2021-07-08 00:00:00 - Special Joint Committee on Redistricting
2021-07-08 00:00:00 - Special Joint Committee on Redistricting
SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
I think we're ready to go. Um So, uh if it's okay with my coach here, where will are you ready to go? Let's go? All right, so we will bring this. Um, uh, I believe it's our seventh public hearing of the committee on redistricting to order. Um I'd like to thank all the people who have signed in to either testify or to um watch on this on this uh, on this hearing for the third congressional district. Um I35 am Representative Michael Moran. I'm the House chair of the redistricting committee. I'm joined, as I said a few seconds ago by my co chair, Senator Brownsburger. Um uh we're going to go through some paperwork and protocol here first, uh, gonna turn it over to my uh, my colleague from the Senate to say a few words and introduce the senators who are57 joined with us. Uh, He will send it back to me. I will introduce the House members. Uh we'll have a greeting from uh the gentleman from local tom Golden, and then we will pass it off to uh first uh person to testify, Congressman uh Lori Trahan. So um at this point in time I will turn it over to Senator Brown's burger for some comments. Senate raspberry. Uh Listen, thank you everybody for uh staying with us through this process. Looking forward to the witnesses tonight. Looking forward to hearing from you, congressman Turhan. We're grateful for you for being with us. Hey, um I just want to flag. Is the closed caption or properly turned on? She the caption er is signaling that
they said something in the chat. I just
I think there may be, he says, can I please be assigned to caption? Are was the chat entry there? Okay, let me see if I can figure that out.
Oh, caption. Right. Let me see if I also just sign of. Okay, great. All right, uh we're good to go mr Chair, carry on. All right, thank you. Senator. Um I would like to start137 by introducing some of my colleagues that are here. Uh the Vice chair, the gentleman from warrants uh living in this district actually is Marcos Devers. Thank you. Marcos. Uh
the gentleman from West Boylston jimmy, okay, is here. Thank you jimmy. Uh the other gentleman from Lawrence. Uh gentlemen frank marin, thank you for being here. Um All the way from Pittsfield Tricia folly booby has joined us. Uh The gentleman from Hebel Andy vargas, another another resident of this congressional district. Um All the way from the Cape constable kip digs. Thank you kip for joining us. Uh The ranking republican on this on this committee is the gentleman from Aubin paul Frost is here with us. Um And another uh the gentle lady from holden is here, kim Ferguson. Thank you kim for joining us. And I saw thank you kim for joining us. And I saw that senator and Goby has joined us. Thank you Senator Goby201 for for for joining us. Um so at this point in time I'd like to uh introduce tom Golden. Uh Tom is a division share in the house and he is uh represents low. He's representative for a number of years. And I would like to have him say a few words. Representative. Golden.
You there tom? Yeah,
he texted me said he's still trying to connect so we'll give him a few more minutes and if not we can always come back to him. So I would like to just say a few words while Tommy is trying to256 get on is uh this is our seventh year. Uh this committed actively encourages participation in the redistricting process from federal, state and municipal officials, public interest roots and concerned citizens. We're here to listen and learn ah and I want to thank the people for taking time out of their busy schedules to testify here tonight. Um your your your words and your guidance are much needed in this process. Thank
you for joining us. Um I will I will start uh the hearing by taking elected officials first because of their schedule. Um after that, I will move through um the people that have testified has signed up to testify on the, on the, on the uh, through the internet. If you are watching this and you feel as if you'd like to testify, you're not too late. You can go on our website, mass legislator, May legislature dot gov and go through the redistricting portal and you can sign up to testify tonight if you haven't done. So, We do have a lot of people are signed up here. We have uh I believe we have 130 people signed up. Something tells me that I think some of those people thought they were signing up to watch and not testifying. So I am going to like the first hearing we had uh call all of those people's names out. Um and uh so it could get a little cumbersome, a little a little uh a little awkward because I have to call all those people's names out. Those of them that actually um want to testify will certainly be able to. But those are352 those of them who uh who simply just wanted to uh watches and and see how this process works. Um can just uh decide not to testify. So I will go back to Tom Golden one more time and see if he has been able to connect Tommy. Are you still368 driving problems?
All right. In the interest of time? I will I will wait on for Tommy to come and give those words later in this hearing. Um, at this time I'd like to call congresswoman Trahan and ask her uh, to submit her testimony to387 us. Congresswoman Turhan.
CONGRESSWOMAN LORI TRAHAN - MASSACHUSETTS'S 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT - Well, thank you. Chairman Moran. Chairman Brownsberger, Vice chairs uh, Devers and Gobi distinguished members of the joint committee. I'm so grateful for your commitment to transparency in this process and providing residents of the third district like myself with the opportunity to testify this evening. You know, our democracy is strongest when everyone, regardless of who they are, where they're from or who they love is included heard. And as we'll talk about418 during today's hearing, represented without that were unable to come together as a community.
As a commonwealth and as a country to make progress necessary to ensure that our nation is a more equal and more just place for everyone to call home. That's why this redistricting hearing is so important. Today is an opportunity for people from all backgrounds and441 all walks of life to talk about443 our district, our representation. I was born and raised here in the 3rd District and Lowell, it's where my dad, a union iron worker and my mom, a domestic worker, worked hard to provide for my three sisters and me. It's where I went to public school and learned to play basketball and volleyball. It's where I returned to work after finishing college and it's where I'm proud to be raising my family today.
The third district is made up of 36/7 cities and towns, some urban, some suburban and some rural, but each with their own unique history and characteristics that make them such incredible places to call home. Each community from Harrell to484 Gardner Marlborough to Dracut. It is home to working families like the one I grew up in who strive each day to provide for their Children as the granddaughter of Portuguese and Brazilian immigrants who settled in Lowell looking to build a better life for their family. I know there are district strength is rooted in its diversity communities like Lowell Lawrence and so many others have benefited from the tremendous contributions of immigrants and refugees.
That was showcased more than ever over the past year as people across the district banded together To get each other through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it was supporting our heroic health care workers and first responders who worked around the clock saving lives, frequenting family owned small businesses and restaurants or even wearing a mask in public to keep those around them safe. We proved time and time again that we're not only resilient, but we're also willing to meet the moment head on now as we continue working to defeat the virus by getting as many shots into arms as possible, communities are coming together once again.
A block party in557 Lawrence or regional site in Devon's a mobile clinic in Fitchburg or elsewhere to ensure that no one who wants to be vaccinated is left behind. And as we work our way down the road to recovery from the pandemic communities across the third district will surely lead the way just as places like concord did during the American Revolution and580 mill cities like Lowell and Lawrence did during the Industrial Revolution members of the committee. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to represent Massachusetts, 3rd Congressional District. And I look forward to the work ahead connecting with the hardworking families.
I have the honor of serving has been key in ensuring that their needs are heard in the halls of Congress and I look forward to hearing their priorities during the redistricting process as they testify before you this evening. So thank you again to each of you. Chairman Brownsberger, chairman Moran and all the distinguished members of the Special Joint Committee on redistricting for providing us with this opportunity and for your ongoing commitment to a transparent process that ensures every voice is heard.627 The third district in the commonwealth are better off because of your631 efforts. And so I thank you and I yield back.
REP MORAN - Thank you congresswoman to hand. I don't have any questions. Just a statement. Uh, thank you for your partnership with us. You've been you've been in a very short time. You've been there, you've been more than willing to work with us on any number of issues. And that partnership certainly helped us out as we go through this very difficult year and a half. We've all been through. Thank you for the work you've done down there. It really has made a difference. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
So, um, I don't have any questions, but let me let me put it up to any of the660 members of the committee. Does anybody have any questions for the congresswoman?
Just appreciate the testimony already. Hearing none. Thank you very much. Um we uh we appreciate it and you've given us some of your time, so enjoy the rest of your night. Whether you're going to watch this or676 go out and have a nice dinner or something, who knows? All right, next up would be uh the gentle lady from stow our speaker pro TEM and the House of Representatives. Representative Cait Hogan is here to say a few words kate.
You have to um, you kate. Uh, famous uh, covid thing. We've all learned a mute.
You still need it now. I've done it. All right. I'll take that off the top, I promise.
REP HOGAN - But I just715 want to say thank you so much for taking testimony here today um, to chairman Moran and Brownsberger. I know that you guys have a tough job. I really appreciate it. And I wanted to728 just come here and take the opportunity tonight to testify before you as you start to redraw our state's congressional districts. The reason I come before you today is to emphasize the incredible partnership that I along with other members of the third congressional delegation had with our congresswoman and friend Lori Trahan. I represent the third middle sex in the House And the towns of Bolton, Hudson, Maynard and Stow and have done so for 16 years.
When Congresswoman Trahan won her election in 2017 and 2018, she has become a constant fixture in our district, making it a point to stress the value of respective communities and the effectiveness of a strong state and federal partnership. She's put that value into action, particularly in the age of the pandemic. We've certainly seen so much help from her office. Um it's really been incredible work working with Congresswoman Trahan in our office. We've seen that our communities were793 able to connect with government representatives on every level and get answers we needed as we move through. Um the pandemic.
This is exactly the kind of state and federal partnership that our district needs. And we are so fortunate to have congresswoman Trahan as our representative. I would just like to urge the committee to allow the communities in the congressional district to remain partnered with congresswoman Trahan especially us down down were very south where the last towns hanging on822 to uh the third, um the third and and just would love to see us remain there. So thank you so much everyone for your time. Good to see you too. All of my colleagues, Congresswoman Trahan and uh just836 good luck with everything tonight. Thank you for taking my testimony. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
It's your turn to on you. Mr. Chairman. Oh, hey look at that. We're all we're all on mutant. Um Thank you. Uh Speaker uh Logan and I appreciate your testimony. I certainly have no questions. But uh I will ask my colleagues if they do, I doubt they do, but I'll ask anyway. Uh thank you very much K for your testimony. Um So next up is Alex, this Polo Polo Alex Alex is a handover. Select board,882 vice chair of the end over select884 board.
While I'm waiting for Alex, I wanted to recognize a few people that have joined us. Uh I saw Senator uh Gomez has joined us. Um Thank you for attending Senator Gomez and I saw frank Moran, the gentleman for Lawrence joined us. Uh thank you Representative uh Iran for joining us. Um Adam I just saw you Alex, I just saw you. So Alex say you.
ALEX VISPOLI - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Yeah thanks Chairman Moran and thank you Chairman Moran and Brownsberger. I really Appreciate the opportunity to have a voice here. And uh my name is Alex Vispoli I'm speaking for myself, not the tire select board of Andover uh but I've been a929 select board member for 17 years in the town of Andover. And I was on the board when the redistricting was done last time and out of that we saw a split in Our, in our community. Andover is a community with 35,000 residents And we have 10 precincts. We're currently split between two reps. We have one rep that has seven precincts. Another rep that has three precincts.
The one that has seven is Tram Nguyen and the one that has three precincts is Frank Moran. Yeah. Um, for Congress were split as well. Lori Trahan represents seven precincts and Andover and Seth Moulton represents three precincts in Andover We have one state senator, Senator Barry Feingold. I'm requesting that as you go through the process of reviewing the redistricting that you can you consider putting Andover back together And have one state rep And one Congress person representing the town, there's no real logical reason for Andover to be split the way it is. Um And so I would like to request that we1003 provide a single voice for our residents and unify Andover With one state rep and one congress person.
MORAN - Thank you Alex. Uh I can tell you that uh from the house map, The challenges we had 10 years ago because of the necessity for us to draw a district in Lawrence, because of the growth in the Latino population in law. Um and and that drawing that incumbent free first time ever Latino district and Lawrence put some pressures on the towns outside of Lawrence. Um uh you know I don't know how much you know about me Alex, but1048 I'm pretty much a straight shooter and that's why it happened, we just and then when you start moving around up there for some reason, um you have some precincts that are pretty large.
So when you're moving around Precincts that are 4000 or 3000, it becomes challenging to get down to uh, to that, to that, that that desirable that we all want every town to remain whole. Now. Of course we can't keep every time around hold because Um as as I'm sure, you know, uh, you know, the1078 town's range from Ghazni Old Mass, which is 75 To the city of Boston, which is almost 700 and everywhere in retreat. So we try, we do our best. Um, I I thank you for your testimony and uh, and we will certainly, uh look at that and take it into consideration um, as we move forward. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
I will offer any questions from my colleagues
hearing. None, thank you for your time.
VISPOLI - And I do think it would offer clarity, especially in the congressional side too to find some way to put Andover in In one congressional district because we've got these three precincts that set off to the side and it's it's just the residents. I think it's confusing for the residents.
MORAN - I hear you, I hear you.
VISPOLI - Thank you chairman.
MORAN - Thank you Alex. I appreciate your testimony. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you. Next up is chunks in school committee person Maria santos Maria.
MARIA SANTOS - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Good evening. Thank you for allowing me to uh present tonight. And I've been on the school committee for one term and I am now I'm also a town about. And what I wanted to be able to say is that it is extremely difficult we just heard about Andover having Two reps we have four in Chelmsford. It is so um diluted in the sense that we are not able to elect someone who really represents us as a community because every single one of our representatives is going to have a greater number of votes in another community.
When we look for our elected representatives at the state level, we would like those representatives to be able to truly represent our community and who we are the four representatives. Yes, we have four votes, but we do not have someone that we can truly say this person is a part of us and is elected by us as a community when it comes to the third district1212 in beeline to the third district has been absolutely amazing. The partnership with Lori Trahan um has been terrific. Um and we have been able to really have our voice heard in my opinion and I am speaking only for1229 myself and not on behalf of the school committee uh where I am an elected member.
But it has been a great partnership. Um We as Chelmsford have1240 always been historically linked to Lowell and the greater Lowell area and I think it would be wonderful to be able to continue that way. But representation at the state level is just today. I rooted for us to it's difficult for the1256 representatives and it's difficult for us as um townspeople because our vote always count the vote counts more somewhere else. Always. Thank you again for the time and uh it is not an enjoyable process in many ways to redistrict. Um So thank you again.
MORAN - Thank you Maria. I remember 10 years ago uh there was a whole A bunch of people asking for the same thing in1289 Chelmsford. Um it is challenging. It's 35,000 people roughly give or take a few. Um so it's not enough to be its own district. So that's that's that makes it challenging. Um and as I said before that a lot of the towns around there are all 24, So you've got to kind of figure out the math on that the best you can. Um And you know, one of the reasons I uh file a bill every year to do redistricting by census blocks and not precincts. Um, is because I believe it would allow us to make districts like yours sounds like yours more whole because we won't be moving around smaller blocks.
Um That bill has not made it to the finish line, but it's something I file every year because I think it would help us to take care of towns like jumps. It interestingly enough though, I want to point out that we, in the first draft 10 years ago, we actually had chunks it down to three ramps. And at that point in time then Rep Cory Atkins was not happy that she was going to be moving out of Chelmsford. Um And she got many of her supporters in Chelmsford and herself to fight to get back into Chelmsford And that's one of the changes we made. So we had to go into three. But for Corey Atkins uh you'd be you'd be at three today. Not four. But uh so anyway, so that's just some some of the stuff that we went through 10 years ago. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
So um I will ask my colleagues if they have any questions for for Maria, anyone have any questions?
Take the testimony. Thank you. Hearing none. I thank you Maria for your testimony. Thank you and thank you for that history. Yeah it's uh it's helpful when you did it 10 years ago and you're still here, you know? So thank you. I appreciate it. Next up is um it looks like uh uh Joshua. Is it? Hold on a sec hero. Here is yep. Lawrence Lawrence school committee. Uh District de Joshua. Alba Joshua.
JOSHUA ALBA - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Yes, thank you. Chairs Moran and Brownsberger Um Good to see my Representatives Devers and Miranda to call as well and uh congresswoman Trahan um and everybody else that's on here, all the electives, thank you for being here. Um Yeah, my name is Joshua. Alba um school committee member. Lawrence. School committee member representing district D. Um And yeah, not representing the school committee, representing myself in my district. But Lawrence um as perhaps maybe all you know, I think is a community of interest.
To keep together um because of especially because of our surviving, the Columbia, gas explosions and the disproportionate impacts of COVID 19, this past year. Uh, that has resulted in a unified community around the mutual aid structures, streamlined, city led emergency response efforts that has served for model, has served as a model for cities across the stage. Um, we are poor, working class immigrant community with a large percentage of foreign-born folks,1492 uh, namely from the Dominican Republic, being1495 the largest portion of residents, around 40%. Um, and a majority younger population, uh, 26% of whom are under 18.
I think it's very important to keep Lauren's together. Industry strict as overwhelmingly mature majority racialized and marginalized community that has a distinct experience from our neighbors and Andover or methylene or north Andover or significantly white1522 and have higher incomes. Because I think that Lawrence1525 adds um, uh, a significant or or a particular viewpoint, um, policy and votes that have helped to improve and shape uh quality of life in the community, especially as a labor force for the region um to Worcester to the South Bridge.
Um Mhm. And that's as far as I wrote, but I mean it doesn't seem like anybody's looking to split us up or anything like that. I haven't heard anything like that, so I would appreciate that. Um And yeah, just thank you for your time. Um well we have around like uh a little less than 13,000 students enrolled right now, there's like not above 90% of our student population or Hispanic or Latino. Um I think that's significant to note. Um And and yeah, I didn't come up with a closing, so thank you all hope we all have a good Thursday evening.
MORAN - Thank you Joshua, thank you Joshua. And there's a lot of love for the city of Lawrence uh in in this uh in this building. So you know, we have1607 two reps here that the vice chair in the gentleman uh frank Moran, no relation um uh on this committee. So uh you know, one of the one of the priority things I think we were able to do 10 years ago was to draw that incumbent free1622 district, which um1623 which gave us Frank Moran and now frank serves as the uh division share in the House and leadership.1631 And you have Marcos who is the vice chair of this committee. So Lawrence is very well represented in the House and I know that Barry Feingold does does a great job for you guys in the Senate. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
So um I will offer up some questions but don't be upset if no one has any because uh we are trying to move through this and have everybody testifies. So,1652 uh any questions from my colleagues uh hearing none, thank you very much Joshua for your testimony. Uh Next is uh Pat, whoa, whoa, whoa Jettas. I'm sorry Pat for butchering your last name. You are selected on the board of town, board of Chancellor. Your Selectmen from Chancellor. That uh what say you
PAT WOJTAS - CHELMSFORD BOARD OF SELECTMEN - Yes, thank you very much for for holding this hearing uh allowing us to present testimony as you mentioned, I am from Chelmsford. So um I won't go over a lot of what Maria Santos said earlier, but I do have a couple of general general comments before we get to the specifics about Chelmsford. Um One has to do with something that uh shimmer and you you mentioned as you were responding to Maria about drawing the districts before or after precincts are drawn. Um I mean, quite frankly, I think it would be better for the community if the precincts are drawn before the districts are drawn.
And and to keep the precincts intact regarding the districting. Um, you know, I think it's it's confusing enough when we have, uh, as Maria said, four different reps in the town of Chelmsford, um, but at least they're all within individual precincts. If we were then to have some representatives that cross the precinct, I think that would really make it confusing and difficult for voters as they go to the polls to determine who they're, who the candidates are and and how to vote. So, um, I think the local officials know how the neighborhoods are formed and should be kind of held together.
So, um, that's why my comments on, on that part of it, I I know, I I guess you disagree with me on that, I don't know but I just hope you take that into consideration. Um The second thing is, um I guess I don't understand why the districts all house districts are formed and then all Senate districts are formed or the other way around. It seems to me that um we have exactly four1784 times as many house districts as there are Senate districts, so why not create basically a1790 team with one senate district and then four house districts within it for complete house districts within it?
Um, I guess I could say not unlike how the federal government works where the state has, you know, in Massachusetts, we have the nine house districts and two Senate districts. Um, We don't have Senate districts that cross state boundaries. I know it's a little bit different, but it's just something I I guess I I don't understand why it's not considered, because if you look at some of the Senate districts they can touch, It seems to me as many as six or 8 different house districts. Which would it seems it would be harder for them to reach some kind of consensus about what what goals do is to trying to achieve for their districts.
And then specifically to the town of Chelmsford. Um it's already been mentioned that we have, you know, the four, the four reps we have about the same size as Andover. We appreciate everything that the reps have have done for us, that we've have worked for the town of Chelmsford in the past 20 years that we've been in this situation. Um But it's it's bound to produce some kind of conflict when when the reps have a larger um voting block in another community. Whatever we could do to shrink that to make it be just, you know, I know some of them have just too low in Chelmsford.
Um But whatever we could do to to increase our voice in in one or more districts would definitely be appreciated. And and lastly I will say um I hope there's not any consideration of moving jumps without of uh congresswoman Trahan’ sdistrict because she has been um outstanding to work with. She had mentioned I think before the meeting started about attending a parade earlier this week. And and uh it was a Chelmsford’s parade. I I'm assuming it was the first one that she attended this year. So we definitely welcomed her and we're glad to see her her there. So that's how I have.
MORAN - Thank you Pat thank you very much on a couple of things um on the re precinct ng portion of of of of your statement. Um We uh this time around because of the Senate because of the US Census moving the delivery date of the data back to September 30th.1931 Um We're we're going to have to uh do the um drawing of1941 the lines before the re precinct thing is done for that reason um uh because it takes anywhere between 2 to 4 months to do re precinct thing Um and you're not going to get the1952 data until 30 September So and we have a November eight obligation in our constitution to live in our district1960 for one year, prior to the to the actual district to running in the house districts.
So so for the first time ever we're going to have to do that and it's not something that We chose to do, it's something that the simple moving back of the date from April 1 to September 30 And then the deadline of November eight for us to live in our districts for one full year. Uh that's going to be a pretty quick1985 turnaround of October uh the month of October. We have to get all this done uh by the November eight constitutional obligation we have. So that's that's why um it's going that way this time around. Um uh with regard to um in the future we can just have an honest disagreement on that one.
Um uh But but you know that's just that's just uh to people that don't see it, I die on the issue. So uh and uh and and again I will repeat that. It is my goal. Hopefully that we can at least get transferred down to three2022 reps. Who knows if we can get any lower than that. Um I will repeat again. We had that last time 10 years ago but we had it down to three but that was changed. Uh Now that district is going to be empty because tammy go via is2036 running for higher office. So there will not be uh a person. So maybe we'll have another opportunity to look at that this time around. So but I appreciate your testimony Pat. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Um And uh I will ask my colleagues if they have any uh any questions.
Alright? Hearing none. Thank you Pat for your testimony. Next up is thank you. The next up is um is Sam Colton. Uh He is a school committee member from the vote Nashoba Valley School committee. Sam Samuel.
Mhm.
Yes. Good evening. I'm trying to attribute I hope that I have. We got you, we got you Sam. Well thank you and uh and welcome to the redistricting committee.
SAMUEL POULTEN - NASHOBA VALLEY SCHOOL COMMITTEE - Well thank you very much. Chairman. Good evening Chairman Moran. And thank you for allowing me this opportunity to testify. And thanks to the committee for ensuring that everyone in our district is being given the opportunity to have his or her voice heard on these important issues. Uh, to start off as far as a few of my colleagues have mentioned the fact that Chelmsford was drawn and quartered in the last census, uh for one of them not happy at the beginning.
And I2125 am extremely happy with the representation that we've been receiving, especially from the dean of our delegation representative, Tom Moran. I would echo what my colleagues said that if Chelmsford can be kept in the third district, which is the number one goal and we2147 can come down to three reps. I think that that would be useful for2152 us. So I'm adding my voice to that and having been around 10 years ago, I fully understand what went into the decision that was made back then and back then. We thank you for allowing Corey Atkins too, staying with us.
Right. That's it. Ah As you said, I'm sampled and I'm a proud resident of Chelmsford since 1979, 1966. Graduate of Lowell High school and a small business owner in Lowell since 2007. I'm also the current chair of the Chelmsford Democratic Town Committee, vice chair of Glad and a school committee member for the Nashoba Valley Regional, occasional technical high school Who's nine Sending communities Are all in the 3rd congressional district, 1969 - 2010. I also served with the 84th Medical Brigade, headquartered in the air, also a third district community from which I retired as a lieutenant colonel.
I have a deep2218 appreciation for our districts, history, our strengths, and those issues where we can continue to improve and the cooperative atmosphere that has been built. As you can see, I'm not a stranger here. I'm glad that our community is represented at all levels of government, by individuals who share that same level of appreciation and commitment. Many of those officials that are taking part in this evening's hearing, including Representative Glory Torian, who I've had the pleasure of knowing long2250 before she held her role.
But who always cared deeply about giving back to the communities in which she grew up and that she continues to call home. Lori joins in the long history of representing our area, the long history of representatives that Chelmsford has had in the federal, state and local levels, dedicated to getting things done and doing it in a way that not only benefits one community or another, but our region as a whole. She has done this and continues to do this by building consensus and leading cooperative efforts to continue our progress in improving education, business, culture, healthcare, tourism, and quality of life throughout our region.
This is a remarkably diverse and exciting area. The third district2308 contains one of the state's wealthiest2310 communities, Sudbury and one of its poorest Flores.Yet Lori Trahan has the talent spirit and commitment to our residents that addresses the unique problems we all encounter and needs us to find successful solutions. We're always moving forward. The district itself is uniquely constructed. A river runs through it. The legendary Merrimack who's protected falls in East Chelmsford, Now the city of Lowell helped create America's Second Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, And also created America's 1st Urban National Park.
I'm also an active member of the greater Lowell2358 area democrats, an organization that works across jurisdictions to advocate for progress that benefits people and communities from Dracut to Carlisle all to Pepperell and brought much like our organization. The success of our region is tied to our ability to2376 band together an advocate on behalf of solutions and resources that will benefit all of us. We do it well and were greatly aided by what our district is, where it is, who it represents and the common history, shared goals at regional investments. That led us to our many successes. In short, as we all look toward redistricting after the last census. The third is a success story that should be left intact.
Please don't mess with success. It ain't broke. We don't need any fixing strengthen us If adjustments must be made. But the benefits afforded our fellow citizens who share a district that includes Lowell Lawrence Haverhill and the contiguous towns not only enhances the lives of all of us who live here. It truly strengthens and enhances the entire commonwealth and by extension, our great country. I ask only that we be allowed to maintain the remarkable progress that our entire region enjoys and that requires the continued representation by those who understand the immense value of regional2463 success.
We are blessed with the geography, resources, educational2468 institutions, talent2470 and spirit that has led us toward continues successes in every field of endeavor.2475 And we're doubly blessed with civic leaders and elected officials who don't only share our hopes and dreams, but our state in the very essence of the region for an eminent among them is our own member of Congress, Lori Trahan. Please allow us to keep our river runs through a 3rd congressional district and Member of Congress. Glory perhaps. Thank you for your time. Thanks for allowing me to speak. But most importantly,2510 thanks for the good work you're doing on our behalf. Keep III 3rd. Thank you very much.
MORAN - Thank you Sam I appreciate your testimony. Um Again, no questions just to comment. Uh I think you um I think the Congress people who represent the state understand that every one of their districts has to change um simply because of the growth in this, in the state being so uh um uh different in different places. Uh So so every one of them has to be apportioned um and changed um some of them very drastically. Some of them not not as drastic but um every every one of the our congressmen and women understand that that's gonna happen. So um and that's, you know, we try to do it as minimal as we can, but we have to, we have to do it nonetheless, because the law says we have to SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
so.
But I have no questions. I will ask my colleagues on the, on the committee if they have any questions hearing. None. We will move to our next person to testify who is uh, Jessica fan charo. She is a city of Methuen councilor at large, Jessica. Do you are you here?
JESSICA FINOCCHIARO - METHUEN CITY COUNCILLOR AT LARGE - Hi, I'm Jessica. I'm a city councillor in Methuen and um, thank you everybody for being here and thank you also to uh, chairman2607 Moran, who actually sent an email out to some legislators and we were able to take that. I know I posted mine on my social media and shared it around town. Um, my note is just that we take into2624 consideration what could possibly be done to encourage more people to give feedback because I find these conversations to be really productive.
And I do believe there are going to be some serious changes. Uh so what I would like to see is um you know, I think that the website that you guys have is great and it provides a lot of information and I know that over time the committee is going to add all kinds of information as it's available to that website. And I would just ask that um you know, there'll be some additional thoughts on how we can get even more community input along the way. And there might have already been conversations amongst the committee members about that.
Um You know, I know that reaching out to the elected officials was great. I saw some people posting about it, but I think that we need to take it a step further and see what we can get for community engagement because I think this is going to change a lot of things and I think that um I would love to see more uh you know, from every direction they're sharing on social media. Um you know, some um there's a lot of different outlets that we already have that don't cost any money to the state to get this information out there. And um and that's just what I would ask to be considered. Thank you.
MORAN - Thank you, Jessica, I appreciate your testimony. Um and uh we didn't just send it to elected officials. Uh we sent it to a number of uh interest groups that are that are involved in this process. There's a umbrella group called the Drawing Democracy Coalition and they sent it out to their members. Um we we we try and push2734 it out as much as we can. Uh last last year2737 we uh Uh last 10 years ago we had almost 20,000 people participate in the process when we were said and done.
Um this year we're having more hearings that we had 10 years ago. We're having language specific hearings of people who do, who do not speak English as a first language. Um we are doing everything we can to to entice people to engage in this process. Um uh while while while I I think it's a very interesting issue. Uh um some people are not as jazzed up about it maybe as you'd hope, but we still have a lot that we still have a fair amount of people that participate, so. Um but I thank you for your testimony and I thank you for your commitment to your community. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Um Any questions from my colleagues
hearing? None. I will move to the next person to testify. Thank you jesse for your testimony. Uh robert, Schwartz, robert, Schwartz. Are you here
robert? Got no public schools.
He's coming on my stuff says so give me a minute
and mm
robert. I hear you're in. You joined us, robert.
There you are. I can see you on my uh on mute. There you go.
ROBERT WARTZ - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Mr. hairman. I have no comment compared to the other representatives that already spoken were wonderful. We have Lori we have one senator, we have one rep they're all doing a super job compared to the other representatives that spoke. I'm very happy. I'm just trying to get2899 educated of what registering is about and I'm learning a lot. So I thank you for the opportunity. Two to participate. Thank you again. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you.
Thank you robert. You should talk to some of my constituents. I need them to2913 do a commercial like that2914 for me. Thanks robert. I appreciate it. I appreciate you watching. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to what we're saying here. So how about judy? Carvin judy carbon.2924 Alright. My staff is saying judy is not here. So we'll move on. Uh, mary jakes. Uh, ST ST mary, jake, stir ST
mary. Are you are you here mary?
Yeah, yeah, she's I don't see her here.
Well, they uh, mary you have to um mute. If your if your, if your can hear my2974 voice
Marie, sorry. It looks like Marie
can see you up there.2984
Okay. Well mary's uh, figuring that out. We'll, we'll call Marissa Dupont. Marissa. Dupont.
Yeah.
Okay. As I said in the beginning, this may be a little awkward because we have a lot of people that signed up and I don't think everybody actually was intending to testify. So, David. Uh, babson babson. David. Ebsen.
Okay, David, I see you up there. You need to a mute, David. Okay. I think I did. There you go. I got you. There you are
DAVID EBITSON - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Basically. What I wanted to do was thank all of the people who run our state was such a great job. I I think when in fact, at 85 seats in our Congress, the movement to the south and the west, And we managed to save all nine seats in the great state of Massachusetts. I just want to thank people And I also want to thank Lori Trahan for doing a great job. I've been living in Westford since 1978, served four3090 years in the military, but it is a great state and I've been to so many places in our country and I just realized that constantly the Massachusetts is really3102 a great state and it's ruined by great people. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much, David and3107 thank you for your service to our country. We appreciate that obviously. Um, uh, and I don't think we have any questions for you. So we're gonna move on to our next person to testify, robert Walton, robert Walton are you with us?
Mhm.
You know, you say yes. I'm here. Yes, I'm here. Here you go, robert.3136 We hear. Okay, Welcome. Welcome.
ROBERT WALTON - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Well, thanks Mr. Moran, thanks for the invite. Really appreciate it. Uh, my other3145 fellow Chelmsford, uh, residents have kind of stolen my thunder. Uh, but I just do want to say what a great job uh, Lori Trahan has done for the third district and he is doing. And I would like to reiterate Chelmsford’s particular Burden of3167 having four state reps, Chelmsford and Billerica. We're both incorporated on the same day in 1655. Billerica, I think has maybe 44 43,000 people Chelmsford we've got about 35.
Billerica a has one state rep Mr. Lombardo Chelmsford we have four. So not only was Chelmsford completely dissected by the Federal Highway Administration via route 4 95 and Route three, we were also suffered with four state reps for one community, which is probably a little unusual in the, in the entire commonwealth. And that I would like to just say again as my other t Chelmsford uh fellow residents have mentioned. It's something that should really be uh considered and changing in the future. Thanks very much. I appreciate the opportunity.
MORAN - Thank you Robert.3228 Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time out of your schedule. Uh The other, the only other town to have four reps would be Walpole. Um They have they have four reps. Uh And uh as I as I said earlier, my goal is hopefully to get you down to3244 three uh as we did 10 years ago. And and you know that that kind of uh and our first draft was asked, they asked us to go back to four. So so that was kind of unique and different. But but I think this time around we get a better shot because um of the person who is one of one of the reps is running for higher office. So uh hopefully we will have that opportunity for us to get down to three this time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
So anyways, I appreciate your testimony.
Thank you. And I would like to call Claire. Uh do sheer next claire, are you with us?
Hi there, thank you for letting me speak. I'm Duclair.
CLARE - CONCERNED CITIZEN - I uh would like to give some personal perspective. I come from Ashburnham which is a tiny town in the western part ofCD3 and Ashburnham, along with the western rural towns within this congressional district have little in common with the eastern cities and the larger municipalities in the rest of3316 the Lori Trahan’s district. As we know, population is shifting and the congressional districts boundaries are gonna shift as well.
If you need a volunteer, I would happily suggest that Ashburnham be moved once again into a different congressional district, Especially If It's Jim McGovern's Congest Real District3340 Number Two. At least we would be with Worcester County rather than Middlesex County, which would be something that we would have some familiarity with. But on the local level let's keep Representative Zlotnik and Senator Gobi representing3358 Ashburnham Thank you for your time.
Thank you clear. Thank you. Clear. I'm sure. And Gobi is very happy to hear that she is on this call. I'm extremely happy to that. And we love clear back. And it's always good to hear her comments. Thanks clear. Uh You bet. Thank you. Claire. I appreciate you taking time out3381 of your scheduled to come and join us and give us your thoughts. Um uh I will3387 call the next person to testify, which would be um mary Sweeney, mary Sweeney. Are you with us? SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Mhm.
I marry you are with us. But I think I need you to a mute. Uh Mr. Chairman, did you call me? Sorry,
I had a technical bitch.
MARIE SWEENEY - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Good evening. Mr. Chairman and members of the redistricting committee. I'm really happy that you're allowing to make a statement tonight. My name is Maurice Sweeney. And I am a native of3431 low, a 50 year resident of Tewksbury and a lifelong resident of Merrimack Valley. And I've lived in the old 5th district, The 7th district and now in the3442 6th district. And while many might connect me with3445 politics as the longtime chair now emeritus of greater Lowell area democrats and a member of the Massachusetts Democratic State committee serving the second Essex Middlesex district were so well served by Barry Finegold. It's really my decades as a community activist.
It's for me to comment tonight. My activities and issues and concerns include advocacy for education, history, preservation, volunteerism, cultural affairs, affordable housing and social services. And I do see the big picture of congressional districts and I see the closer local challenges of Senate and rep districts. I'm here this evening because I have seen how big picture decisions affect the regular citizen, the commonality of interest of the core communities of the current currently configured through a district go way beyond politics into its history, its geography, its ethnicity and diversity. As well as shared values, Experience goals, commitment and economic reality.
My particular concern is the federal designation and the funding approaches that affects such programs as Head Start, fuel assistance, homelessness prevention, early childhood education, affordable housing and services, workforce and drug development, youth programs, small business assistance and war. I sound like I serve on the Bureau of a Community action Agency and I do. I've been on the board of Community Teamwork Uh, since the3547 early 90s. These are systems and programs critical to the people of the greater Lowell Merrimack Valley area. It’s the core corridor of the third district. The partnerships and collaborations and focused commitment existing in this core.
Along with the clout of the district congress person. And of course I can't say enough about Lori Trahan this directly impacts life in the Merrimack Valley and beyond. I testified 10 years ago When I feared a sell off of the pieces of the 5th district. Unfortunately, that didn't happen tonight. I ask that you continue to be sensitive to all concerns of district residents as you consider your options and make your very tough decisions. Keeping the core of the 3rd district intact is important. It's real, it's relevant. It's vital to the well being and the future and the quality of life of the residents of Massachusetts 3rd District, particularly in the historic Greater Lowell, Greater Lawrence Core, the Merrimack Valley. And I thank you for listening to me SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
mary. Thank Marie. Sorry, thank you very much. I really appreciate your testimony and your years of advocacy. It sounds like in the Merrimack Valley area. Um, my wife is from the Merrimack Valley so I gotta, I gotta show some love to the valley, you know what I'm saying? A lot of love. Mr. Chairman please. She was their family came and settled in Lawrence and then and then she grew up in hand over and then she found a guy like me and moved to Brighton. So I don't know, I like to think she's a social climate but uh
listen, I appreciate you taking the time to come out tonight and testify. Um and uh and enjoy the rest of your night, whatever you're gonna do. Uh all that next person testify. It's uh uh mira, Peral meyer apparel,
You can see you on there, mara.
She is immune to mute.3683 Are you on there?
Alright, Maira,
well mine was figuring that out. I'm gonna call somebody from the chimps, chunks for the school board. Um Kenneth la breve.
The brief Kenneth Kenneth are you with us? And the champs in school board.
There you are. Yes. How are you Kenneth? Nice to meet you. What do you have to say about redistricting? We want to hear what you say, I have to say.
KENNETH LEFEBVRE - CHELMSFORD SELECT BOARD - Sure. So first off I'm just going to start by saying I’m on the Chelmsford Select Board. Uh So thank you for having me tonight um and thank you for holding the hearing uh and I'll just keep my words brief. I don't really have a lot of experience and speaking in forms like this so I'll just keep it short and sweet. I just want to start off by saying Chelmsford is represented by four reps, we appreciate the work they do, they're very responsive.
Uh They're they're fantastic to work with each and every one of them. When we reach out to them, they, you know, respond, they'll meet with us and um, they're great, they do a great job. However, the town is divided with four reps. And uh, you know, sometimes the residents3780 here and specifically some of the other boards in town and our board, we3785 sometimes wonder how erect can make a decision for Chelmsford if it's at the dutch have meant to one of the towns they represent with the much larger population.
And so, uh, you know, we appreciate the, you know, that this year is an opportunity for redistricting. Um, Chelmsford has, uh, you know, a lot of growing needs and we would appreciate,3805 you know, a voice, um, you know, of either Sealer rapper, a3810 split rep, and I think, uh, you know, that that would really hopefully benefit us in the future. Again, there's nothing wrong with reps that we have now. They're doing a great job. Very like I said, very responsible. They're wonderful to work with. We're just trying to uh try to get more representation for trump's word. Thank you.
MORAN - Thank you Kenneth. Um Incidentally I have a district that I represent. Uh one small precinct in the town of Brookline. Um They actually have four reps as well. Um But it can be challenging but we we do the best we can and we uh if you're attentive and listen and you work with your other colleagues um you can you can really move the needle as they say so. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
But I have no no questions for you Kenneth. I will ask my colleagues if they have any questions for Kenneth.
Alright. Hearing none. I will move to Deb boost boost here here. Deb
Yeah,
there you are. I can see you just got a mute or also. What's that? No.
DEBORAH BUSSER - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Yes, thank3885 you. Chairman uh Chairman Brownsberger and the rest of the committee for holding these hearings and for the opportunity to speak tonight. Um Again, I'm Deb Busser I was the Democratic candidate for state rep for the first Middlesex district in 2020 and um as such, just have some observations around this district in particular. Um First I know there are other towns that are split between precincts, but in the first Middlesex House district, um that town is Air. Um There are two precincts on air um that comprise the House district and there are common issues around drinking water working with the army at Devon's.
That um I believe are made more difficult without a single point of contact at the at the House level. Um So I'm asking for some consideration I guess, around um what happens with Air. Uh The other thing that I just like to raise to the committee is that the western part of the first Middlesex House district. So those are the towns of Ashby Townsend and Pepperell all comprised the North Middlesex regional school district. Um and each one of those towns has a different state senator, very fortunate3954 to have senator Gobi um a newly elected senator, Cronin and senator Kennedy. But again, I think when it comes to coordinating around issues that impact those three towns, which are very connected, um I think the coordination can be difficult.
And I think just the last thing that I would say again, looking at the3972 first Middlesex house district is that these 5.5 towns actually have four state senators. And again,3979 I know there was a common earlier around, sort of which comes first the House, you know, drawing the house lines or the Senate lines. But um, I do again feel like this particular district would be better served if somehow that number was a bit smaller. And I think just lastly, um, I do want to say is a resident of Groton. I am incredibly grateful for congresswoman Trahan's leadership and advocacy. Please don't do anything about moving Gratin or4006 any of the surrounding towns. I think we are incredibly well served there and I'm very grateful. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
That's excellent.4013 Thank you4014 Deb. I appreciate it. Um, taking the time to testify here. Uh, does my colleagues and my colleagues4019 have any questions for me and again and go be gets another shout out, huh? You know what are you doing? And you're doing great, I guess. Huh? Thanks Deb. Uh, so great. Thanks dad. I appreciate your testimony. Um, I will call our next person which is mary rob mary. I see that you're on.
MARY ROBB - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Good evening. Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman Mr. Vice chairman for this opportunity. Um Part of my reason for joining tonight is to better educate myself. I am A 28-year veteran teacher, high school teacher in Massachusetts the largest portion of those years Andover Massachusetts. Um and one of the courses I teach is called democracy and media literacy. And each time I start a class with my students, I realize it's my goal, help them develop faith in our system.
Um and I should say systems in the town government of Andover the state government of Massachusetts and our national government and one of the things that always trips them up is the concept of gerrymandering and Mr. Chairman, you made a comment earlier that made me chuckle about, you know, when you head up north there to that Merrimack Valley things get kind of crazy, but it's the birthplace of gerrymandering. Um, with Andover, Haverhill, Salisbury Methuen Amesbury, Lynnfield Middleton.
All of those include, included in that original gerrymandered district. Um, but there's a couple things that I observed that I, I wanted to point out, one of them was Jessica and I want to make sure I say her name correctly. Finocchiaro mentioning getting more people from the community involved. And I could not um, I can't speak more enthusiastically about doing exactly that. There we go. Now. I found my video feed there. It is. Um, I would urge you going forward if I'm correct. You said your deadline is November, is that accurate?
MORAN - Uh, November eight is we have to live in our district. So that's that.
ROBB - I'm sorry, I misunderstood that that.
MORAN - That is a deadline, that is deadline.
ROBB - Okay, um but I met in terms of redistricting, I would urge you to reach out and I'm not quite sure how you would do this, but I'd be happy to work with you on it. To schools, particularly high schools in the commonwealth. My students are 17 and 18 years old and they are either just becoming registered voters or they're about to be registered voters. And they, they need to have an understanding4172 of this. They need to have a uh a way to wrap their minds around what redistricting means and what it will mean for their communities and the issues that have been brought up tonight
Are certainly ones that I will share about communities like Chelmsford with four reps. The comments that um Joshua Alba from the Lawrence School4192 Committee mentioned about the uniqueness4194 of that community that he serves. Um but there is one thing that that I I did struggle with. Um this is this is an opportunity for community input and I don't and I understand that it's difficult4208 to make outreach, but I do want to note this observation that the first people to speak were all elected officials and they absolutely must be heard. Their voice is as important as everyone else's.
But elected officials have access to speaking opportunities more so than an average citizen. And in my experience is at the town of the state level are input is time. We have three minutes to say this or two minutes to say that, and quite often our elected officials get the last word. So just going forward, I would urge you to consider um allowing regular citizens, the voters to speak first or maybe mix them up together. Um Everybody's time is valuable. Everybody's time is um, important. I'd just be curious as to how many of the folks that already spoke Are still, you know, here paying attention now, we're 15 minutes later.
Um, and then finally just about the um, the necessity of redistricting and how important it is4275 um, to end my US history courses because we talk about some really unpleasant aspects of our history. I try to end with some of the very positive about our our country's history and I show them um video images from 911, Both the documentary from firefighters who were actually on the scene, but one of them in particular was about the 911 boat lift when much like after the Battle of Dunkirk and all call was put out by the Coast Guard and literally hundreds of vessels, private vessels sailed into Manhattan pick people up
And evacuated about 500,000 people in about nine hours. Um, and I4319 explained to them that something that didn't happen that day as people were getting onto these boats, nobody stopped and said, oh, wait a minute. Are you a democrat or you're a republican? Wait, what's your religion? I'm sorry, why don't make your color? Nobody did that. And Representative Johann mentioned about how our community came together in a time of crisis around COVID and we certainly did. And I think Americans have a particular knack for that were coming together in difficult times.
But redistricting and making it possible for communities to best, um, come together to interact with their elected officials. That's how we manage to be active and to exhibit our very best when we're not in a crisis when it's the day to day stuff that's not really exciting. And it's not the, you know, it's not something that that reaches way down deep inside of us, but it's so, so vital. So I appreciate the time and effort that all of you have put into this because I think redistricting is what registry is one of the things that helps us come together, um, ineffective and cooperative communities. Thank you.
MORAN - Thank you very much Mary. Um, I would also note, um, that um, those high school kids that you, that you were referring to, you should4400 encourage them to pre register because we can do that in Massachusetts. Uh, we we did that.
ROBB - We do register. We do registration drives every year. We've got about, if I'm correct, our4409 last estimate was about two thirds of our school population4411 who can be pre registered are.
MORAN - I was the chair of the Election laws committee at the4417 time when we did that bill. And so we were able to make sure that kids that are in high school can preregister. So.
ROBB - Thank you very much for that, greatly appreciated. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
So anyways I will ask my colleagues on the on the committee if they have any questions for mary that would be great. If not I will move on to the next person testing testimony. Thank you mary, I appreciate your testimony. We will now move to rob Zidek. Rob Zidek
yeah
seen rob. Give him a few more minutes, a few seconds. Sorry. There I am. There you go. Thank you very much for some reason. Zoom recycled on me.4470
ROB ZIDEK - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Um I really joined in to learn the process. I'm fairly new to Massachusetts. I've only been here since 2017 and I appreciate uh appreciate you. Let me speak Mr. chairman. I would also like to echo what others have said and that is a an intense desire to I live in Lancaster to to to stay in lorries district. I got to meet her at a Bolton town hall about a well before the COVID hit and I feel like she's almost part of the family. So if there's4510 any way to keep us in her district, I'd appreciate it. But otherwise thank you very much and I wish everyone happy and safe evening. Thank you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
You're still muted. Mr. Cherif. There we go. I kept hitting. It wouldn't go.
MORAN - Um Thank you rob. I appreciate you taking the time to learn about the process uh and to give us your thoughts. Um It's important um Lancaster is a is a mecca that we need to keep into the in into your hands district into lorries district. So we will we hear that and we will try to do that our very best to do that. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
So um I will call the next person to testify. Wendy Rock, Thank you rob for your testimony. Wendy,
you are here I am.
WENDY ROCK - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Um I wanted to thank you very much for the opportunity to join. Um I think most of my questions have already been addressed. Uh I would like to say though that as um a special education teacher who is in session year round and was in person learning through the entire pandemic. Um my kids would love the challenge of trying to figure out where to put all these people because I do not envy the task ahead of you. I'm trying to do, I'm trying to do some summer activities right now and it's a challenge. So
MORAN - I hear you Wendy,4614 I hear you and thank you for uh you know it was scary in the beginning for teachers, you know they wanted to teach and we didn't know enough about what was going on with this thing and uh, especially the kids that really needed special education is very important. So thank you, thank you for your commitment to that and working through that. Uh, hopefully we're in better times for you and everybody else at this point in time and in this process.
ROCK - But hey, it4643 was, it was pretty smooth. I got to say that, you know, the state was here for us, um backing us up because we, we had a residential program with DCF kids. So4652 you can't really put him on the street.
MORAN - You know, it's, it's, you know, those stories that are there so challenging, you know, and you don't hear them enough of those sometimes that people people that they come together and just figure out how to get it done right? Right.
ROCK - T that's right. You got to do it.
MORAN - Because there is no option. Right?
ROCK - So that's right. That's right. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Well listen I appreciate your taking time Wendy to come and join us. Very much appreciated and I appreciate your comments and I will ask my colleagues if they have any questions. I doubt they will4683 but I will ask um hearing none. Thank you Wendy for your testimony.
I now would like to announce a4691 few other uh people that have joined us. The gentleman from the great uh city of Billy straus. Help me out Billy where where we were Mattapoisett. That's right. Mattapoisett. Um I almost said Fall River. Uh thank you. Mr. Chair gentleman from Mattapoisett Police trousers with us. Thank you Billy. Taking time out of your scheduled to join us on this. I know you have a conference budget that you're working on and I appreciate you taking time to come to this. So um so now leads me to my next person testified Judith Durant, Judith Durant. Are you? Are you here?
There you are.
I okay.
JUDITH DURANT - CONCERNED CITIZEN - Hi thanks. Um First I'd like to thank the committee for the opportunity to participate in this hearing regarding redistricting. I learned firsthand over the years how important it is to bring communities together to discuss issues that have real and immediate effect on our day to day lives. My name is Judith Durant and I grew up in Tewksbury, went to college in Boston, then lived in New York City in Colorado before coming back in 2001 and buying4767 a house in Lowell. I confess that it was not my first choice.
But I have come to4772 love my city and the greater community I became an activist. Immediately two weeks after we moved into our house, we went to visit my husband's family in France. Upon return, we saw paper notices attached to every tree on our block notices that the trees were to be removed with no real idea of how to do it. I thought as hard as I could against this action but was not able to stop it. I vowed there and then to keep abreast of what goes on at the local level. I have been a member of the local Democratic City Committee since 2014 and have served as chair of the Committee since 2017.
This role has given me the opportunity to work with elected officials, many of whom are participating here this evening. Including our congressmen, women, Lori Trahan, who does a great job representing and advocating for all of us. In the third, I've worked with various campaigns, nonprofits, fellow activists and many others who strive to make Global better for everyone who lives4832 here. I'm also a member of the greater Lowell area democrats. And it is clear that Lowell is not an island but part of a larger community that includes Chelmsford, Dracut, Kingsborough, Westford and beyond.
The pandemic showed us that our strength depends on the entire community when our neighbors need help, we're there when we need help, our neighbors can be relied upon. And that is why I'm here today. I understand the necessity of redistricting, but I would like to stress the importance of keeping our region together and most most importantly, not dividing the city of Lowell by moving any precincts into another district, as has been done in other Massachusetts, cities and towns such as Andover as we heard at the start of this hearing.
Lowell form of government and election process will change dramatically this year. I firmly believe4887 that this is for the better of Lowell. But the transition involves breaking up wards and precincts and is providing to be a real challenge in the interest of stability for the entire region and for are coming closer together as a very diverse population. I hope that this process will keep at least our city and hopefully our region together. Thank you again chairs Brownsberger, and Moran and the entire committee for giving us the opportunity to participate in this most important hearing. Thank4920 you. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you Judith. Thank you for your testimony. Um I will ask my colleagues if they have any questions. Alright hearing none Judah, thank you very much for being patient and waiting for some4934 time now. It's almost an hour and a half before we get to you. So uh I appreciate your patience. So, um, I will call the next person to testify. Aurora Erickson. Aurora Erickson.
Hello, there you are. Hey you.
AURORA4966 ERICKSON4966 -4966 COALITION4966 FOR4966 A4966 BETTER4966 ACRE4966 -Um4966 thank4966 you so much. Um, it's wonderful that I am following Judith. I am also from Lowell. uh, my name's Aurora Erickson. I'm here representing Coalition for a Better Acre at Lowell. We're a membership based community Development Corporation and I'm also here as part of the during democracy coalition. Um like Judith, I want to speak briefly to Lowell’s unique position at this moment in time. This fall will be Lowell's first election following a lawsuit that ruled that our city counselors and school committee needed to be changed from all at large4996 to now serving specific districts
Well, it's a very diversity and on5001 a local level that diversity has not been well reflected. Um that and other barriers have made good representation crucial to rebuild trust in our democratic system going forward on5012 the bright side, on the state level, we have some representatives were very proud of. We appreciate our three state represent state senator. Well, as our congresswoman, we're especially proud that two of our state reps are, we believe the 1st and 2nd ever Cambodian Americans to reach state office in the US. Um Generally speaking, Lowell has advanced in er urban core and a less dense outer core.
5037 Um5037 That inner court tends to be more diverse, and then, um as housing gets less than its um the income goes up a little bit in the surrounding ring of Lowell, and then we're kind of surrounded by a ring of towns that are a little more suburban, um does have fewer immigrants if you are people of color. Um but we do share a lot of community concerns and common interests and we naturally tend to work together more often. Yeah. Um, well, has many strong neighborhoods that have their own traditional residents um as well as newer groups that have arrived. For example, the back central neighborhood is traditionally Portuguese,
But more recently, Brazilian communities movement in as well. I mean I did by the Portuguese language and some shared cultural traditions. The bigger neighborhood has a long tradition as5087 a destination for new immigrants. Most dominant currently, there are products of Latino communities with Puerto Ricans being the most prominent. The Lowell Highlands neighborhood is the heart of the Cambodian community. Um and smaller south Asian communities are represented there as well. Um South Centerville and Lower Beverly we see a broad mix of 1st and 2nd generation immigrant communities um including African and Latino communities.
Um, I would ask that when possible those traditional neighborhoods be held together and not split. Um, those neighborhoods are recognized by local residents and they do tend to act as units. Um, uh, what else you want to be sure? You know that um little is similar though distinct from our sister gateway cities like Lawrence and Gabriel. Um, like then we have many different communities. Um, we don't have two or three groups that comprise most of the community. We have a lot of different residents. Um, We have probably less in common with our neighboring towns that are higher income.
Um, and very little in common with some of the more rural5155 areas to the west. Um, we really need representation that is attuned to the needs of immigrants, refugees, and undocumented people. And we also need representation that understands the challenges of5168 low income and working people, um in particular the urgent need for affordable housing to make sure that all the people who live in Lowell can afford to stay here. So those are just some of the factors that I would hope that you take into consideration in this very, very complex process. Um and I really appreciate having the time to be able5186 to share a little bit about Lowell with5188 you.
MORAN - Thank you Aurora Um I will tell you that 10 years ago I was proud to uh chair this process and we drew the very first majority minority district in Lowell uh myself and uh huh then then Representative Murphy, uh tom golden and David angle uh during the re precinct in process, we reconfigured some of the uh the borders there and and we believe that it was the first ever majority minority district that Lowell l ever had. And eventually it it gave us randy mom. And that's and that's really what this is about. It's about where you have those opportunities to empower people that have been sort of maybe voices haven't been heard. You give him a chance to at least have their voices heard. That doesn't mean they're gonna vote a particular way, but at least have their voices heard.
ERICKSON - It absolutely does not mean that they're always going to vote a particular way. That's that's for sure. But yeah, I think, um, well, really appreciate the time that was taken to to make that happen last time around. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Well, thank you very much for your testimony and your insight. Uh, and uh, I will call the next person to testify. Uh, Thank you again. Alison Laney. Alison Laney.
Hi, good evening. Hey, how you doing? Good. How are you? All right. All right. Thanks for joining us.
ALLISON LAMEY - THE LOWELL DEVELOPMENT & FINANCIAL CORPORATION - Thank you. Thanks for the opportunity to speak tonight. Um, as you said, my name is Alison Lamey. I'm the executive director of the Lowell Plan and the Lowell development and financial corporation were two distinct nonprofit organizations that share a common goal of advancing economic development opportunities in the city of Lowell. And we have a vested interest in redistricting and how it could impact access to critical resources that cities like little badly need. As many of you already know Lowell is , the largest city in the third congressional district, arguably one of the most diverse.
Um, as Aurora pointed out, just perform me. Um, more than 60 distinct languages spoken about high school. We are a regional hub for arts and culture, home to two distinguished institutions of higher ed and were supported by really strong health care and social service providers. Um, lLowell’s one of several important gateway cities in the third congressional district. And this past June marked the completion of a cross sectoral leadership program called leads that brought leaders from three of these gateway city's hey Haverhill, Lawrence and Lowell together. Um for the first time for a nine-month experience that focused on social and economic challenges that our cities face.
Finding opportunities for communities to collaborate and develop regional solutions to the challenges we face is vital and leads was a great example of how regional partnerships can work. Um, Congresswoman Lori Trahan was a champion of the program and is in a regional collaboration in general. I've had the pleasure of working with Congresswoman Trahan and her team since she was elected,5389 I've known her to be responsive, engaged and hands on. She's incredibly committed to the community business, new businesses and nonprofits regularly host listening sessions and meetings with stakeholders often and disseminates information broadly so that her constituents are informed. And I can't say enough about her team.
They've been incredibly responsive to uh phone calls and emails this past year, especially I saw firsthand how they served as key connectors between small businesses and the critical technical um and financial resources that they needed to remain open. So just in closing, I want5427 to thank congressman Trahan5428 for all that she's done for the district since coming into office. And I also respectfully ask the entire city of Lowell remain in the third congressional district and that our current communities in the district to be able to continue to work together to ensure that the region remains an affordable, equitable and sustainable place to live and work. Thank you again for hosting this evening tonight and for taking my testimony. I appreciate it. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you Alison. We appreciate you taking time on your schedule to join us and you know, we have a member of the House leadership team. Tom Golden who was from Lowell and it was on this committee. So I. Lowell has has a, has a5466 has a voice on this committee even so. Um, but I appreciate you taking the time testify. Thank you for all the work you do. Um, I would like to bring up next to testify. Jeff Foster. Jeff foster.
Yeah. Hey, Jeff.
GEOFF FOSTER - DRAWING DEMOCRACY COALITION STEERING COMMITTEE - Hey, good evening chairs and honorable committee members. Thanks so much for having me tonight. I'm gonna go quick. A lot of the things I plan to share have already been raised. Um, but just real quick. I'm Geoff, I'm the executive director at Common Cause Massachusetts uh in addition to being a proud resident of Lowell. I’m testifying tonight, in part as a member of the Drawing Democracy Coalition steering committee, but also as a dad with two5510 kids who are growing up in an ever changing Merrimack Valley. It's not lost on me that my kids and her family will be directly impacted by the districts that you all drawn our region for the decade ahead.
In regard to population growth and communities of interest in the Merrimack Valley region. I'm really going to center equity in my testimony tonight. First of you, as you've heard, Lowel continues to change. It's a destination community for diverse immigrant and refugee populations. Lowell’s diversity has become our greatest asset and it's not just been exclusive to the city limits. It's also been pretty common over the years to see 2nd 3rd or subsequent generations move5547 out of the city into the surrounding communities of Chelmsford, Westford Connecticut Tewksbury and more Lowell growingly diverse populations have been well served by previous redistricting processes
Especially last cycle Mr. Chair as you mentioned, where the legislature created the minority majority, 18th Middlesex district. That resulted in, as was mentioned, the first ever Cambodian American elected to state office in the country. Um Most recently Lowell also elected its first female Cambodian American to the 17th Middlesex district seat as well. Lowell and our diverse population is well served as our state delegation is now 50% people of color. I would ask you all to consider this growth to date and to protect these districts as you consider redistricting in and around Lowell.
I'd also like5594 to point out that as we anticipate the potential for the map needing to expand from west to east because of population. Excuse me, population changes. This could mean that communities like Pepperell Groton and Dunstable may need to be drawn out of the first Middlesex Senate district. And if this were to happen that you should consider communities like Chelmsford and Dracut to be of more common interest with Lowell than others. It's also important to note that Chelmsford has been divided into two of the three Lowell House districts and it might make a lot of sense to see that connection play out on the Senate side as well.
Next I want to mention is Lawrence and as we all know, it's the highest concentration of Latin X population in the commonwealth. Because of the redistricting process, we've seen a positive increase in Latin X representation on the House side. While we're still not yet sure of the population growth in the 2020 census data, I do anticipate, will want to pay close attention to Lawrence to both protect the progress to date. In addition, as it could be an opportunity for potentially new BIPOC majority Senate district. Well, I'm very supportive of the goal to not divide up communities. I do want to make sure you're all aware of Methuen precinct to which is over 72% Hispanic.
It's currently a critical component of the 17th Essex district and it's a unique community of interest this precinct and its unique representative needs should be carefully considered, including the potential of including Methuen and Lawrence together in a potential Senate district. Next, it goes without saying that there continues to be an increase in Latin population in behavioral, which resulted in the first ever Latino being elected to bowl city council and then to the House of Representatives. I think it'll be really important for you all to consider behavioral Hispanic population growth in a city which currently includes four different house districts and that the political power of its Hispanic population is only beginning and should be preserved.
Thank you again for your focus on the third congressional district tonight and most importantly, to Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill in the surrounding towns in the Merrimack Valley. There's great opportunity up here to continue to facilitate stronger and more equitable representation of the communities of color. Finally, I just want to take a quick point of privilege on behalf of our nearly 40,000 members across Massachusetts to again, just publicly thank you chair Moran and Chair Brownsberger for your leadership on this very transparent process and by maximizing the public's input, we're really proud to partner with you and everyone on the committee and we remain committed to being a resource to you all in the weeks and months to come. Thanks again.
MORAN - Thank you, Jeff. And uh, thank you because you guys have been very helpful to us as well. I learned that 10 years ago that um that's a better process when when more people are in it and uh an active so uh and you'll get a better result. And also thank you for pointing out that Methuen uh precinct because um you know, while people always don't like when towns are split up, um sometimes to keep, you know, cohesiveness when it comes to um uh gender and not gender, ethnicity, you have to sometimes make decisions like that. And you know,5786 while you want to keep a community whole, you also want to5789 lend a voice to people that maybe haven't had one for a long time and I deserve one. So thank you for pointing that out as well. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Um uh I will ask my colleagues if they have any questions or comments. Um uh For Jeff. Alright hearing none. Thanks
Jeff. We'll call the next uh person to testify patty coffee patty. Are you with us?
There you are patty. I can I can see on my screen. Just got a mute now. Hi my here are good. Thank you. Thank you for joining us. Thank you very much. And what's the?
PATRICIA COFFEY - UMASS LOWELL - Oh um so my name is Patty Coffey and I'm the director of community relations that5849 UMass Lowell, thank you to the committee chairs, vice chairs and members of the committee for the opportunity to testify and for transparency and this redistricting process. I was very happy to see several of the previous speakers before me there. Their partners of ours, they're friends, they're my neighbors. Um So I feel like I'm at a local reunion.5872 That's wonderful. I'm providing this statement today on behalf of the university, but on a personal note, um as a first generation college student, I received a bachelor's and master's from the university and I've lived in the Merrimack Valley for half of my life.
Um I've worked at the university for almost the same amount of time and I've been a resident of Lowell for 11 years and my role as community relations director at the university. I've had the pleasure of working alongside people from all walks of life, neighborhood business and nonprofit partners, including officials in Lowell City Hall, the State House and in our federal delegation to strengthen your muscles presence, not just in the city but throughout the Merrimack Valley.5923 It's thanks to their advocacy and their work of and the work of our executive leadership, faculty staff. are talented students and alumni that we have emerged as a leading research institution renowned for attracting experts.
And innovators from diverse sectors and across the globe. UMass. Lowell has played a key role in the revitalization of the city of Lowell and we are one of the top employers in the city and whether it's a UMass. Lowell basketball game. Um I'm sorry UMass. Little baseball game at Lolo National Park, A River Hawks hockey game at the song is center or a basketball run to the America East Conference finals. People across the region have rallied around the school and understand River Hawk pride and talent. That's especially true of our representative in the United States Congress, Lori Trahan. She's seen the development of UMass Lowell up close for a5983 long time first as a local native and then as a congressional staffer5987
Who worked closely with past leaders of the institution and now in her current role as our congresswoman. UMass. Lowell is grateful for the strong partnership that we have forged with Representative Trahan. Who knows that with continued investments in cutting edge research happening here in the mill city, the sky is the limit. That's why this redistrict. Excuse me. This redistricting process is so important and why once again you muscle is grateful to the committee for this opportunity. Lowell and the communities that surround our city, aren't he part of the commonwealth history? But the region also represents the incredible promise.
That our institution is working in coordination with our elected representatives and local partners to achieve in6039 the coming years. Our community is buzzing with opportunity for innovators,6043 researchers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow and the nexus Between that and UMass. Lowell cannot be overstated enough as this committee begins its work determining our representation for the next decade. Thank you again for your leadership and for your engagement with residents of the commonwealth to speak on this very important matter. And we would be happy to host any of you in the committee um at the university or provide more information if you need it from us. Um Thank you so much. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you Patty, Gold River Hawks. Uh uh I appreciate you taking the time to testify. Um and uh I am also a first generation college students. So I love when I and and graduate of U. Mass boston. So so I have some some symmetry with you. So,6100 but anyways, um I will ask my colleagues if they have any questions uh for patty hearing. None. Thank you for your testimony, Patty and I will move to the next person to come and testify. Orlando. Uh Petero. Orlando. Petero, are you with us?
Orlando?
I can see you. There. There we go.6139
Sorry. Mr. Chairman, can you hear me? Yes I can. Orlando. Thank you. Um
time is money, so I'll try, I'll try to be quick here.
ORLANDO PACHECO - LANCASTER TOWN ADMINISTRATOR - Um, Orlando Pacheco town administrator uh, for the town of Lancaster, uh, close friend of representative Andy Vargas, please don't hold that against me. Um, I just wanted to say that you know, Lancaster is in a very interesting and unique position. It kind of straddles three different congressional districts between um6183 it's sort of location in the north central mass area. Um but6189 we certainly are continue to advocate for staying in the 3rd congressional district with Lori Trahan. We feel like our interests are very much aligned in the defense sector because we are still the one community that is in the active part of Devon's.
And with her seat on the House Armed Services Committee. Uh, there is a synergy there, um, that happens regionally that I don't think um really gets seen. Um, on6216 a larger scale, there is a certain level of operating harmony and socioeconomic uh, relationship between Lancaster and some of the other surrounding communities. Uh, Shirley, Shirley's and the Bolton’s as you go a little bit to the east. So we just wanted to make6236 sure we highlighted Uh,6238 that um, that relationship as you're, as you're trying to make decisions, we know uh, every 10 years, the one thing that is inevitable as some sort of change, we just want to make sure that the committee is aware when it's doing, it's redistricting.
Obviously, we6253 are very pleased with both our new rap in our new senator. We miss hank not and barely um, but making Kilcoyne has already stepped in and done well in his place. Um, and uh, we feel like Senator Cronin is going to be a very strong advocate for the town of Lancaster in the region. Um and we noticed uh just there there is an operating synergy between those as well. We can't say enough about6275 um all the good things Lori Trahan has done for Lancaster, both when she was Marty’s chief of staff and as a congresswoman today, she's just been an incredible advocate. Um and yeah, that's it. Mr. Chairman, where we wanted to be briefing you, move on with your evening. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you Orlando very much. It's been too long. I miss you buddy, Andy Andy, you know what's what's horrible landau is that, you know, they get here, they're great and6305 then they want to go over to the other side and go in the Senate
well and stay a while. It's nice here, you know, in all disclosure Mr. Chairman I used to be, and I still do advise the mayor of Hebel from time to time, so I do get to uh see Representative vargas quite a bit. But listen, we're happy to have him on the committee and we shouldn't best luck in his future endeavors. Um listen, I6329 appreciate you taking the time to testimony. I hear you're the second person to testify from Lancaster and the person before you had similar things to say. So we're hearing you were writing that down what we're looking at that as we as we get the uh we get the numbers in and we start to draw these lines. But thank you linda, I appreciate your time. My pleasure. Thank you. Okay next up is Karen, Frederick? Karen?
Uh huh. Yes,
I'm here. I can hear. Okay, I can hear you can't see me
the light on high this house that it's been a long night.
KAREN NASTASIA FREDERICK - COMMUNITY TEAMWORK - So thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. Uh I really appreciate the opportunity to say a few words. And the transparency as people have mentioned is really critical to all of us in the district. Karen Frederick, I'm the CEO at Community Teamwork, were a regional agency. Um, I have lived in the district for my whole life except for three years. I'm currently a resident of Dracut it and I've been at community teamwork for over 40 years. I'm not going to say how many years over 40 anymore.
Um, Community teamwork serves tens of thousands of people each year. Last year, 54,000 and we've done that for 56 years. Uh, we work to help people mobilize resources, um, who and these are folks who are low income and they're individuals and families, we provide opportunities for stability in their lives and to have an active voice in the decisions that affect them in my role at community teamwork as CEO, I've had the honor of working with incredible people um and families across the district partnership is really the hallmark of all that we do.
I've been fortunate to work alongside incredible people who recognize that when we give people the resources and tools to succeed, our communities are better. Our regions, better in our commonwealth can succeed. That's true of our federal representative congresswoman, Lori Trahan, who has been an essential part of our6483 success over her tenure. It's true of our state delegation across the Merrimack Valley and officials at the local level, all of whom help us provide the support necessary to be successful in our efforts, especially as we work to keep families afloat during the duration of the COVID pandemic and its aftermath.
And we want to set them up to thrive. It's really imperative that we continue to leverage these strong partnerships Uh to maximize our impact and shorten our communities road to recovery just for a quick example. um last week we distributed over $3 million dollars of rental assistance with our partners um in greater Lawrence greater Haverhill and greater Lowell. That's more than we distributed in a whole year prior to the pandemic. Our continued represented by the elected officials who know us and know what we do day in and day out and support us is key in our success.
Um that's why I am grateful and everyone at Community Teamwork is grateful to you, Chairman Moran and Brownsberger for scheduling this hearing tonight. We've already heard how diverse the third Congressional district is and that we work together across the communities. Um that's really um, an incredible benefit and it's the strength of our district as you take on the challenge of updating our commonwealth's district Community Teamwork is hopeful that you'll consider this regional impact of our public, private nonprofit partnerships that stand to be even more successful in the coming years. I thank you all. I know it's been a long evening. Thank you all so much for this opportunity tonight. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you Karen, thank you very much and thank you for your testimony. I will ask my colleagues if they have any questions for Karen. All right, Hearing none. I will thank you for your testimony and I will enjoy the rest of your night. Uh, want to check again again. I think we're gonna be here around 10:00 if you want to come back. Uh,
we're going to move on to the next person. Our thank you camera. I appreciate it. Sherman Horton. Sherman Horton.
Do you watch Sherman?
Am I being expected to speak? You don't have to if you don't want to. That's fine. If you'd like to. You can I wanted to be a a watcher6646 of this. And when I went to the website, they asked me for information, which I provided gleefully. And now I guess I'm on the list. I wish you I wish you all the best of luck.6657 Thank you Sheriff. I hope everyone gets what they want. I appreciate it. Thank you for watching. Thank you for tuning in. Um Simon Cataldo? Simon. Cataldo.
Simon might. My co workers here just told me that Simon is left. So we will move on past Simon. Uh and we will go to ah we'll go back to Mirror uh Mirror Peral Meyer apparel. You can still see you up there. I don't know if you want to testify or not. If you don't just uh a mutant. Tell me you don't want to testify. That will be fine. If you do. That's great. You can testify.
All right. How about mary jocks try sent torre sent rejects? 2%.
Okay. Um, we will move on to Mouly Ramana Ramana romani romani
from okay.
All right.
Okay. Well, you need to a mute. I can see you.
How's that? Can6782 you guys see me and hear me? Hey, there you go. Nice ride. So, I profusely apologize um, for my location, but you6794 know, Covid and life gets in the way. Thank you so much. Thank you.
MOULI RAMANI - HORSEPOWER TECHNOLOGIES - So, I heard a couple of minutes ago we through Andy Vargas under the bus. I want to do exactly the same thing6805 with Tom Golden. Um, she has a fine gentleman and I think the world is him. So my name is Mouli Ramani.I am the CEO and president of a company and Lowell called6820 Horsepower Technologies where a venture backed start up and consequently, I may be able to offer a slightly different perspective on what Congresswoman Trahan offers that. Um, I know we've heard a lot of great, great and very important stories.
About what she's done for the community at the grassroots level, at the level with, you know, driving force, um, a lot of the values that we wanted to society but I want to focus just on the business point and again for gravity. And so I don't repeat everyone else. She says all of those in space. But what Congresswoman Trahan is then for Horsepower technology along with Representative Golden is really listen to her voice to lead through entrepreneurship, for all her support for what we've done here and all of the work we've done in the third district. She has been absolutely spectacular. I cannot speak more highly of her.
Um I had great, great interactions with congresswoman Sanders back in that era, but Congresswoman Trahan has done even more for us. I will say this that if we can keep their district together and we can do weather tropical storm warnings from current location, my car is yelling at me, um I couldn't have planned that better. I'm literally the last person in wonderland treadmills right now is I'm leaving out of my out of my loss and congressman Trahan is literally the last person who leaves Congress because she's out there helping us. I'll leave it at that and I want to thank you for this opportunity to address this, the guesthouse and I appreciate your time. SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
Thank you very much, although I we may differ on tom golden, but that's okay. I'm just thinking um6934 no, thank you very much and I appreciate your testimony. I appreciate you. You know uh you know taking time and I know it's a difficult situation in the car, but you know that that means a lot when you when you when you take the time to do that. So um All right. I will ask my colleagues if there's any question. Um uh All right. I don't see or hear any. So thank you again.
MORAN - And I just want to take a minute now if I could just to thank you know, not not on this screen is a lot of staff that make this happen. And they've done a great job putting this stuff together during covid and during this process. Uh you know that we have people that are LIS Department and I have staff here. I have three people here that are trying painlessly to get people on and get them hooked in and and get them so they can give us their testimonies. I just want to take a second to thank them for that work.
Um I also uh they tell me that there was no one left in the queue to testify. So um I thought it might be a little longer night tonight, but I guess it isn't. Um uh We have no one left to testify, so movie would be the last person to testify tonight. So I'd like to thank my colleagues for sticking with me for the last two hours and uh on this hearing. And I'd like to thank um um uh my coach here Senator Brownsberger for for his hard work and commitment to keeping this process transparent and open.
Um And at this point in time I would make a motion to adjourn this committee and I would SHOW NON-ESSENTIAL DIALOGUE
accept a second if I couldn't get one7027 uh second. Thank you all here in the second. Uh We will adjourn trial This meeting of uh of the redistricting committee. And I would remind you that the next meeting is July 12th Monday at 10 AM. Um and that is the redistricting meeting for the 7th congressional district. So thank you all. I will see you have a good weekend, and I will see you on Monday at that hearing. Thank you guys. Thank you. Mr. Thank you. Thank you. Good night. Good night.
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