September 6th Update, with RSVP request
Our previous email, with one addition: If you'd like to make signs with other AJQ volunteers on Sunday afternoon, ahead of the 9/9 rally, please RSVP to info@ajustquincy.com
Nine Nine updates
The Nine Nine rally is upon us. Monday evening (9/9), starting around 5:30 p.m., we will rendezvous at the John Adams statue in the Hancock Adams Common.
(This Sunday (Sept. 8) @ 2 pm, some AJQ folks will be meeting to make signs together at 85 Monroe Road. All are welcome, but please RSVP to info@ajustquincy.com to ensure there’s space for everyone who wants to come. Some supplies will be provided but please bring your own if you have them. FYI: Two dogs live in the house, in case anyone is allergic.)
After rallying outside before the 9/9 council meeting, we will file into the grand hall to attend the meeting, which will start at 6:30 pm. The agenda is here.
You can let us know you are coming here.
One councilor vows to refuse raise
Like many others, members of A Just Quincy (AJQ) heard some interesting news on Thursday regarding Salarygate. According to The Quincy Sun, Ward 6 Councilor William Harris has expressed his desire to decline the council’s 50% salary increase. You may recall that Councilor Harris was not initially supportive of a raise for the city council, but he ultimately voted in favor of it during the full council vote on June 17.
We want to thank Councilor Harris for refusing his raise. This is a very important step in our journey to right the wrongs of Salarygate.
It’s still not clear how this gesture will play out practically. Can an employee lower their own salary any more than they can unilaterally raise it? If not, would Councilor Harris have to donate the extra $15,000 to the City every year instead? And if so, what City pot would the money go into?
Of course, these questions will be answered at some point. But for now, we say, thank you, Councilor Harris, for (not) putting your money where your mouth is.
Election Update
Preliminary and primary elections were held all over the country on September 3rd. AJQ had our eyes on two that had specific relevance to Quincy. Noel DiBona, one of Quincy’s three at-large councilors, was running to be Norfolk County’s Register of Deeds against the longtime incumbent, William O’Donnell. Ian Cain, councilor of ward three, was running in the Republican primary to face Elizabeth Warren this November to be one of Massachusetts’s two US senators. AJQ did not officially endorse any candidate in the primary election, but we did remind voters of what they may want to keep in mind when they go to their polling place.
Both of our city councilors lost in the primary.
Mission Statement:
A core group of AJQ met to discuss a mission statement. Here is the final result:
A Just Quincy's mission is to make our city government more just, accountable, and transparent. We will do this by providing information and analysis to help Quincy residents engage in the democratic process and by supporting candidates and elected leaders who promote government by and for the people. We welcome any residents who support our mission to join us.
Executive Committee / Welcome Spencer
Joe and Maggie are delighted that Spencer Henderson has agreed to join AJQ’s first “Executive Committee.” The executive committee is responsible for steering the organization as a whole by making decisions on messaging, strategy, and methods. We still anticipate having formal nominations and elections for various positions within AJQ’s organization after the presidential election in November. Here is a message from Spencer:
Dear AJQ Members,
I am honored to have the opportunity to step into a leadership role with "A Just Quincy." Quincy has been my home for over two decades—it's where my wife and I met, bought our first house, and are now raising our two young children.
Like many of you, the announcement of the mayor's salary raise spurred me to action. It didn't take my background as a financial advisor to see that the raise was not only excessive, but the process behind it was deeply flawed, lacking transparency, public input, and accountability.
I never imagined transitioning from a casual voter to a local activist, but here I am.
Growing up on the South Shore, I've always seen Quincy as a gateway to Boston. Our proximity to one of the fastest-growing cities in the country has undeniably impacted us. While development is necessary, Quincy seems to lack a cohesive vision for its future. We see sporadic construction projects amidst deteriorating infrastructure.
Many of our elected officials take credit for Quincy's growth, but the focus seems to be on deals with favored developers, long-term tax breaks, and potentially unsustainable borrowing.
Quincy's reputation for insider politics needs to change. It starts with engaging voters and demanding transparency from our elected officials.
I'm eager to contribute to AJQ's mission and bring positive change to Quincy's future.
Sincerely,
Spencer Robinson Henderson
New Social Media accounts / new content
A Just Quincy now has accounts on: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Nextdoor, YouTube, Reddit, and Pinterest. Our handle for all accounts is @ajustquincy. Give us a follow the next time you log in!
We have a new episode of the AJQ videocast out.
We have a new blog post that gives you the “who’s who” of Salarygate.
We also added an “about” page to A Just Quincy’s website.