Left In Lowell

This from Governor Deval Patrick (I also highly recommend watching the extended version of this text as spoken by Governor Patrick announcing this - there are a lot of specifics about his plans and the cuts themselves worth hearing about):

Dear Friends,

As you know, the financial turmoil around the world has hit home here in Massachusetts. The tight credit market, the tumult on Wall Street, and the sharp rise in foreclosures are affecting business activity and consumer confidence. It is affecting many of our citizens, maybe even you or someone you know.

Just like families all across the Commonwealth, our state government is feeling the effects. After conferring with independent economists and other financial experts, our Secretary of Administration and Finance, Leslie Kirwan, now forecasts that the state budget is over $1.4 billion out of balance. To help Massachusetts weather this revenue shortfall, yesterday I introduced a fiscal action plan to help us get through these unprecedented times without sacrificing too much of our vision for the future.

The plan cuts more than $1 billion from our budget and eliminates over 1,000 state jobs–cuts and eliminations being shared across all branches and agencies of our government.

You can learn more about the details here.

For some, there is a tendency to think of spending cuts as abstractions. They aren’t. Many worthy ideas and good people will be affected. Behind the numbers is often somebody’s first chance–or only chance–at a better life. And knowing that, in times like these, people will sometimes need to lean on government more rather than less, I have tried to limit the impact on such services as health care, homelessness, domestic violence and hunger programs. I have preserved most funding for veterans, elders and disability services as well. I don’t believe that we should ask the most vulnerable to shoulder the load in times like these.

I also know that many of you are anxious, and there is real cause for concern, but not for panic. Everyone needs to know that my office and your government will keep governing and that there are resources available to help. If you or someone you know is feeling the effect of the times–for example, falling behind in mortgage payments or having problems figuring out how to heat your home for the winter–forward them this email or call them on the phone. Let them know that they can call my office at 617-725-4005 or visit mass.gov. We will not be able to solve every problem, but we may have some of the answers or be able to point the way to more help.

Additionally, if you are fortunate enough to have extra resources, energy, or time to spare, please do what you can to help as well. Check in with a neighbor who you think might be struggling, learn about energy and cost savings measures for your home and pass the information along to friends. You can also volunteer by clicking here.

No one knows how long this will last or just where the future will take us. Come what may, we will confront that future together, as a strong statewide community. My confidence in the future of the Commonwealth and her people is unshaken and unshakable. I intend to stick with you, and I ask you to stick with each other. Together, we will get through today’s challenges to a brighter tomorrow.

Cutting the budget now when we’ve just barely approached pre-2003 funding levels for schools and services is going to hurt our long term investments for a stronger future. But it says something that the Governor is asking for us to do something substantial to help in these tough times. It beats being asked to buy duct tape or go out shopping. Things are going to hurt a while - that’s what nearly 8 years of conservative hands-off-the-free-market philosophy will do to a nation - but we’re all in this together, and we must help the most vulnerable citizens among us.

I would like to suggest that those of us with the means do a little extra to donate time and goods and money to places like the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, the Lowell WISH project, or our local homeless shelters. There will be many more people relying on these services with the economy in serious recession. Let’s not leave personal sacrifice as something only the vulnerable make. And don’t wait until the holidays to do it. Start now.