State Funding for ACCESS Fully Restored

August 4, 2008 – ACCESS is very happy to announce that, late last week, the Massachusetts House and Senate voted to override Governor Patrick's reduction of the ACCESS line item and have fully restored our funding to its original level of $350,000!

Your phone calls and emails to State Legislators on our behalf were instrumental in conveying the importance of our programs and generating strong support in both houses. Thank you for taking the time to lend your voice in support of ACCESS and the important work we do for the young people of Boston.

ACCESS is very grateful that our line item was included among those overridden because not all of the Governor's vetoes were; in fact, more than half of his vetoes were allowed to stand. In particular, we would like to thank Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi, Senate President Therese Murray, Ways and Means Chairs Rep. Robert DeLeo and Sen. Steve Pangiotakis, as well as Representative Martha Walz for her steadfast support and leadership. Thanks to the clarity of our mission, the value of our goals and the leadership of the aforementioned legislators, the House and Senate both came to understand how vital ACCESS’s programs are to the future of Boston’s young people and the city’s economy as a whole.

While ACCESS will be sending formal thank you notes to every legislator who helped make this happen, it would be wonderful if you would also reach out to any legislator you may have contacted and let them know that their efforts have not gone unnoticed. You can find contact information for your Senator and Representative here.