Press Release: 2024-10-21

11 Communities on the Ballot - 2024 CPA Campaign Coverage

 

POSTED ON: OCTOBER 18, 2024

On November 5th, voters in eleven communities will be deciding whether or not to adopt the Community Preservation Act. And leading up to Election Day, local advocates are ramping up their efforts to educate residents about the benefits of CPA.

Highlights from the Campaign Trail

In Halifax, enthusiastic advocates have been actively campaigning under the banner of HOPE (standing for “Halifax’s Opportunity to Preserve & Enhance”). In addition to attending several public forums throughout the summer, the HOPE campaign also has a website with a wealth of resources for locals interested in learning more about the CPA effort—the site includes profiles on neighboring CPA communities, a catalog of questions received from residents, an FAQ section, and a “Supporter Spotlight” showcasing testimonials and endorsements for CPA adoption from several different town officials.

The Winchester CPA campaign has focused on making a visual splash with their campaign materials: they’ve equipped their volunteers with CPA banners, signs, buttons, and handouts to ensure the public is aware of the upcoming ballot question. The group has an active presence on Facebook, which allows them to highlight CPA forums at local block parties, sign-holding opportunities outside the local Transfer Station, as well as promote important local endorsements from groups such as the Network for Social Justice and League of Women Voters.

The CPA adoption campaign in Townsend has been active for almost two years now, and they are more energized than ever now that the finish line is in sight. After collecting signatures for a ballot petition over the summer, the Townsend campaign is carrying on with additional outreach to neighbors. One highlight of their campaign website is a featured two-minute video that does an excellent job of explaining the basics of the CPA program and why voters in Townsend should consider voting Yes on the ballot.

In a small town like Clarksburg, advocates have done some excellent work to get the word out about CPA. The campaign was able to set up a CPA adoption display at the Clarksburg Volunteer Fire Company's pancake breakfast, providing information and handouts to attendees. Members of the campaign were also featured on a local news interview segment, in which they had the opportunity to discuss the mechanics of CPA and what benefits it could bring to the town.

With assistance from the local land trust, the CPA campaign in Sheffield has been most active through organizing local informational forums. The group has organized regular meetings dating back to the spring to provide as many residents as possible with the opportunity to ask questions and learn the ins and out of how CPA functions. As Election Day draws near, the Sheffield advocates have now mailed out a town-wide educational mailer, and lawn signs have begun appearing throughout the neighborhood.

Sherborn was the very first community to pass CPA adoption at town meeting this year, and they have now developed an attractive campaign website with a variety of helpful sections. To combat misinformation or worries about CPA, the website features an in-depth FAQ section debunking myths and fears about how CPA works. In addition, they’ve also provided details on the expected annual surcharge costs for residents and how to determine eligibility for the proposed low-income exemption.

CPA advocates in Swampscott have also created a stylish website with several different infographics to help explain the different eligible categories of CPA, as well as extensive information on how to get the vote out for election day. To help spread the word leading up to Election Day, the campaign also has sign-ups available for residents interested in door-to-door advocacy. To compliment these efforts, Swampscott’s State Representative Jennifer Armini wrote an editorial reviewing the legislative origins of the Community Preservation Act and why the CPA adoption proposal in Swampscott makes sense for the town.

Local CPA campaigns in the towns of Colrain, Douglas, Rutland, and Spencer have also been doing amazing work to educate neighbors about the upcoming election. In addition, two other cities in the state will be considering CPA surcharge adjustments on the ballot: voters in Somerville will decide whether to increase their CPA surcharge from 1.5% to 3%, while voters in Holyoke will consider a small reduction in their CPA surcharge from 1.5% to 1%.

With so many campaigns active throughout the state, it’s looking incredibly likely that the CPA program will finally reach the milestone of over 200 communities adopted—but we will have to wait until November to see the final results!