Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) and Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) are advocating for legislation they filed which would call for more affordable, accessible and high-quality early education and childcare for families in the Commonwealth. Their bills, H.470 and S.288, which are identical, are part of an ongoing effort to make childcare more affordable and available to all parents in the state.

In his testimony during a recent public hearing before the Joint Committee on Education, Gordon said, “The average cost of quality early childcare and education, involving licensed and trained employees, is thousands of dollars per month in Massachusetts,” said Gordon. “That leaves childcare and pre-school out of reach for many families, and it creates a barrier for parents to return to work. We have to address this problem by providing better care, at more affordable rates, so parents, especially women, can return to the workforce when they are ready.”

Read more on the hearing HERE.

The Bedford Citizen

State Representative Ken Gordon made an impromptu visit to striking workers at the Bedford Stop and Shop on Saturday. He delivered munchkins, and spent time listening to the workers’ concerns before posting the following remarks on his Twitter feed:

With workers from Stop and Shop in Bedford. I heard from those who were asked to forego health care for their families, vacation time and other benefits, all while their employer offers stock buybacks. This is not right.

It’s the employees who draw us to the store — people like Dave in the butcher section who has been helpful to us since my wife moved to town. Those in produce who can explain the difference between coriander and parsley.

If you ignore the value of your people, you lose.

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Wicked Local

Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Bedford, and his house colleagues from the Merrimack Valley and the Boston Seaport gathered at Tuscan Kitchen to honor the restaurant and its owner, Joe Faro.

Last Thanksgiving, Faro and the Tuscan Kitchen staff joined with Columbia Gas Company to donate 20,000 turkey dinners to residents of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover who were without access to cooking gas after the Sept. 13, 2018 gas explosions.

The restaurant worked days roasting turkeys, preparing the fixings and packing the meals for pickup or at the locations where meals were served.

“The contribution that Tuscan Kitchen has made to our community is inspiring and breathtaking. When families in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover lost their ability to cook for their families on Thanksgiving, the call went out and Tuscan Kitchen stepped up” said Gordon.

Reps. Frank Moran, D-Lawrence; Christina Minicucci, D-North Andover; Tram Nguyen, D-Andover; and David Biele, D-Boston, joined Gordon at the Tuscan Kitchen Seaport location to present a resolution from the House of Representatives honoring the restaurant’s contributions. They also gifted a Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag to Tuscan Kitchen.

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A week after deadly attacks on Muslim worshipers in Christchurch, New Zealand, those who came together March 22 to hold an interfaith service and vigil, to show support, caring and solidarity.

“We must stand up, and speak out against it, so that it is not normalized.”  Rep. Gordon said. “You are all part of this community, and we are all each other’s brothers and sisters.”

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