ON THE ISSUES
Andrew’s Priorities
Constituent’s Bill of Rights
As your State Representative, I pledge:
To provide reasonable access for meeting at the State House or In-District, at a time and venue to be determined. Hours and details shall be posted prominently on my website, with necessary changes to the schedule relayed to my aide(s).
To fairly consider the opinions and advocacies of those who share them with me, without regard to political affiliation. As an Elected Official, there is a collective responsibility to restore confidence in government affairs, and that begins with tempering partisan animus.
To offer candid conversation on matters of which I am familiar, and assurances to provide supplemental research on matters of which I am not. Meet me with a level of respect that no one person is an expert on all subjects, and I’ll meet you with the willing resourcefulness to find out more.
To follow-up with groups or individuals upon request, and where possible, connect them to the people, departments, or services they need. There is tremendous value in fostering a relationship with Elected Officials as new interests come to the fore.
To publish regular updates in the form of a newsletter, blog, social media post, or via a similar outlet. Content shall be provided in multiple languages to reflect the diversity of the spoken word in our District including, but not limited to English, Khmer, Portuguese, and Spanish.
To periodically attend the meetings of Neighborhood Organizations and local Non-Profit Organizations, and when granted permission, to speak on current matters of the State House of interest to their Mission.
To uphold professional decorum, offer reasoned debate, and seek compromise. Let not perfection be the enemy of the good, nor performance politics distract from the work needed to be done.
To be truthful in my work, vote my conscience, openly disclose my voting history, and prepared to justify my positions on pending legislation. That means not making sweeping campaign promises that may or may not be feasible; it’s about continuing to protect the Health, Safety, and Welfare of the General Public as I’ve done in my career as an Architect, to the fullest extent I am able.
To maintain a visible presence in our Community year-round; including non-Election seasons.
To not become complacent or comfortable in the Office. Public Service is a privilege.
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Protecting the Environment
Environmental conservation, sustainability, and resilience are important to me, and they are essential to Massachusetts’ future. Our coastal regions are vulnerable to rising sea-levels; our urban centers to poor air quality and heat island effects. We must continue to lead by example through practical investments in decarbonization, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, cultivating community parks and gardens, and encouraging green transportation options like electric vehicles (EVs), public transit, carpooling, and bicycles.
Legislators set ambitious deadlines / goals for transitioning the Commonwealth to 100% renewable electricity over the next two decades. How we meet these challenges requires further diligence. Architects and Engineers need continuing education for designing Net Zero Energy (NZE) buildings, and strategies standardized for pursuing deep energy retrofits of our extensive, and often historic, building stock. Grid modernization with reliable, expanded capacity will be necessary to support a broader renewable energy portfolio as investment is made in offshore wind, solar installations, and biomass. Clean energy innovation creates jobs, and stimulates economic growth.
We have an obligation to protect vulnerable populations, advance environmental justice, and create healthier, more equitable communities. Legislation like H.2131 | S.1382 achieves these goals by installing air monitors in pollution hotspots statewide. With this information policymakers can better understand the sources and patterns of the pollution, targets for reduction can be set, action taken, and public health improved in disproportionately affected communities.
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Access to Quality Education
As someone that moved to Lowell as an adult, and whose children are still too young to be enrolled in public school, I rely on research and consultation with local school teachers, facility managers, and parents to form opinions on our public education system. First and foremost, my concern is with the physical condition of our school buildings, and their long-term maintenance. These include kitchens failing sanitary code inspections, mold remediation, pest control, leaking roofs, and poorly performing Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) assemblies. Code compliance establishes a minimum standard for life safety; this should not be negotiable with our kids…ever!
Second, we should periodically audit the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to ensure accountability in their allocation of public funds for school construction, and that there is equity in their grant funding formula. Where inefficiencies, discrepancies, or oversights are identified, strategies for improvement should be clearly defined. Our Community wants confidence that the three-phase Lowell High School project will meet its currently projected completion date in July 2026 without further cost overruns.
In tandem with these efforts, I support H.3691 | S.2127 “An Act relative to healthy and sustainable schools.” It is sensible to establish an office with the authority to conduct energy audits for all public educational institutions that prioritizes improvements for facilities located in environmental justice communities.
While canvassing the Highlands neighborhood recently, I had an opportunity to speak with a young professional who held strong opinions regarding the Thrive Act [H.495 | S.246], specifically the provisions pertaining to the decoupling of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) from high school graduation requirements. Having no issues in my personal experience growing up with the equivalent New York Regents Examinations, this issue posed a blind spot. Upon further research corroborating a national trend away from standardized testing toward an appropriate holistic model, and in the interest of promoting higher graduation rates, I’ve evolved my thinking on this issue to align with the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) support.
Furthermore, the Commonwealth must change course on its funding of community colleges and state universities. Support for the CHERISH Act (Cherishing Higher Education's Resources and Investment for Student Success) [H.1260 | S.816] is critical in addressing matters of student debt, fair faculty compensation, the creation of new jobs, the improvement of working conditions and technology on campus, and funding sources for underprivileged communities. This is an investment in the future of Massachusetts, and a commitment to fostering a more equitable and prosperous society for generations to come.
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Smart Growth for Our Neighborhoods
Resolving the Housing Crisis requires a combination of creating new market-rate and affordable housing; we simply need more. As an Architect, this Pro-Development position is tempered with a recognition that projects must be scaled proportionally to the neighborhoods where new construction is proposed, and for alignment with the vision set forth in a Community’s Planning Standard (Sustainable Lowell 2025, for example). The key to rent and housing stabilization is providing an ample, diverse housing stock supportive of a range of income levels. This will lead to further economic investment in our region, create jobs, and reverse present trends indicating young professionals are leaving the State to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Projects like the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC) and the Hamilton Canal Innovation District (HCID) are instrumental in meeting this need.
Recognizing that the Lowell City Council deferred further action on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to the State rather than amend the Zoning Bylaws, there are numerous bills presently before the Legislature, each with potentially concerning or misguided language. As the author of all provisions incorporated into the 2024 International Zoning Code (IZC) pertaining to ADUs (Section 202 and 903), I’ve studied this issue as it’s been promulgated across 38 states. The responsible means for preserving single-family zoning districts is through the inclusion of a provision that maintains Owner Occupancy in either the primary or accessory dwelling. This facilitates multigenerational, semi-independent living for children staying at home longer, or the care of elderly relatives. Building Permits are still required, and design parameters should be followed; subject to adjustment from one municipality to another. Building Officials are right to express concerns for fire safety insofar as one- and two-family dwellings are regulated differently than multifamily dwellings, and it would behoove the MA Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) to convene a working group to formulate specific language amending 780 CMR – The MA State Building Code to plan for this eventuality.
Addressing Lowell’s unhoused population is going to require bold, new strategies partnering State and Local government action with the organizations directly providing assistance. I propose:
The establishment of a Safe Parking Program modeled on those in Santa Clara and San Diego, CA to provide designated parking spaces overnight in public lots for homeless individuals and families living out of their vehicles to sleep. These sites should provide access to clean restrooms and outreach services.
The establishment of at least one (1) Safe Rest Village within the City of Lowell modeled on the programs in Eugene and Portland, OR to provide a secure, outdoor shelter on public land. This authorized encampment approach should provide access to services like case management, sanitation facilities, and community support.
A concerted effort to identify an alternative site for the Lowell Transitional Living Center in proximity to Downtown Lowell whereupon a new facility may be constructed with expanded services. As an Architect that completed multiple projects at the existing facility to improve life safety and functional needs, there remains much work to be done to adequately address their current and future needs. A new facility should provide additional beds for temporary shelter, additional single-room occupancies (SROs) for those closer to transitioning to permanent housing, be safe, be clean, and handicapped accessible. Case management, life skills training, counseling and mental health services, education and employment assistance, childcare and family support services, and housing assistance programs are critical to resolving poverty in our Community.
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Investing in Lowell’s Future
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure graded Massachusetts a C-. I’ve never been satisfied with academic marks that low, and neither should Lowell. The Commonwealth needs to increase investment in Public Works projects, and provide job training to meet the labor demands associated therewith. Locally there is no clearer symbol of this deficiency than the replacement of the 1983 “temporary” Rourke Bridge, now scheduled to happen between 2025 and 2028. Statewide, of the 5,245 bridges surveyed in 2021, 8.7% were considered “Structurally deficient.” Our aging Police and Fire Services buildings warrant renovations or, if possible, replacement to ensure our first responders have the resources to effectively respond to emergencies. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Lowell Regional Transit Authority (LRTA) face several challenges involving operations and maintenance, fiscal stability, and service reliability. Nearly 2/3 of our roads are in poor or fair condition. We cannot afford inaction.
One possible funding mechanism I reject is Congestion Pricing, a means of fluctuating the price of tolling based on the time of day when road use is higher or lower. I recognize the concept is founded on sound economic supply and demand theory, but find its application as a business practice adverse to the Public interest. Dynamic / Surge Pricing is unappreciated when purchasing concert tickets or booking a ride share, and there’s already enough stress commuting into Boston without additional fees.
Back in 2011, a study was prepared examining the feasibility of extending the Downtown Lowell Trolley Transit system to connect with the Gallagher Transit Terminal, and through the Acre neighborhood to UMass Lowell’s South Campus. The Sun reported in February 2016 that these plans “derailed” citing cost infeasibility. Streetcar rails lay quickly with relatively low disturbance to traffic and local businesses, and there is ample potential for economic revitalization along the length of the expanded trolley network. With substantial new investment via projects like the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, I do not believe Lowell should abandon this vision that would encourage a fun, affordable means of getting around town without the need for a car.
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Unleashing Creativity, Inspiring Connections
If “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good,” what does that make art created by generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)? I believe that is a statement reserved for every Artist to make for themselves, and we have a City of many Artists. To some, AI is a curiosity, a potential tool of production. For others it may be an exciting new outlet for creativity, and some will formally reject it on various grounds. As an Artist myself, I do not seek to impose my perspective on the matter, but rather to define Intellectual Property (IP) protections for designers of every kind in Massachusetts. Generative AI is “trained” to process written prompts as input, and offer an artistic representation thereof as output; however, this training is often sourced unethically. Where the State House has multiple bills filed addressing different aspects of AI (such as disclosures and deep fake video / audio), there is a noticeable omission for artists whose work is misappropriated, and effectively stolen to train an AI engine. Adobe has adopted a model for the responsible usage of AI art by creating an Ethical Framework, and a Content Authenticity Initiative. Where competitors in this market are less keen to follow their example, legislative action can provide necessary guardrails that ensure AI engines are trained using Open Source, Public Domain, and non-Copyrightable images, or those that are both authorized by, and compensate the Artists for use.
At this time, I am tracking two (2) bills to support Artists in our Community:
H. 3240 – An Act relative to procurements services for Artists.
H. 3246 | S.2190 – An Act establishing a program for local art and community engagement.
In sports, our City is fortunate to welcome two new teams to the Tsongas Center: the MA Pirates (Arena Football) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Boston. This comes as a welcome recreational relief following the unfortunate loss of the Lowell Spinners at Edward A. LeLacheur Park. My hope is that advocacy efforts from State and Local Officials can result in a positive collaboration with the UMass Building Authority to renovate the existing facility, and bring back America’s pastime to the wider Community.