Governor Has Lots of Choices to Stop Influx
Barnstable, MA…Today Susanne Conley, the co-founder of Save Greater Dowses Beach and candidate for State Representative, criticized Governor Maura Healey for her statements regarding the influx of migrants on WCVB. Healey said that Massachusetts law does not leave a governor much choice on the matter.
“Governor Healey has made her choice and it wasn’t the taxpayers. Healey has refused to support amending the Right to Shelter law. She could have made it part of her budget proposal, but she didn’t. The Governor could have refused to spend $64 per day per person in meal benefits. That’s more than Cape Codders spend on food every day,” said Conley. “Stopping the influx is not complicated. We need to amend the law so it only applies to our legal residents. By cutting off our state’s generous benefits, we will stop being a magnet state.”
“It is time for leadership at the State House. That’s what Barnstable and Yarmouth will get when I am elected as the next State Representative,” said Conley.
Last week Conley announced her support for amending the Right to Shelter law so that it only applies to legal residents. When elected, she will join Senator Peter Durant as a cosponsor of his legislation.
In 1983 Governor Mike Dukakis signed the Right to Shelter Law which was passed to help battered women coming from other states receive emergency shelter. The law is now being abused by the influx of migrants. It is estimated that Massachusetts taxpayers are paying to house over 8500 families and costing the state $2 billion.
Conley is disappointed that the incumbent Representative Kip Diggs failed to support the bipartisan effort to amend the Right to Shelter law, and worse yet, he voted against putting homeless veterans at the top of the list for receiving emergency shelter.
“How could he vote against our veterans who put their lives on the line to protect our nation? Of course, they should go ahead of anyone who is illegally in our country. That’s just basic common sense. As the next State Representative, our veterans, our seniors and our taxpayers will have my full support,” said Conley.
Conley also criticized the effort for the so-called 9 month cap for illegals in the emergency shelters.
“There are so many loopholes in the cap you could drive a mac truck through them. Clearly the so-called cap was passed trying to fool voters that the issue is being addressed. It has not. It is a simple fix. Our taxpayer funded benefits should be for our legal residents,” said Conely.
Unlike Diggs, Conley promises to co-sponsoring Senator Peter Durant’s legislation when elected.
Susanne Conley is a lifelong resident of Massachusetts who cares deeply about her community and our state. She graduated from Framingham State University. She received her Master’s Degree from Brandeis University and a Doctorate from UMASS Boston. Following a 20 year career in Massachusetts public higher education, she moved to Cape Cod, where she co-founded and chairs the community group Save Greater Dowses Beach. Susanne has volunteered for Town of Barnstable committee work, has chaired a fundraiser to support breast cancer treatment on Cape Cod, and is a former member and Chair of the Board of United Way of Tri County.
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