Dear Friends,

Tuesday, April 13 represents my first 100 days as your city councilor—a political marker dating back to Franklin D. Roosevelt. During this time period, expectations are high and the public is normally very forgiving! :-)

I’m excited to provide you with a summary of my work. It’s been a pleasure partnering with so many of you since taking office in January. I really do appreciate the opportunity to serve, and to push a progressive agenda for Brockton’s future.

• Responded to 109 phone calls and email messages—62% within 24 hours; 21% within 48 hours; 17% longer than 48 hours.
• Attended 74 public events in Brockton—22 in January; 16 in February; 29 in March; and 7 so far this month.

• Initiated new communications procedure with Mayor’s Office and Brockton Police Department to ensure City Councilors receive immediate, official updates on important events in the city. This new process enables the City Council to better serve you.
• Submitted ordinance requiring all city meetings to be posted online with accompanying agenda. The ordinance passed, and this represents an important step toward more transparency and accountability in city government.
• Worked with Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department to secure retinal-scanning system for Brockton Police Department—free of charge. More accurate than DNA, the system can be used to identify registered sex offenders or formerly missing persons.
• Submitted text messaging ordinance to ban texting while driving in the City of Brockton. People who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be in an accident. Ordinance was passed by City Council but tabled, pending outcome of similar state legislation on texting.

• Innovations Conference. This multi-day convening will bring together global thought-leaders—policymakers, business leaders, educational entrepreneurs, investors—with one focus: to outline what Brockton needs to do to become a 21st century city.
• HIV Home Testing Pilot. Brockton has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the state. With a 30-minute home HIV testing kit coming to market, this program will provide local wrap-around services to residents (support hotline, cross-cultural packaging, vouchers to reduce cost, etc.).
• Art/History/Entrepreneurial Center. Too many kids involved in crime lack a “sense of place.” The Center will ground young people in their history, provide a place to explore their talents, and encourage them to take ownership of the creative economy through media and the arts.
• Working Groups. Through a survey to voters, 5 key areas of need were identified: 1) advisory councils, 2) stimulus dollars, 3) retraining workers, 4) repeat offenders, and 5) city ordinances. An attempt to make these City Council initiatives failed—the work will be done outside the Council.

As many of you know, my opposition to the proposed power plant remains firm, and I continue to do all that’s within my power to ensure this project never sees the light of day in Brockton.

Will every initiative be accomplished during my first term? No. Will I work hard to make sure as many as possible become reality? You betcha!

Many thanks to all the volunteers who give so much. Without you, there would be no movement. I’d also like to thank my fellow City Councilors for their support—particularly Councilor Brophy.

And finally, a number of organizations and agencies have been good partners in much of the work listed above: BAMSI, Brockton Health Department, Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, Brockton Public Schools, Downtown Business Association, The Enterprise, Fuller Craft Museum, MA Department of Infectious Diseases, Mayor’s Office, and Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Here’s to another productive 100 days!

Thank you,