During the Open Forum on Monday, April 20, 2009 in Cambridge, MA; the MRVP program was mentioned as receiving decreased funding and/or significant cuts.

I’m aware that the House, the Senate and the Governor’s Office are trying desperately to balance the State budget and reduce a deficit. However, the Human Services programs that are in jeopardy are so crucial for individuals who are in need of these services.

The MRVP program is intended to provide secure and adequate housing options for low-to-moderate income individuals.

Decreasing or “under-funding” the MRVP program will have a cascading effect creating greater population homelessness. The Commonwealth needs to reduce homelessness—not contribute to the growing epidemic.

In my opinion, trying to balance a budget by creating a greater imbalance in society is not the right solution to this equation.

I am also bothered by the suggestion that legalized gambling will be a solution. It will fill the pockets of some companies and individuals, but it will put communities in danger. How many lives and families have been wrecked by gambling and gambling addiction? I strongly oppose gambling as a solution to our financial woes.

It is time to seriously think about progressive taxation in MA. This is the fair and responsible way of fixing what is wrong and moving the burden to those that can afford it. There are activists and organizers that are thinking about it seriously, even if the speaker of the House is saying that it is off the table.

Thank you for listening to people’s concerns.

Sincerely,
Alexi Goranov

A Sales Tax increase is ridiculous! People and businesses are hurting and someone wants us to pay more!

Reforms: Get rid of those nasty penision systems. How about 401K like I have. Stop giving out free benefits to people who don’t earn them! Get rid of the Turnpike authority.

A very nice website, but I wonder if your system clock is about half an hour ahead??

The discussions over the Transportation Bill seem to have been overwhelmed by general budget discussions and decreasing revenues. The House and Senate bill are very different, so a major effect is needed to reconcile them. The Governor’s office also appears to be inflaming tensions at a time when all sides must work together on a budget resolution. This may be the most difficult budget season in decades.

The idea of “reform before revenue” has failed to yield meaningful reform measures. The Senate proposal to transfer DCR parkways and bridges over to the state highway department is actually destructive and not any sort of reform. I think we need to think up a different set of reforms (without turning government upside down) that will yield meaningful improvements to the public. We must do something with the awful Big Dig debt which is crippling so many state agencies.

I am sware of two state programs that deserve attention. At DCR their bridge program is probably the best in the state, and is a lengthy creation in excellence extending back to its beginnings around 1980. On the other hand, the DCR forestry program has been damaged by extensive clearcuts and state vandalism against the public forests. One of these programs deserves budget support, the other does not.

Steve Kaiser

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