Why Local Voices Matter: Advocating for Mattapoisett at the State Level

I spent some time this week reaching out to our state legislators about issues that matter not only to Mattapoisett, but to communities across Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association recently encouraged municipal leaders to contact their legislators as the House and Senate work through differences in several major pieces of legislation. These bills address economic development, environmental protection, climate resilience, energy affordability, and other issues that will have a direct impact on cities and towns.

For me, this is an important reminder of why local voices need to be part of these conversations.

Local Decisions Should Reflect Local Needs

One of the things I value most about local government is the ability of people who live in a community to make decisions about that community.

Mattapoisett is different from Boston. We have different infrastructure, different resources, different challenges, and a different community character.

What makes sense in one municipality may not make sense in another.

That doesn't mean communities shouldn't have to follow state laws or meet statewide standards. Of course they should. But there is an important difference between establishing reasonable statewide standards and removing the ability of local communities to make thoughtful decisions based on their own circumstances.

That's why I asked our legislators to support protecting local decision-making, particularly when it comes to zoning, wetlands, water and wastewater, and development.

Local government is where many of these decisions ultimately become real. They affect our roads, our water systems, our schools, our environment, our neighborhoods, and the daily lives of our residents.

State Funding Should Benefit All Communities

I also believe that state funding should remain accessible to communities based on the purpose of the funding—not based on whether a municipality has adopted a particular policy dictated by the state.

Our communities have different needs and different capacities. State grant programs can be an incredibly important resource for municipalities, particularly smaller towns that don't have the same financial resources as larger communities.

We should be looking for ways to help communities succeed, not creating additional barriers that make it harder for them to access funding.

Giving Municipalities the Flexibility to Do Their Jobs

There are also some practical changes that I believe can make local government work better.

The ability to continue offering remote and hybrid meeting options, for example, can make it easier for residents to participate in their local government. Greater local flexibility in areas such as liquor licensing and infrastructure can also allow municipalities to respond more effectively to their own circumstances.

These may not always be the issues that make the headlines, but they matter.

Good government isn't just about big policy decisions. Sometimes it's about making it easier for residents to participate, making municipal operations more efficient, and giving local officials the tools they need to serve their communities.

Investing in Our Communities

Finally, I asked our legislators to continue supporting strong investments in our cities and towns.

Infrastructure, environmental protection, climate resilience, economic development, and other municipal programs aren't abstract concepts. They affect the quality of life in our communities and our ability to prepare for the future.

For a coastal community like Mattapoisett, protecting our environment and preparing for changing conditions are particularly important. Maintaining infrastructure and ensuring that our communities have the resources to address these challenges is an investment in our future.

State and Local Government Should Be Partners

I am a strong believer that state government and local government work best as partners.

The State has an important role to play in establishing broad standards, providing resources, and addressing issues that cross municipal boundaries.

But local governments bring something equally important to the table: knowledge of our communities and the people who live in them.

We know our roads. We know our infrastructure. We know our neighborhoods. We hear directly from our residents.

That local knowledge matters.

Advocating for our community isn't always about the big headlines. Sometimes it's about sending an email or making a phone call before legislation is finalized. Sometimes it's about reminding our legislators that the decisions being made in Boston have very real consequences here at home.

That's why I reached out to our legislators this week.

I will continue to ask questions, listen to our residents, and advocate for Mattapoisett. Because local government matters—and our local voice matters, too.