Press Release: Boston’s progressive leaders come together to form “Progressives for Menino”

For Immediate Release      

Sunday, October 18, 2009   

For More Information Contact: Nick Martin, 617-367-1900

Spectrum of partners helping Mayor Menino move Boston forward

Elected officials and progressive community leaders stood with Mayor Thomas M. Menino today to announce the formation of “Progressives for Menino.” The group, underscoring the Mayor’s commitment to championing progressive causes, includes advocates for environmental leadership, LGBT rights, women’s issues, housing, hunger and homelessness, public health, and labor.  The announcement was held at SEIU Local 615’s union hall, a symbolic location given Mayor Menino’s support of the union’s members during the Justice for Janitors campaign.

“If you look at the people here today, you see so many of the folks who are building a better Boston, a Boston that is diverse, inclusive and caring,” Ted Landsmark, Jamaica Plain resident and member of Progressives for Menino said.  “Tom Menino sets the example for this.  His door is open to those with new ideas, unexpected needs or a cause worth fighting.”

In praising the dedicated efforts of the group, Mayor Menino said, “I want to thank you for helping me fight for the rights of workers, for civil rights, for our environment, for affordable housing, for reducing racial disparities in health care and for sheltering and feeding the hungry and the homeless.  You are the frontline workers for social justice in our city and I am honored by the opportunity to work with you every day.”

After emphasizing the success of previous partnerships forged by the group, the Mayor called on everyone to renew their shared commitment to meeting the challenges of the future.  Pointing out the possibility that unemployment benefits could expire for as many as 2,000 Bostonians by year’s end, with the prospect of far more people losing benefits next spring, Mayor Menino pledged to reach out to leaders in Washington to ask for their help in preserving the social safety net for those individuals that are out of work due to the faltering economy.

The Mayor's administration is focused on putting people back to work, in part with the help of nearly $250 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).       

Mayor Menino was welcomed to the stage by Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral.  Other advocates partnering to announce their support of the Mayor included: Ted Landsmark; Mark Erlich of the Carpenters Union; Scott Gortikov, Executive Director of MassEquality; Lora Pellegrini, women’s advocate; Vivian Li, on behalf of Environmentalists for Menino; Mossik Hacobian, on behalf of Affordable Housing Advocates for Menino; Ellen Parker and Lyndia Downey, local hunger and homelessness advocates; and Valerie Bassett and Davida Andelman, local public health advocates.

“Together, we’ve made change a reality, not just a campaign slogan,” Mayor Menino added.   “Let’s keep our partnership moving forward.  Tell your friends and neighbors what we have accomplished, and we will continue to accomplish great things in the future.”

Mayor Menino has received several endorsements from progressive organizations, such as MassEquality, the National Organization of Women (NOW), Boston Chapter, and the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters (MLEV).  The Mayor also enjoys the support of local unions, including SEIU Local 1199 and 615, the Boston Building Trades, Teamsters Local 25, and the United Auto Workers of Massachusetts.

 
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