Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray told members of the Asian-American community he would “support anything that will make it easier for people to vote” on Monday, one of many issues he addressed at a discussion in Chinatown.
More than 50 citizens from Chinatown and its surrounding areas attended the discussion at the Asian American Civic Association.
Murray addressed members of the Asian American community about housing, education and ballots.
“[We are] making sure that seniors and veterans have affordable housing,” Murray said. “It’s about making sure we are building housing near transportation and [providing] educational opportunities.”
Murray also discussed education and employment opportunities for residents.
He said he is working on “raising efforts across Massachusetts” to get teens and workers better education and employment opportunities.
Many citizens in Chinatown said they also concerned about voting rights and bilingual ballots.
Henry Yee, co-director of the Chinatown Resident Association, said he was frustrated with the lack of bilingual ballots.
The Asian-American community has been “fighting for many years” for bilingual ballots, he said.
“We don’t want to be doing this for another seven years, and it’s not getting anywhere,” Yee said.
Murray said Massachusetts would continue to be a state that “welcomes immigrants” and “celebrates the diversity” of a state that is only strong collectively.
“Philosophically, we want to support and encourage anything that will make it easier for people to vote,” Murray said.
Jingli Kiger, a Brookline resident with “lots of friends in Chinatown,” told Murray she was concerned about overcrowded schools and knew children who had to wait to start school because the grade was full.
Murray said it could always be a “challenge” with so many children, but he wanted to keep it “manageable” and worked hard to keep and increase state funding of education.
Kiger said she feels strongly about the government treating the children of illegal immigrants fairly.
“I want them to be treated fairly so they will love the country where they grew up and they would be happy with what they have here,” Kiger said.
Murray said he was dedicated to improving the diversity in Massachusetts’ government.
He said he wanted to make sure that the government “can assist in as many ways as possible.”
Other citizens, such as Andrew Carpentier, a resident of the South End, asked Murray about his political perspectives and opinions.
“I really wanted to hear the lieutenant governor, particularly on if he had any insights on the Elizabeth Warren campaign,” Carpentier said to The Daily Free Press.
Murray, in response, said he supported Warren.
“[People need to consider] that Scott Brown is going to be a vote for Mitch McConnell, a Republican Senator from Kentucky,” Murray said. “[McConnell] has said that his number-one priority is to defeat the president, not solve problems.”
There is a lot at stake during this election season, Murray added.
Teresa Cheong, the AACA’s development coordinator, told the Free Press she helped organize the event and spread the word.
“The Chinatown residents seldom meet the lieutenant governor and they are eager to meet with officials from high ranks for the future developments of the community, as well as to learn more about the state’s affairs as a whole,” Cheong said.
Murray said he enjoys meeting people and talking to them.
“The farther you go up the political totem pole you have to make a concerted effort to stay in touch,” Murray said to the Free Press.
In his address to the community, Murray recommended that college students get involved with politics and employment opportunities.
“We need talented people and we encourage it from all different stripes, and certainly one of the great assets we have in Massachusetts is a lot of bright college students,” Murray said.
The Asian American community, Murray said, is a diverse and fast growing community of bright minds.
“Being here tonight was a chance to listen and learn about the issues impacting the community and also being able to let them know both substantively and symbolically that the state government wants them to participate and to have access to it,” Murray said to the Free Press.
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