Mass Voters for Animals Endorsement/August 25
Patrick White for State Representative
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In This Issue:
Massachusetts Voters for Animals Endorsement
Massachusetts Realtors Endorse Patrick White
Practical Housing Solutions
My Long Career
Responding to the Edge Columnist on Monsanto
Attending the Hilda Feigenbaum Lecture at Temple Anshe Amunim
Class on Good Government This Fall at OLLI
Letters to the Editor
Mass Voters for Animals Endorsement
"Mass Voters for Animals is delighted to enthusiastically endorse your candidacy because we feel that you stand out as a person who truly cares about animal welfare and would be a strong advocate for the prevention of cruelty."
"We'll be putting notice of your endorsement on our website and will also be directly informing our members. You should also feel free to list our endorsement on your own website or otherwise use it in whatever ways you feel would be most helpful."
Marge Peppercorn, Steering Committee
Massachusetts Voters for Animals
www.massvotersforanimals.org
www.fb.com/massvotersforanimals
An Ode to an Endorsement
To all the dogs and the deer,
raccoons and raptors,
turtles and toads...
To all the bees and the bears,
fishers and fish,
cats and bats and this and thats...
To all the creatures here and there,
on the ground or in the air,
creepy or crawly or quick with the quack...
I will always have your back.
And that's true for you humans too.
Patrick
Massachusetts Realtors Endorse Patrick White
I opened my mailbox on Saturday and saw a mailer from the Massachusetts Realtors supporting my candidacy. They pointed to my desire to reign in property taxes, focus on jobs, and in general do the right thing by the people who live here.
It was the first time I ever spent any time thinking of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. I never received a single email from them, a questionnaire from them, or solicited them. I didn't ask for this, but I thank them for their support.
I've included a scan of the mailer sent on my behalf. I am pleased the realtors recognized me for my positions, including my concrete proposals to solve our problems. These common-sense ideas include ways to lower the property tax burden, to lower borrowing costs to fund municipal projects like housing and bridges, and a shift of the burden to visitors. All practical ways for you to get more government while lowering your taxes. I welcome their support as from what I can tell from my search this weekend, they are a powerful force in Boston. Maybe they can help build consensus for ideas to help the Berkshires and all taxpayers in the Commonwealth.
I've never worked for a real estate developer, not that it would be a bad thing if I did. I've never flipped a house, not that it would be bad if I did. I respect all the candidates' needs to make a living and feed their families.
And that said, I'd like to add this. Thank goodness for all the good folks who support the real estate industry around here. How many of us work as landscapers, plumbers, carpenters, architects, floorers, painters, electricians, construction workers, designers, and yes, real estate brokers? The answer is: a lot.
So how about we don't demonize the folks who work some of the few good-paying jobs that exist around here?
Practical Housing Solutions
I ran two campaigns for Stockbridge Select Board as a champion for affordable housing. I wrote the Residential Inclusionary Bylaw that requires luxury developers to pay into our fund for affordable housing or downpayment assistance. I built the consensus to get these passed overwhelmingly at Town Meeting.
My property tax positions have to do with affordability. I believe we must look for every way possible to keep the cost of owning a home affordable. It's why I voted to keep our dump stickers at $50, compared to $550 in GB. Every dollar comes out of the same checking account for folks on a budget.
One of the cornerstones of my plan to help solve our housing crisis is to advocate for our district to get its fair share of Section 8 vouchers to fund rentals. Right now, we only get about 10% of the statewide average for these kinds of vouchers. I'd like to pair that with the state's new accessory dwelling unit law and the new tiny home mandate to move the needle and have the market solve the rental crisis around here.
Want to learn more? Visit:
https://www.patrickwhiteberkshires.com
Having fun with Rep. Smitty Pignatelli and the inimitable Charlie Flint of Lenox at Burritt's Day in New Marlborough last weekend.
My Long Career
People have asked me where I've worked before my current jobs. There's a website at www.linkedin.com where my entire work career spanning the past 30 years has been listed for the past decade.
For ten years, anyone who wanted to know anything could visit this website. When you do, you will find a local non-profit and town select board you've heard of, and several companies you've never heard of, all of which I founded. One was a company that trained folks how to use Photoshop. Another was a high-speed data delivery service. A third was a tiny software start-up. Have a look for yourself!
Full disclosure: I have never had to ride a tractor for work. I hopped on this one just for fun.
Responding to the Edge Columnist on Monsanto
Bob Jones and I recorded a video on this subject. The lawsuit was not only brought forth by Cristobal Bonifaz, the world-renown lawyer who successfully took on both Chevron and Monsanto, but reviewed by Jeremiah Pollard, the incredibly well-respected Lee Town Counsel, who also serves as TC for multiple Berkshire Towns. As a resident of Stockbridge who has lost good friends to cancer in this corridor, I take no issue with Lee's action; rather, I encourage it. While Lee may have burned some bridges with the Monsanto Board of Directors who are worried about their share price should Lee succeed, the suggestion that Lee is "burning bridges" with the other towns is ludicrous.
Click the image to watch the video.
Attending the Hilda Feigenbaum
Lecture at Temple Anshe Amunim
It was a pleasure to attend the Hilda Vallin Feigenbaum lecture Sunday night at Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield. The congregation was founded in 1869 by German Jewish immigrants. It is the second-oldest Reform congregation in the United States.
John Heilemann of MSNBC was the speaker. It's worth noting that there were six police cruisers protecting the event. That's the world we live in. Thanks to the fine Pittsfield officers for their presence and for keeping us safe.
There are many challenges out there in the world right now. As a Select Board member here at home with Tanglewood within the borders of our town, and as your State Rep should you elect me, my first responsibility is to ensure the safety of the folks who live and visit here. My job is to keep you safe. I'm a stay-in-my-lane kinda guy; my job is not to tell you how to think. Let's have civil discourse on those challenges, and let's keep everyone safe while we do it.
You can watch the event livestream here. John starts around minute 30.
https://www.youtube.com/live/r-K6DWjKitk
With John Heilemann of MSNBC (second from right).
Class on Good Government This Fall at OLLI
Looking forward to teaching an OLLI class this fall with Town Administrator Michael Canales. There's an open house Tuesday, October 13 at 10am at the BCC campus. Stop by and say hi! You can register for the class on the OLLI website
Letters to the Editor
Thanks to everyone who wrote such great letters in support of my campaign. You can read them at this link:
https://www.patrickwhiteberkshires.com/letters.html
I also included some great ones that came in last year when I ran for reelection. Those heartfelt letters helped propel me to a historic win with the highest voter count and turn-out in my Town's modern history.
I had the honor of talking animals with the wonderful women of Riverbrook last Thursday. Each got a flower and a chocolate!
Want to Learn More?
Please consider supporting my candidacy to represent you in the State House. To learn more, visit https://www.patrickwhiteberkshires.com
Campaigns are a team effort. We only have two weeks left until election day. I could use more help with phone calls, door knocking, and especially at the polls in all 18 towns on election day. And of course, write a letter if you have something to share! Let me know if you can help.
Please fill out this form linked here or reply to this email to sign up! Once you do, my campaign manager, Bridget, will set up a time to walk you through the process, answer any questions, and get you started.
You can donate by clicking here:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/patrick-3rd
Or you can mail a check to:
Patrick Thomas White Committee
81 Hawthorne Street
Lenox, MA 01240
We had a solid fundraising week and have now reached over 90% of my primary goal. Thanks for any help you can provide. I am in it to win it and am running to effect real change. I'd love to have your support.
Warmly,
Patrick White
PS: You can find detailed positions on my campaign website:
https://www.patrickwhiteberkshires.com
My house party message seemed to resonate with Darwin.
Previous Newsletter Articles from the Campaign
I write my own articles — on this website, in my newsletters, and mailers. These are my genuine thoughts, and I stand by each word.
Feel free to explore a few articles. You'll discover detailed policy positions covering a wide range of topics, demonstrating my commitment to serving you effectively as your State Representative.
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