On the Trail with Ty: 10/15/18

Hi friends: I’m coming down the home stretch and still meeting lots of fine people. For example, today I met a retired reference librarian who served a long time with our Attleboro library. She gave her adult career to helping Attleboro’s library patrons and is glad for it. I could tell she was a really good librarian and a truly nice lady. Attleboro is a better place because of her.

I also met an 89 year old woman in South Attleboro who loves her cat. She has a big rock that is painted exactly like a cat, guarding her front porch. Funny and quirky, she pretended to shoot us with a shotgun and we laughed together. She made me chuckle often. She said she’ll vote for me simply because I listened to her. Then she grew serious. She was shocked and appalled when she lived in the south as a young woman and saw blatant racism. She was speaking to a Black man on a sidewalk and was lectured by someone, “We don’t do that sort of thing here. You don’t chat with Black men.” I’m not sure why she told me about that racist moment. Perhaps she’s glad to be living up here in Attleboro. I was honored that she shared a powerful moment in her life. A moment that taught her to respect people, no matter their skin color or their ethnicity. She opened up and let me see inside her soul during the few minutes we spoke together.

A powerful visit.

On the Trail with Ty: 10/13/18

1. I want to credit John Corrigan with steady, reliable help with the door to door knocking and handing out of palm cards. John helps me on rainy or threatening days. He is very comfortable knocking on doors and delivering a message of support for me.

I would not be where I am without a dedicated group of volunteers. Jax handles all my social media and special events. Bill is superb at his treasurer’s duties, advice, and puts up signs in tricky spots. Jan organizes the weekly sign holding. And lots of you come to the sign holding on Saturday mornings from 10 am to noon.

I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your warm support. I have made so many new, good friends over the past year during my two campaigns (state rep and city council). It’s been quite a beautiful ride with you. I could not have done this without you.

2. We had a terrific time at the softball game last Sunday. I used muscles that haven’t been touched in many years. The first grounder saw me take a flying tumble, rolling over in the dirt, groping for a ball that I never touched. My white shorts had turned to brown in the process. John smashed two homers. Jax threw several innings of stellar relief. Bill got smacked in a variety of spots by foul balls off his chest and other important bodily parts. We had hot dogs and hamburgs (or turkey burgers) to our heart’s delight. We heard a constant roar of the lion coming from the Capron Park Zoo.

This was pure fun and the campaign/door knocking/sign holding has all been fun. Win or lose, friendships are the best part of our campaign.

To all those who put up signs, give me personal and financial support, knock on doors, wave at passing cars, post my photos and words on social media, and keep me company on this campaign trail.

THANK YOU! I’M HAVING A BLAST!

All the Best,

                                                                 Ty

At the game with State Representative Jim Hawkins

On the Trail with Ty: 10/6/18

A few moments from Saturday during my campaigning in Ward 5B along Oak Hill Avenue via my bike:

1. I was exposed to a screaming tirade from a middle aged man who immediately questioned my political party. I said. “the City Council is non-partisan but I am a registered Democrat.”  The next moment he was yelling at me about Democrats lack of support for our president and Justice Kavanaugh. I stood quietly in his driveway, wondering if I should hop on my bike and get out of his range. During a brief lull in his tirade, I quietly said, “I didn’t come to your home to argue.” He firmly responded, “I am not arguing either.” He never took my palm card, doesn’t have any idea what my campaign thoughts are, and never asked me a question except for my political affiliation.

I turned and left without another word.

2. Ten minutes later, I was greeted by a younger man asking if I was Ty the social worker. He shared with me his experience with the Dept. of Children and Family Services. He and his wife have raised a nine year old girl for the past three years after she was removed from her home by DCF. They have been working towards an DCF goal of adoption. Then the case was switched to another city and the goal suddenly changed to reunification. The girl and her foster parents are dismayed and confused. The girl does not want to return to live with the birth mother, who is currently homeless.

Not sure how this will eventually work out, but I appreciated them seeking my council and did my best to help.

3. I was invited into an 85 year old man’s home. He lamented on the changes in his world and said he wouldn’t want to be growing up now. He lives alone with six children scattered around the country. We both enjoyed chatting for a few minutes at his dining room table. He repeated that he didn’t know too much about politics and hoped I’d come back and visit again.

I felt honored to visit this gentleman. I hope we can help him with a break in his property taxes in this home he’s owned for at least 50 years.

On The Trail with Ty: 10/2/18

1. Hillary pulled into her long dirt driveway and slammed her brakes to say “Hi”, while I stood by my bike. She was excited to meet me and easy to talk with. We chatted about the Attleboro school system. She noted the abrupt rise in class sizes over the past few years, we both agreed that “For Sale” signs are rising, and young couples are moving out of Attleboro in search of another school system. This was a rather bleak look into the future of ours. She hopes we restore French in the high school and Spanish in the middle school.

We agreed that Attleboro was a darn good school system a few years ago and has plenty of excellent teachers. But our system is stressed now. We need to address the class sizes, refocus on foreign languages, and set our educational sights high.

If we rebuild our schools, people will come. Attleboro can become a Field of Dreams.

2. Just before the skies opened up, I met Mike. We talked about seniors needing assistance to keep their homes. Then he stepped back and asked what political party I belonged to. “The City Council is non-partisan”, I answered. “Too Bad”, he responded. “If you told me you were an Independent I would have voted for you. But I could never vote for a Democrat. I just couldn’t do it.”

I quietly looked Mike in the eyes. I asked him, “Don’t you think Republicans and Democrats both care about our Senior Center, library, police and fire departments? Don’t you think we both want the best for Attleboro’s schools? I became a Democrat because JFK saved our world when I was a child. He was strong, calm and determined to stop Russia and protect our country.”

Mike agreed that JFK was a great leader and president. “But times have changed, Ty. Kavanaugh is not guilty. No one can prove he did anything to her (Christine Blasey Ford). They are persecuting the Judge.”

I was quiet for a moment. Mike seemed sad, too. As he turned to shut the door, I said, “Call me sometime. I will try to help you. I don’t judge people simply by their political party.”

As the door closed I thought I heard Mike murmur, “O.K.” Maybe, just maybe, we connected a little bit.

On the Trail with Ty: 9/17/18

1.This is the week my beloved Red Sox will clinch the Eastern Division vs. the Yankees. How fitting that my first experience today in Ward 5A (off South Main St.) was about baseball? As we were inserting a pair of signs at the corner of Mulberry and Lafayette St., a man walked by and told me he enjoyed my book about the 1918 Red Sox. His then 15 year old daughter had given my book to him almost 20 years ago. I signed the book for Steve last year at the Attleboro Community Theatre.

We ended up talking about some of the players of that long ago deadball era. This wasn’t Attleboro politics but it resulted in my putting a sign in Steve’s yard. Great way to start the day.

2. Jose and I met in front of his barn on Pine Street and had a conversation about the Attleboro dump. Jose pays his taxes, which takes care of his weekly trash. Jose feels the dump should remain free. He loves Attleboro. Originally from Portugal, Jose wants his grandchildren to be fluent in both English and his native language. Jose thinks our schools should be teaching several foreign languages at a younger age, instead of simply offering Spanish in High School.

3. Sara on Dunham Street introduced me to Brent, her nine year old son. Brent can hear the teachers better than in the open class he had in fourth grade. He loves doing math. Sarah (Mom) and Brent are delighted he finally has a classroom with real walls.

4. While biking up Park Street towards Sturdy Hospital, I had the good fortune to meet Brenda, who suddenly appeared at her front door. She has a strong feeling for the homeless of our city. Brenda hopes we eventually have a family homeless shelter so struggling families can have a sense of security and warmth. Brenda actually grew up in a shelter on the North Shore of Mass. She wonders if Attleboro residents realize we do have a homeless population. As I left, she mused, “I will suffer for our homeless till the day I die.”

5. While heading back to my car, I stopped my bike in front of a quiet house on Parker Street. I heard a voice from the leafy front steps. It was a middle aged woman bemoaning the fate of her 62 year old sister, who was in the house suffering from Alzheimer’s.  I suggested she speak to one of our social workers at the Larson Senior Center. She sighed again. Her sister wasn’t well and didn’t seem to be trying to help herself. She thanked me for stopping and listening. Wish I could have done more.

6. My last visit was to a past supporter on School Street. This senior lady wants the council and our mayor to get along better. She wants city leaders to be civil and respectful of each other. She wants leadership that does something positive. I was a little surprised when she looked me in the eye, and told me to put up my sign in her yard. Then she asked me to contact Jim Hawkins and put one of his signs up, too. I would be honored to serve her. She’s a tough cookie and a really good soul.

All in all, it was a good day in the heart of Attleboro. Ward 5A is our smallest precinct but a vibrant one.

                                       Keep your chin up.

                                                               Ty