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BCARC Cosponsors 10th Annual Berkshire Disability Pride Day Legislative Breakfast
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On March 16th, 2007, Berkshire County Arc, along with many other area human service agencies, sponsored the Berkshire Disability Pride Day Legislative Breakfast at the ITAM Lodge in Pittsfield. The event was attended by over 200 hundred people. Legislators present were Senator Benjamin B. Downing, Representative Christopher N. Speranzo, Representative Daniel. E. Bosley, Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli, and Lindsay Rowe, Legislative Aid for Representative Denis Guyer. For many people in attendance the event, the second event in the Berkshire Disability Pride Day celebration, was an opportunity to exercise legislative advocacy by voicing their concerns directly to members of the Massachusetts Legislature. Among the issues discussed were transportation, ideas for decreasing utility costs, additional funding needed in the state school budget for grades K-12, affordable housing, and family support. William “Smitty” Pignatelli discussed the issue of high property values in his area, where older people are being forced out of their homes when they are unable to pay their property taxes, and fewer young people can afford a home. Pignatelli also feels affordable housing is a serious issue in our region for people with disabilities. He believes there should be more |
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state sponsored incentives for these constituents. As a proposed idea to decrease utility costs for residents and business owners of the Commonwealth, Representative Daniel E. Bosley discussed the possibility of expanding the State utility plan to save on these expenses. Responding to a question asked by Maren Jacobs of BFAIR about perceived neglect in the area of Family Support Linsay Rowe, Legislative Aid for Representative Denis Guyer, indicated that there is presently a focus in the Legislature on this neglect of Family Support. June Hailer, selected as this year’s honorary Chairperson, has advocated throughout Berkshire County for the benefit of people with disabilities as an MRC Individual Consumer Consultant. She has also been a part of Berkshire Disability Pride Day for |
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Legislators:
Senator Benjamin B. Downing 20 Bank Row, Rm 202 Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 442-4008 Benjamin.Downing@ senate.state.ma.us
Representative Christopher N. Speranzo 152 North St., Suite #32 Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 447-7225 Rep.ChristopherSperanzo@ hou.state.ma.us
Representative Daniel E. Bosley State House– Room 42 Boston, MA 02133 (637) 722-2370 Rep.DanielBosley@ hou.state.ma.us
Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli P.O. Box 2228 Lenox, MA 01240 (413) 243-5534 Fax: (413) 243-5533 Rep.SmittyPignatelli@ hou.state.ma.us
Representative Denis E. Guyer 12 Depot St., Suite #6 Dalton, MA 01226 (413) 684-0033 Fax: (413) 684-1313 Rep.DenisGuyer@ hou.state.ma.us
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Ken Singer, Executive Director of Berkshire County Arc addressing attendees of the 2007 BDPD Legislative Breakfast. |
