Tag / door to door

by J.A.

It feels good to be back in Attleboro

Jan and I had a wonderfully relaxing vacation camping near the ocean in the Acadia region of Maine. After 8 days to recharge our batteries, I went out today along Holden and North Main Streets in Ward 3B.
I met a lawyer, policeman, construction foreman and a retired World War 2 veteran along with many other interesting people. I heard an elderly woman vent her concerns about speeding on Holden Avenue and the difficulty of walking across the street even in the crosswalks. I tried several times myself, very few cars let me across. They could use a crosswalk with lights.
I met a woman who helps DCF children reunite with their families and find affordable housing. We agreed that housing is a huge problem for many lower income families. It’s such a big problem that it will require a concerted effort by all of our Attleboro’s civic and political leaders.
I met a policeman who needs to be both a social worker and a counselor in his day to day patrol. I assured him I will be supportive and listen to our police, especially when handling tough situations. As a social worker, I have been assisted by police in Boston and Attleboro throughout my career. He had a John McCain sign on his front yard and we agreed that Senator McCain was a truly great American.
I was invited into the home of an 89 year old World War 2 veteran of the Army Air Force. He shared his Army photos and certificates displayed in his living room. We talked about the need to help the elderly and the importance of the great work our senior center does. This beautiful couple has been married 66 years and were delighted to bring me into their home. It was definitely an honor to be with them.
It feels good to be back in Attleboro.
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by J.A.

Vote Yes to Education

Friends – –  I met an enthusiastic young woman in South Attleboro today knocking on doors on Robinson Ave. I told Bethany I will be a strong education supporter… and Bethany told me about the day in Attleboro High School when she walked into Latin class and was told her teacher was gone and Latin was cancelled for the rest of the year … and beyond.

I looked Bethany in the eye and told her I would vote NO to layoffs during the school year. I told her I want Attleboro schools to return to the level we were at before the massive layoffs a few years ago. Bethany go excited and told me she would definitely vote for me.

I also met a woman who is an aide in our school system. She was offered no pay raise this year and was deeply offended. Her union fought back and helped her get a tiny raise but she won’t forget the slap in the face when told she didn’t deserve a raise. We need dedicated teacher aides in Attleboro…. and we want them to feel appreciated.

Every day I meet teachers, aides, students and voters like Bethany who want stronger schools in our city. We will be building a new high school… lets continue to build what happens inside the classrooms!

If you want to volunteer to hold signs and canvass with me in September and October, please let me know (508-577-1412). Attleboro can be the strongest city school system in Massachusetts.  Let’s invest in our youth!

by J.A.

Reaching out to home bound seniors

I was knocking and biking for six hours of campaigning in Ward One today (So. Attleboro). My message is ringing true. We need to reach out more to home bound seniors.
Today I met a 90 year old man. Albert lost his wife last year, just got out of the hospital with a heart issue, is racked with loneliness since nobody has visited him since he got back home. “I am lonely”, he stammered. “The Visiting Nurses haven’t seen me.” Albert didn’t know what to do. I suggested he call his primary care doctor and request a referral so the VNA can see him. He had no idea that he needed to talk with his primary. The social worker at the hospital had not set up home visits. He was lost. All his friends are gone.
Albert is sick with loneliness, anxiety, and confusion. He has no one to love him.
Attleboro needs to budget and hire an outreach worker for the Senior Center. I plan to work on this project should I be elected in November. The budget is tight and but I intend to do everything in my power to find the money to approve an outreach worker to support Attleboro’s homebound seniors.
Today, I also met Edie, an 84 year old South Attleboro woman who lives alone in her apartment. She was delighted to open the door when I knocked. “Come on in”, she said. “Ty, can you help me get a job? No one wants me to work anymore. I can’t survive just on social security. My car has broken down and I can’t drive anymore. I don’t have the money for another car but I’ll keep on looking.”
I suggested she call the Senior Center and ask how to purchase Dial-a-ride tickets. “Better yet, you could go up to the Senior Center and have lunch five days a week. You could play cards, bingo, join a sewing group, lots of fun activities. It beats sitting here by yourself listening to the TV all day long.”
By the time I left her apartment, Edie was smiling and said “Thank you, Ty. I’m going to make that call.”
But Edie needs a follow up call lest she sink back into her depressed state of mind. She needs an outreach worker who will bring her to the Senior Center for lunch, introduce her to a few seniors, and show her how to buy the Dial–Ride Tickets, and set her on the path of the living.
Edie has a beautiful smile…. all she needs is a helping hand.
Albert and Edie live on streets all over Attleboro. Let’s introduce them to the Larson Senior Center. Let’s reach out to them.
After all ….. someday each of us could be in the same predicament as Albert and Edie….
From a day on Ty’s Campaign Trail… July 12, 2018.
by J.A.

Door to Door, catch up with Ty, Attleboro!

For the past two days I have been knocking on residential doors adjacent to Highland Avenue in South Attleboro, Ward 1B. As usual, I meet lots of folks who embrace the priorities I hold dear for Attleboro, with an occasional nay-sayer that might ask my political affiliation.
The message of:
  1. Reaching out to Attleboro Seniors who might be home bound and unlikely to get into the Senior Center very often rings true with most folks. Just about everyone agrees that we need to visit seniors and find out if they need help. Many seniors bravely face health issues, financial constraints and loneliness. They are normally very friendly with me and appreciate being visited. While our local senior center does fine work, we can always do more outreach. This is a message that resonates with most people I see.
  2. Public Education; There is almost universal support for maintaining and continuing to build a first-rate public education in Attleboro. We need to continue rebuilding what we lost when the massive teacher layoffs occurred a few years back. Most people seem to agree that this is important work for the city to do.
  3. I do a lot of listening, especially with seniors, who are anxious about their ability to pay the increases in their property taxes to build the new high school. When I voted yes on the high school I had decided this was a worthwhile expenditure of my retirement income. But many seniors don’t have a nest egg of savings and retirement income. I hope Attleboro will design a way to help Seniors who are struggling to pay their property taxes. I don’t anyone to feel they have to give up their homes or move out of the city because of the new high school. I probably talk to a dozen seniors daily who are fearful for their financial and housing future.
  4. Most people are very satisfied with the fire and police departments. I want to applaud them for the great work they do. I am particularly pleased with the way our Police and Fire Dept. help people with mental health issues. I hope everyone got a chance to read Saturday’s Sun-Chronicle, which focused on mental health issues in our state and in Attleboro. If you didn’t see the front page story, you can take a look at it in our library.
  5. YEAH for the city purchasing Highland Country Club’s 93 acres. I applaud the city council for unanimously voting for the purchase, and Paul Heroux for his vision and advocacy for the city owning Highland. Their may be different usages of the property including weddings and special events around and inside the building. But I hope it is used primarily as a park where we can feel peace and quiet.
Finally, if my message connects with you, please consider asking me to visit you and also consider putting up one of my signs. You can reach me at 508-577-1412 or via Email at tyattleboro@gmail.com.
I have discovered that four hours of knocking on doors via my bicycle is best for me. I try to extend myself and am in reasonably good shape. But my mind starts to lose focus after about four hours. Campaigning door-to -door is a marathon (four months to go) and not a sprint.

So, if I don’t reach your door, please invite me when I’m in your part of the city.