Fair 51.0°F Fair [Forecast] :: Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Ray Gottwald's Blog

"If you fear making anyone mad, then you ultimately probe for the lowest common denominator of human achievement." - Jimmy Carter
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Welcome to Ray's Blog

Last Friday, I attended a meeting in Harwich hosted by Michael Gradone. Supt. of the Nauset School District and outgoing Harwich School Supt. Rosemary Joseph regarding Chapter 70 school funding. The focus of the discussion was how the Cape is still being short changed by the current school funding formula which puts our schools at a big disadvantage with a formula based on property values and not income. Likely to only complicate the matter further is declining school enrollments across the Cape.

State Senator O’Leary, State Representatives Gomes (Lower Cape),  Turner (Mid-Cape) and Gifford (Wareham) who were in attendance talked about several ideas they have to increased funding including; lobbying for a minimum 20% foundation budget for schools on the Cape and a formula that is based 50% on income and 50% on property values. One basic fact remains is the small number of legislators representing the Cape and Islands on Beacon Hill. They face a major challenge convincing urban legislators that in some cases receive 85% or more of their funding from the state to change the formula. Perhaps that is why some of our legislators are looking for areas to increase funding by other means.

The bottom line on all of this is that in order for us to get our fair share for the Cape we have to build strong coalitions with legislators from other regions of the state who also are adversely impacted by the Education Reform Act of 1994.There’s something we all need to do on the Cape whether you’re a legislator or not. Many of us lived in other parts of the state : Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Fall River, New Bedford, Brockton, Lynn, etc. before moving to the Cape. You may still have family and friends in your former home town and connections to urban legislators on Beacon Hill.

All of us need to educate and re-educate our friend’s and relatives across the state that the Cape might have comparatively high property values but there are not many jobs that are paying a livable wage. Working two or there service sector jobs often without benefits is the norm. We have a lot of hidden poverty on the Cape which many folks in Boston aren’t aware of. It’s our job to do just that!! In my campaign for State Rep. for the 4th Barnstable District I have already discussed the issues of high property values and low income and the hidden poverty on the Cape with Boston area legislators.

I also plan on talking to the advocates that were instrumental in lobbying to create a Barnstable County Human Rights Commission to join us in this cause for Education Reform. .And how about our Senior Citizens Advocacy Groups? We need to reach out beyond the selectmen and school committee members and other “usual suspects” and develop a cape-wide grass roots lobbying efforts that touches every corner of the state and includes a broad range of citizens and constituency groups.

Voters may email me at  RayGottwald@aol.com

4 comments
Blog posts and comments are entirely the thoughts and ideas of the people who write them and in no way represent the views of CapeCodToday.com, eCape, Inc., or its employees or owners.

05/11/06 @ 11:57 am
Anonymous [Visitor] writes:
See you next week when the Cape and Islands Democratic Council is sponsoring a debate featuring all three Democratic candidates competing for the 4th Barnstable District state representative's seat in the Massachusetts Legislature. The event is Thursday, May 18, 7 p.m., at the Eastham Town Hall Hearing Room. Town hall is located on Route 6.

Candidates Ron Bergstrom of Chatham, Ray Gottwald of Harwich, and Sarah Peake of Provincetown, will participate.
05/11/06 @ 11:58 am
Fellow Hairlegger [Visitor] writes:
Welcome to the fray, and best of luck in your bid for state office.
05/11/06 @ 12:47 pm
Aaron [Member] writes:
Welcome Ray.
05/11/06 @ 6:46 pm
Smurf [Visitor] writes:
Ray can put up another blog for free on AOL. Email Monponsett@aol.com for details.
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About This Blog

gottwald135Ray Gottwald served for eight years as the Harwich Representative to the Assembly of Delegates. During his tenure he was Deputy Speaker and was a member of the Health and Human Services, Natural Resources and Public Service committees .
Ray is  an Adjunct Professor in Public/Nonprofit Management for Suffolk University and worked on the state level in the Attorney General''s office. He also serves as Chair of the Harwich Democratic Town Committee.

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