Massachusetts is a national leader on reproductive freedom, and yesterday in the House of Representatives we took action to further remove barriers to accessing abortion later in pregnancy — because decisions about pregnancy belong between patients and their doctors.

In our meeting, we also heard from Sen. Pat Jehlen about her efforts to pass a Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act in the Senate, and I highlighted our recent efforts in the House to pass both TOPA and the YIGBY Act. Thank you to my co-chair, Sen. Lydia Edwards, for convening this meeting.

For my part, I’ve said all along that we as legislators shouldn’t sit around and wait for the results of a ballot question — instead, we should proactively use our power to pass a good rent control law right now. Rent control is a proven, effective policy, especially in times of housing emergency.

The Housing For All caucus met last week to discuss next steps in the fight for rent control in Massachusetts. This comes in the wake of the disqualification of the rent control ballot question last month. That was a massive disappointment for the 2.5 million renters statewide who need protection.

Thank you to a group of Cambridge educators and recent CRLS alums for hosting me at a lovely outdoor house party to talk about my re-election campaign.

It’s great to see that Ken stands up for working people — not just in his music — but in real life, too! ✊❤️🎸🙌

I immediately took out my phone and showed him the video of me dancing in the mosh pit at one of the band’s St Patrick’s Day shows earlier this year 🤣 I went on to tell him how I first purchased their CD “Do Or Die” back when I was a senior at Norwood High School in 1998. I think he was impressed 🤣

I had the immense honor of meeting and chatting with Dropkick Murphys front-man Ken Casey on the picket line with Massachusetts Nurses Association nurses at Brigham and Women’s hospital earlier this month!

Working to ensure that social housing becomes a big component of a future where housing is guaranteed to all. #housingforall🏠 thank you to Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler Ayah Al-Zubi, Mayor Siddiqui, and all involved for working to prioritize social housing in Cambridge!

And all along, we’ve been clear this can’t just be a top-down concept — we also need our muncipalities and our communities helping to define what social housing will look like in Massachusetts. From the city’s new task force to events like this one — we are doing that work right now!

Delighted to attend a meeting on Social Housing hosted by the Cambridge Housing Justice Coalition, The Black Response Cambridge, and others this week. In our 2024 state law, the Affordable Homes Act, we opened the door the social housing in Massachusetts. 1/3

Pleased by the news that our move-our-money, De-ICE Citizens campaign has achieved a major win! Today Citizens announced it would cut ties with CoreCivic and GEO Group, two private prison companies that directly profit from the suffering brought on by ICE detention activities.

The House of Representatives just passed several additional pro-housing and anti-displacement measures as part of our economic development bill. I’ve been proud to co-sponsor and advocate for these bills as they made their way through the committee process.

Pleased to report the House adopted my budget amendment directing MassDOT and the MBTA to work with the City of Cambridge to resolve any outstanding right-of-way issues and move forward with the design and approval of remaining Grand Junction Multi-use Path segments.

Proud to stand with home care clinicians who are on strike with Mass Nurses demanding a fair contract outside the MGB offices in the Assembly Row section of the 26th Middlesex district this morning! ✊

Proud to speak up in solidarity with the Nurses on strike (and now, locked out) at BWH today. The MGB CEOs make tens of millions in compensation, yet they are offering 0% increases to these nurses — it is shameful. I will continue standing with Mass. Nurses and workers everywhere! ✊

I also spoke with the District Attorney to call for justice, and I’ve been in touch with the City Manager and the Mayor as well. Tomorrow evening, there will be a community meeting at the Senior Center to help process this unthinkable loss.

Xavier, his mom and other family members are constituents of mine on Norfolk Street, just around the corner from my place. I was able to speak briefly with his family on Saturday, and yesterday I hugged his mom and met with other members of his family at the candlelight memorial by Sennot Park.

Our community is grieving the unimaginable loss of Xavier Bautista, a 32-year-old sanitation worker for Cambridge’s Public Works Department. He was gunned down at the corner of Broadway and Norfolk Street just prior to an overtime shift he was scheduled to work in the early morning of the Fourth.

Happy New (Fiscal) Year! 🎉 Yesterday, I voted to send the FY27 state budget to the Governor’s desk. The $63.4 billion budget represents a 4% overall increase from FY26. Here’s a quick recap from my desk just prior to the final vote, including some highlights and some of my concerns.

City of Cambridge Dance Party — the official start of summer! 💃🏻 🕺🏻 🪩 🎉

Earlier this month, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to limit the scope of the legislative audit. My latest blog post (see link below) explains why I voted “No” on this sudden re-write of the voter-approved audit law.

THANK YOU to everyone who showed up for Pizza and Office Hours yesterday and to my team for making it a big success — and thanks as well to everyone who joined us for door-to-door canvassing in East Somerville afterward! 🙏 ✊🪿🗳️

Everyone is welcome to join us for Pizza 🍕 and Office Hours at Connexion in East Somerville from 11 am to 2 pm tomorrow, June 20. Bring your questions, ideas, and concerns. Spend the day in community with us, or just pop in to say hello! 🙏

Happy Juneteenth Freedom Day! Juneteenth marks the day that the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued.

This SATURDAY, from 11 am to 2 pm, join me at Connexion, 149 Broadway in East Somerville, for PIZZA 🍕 and Office Hours 👋 spend time with us in community, or come thru just to say hello! 🙏

In this moment where access to abortion is under relentless attack, I am honored to receive the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts.

Tonight! Hope to see you there!

Love this Central Square World Cup watch party! 🇭🇹 ⚽️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Great teamwork by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Cambridge, and the Central Square BID 🙌

Proud to stand with Ed Markey. He represents our progressive values, and we need his voice in the United States Senate. Onward to the September 1st Democratic primary, and onward to a Green New Deal! 👍🌞🗳️ @edmarkey.bsky.social