29th Middlesex

Mass. Peace Action Endorses Steve Owens for State Representative

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Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving. The following announcement was provided by the Steve Owens for State Representative campaign:

Massachusetts Peace Action, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization workingto develop the sustained political power to foster a more just and peaceful U.S foreign policy has endorsed Steve Owens in the race to fill the 29th Middlesex district’s House seat. “We are proud to endorse Steve Owens for State Representative for 29th Middlesex (Watertown, Cambridge)! Steve is a progressive candidate who supports green, affordable public transportation and housing. He champions the Safe Communities Act for immigrant protections.” – Massachusetts Peace Action

Through grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and community education, Massachusetts Peace Action promotes human rights and global cooperation, seek an end to war and the spread of nuclear weapons, and support budget priorities that re-direct excessive military spending to meeting human and environmental needs in our communities.

Elections

Steve Owens Endorsed by Environmental Group, Co-Hosting Virtual Town Hall

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Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving. The following announcement was provided by the Steve Owens for State Representative Campaign:

Candidate for State Representative of the 29th Middlesex District Steve Owens has been endorsed by both the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund and 350 Mass Action. Primary day is September 1st. “I am honored to be endorsed by the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund and 350 Mass Action. The climate crisis is the defining issue of our time and I will work relentlessly with them and other environmental activists to pass laws that protect our environmental legacy, create green jobs and leave the next generation a future and world that we can be proud of.”

Elections

See Who Rep. Hecht Endorsed to Succeed Him in the State House

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Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving. State Representative Jonathan Hecht has endorsed Steve Owens in the raceto fill the 29th Middlesex seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, according to a statement released by the Steve Owens Campaign. The Representative is stepping down and not seeking re-election in this year’s primary. “I first met Steve Owens in 2005 when I was a Town Councilor in Watertown. We both worked on Deval Patrick’s Gubernatorial campaign where I got to see first-hand the type of leader Steve is.

Elections

State Rep Candidate Earns Endorsement of Social Worker Organization

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Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving. The following information was provided by the Campaign to Elect Steve Owens:

NASW – Massachusetts Chapter is committed to advancing professionalsocial work practice and the profession and to promoting human rights, social and economic justice, and unimpeded access to services for everyone. They are proud to announce their endorsement of Steve Owens, candidate for State Representative in the 29th Middlesex district. Founded in 1955, the National Association of Social Workers is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members across its 55 chapters. The Massachusetts Chapter of NASW is one of the largest chapters in the country with more than 6,300 members.

29th Middlesex

State Rep. Candidate Steve Owens Garners Mass Alliance’s Endorsement

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Democratic activist and Democratic State Committee member Steve Owens is running for the State Representative seat that Jon Hecht will be leaving. The following information was provided by the Steve Owens for State Rep. Campaign:

Mass Alliance, a coalition of a wide range of political organizations dedicated to making Massachusetts more progressive, is proud to announce its endorsement of Steve Owens, candidate for State Representative in the 29th Middlesex district. “Steve has been a longtime ally of Mass Alliance and has shown that he is deeply committed to making the commonwealth a more progressive, inclusive, and just place. He has worked closely with us for many years and understands that implementing legislation that reflects those qualities is how we address the many issues that we face. As an organization who champions progressive activism, we are happy to be supporting his candidacy.” – Jordan Berg Powers, Executive Director at MassAlliance.

Elections

OP-ED: Sen. Brownsberger Discusses Voting by Mail in Mass.

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State Sen. Will Brownsberger

The following was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger, who represents Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston:

Massachusetts voters will have three options in the statewide elections this fall: They will be able to vote early by mail, vote early in person, or vote in person on election day. The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill providing these options (Tuesday, June 16) and the House has already passed a similar bill. Our hope is that final legislation will be on the Governor’s desk very shortly. The new voting options are intended to reduce the risks of transmitting COVID-19. We hope that many voters will choose to vote by mail and avoid physically appearing at the polls.

10th Middlesex

Candidates for 2 State Rep. Seats Appearing in Online Forum

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Watertown is part of two districts in the House of Representatives and both have contested races in 2020. The candidates will appear on an online video forum hosted by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment. The forum will be held on Zoom and will take place on Sunday, June 7 from 1:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. A link to join the forum will be posted on the group’s website: http://watertowncitizens.org/

“We invite all to join us to hear from the candidates for State Representative as they share their perspectives on Peace, Justice and the Environment,” the announcement from the Watertown Citizens group said. Most of the town, 9 of 12 precincts, is located in the 29th Middlesex District, which also includes parts of Cambridge. State Rep. Jonathan Hecht has announced he is stepping down.

Around Town

UPDATED PHONE NUMBER: Watertown Library Starting Curbside Pickups This Week!

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Watertown Free Public Library

The Watertown Library building remains closed, but its collection will be open to be borrowed using curbside pickup beginning May 11th. The library sent out the following information:

The Watertown Free Public Library will offer curbside pickup of library items for Watertown residents while the library is closed, starting the week of May 11. 

“The library is a lot of things to a lot of people,” said Library Director Leone Cole, “we often talk about how the library is more than just books, but to some people, those books are a lifeline. We know people are struggling mentally and emotionally and we hope that doing this will offer respite and a little extra energy for everyone to stay committed to physical distancing until it is safe to live our lives more publicly again.” 

Curbside pickup will not be “library business as usual”–only items that are currently available in the library can be checked out, no holds can be placed for items at other libraries or items that are already checked out, there’s a limit of five items, and only Watertown residents are eligible for the service. “We’d love to be able to do more,” Cole said, “but it just isn’t possible at this time. We’re working with extremely limited staff and we want to be safe and cautious about how we do this.” 

Placing Orders: Starting Monday, May 11, Watertown residents can call the dedicated curbside pickup line at 857-228-8308 to place an order.