THE CAPE COD APRIL 2021 VOLUME 60 ISSUE 8

CALENDAR LWVCCA PRESIDENT’S GREETINGS League Members,

Spring was definitely in the air yesterday. Today it’s back to semi-winter! But, the good news is, with daylight savings rolling in we get some additional brightness to lengthen our day. BOARD MEETING The interesting thing about temperature TUESDAY April 6 | 9:30 a.m. fluctuations and time changes….. it mirrors the Zoom conference by invitation ebb and flow of the world around us in so many ways. Thinking back on all of the changes we Earth Day have experienced over the past few years makes THURSDAY April 22nd me appreciate the beauty of the world around us and the possibilities for change. Granted change can proceed in many ways, some positive, some Suicide Prevention: Understanding The not so. The trick is to identify the changes Mental Health Needs Of Older Adults needed and move in that direction. Just like a And People Of Color. plant seeking the sun’s warmth, humans tend to THURSDAY April 29 2021 | 7:00 p.m. get drawn towards a path rather than decide to Location: Your computer, tablet, or phone go there. Over this past year, the terrific team that I UPCOMING have worked with has made purposeful movements toward areas of need. Our journey to address racism and equity issues on the Cape has BOARD MEETING only begun. League members, along with a TUESDAY May 4 | 9:30 a.m. coalition of many other organizations, will Zoom conference by invitation continue to build on the first steps and explore new avenues for change. We have once again LWVCCA ANNUAL MEETING opened up a dialogue necessary to address THURSDAY, May 13 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Climate Change here on the Cape and will Location: Your computer, tablet, or phone continue to explore ways to educate the public and to engage their support in order to reduce Go to the damage that may be coming. And next https://tinyurl.com/LWVCCA-calendar month, our League will be opening a dialogue to see our entire Google calendar. Click on any surrounding an ongoing Cape Cod issue, Suicide calendar listing to see more detail. and Mental Health. While this issue has been

ongoing here, the stresses placed on all  communities over this COVID year only highlight this area of need.

www.lwvCapecod.org http://www.facebook.com/LWVCCA/ Page 1 of 10 THE CAPE COD VOTER APRIL 2021 Everywhere you look on Cape Cod, you can see Trust. We will send out a fundraising letter to the incredible beauty and harmony of nature. businesses in the summer as we have done in But as League members, we often are required to previous years. gaze deeper, below the beauty, to identify the • The Board reviewed local and LWVMA areas of neglect that have been festering for a Program Planning goals. A final proposal will long time. People are often attracted to a place be prepared and presented to the Annual for various reasons and usually see only the Meeting in May for approval. positive aspects of that community. The longer • Final, approved minutes will be posted on the one lives in a place, the easier it is to lose sight of Members Only pages of the website. the flaws. Every once in a while, it is important to take a different walk, or to paint a room a VOTER SERVICE and LEGISLATIVE different color, or engage with a new crowd so COMMITTEES that we gain a different perspective. As League Have You Heard About the members, we need to continue to look at our communities with open minds and fresh eyes and VOTES Act? find the places that we can best move in to in Remember last year’s popular order to encourage change and growth in more voting changes? Mail-in ballots, positive and diverse ways. pre-paid postage, early voting, a secure outdoor dropbox for your There is always work to be done and since ballot, and an online site to check spring is just around the corner, we can be your ballot status? outside and interact with each other once again. Put on your thinking caps, take a more The LWV of Massachusetts has joined with adventurous walk and join us in moving forward. longtime voter advocacy groups and state legislators to make those reforms permanent in Peace, Massachusetts. Senate Majority Leader Cindy Suzanne Creem and Representative John Lawn have filed a Suzanne Brock, LWVCCA President bill called The VOTES Act-- An Act Fostering TABLE OF CONTENTS Voting Opportunities, Trust, Equity, And Security—SD 1002 and HD 1536. This bill LWVCCA PRESIDENT’S GREETINGS ...... 1 bundles many of last year’s voting reforms into one comprehensive package that now has more MARCH 9 BOARD MEETING ...... 2 than 90 co-sponsors. VOTER SERVICE and LEGISLATIVE Here’s a partial list of the provisions of the Act: COMMITTEES ...... 2 • No-excuse mail voting in all elections, in place WELCOME to NEW MEMBERS ...... 5 of absentee voting. ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT...... 8 • Early voting in person for at least 2 weeks HEALTH COMMITTEE REPORT ...... 9 before regular state elections, 1 week before state primaries and special elections. Local officials may provide more hours and more MARCH 9 BOARD MEETING sites, if needed. • Voters can apply for mail ballots to be sent • Minutes of the February 2 Board meeting were approved. permanently until they cancel. • The Budget Committee results show that we • Drop boxes at local option, or at early voting will have larger deficits than anticipated. We site. may need to go back to splitting member • Pre-paid postage for applications and ballots. contributions between LWVCCA and the Ed VOLUME 60 ISSUE 8 Page 2 of 10 THE CAPE COD VOTER APRIL 2021 • Local officials may appoint poll workers This federal bill includes sweeping national without regard to political party membership, reforms in redistricting, campaign finance, ethics, voter status, residence in the city or town, as and voting rights. Now it advances to the Senate needed. where it faces a divided membership. Read the • Same-day registration (SDR) within early LWVUS statement here. voting period, or on Election Day, with MEET YOUR CAPE COD LEGISLATORS -- identification and proof of residence. March 26, 2021 • Voting information and provision of state- League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod sanctioned voting materials to eligible voters Area, Cape Women’s Coalition, Cape Media Center at jails and prisons before every regular state, primary, and general election. Legislators present: State Senator , • Improved audit procedures--risk-limiting State Representative , State audits after all regular state, primaries, and Representative Kip Diggs, State Representative , State Representative Steven Xiarhos, general elections. State Representative . • Secretary of the Commonwealth to join ERIC (a 30-state coalition to improve voter Legislators not present: State Senator , registration data) by June 30, 2022. State Representative David Vieira • Fix the state’s mail application portal by June Introduction and Welcome—Moderator 30, 2022. Nancy Brumberg, Legislative Specialist, LWVMA. If you’d like to see Massachusetts enact these Format includes 1- minute opening statement by reforms, contact your state legislators to urge each legislator, discussion of Affordable Housing them to support The VOTES Act. A quick phone and Voting Rights Legislation, and a 2-minute call, an email, a letter—whatever works for closing statement by each legislator. Speaking order you—will help. Check Find My Legislator for determined by voting district. contact information. Let’s pass the VOTES Act and help make Massachusetts a national example of Opening Statements voting access, equity, and election modernization! Rep. Tim Whelan—has represented Barnstable’s 1st District since 2015. Glad to work in a bipartisan way with the Cape delegation and “...leave politics LWVUS Cheers Passage of HR 1 For the at the door…” He is the new Ranking Republican People Act in House of Representatives on the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs working with Vice-Chair Senator Julian Cyr. Wants to listen The US House of Representatives to the needs expressed by seniors. Supports recently passed HR 1—For the legislation that would provide needed assistance to People Act—with a party-line police, first responders, and essential workers. vote. League of Women Voters of Rep. Kip Diggs—newly elected to Barnstable’s the United States CEO Virginia 2nd District. Expressed deep appreciation for his Kase applauded the action. community’s support when his son was killed in a “…The League of Women Voters is proud to car accident and wants to “give back” by helping his support this bill that will end partisan and racial district. Committee assignments include Education, gerrymandering, remove dark money from our Housing, Health Care Financing, Tourism, and elections, and restore transparency in our Redistricting. Will serve with “…love and hard government. We applaud the House for passing work”. the For the People Act, and we urge the Senate Rep. Sarah Peake—serving her 8th term to do the same.” representing Barnstable’s 4th District. Remarked on VOLUME 60 ISSUE 8 Page 3 of 10 THE CAPE COD VOTER APRIL 2021 the past “unique” year with lots of legislation towns are making progress in tackling the housing stemming directly from the pandemic. Has worked problem—supports housing for veterans, Yarmouth to support every aspect of government that affects Commons, and building rental units. Believes there residents’ lives. Expressed appreciation for former must be a shift in funding and better balance in State Reps Hunt and Crocker and welcomed Cape funding for open space vs. affordable housing. Cod’s new legislators. Rep. Diggs—Expressed concern over single Rep. Steven Xiarhos— “...loves this” chance to parents and their ability to keep their jobs and find speak to voters. Described his 40 years in law affordable housing and childcare. Supports the enforcement as a police officer and a Deputy Chief Common Start bill to address those needs. of Police and his New Bedford childhood—a Rep. Peake—mentioned challenges and “triple-decker kid”. He is concerned for the opioid importance of working with town officials to epidemic. Mentioned loss of his own son, along earmark funds for affordable housing, acquiring with Rep. Diggs’ son. Serves on Committee on state land for housing construction, and returning Elder Affairs. some portion of rental income to towns specifically Rep. Dylan Fernandes—serving his 3rd term to support affordable housing. representing Falmouth and the Islands –a unique Voting Legislation—The VOTES Act— district. Was first in family to attend college and Moderator thanked Co-Sponsors who were wants to “give back” to his community. Believes present that Cape needs help in housing, climate change (which may affect the Cape area more than any Sen. Moran—The last election brought record other place in the nation), and Covid issues, voter turnout—many Cape towns voted in the 80+ especially for seniors. Knows that the Cape Cod percent - thanks to early voting and, especially, delegation will be working hard this session. mail-in voting. Last year’s changes assisted working voters, seniors, those with childcare challenges. Sen. Susan Moran—welcomes this “terrific Important to give voters “more opportunities” to opportunity” to speak to voters and observed that participate in elections. Must be “vigilant” to protect the delegation has worked well together. Her voting rights. concerns are maintaining the COVID Consortium, economic development, and following progress on Rep. Peake—After recent GA legislation, it is Cape Cod bridgework. She is worked on a bill to important to discuss voting access, encourage address universal childcare called Common Start. participation, make it easier to vote. Mail-in voting has been shown to be safe, reliable, and promotes Affordable Housing—What are the higher participation. “Drop boxes must be challenges? What Should We Be Doing? outdoors.” Supports Massachusetts joining the ERIC Rep Fernandes—Housing is at a crisis point. program to make voting lists more accurate and Young people are leaving the Cape, working people updated. Supports Same Day Registration to prevent and seniors cannot afford to live here, businesses disenfranchising voters who relocate and believes rate this a #1 issue for their workforce. Need for that SDR challenges can be resolved. more local zoning reform to encourage housing Rep. Xiarhos—believes that promoting voting is while preserving open space. Supports housing in important. Encourages people to run for elected downtown areas, close to businesses, transit, jobs. office. Recounted the excitement of the day, January Need to provide funding for building costs which 6, he was sworn in—along with Rep. Diggs—in have skyrocketed, especially on the Islands. and the contrast with Washington DC that Supports a minimal transfer tax on multi-million- day. dollar homes, more than $1 million. Rep. Fernandes—applauded MA’s record voter Rep. Whelan—mentioned his childhood in turnout, due to early voting and voting by mail. We Worcester, also in a “triple decker”. Observed that are “not going back.” Observed that giving people many young people, including his children, cannot the time at home to review their ballot encourages a afford to live on Cape Cod. Believes that certain VOLUME 60 ISSUE 8 Page 4 of 10 THE CAPE COD VOTER APRIL 2021 more informed voter and allows voters to give Closing—Nancy Brumberg thanks all attention to the “down ballot”— not merely to the participants and the co-sponsors of today’s program. candidates at the top of the ballot. Encourages voters to communicate with their Closing Statements—Common Start legislators. They want to hear from you! Legislation (universal childcare) and LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THANK transparency in government. YOUS from Renate Sands Rep. Whelan—Economic recovery is the most • We thank Cape Cod Media for doing the important issue now. Need for small business webinar, recording and posting it on their support, fast tracking tax forgiveness on specific website. PPP grants, and supporting a strong tourism season. • Thank you to Cape Women’s Coalition for co- sponsoring. Rep. Diggs—sees mental health issues as a major • Thank you to Nancy Brumback from the concern. Need to be proactive and prepared to deal LWVMA for moderating. with anxiety of kids, teachers, school leaders. We • Thank you to Jeffrey Soares from Sen Cyr’s must feel safe and comfortable in preparing for office for his help. tourist influx. • A huge thank you to Rosemary for organizing Rep. Peake—Mentioned new role as Assistant the webinar and outreach to organization and Majority Leader and has filed bills on climate media. change (recalling her experience in environmental • Thank you to Richard Utt for his help with the advocacy), so important to the Cape. She is co- tech component. chairing the Transit Caucus. Urges people to sign up • Thank you to Caroline Young-Kleinfeld for for bill alerts, hearings will be livestreamed. her writing skills in doing the summary. Rep. Xiarhos— Supports full transparency in government. Has co-sponsored about 200 bills and This article was submitted by Carole Young- filed 23. Supported police reform, the “Diaper Bill’, Kleinfeld Nero’s Law to allow paramedics to help injured Voter Service and Legislative Committees police K-9 animals. “…loves this” forum.

Sen. Moran—Visit the Common Start website— commonstartMA.org –to learn about the bill. WELCOME to NEW MEMBERS Women have been hard-hit by pandemic with schooling, childcare, loss of pay parity and career paths off track—basically, economic, social, and "I have my current serious concerns about voting mental health challenges. Bill will subsidize rights in this great nation." childcare costs, including after school programs, Mary Reardon Johnson improve the expertise of the childcare workforce, Mary Johnson was the second oldest of six and help restore the economy. children in her family. Her family moved nine Rep. Fernandes—echoed importance of the times by the time she was ten years old due to her childcare issue and Common Start legislation. As father's job as a construction equipment sales Vice-Chair Committee on Tourism, Arts, and agent. Some of the places where her father Culture Development, knows that the arts, prospered while providing for his family were the especially performing arts, have been hit hard by Greater Boston Area, Ohio and New Jersey. Later pandemic and are critical to the health of the her family returned to Springfield, Massachusetts economy. As member of the Committee on near where Mary had been born. Today Mary Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, he Johnson wants the world to know she raised two supports MA becoming a leader in offshore wind children Beth 42 and Dan 40. development to protect the environment and provide good, year-round jobs for Cape residents.

VOLUME 60 ISSUE 8 Page 5 of 10 THE CAPE COD VOTER APRIL 2021 Mary is a 1972 graduate of Texas Woman's in Springfield, Massachusetts at the cost of 7.5 University in Denton, Texas. At the time of her million dollars. In addition to the structure being graduation, it was the largest university for innovative in its design, new concepts in the women in the United States. The fact that she treatment and services for homeless abused chose to be a social work major at age eighteen women and their children were established and (and never wavered in her decision) addresses her implemented. At the same time a much needed high standard of established commitment to the office space was constructed for the Western profession of social work throughout her life. She Massachusetts YWCA. had observed that during her college campus years In 2010 the YWCA built a twenty apartment in Texas that most of her college classmates had facility for battered women, their children and grown up in segregated school systems prior to teen mothers. During Mary's service with the entering college. Mary also witnessed the YWCA, the Massachusetts YWCA has become the opposition to integration proposals during the largest provider of services to abused women and 1970s and 1980s e.g., ABC Houses and METCO. teen mothers in Massachusetts. Mary Reardon Her early post-graduation years were times of Johnson, MSW is a happily retired social worker sweeping socio-political changes in the United (par excellence) on Cape Cod! States. One year after her graduation Mary obtained a job with the Massachusetts Department Mary Johnson of Social Services. She received her Master's 30 Wild Rose Terrace Degree in Social Work from the University of South Yarmouth, MA 02664 Connecticut in 1983. 413-531-1846 [email protected] Mary Johnson's career has led her to working with both public and private agencies while    addressing the socio-economic needs of diverse populations ( the homeless, teen mothers, troubled youth, the abused). "I joined the League because I have lived with Her accomplishments as an outstanding diversity all of my life. I strongly believe that all of professional social worker involved her leadership my life's experiences make me who I am today." as Executive Director of the YWCA of Western Kari Hoffmann Massachusetts in Springfield. During her thirty- five years with the YWCA Mary's service adhered Kari Hoffmann had no idea that the small to the mission of the YWCA: "Elimination of community preschool she helped to start in racism. Empowerment of Women." By the time Malden during the Fall of 1977 with 15 Mary Johnson left the YWCA, under her preschoolers would steadily grow and last for 42 administration its $500,000. per annum budget years. She stayed with that early childhood had grown to 7.2 million dollars. program for 17 years even during the one year During her years of working in the YWCA Mary while she commuted to Newton to work with an Johnson had the opportunity to travel as a delegate after school program involving elementary school to international conferences in Uganda, Kenya, students. The Malden preschool program Tanzania, Japan, China, Australia, India, Denmark, developed into a full day program and Kari Sweden and Germany. It was during her eventually became its Director. participation in international conferences that she Thirty-five years ago, Kari and her husband observed on-going programs designed to improve Richard created their internationally diverse the conditions of women and girls. family as they adopted 2 infants who had been Prior to her retirement in 2016, the YWCA built born in Korea (a daughter and a son). Their son a new forty- eight bed battered women's shelter had been born developmentally delayed with VOLUME 60 ISSUE 8 Page 6 of 10 THE CAPE COD VOTER APRIL 2021 special needs due to brain injury sustained in Special Education Bill. Kari explains her personal utero. This was the factor that steered the success with working proactively within diverse direction of her professional focus, and her strong groups of people: Her strategy has always been parental advocacy. Her son's special needs gave rooted in what she calls "bridge building" rather absolute purpose to her three and a half decades of than promoting adversarial relationships. As part activism in the struggle to obtain government of The Special Education Working Group Kari recognition and support for appropriate Hoffmann has testified before the Education Sub- educational services for students having special Committee at the State House. Even though she needs. Her journey has taken her as a dedicated was not a voting member, Kari Hoffmann parent and strong voice for Massachusetts attended the Special Education Task Force students with special needs, from meetings established by Governor Weld school committees to community in 1995. The Governor's Task Force collaborative organizations and was charged with refining the to the Massachusetts State Special Education Bill. Legislature. Kari Hoffmann has been Her many years of an empowered proponent devoted work and for improvement in advocacy have rendered Massachusetts state progressive results for regulations and services her son and thousands of for students having special students with special needs. Much of the reason needs in Massachusetts. for this has been Kari Hoffmann has recently embedded in her love for stated how her community her son, her professional was so very supportive as she experience as an educator, and sought services and help for her her exceptional professional son. Like so many children with preparation. She holds multiple special needs thirty years ago her son was Massachusetts Certifications in Education wait-listed for early intervention services. as both teacher and administrator. She earned her Between residing in Melrose and moving on to Master's Degree in Family Studies/Counseling Andover Kari became instrumental in organizing from Wheelock College. Her Certificate in extensive coalitions of parents of students with Advanced Graduate Studies is in school psychology special needs. The school districts and and school counselling. She has been involved with communities involved were Haverhill, Andover, The Federation for Children with Special Needs (a North Andover, Lawrence, and Methuen. In private non-profit organization). She has been a retrospect Kari Hoffmann now surmises that kindergarten teacher, an elementary school legislative bills regarding special education that counselor for ten years, and a Special Education were being presented in the Massachusetts State Chairperson. Legislature were much stronger than federal bills Kari and her husband moved to the Cape in that existed simultaneously in Washington. She 2010. She was elected to the Brewster Planning served as a founding member of a Special Board in 2015 as she indicates that her Education Working Group. The Working Group membership on the Planning Board was a way for included special education administrators and her to "give back". She is also on The Brewster parents of children with special needs of Merrimac Vision Planning Committee and helping to develop Valley. The Working Group meetings were held in Brewster's Local Comprehensive Plan. Among Kari the Andover Public Library with Massachusetts Hoffman's current concerns are the environment State legislators in regard to structuring the House and affordable housing (especially for seasonal VOLUME 60 ISSUE 8 Page 7 of 10 THE CAPE COD VOTER APRIL 2021 workers) on the Cape. She firmly believes that The widespread use of PFAS and their ability to community-minded projects need everyone on remain intact in the environment means that over board. time PFAS levels from past and current uses can Kari Hoffmann result in increasing levels of environmental 111 Old Bog Rd contamination. Accumulation of certain PFAS has Brewster, MA 02631 also been shown through blood tests to occur in 978-505-5486 humans and animals. While the science surrounding potential health effects of this [email protected] bioaccumulation of certain PFAS is developing,    evidence suggests it may cause serious health conditions. Welcome also to Virginia June Hager Between 2017 and 2019 the scientists tested 115 Shady Lane six watersheds on the Cape. They collected Eastham, MA 02642 samples from the Childs, Quashnet, Mill Creek, 202-230-1487 Marstons Mills, Mashpee and Santuit watersheds. [email protected] State environmental officials said they would review the findings. Andrew Gottlieb, executive    director of the Association to Preserve cape Cod, said he wasn’t surprised that the chemicals are ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT more prevalent than previously thought. He expected that water districts across the Cape and There were recent reports in the Boston Globe elsewhere in the state will find more PFAS when (March 8) and the Cape Cod Times (March 6 and they begin routine testing of the water next month. March 11) of a study done by scientists at Harvard Gottlieb urged state and local officials to do more University which found that several watersheds on to protect drinking water. the Upper Cape around Mashpee had 40 times Environmental advocates called for the more PFAS than new state laws allow. The legislature to pass a bill that would eliminate the compounds which a growing body of research has chemicals from food packaging and a range of found can be harmful in minute amounts have other consumer products. There are no such been linked to cancer, low infant birth weights and federal regulations. So, stay tuned! suppression of the immune system. The results suggested that the chemicals are far more I just signed up to be on mailing list of Elders prevalent than previously believed. Climate Action Per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are https://www.eldersclimateaction.org/. a diverse group of human-made chemicals used in It’s free. “Get Inspired by the members of Elders a wide range of consumer and industrial products. Climate Action who are taking action on climate Some PFAS have been more widely used and change. We are parents, grandparents, aunts and studied than others. Many PFAS are resistant to uncles, just like you, hoping to make a difference grease, oil, water, and heat. For this reason, on climate action” Tuned into a call of people beginning in the 1940’s, PFAS have been used in a across the country – so many good ideas and variety of applications including in stain- and actions everywhere! water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, and fire-fighting foams. Certain Grandmothers4aGreenNewDeal.org created a PFAS are also authorized by the FDA for limited recording “THE GREEN NEW DEAL - a Path use in cookware, food packaging, and food Forward” and shared it to the LWVUS Climate processing equipment. Change Group.

VOLUME 60 ISSUE 8 Page 8 of 10 THE CAPE COD VOTER APRIL 2021 “It takes a deep dive into the connections between the climate crisis and racial and economic inequities in our society. The video is designed for a general audience, and we hope that it both informs and motivates viewers to become active in the struggle to mitigate the climate emergency. We're hoping to disseminate this video as widely as possible. Please view it and, if you can, post it on other listservs you're connected to.” Submitted by: Florence Seldin, chair of Environment Committee HEALTH COMMITTEE REPORT The Health Committee has organized a forum, to be held on April 29, “Suicide Prevention: Understanding the Mental Health Needs of Older Adults and People of Color” This forum will help family and friends, community members and health professionals recognize the mental health needs of older adults and people of color whose issues may present differently from other populations. Topics covered include: • Recognizing the needs of older adults and program services for suicide prevention. • Understanding the impact of bias and internalized racism on mental health and discussion of wellness for people of color. • An overview of the new National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Designation Act forecasting the creation of a new 988 lifeline number. Details to follow soon! Thanks to Health Committee co-chairs Sally Cahill and Pat Ryle for organizing this! 

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