I’m a constituent of the 25th Middlesex District and share a lot in common with my current state representative, Marjorie Decker: I grew up in Cambridge, I lived in public housing, I’m a product of the Cambridge Public Schools system and I’m a first-generation college graduate. Despite these similarities, I feel more represented by her opponent in the upcoming Democratic primary, Evan MacKay.
Decker’s willingness to accept donations from monied interests is why I have completely lost confidence in her ability to represent me. Between Jan. 1 and June 30, around 25 percent of donations to Decker’s campaign were from Cambridge. And besides lobbyists (more than 100!) and overpaid hospital administrators such as Mass General Brigham chef executive Anne Klibanski, Decker is funded by billionaires including John Fish (Suffolk Construction) and Philip Ragon (Intersystems). Every time Decker goes to Beacon Hill, how can I be sure that she’ll vote for her constituents instead of her billionaire donors?
As someone who grew up in public housing across the street from the city’s largest landlord, MIT, I need a representative who will represent the working class. Evan’s campaign is grassroots: Fifty-seven percent of their contributions come from Cambridge residents. Evan fought against billion-dollar institutions, including for fellow workers against Harvard as president of the Harvard Graduate Students Union. Evan led a campaign about Harvard’s payment in lieu of taxes so Cambridge gets its fair share. In contrast, Decker didn’t even co-sponsor the legislation on Pilot reform filed by state representative Erika Uyterhoeven.
I know that if elected Sept. 1 in the Democratic Primary, Evan will continue to challenge the least transparent state Legislature and deliver for the multiracial working class. Learn more about the campaign at evanforcambridge.com.
Mohammed Shafim
Dana Street, Cambridge
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