In her first term in the State Senate, Sonia Chang-Diaz:
· Was a strong and responsive representative of the Second Suffolk district
· Delivered results on CORI reform and foreclosure reform
· Advocated for progressive solutions to the challenges facing the Commonwealth
· Provided a voice for those who lack adequate representation on Beacon Hill
With the assistance of her diverse, skilled and dedicated staff, Sonia responded to almost 10,000 constituent letters, emails and calls addressing personal issues, policy, legislation and questions about how to navigate their government. Throughout the district Sonia organized citizen budget forums to ensure grassroots participation in the budget process.
Sonia filed and supported dozens of pieces of legislation, but her success on CORI reform is particularly impressive. Sonia helped secure passage of the measure in the Senate by the end of 2009, and the House of Representatives has since passed the bill as well. CORI reform will help reduce crime in our neighborhoods, make families more economically self-sufficient and save tax-payer dollars.
Sonia stood up for our communities and delivered real results, including closure and accountability for the stalled Columbus Center project and securing a commitment from the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation to refurbish and re-open the Cass Recreation Center in Roxbury, work that’s slated to be completed this year. Additionally, Sonia worked to require adequate insurance for tunnels like the one under Copley Square in Boston, and helped secure protection of Boston’s historic parkways and greenways.
As a former public school teacher, Sonia has first-hand experience with the challenges facing our schools and students. That’s why she worked to improve and pass An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap – a bill tackling one of the most persistent and urgent problems in urban public education: the unequal results we still achieve for low-income and minority students.
Throughout the last two budget debates in the Senate, Sonia has filed and advocated for amendments to protect hundreds of millions of dollars for core public services for the chronically underrepresented on Beacon Hill – such as ON youth violence prevention, emergency food assistance, community healthcare and housing assistance.
Sonia has been a tireless advocate on behalf of immigrants in the Second Suffolk district and across the state. She’s fought for equal K-12 educational opportunities for english-language learners, stood up to mean-spirited and costly anti-immigrant budget amendments and fought to protect healthcare coverage for more than 30,000 legal, taxpaying immigrants.
Sonia has advocated for progressive solutions to the challenges facing the Commonwealth. She’s provided a leading voice in the Senate on progressive revenue reforms-- the reforms we need to ensure that the budget process doesn’t involve deep service cuts or sales tax increases, and doesn’t pit service versus service. With all the resources in this great state we should never have to choose between better schools or safer streets.
Sonia has been a champion for civil rights issues in the senate, fighting for legislation to track and reduce racial profiling, increase voter access, and protect funding for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.
