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For years, Black communities paid a heavy price for marijuana enforcement. People were arrested. People went to jail. Families lost income. People came home with records that made it harder to get jobs, housing and other opportunities.
Then marijuana became legal.
Now there is money being made from something that once helped send people to jail.
We cannot leave that history out.
By Jordan Berg Powers
… The Yes on 3 campaign has raised about $5.6 million, with just 15 donors supplying over $4.09 million. Executives from two of the larger private equity firms, Bain Capital and Berkshire Partners, account for over 62 cents of every dollar. In total, 22 private-equity executives gave $3.88 million. The Yes side of Question 3 has raised more than Smith and Wesson has given to rewrite our gun laws through Question 9, more than the alcohol industry and cannabis industry are spending combined opposing and supporting the Cannabis repeal question, more than all of the other questions you will be voting on this year.
If somebody who is always around suddenly disappears, check on them. If their social media posts suddenly become darker, check on them. If an elder becomes more isolated, check on them. If a young person does not seem like themselves, check on them.
Sometimes a simple, “How are you really doing?” can matter more than we know.
We also have to make it easier for people to ask for help. Shame, fear, bad past experiences with health care, and the idea that asking for help is weak can stop people from speaking up.
But asking for help is part of staying alive.
My concern is not about judging Emily Knight before she starts.
It is about making sure Black economic development does not get lost inside a bigger conversation about technology, startups and attracting new business.
Boston can grow.
But the question is:
When Boston grows, will Black Boston grow with it?
Worrell was at the latest community meeting at Morning Star Baptist Church. His one word to describe it was “passionate.” But the meeting ended with people still waiting for their chance to speak.
“There was still a long list of community members that was left unheard.”
Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell
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Edwards agrees some of those problems are real. She disagrees with the fix.
That may be the most important line from our conversation.
We can agree the system needs work and still ask if this is the right way to fix it.
For me, the question is simple:
Will Question 3 bring more Black voters into the process and give us more power, or will the larger voting pool grow faster and water down the political power we already have?