Initiative for local aid storms Beacon Hill
Published on January 11th, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - Many people around town have come to realize that there is power in numbers, and that the voices of many can be better heard over the voices of a few. This was evident last June when Stoneham residents showed up by the busload at the State House to speak about the dire consequences
Stoneham is enduring due to cuts in state aid. Those voices were heard not just by state legislators, but by other Massachusetts residents whose towns are experiencing the same type of budget woes.
That is why the town's Chapter 70 committee as well as the School Committee are urging residents to once again go to the State House on Wednesday, January 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to lobby for additional state aid to Stoneham and a more equitable distribution of funds.
As the School Committee heard last Thursday, Stoneham's presence that day last June on Beacon Hill hit home with one community in particular, and got the ball rolling for a more powerful stance on the issue of state aid.
Donna Newcomb and Laura McLaughlin, two Chelmsford residents who heard Stoneham residents speak that day, were moved by what they heard. Their town was in the process of imposing bus fees to help balance the budget and residents were outraged.
"Stoneham has been our role model and our inspiration," Newcomb said. "I can distinctly remember in June when I got up to speak (at the State House) after Stoneham.I was embarrassed arguing about bus fees when I heard about the difficulties that Stoneham would be facing."
"We were moved and very impressed by the presentation that Stoneham did. We waited for them to come out after so we could talk to them," she continued.
And talk they did. The Stoneham residents advised the Chelmsford group to get started immediately on pushing for additional state aid.
"We took that information to heart."
Newcomb and McLaughlin soon founded the Initiative for Local Aid.
"We realized that the only way we really could move forward was to build a coalition of towns with similar issues," Newcomb said.
The Chelmsford women told the School Committee that Stoneham Finance Board member John Warren and Chapter 70 committee member Susan O'Neil were instrumental in helping establish contact between the Chelmsford group and other struggling municipalities such as Acton, Framingham, Oxford, Winchendon, Barnstable, and potentially other Cape Cod towns.
"Without Stoneham, we would not have been able to make these contacts. We are trying to get as many people as possible to speak out."
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