Maura Hennigan - Boston Hearings, now running for Mayor

[Guest guest]

Hi to all,

This is a statement from Maura Hennigan who was instrumental in putting

together the

" Boston Hearings " . She is running for Mayor in the city of Boston and could

use our support.

I think it's really great that a political candidate is making a profound

effort to address

indoor air quality issues. Maybe others might follow in her footsteps.

If it wouldn't be too much to ask, could you all please copy her statement

and attach it to your legislators and post it where ever it might help voters

in Boston, MA.

Thanks for your help,

My name is Maura Hennigan and I am campaigning to be the next Mayor of

Boston because I believe in a better Boston. For almost 24 years I have

served

as a Boston City Councillor and fought hard to make sure the people had a

strong voice.

I am writing to you today as a fellow advocate for addressing the issue of

indoor air quality in our schools, public buildings, homes and offices. I am

asking for your help.

As a former Boston schoolteacher I have a unique and personal perspective on

the issue of air quality in our schools. I understand the problem of mold

in schools that is endangering our children here in Boston, across the state,

and across our country.

When I am elected Mayor of Boston, I will work to make Boston a pilot for

our nation in the standards and implementation of indoor air quality in our

schools and other public buildings. I pledge to work with the most

knowledgeable and independent medical professionals, Congressman Conyers,

Jr., the

Massachusetts Congressional delegation, professional indoor air quality

experts, advocates and others to find the federal, state, city and private

resources necessary to make our schools as safe as they can be and make sure our

children can safely focus on the business of learning. Exposure to mold can

severely harm our health and for once and for all this serious issue needs to

be

addressed openly and honestly. It can be done in Boston and all across our

country.

As Mayor of Boston, I will lead the charge for safe indoor air quality for

all.

In order to make that pledge a reality, I need your help to win my campaign

to be elected Mayor of Boston this November. I am writing today to share

with you my vision of a Boston as a nationwide leader in the fight for safe

indoor air quality and to seek your support.

I Believe in a Boston that Leads the way on the Issue of Air Quality.

Let me share with you my history of working for safe indoor air quality

standards in Boston:

It was in 1994 while working with teachers, staff and employees of the

Agassiz Elementary School in Jamaica Plain that I first became educated about

the

problems of air quality in our schools.

In 1995 I worked with the City of Boston’s Public Health Commission to

develop what I understand to be the first-of-its-kind ordinance in our country

setting standards for indoor air quality. That ordinance passed the Boston

City

Council, was vetoed by my opponent in this campaign for Mayor,

Menino, and then was returned to the City Council, where with my leadership we

overrode the veto and put this law on our books.

That ordinance set forth a law requiring inspection of indoor air quality at

Boston public schools every year and other buildings when requested or

warranted. It even offered to help property owners who requested assistance.

However, under the administration of my opponent in this campaign, that law had

not been implemented. Public schools and other buildings in Boston went

without this mandatory inspection process until the Boston City Council

discovered

this non-compliance. Menino did not implement the law to improve

the indoor air quality of our public buildings until he was forced to do so.

Last December, I held a Boston City Council hearing, lasting five hours

with people who traveled from across the country, Segal from the office of

Congressman Conyers (D-MI), the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition, Healthy

Schools Coalition, Massachusetts Coalition of Occupational Safety and Health

(MASSCOSH), nationally acclaimed doctors, and representatives from

Schoolmoldhelp.org, Sickbuildings, and others at the Boston Teachers Union to

address

this major health issue effecting not only Boston but each and every city and

town across this country. What came across loud and clear is untold

numbers of defenseless children and adults across this country are crying for

meaningful leadership to address the very real problems associated with

exposure

to mold.

When I am elected Mayor of Boston, I will work to set the pace for cities

and towns across this country to work to eliminate poor air quality in our

schools and other public buildings by:

1. Ensuring there is adequate funding in our city’s maintenance

budgets for the upkeep required to prevent poor air quality and mold setting

in.

2. Working with the Public Health Commission and the medical community

to train our community doctors and medical personnel to recognize the

illnesses brought on by poor indoor air quality. I will urge each and every

doctor, at a minimum, to review the University of Connecticut’s “Mold

Exposure

Guideline for Clinicians†to help recognize, diagnose and treat mold

illnesses.

3. Pushing for the research and dissemination of information about the

issue of indoor air quality gathered by unbiased scientists and experts,

rather than by special interests.

The ordinance I worked to pass laid the groundwork for a proactive effort to

protect our students, our public workers, and the taxpayer money that is

invested in our public buildings. As Boston’s next Mayor I will build on

that

foundation to make Boston, a city already recognized for its leadership in

healthcare and the sciences, a leader in safe indoor air quality.

I will make Boston a leader in the fight for safe indoor air quality. You

can ensure that Boston will lead the way in the issue of air quality by

supporting my campaign for Mayor, today!

* Reach out to everyone you know who lives in Boston and ask them to

cast his or her vote for me on Tuesday, November 8th. THANK YOU!

* Please consider helping me get my message out by making a donation.

Just visit my website _www.maurahennigan.com_

(http://www.maurahennigan.com/) and clink “Donation†on the left to make

your safe online contribution

today. You can also mail a donation to “Committee to Elect Maura Henniganâ€

and mail it to: Post Office Box 31, West Roxbury, MA 02132. Corporate

donations are not allowed. Any donation in any amount up to the limit of $500

would be gratefully accepted.

Working together, we can and will make a difference.

Sincerely,

Maura A. Hennigan

At-Large Boston City Councillor

Candidate for Mayor of the City of Boston