:84% I was born and raised and a resident in Boston. 01:08:46.689 --> 01:08:50.560 align:middle line:84% I am a constituent of the 7th congressional district, 01:08:50.560 --> 01:08:52.240 align:middle line:84% and I want to take this opportunity 01:08:52.240 --> 01:08:55.510 align:middle line:84% to thank Ms. Representative Pressley, who invited me 01:08:55.510 --> 01:09:00.250 align:middle line:84% on July 9, 2021, to participate and testify 01:09:00.250 --> 01:09:03.160 align:middle line:84% in this Special Joint Committee on Redistricting. 01:09:03.160 --> 01:09:05.890 align:middle line:84% I also want to take this opportunity 01:09:05.890 --> 01:09:10.630 align:middle line:84% to thank Mr. Senator and Chairman Brownsberger, Mr. 01:09:10.630 --> 01:09:12.370 align:middle line:84% Representative and chairman Moran, 01:09:12.370 --> 01:09:15.910 align:middle line:84% for organizing and facilitating this, 01:09:15.910 --> 01:09:19.689 align:middle line:84% and all who are present for your time and listening to me 01:09:19.689 --> 01:09:24.880 align:middle line:84% testify under Special Joint Committee on Redistricting. 01:09:24.880 --> 01:09:27.069 align:middle line:84% I am one of the millions of people 01:09:27.069 --> 01:09:30.340 align:middle line:84% whose life has been fundamentally, dramatically 01:09:30.340 --> 01:09:35.080 align:middle line:90% changed due to the pandemic. 01:09:35.080 --> 01:09:37.680 align:middle line:84% My mother, Florcie Yves Chavannes Versailles, 01:09:37.680 --> 01:09:43.149 align:middle line:84% was born on April 6, 1942 in Cape Haiti, the second largest 01:09:43.149 --> 01:09:44.439 align:middle line:90% city in Haiti. 01:09:44.439 --> 01:09:49.120 align:middle line:84% She visited Boston for a week's vacation that started in 1978 01:09:49.120 --> 01:09:51.040 align:middle line:90% and ended in 2020. 01:09:51.040 --> 01:09:55.330 align:middle line:84% On Saturday, May 30th, 2020, my beloved mother 01:09:55.330 --> 01:09:59.470 align:middle line:84% passed away at the age of 78 to COVID. 01:09:59.470 --> 01:10:02.440 align:middle line:84% My mother fell in love with Boston. 01:10:02.440 --> 01:10:04.690 align:middle line:84% She adopted and raised me from birth 01:10:04.690 --> 01:10:07.030 align:middle line:84% in the heart of the Back Bay of Boston, 01:10:07.030 --> 01:10:09.130 align:middle line:90% where I currently reside. 01:10:09.130 --> 01:10:12.070 align:middle line:84% She had a huge heart to not only bring me into this world, 01:10:12.070 --> 01:10:15.190 align:middle line:84% but bring a lot of her family to the United States 01:10:15.190 --> 01:10:17.710 align:middle line:84% from Haiti, because she loved this country 01:10:17.710 --> 01:10:21.440 align:middle line:84% and believed that it is a land of opportunity. 01:10:21.440 --> 01:10:25.330 align:middle line:84% My mother was tested for COVID-19 twice. 01:10:25.330 --> 01:10:27.275 align:middle line:84% The first test came back negative, 01:10:27.275 --> 01:10:28.900 align:middle line:84% but the nursing home refused to release 01:10:28.900 --> 01:10:32.470 align:middle line:84% the results of the second tests to my family. 01:10:32.470 --> 01:10:37.390 align:middle line:84% Nursing homes were very hard hit with COVID, 01:10:37.390 --> 01:10:40.060 align:middle line:84% and the nursing home wouldn't confirm or deny 01:10:40.060 --> 01:10:43.670 align:middle line:84% when my mother was ill, or what the ultimate cause of her death 01:10:43.670 --> 01:10:46.250 align:middle line:90% was, but it was allegedly COVID. 01:10:46.250 --> 01:10:49.820 align:middle line:84% And to make matters worse, I wasn't able to visit my mother, 01:10:49.820 --> 01:10:53.330 align:middle line:84% including her birthday on April 6, 01:10:53.330 --> 01:10:58.160 align:middle line:84% 2020, in the last few months of her life, due to coronavirus. 01:10:58.160 --> 01:11:00.710 align:middle line:90% 01:11:00.710 --> 01:11:02.990 align:middle line:84% My mother had a lot of complex medical issues 01:11:02.990 --> 01:11:04.490 align:middle line:90% throughout her life. 01:11:04.490 --> 01:11:06.410 align:middle line:84% And as a result of her medical needs 01:11:06.410 --> 01:11:08.540 align:middle line:84% and her being a strong woman of color standing up 01:11:08.540 --> 01:11:11.270 align:middle line:84% for her rights, she experienced a lot of adversity 01:11:11.270 --> 01:11:16.490 align:middle line:84% during the course of her life, especially in the last decade. 01:11:16.490 --> 01:11:23.060 align:middle line:84% And following this, she spent a lot of years 01:11:23.060 --> 01:11:25.310 align:middle line:84% in and out of hospitals, rehabilitation centers, 01:11:25.310 --> 01:11:27.420 align:middle line:90% and nursing homes. 01:11:27.420 --> 01:11:30.050 align:middle line:84% And it is difficult to not wonder 01:11:30.050 --> 01:11:33.590 align:middle line:84% and fathom if my mother would still be here today 01:11:33.590 --> 01:11:38.990 align:middle line:84% if she was taken seriously from medical professionals, 01:11:38.990 --> 01:11:42.590 align:middle line:84% government officials, and law enforcement. 01:11:42.590 --> 01:11:45.440 align:middle line:84% And I felt there was a lot of racial injustice, 01:11:45.440 --> 01:11:49.460 align:middle line:84% medical malpractice, negligence, criminal justice 01:11:49.460 --> 01:11:52.910 align:middle line:84% malfunction, to name a few, that led up to my mother's passing. 01:11:52.910 --> 01:11:56.060 align:middle line:84% And I felt that she had to face this because 01:11:56.060 --> 01:11:58.380 align:middle line:84% of the color of her skin, as a woman of color, 01:11:58.380 --> 01:12:01.610 align:middle line:84% but not the content of her phenomenal personality 01:12:01.610 --> 01:12:04.760 align:middle line:84% and colorful character, and the fact 01:12:04.760 --> 01:12:07.190 align:middle line:84% that the government knew how deadly the coronavirus was 01:12:07.190 --> 01:12:09.110 align:middle line:84% going to be, and nothing was done 01:12:09.110 --> 01:12:14.380 align:middle line:84% to warn us and save millions, including my beloved mother. 01:12:14.380 --> 01:12:16.250 align:middle line:84% My mother was also a powerful activist. 01:12:16.250 --> 01:12:20.360 align:middle line:84% She was instrumental in protests for the Tent City Apartment 01:12:20.360 --> 01:12:23.120 align:middle line:84% housing complex, the complex named for protests that 01:12:23.120 --> 01:12:26.180 align:middle line:84% began on the site 20 years before being built. 01:12:26.180 --> 01:12:27.980 align:middle line:84% She volunteered at [? Wolsey's ?] Place 01:12:27.980 --> 01:12:30.140 align:middle line:84% and Woman's Lunch Place for over 20 years, 01:12:30.140 --> 01:12:32.690 align:middle line:84% also brought me along in many capacities, 01:12:32.690 --> 01:12:36.150 align:middle line:84% helping women who were in dire circumstances. 01:12:36.150 --> 01:12:39.440 align:middle line:84% Now her activism lives through me in my work with Marked 01:12:39.440 --> 01:12:47.450 align:middle line:84% By COVID, a non-profit organization where a lot of us 01:12:47.450 --> 01:12:50.960 align:middle line:84% were marked by COVID, where our families and loved ones 01:12:50.960 --> 01:12:52.740 align:middle line:90% were lost to COVID. 01:12:52.740 --> 01:12:56.450 align:middle line:84% And I wanted to focus on our five-part policy 01:12:56.450 --> 01:13:00.590 align:middle line:84% plan that we have, response, recovery, restitution, 01:13:00.590 --> 01:13:04.520 align:middle line:90% resiliency, and recognition. 01:13:04.520 --> 01:13:09.170 align:middle line:84% Response is immediately implementing actions 01:13:09.170 --> 01:13:12.080 align:middle line:84% to continue to control the spread of the virus, 01:13:12.080 --> 01:13:17.150 align:middle line:84% develop and equitably deploy safe and scientifically sound 01:13:17.150 --> 01:13:21.540 align:middle line:84% treatments and vaccines to mitigate 01:13:21.540 --> 01:13:27.780 align:middle line:84% the immediate financial hardship caused by the pandemic, 01:13:27.780 --> 01:13:30.630 align:middle line:84% support global public health efforts to stop 01:13:30.630 --> 01:13:35.370 align:middle line:84% the spread of COVID-19, including access to vaccines, 01:13:35.370 --> 01:13:39.270 align:middle line:84% rapid tests, treatment options, especially for those most 01:13:39.270 --> 01:13:42.630 align:middle line:84% impacted, vulnerable populations. 01:13:42.630 --> 01:13:47.010 align:middle line:84% Launch an effective national public health education 01:13:47.010 --> 01:13:52.050 align:middle line:84% campaign, including focus on most-impacted populations, 01:13:52.050 --> 01:13:55.230 align:middle line:84% pass policies to provide immediate economic relief 01:13:55.230 --> 01:13:57.030 align:middle line:84% for small businesses and workers, 01:13:57.030 --> 01:13:59.760 align:middle line:84% like emergency monthly stimulus payments 01:13:59.760 --> 01:14:06.230 align:middle line:84% to allow workers to stay home until they're 01:14:06.230 --> 01:14:13.330 align:middle line:84% able to get vaccinated, and it's available in their community. 01:14:13.330 --> 01:14:16.580 align:middle line:84% Emergency relief for state, local, and tribal governments, 01:14:16.580 --> 01:14:21.520 align:middle line:84% expanded unemployment insurance, increased SNAP benefit levels, 01:14:21.520 --> 01:14:26.440 align:middle line:84% a permanent moratorium on evictions and foreclosures. 01:14:26.440 --> 01:14:31.600 align:middle line:84% Recovery, rebuild the economy in an equitable, inclusive way 01:14:31.600 --> 01:14:34.960 align:middle line:84% that ensures financial security and an adequate standard 01:14:34.960 --> 01:14:37.630 align:middle line:84% of living for all people in the US, 01:14:37.630 --> 01:14:41.440 align:middle line:84% and rebuild trust in our scientific institutions. 01:14:41.440 --> 01:14:44.830 align:middle line:84% The programs must ensure that the most impacted don't 01:14:44.830 --> 01:14:48.610 align:middle line:84% fall further behind due to the disproportionate impact 01:14:48.610 --> 01:14:53.440 align:middle line:84% of the pandemic, along existing inequalities. 01:14:53.440 --> 01:14:56.620 align:middle line:84% Establish a 1 billion person public health job corps 01:14:56.620 --> 01:14:59.620 align:middle line:84% to generate permanent jobs, contact tracing 01:14:59.620 --> 01:15:02.680 align:middle line:84% and tackle systematic health inequalities, 01:15:02.680 --> 01:15:04.990 align:middle line:84% cancel and eliminate all medical debt 01:15:04.990 --> 01:15:09.610 align:middle line:84% to facilitate access to medical care and healthy communities, 01:15:09.610 --> 01:15:13.620 align:middle line:84% establish a child's savings account based upon need. 01:15:13.620 --> 01:15:16.730 align:middle line:84% Invest in a universal care infrastructure, 01:15:16.730 --> 01:15:18.730 align:middle line:84% which includes universal child care, 01:15:18.730 --> 01:15:22.540 align:middle line:84% paid leave for all, universal long-term services and supports 01:15:22.540 --> 01:15:27.400 align:middle line:84% that support family caregivers, cancel federally-held student 01:15:27.400 --> 01:15:29.740 align:middle line:84% loan debt and have the federal government pay down 01:15:29.740 --> 01:15:32.680 align:middle line:84% the principal on private loans while canceling 01:15:32.680 --> 01:15:36.100 align:middle line:90% borrower obligations. 01:15:36.100 --> 01:15:40.180 align:middle line:84% Restitution, provide reparations to victims and families 01:15:40.180 --> 01:15:43.630 align:middle line:84% of victims of COVID-19 for the willful negligence 01:15:43.630 --> 01:15:46.750 align:middle line:84% of our elected officials, and repay essential workers 01:15:46.750 --> 01:15:50.380 align:middle line:84% for their service and sacrifice during the pandemic. 01:15:50.380 --> 01:15:54.160 align:middle line:84% Fund a compensation program for survivors and families 01:15:54.160 --> 01:15:57.670 align:middle line:84% of victims and survivors of COVID-19, 01:15:57.670 --> 01:16:02.080 align:middle line:84% similar to the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund and the Crime 01:16:02.080 --> 01:16:03.580 align:middle line:90% Victims Fund. 01:16:03.580 --> 01:16:05.890 align:middle line:84% Financial compensation should cover 01:16:05.890 --> 01:16:09.040 align:middle line:84% out-of-pocket medical costs, mental health counseling, 01:16:09.040 --> 01:16:12.010 align:middle line:84% funerals, burials, pain and suffering, 01:16:12.010 --> 01:16:13.810 align:middle line:90% and loss of earnings. 01:16:13.810 --> 01:16:17.410 align:middle line:84% Create a GI Bill for front line health care providers that 01:16:17.410 --> 01:16:20.350 align:middle line:84% includes student loan forgiveness and future tuition 01:16:20.350 --> 01:16:21.970 align:middle line:90% benefits. 01:16:21.970 --> 01:16:25.420 align:middle line:84% Resiliency, prevent and build capacity 01:16:25.420 --> 01:16:28.150 align:middle line:84% to fight future pandemics, address 01:16:28.150 --> 01:16:29.830 align:middle line:84% health and economic inequalities, 01:16:29.830 --> 01:16:33.940 align:middle line:84% and ensure universal access to high-quality, affordable health 01:16:33.940 --> 01:16:35.230 align:middle line:90% care. 01:16:35.230 --> 01:16:39.070 align:middle line:84% Create a federal jobs guarantee to build workforces 01:16:39.070 --> 01:16:42.370 align:middle line:84% that address needs related to pandemic response, 01:16:42.370 --> 01:16:46.810 align:middle line:84% infrastructure, and transition to a clean energy economy. 01:16:46.810 --> 01:16:49.630 align:middle line:84% Pass an essential worker bill of rights 01:16:49.630 --> 01:16:52.240 align:middle line:84% to ensure health and safety protections, 01:16:52.240 --> 01:16:55.390 align:middle line:84% living wage compensation, paid sick leave, 01:16:55.390 --> 01:16:58.030 align:middle line:84% and other protections for essential workers. 01:16:58.030 --> 01:17:00.610 align:middle line:84% Make universal broadband accessible 01:17:00.610 --> 01:17:03.730 align:middle line:84% as an essential utility for thriving economies 01:17:03.730 --> 01:17:07.405 align:middle line:84% and healthy communities, and importation of products 01:17:07.405 --> 01:17:11.110 align:middle line:84% or raw materials that are linked to deforestation and impose 01:17:11.110 --> 01:17:16.270 align:middle line:84% strict fitness on companies complicit in deforestation 01:17:16.270 --> 01:17:19.590 align:middle line:84% to decrease the likelihood of future pandemics. 01:17:19.590 --> 01:17:22.290 align:middle line:84% Institute the US government's Pandemic Playbook 01:17:22.290 --> 01:17:25.770 align:middle line:84% to improve data collection and maintain adequate stockpiles 01:17:25.770 --> 01:17:28.620 align:middle line:90% of medical devices and PPE. 01:17:28.620 --> 01:17:32.220 align:middle line:84% Develop a suite of policies to combat disinformation 01:17:32.220 --> 01:17:34.620 align:middle line:90% and build media literacy. 01:17:34.620 --> 01:17:37.140 align:middle line:84% Secure quality universal health care coverage 01:17:37.140 --> 01:17:39.700 align:middle line:90% that is affordable for all. 01:17:39.700 --> 01:17:42.840 align:middle line:84% Lastly, recognition, create space and forms 01:17:42.840 --> 01:17:44.880 align:middle line:90% for mourning and remembrance. 01:17:44.880 --> 01:17:49.510 align:middle line:84% Impart to future generations the unvarnished truth 01:17:49.510 --> 01:17:51.880 align:middle line:84% about what happened, and who was accountable, 01:17:51.880 --> 01:17:54.880 align:middle line:84% and to prevent this from happening again. 01:17:54.880 --> 01:17:57.620 align:middle line:84% Pass COVID-19 Memorial Day resolutions 01:17:57.620 --> 01:17:59.950 align:middle line:84% at local, state, and federal levels, 01:17:59.950 --> 01:18:02.860 align:middle line:84% create a national memorial on the National Mall 01:18:02.860 --> 01:18:06.250 align:middle line:84% and memorials in every state to provide permanent public space 01:18:06.250 --> 01:18:08.650 align:middle line:90% for mourning and remembrance. 01:18:08.650 --> 01:18:11.770 align:middle line:84% Fund oral history projects to capture 01:18:11.770 --> 01:18:16.730 align:middle line:84% the stories of essential workers, victims, 01:18:16.730 --> 01:18:20.800 align:middle line:84% and survivors, and public health experts. 01:18:20.800 --> 01:18:23.530 align:middle line:84% Lastly, charter a national commission 01:18:23.530 --> 01:18:26.980 align:middle line:84% modeled after 9/11 Commission to prepare a complete account 01:18:26.980 --> 01:18:29.980 align:middle line:84% of the federal government's preparedness 01:18:29.980 --> 01:18:33.430 align:middle line:84% for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 01:18:33.430 --> 01:18:38.480 align:middle line:84% but also local government and their response, 01:18:38.480 --> 01:18:42.220 align:middle line:84% especially the nursing homes, including my mother, who 01:18:42.220 --> 01:18:46.450 align:middle line:84% was vulnerable, and just make sure that a tragedy like this 01:18:46.450 --> 01:18:48.800 align:middle line:90% never happens again. 01:18:48.800 --> 01:18:53.020 align:middle line:84% And just want to thank you for your time and letting me 01:18:53.020 --> 01:18:56.140 align:middle line:84% speak and share this vital issue. 01:18:56.140 --> 01:19:00.490 align:middle line:84% And it's a pleasure being part of Boston 01:19:00.490 --> 01:19:02.440 align:middle line:84% and the 7th Congressional District. 01:19:02.440 --> 01:19:08.380 align:middle line:84% And I just want to say to you all, for you and your families, 01:19:08.380 --> 01:19:10.040 align:middle line:90% continue to be healthy and safe. 01:19:10.040 --> 01:19:12.790 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for that you do, and God bless 01:19:12.790 --> 01:19:14.260 align:middle line:90% you all and your families. 01:19:14.260 --> 01:19:20.640 align:middle line:90% 01:19:20.640 --> 01:19:25.270 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for that very broad set of thoughts. 01:19:25.270 --> 01:19:30.850 align:middle line:84% Do we have any questions for the witness pertaining 01:19:30.850 --> 01:19:33.570 align:middle line:84% to redistricting from members of the panel? 01:19:33.570 --> 01:19:38.110 align:middle line:90% 01:19:38.110 --> 01:19:40.540 align:middle line:84% Sir, I want to thank you for being with us. 01:19:40.540 --> 01:19:43.350 align:middle line:84% We give you our condolences for your mother's loss, 01:19:43.350 --> 01:19:46.860 align:middle line:84% for the loss of your mother, and your family members, 01:19:46.860 --> 01:19:48.203 align:middle line:90% and thank you again. 01:19:48.203 --> 01:19:49.280 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much. 01:19:49.280 --> 01:19:50.210 align:middle line:90% I appreciate that. 01:19:50.210 --> 01:19:53.000 align:middle line:90% 01:19:53.000 --> 01:19:55.810 align:middle line:90% Is Sawyer Cohen with us? 01:19:55.810 --> 01:20:02.900 align:middle line:90% 01:20:02.900 --> 01:20:05.910 align:middle line:84% Sawyer Cohen, the floor is yours. 01:20:05.910 --> 01:20:06.410 align:middle line:90% We see you. 01:20:06.410 --> 01:20:06.970 align:middle line:90% We hear you. 01:20:06.970 --> 01:20:09.980 align:middle line:90% 01:20:09.980 --> 01:20:10.580 align:middle line:90% Hello. 01:20:10.580 --> 01:20:13.070 align:middle line:84% I'm Sawyer Cohen, and I'm here volunteering on behalf 01:20:13.070 --> 01:20:14.815 align:middle line:90% of Lawyers for Civil Rights. 01:20:14.815 --> 01:20:16.940 align:middle line:84% I'd like to thank the committee chairs and the rest 01:20:16.940 --> 01:20:18.690 align:middle line:84% of the committee for holding this hearing, 01:20:18.690 --> 01:20:22.230 align:middle line:84% and allowing me to speak on behalf of the city I live in. 01:20:22.230 --> 01:20:25.640 align:middle line:84% I'm a rising senior at Newton South High School, 01:20:25.640 --> 01:20:28.220 align:middle line:84% and I've been a resident of Newton for the past 13 years. 01:20:28.220 --> 01:20:29.720 align:middle line:84% I'm here to talk about the districts 01:20:29.720 --> 01:20:33.253 align:middle line:84% I live in at the state level and the city that I live in. 01:20:33.253 --> 01:20:34.670 align:middle line:84% I would like the committee to keep 01:20:34.670 --> 01:20:37.790 align:middle line:84% the boundaries of my district the same, of my districts 01:20:37.790 --> 01:20:40.730 align:middle line:84% in the state legislators the same, legislatures. 01:20:40.730 --> 01:20:42.740 align:middle line:84% Newton is a patchwork of smaller villages 01:20:42.740 --> 01:20:43.970 align:middle line:90% based around town centers. 01:20:43.970 --> 01:20:47.450 align:middle line:84% I live in Newton Highlands, one of those smaller villages. 01:20:47.450 --> 01:20:49.670 align:middle line:84% Some significant landmarks in my community 01:20:49.670 --> 01:20:51.350 align:middle line:84% are Crystal Lake and Heartbreak Hill, 01:20:51.350 --> 01:20:54.263 align:middle line:84% where people gather each year to watch the Boston Marathon. 01:20:54.263 --> 01:20:56.180 align:middle line:84% And important gathering place for my community 01:20:56.180 --> 01:20:58.787 align:middle line:84% is Newton Center, another one of those town centers, 01:20:58.787 --> 01:21:00.620 align:middle line:84% which has a variety of shops and restaurants 01:21:00.620 --> 01:21:03.290 align:middle line:84% and is an important gathering place for many people. 01:21:03.290 --> 01:21:04.700 align:middle line:84% Important events for my community 01:21:04.700 --> 01:21:06.770 align:middle line:84% are yearly block parties and Taiwan Day, 01:21:06.770 --> 01:21:10.010 align:middle line:84% which is an annual celebration of Taiwanese culture 01:21:10.010 --> 01:21:12.170 align:middle line:90% at a local park. 01:21:12.170 --> 01:21:13.790 align:middle line:84% In the House of Representatives, I 01:21:13.790 --> 01:21:16.153 align:middle line:84% live in the 12th Middlesex district, which in the north, 01:21:16.153 --> 01:21:18.320 align:middle line:84% follows a similar line to Commonwealth Avenue, which 01:21:18.320 --> 01:21:19.970 align:middle line:90% cuts across the city of Newton. 01:21:19.970 --> 01:21:21.710 align:middle line:84% In the south, my district is bordered 01:21:21.710 --> 01:21:24.815 align:middle line:84% by the towns of Wellesley, Eden, Brookline, and Boston. 01:21:24.815 --> 01:21:27.175 align:middle line:84% In the senate, I live in the first Middlesex and Norfolk 01:21:27.175 --> 01:21:28.800 align:middle line:84% district, which includes all of Newton, 01:21:28.800 --> 01:21:32.120 align:middle line:84% and Brookline, and the northern parts of Wellesley. 01:21:32.120 --> 01:21:33.970 align:middle line:84% My city is predominantly white and wealthy, 01:21:33.970 --> 01:21:36.050 align:middle line:84% with most people owning single-family homes 01:21:36.050 --> 01:21:37.400 align:middle line:90% and commuting to work in Boston. 01:21:37.400 --> 01:21:39.945 align:middle line:84% Around 90,000 people live in Newton, making it 01:21:39.945 --> 01:21:41.570 align:middle line:84% one of the most populous municipalities 01:21:41.570 --> 01:21:43.670 align:middle line:90% in the Commonwealth. 01:21:43.670 --> 01:21:46.075 align:middle line:84% And although I do feel a connection to my neighborhood 01:21:46.075 --> 01:21:47.450 align:middle line:84% specifically, I don't really feel 01:21:47.450 --> 01:21:49.943 align:middle line:84% that it is that different from the city of Newton overall. 01:21:49.943 --> 01:21:51.860 align:middle line:84% But one important thing to the town of Newton, 01:21:51.860 --> 01:21:55.360 align:middle line:84% including my community and myself, is public education. 01:21:55.360 --> 01:21:56.960 align:middle line:84% Many people, my parents included, 01:21:56.960 --> 01:21:58.793 align:middle line:84% moved to Newton so that their children could 01:21:58.793 --> 01:22:00.020 align:middle line:90% get a good public education. 01:22:00.020 --> 01:22:02.225 align:middle line:84% Newton has two high schools, and although the House 01:22:02.225 --> 01:22:04.850 align:middle line:84% of Representatives district line does not match the high school 01:22:04.850 --> 01:22:06.860 align:middle line:84% districts exactly, it is close enough 01:22:06.860 --> 01:22:09.310 align:middle line:84% that I don't feel Newton is unfairly divided 01:22:09.310 --> 01:22:10.580 align:middle line:90% by these district lines. 01:22:10.580 --> 01:22:12.930 align:middle line:84% Because the importance of education is a value 01:22:12.930 --> 01:22:15.110 align:middle line:84% shared throughout the whole city. 01:22:15.110 --> 01:22:16.790 align:middle line:84% In the Senate, Newton shares a district 01:22:16.790 --> 01:22:19.250 align:middle line:84% with the town of Brookline and parts of Wellesley, which 01:22:19.250 --> 01:22:21.830 align:middle line:84% I think is fair and does not dilute the voting power 01:22:21.830 --> 01:22:23.760 align:middle line:84% of people in any of the three towns, 01:22:23.760 --> 01:22:26.300 align:middle line:84% as they're all very similar, having 01:22:26.300 --> 01:22:29.698 align:middle line:84% similar racial and economic demographics. 01:22:29.698 --> 01:22:31.490 align:middle line:84% I feel that the current district lines keep 01:22:31.490 --> 01:22:34.340 align:middle line:84% my community and my town intact, and that we 01:22:34.340 --> 01:22:35.965 align:middle line:90% have a voice in state politics. 01:22:35.965 --> 01:22:37.340 align:middle line:84% Although I can't vote yet, I feel 01:22:37.340 --> 01:22:39.920 align:middle line:84% that I am fairly represented, as is the rest of Newton. 01:22:39.920 --> 01:22:42.740 align:middle line:84% For these reasons, I would like the district lines of Newton 01:22:42.740 --> 01:22:45.868 align:middle line:90% to be kept similar as possible. 01:22:45.868 --> 01:22:48.410 align:middle line:84% That said, I would like to thank the committee for their time 01:22:48.410 --> 01:22:51.090 align:middle line:90% and for hearing my testimony. 01:22:51.090 --> 01:22:54.170 align:middle line:84% I want to thank you for engaging with the process 01:22:54.170 --> 01:22:55.430 align:middle line:90% and for your testimony. 01:22:55.430 --> 01:22:58.322 align:middle line:84% Are there members of the committee who have questions? 01:22:58.322 --> 01:23:01.770 align:middle line:90% 01:23:01.770 --> 01:23:03.830 align:middle line:90% Thank you, sir. 01:23:03.830 --> 01:23:05.855 align:middle line:90% Is Sabrina Davis online? 01:23:05.855 --> 01:23:13.080 align:middle line:90% 01:23:13.080 --> 01:23:13.845 align:middle line:90% Welcome, Sabrina. 01:23:13.845 --> 01:23:22.255 align:middle line:90% 01:23:22.255 --> 01:23:24.380 align:middle line:84% It doesn't look like-- we can't quite hear you yet. 01:23:24.380 --> 01:23:25.520 align:middle line:84% You want to say a couple of words, 01:23:25.520 --> 01:23:26.645 align:middle line:90% and see if we can hear you? 01:23:26.645 --> 01:23:27.600 align:middle line:90% Can you hear me now? 01:23:27.600 --> 01:23:30.340 align:middle line:84% We can hear you, and we see a picture of you. 01:23:30.340 --> 01:23:33.500 align:middle line:90% Hold on. 01:23:33.500 --> 01:23:36.290 align:middle line:90% There we go. 01:23:36.290 --> 01:23:38.660 align:middle line:90% Well, my name is Sabrina Davis. 01:23:38.660 --> 01:23:42.710 align:middle line:84% I am an organizer with the Coalition for Social Justice, 01:23:42.710 --> 01:23:45.860 align:middle line:84% and I also am a resident of Fall River. 01:23:45.860 --> 01:23:48.590 align:middle line:90% 01:23:48.590 --> 01:23:51.950 align:middle line:84% I grew up here, and as part of my work, 01:23:51.950 --> 01:23:54.500 align:middle line:90% I canvassed all over Fall River. 01:23:54.500 --> 01:23:58.940 align:middle line:84% I've also canvassed in some of the districts in CD4. 01:23:58.940 --> 01:24:02.060 align:middle line:90% 01:24:02.060 --> 01:24:06.380 align:middle line:84% Right now, what I'm here to talk about today is, 01:24:06.380 --> 01:24:09.860 align:middle line:84% I'm really here to ask that you reunite my community. 01:24:09.860 --> 01:24:12.460 align:middle line:90% 01:24:12.460 --> 01:24:17.620 align:middle line:84% We have a lot more in common with New Bedford, 01:24:17.620 --> 01:24:20.440 align:middle line:84% on a social and economic standpoint, 01:24:20.440 --> 01:24:23.380 align:middle line:90% than we do with cities of CD4. 01:24:23.380 --> 01:24:28.890 align:middle line:90% 01:24:28.890 --> 01:24:33.240 align:middle line:84% And that's a problem, because how can someone 01:24:33.240 --> 01:24:37.080 align:middle line:84% really represent that part of Fall River, 01:24:37.080 --> 01:24:40.920 align:middle line:84% when being combined with these other cities who 01:24:40.920 --> 01:24:44.190 align:middle line:84% are so much more wealthier than us, who are 01:24:44.190 --> 01:24:47.030 align:middle line:90% of a different culture than us. 01:24:47.030 --> 01:24:52.680 align:middle line:84% We're a strong working class background, 01:24:52.680 --> 01:24:55.650 align:middle line:90% and our issues are not the same. 01:24:55.650 --> 01:24:58.260 align:middle line:90% 01:24:58.260 --> 01:24:58.970 align:middle line:90% It's just not. 01:24:58.970 --> 01:25:01.760 align:middle line:90% 01:25:01.760 --> 01:25:08.900 align:middle line:84% If you take a look at our statistics, our income, 01:25:08.900 --> 01:25:12.440 align:middle line:84% our average income is about the same with New Bedford. 01:25:12.440 --> 01:25:17.270 align:middle line:84% The poverty ratings are about the same as New Bedford, which 01:25:17.270 --> 01:25:22.510 align:middle line:84% we consider our sister city, so to speak, but not 01:25:22.510 --> 01:25:27.550 align:middle line:84% so much with a lot of the other communities that are in CD4. 01:25:27.550 --> 01:25:33.190 align:middle line:84% And so as somebody who's worked in Fall River for five 01:25:33.190 --> 01:25:38.830 align:middle line:84% years now, canvasing, and as a resident, 01:25:38.830 --> 01:25:42.130 align:middle line:84% I'm asking you that you reunite my community. 01:25:42.130 --> 01:25:46.540 align:middle line:84% And it just makes good sense that we are put wholly in CD9, 01:25:46.540 --> 01:25:47.530 align:middle line:90% rather than CD4. 01:25:47.530 --> 01:25:52.850 align:middle line:90% 01:25:52.850 --> 01:25:54.587 align:middle line:84% OK, thank you very much for weighing in 01:25:54.587 --> 01:25:55.670 align:middle line:90% with that clear testimony. 01:25:55.670 --> 01:25:58.370 align:middle line:90% Much appreciated. 01:25:58.370 --> 01:26:00.370 align:middle line:84% Members of the committee, any questions? 01:26:00.370 --> 01:26:03.570 align:middle line:90% 01:26:03.570 --> 01:26:06.570 align:middle line:84% OK, thank you so much for being with us today, for weighing in. 01:26:06.570 --> 01:26:09.670 align:middle line:90% 01:26:09.670 --> 01:26:11.200 align:middle line:90% Whose next, Maeve? 01:26:11.200 --> 01:26:15.070 align:middle line:90% We've got Renee Ledbetter. 01:26:15.070 --> 01:26:18.070 align:middle line:84% OK, so I'm going to call it the name of Kevin 01:26:18.070 --> 01:26:21.940 align:middle line:84% [? Tagliaferri. ?] I take it he's not here. 01:26:21.940 --> 01:26:24.550 align:middle line:90% That's OK. 01:26:24.550 --> 01:26:28.900 align:middle line:84% But if you do arrive, give us a shout. 01:26:28.900 --> 01:26:34.190 align:middle line:84% And the witness that you are going to promote, 01:26:34.190 --> 01:26:38.680 align:middle line:84% Maeve, didn't quite get the name. 01:26:38.680 --> 01:26:41.260 align:middle line:90% Renee Ledbetter. 01:26:41.260 --> 01:26:42.280 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:26:42.280 --> 01:26:43.951 align:middle line:90% Renee, please. 01:26:43.951 --> 01:26:45.250 align:middle line:90% We can see you. 01:26:45.250 --> 01:26:46.690 align:middle line:90% Now we can see you and hear you. 01:26:46.690 --> 01:26:51.070 align:middle line:84% OK, so I was not planning on speaking, 01:26:51.070 --> 01:26:54.170 align:middle line:84% so I'm kind of thrown off by that. 01:26:54.170 --> 01:26:55.780 align:middle line:84% But I agree with what everyone said 01:26:55.780 --> 01:27:00.490 align:middle line:84% about merging Fall River and New Bedford 01:27:00.490 --> 01:27:05.980 align:middle line:84% in one congressional district, because it makes sense. 01:27:05.980 --> 01:27:07.780 align:middle line:84% Because both of our cities are the same. 01:27:07.780 --> 01:27:12.880 align:middle line:84% So I had not prepared anything for testimony. 01:27:12.880 --> 01:27:17.950 align:middle line:84% I didn't know I was on the panel to speak, so sorry. 01:27:17.950 --> 01:27:20.860 align:middle line:90% OK, that's quite all right. 01:27:20.860 --> 01:27:22.380 align:middle line:84% Anything you'd like to say is fine. 01:27:22.380 --> 01:27:24.950 align:middle line:90% If not, you're all good. 01:27:24.950 --> 01:27:28.330 align:middle line:84% So I just agree that, like I said, 01:27:28.330 --> 01:27:32.320 align:middle line:84% both Fall River and New Bedford cities are similar in size, 01:27:32.320 --> 01:27:35.650 align:middle line:84% and as well as economic standing. 01:27:35.650 --> 01:27:42.940 align:middle line:84% I think that those congressional districts 01:27:42.940 --> 01:27:44.620 align:middle line:84% need to reflect that and make sure 01:27:44.620 --> 01:27:49.420 align:middle line:84% that we do not have a division among the cities, when it comes 01:27:49.420 --> 01:27:51.670 align:middle line:90% to the congressional district. 01:27:51.670 --> 01:27:53.620 align:middle line:84% We have enough division within the city. 01:27:53.620 --> 01:27:58.075 align:middle line:84% We don't need it on the state level, as well. 01:27:58.075 --> 01:27:59.530 align:middle line:90% So thank you. 01:27:59.530 --> 01:28:00.070 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:28:00.070 --> 01:28:03.310 align:middle line:90% 01:28:03.310 --> 01:28:03.810 align:middle line:90% Great. 01:28:03.810 --> 01:28:04.910 align:middle line:90% OK, thank you so much. 01:28:04.910 --> 01:28:08.300 align:middle line:84% Now, is there anybody else who signed up to testify, 01:28:08.300 --> 01:28:09.200 align:middle line:90% or wishes to testify? 01:28:09.200 --> 01:28:14.330 align:middle line:90% 01:28:14.330 --> 01:28:16.040 align:middle line:84% We're going to give people just a second 01:28:16.040 --> 01:28:22.460 align:middle line:84% to answer that question, if anybody else wants to weigh in. 01:28:22.460 --> 01:28:24.380 align:middle line:84% Meanwhile, as I do that, I think it 01:28:24.380 --> 01:28:27.860 align:middle line:84% would be helpful to just tell people 01:28:27.860 --> 01:28:31.470 align:middle line:84% a little bit about what's coming up. 01:28:31.470 --> 01:28:35.630 align:middle line:84% We have a set of hearings in specific languages coming up 01:28:35.630 --> 01:28:36.650 align:middle line:90% soon. 01:28:36.650 --> 01:28:38.580 align:middle line:84% Those are going to start next week. 01:28:38.580 --> 01:28:40.460 align:middle line:84% Actually, sorry, this week, we've 01:28:40.460 --> 01:28:42.140 align:middle line:84% got a hearing in Mandarin at 4:00 01:28:42.140 --> 01:28:47.240 align:middle line:84% PM tomorrow, Cantonese at 6:00 PM tomorrow. 01:28:47.240 --> 01:28:49.520 align:middle line:84% We are trying to reach out to every language 01:28:49.520 --> 01:28:52.100 align:middle line:90% community in the Commonwealth. 01:28:52.100 --> 01:28:54.920 align:middle line:84% Next week, we've got on Monday at 2:00 PM 01:28:54.920 --> 01:28:57.260 align:middle line:84% a hearing in Portuguese, at 5:00 PM 01:28:57.260 --> 01:28:59.630 align:middle line:84% a hearing in Cape Verdean Creole. 01:28:59.630 --> 01:29:04.220 align:middle line:84% At noon on Tuesday, we have a hearing in Vietnamese, at 2:00 01:29:04.220 --> 01:29:09.800 align:middle line:84% a hearing in Haitian Creole, and at 4:00 a hearing in Khmer. 01:29:09.800 --> 01:29:11.955 align:middle line:84% And our last congressional district hearing, 01:29:11.955 --> 01:29:13.580 align:middle line:84% the 9th Congressional District hearing, 01:29:13.580 --> 01:29:17.930 align:middle line:84% is scheduled for the 29th at 5:00 PM. 01:29:17.930 --> 01:29:21.920 align:middle line:84% So we still have a strong schedule of upcoming hearings. 01:29:21.920 --> 01:29:25.010 align:middle line:84% We have hearings in every language coming up, 01:29:25.010 --> 01:29:26.612 align:middle line:84% so that if you're online, and you're 01:29:26.612 --> 01:29:28.820 align:middle line:84% aware of people who might be interested in testifying 01:29:28.820 --> 01:29:32.690 align:middle line:84% in those hearings, please pass that on. 01:29:32.690 --> 01:29:37.780 align:middle line:84% Are there any other people who wish to testify today? 01:29:37.780 --> 01:29:42.060 align:middle line:90% 01:29:42.060 --> 01:29:45.040 align:middle line:84% We are under the impression that there are none, 01:29:45.040 --> 01:29:48.250 align:middle line:84% and so I then obtain a motion to adjourn. 01:29:48.250 --> 01:29:49.350 align:middle line:90% So moved. 01:29:49.350 --> 01:29:50.380 align:middle line:90% So moved. 01:29:50.380 --> 01:29:50.880 align:middle line:90% Second. 01:29:50.880 --> 01:29:51.550 align:middle line:90% Second. 01:29:51.550 --> 01:29:52.650 align:middle line:90% Second. 01:29:52.650 --> 01:29:54.070 align:middle line:90% All in favor? 01:29:54.070 --> 01:29:54.570 align:middle line:90% Aye. 01:29:54.570 --> 01:29:56.020 align:middle line:90% Aye. 01:29:56.020 --> 01:29:57.455 align:middle line:90% OK, so we're adjourned. 01:29:57.455 --> 01:29:59.580 align:middle line:84% I want to thank all of our witnesses, want to thank 01:29:59.580 --> 01:30:01.420 align:middle line:90% all of our members. 01:30:01.420 --> 01:30:02.700 align:middle line:90% Thank you, Mr Chairman. 01:30:02.700 --> 01:30:03.265 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:30:03.265 --> 01:30:04.140 align:middle line:90% Thank you, everybody. 01:30:04.140 --> 01:30:05.730 align:middle line:90% Take care. 01:30:05.730 --> 01:30:07.490 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 01:30:07.490 --> 01:30:31.254 align:middle line:90%