State Senate Candidate Diana Hwang Delivers Over 1,000 Petitions to Save Late Night T Service

(BOSTON- March 23, 2016) State senate candidate Diana Hwang delivered almost 1,100 petitions yesterday to the MBTA’s Fiscal Management Control Board urging them to restore late night T service.  The service’s last night of operation was Friday, even after a decision by the control board to cut the service drew criticism from Federal officials for failing to determine if cutting the service would unfairly impact low income communities and people of color.

Two weeks ago, Hwang, along with State Senators Linda Dorcena Forry and Sonia Chang-Díaz who have endorsed her candidacy, called on the control board to complete their equity analysis before closing the service.  The analysis, which was completed last week, showed exactly what Hwang, Forry and Chang-Díaz suspected – that it will have a disparate impact on low income and minority residents.

“Over a thousand people joined me today in saying ‘enough is enough’ when it comes to decisions being made behind close doors that hurt our communities,” said Diana Hwang.  “There are so many residents in the 1st Suffolk and Middlesex district who rely on the T operating at later hours on the weekend so they can go to and from work.  People feel like they aren’t being listened to, and that they need a voice in the halls of power.  That’s why I’m running for State Senate.”


Delivered with the over one thousand petitions from residents was the following letter:


March 21, 2016

Dear Members of the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board:

The MBTA’s financial difficulties are well-known and documented. We have a history, as a state, of under-investing in public transportation and last year’s deplorable service interruptions brought this issue to a painful head.  I certainly appreciate the difficult work you are doing to rectify the situation and I fully support raising the revenue we need for public transportation by increasing the tax rate on millionaires.

However, I feel strongly that we cannot cut MBTA costs at the expense of the hard working men and women who use late-night service to travel to and from the jobs they desperately need to feed and shelter their families. Your own equity analysis showed that these cuts hurt low-income riders the most. East Boston is ground zero for this concern.  It is physically impossible for late-shift workers who work downtown or in other parts of the city to walk home to East Boston after their shift ends.  And a cab ride can cost them hours of pay.  Late-night service shouldn’t be a luxury. Rather than eliminating it on weekends we should be working towards expanding it to weekdays.

Recently, I urged the MBTA to reconsider and now, more than 1000 individuals have joined me by signing a petition asking you to do the same (see an enclosed list of their names).   I ask that you do whatever you can to accommodate the transportation needs of those who so desperately rely on recently terminated late night service.

Sincerely,

Diana Hwang

Candidate for State Senate, 1st Suffolk & Middlesex District

Diana Hwang, a Democrat of East Boston, is a candidate for State Senate for 1st Suffolk and Middlesex representing Chinatown, Downtown, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, parts of Cambridge and North Suffolk County including East Boston, Winthrop and Revere.  The special election democratic primary is on Tuesday, April 12.

Source:  Cayce McCabe
press@dianaforsenate.com

New England Regional Council of Carpenters Endorses Diana Hwang for State Senate

Source: Hwang Campaign

(Boston, MA 3/2/2016)– The New England Regional Council of Carpenters today endorsed Democrat Diana Hwang for State Senate.  Hwang, a local non-profit founder and former State House staffer, is a candidate to replace Anthony Petruccelli in the Democratic primary special election for Massachusetts’ First Suffolk and Middlesex State Senate District.

“We're proud to endorse Dianna because she understands and cares about the issues in our industry and in our members' day-to-day lives. The construction trades have traditionally provided career options with good pay and good benefits for those who aren't able or willing to follow the college path. Unfortunately, we've seen industry standards eroded as too many vulnerable workers have been the victims of contractors and an underground economy that thrives on wage theft, misclassification and dangerous worksites,” said Mark Erlich, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, New England Regional Council of Carpenters. “We're confident that Diana's knowledge and experience will help us in our fight to provide justice, safety, training and jobs with good wages and benefits for all of the workers in our industry, whether they belong to a union or not.”

“I’m a candidate for State Senate because I will be a voice for working families, which is why I’m proud to have the Carpenters by my side in this race,” Hwang remarked. “The Carpenters have been fighting for living wages, health care, quality jobs, safe working conditions and other critically important issues for many years. I have spent my career working within the system to change the system so that families like the ones represented by the Carpenters have a voice on Beacon Hill. If elected I will work as a full partner with the Carpenters on issues I know are important to both of us – and to the people of the First Suffolk & Middlesex District.”

The NERCC represents over 20,000 carpenters, pile drivers, shop & millmen, and floorcoverers working in the New England States, including all across Massachusetts. NERCC is part of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, one of North America’s largest building trades unions, with nearly a half-million members in the construction and wood-products industries.

The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Diana Hwang is the founder of the Asian-American Women’s Political Initiative – the country’s first political leadership organization for young Asian-American women.  She previously served as a legislative aide in the State House and a Chief of Staff in the Boston City Council.  Diana serves as Board member of the UMass Center for Women in Politics, served as co-chair of the Boston Women’s Fund and is a founding member of Mayor Walsh’s Women’s Commission.  Diana currently lives in East Boston and previously lived in Revere.

# # #

Full press release: Diana Hwang announces candidacy for State Senate

Diana Hwang announces candidacy for State Senate
Advocate and former State House staffer has already raised $50,000 in race to replace Petruccelli

Boston, MA -- Diana Hwang, a resident of East Boston, founder of the Asian-American Women’s Political Initiative, and former State House staffer, announced her candidacy to replace Anthony Petruccelli in the Democratic primary special election for Massachusetts’ First Suffolk and Middlesex State Senate District.

“I’m running for State Senate because a district as diverse as ours needs someone who understands its needs and fights for every community and constituency,” said Hwang.  “As the daughter of immigrants, my story is the story of this district. I’ve  worked for my entire career within the system to change the system and I know first-hand the power government has to improve our lives.”

Ileana Cintron, an East Boston activist and member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, has endorsed Diana Hwang in this race.

"I'm excited and honored to support Diana’s campaign and lifelong mission of increasing access to government and giving voice to those who don't feel heard or represented,” said Cintron, “Diana has built relationships and has the know-how and political savvy to solve problems and get things done.  She will make a strong Senator and bring a new energy and voice for the people of this district.”

Diana also announced today that her campaign raised over $50,000 in the last two weeks of 2015, an unusually strong showing for a first-time candidate.

“Diana is one of our  brightest and most committed young progressive leaders. She has almost 10 years’ experience advocating for women, immigrants, and working families and has done so across three very different sectors: state government, city government, and non-profits. And Diana has already shown her commitment to running a strong campaign by raising more than $50,000 during the last two weeks of December. She will have the resources needed to win an incredibly short special election,” said Former Massachusetts State Treasurer Steve Grossman, who will serve on Hwang’s finance committee.

Diana began her career as the sole staff member to the late State Representative Debbie Blumer where she drafted and guided key legislative proposals on immigrants’ rights and affordable health care. After Rep. Blumer’s untimely death, Diana served as Executive Director for the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, where she promoted legislation on critical issues to women and families such as healthcare, domestic violence and public education.

In 2008, seeing the lack of opportunities for Asian-American women in politics, Diana created the Asian-American Women’s Political Initiative (AAWPI). It was the country’s first leadership initiative specifically focused on getting Asian-American women into politics. Over the last 6 years, nearly 50 young women completed a State House fellowship and mentoring program. Most have gone on to work on political campaigns, in legislative offices, or in other politically active roles.

The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Diana Hwang has also previously served as chief-of-staff to an At-Large Boston City Councilor.  Outside of work, Diana has been a leading advocate for women in Massachusetts, serving as Board member of the Center for Women in Politics (UMass); as co-chair of the Boston Women’s Fund; and as a founding commissioner for Mayor Marty Walsh’s Women’s Commission.  Diana currently lives in East Boston’s Orient Heights neighborhood and previously lived in Revere.

State Senator Anthony Petruccelli announced last month that he would be leaving the State Senate to take a new job, setting up a special election on May 10.  The Democratic primary will be held on Tuesday April 12.  Massachusetts’ First Suffolk and Middlesex state senate district includes Revere, Winthrop and parts of Cambridge and Boston, including East Boston, Beacon Hill, North End, Chinatown, Bay Village, West End and Waterfront.

# # #