Issue Position: Jobs and Economic Security

Issue Position

After public safety, I believe that the most important responsibility of any government is to encourage job growth and economic security. It is not a question of statistics or figures, it's about people. Our jobs are more than something we put on a tax form. They're how we provide for our families. They're how we define ourselves and how we contribute in meaningful ways to our communities, our nation, and the world. At their best, they are careers that we love and that give us purpose.

I believe in a two-fold approach to secure meaningful jobs for the people of our community. First, we must create a physical, economic, and political climate necessary to make individuals and businesses want to invest in our community. That means fighting for new infrastructure and transportation projects in the State House as well as continuing to encourage participation in projects such as Main Streets. First located in Roslindale Square, Boston Main Streets was the first urban, multi-district Main Street plan in the United States. By its third year, the Roslindale program had 73 facade changes, 43 building renovations and 132 net new jobs. I strongly support the plan to bring a Main Streets to Mattapan Square, which will forge public-private partnerships in areas ranging from education to city parks to beautification programs. It should also include affordable housing to bring people closer to jobs.

Second, we must empower individuals and communities to secure jobs and economic wellbeing. I fully support Governor Patrick's efforts to introduce Individual Development Accounts (IDA), which match the savings of low-income families to build transformational assets such as a down payment on a new home or the seed money for a new business. I strongly believe that we should expand the IDA program as well as expand financial literacy programs, which help individuals find their way through troubled economic times and plan for the future. We must make it possible for low-income families to take charge of their futures and improve their own economic situations.
Frequently Asked Questions

How will you help create jobs?

In addition to enacting policies friendly to small and new businesses--America's primary job creators--new infrastructure is the best way to create jobs in our district and across Massachusetts. I will support as many new public works projects as possible as well as project labor agreements so that projects that take place in our district hire local workers.

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