Somerville Stands Together kicks-off grassroots effort about two ballot campaigns!

Coalition leaders will gather on Oct. 13 at 5:30 PM to support passing the Fair Share Amendment and stopping Big Tech's "Prop 22" campaign in MA

Somerville Stands Together, a coalition of community, environmental, and labor organizations will launch its grassroots effort to pass the Fair Share Amendment and oppose Uber, Lyft and other Big Tech companies' Prop 22 clone ballot measure. Both measures will be on the November 2022 ballot.

If passed, the Fair Share Amendment would tax incomes above $1 million and raise approximately $2 billion a year for spending on transportation and public education. If passed, Big Tech's Prop 22 clone would undermine the rights and benefits of workers, shield companies like Uber and Lyft from liability to their customers, and makes Massachusetts taxpayers pick up the tab.

"The same billionaires and millionaires who support the Uber Lyft initiative will be pouring dark money against the Fair Share amendment into Massachusetts," said Marianne Walles, an SEIU Local 509 member and long-time Somerville resident. "That's why we have to get out to talk with voters early, before the deceptive and hugely expensive advertising blitz begins."

On Wednesday, October 13 at 5:30 PM, Somerville Stands Together coalition leaders (and many others) will gather in Davis Square's Statue Park to pick up pledge cards to enlist members of their respective organizations to support the campaign. Use Action Network or RSVP on Facebook here.

"We're stepping up to be part of this campaign because we know how important it is to raise new revenue and to defeat the Prop 22 initiative," said Rand Wilson, a union organizer and community activist. "We also know that the billionaire class is preparing to spend millions for their side to win. That's why we aren't waiting for that vote to start building our campaign in Somerville that will take the Fair Share Amendment over the finish line and stop the big tech ballot initiative in its tracks next November."

The Somerville Stands Together coalition came together in 2017 to win the good jobs and affordable housing our community needs. Learn more at somervillestandstogether.com.