網頁

星期五, 4月 14, 2017

吳弭4/18為 Free petition 辦公聽會

BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD HEARING REGARDING THE RIGHT OF FREE PETITION TUESDAY, APRIL 18, AT 5:00


BOSTON – April 14, 2017 – On Tuesday, April 18th, City Council President Michelle Wu invites members of the public to testify on codifying the right of free petition at the municipal level in Boston. The proposed Free Petition Ordinance would require the Council to hold a public hearing on the subject of any group petition signed by 250 or more residents, within three months of filing the petition.
“In today’s political environment, we must do all we can to empower grassroots civic participation to shape policy,” said Council President Wu. “The Free Petition Ordinance would provide another outlet for residents to get involved in influencing policy and public discourse in Boston, regardless of voter registration and immigration status.”
The right of free petition is unique to Massachusetts, found in Article XIX of the state constitution and dating back to colonial times. At the Massachusetts State House, the right of free petition guarantees that any citizen may file a bill through his or her state legislator. Several cities and towns have laws codifying free petition at the municipal level in place already, including Chelsea, Lawrence, Winthrop, and Newton.


WHAT:           Boston City Council Free Petition Ordinance Hearing

WHEN:           Tuesday, April 18th, at 5:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Iannella Chamber, 5th floor, Boston City Hall, One City Hall Square

Next Tuesday evening, the City Council will hold a hearing to weigh my proposed Free Petition Ordinance, and I hope you'll consider lending your support.

In today's political environment, we must do all we can to empower grassroots civic participation to shape policy. I'm proposing to create a way for Boston residents to directly shape the City Council agenda, similar to the free petition laws that already exist in nine other MA cities and towns. The ordinance would require the Boston City Council to hold a hearing on the topic of any petition signed by 250 or more residents, within three months after receiving the petition. 
 
Sharing power to shape the agenda with residents and activists strengthens the Council's role as a platform for community voice, ensures we are responding to the issues most important to residents, and supports the most meaningful type of democracy in Boston--where every person knows they can directly partner with local government and see action on their concerns.
 
Please help us spread the word about this important hearing at City Hall next Tuesday, April 18th, at 5PM. Public testimony should begin around 5:45PM, and the entire meeting will be live-streamed at www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/live.asp. Your voices will make a difference! 
 
You can read the text of the ordinance and more background in my Facebook post here. For questions, please reply to this email or contact my Policy Director, Annie Qin, at annie.qin@boston.gov. Thanks for all your support and engagement.
 

Michelle

沒有留言: