PRESS RELEASES: Friday, Oct. 31, 2008---MassGOP Announces Election Night Plans

Media Advisory: Contact: Barney Keller
October 29th, 2008 617-523-5005 x245

MassGOP Announces Election Night Plans
Victory Celebration To Be Held In Boston

Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Republican Party today announced that they will hold their election night party at LIR Irish Pub in Boston. For election night questions, please contact Barney Keller at (617) 290-1544.

WHAT: Massachusetts Republican Party Election Night Celebration

WHO: MassGOP Chairman Peter Torkildsen

Governor Paul Cellucci

WHERE: LIR Irish Pub and Restaurant

903 Boylston St.

Boston, MA 02115

WHEN: Tuesday, November 4th

8:30 PM

NOTE: Indoor Lighting, Limited Wireless Internet Access

Unsubscribe

PRESS RELEASES: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008---MESLIFE

I just launched a healthy living social network called melslife that is targeted to younger people – "echo boomers" -- like me who want to embrace life, enjoy food, and maintain their health as well as get their entertainment online -- think of a cross between facebook, YouTube, and WebMD. We built 17 distinctive video channels -- including a Smashed Channel -- that will evolve over the next year as we continue to brand them. Whoever posts the most content between now and January can win 2 tickets anywhere in the world.

I graduated college a few years ago and know how difficult college living can be, as well as starting out in life – career wise.

Why "echo boomers?" Check out our demos (http://melslife.com/target_audience.php). Most college students want to be informed and motivated by their peers and not necessarily by experts.

Please help me get the word out.

Melissa "mel" Melcombe

Press Release
Demos
Why Do College Students Gain Weight?

Check it out at
http://melslife.com/

PRESS RELEASES: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008---Hunger in Massachusetts

Hunger in Massachusetts Increases at an Alarming Rate; 522,000 Struggle to Put Food on the Table

Project Bread releases 2008 Status Report on Hunger as many face problems with the basics this winter
October 30, 2008 – Project Bread, the state's leading antihunger organization, has released its annual report on the status of hunger in the Commonwealth. The disquieting trends described in this report point to a sharp and continuing increase in hunger among low-income families and individuals. The report further details the multiple economic effects that hunger has on the Massachusetts economy — especially in the areas of education and health — and argues for systemic solutions designed to address the food insecurity problems of entire populations.

Over eight percent of households in Massachusetts experience "food insecurity," a measurement that captures the degree to which an individual or family cannot obtain adequate nutritious food for a healthy life. "High food prices combined with the current economic crisis are driving a crisis in food insecurity that is broader and deeper than we've seen before in this state," says Ellen Parker, the executive director of Project Bread. "There is every indication that hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts citizens will need help to cover the basics — including many who have never needed help before."

Among Project Bread's findings:

§ Rising food and fuel prices usher in a new era of hunger and there is no evidence to suggest this will change. As the costs of food insecurity and hunger ripple out across the state, the impact on individuals and the economy as a whole is dramatic. Food insecurity and hunger are associated with bad health outcomes and difficulties in learning.


§ Survey research sponsored by Project Bread found fully one-third of school children in high poverty communities live in food-insecure families. Children who are poorly fed do not learn as well in school and are more prone toward obesity and associated health problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.


§ Data currently being collected from Food for Families, a Project Bread–funded hunger-screening project located in the pediatric service of seven community health centers in low-income neighborhoods, reveal more than 70 percent of the families have run out of money to make a meal. Nearly one third of the families say they cut the size of their children's meals or a child missed a meal because there was not enough money.


§ Reports from emergency food providers — soup kitchens, food pantries, food banks, and food salvage operations funded by Project Bread — show increases in the number of families seeking help. From July to September 2008, calls to Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline, an emergency food assistance line available in 160 languages, were 22 percent higher than in the same period of 2007.

The 2008 Status Report on Hunger also advocates for use of every solution available to hungry people, including immediate emergency help to ease the crisis and long-term solutions to manage the problem and stabilize lives:

§ Enroll every eligible resident in the federally funded nutrition programs — including food stamps, school food, after-school programs, and summer meals programs. The programs are available to every eligible citizen and bring millions of dollars into the state.


§ Bring Project Bread's Better Breakfast and Better Lunch guidelines to scale in low-income schools, potentially improving the health of 300,000 low-income school children. As a first line of defense against hunger in school-age children, the nutritional quality of school food should be improved to meet the highest nutritional standards for health and learning.


§ Provide access to Project Bread's toll-free FoodSource Hotline, 1-800-645-8333, available in 160 languages, as the first place for a family or an elder to turn for comprehensive information about emergency food and enrollment in federal benefits programs.


§ Protect isolated, homebound seniors from hunger by distributing emergency grocery vouchers through the existing system of homecare providers.

Project Bread's 2008 Status Report on Hunger in Massachusetts is attached in a PDF file. The complete report presents the data to support our findings and solutions. Ellen Parker, the executive director of Project Bread, wrote the report. For interviews with Parker, please contact Project Bread.

About Project Bread

As the state's leading antihunger organization, Project Bread is dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts. Through The Walk for Hunger, the oldest continual pledge walk in the country, Project Bread provides millions of dollars each year in privately donated funds to over 400 emergency food programs in 128 communities statewide. Project Bread also advocates systemic solutions that prevent hunger in children and that provide food to families in natural, everyday settings. With the support of the Governor and State Legislature, the organization has invested millions in grants to community organizations that feed children where they live, learn, and play. For more information, visit www.projectbread.org.

PRESS RELEASES: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008---New England Ethnic News

Break outside of your ethnic boundaries -- into NEW ENGLAND ETHNIC NEWS (EthnicNEWz.org)!

Highlights on EthnicNEWz.org, a Web site and newswire of UMass-Boston and MIT
(click on headlines and event names to link directly to the stories and Calendar events):

LATINO DISCRIMINATION, ENTREPRENEURS and ANTI-IMMIGRATION IN RHODE ISLAND
Jaime Aguayo, a former member of Gov. Carcieri's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, talks to NEWz about Latino small-business owners in the state (2,000 in all), the Latino student drop-out rate (65% in Providence), Sarah Palin and Latino conservatism, resigning in protest from Carcieri's commission, and a "best kept secret" about discrimination among Latinos.

ITALIANS CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE WORLD
Liborio Stellinuo, the Italian consul general in Boston, takes pride in his ethnic roots in this essay for NEWz and Italian Heritage Month. No longer looked down upon as their Ellis Island forebears were, Italians are now synonymous with beauty, taste and lifestyle, he says.

MY POLISH AMERICA
Stanislaw Radosz, executive director of the Polish Center of Discovery and Learning, gives a heartfelt glimpse of the rich heritage of Poles in the US and Poland, in this essay for NEWz.

WHY DO WE CONSIDER OBAMA TO BE BLACK?
In a commentary for New America Media, Ronald Takaki ponders: Why are all African Americans, regardless of their mixed racial heritage, identified as black?

Genetics and Diet Linked to Diabetes in Latinos

Latinos in the US are twice as likely as whites to develop diabetes. Ignorance, genetics, food choices as well as the portion sizes of foods are linked to the increase, reports NEWz.

Brazilian Guilty in Bomb Attack on Love Rival
A jury has found Brazilian immigrant Joel Lemos guilty in connection with a bomb attack on fellow compatriot José Fernandes do Carmo, reports NEWz.

THE ELECTION OF OUR LIFETIME
NEWz's Eduardo de Oliveira opines on the presidential election, as a Brazilian who's been to the DNC and the rallies of Sen. Clinton and the four presidential and VP candidates.

ON UNIVISION, SARAH PALIN TALKS ABOUT IMMIGRATION FOR FIRST TIME

Univision interviewed VP nominee Sarah Palin on immigration. She devoted more time to Latin America than others in the presidential race have in a while, reports Feet in 2 Worlds.

Vietnamese Group Mobilizes Voters and Voting Power
Viet-Vote, a group of determined Vietnamese in Greater Boston, seeks to increase their community's participation in voting and public affairs, says the Dorchester Reporter.

RI Portuguese and LUSOS Honor Their 50+ Years of Public Service
Lusos in Rhode Island celebrated their political representation at the state level as well as their 50 years of continuous office in the RI Senate, reports O Jornal. * * EM PORTUGUES * *

Gandhi Inspires "Be the Change" Volunteer Day in USA
Inspired by Gandhi, Indians across the USA held a "Be The Change" volunteer day. In Boston, some 100 persons helped the homeless, parks, and other causes, reports INDIA New England.

WALLY'S JAZZ CLUB STILL A CULTURAL ICON, SINCE 1934
Wally's Jazz, Boston's first black-owned club, still draws regulars and top musicians, decades after Barbadian immigrant Joseph Walcott opened it in 1934, reports the Bay State Banner.

KOREAN AMERICAN PRESS LAUNCHES KIM KOO CLUB FOR STUDENTS
Korean American Press, with Tufts University, has created a club of middle- and high-school students to foster Korean heritage and instill civic pride, announces KAP.

IN TIGHT ECONOMY, B'NAI MITZVAH GET BACK TO BASICS
The country's economic crisis is affecting Jewish families, who are cutting back on lavish bat and bar mitzvah, reports The Jewish Advocate.

EVENTS ON THE EthnicNEWz.org CALENDAR:

S. African artist Paul Stop forth (exhibit)…'til Oct. 31…Boston

Gurjar Diwali Festival…Nov. 1…Andover, Mass.

Bhakthi Maargam (Indian dance) …Nov. 1…Littleton, Mass.

TOUMANI DIABATÉ from Mali (music) …Nov. 1…Somerville, Mass.

Mexican Day of the Dead....Nov. 2....Boston (Jamaica Plain)

Latin Views (art exhibit)…'til Nov. 2…Groton, CT

Latino de Oro 2008 Awards...Nov. 8....Hartford


Slavery and African American Life in Rhode Island…Providence, RI

The Colors of Italy (photos)…'til Nov. 8…Providence, RI

Films From Iran, at the Museum of Fine Arts …Nov. 7-30…Boston

See more events at ethnicnewz.org/en/event

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Communities of Color and Ethnic Minorities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont:

Send your festival/event photos, news, and Calendar listings for non-commercial events to: EthnicNews@ yahoo.com.
For Calendar listings, please state in the body of your e-mail:
• what the event is (e...g., play, film, book reading, art exhibition)
• time & date of event
• street address (so that new visitors can find you)
• Web site address and/or telephone number for the public
• cost
• brief description of event

PRESS RELEASE: Thursday, Oct. 30---Faith Leaders on Question 2

AN OPEN LETTER TO MASSACHUSETTS CLERGY AND FAITH LEADERS

To our fellow brothers and sisters in service to God and all of God's children,

Leaders of all faiths are called to certain acts of service: to minister to the poor, to visit the imprisoned, to clothe the needy, feed the hungry and, through God's word, bring peace and comfort to all. Those of us who do this work are often called shepherds. It's an image that is reassuring and captures the great responsibilities that come with this calling – to literally help guide and protect the innocent, the unknowing or the unsuspecting from the dangers that life so often presents. We do this with humility and recognition of our own limitations but also with confidence in God's assistance to help us to see clearly and speak with courage.

Today the people we serve are facing a grave threat and we are reaching out to all of you for help. Next Tuesday, the citizens of Massachusetts are being asked to consider a ballot question that would decriminalize marijuana - a drug surrounded by so much myth that minimizes the risks it poses and the harm that it does. This is an issue that transcends politics. It has a direct bearing on the physical health, the intellectual development, the personal safety and the spiritual growth of thousands and thousands of our young people. Therefore, we have a responsibility to see this issue for what it is and, with one voice, urge all parents, all grown-ups and all people of good will to speak for our children and reject this initiative.

We intend to carry this message to our congregations this weekend. We are respectfully but urgently asking that you also share this message with your congregations and in your communities. We need people to understand that there is no good reason to decriminalize marijuana and very many good reasons not to.

As ministers whose congregations are predominantly people who are poor and of color we look at this threat with the great concern because it is one with which we are already all too familiar. The history of drug and alcohol abuse in society in general, and among the poor and communities of color, is well known and dangerous to ignore or forget. It is a history whose pages are filled with individual and collective stories of pain, violence, loss, exploitation and wasted potential.

For some who do not live in inner city neighborhoods, marijuana use might be regarded as a victimless crime or even a rite of passage. In the communities we serve however, the reality is very different. Marijuana is a common denominator substance used in connection with many other crimes. Marijuana is a big business and its dealers do not hesitate to use violence to protect sales and turf. Finally, marijuana dealers look at our children as their growth market.

The proponents are arguing that possession of less than an ounce of marijuana should be treated as a civil offense and the offender should receive a fine of just $100. What most people fail to recognize is that an ounce of marijuana is no small amount. It's the equivalent of about 60 joints and can fetch up to $600 on the street. In addition, most street sales are being made in "dime" bag, eighth-of-an-ounce or quarter-of-an-ounce quantities. The result is that this ballot initiative doesn't protect kids, but it does create tremendous legal protection for drug dealers!

Proponents have misrepresented the penalties kids suffer from marijuana and CORI records. As ministers, we have and will continue to advocate for CORI reform. We know full well the long-lasting impact of a criminal record. At the same time, we have found no basis in fact for the oft repeated stories about thousands of individuals who have supposedly missed out on job opportunities or college educations because they "got caught just once with a joint."

Finally, proponents have completely ignored the facts around marijuana and its health effects. The increased potency of the drug – it is now 9 times more potent than just a few decades ago – has led to dramatic increases in young people seeking treatment for marijuana dependency. Over the past decade, objective and unassailable medical and scientific evidence are showing that the dangers of marijuana use has been underestimated, including its direct links to cancer, depression, mental illness and other health problems.

Friends, we cannot afford to ignore facts and buy into myths and urban legend. We are ministering to young people who are struggling against significant social and economic obstacles to succeeding in school. Decriminalizing marijuana will only hamper our efforts to close the achievement gap between rich and poor, white and black students. We are ministering to young parents who are struggling against significant social and economic obstacles to hold their families together. Decriminalizing marijuana will not make any family stronger. We are ministering to communities who are yearning and working and striving for social justice and economic opportunity. Decriminalizing marijuana will only bring more crime and destabilization.

We are asking for your help to carry this message forward. Please, in the coming days, share this message with your followers and your friends. May God bless and keep you,

Rev. Jeffrey Brown Pastor William Dickerson

Executive Director Greater Love Tabernacle

Boston Ten Point Coalition Dorchester

Minister Don Muhammad Pastor Ray Hammond

Minister of Muhammad's Mosque Bethel AME Church

of Islam, Mosque # 11 Board Chair, Boston Ten Point Coalition

Board Member, Black Ministerial Alliance

Pastor Bruce Wall Rev. Gregory Groover

Bruce Wall Ministries Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church

Dorchester Vice-president, Black Ministerial Alliance

PRESS RELEASE: Thursday, Oct. 30---Security and Auditability of Electronic Voting Machines

Security and Auditability of Electronic Voting Machines

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Interviews Available

PENNY VENETIS, 973-353-5687, 917-617-3524, pennyv@kinoy.rutgers.edu, http://www.northjersey.com/news/elections/31220364.html
Venetis is plantiff's counsel in a four-year lawsuit spearheaded by the Constitutional Litigation Clinic at Rutgers School of Law. According to expert reports conducted as a part of the lawsuit, "approximately 10,000 voting machines used in 18 out of the 21 counties in New Jersey can be manipulated to throw an election." The report concluded that "vote-stealing software can be easily installed in the AVC Advantage [Sequoia electronic voting machines] in less than eight minutes. The technical knowledge needed to write vote-stealing software is widespread and common."
Venetis said today: "The possibility for disenfranchisement due to voting machine insecurities puts at risk the more than 5 million registered New Jersey voters. It is most unfortunate that the state continues to defend these insecure voting systems."

DAVID JEFFERSON, (925) 989-3701, d_jefferson@yahoo.com, http://people.llnl.gov/jefferson6
Jefferson is a computer scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. He has also served as a technical advisor to five Secretaries of State of California on issues related to elections and voting, and has led or participated in several formal studies of voting system reliability and security. He said today: "The most important property that a voting system can have is meaningful and transparent auditability. We must not depend on the reliability of hardware or the correctness of software. Even if the voting system is proprietary and is riddled with bugs, security vulnerabilities, or even malicious code, we must be able to demonstrate we can detect the problem and call the winners properly anyway, and do so in such a way that even the losing candidates will be convinced of the correctness of the outcome. Today this is only practically achievable with scanned paper ballots (or to a lesser extent, a voter-verified paper audit trail) accompanied by a mandatory, statistically sound, risk-based post-election audit procedure."

MICHAEL ALVAREZ, JONATHAN KATZ, [via Jon Weiner], (626) 395-3227, jrweiner@caltech.edu, http://www.vote.caltech.edu/
Alvarez and Katz are both professors of political science at Caltech. They are also co-directors of the Caltech/MIT Voting Technology Project.

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020, (202) 421-6858; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

PRESS RELEASE: Thursday, Oct. 30---MySpace/NBC/WSJ Poll of New and Lapsed Voters

NEW MYSPACE/NBC/WSJ POLL OF NEW AND LAPSED VOTERS

Wednesday, October 29th

Here are some of the highlights of the poll findings:

· Obama has support of 69% of this voting bloc.

· This bloc makes up 13% of the total electorate.

· 70% of these voters are extremely interested in the election and are likely voters.

· At this level of support among new and lapsed voters, even if Obama only won half of all other voters (those who DID vote in 2004), he would win the presidency with 52.5% of the vote.

· In fact, his support among all other voters could drop as low as 47.3%, and he would still win the presidency with 50.1% of the total vote based on the support of new and lapsed voters. (This is based on popular vote, not necessarily Electoral College).

Thus, if these voters actually come out to the polls, then their support will secure a win for Obama.

· 64% of these voters say no matter who wins, the country will be better off in 4 years.

· Desired agenda for the next administration are big picture items, like: Good jobs, fixing Wall Street, lowering healthcare costs, insurance for more Americans, Iraq, and lowering the federal deficit.

· This voting bloc is optimistic about the future, even if they overwhelmingly think the country is currently on the wrong path.

· This voting bloc thinks the current economic crisis is the fault of numerous groups (ie not just Wall Street, but also Congress, Bush, homeowners, etc)

· Download the full poll results here.

· Blog: Interpreting the numbers
by Lee Brenner, Executive Producer of Political Programming & Director of MySpace IMPACT.

For more information please visit the IMPACT channel at http://www.impact.myspace.com

About MySpace IMPACT
MySpace IMPACT's goal is to empower users to make a difference in the world by building partnerships and programs focused on voter education, voter registration, and voter turnout. To educate MySpace users about candidates and issues, the company teamed up with MTV in the primary season to produce a series of highly interactive candidate town hall events geared toward young and first-time voters called the MySpace/MTV Presidential Dialogues; partnered with NBC News and msnbc.com to deliver high-quality election coverage and citizen journalism opportunities to users through a hub called Decision08; and worked with the Commission on Presidential Debates to power MyDebates.org, the official online companion to the Presidential Debates. MySpace IMPACT's online voter registration is powered by the non-profit nonpartisan organization Declare Yourself.

Jamie Schumacher

MySpace
Public Affairs
407 North Maple Drive, 2nd Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 969-7087 office
(415) 341-2594 mobile
jschumacher@myspace.com

PRESS RELEASE: Thursday, Oct. 30---Question 2: Medical Concerns about Marijuana

No on Question 2:
Medical community warns of significant marijuana health threat

Marijuana today is more potent, addictive, and dangerous than ever, according to latest medical research. And, the Coalition for Safe Streets today urged voters to reject Question 2 and the health threat it poses for our children and communities.

Renowned health experts - from Joseph Califano, former Secretary of Health Education and Welfare and head of Columbia's National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse, to The Lancet, the world's leading liberal medical journal - are warning about the negative impacts of marijuana on health.

Marijuana potency has increased 175 percent in the past 14 years, and the number of youth admitted for treatment has leapt almost 500 percent in the same period. Marijuana has also been linked to depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and other mental health problems in youth

This overwhelming research has prompted health and education leaders from across the state, including MADD, SADD, Community VOICES, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, and many others, to publicly oppose Question 2 and marijuana decriminalization.

District Attorney Dan Conley: Reject Question 2
In an op-ed appearing in today's Allston-Brighton TAB, Suffolk County District Attorney urged voters to Vote No on Question 2.

The Economist Magazine has called Question 2 the most radical marijuana ballot initiative in the country, and today DA Conley said if Question 2 passes, Massachusetts can expect to face "increased health costs, traffic injuries and fatalities, increased law enforcement costs, lost productivity, lowered workplace safety, and the heavy toll of addiction on communities and families."

Brockton Enterprise: Vote No on Question 2
Today, the Brockton Enterprise joined the Boston Globe, Herald, Worcester Telegram, Lowell Sun, Cape Cod Times and other papers around Massachusetts in condemning Question 2.

In its editorial urging voters to reject Question 2, the Brockton Enterprise spoke of the negative health effects of marijuana, calling the drug "a mind- and mood-altering substance that affects cognitive abilities and reasoning."

The Coalition for Safe Streets invites you read these and other stories at the links below.

For more information on Question 2, and to visit our Web site, click on the Vote No on 2 image above. A member of the No Question 2 staff can also be reached at info@noquestion2.org .

Sincerely,

The Coalition for Safe Streets

The Latest No on Question 2 Headlines

The Brockton Enterprise says Question 2 is a "solution in search of a problem" and urges voters to Vote No.

Newton Police debunk the myth that Question 2 would actually save money - "I don't see a cost savings," Lt. Bruce Apotheker told the Newton TAB. "The ramifications ... might have officers spending more time in the aftermath, like people driving under the influence of marijuana."

Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. says "the great decay and the great scourge of our communities has been drugs," and urged voters to reject Question 2.

Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley asked Massachusetts to say no to marijuana decriminalization, saying "Question 2 will embolden drug dealers and erase the threat of criminal prosecution."
Allston-Brighton TAB
Perspective: Vote 'No' on Question 2
By Daniel F. Conley/Suffolk County District Attorney
Tue Oct 28, 2008, 07:23 PM EDT

BOSTON -
On Nov. 4, Massachusetts voters will be asked to choose whether they want our state, our communities, and our families to be the testing ground for the most radical marijuana ballot initiative in the country. Voters will choose between a steadily declining rate of marijuana use among teenagers and the message that drug use is safe and acceptable.

Passage of Question 2 will decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of marijuana and replace criminal sanctions with a fine. For kids under 21, the penalties for marijuana possession will be reduced well below the penalties for alcohol possession. Drug use and abuse will increase among children and adults. Our communities and families - not the well-heeled, out-of-state proponents of Question 2 - will be left to deal with the consequences.

Kids who smoke marijuana are more likely to do poorly in school, more likely to require counseling, more likely to engage in violence, and more likely to get behind the wheel of a car while high. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, 41 percent of teens are not concerned about driving high on marijuana - a shocking number considering drivers who have smoked pot are 10 times more likely to be injured or injure others in automobile crashes.

Question 2 will embolden drug dealers and erase the threat of criminal prosecution. Despite the efforts to paint an ounce as something too small to be worth the attention of the police and courts, the fact is that one ounce of marijuana is worth from $400 to $600 and represents about 60 individual sales. And where does that ounce come from? It comes from the pounds of marijuana that traffickers will bring here and cut up in our neighborhoods once there is no downside to retailing the drug.

Question 2's supporters argue that existing laws unfairly and harshly punish people whose only crime was carrying a joint. But it simply isn't true.

Not one person went to jail last year in Suffolk County for a first-time marijuana offense alone. In fact, of the marijuana convictions that did end with a jail sentence, each one was handed down because the defendant was also carrying a gun, committing a violent crime, or pushing drugs like heroin and cocaine.

Our current marijuana laws are far from draconian - they're reasonable, graduated, and appropriate. Simple possession is punishable by six months of probation, with the case dismissed afterwards. A defendant's criminal record is wiped clean and his or her CORI record is sealed and inactive.

Perhaps most importantly, the passage of Question 2 would remove the single largest referrer of drug abusers to treatment programs - the criminal justice system. That's a massive loss to individuals who wouldn't otherwise admit that they need help. In place of that assistance, Massachusetts will end up with increased health costs, traffic injuries and fatalities, increased law enforcement costs, lost productivity, lowered workplace safety, and the heavy toll of addiction on communities and families.

I urge you to vote no on Question 2 next week.


About the Coalition for Safe Streets
The Coalition for Safe Streets is a grassroots organization composed of the state's 11 district attorneys, sheriffs, chiefs of police and educational, religious, community, political, public health and business leaders who strongly oppose efforts to make illicit drugs more readily available in our communities. The Coalition for Safe Streets was formed to educate the public about the dangers of Question 2 on the November ballot, a radical proposal to decriminalize marijuana in the Commonwealth that will put more drugs on our streets, empower the drug dealers who sell them, put more drivers - particularly young people - behind the wheel of a car under the influence of drugs, and send the wrong message to our young people. For more information, and to visit our Website, click on the Vote No on 2 image above.

Our Supporters:
Mass. Governor Deval Patrick

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino

Attorney General Martha Coakley

U.S. Senator John Kerry

Mass. State Rep. Martin Walsh

Reverend William Dickerson

Pastor Eugene Rivers

Reverend Michael Person

Minister Don Muhammad

Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone

Kevin Peterson, Ella J. Baker House, Dorchester

Majors William and Susan Dunigan, Jubilee House, Salvation Army

Gladys Vega, Chelsea Collaborative

Emmett Folgert, Dorchester Youth Collaborative

Robert Repucci, CAPIC (Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc.)

Alexandra Oliver-Davila, Sociedad Latina

Reverend Shaun Harrison, Bird Street Community Center

Jeremy Galvin, The Gavin House

Lisa Morales, Inquilinos Boricuas en Accion (IBA), South End

Boston TenPoint Coalition

Community Voices

Mass. Association of Superintendents

Mass. Chiefs of Police Association

Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Students Against Drunk Driving

EVENT: Friday, Oct. 31---The Global Financial Crisis: Implications for Emerging Local Capital Markets

Friday, October 31, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.:

The Global Financial Crisis: Implications for Emerging Local Capital Markets—A CEME Local Capital Markets Seminar
Cabot Intercultural Center 7th Floor, The Fletcher School, Tufts University Campus

In a timely seminar that will provide essential information for financial and economic professionals in today's market, CEME will explore the implications of the current financial crisis on EM local capital markets. The current global credit crisis is impacting financial markets around the world—including those in emerging markets (EM). While this global crisis remains ongoing, some of the consequences for EM local capital markets and the implications for market development are already evident. Topics will include regional differences, the roles of the public and private sectors in facilitating private market access, and drivers for future development. Speakers from CEME, The Fletcher School, the World Bank, IFC, and the private sector will provide presentations and in-depth panel discussions around key topics, including: The Evolution of Local Capital Market Financing for the Private Sector; Potential Consequences of the Global Financial Crisis for Local Capital Markets; and Priorities for Market Development Policy Strategy to Facilitate Private Sector Access to Local Capital Markets. Regional differences and impacts will also be explored.

*This seminar includes lunch. Seating is limited. Please RSVP by contacting ceme@tufts.edu.

EVENT: Thursday, Oct. 30---Foundations, Enterprises, and Market Solutions to Poverty

CENTER FOR EMERGING MARKET ENTERPRISES EVENTS THIS WEEK

Please join the Center for Emerging Market Enterprises (CEME) at The Fletcher School, Tufts University for two unique events this week.

Thursday, October 30, 5:30 p.m.:

Foundations, Enterprises, and Market Solutions to Poverty
Featuring Kathryn Fuller,
Chair of the Board, Ford Foundation

and Reeta Roy, F89
President & CEO, MasterCard Foundation

The Coolidge Room, Ballou Hall, Tufts University Campus

Please join the CEME as we host two high-profile figures from the foundation world to discuss market-based solutions to global poverty. Ms. Kathryn Fuller, Chair of the Board of the Ford Foundation, and Ms. Reeta Roy, F89, President & CEO of the MasterCard Foundation will discuss their own personal and professional paths as well as innovative initiatives by foundations to promote enterprise and responsible commerce. This is a must-attend event for anyone interested in sustainable and innovative solutions to global philanthropy.

*A reception will follow the presentation. Seating is limited. Please RSVP by contacting ceme@tufts.edu.