Big win for CORI Reform!

Through the Burgess Urban Fund, ECM has been supporting several organizations working to reform the criminal record system here in Massachusetts. This past week we saw a big win in this work. The following is a note from one of our BUF grantees, the Boston Worker's Alliance.
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Dear Friends,

This past Wednesday in the last hours of the 2009 legislative session, the
Massachusetts State Senate passed "An Act Relative to Sentencing Laws"
with a vote of 26-12.

This victory represents a major step towards substantially reforming
the discriminatory laws that keep individuals with CORI from obtaining
work, housing, training and other fundamental human needs.

The passage of the Senate bill is a result of hard work by over 100
organizations and thousands of committed residents. On behalf of the
the Boston Workers' Alliance and the Commonwealth CORI Coalition, we
thank you for your ongoing support.

Now that a Senate bill is passed, the campaign moves its focus to the
House of Representatives. To make CORI reform a reality, we must pass
a comparable bill in the House. The House resumes its work on January
1st, and we will build off of tonight's momentum to pass a House bill
that includes our core demands.

Please stay tuned for action updates, including a list of Senators who
voted for or against our bill. It is crucial that the Senators who
supported us hear our appreciation.

This major step would not have been possible without years of struggle
by organizations across the state. With real reform in plain sight,
we hope that you will continue to work with us to bring a decisive
House victory in 2010.

The full text of the final Senate bill will be made available in the
next update. Thank you for your support as we fight for jobs and CORI
reform!

--
Aaron Tanaka
Boston Workers' Alliance
Click here visit BWA's website

Homeless shelters across Mass. cut services and beds - The Boston Globe

ECM has been closely following the Governor's budget cuts and how they will affect low income people in Massachusetts. It is very frustrating to see how vital programs for the poor can be cut so severely during times of such economic crisis.

The Globe published the following article over the weekend:

Homeless shelters across Mass. cut services and beds - The Boston Globe



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