Platform

People in our district are being priced out of the very communities they’ve helped shape. We need state policy that protects their right to stay and thrive. Decisions about housing cannot be handed down from Beacon Hill without serious partnership from local voices. The state must work with municipalities, not around them.

We are committed to ensuring the 16th Middlesex district receives it's fair share of state funds and investments. That means:

• Increasing state funding for affordable and mixed-income housing developments in our cities and towns
  

• Fighting for infrastructure support—sewer, water, schools, and public transit—to match housing growth and relieve the pressure on local budgets
  

• Backing nonprofit housing models and community land trusts that prioritize long-term affordability and local control
  

• Raising income eligibility limits for MassHousing mortgage down payment assistance to reflect today’s cost of living

We don’t believe in sidelining local governments. We believe in planning with them. State policy must reinforce the efforts of municipal leaders, not override them. The 16th Middlesex deserves a seat at the table and its fair share of the pie.

Affordable Housing and the Right to Stay in the 16th Middlesex District

Every resident of the 16th Middlesex deserves access to affordable, high-quality health care that reflects the realities of our neighborhoods. While we continue pushing for a broader public healthcare system, we must also deliver practical improvements now.

We will fight to ensure the 16th Middlesex receives its fair share of healthcare investment from the state. Our priorities:

• Expand MassHealth and remove red tape that keeps people from enrolling or staying covered

• Invest in workforce hiring with a focus on primary care providers and mental health professionals where they’re needed most

• Close local care gaps by partnering with community health centers to bring services into underserved areas

• Lower prescription costs by backing bulk purchasing and demanding pricing transparency from drug companies

• Defend reproductive and gender-affirming care, keeping it safe, legal, and local

Health outcomes depend on local conditions. We will work directly with municipal governments and regional health boards to build care systems that fit our communities rather than forcing one-size-fits-all models.

Healthcare That Works for the 16th Middlesex

Too many people are falling behind, even when working full time. Solving this requires coordinated investment, not just in wages and financial assistance, but in the infrastructure and services that reduce costs over time.

We will:

• Lower costs for utilities, transportation, childcare, and essential services
  

• Expand affordable public transit in coordination with local and regional needs
  

• Protect consumers from corporate price hikes and financial exploitation
  

• Fund energy and broadband infrastructure in under-resourced towns
  

• Support locally tailored programs that help families stay afloat
  

Affordability doesn’t come from one-size-fits-all policies. It comes from flexible support that reflects what each community actually needs.

Making Life More Affordable

Massachusetts needs bold action on climate, but it must be rooted in fairness. Too often, working-class and low-income communities are left behind in climate planning, even though they face the highest energy costs and the greatest environmental burdens.

One in three families in this state struggles to afford food. Energy bills are rising faster than wages. We cannot treat climate policy as separate from economic survival. Clean energy should not be a luxury. It should be something everyone can afford.

We will:

• Expand state funding for home energy assistance and weatherization, especially for low-income households

• Invest in community-owned solar and other clean energy programs that lower bills for working families

• Support job training programs in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green infrastructure that prioritize underserved communities

• Increase support for public transit and walkable neighborhoods to cut emissions while lowering transportation costs

• Make sure climate adaptation funds go to frontline communities most affected by flooding, air pollution, and heat

A just transition means affordable energy, clean air and water, and real participation for all communities.

Climate Action That Works for Everyone

We need to increase direct public hiring instead of paying inflated rates to monopolistic corporations through state contracts. Public funds should support local workers and services, not pad the profits of a few large firms that dominate the contracting process. When we hire directly, we get better value, more accountability, and jobs that actually stay in our communities.

We will:

• Prioritize direct public hiring wherever possible

• Limit dependency on corporate contractors that drive up costs

• Expand training and hiring pipelines for public service careers

• Increase transparency in contracting and procurement decisions

• Make state investment serve the public good, not private monopolies

Taxpayer dollars should build public jobs, not corporate wealth.

Public Spending That Builds Local Power

People know what they need. Good government means listening and being present, not just at election time, but always. We will build trust by showing up and sharing power.

We will:

• Hold regular open forums and town halls across the district
  

• Work with community organizations and local governments to shape policy
  

• Support voting access, multilingual outreach, and civic education
  

• Maintain full transparency in campaign financing and decision-making

• Create Community Participatory Budget Initiatives

Government should work with people, not over their heads or behind closed doors.

Community Power and Accountability

Please consider donating

Or send a check or money order to:

Friends of Lorena Betts
PO Box 693
Lowell MA 01853