Issue Position: Jobs

Issue Position

Jobs are the number one issue in this campaign, throughout Pittsfield, and Massachusetts. I have spoken with dozens of people who are either working multiple low-paying jobs, can't find a job, or have college-educated children living at home because they are unable to get a job. It is the role of government to create an environment in which businesses and entrepreneurs can create jobs for our citizens. In order to do this, a good leader has to be able to work collaboratively with partners in both the public and private sectors. Politics is a team sport.

I am proud to have been a part of the team that created Pittsfield's Renaissance over the past eight years. With the leadership of Mayor Ruberto and the collaboration of the City Council, Pittsfield has become a destination of choice in the Berkshires with a refurbished Colonial Theater, the Beacon Cinema, the Barrington Stage Company, and dozens of new shops and eateries.

As your state representative, I will:

* lead the efforts to bring Fiber-to-Premise broadband technology to every home and business in Pittsfield, which will leapfrog Pittsfield past every other city in the country in terms of connectivity and capacity of the Internet,
* partner with Berkshire Regional Employment Board and Berkshire Community College to promote more workforce development to match our workforce with the local jobs that need to be filled,
* work to reduce energy costs and be sure that small businesses realize those savings
* support solutions to our rising healthcare costs
* continue the collaborative efforts led by US Senator John Kerry, US Congressman John Olver, and State Senator Ben Downing to bring good-paying jobs to Pittsfield through contracts like the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship,

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