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Former Baystate employee alleges religious discrimination over flu vaccine, suit filed in federal court

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Baystate Medical Center is facing a lawsuit in federal court for allegedly discriminating against a Christian former employee who refused to get a flu shot.

SPRINGFIELD -- Baystate Medical Center is facing a lawsuit in federal court for allegedly discriminating against a Christian former employee who refused to get a flu shot.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit in US District Court in Springfield this week against the Springfield-based health care system. Baystate "should have given her an accommodation that respected her religious beliefs," said Sara Smolik, an attorney with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. 

Last fall, Baystate mandated all employees receive an annual flu vaccination, a common requirement of health care workers. 

Stephanie Clarke, a recruiter in the medical center's human resources department since late 2014, declined to get the flu shot, citing her religious beliefs. Believing that "her body is a temple," Clarke does not take medication or get vaccines, according to the lawsuit. 

What denomination of Christianity Clarke identifies as was not stated in the lawsuit. 

She began wearing a surgical mask at work, as is required of those that request an exception to the vaccine requirement, but would remove it when it muffled her voice while speaking to job applicants, the complaint states. 

Employees who refuse the vaccine and do not wear the mask at all times are in violation of Baystate's influenza immunization policy and are subject to being placed on unpaid leave, according to the complaint. 

Finding her job difficult while wearing the mask, Clarke says she asked Baystate to find her an alternative position within the company. The EEOC complaint alleges she was then placed on indefinite, unpaid leave in November and terminated a month later.

"Employees have the right to oppose conduct they reasonably believe violates the law, without fear of retaliation," Kevin Berry, New York district director for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a statement. "A decision to end the employment relationship - either through termination or forced resignation - because the employee has complained about religious discrimination runs afoul of the statute's clear requirements."

The federal agency filed suit Thursday after first attempting to mediate a settlement with Baystate. The EEOC now seeks back pay, compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive relief for "emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, and loss of civil rights," according to the suit. 

No set amount is sought in damages. "We seek a jury to determine damages," Smolik said. 

"Our patients' safety is our highest priority, so we take all reasonable steps to minimize any risk of transmission of infectious illness such as flu," Baystate spokesman Benjamin Craft said in a statement. "That includes a requirement to be vaccinated against flu or wear a mask at all our facilities during flu season."

Baystate does not comment specifically on pending litigation. 

Read the full complaint below.  

EEOC v. Baystate Medical Center


Granby to lay off 16 percent of teachers; demonstration planned to protest cuts

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Parents who are organizing the demonstration said the June 9 action will take place on the front lawn adjacent to the junior/senior high school, beginning at 2:15 p.m.

GRANBY — Parents and students are planning a demonstration to protest a proposed 16 percent reduction in the number of teachers in the town's public schools.

Parents who are organizing the demonstration said the action will take place on the front lawn adjacent to Granby Junior/Senior High School on Thursday beginning at 2:15 p.m.

Contacted Friday, Superintendent Sheryl Stanton said current figures show that in addition to the 12.4 full-time equivalent teachers being laid off, the staff cuts also include a principal, two clerical workers and a paraprofessional.

According to Sharon Bail, a parent of school-age children who is helping organize the demonstration, one theme of the protest will be directed toward bringing awareness to the amount of state Chapter 70 education aid that funds the town's education budget.

She said the proportion of Chapter 70 money, measured against Granby's percentage dedicated to funding the school district, keeps declining - and that the cost of state education mandates keeps rising.

Parent Jennifer Silva, who is involved in organizing the demonstration, wrote in a Facebook post that more state money would lower the number of layoffs.

The school budget is scheduled to be discussed at Monday's Granby School Committee meeting (6:30 p.m. in the Granby Junior/Senior High School's Donna Gnatek Media Center), when a large number of teachers are expected to attend.

"Granby is in a similar situation" to what other rural school districts face, Stanton said in a telephone interview. "Our work is to impress upon the Legislature that funding from the state needs to be (adequate to meet the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's expectations)," Stanton said.

She said the layoffs would increase class size, reduce elective offerings and contradict what the community expects for their children.

"These are difficult decisions," the schools chief said, saying they would be in conflict with the wishes of the DESE, parents, teachers and those who review the district for accreditation purposes.

A report published by the town's finance committee, in preparation for the June 13 Town Meeting, shows the committee is recommending a 6.5 percent reduction in Granby's operating budget for the fiscal year that begins next month.

"State Aid to Granby is projected to decrease for the coming fiscal year by $60,667. In three of the last nine years, Granby has received more State Aid than it will in FY 2017. State Aid pays for about 32.7% of Granby's operating budgets," the finance committee said. "State Aid for Schools, including School Choice funds, is projected to decrease by $107,088. At $5,290,801, State Aid for Schools represents over 84% of Granby's total State Aid."

The 19-page document states: "In our report to the Town last year, the Finance Committee said it expected the School Committee to present a long term plan to the Town this year, and ask for an override, if needed, to fund the schools on an ongoing basis. The Town would decide on the merits of their proposal. The Finance Committee has not yet seen a long term plan for the Schools.

"The major issue for Granby is to determine how the Town will give aquality education to its students within affordable financial parameters. It seems clear that the current model of educating all the students in Town school buildings and offering many courses in small settings cannot be sustained under current financial constraints."

6 6 2016 sc posting

Granby fy17atmbook

UMass student fined for role in tampering with fire alarm system in April

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The fire department generally has one such violation a year.

AMHERST -- University of Massachusetts student Ethan Shapiro was fined $800 for tampering with a fire alarm system at 11 Phillips St. in April.

Fire Prevention officer Michael Roy said the fire department, responding to an alarm, found plastic bags over the windows and a disabled fire alarm system. He said disabling the system poses a serious fire hazard. The heat detectors were also covered.

The house is owned by Knight Properties LLC in care of Stephan Gharabegian of Lexington.

Roy, who brought the case to court, said this was the only such violation this year. The department generally has about one a year, he said.

Shapiro faced a fine of up to $1,000 and up to two years in jail, but he avoided being charged with a felony. As part of the agreement with the court clerk magistrate, Shapiro must attend a fire safety program and complete a fire safety plan for the house.

Vietnam War veterans at Holyoke Soldiers' Home honored at war's 50th anniversary

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Francisco A. Urena, secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services, presented commemorative pins to all Vietnam Veterans who reside at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home on Cherry Street on Friday, June 3, 2016, Superintendent Bennett W. Walsh said.

HOLYOKE -- Vietnam War veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home were honored at a ceremony Friday as part of the nation's Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the war.

"The message was two-fold: 'Welcome Home,' and how the Vietnam generation changed our country and paved the way for the support all current active duty members receive while deployed and when they return home," said Bennett W. Walsh, superintendent of the state facility on Cherry Street.

On May 25, 2012, President Barack Obama issued a proclamation that called for a 13-year show of respect, "May 28, 2012, through November 11, 2025, as the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War."

Francisco A. Urena, secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services, presented commemorative pins to all Vietnam Veterans who reside at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, Walsh said.

State Sen. Donald R. Humason, R-Westfield, and state Rep. Aaron M. Vega, D-Holyoke, helped in presentation of the pins, he said.

"The ceremony honored the service of all our Vietnam veterans," Walsh said.

Walsh took over as superintendent of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home May 31. A Springfield native, Walsh is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps in which he has served for 24 years.

The Holyoke Soldiers' Home has 265 long-term care beds and 30 private rooms for veterans and serves 2,200 veterans a year with its in- and out-patient facilities. It was founded in 1952, has a yearly budget of $23.1 million and employs more than 300 people.

Watch: Chicopee Mayor Kos wins Mayor's Cup for third year

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Now a highlight of the Spirit of Springfield's annual golf tournament, the Mayor's Cup pits local mayors against one another in a three-hole putting contest following the tournament at Franconia Golf Course. Watch video

It might not have the cachet of the PGA Tour or the purse of the FedEx Cup, but the Springfield Mayor's Cup holds a special place for those that compete for it.

Now a highlight of the Spirit of Springfield's annual golf tournament, the Mayor's Cup pits local mayors against one another in a three-hole putting contest following the tournament at Franconia Golf Course.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt, Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos, and state Rep. Angelo Puppolo (filling in for Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse), were the contestants, each vying for their city's pride.

Gallery preview 

Two-time champ Kos made it a three-peat, squeaking out a one-stroke victory over Reichelt. The morning line favorite, Kos scored a 2 on the first hole and never looked back. A Reichelt miss on the last hole sealed the deal for Kos, who joked that he was about to cry as he was handed the trophy.

Comparing his opponents to the likes of professional golfers Jason Day, Jordan Speith and John Daly, Kos said he was "truly humbled and amazed" to have won again.

San Jose police criticized after violence once again breaks out at a Trump rally in California

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A Trump rally is alleged to have turned violent on Thursday, when angry protesters reportedly attacked Trump supporters and pelted them with eggs.

SAN JOSE, CA — San Jose police are being criticized for not "doing more" to stem violence that erupted at a Donald Trump rally in California on Thursday, according to ABC.

The rally at the San Jose Convention Center in Northern California turned violent when mobs of protesters allegedly targeted supporters of the presidential nominee as they were leaving the rally.

The New York Post reports that one man was spit on and hit in the head with a heavy object. He left the event with a "bloody gash" on his head, according to reports.

NBCNews correspondent Jacob Rascon reported on Twitter that he'd seen a woman who was a Trump supporter "surrounded" by protesters, and then pelted with eggs and bottles and "spat on." Video provided by Rascon also appears to show protesters flipping the woman off and shouting in her face.

Other Trump protesters "were punched," according to MSNBC.

The San Jose Police Department released a statement after the rally had dispersed, saying, "While several physical assaults did occur, the police personnel on scene had the difficult task of weighing the need to immediately apprehend the suspect(s) against the possibility that police action involving the use of physical force under the circumstances would further insight the crowd and produce more violent behavior."

Police Chief Eddie Garcia also acknowledged that there "weren't enough" officers at the rally to adequately stop the violence, according to The Mercury.

There were approximately 400 protesters present at the rally and only about 250 officers, according to the paper.

Rascon also reported that police had to deal with substantial aggression from the crowds, and that though officers ordered the crowds to disperse, protesters allegedly responded by "throwing things" at them.

Only four people were arrested at the rally on Thursday.

Trump responded to the protest by taking to Twitter on Friday afternoon. The Republican presidential nominee called the protesters "thugs" and said that his supporters were "far tougher if they want to be, but fortunately they are not hostile."

This is only the most recent example of protesters turning violent at Trump rallies.

Trump has been largely criticized for his stances on immigration and race, has been called a "fascist," and his campaign has largely been labeled for as "xenophobic." Trump has also been accused of "promoting violence" at his rallies.

Graduates of Minnechaug Regional High School advised to carry with them gratitude

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Regional School Superintendent Martin O'Shea advised the graduates to carry with them gratitude for the family, community and school which helped them along their way.

SPRINGFIELD - Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Superintendent M. Martin O'Shea told the graduating seniors of Minnechaug Regional High School Friday night that they have "plenty to celebrate," with 95 percent of them planning to pursue additional education, and the remainder planning to serve in the military or pursue apprenticeships.

Graduates of Minnechaug will be going on to Syracuse University, Fordham University, the College of William and Mary, Mount Holyoke, UMass, UConn, Notre Dame, Buchnell, Villanova and Providence College, to name a few, O'Shea said.

"It's an impressive list. Congratulations, graduates," O'Shea said at graduation exercises held at Symphony Hall.

He urged the graduates to carry with them "gratitude" for the family, community and school which helped them along the way, and to "be humble, gracious and thankful."

Class valedictorian is Christopher Garbasz and salutatorian is Mackenzie Murphy.

Class President Ryan Yelle urged his fellow graduates to "enjoy the journey" as they leave Minnechaug.

"As you move forward, I challenge you to slow down" and appreciate the present, he said.

Kate Belsky, executive secretary to the school superintendent, a 1974 graduate of Minnechaug, and a chair of the Minnechaug Scholarship Foundation, was this year's inductee into the Alumni Hall of Fame.

Belsky told the graduates that volunteers are "a dying breed."

"Be one, wherever you land," she said.

Peter Salerno, chairman of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee, told the graduates, "You truly represent the best of Hampden and Wilbraham."

He asked for a standing ovation for all graduates who have chosen to join the armed forces as they leave Minnechaug.

Salerno told the graduates, "Stand up for your family, your country and your religious beliefs, and your right to have them, and stand up for yourself."

"You are the future of the United States of America," Salerno said.

Trump singles out supporter at rally: 'Look at my African-American over here!'

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Donald Trump singled out a black supporter at a rally in California on Friday as he sought to demonstrate his support among African-Americans, saying, "Look at my African-American over here!"

REDDING, Calif. -- Donald Trump singled out a black supporter at a rally in California on Friday as he sought to demonstrate his support among African-Americans, saying, "Look at my African-American over here!"

At the Friday rally, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was in the middle of describing a past campaign event, at which he said a black supporter "slugged" protesters who were dressed in a "Ku Klux Klan outfit."

"I want to find out what's going on with him," Trump said of the supporter at the previous rally. He then appeared to spot a black person in the audience of Friday's event in northern California.

"Oh, look at my African-American over here," an excited Trump said, while pointing into the crowd. "Look at him. Are you the greatest? You know what I'm talking about? OK!"


Polls have consistently shown that when it comes to support among African-American voters, Trump trails his likely general election opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

After pointing out the audience member, Trump then went on with his story, which appeared to match the events of a March rally that took place in Arizona.

"We had an African-American guy at one of the rallies a month ago, and he was sitting there behaving," Trump said. "And we had protesters inside the arena. And they were dressed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit, OK?

"This African-American gets up and, man, he slugged these guys. He slugged them."

Trump said many people thought the black supporter at the earlier rally was an opponent of his campaign.

"He was like this great guy, military guy, we have tremendous African-American support," he said. "The reason is I'm going to bring jobs back to our country."

Trump spent much of the Redding rally bashing Clinton. He also pledged to "play heavy in California" in an effort to capture the Electoral College's biggest prize in November.

Protesters punch, throw eggs at Trump supporters in Calif.


Massachusetts State Police investigating fatal crash in Middleborough

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Massachusetts State Troopers are investigating a deadly crash that occurred on Rt. 495 in Middleborough.

MIDDLEBOROUGH — Massachusetts State Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash in Middleborough that killed one person on Friday.

The crash occurred at approximately 5:05 p.m., according to police.

A 77-year-old man was driving southbound on Rt. 495 near Exit 3 when his vehicle veered off the road and crashed. The operator, who was the only person in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

State Police were assisted by Middleborough Fire and EMS in on-scene investigation.

The cause of this crash is still unknown, and he identity of the operator is being withheld pending family notification.

A number of agencies are looking involved in the current investigation, including the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

 

Photos: 2016 Dean Tech graduation at the War Memorial in Holyoke

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The 99th class of students graduated from William J. Dean Technical High School on Friday, June 3.

HOLYOKE -- The 99th class of students graduated from William J. Dean Technical High School on Friday, June 3.

The 75 graduates focused on an array of studies while in high school: some learned of automotive technology while others learned to design websites.

More than a dozen graduated with awards and scholarships to college.

View photos from the ceremony above.

Muhammad Ali reported to be in 'grave condition' at Arizona hospital

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Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali has been hospitalized and is in "grave condition," according to multiple news sources.

PHOENIX, AZ — World famous boxer Muhammad Ali is alleged to be in "grave condition" at a Phoenix-area hospital as the result of an ongoing respiratory condition, according to NBC News.

The 74-year-old former heavyweight champion was hospitalized earlier this week, according to a statement made by a family spokesman on Thursday.

The former boxer has struggled with Parkinson's disease for the past several decades. NPR reports that this disease could complicate Ali's present condition.

Ali has been hospitalized several times over the past few years, including for short stretches during December 2014 for pneumonia and January 2015 for a urinary tract infection.

However, according to the Associated Press, "two people familiar with his condition say [these] may be more serious problems than his previous hospital stays."

Mega Millions winning numbers for $251 million jackpot Friday, 6/3/2016

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Here are the winning numbers in Friday's Mega Millions drawing.

Hoping that $1 you plunked down for a Mega Millions ticket this week makes you really rich? Friday evening's drawing gives you a shot at one of the biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history.

megamillions.jpg 

Here are the winning numbers in the drawing:

32-54-65-66-71; Mega Ball: 10; Megaplier: 3

The estimated jackpot for the drawing is $251 million.

If no one wins, the Mega Millions jackpot will get even bigger for Tuesday's drawing.

According to the game's official website, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 258,890,850.

Players pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers -- five different numbers from 1 to 75 and one number from 1 to 15 -- or select Easy Pick. A player wins the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing.

Jackpot winners choose whether to receive 30 annual payments, each five percent higher than the last, or a lump-sum payment.

Mega Millions drawings are Tuesdays and Fridays and are offered in 44 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

'I have achieved greatness and proved them wrong,' Dean Tech valedictorian says during address

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The 99th class of students graduated from William J. Dean Technical High School on Friday, June 3.

HOLYOKE -- At 18, Edeni Colon Rivera has already achieved an array of awards. 

She is the first student at Dean Technical High School to win the gold medal for extemporaneous speech at the SkillsUSA state competition and the first English Language Learner in Massachusetts to bring home the gold in this category.

Colon Rivera is also the recipient of several scholarships, including the AIC Presidential scholarship, and was named the 2016 Massachusetts Vocational Student of the Year.

On Friday, she added another honorary to the list: valedictorian of her graduating class. 

The 99th class of students graduated from William J. Dean Technical High School on Friday, June 3.

The 75 graduates focused on an array of studies while in high school: some learned of automotive technology while others learned to design websites.

More than a dozen graduated with awards and scholarships to college.

Such awards were earned while batting stigma as a student at the city's vocational school, speakers said. 

"I, as a Dean student, did not drop out and am here today," Colon Rivera told the crowd during commencement. 

The school has struggled with a low graduation rate for years. Of the students that entered Dean as freshman in 2011, only four of every 10 graduated last year. About 20 percent remained in school, held back at least a year, and more than 25 percent dropped out. 

"I have achieved greatness and proved them wrong," Colon Rivera said. This fall, she will attend American International College where she intends to earn both her undergraduate and doctorate in physical therapy. 

Anthony Soto, the recently named chief of finance and operations for Holyoke Public Schools, addressed the crowd with a similar message during the ceremony. 

When Soto was a student at Lawrence, he informed his guidance counselor that he would enroll at Dean for high school. "He told me going to Dean was the biggest mistake of my life," Soto said, adding that his advisor called him "college material." 

After being both unable to convince Soto and his parents that he should attend Holyoke High School instead of Dean, his advisor told him that he better make the most of what Dean had to offer. 

Soto graduated as salutatorian of his class.

He told the crowd that Dean students often work "twice as hard as everybody else" due to life circumstances. "All of you should be very proud of what you've accomplished."  

Putnam Voke students on road to construction job opportunities

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In addition to the hands-on skills the students acquire, the program seeks to instill a strong work ethic in the students.

SPRINGFIELD — Twenty students from Roger L. Putnam Vocational-Technical Academy are well on the road to good-paying jobs in the construction industry.

On a hot afternoon the Thursday before the Memorial Day weekend, the students donned hard hats in simulation exercises that mirrored some of the repairs construction workers are doing on the Interstate 91 viaduct over downtown.

It was day four of the week-long Massachusetts Construction Career Development Program, and field coordinator Tommy Lemon and co-instructor Andy Kuzmich were directing more than a dozen boys and a few girls. The students practiced building the brick inverts that direct water and sewage in and out of manholes, how to build interlocking block walls for soil retention and how to calculate elevations.

The program, a partnership with the state Department of Transportation, the New England Laborers' Training Trust Fund and other groups, aims to educate youth about the diverse career pathways in the transportation and highway construction industry — a field that is rich and growing, according to Lemon.

The opportunities are enormous across the state and particularly in the Springfield area, where work on the highway and construction of the $900 million MGM Springfield casino are underway, Lemon said.

Putnam junior Tiequaon Bloodworth said he recognized the benefit of the training.

"It gives me a idea about what construction workers do on the job," Bloodworth said, adding that he wants "to be a success and be the greatest at my job."

The registered pre-apprenticeship program is designed to enhance and enrich the vocational school curriculum, and is funded and inspired by MassDOT and delivered to 15 schools statewide by New England Laborers' instructors, Lemon said.

Other partners include the AFL-CIO of Massachusetts, the Construction Industries of Massachusetts, the Building Trades Employers Association and the Boston Society of Civil Engineers.

"This is the AP class for the trades," Lemon said.

Just as Advanced Placement classes give students college credits that help grease their path to early graduation, the career development program gives vocational students a leg up in the trades, Lemon said.

In addition to the hands-on skills the students acquire, the program seeks to instill a strong work ethic in the students. That means understanding the importance of showing up for work on time, respecting co-workers and supervisors and being able to explain to a group the details of a given project.

The financial rewards in the field are very good, with salaries that begin at $17.50 an hour with consistent raises and other benefits, Lemon said. Job placement support is also available for students who participate in the course.

Safety in the workplace is also paramount, Lemon said. As part of the course, Putnam students were instructed in and received Red Cross certification.

On the last day of the program, students offered presentations about the knowledge they gained during the course.

The program's goal is to reach at least 300 students and young adults over the course of a year for a period of five years, according to Lemon.

This week in Springfield District Court: Cash falling from a skyscraper; cousins jousting in a parking lot; and more

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The note Travis Feliciano used to rob the TD Bank branch in Springfield was simple enough. "Give me the money ASAP $$," it read, according to the arrest report.

These were the top stories out of Springfield District Court this week, plus one from last week. If you missed any, click on the links below to read them now.

Suspect spread fear, confusion during pair of Springfield bank robberies

$100K bail set for Springfield man accused of robbing 2 banks in 90 minutes

Old school: Springfield man charged in 'jousting' attack on cousin


Court records: 'I was bored,' teenager tells Springfield police after 2 break-ins


Jail ahoy: After water rescue, Springfield man's bail revoked in 3 open cases

Police: Naked guest asks West Springfield hotel employee for pants, Bible


Massachusetts elections chief Bill Galvin: Donald Trump is an 'obnoxious buffoon,' Democrats who left party for him probably aren't coming back

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Addressing Democrats at the party's annual convention, Massachusetts elections chief Bill Galvin called presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump an "obnoxious buffoon" and urged them to turn out for the Democratic ticket in November

LOWELL - Addressing Democrats at the party's annual convention, Massachusetts elections chief Bill Galvin called presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump an "obnoxious buffoon" and urged activists to turn out for the Democratic ticket in November.

Galvin, a Democrat and a delegate for expected Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, said he expected her to win Massachusetts in the general election.

Democrats have a stranglehold on statewide offices in Massachusetts, with the exception of the offices of governor and lieutenant governor, which are held by Republicans Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito. Galvin, D-Boston, is the secretary of the commonwealth.

"We're just a few miles from the New Hampshire border. I'm pretty confident we're going to carry Massachusetts. I'm not as confident about New Hampshire," Galvin said, telling Democrats who gathered inside the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.

Galvin acknowledged Trump has drawn people who were previously enrolled with the Democratic Party.

Before the March 1 presidential primary in Massachusetts, Galvin had said the state Democratic Party had shed nearly 20,000 voters, many of them joining the ranks of the un-enrolled. Galvin attributed it to the "Trump phenomenon," which other states like Pennsylvania, have also seen.

Nearly 20,000 voters left the Massachusetts Democratic Party, possibly due to Trump

Trump won the state GOP primary with nearly 50 percent of the vote.

On Saturday, Galvin touched on the party's loss of registered voters. "We can't do much" about them coming back, he said.

"They're wrong, they're mistaken," he added.

Democrats should focus on drawing in new voters, he said. "Let's make sure they vote."

101410 bill galvinWilliam Galvin 

Asked if he thinks the voters who left are coming back, Galvin said after his speech, "Maybe Trump will say something that will offend them, too, I don't know. But I mean, the bottom line is it really comes down to the Democratic Party has to make its case."

During his speech, Galvin was complimentary of Sen. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist from Vermont, who has challenged Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"I think people can whine about whether Sanders should be in or out, or whether he's a Democrat and all that stuff, but the guy has not done any damage," Galvin said.

"In fact, on the contrary," Sanders has energized voters, he said.

US Sen. Ed Markey blasts Donald Trump, calls on Massachusetts Democrats to unite against him

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Pointing to Massachusetts' history of fighting for Democratic values, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., called on state Democrats to once again lead what he called "the great fight of our time" and defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

LOWELL ‒ Pointing to Massachusetts' history of fighting for Democratic values, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., called on state Democrats to once again lead what he called "the great fight of our time" and defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The senator took aim at the billionaire businessman's comments and policy proposals, as well as touted proposals to close the wage gap, crack down on opioid abuse and address so-called climate change, as he rallied attendees at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in Lowell on Saturday.

Contrasting Trump to Martin Luther King Jr., Markey contended that the presumptive Republican nominee has a dream for the country - one that would undo much of the progress that has been made in recent decades.

"Donald Trump does not want to see Dr. King's dream realized, he wants to see it crushed. That's why this election matters," he said. "Those who stand for everything Dr. King opposed need to understand this."

The senator further stressed that "black lives matter, black voices matter - black votes will matter this year in American politics."

Markey blasted the presumptive GOP nominee's call to build a wall along the United States-Mexico border, claim that climate change "is a hoax" and comments that women should be punished for "exercising their reproductive rights."

Massachusetts will stand strong against the billionaire businessman and his rhetoric, he said.

"The only thing less popular in Massachusetts than Donald Trump is Roger Goodell and the NFL," the senator said. "But we know that Donald Trump and the Republican Party are not going to back down from this fight - not now, not ever. We need to send Donald Trump and his supporters a special message from Massachusetts: we will not back down."

Markey further beat back the suggestion that Democrats will not come together around one candidate in the 2016 election, arguing that regardless of whether party voters back Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, all of them will unite in the desire to defeat Trump.

"He's going to unite the Democratic Party in a way we have not been united in a generation," he said. "Of course we're going to come together."

Although Markey touted Massachusetts Democrats' successes in efforts to address the opioid crisis and ensure rights to transgender individuals, among other things, he stressed that more work remains.

Noting the death of Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali, Markey further urged Massachusetts Democrats to "deliver a knockout punch against racism and bigotry and religious intolerance in our country."

An estimated 2,000-plus Massachusetts Democratic party leaders, elected officials and organizers attended the issues-focused convention at the Tsongas Center.

Elizabeth Warren to Massachusetts Democrats: Donald Trump 'only qualified to be fraudster-in-chief'

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U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, skewered presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's policies, behavior and business record Saturday, urging Massachusetts Democrats to continue fighting for the party's values.

LOWELL - U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, skewered presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's policies, behavior and business record Saturday, urging Massachusetts Democrats to continue fighting for the party's values.

Warren, in a blistering speech before Democratic leaders attending the state party convention in Lowell, called the billionaire businessman a "small, insecure moneygrubber who doesn't care about anyone but himself."

She called on Democrats to fight back against the expected GOP presidential nominee and to remind themselves "what we get up for every day, what Democrats believe in all the way down to our toes."

The Massachusetts senator, who has publicly traded barbs with Trump in recent months, contended that in addition to being outrageous and offensive the businessman "lies so routinely and so ridiculously, it's really hard to keep up."

Elizabeth Warren: Donald Trump 'will never be president of the United States'

"Every day there's another story or incident that completely disqualifies him from being president," she said.

Warren pointed to controversy regarding his for-profit education company as an example, contending that Trump University was "one big 'fraudulent scheme.'"

"Here's a man who builds a business to profit off other peoples' pain," she said. "He wants to be commander-in-chief, but he's only qualified to be fraudster-in-chief."

The senator stressed that she's proud to be a Democrat in the 2016 election cycle, lauding the debate between Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

She urged Massachusetts Democrats to join her in fighting for, among many things, Wall Street accountability, raising the minimum wage and ensuring that students can access higher education without getting crushed by student debt.

"This election isn't just about Trump's ugly racism, his disgusting sexism, or his small-minded vision for America," she said. "It's about the American people. It's about our values. This election is about our vision of who we are and what kind of a country we are going to build."

Warren also took jabs at former Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and former Gov. Mitt Romney during her remarks, questioning who would've guessed that people across the United State would be begging for the 2012 GOP nominee to run for president in 2016.

Turning to her Senate race opponent, meanwhile, Warren joked that with neither Massachusetts Senate seat is up for reelection in November, "so far Scott Brown has not found another Senate race to lose" -- a reference to his failed run to win a U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire.

She joined U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, and other elected officials in addressing an estimated 2,000-plus Massachusetts Democratic party leaders, public officials and others who crowded the Tsongas Center.

Massachusetts Democrats target Donald Trump at annual state convention

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Massachusetts Democratic leaders set their crosshairs on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Saturday, as the party held its annual convention in Lowell.

LOWELL ‒ Massachusetts Democratic leaders set their crosshairs on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Saturday, as the party held its annual convention in Lowell.

With no votes on the agenda, party leaders used the issues-focused convention to stress the importance of electing either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders to the White House in November, cautioning that a Trump presidency would destroy the country.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who has exchanged barbs with the billionaire businessman in recent months, continued to attack his policy proposals and question his competency to serve as the United States' president.

"This election isn't just about Trump's ugly racism, his disgusting sexism or his small-minded vision for America," she told the estimated 2,500 convention-goers. "It's about the American people. It's about our values. This election is about our vision of who we are and what kind of a country we are going to build."

Fellow U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., joined Warren in taking aim at Trump, arguing that the businessman would "crush" Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream for America and the progress that has been made in the last few decades.

"Donald Trump does not want to see Dr. King's dream realized, he wants to see it crushed," he said. "That's why this election matters," he said. "Those who stand for everything Dr. King opposed need to understand this."

Criticism of the presumptive GOP nominee, however, did not come just from the state's senators, with state and local Democrats also skewering him in their remarks at the morning convention.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin, the state's elections chief, called Trump an "obnoxious buffoon" and urged activists to turn out for the Democratic ticket in November.

Attorney General Maura Healey also called on Democrats to help the party hold onto the White House, contending that Trump's policies are "not an agenda for the American people."

"The Trump agenda won't help Americans pay for college, find a job or start a business. Won't help working families raise their children or take care of aging parents," she said. "The Trump agenda won't expand opportunity or advance civil rights. As Democrats, these are our fights."

Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman Tom McGee, meanwhile, largely refrained from taking direct aim at Trump, but blamed him, in part, for what he called "the nastiness and shameful rhetoric" that has surfaced in the 2016 election.

"This election is about the future of our country," McGee stressed. "And we need a leader who will unite our county, not a divide it. Our next president must be someone with the right combination of leadership, experience and temperament - and I'm confident that it will be either Hillary or Bernie."

Massachusetts Republican Party spokesman Terry MacCormack hit back at criticisms Democrats lobbed at the GOP during the convention.

"The great city of Lowell is getting a huge influx of hot air from the party that lost the governor's office and legislative seats in 2014 but continues to push a highly toxic doctrine of higher taxes and more wasteful spending," he said in a statement.

"The people of Massachusetts have made clear they want their government to measure success by how effectively taxpayer dollars are spent, not how much of their money is taken and wasted - a lesson Democrats have clearly not learned."

Focus on the upcoming presidential election was not surprising, with Massachusetts Democratic Party Executive Director Matt Fenlon saying earlier this week that much of the event would focus on rallying the Democratic base ahead of November.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren: 'I don't believe in super-delegates'

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U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who remains publicly unaligned in the 2016 presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, is no fan of super-delegates. Watch video

LOWELL - U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who remains publicly unaligned in the 2016 presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, is no fan of super-delegates.

Because she is a top Massachusetts elected official and a party leader, Warren is a super-delegate, meaning she isn't bound to a candidate at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

"I'm a super delegate and I don't believe in super delegates," she said.

"I don't think that super delegates ought to sway the election," Warren said before giving a talk focused on income equality as part of the Massachusetts Democratic Party's annual state convention.

Supporters of Sanders have been critical of the super-delegate process. Sanders, a democratic socialist from Vermont who is running as a Democrat in the primary, is behind Clinton in the delegate count and the popular vote.

Massachusetts Democrats earlier on Saturday passed a resolution to take a deeper look at the super-delegate process, according to POLITICO Massachusetts.


Warren said she agrees with the resolution and there should be greater scrutiny of the super-delegate process.

While Warren voted in the March 1 presidential primary in Massachusetts, she has declined to tell reporters who got her vote for president.

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