Pat Jehlen, 2010 State Senate Questionnaire Responses
1. What are your top three agenda priorities and how will you take action on these priorities?
The best ways to build our economy are:
- support excellent education for all from early education to higher education and adult education.
- control health care costs, including prevention of injuries and shifting long term care focus to community care
- infrastructure, including Green Line Extension, Orange Line stop, Mystic River flooding and water quality
2. How have you as an office holder worked to support progressive causes?
Started as an activist in peace movement and community organizer. Helped lead court case for fair school finance. Started Somerville’s first public school of choice. Worked for progressive candidates at all levels. Supported fair taxation -- including opposing unaffordable and unaccountable tax breaks for particular industries, supporting earned income tax credits and other working family tax credits.
3. How will you work with the federal, state, and local governments to ensure that the Green Line is extended through Somerville to Medford by December 31, 2014? What will you do to ensure strong community participation throughout the process?
I joined the first leafletting campaign to build support for the Green Line in (I think) 2004. I have worked with community groups and local officials and our state and federal delegations to keep the Green Line on track, extend it to Route 16, and move the maintenance facility. I’ve attended dozens of meetings in the planning process to listen to citizens’ opinions, and supported them throughout the comment processes.
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