In first 100 days, Oliveira works on ‘equity’ for Western Massachusetts

Date: 4/25/2023

It has been roughly 100 days since Jacob Oliveira (D-Ludlow) was sworn in as a state senator representing constituents as diverse as the 12 communities in his district: Belchertown, East Longmeadow, Granby, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Palmer, South Hadley, Warren, Wilbraham and parts of Chicopee and Springfield. The one thing they all have in common is living in Western Massachusetts, and Oliveira said he sees everything he does in the Statehouse through the lens of creating equity for the region.

While running for senate, Oliveira, then a member of the state House of Representatives, made campaign promises to support funding education, investing in regional transportation authorities, water and sewer infrastructure, expanding broadband access and support mixed-use housing. Since being sworn in in January, Oliveira has filed or co-sponsored 57 bills.
Unlike in the state House of Representatives, every one of the more than 6,000 bills in the Senate receives a public hearing.

“The legislative process is a very deliberative process,” said Oliveira, who chairs or otherwise sits on seven committees. Oliveira asked to be assigned to the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, which he chairs. He explained that his background in municipal government made him well suited to the role. The position also allowed him to create relationships with his colleagues, as nearly all have business before that committee throughout the legislative season.

As vice chair on the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, Oliveira said he can represent the interests of Western Massachusetts, where he said one in every six jobs is tied to the “creative economy.”

Oliveira also serves on committees that deal with elections, consumer protection, emergency preparedness and financial matters.

While committee work takes up much of the state senator’s time in Boston, Oliveira said he is focused on “being present in each one of my communities as much as possible and working with the boards of selectmen, the town councils and the mayors.” He is also committed to being responsive to his constituents. In just over three months, Oliveira said his office has addressed more than 500 constituent cases, from issues with placards from the Registry of Motor Vehicles or challenges with unemployment insurance to people who have a special interest in one of the bills that are going before the Legislature.

Transportation

Expanding transportation in the state is a key concern for Oliveira. He said he was glad to see an investment in the Palmer rail stop in Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed budget. He called support for these communities “essential” in creating a successful economy and travel system. Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) also visited the Palmer rail stop ahead of the next steps in the East-West Rail initiative. “It’s not a matter of if, but when,” Oliveira said of the project, which would join Boston to Pittsfield by rail, with stops in Worcester, Palmer, and Springfield.

Oliveira said additional Chapter 90 funding for “low-density” communities, those with a small number of people per square mile, passed in the state Senate. Chapter 90 funds work to roads and bridges, which he argued are even more important for low-density communities as they often lack robust public transportation. Culverts and small dams are also “overwhelmingly located in Western Massachusetts,” Oliveira said, making their upkeep essential to the region.

Remote participation

One way to reduce the need to use the roadways and other physical infrastructure is to build out digital infrastructure. The recently passed supplemental 2023 budget extends remote and hybrid public meeting participation through 2025, but Oliveira has filed legislation that would make the provisions permanent. He also wants state level meetings made eligible for remote or hybrid participation. At a recent Longmeadow Select Board meeting, Oliveira told the board that Western Massachusetts is at “a disadvantage” in serving on Boston-based boards due to the travel time involved in attending meetings.

The ability for notaries public to offer their services remotely has also been made permanent. Oliveira again emphasized how the remote aspect of these services benefits the region, as residents in rural areas may have to travel further to access those services in person.

Education

Oliveira has a focus on education after 12 years serving on the Ludlow School Committee.

With federal funding for universal student lunch expired, he said the Legislature has taken action to fund a universal program for Massachusetts school children. The bill, which Oliveira has co-sponsored, is currently before the Joint Committee on Education.

Oliveira has also taken action to address special education funding in the state. He cited a 14% increase in the cost of out-of-district placements, something that is largely used when students have special education needs that cannot be met by the district’s programs. These placements cost school departments and regional districts millions of dollars each year.

Oliveira filed a bill that would change the circuit breaker. The education circuit breaker is designed to reimburse districts for a portion of the special education expenses over that which was expended in the previous year. Oliveira’s bill would reimburse 90% of the eligible special education costs, rather than the 75% reimbursement currently promised.

In a separate bill filed by the state senator, the existing calculations and mechanisms for funding special education would be examined in their entirety and a report would recommend changes to be implemented.

“How we fund special education in the commonwealth is not sustainable,” Oliveira said.

Higher education in Massachusetts is also “woefully underfunded,” Oliveira said. The Fair Share Amendment, passed in November 2022, increases the state tax on income over $1 million and directs that revenue to education and transportation. Oliveira said he hopes some of that funding will go to higher education opportunities.

There are other topics Oliveira said he is looking forward to tackling, such as making permanent the earned income tax credit and tax relief for families with children. He also said he is going to work on increasing housing stock, especially mixed-use housing.

“Hopefully, the Legislature can pass those by the end of the year,” he said.
Oliveira has office hours in all 12 communities he represents:

Belchertown — First Thursday of the month, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Senior Center 60 State St.

Chicopee — Third Wednesday of the month 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. River Mill Center Café, 5 West Main St.

East Longmeadow — Third Thursday of the month, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Senior Center, 328 North Main St. Auditorium.

Granby — First Thursday of the month 12-1 p.m. Senior Center, 10 West St. Activity Room.

Hampden — Fourth Wednesday of the month, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Senior Center, 104 Allen St. Main Room .

Longmeadow — Third Tuesday of the month, 10-11 a.m. Adult Center, 211 Maple Rd. Auditorium.

Ludlow — Second Thursday of the month, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Senior Center, 228 State St. Café.

Palmer — Fourth Thursday of the month, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Palmer Library 1455 N. Main St. Reading Room.

South Hadley — Second Tuesdays alternating locations and time each month.11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Senior Center, 45 Dayton St. or 4:30-5:30 p.m. Library, 2 Canal St.

Springfield — First Tuesday of the month, 1-2 p.m. East Forest Park Library, 136 Surrey Rd. Community Room.

Warren — Fourth Tuesday of the month, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Senior Center, 2252 Main St.

Wilbraham — Fourth Wednesday of the month 12-1 p.m. Senior Center, Post Office Park #4502.