Call or write to your state reps

Please call or write to your state reps and let them know that enough is enough!

Talking Points

When calling or writing, please be considerate of your representative's time and be brief, polite, and to the point. Here are a few "talking points" you may with to use:

• The "Dover Amendment" (MGL 40A, sec. 3) needs to be refined to provide a cap on the number of facilities in a town the way 40B does. Currently, nonprofits can claim their facility is "educational" and steamroll towns, bypassing local zoning laws.
  
  
• The Massachusetts Land Use Reform Act (MLURA) is important and needs to be passed, but without changing the Dover Amendment, the state is crippling towns' abilities to plan and defeating the state's "smart growth" plans.
  
  
• Social service facilities cause more than their share of problems for the police and fire departments -- and Framingham taxpayers pay for them.
  
  
• Our property taxes are high and services have been cut despite a recent override. We can't afford to see our tax base eroded by social service agencies which not only don't bring money, but actively cost the town money in police, fire, and other services.
  
  
• Framingham already has more than its share of social service agencies. For instance, we have more SMOC units than than the other 17 towns in their service area combined!
  
  
• Shelters in Framingham attract people from all over the state and country, so Framingham taxpayers are paying much of the burden that other towns should be shouldering.

Please ask them to work towards increasing state funding to Framingham to make up for this imbalance in our social service contribution and to investigate ways to close the "Dover Amendment" loophole.

Framingham's representatives at the Statehouse

Here are the addresses and telephone numbers of Framingham's statehouse delegation. (If you are not in Framingham, see below.)

E-mail addresses are also listed for your convenience, but we do not recommend e-mailing your reps. A letter is far more effctive. When writing, address the letter to "The Hon. (full name)" and begin the letter "Dear Sen./Rep. (last name)"

Sen. Karen E. Spilka
Stete House, Room 511-C
Phone: (617) 722-1640 or (508) 872-6677 (Framingham office)
Fax: (508) 881-3642
Email: Karen.E.Spilka@state.ma.us
Web site: http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/kes0.htm

Rep. Tom Sannicandro
State House, Room 473F
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: (617) 722-2210
Email: Rep.TomSannicandro@Hou.State.MA.US
Web site: http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/t_s1.htm

Rep. Pam Richardson
State House, Room 448
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: (617) 722-2582
Email: Rep.PamRichardson@Hou.State.MA.US
Web site: http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm#

Look up your representatives

If you're not a Framingham resident, you can look up your representatives at the League of Women Voters or at Congress.org. (These site also lets you send messages to your reps online. Note that we do not recommend e-mailing elected officials. Telephone calls and especially letters carry a lot more weight than an email.)

Tips for Writing Your State Legislators

A letter is the bestway to communicate with a state legislative office. When writing, this list of suggestions will improve its effectiveness:

Individually written letters, rather than mass generated form letters, make a greater impression on your legislator. Type your name, address, and phone number at the top.

Most state legislatures are only in session part of the year. When the legislature is out of session, it may be more effective to send your letter to your legislator's district office.

Addressing correspondence:

To a State Senator:

The Honorable (Full Name)
State House, (Room Number)
Massachusetts Senate
Boston, MA 02133

To a State Representative:

The Honorable (Full Name)
State House, (Room Number)
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Boston, MA 02133

Be specific. Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, be sure to identify its full name and number, e.g. House Bill: HB_____, Senate Bill: SB_____.Try to send your letter while the issue is still alive.

State your position. Explain why you support or oppose this particular issue. Keep in mind that local examples concerning the impact of this legislation are very powerful. Be courteous and to the point, keeping your letter focused on one issue.

Ask for a response. Indicate to your legislator that you would appreciate a reply containing his/her position on the issue. "Sincerely yours" is a proper way to conclude your letter.

Follow up. If you agree with your legislator's vote, take the time to let him/her know that. Similarly, if you disagree with his or her vote, inform your legislator.

(Source: League of Women Voters' Communicating With State Legislatures page)

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