Kathleen Crogan-Camara for State Senate >> Why I'm Running
I remember the day that I knew it was up to me. I needed help with my disabled daughter, and when I called our state senator’s office for help, they responded, “We’re not going to do the heavy lift.” I knew it was a heavy lift -- that’s why I called them for help! Then and there, I resolved to start this campaign. I love our Commonwealth, but we can do better.
Many of the state offices are right around the corner from each other and some even share office space. That’s part of the reason why the system needs new fresh eyes -- they all know each other and all defend each other -- it’s about keeping their jobs and maintaining power. Did you know that some agencies fund other agencies that they are supposed to oversee?
That’s just one example. We have some good laws in Massachusetts to protect vulnerable people -- but these laws have no teeth! Without watchdogs, without enforcement, without someone to do the “heavy lift,” what good are these laws? These laws are weak because our legislators are creating weak laws. If they’re weak laws, guess who’s going to have to spend thousands and thousands on an attorney to enforce a vague law? You and me. I want to fix that.
Currently, legislators are putting together laws that will prevent the justice system from criminally charging health care workers who have abused an individual over and over. Right now, there’s a registry, and you can bet it’s hard to get an abuser on that registry. When did we agree that individuals who abuse the elderly or a disabled individual would only be held within the DDS/state registry with no ability to bring criminal charges against that individual? We should be bringing them to trial within our justice system. We need to protect the most vulnerable among us. I want to fix this system.
I’ve spent years now working within the state system to get services for my disabled daughter -- my experience is that the system is very difficult to navigate -- difficult to get the right services for your loved one.
I’m ready to serve the people. I’m ready to help protect the vulnerable. I’m ready to do the heavy lift.
Please elect me so that I can get to work -- so that all vulnerable individuals in our Commonwealth can be protected, represented, and have a better quality of life.
