Environment

Thank You Event for Jeffrey Sánchez Includes New Play About Olmsted on Dec. 13

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An event to honor state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez's 16 years at the State House will feature a special a special play about Frederick Law Olmsted and announcements from neighborhood organizations about local park initiatives. The Dec. 13th event is inspired by Sánchez's "...devoted service to preserving Jamaica Plain’s greatest jewels – its parks, its people and its conservation." Thus there will be a new play about Frederick Law Olmsted depicting his life at ages 26 and 76, which will be performed by Gerry Wright and Manganelli. There will also be announcements by Olmsted 2022, the A.R.T. Institute and the Friends of Jamaica Pond about two the preservation of Hellenic Hill by Jamaica Pond and tree planting in the neighborhood.

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Elections

Nika Elugardo on Her Victory, Legislative Goals and Who Told Her She Won

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Even though media had already declared Nika Elugardo the winner of the 15th Suffolk District state representative race, she wasn't ready to declare victory. The holdup was a pesky broken ballot box in one precinct and Elugardo needed to know the final vote tally across the district. But it wasn't until she got a phone call from a certain politician congratulating her on being victorious that let her know she won. Within a short time the ballot box was fixed and Elugardo took home 52 percent of the vote to incumbent Jeffrey Sánchez's 47 percent, making her victory one of the biggest upsets in recent Massachusetts election history! And that phone call? It was a voicemail message from Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, said Elugardo to Jamaica Plain News.

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From the Community

Letter: Top Ten Reasons to Vote for Jeffrey Sanchez

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Here are my Top Ten Reasons to Vote for Jeffrey Sanchez. 1. As the newly appointed chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Jeffrey Sanchez is the highest ranking Latino politician in the history of Massachusetts. A recent report on Latinos from USA Today states: “By a number of socioeconomic measures – poverty, income, educational attainment, unemployment, and incarceration – Massachusetts has the worst inequality between its white and Hispanic residents of any state in the U.S.” We need Jeffrey in a leadership position to address this gross inequity. 2.

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Elections

Poll: Sánchez vs Elugardo — Who Are You Voting For?

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State representative races are usually sleepy affairs. The incumbent is often unopposed in the primary, maybe they face an also-ran candidate or a perennial candidate. This is not the case for this year's 15th Suffolk District state rep race in which incumbent Jeffrey Sánchez is challenged by Nika Elugardo. Sánchez was first elected in 2003, and is in the first year of being the chair of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. Elugardo was not a novice to the local political scene, having been a senior policy advisor to state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-2nd Suffolk).

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Opinion

Letter: Jeffrey Sánchez is My Friend

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Jeffrey Sánchez is my friend. And like most of my friends, we share a vision that government be a force for good and progress; moving forward laws and policies that make equity, equality, and simple human justice possible. Jeffrey Sánchez was raised in the Washington Heights section of New York City and his developmental years in public housing in Mission Hill. Jeff has spent his entire life working to make opportunity and a decent chance at life a reality for all. Jeffrey Sánchez has never forgotten his roots.

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Elections

Endorsements: Organizations in Support of Sánchez and Elugardo

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The Democratic Party primary for the 15th Suffolk District state representative seat is a live one! Incumbent Jeffrey Sánchez and his campaign team is out in the district working hard, as is his opponent Nika Elugardo and her team. And organizations are also paying attention to the race as both candidates have their fare share of endorsements. Here is a list of organizations that have endorsed both candidates. Mind you this is not a list of individuals who have endorsed the candidates, as several noted people have endorsed the candidates.

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Government

Malia, Like Fellow JP Rep. Sánchez, Couldn’t Force Public Vote on Immigration Protections

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Jamaica Plain state representatives Jeffrey Sánchez and Liz Malia both supported immigration provisions as a rider in the state budget. But neither demanded a public roll call from their colleagues—despite being chair and assistant vice chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means—because they say they didn't have the numbers to support it. As previously reported in Jamaica Plain News, Sánchez was disappointed the immigration provisions were stripped from the state budget during House-Senate negotiations. The provisions, which among other things would have prohibited police from asking people their immigration status unless required by federal or state law, ultimately did not appear in the approved state budget. Malia said she is also disappointed the legislature didn't have enough votes to override Governor Charlie Baker's veto. As for why a public vote wasn't taken, she told Jamaica Plain News, "It appears many of my colleagues didn’t want to take the vote, especially in certain purple and red districts of our commonwealth.

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Government

Sánchez Unhappy with Baker’s Veto of ‘Cap on Kids’ Repeal, Vows to Help Most Vulnerable Families

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Governor Charlie Baker has signed the upcoming fiscal year's state budget, but he vetoed a signification section that would stop the state from denying welfare benefits to children conceived while their family is already receiving benefits. Jamaica Plain's State Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez, D-15th Suffolk, has fought to "Lift the Cap for Kids" and vowed to continue his fight. “I appreciate the governor signing the FY19 budget in a timely manner and am currently reviewing his vetoes. At first glance, I’m disappointed that he did not accept the section repealing the family cap. This is a regressive policy that unfairly denies Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) benefits to nearly 9,000 children in Massachusetts simply because of the time they were born," said Sánchez to Jamaica Plain News.

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Government

Sánchez, Catching Heat, ‘Disappointed’ Immigration Protections Not in State Budget

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During his first budget go-around as chair of the powerful Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means, state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez (D-15th Suffolk) is taking heat in some corners due to immigration provisions being stripped from the state budget during House-Senate negotiations. In response, Sánchez says he strongly supports immigrant communities and is unhappy that the budget rider, which among other things would have prohibited police from asking people their immigration status unless required by federal or state law, ultimately did not appear in the approved state budget. "As a leader on this type of work and sponsor of this legislation, I am disappointed but not defeated. I identify with these immigrant communities on a personal level: They are my friends, family, and neighbors," Sánchez told Jamaica Plain News. "Hearing the appalling stories from the border reminds me of what I saw working on the Mexico/California border in the 1980s, and I want to do everything I can to help.

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