People Over Politics

Jose A. Rivera is running for District 5 Worcester City Councilor.

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“There is nothing more powerful than a community that knows how to fight for itself.”

Born April 7, 1973, in Philadelphia, Pa., Jose A. Rivera was one of five children raised by a single mother, who died when he was just 10 years old. Living with different family members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Rivera ultimately settled with his aunt in Springfield, Mass. At the age of 16, he moved to Worcester, where he finished high school and renewed his pursuit of a childhood dream: to become a championship boxer.Rivera never gave up, and ultimately became a three-time world champion in two different weight classes, capturing his first title, the International Boxing Organization Welterweight title, in 1997.

Jose's PRIORITIES as your District 5 city councilor

Public Safety

Jose will not support efforts to defund the police. He believes in accountability at all levels of government and was in favor of the body camera program now in place. Jose will advocate for increased patrols where residents and businesses feel they are needed, and he will also work to build bridges and improve trust between law enforcement and the community they serve.

Housing

The city has a housing crisis. Rivera will work with the city administration to encourage more affordable housing, believing we need to reach dep into our toolbox and find the tools to address it. Criticizing each other will not help. Believing every Worcester resident is owed nothing less, Rivera will work with the city’s state and federal delegation to get the funding and policies needed to try and guarantee every resident has a place to call home.

Homelessness

Rivera does not believe shelters are the solution to homelessness. The city is fortunate to have providers who have stepped up to help the rising number of unhoused individuals in Worcester, but Rivera believes more permanent, supportive housing is needed. Rivera believes the discussion about housing, and how everyone should have a roof over their heads, must include the city’s homeless. He would support a comprehensive, community-driven plan that helps to erase the stigma attached to the homeless community, while ensuring they receive the wraparound services they need.

Youth Activities

As a former world-class athlete who spent many days at the Boys & Girls Club, Jose knows the value of youth sports and the impact a great coach or mentor can have on children. He will work with youth leagues in District 5 to help ensure they remain viable options for any sports- or activity-minded youth. He will champion after-school youth activities, knowing they also help keep children safe as they are occupied in healthy endeavors.

Jobs

Whether talking about our youth or adult populations, Rivera believes good-paying, sustainable jobs are among the best antidote to idle hands and minds. He believe that means creating an atmosphere that recognizes the challenges local business owners faced during COVID and provides the guidance and tools that will allow them to hire and maintain employees. Rivera will work to build on the good work being done by the city’s Office of Economic Development and community partners to support existing businesses and encourage new, smart investment in business opportunities.

Business

Many businesses are still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jose feels we need to expand the business base to create more revenue for the city and district.

Safe Streets

Jose will always push for safer streets and sidewalks throughout District 5, so you and your children can cross the road without fear. Jose will look to build on measures already in place and work in partnership with the newly-established Department of Transportation and Mobility to proactively – not reactively – address road safety. He believes in investing in modernized road and crosswalk safety controls, clearly delineated driving lanes, repainted crosswalks where they have faded, and other street and sidewalk safety measures.

Taxes

Rivera’s goal is to help make this city livable and affordable for residents and businesses alike. Rivera looks forward to working closely with residential and business leaders, along with our city administration, to get it done.

People Over Politics

Rivera is often asked what he means by “People Over Politics.” He believes the country is divided, and that division can be seen, to some extent, on the local level. His vow is to not get caught up in the politics behind a person or issue, but to ask himself what is best for the city of Worcester. Rivera believes, at the end of the day, it is about quality of life for all residents. He will listen to you, he will answer residents’ phone calls, and will respond to their emails. He will be present, and will not stop working to make residents proud. When a constituent calls him, Rivera won’t ask who they voted for. He won’t ask whether they’re a Democrat or Republican. He will simply ask how he can help you.

About Jose A. Rivera

"At the age of 16, he moved to Worcester, where he finished high school and renewed his pursuit of a childhood dream: to become a championship boxer.”

Born April 7, 1973, in Philadelphia, Pa., Jose A. Rivera was one of five children raised by a single mother, who died when he was just 10 years old. Living with different family members in the U.S. and PuertoRico, Rivera ultimately settled with his aunt in Springfield, Mass. At the age of 16, he moved to Worcester, where he finished high school and renewed his pursuit of a childhood dream: to become a championship boxer.Rivera never gave up, and ultimately became a three-time world champion in two different weight classes, capturing his first title, the International Boxing Organization Welterweight title, in 1997. With that accomplishment, Rivera became the first Latino to win a world championship in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He also became Puerto Rico’s 44th world champion. He notched his second world championship, the World Boxing Association’s Welterweight title, in 2003 in a fight in Berlin, Germany. His third title was the WBA Junior Middleweight title, which Rivera won right here in his adopted hometown of Worcester. To this day, he is the only two-division world champion boxer from Massachusetts.Rivera is a married father four, with a stepson and 2-year-old grandson.
A sought-after motivational speaker who often speaks to children inside the classroom of area schools and at various organizations, Rivera is an assistant chief court officer in Dudley District Court and also runs Rivera Promotions Entertainment with his son, A.J., and brother, Jose “Camachito” Rivera.

DONATIONS

DONATE ONLINE HEREDONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED, MAIL TO:Committee to Elect Jose A. Rivera
2 Main Street, Apt. 136
Worcester, MA 01608

About the 11th Suffolk District

After the 2020 census, a new redistricting process took place for the Massachusetts House offering Chelsea and Everett a once-in-generation opportunity to have a seat at the table. Located in Suffolk County - MA’s 11th District represents more than 40,787 people across Chelsea and parts of Everett.Our communities are home to vibrant small businesses, renowned hospitals, and a strong civic society.

Endorsements

Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus

Carpenters Union

Iron Worker's Local 7

SEIU Local 888

Chelsea City Council President, Roy Avellaneda

Chelsea City Councilor, Tanairi Garcia

Chelsea City Councilor, Norieliz Dejesus

Chelsea City Councilor, Melinda Vega

Chelsea School Committee President, Kelly Garcia

Chelsea School Committee Member, Claryangeliz Covas Caraballo

Chelsea School Committee Member, Katherine Cabral

Chelsea School Committee Member, Yessenia Alfaro

Activist, Gladys Vega

Activist, Dinanyili Del Carmen

Former District 5 School Committeeman, Robert Pereira

My PRIORITIES as your next state representative

Housing

As someone who saw her mom struggle to afford rent and mortgage, I understand the gravity of the housing crisis. To ensure people aren't pushed out, I will:

  • Create more paths to home ownership

  • Establish more protections for renters, including sealing records from cases in which the individual was an underage member of the household

  • Create a seed fund of $50,000 to help first-time homeowners afford a downpayment

  • Increase the state’s contribution to the Community Conservation Act Fund

  • Support legislation that promotes sustainable and affordable housing construction

  • Provide a greater amount of local aid to those communities with inclusionary zoning ordinances and more than 10% affordable housing unit levels

  • Empower non-English speakers by providing more multilingual rental assistance resources

Environment

Climate change is actively altering our lives. Our summers are hotter, our winters are harsher, and our health is suffering. I plan to address these issues by:

  • Holding polluters accountable. Big corporations like airlines and factories are currently free to pollute our air, but with stricter regulations and fairer taxes, we can change that

  • Sourcing our energy from renewable sources such as wind, hydro, and solar

  • Investing in public transportation to reduce emissions from daily commutes

  • Ensuring new construction meets clean energy standards

  • Building infrastructure to minimize flooding

Education

I am a product of Chelsea public schools. I experienced firsthand the inequities in funding and support that students, teachers, and families in Chelsea and Everett face. My plan to make sure our students are thriving includes:

  • Establishing universal early education. Not only will this ensure that more kids have access to educational resources, but it will even the playing field for working parents who can’t afford private childcare

  • Expanding access to higher education. I supported funding that provides tuition to Bunker Hill Community College for Chelsea High graduates with academic achievement, and it is time to take that statewide.

  • Diversifying our schools by investing in more educators of color. Our students need to see themselves represented in the people they look up to

  • Funding the Student Opportunity Act so that kids from places like Chelsea and Everett don’t get left behind based on geography and socioeconomic status

Good Jobs

As a daughter of a factory worker, I saw my mom, like many other families, work tirelessly for below living wages. A thriving economy relies on essential workers, so I promise to:

  • Collaborate with unions and support their efforts however I can–be it marching on the picket lines, attending their rallies, or introducing legislation that responds to their needs

  • Ensure that the new off-shore and solar energy jobs go to local residents

  • Invest in vocational training opportunities for Massachusetts residents of all ages

  • Pass legislation to protect against wage theft – similar to the Wage Theft Ordinance that I advocated for on the Chelsea City Council

Quality of Life

Chelsea and Everett have been neglected for a long time. With this historic opportunity to finally have one of our own representing us on Beacon Hill, I will:

  • Expand routes, increase service times and better MBTA service which will make commuting easier and decrease the fumes that give Chelsea one of the highest asthma rates in the commonwealth

  • Prioritize securing funding for open spaces and for public infrastructure repair

  • Take action to end the rat infestation by holding contractors accountable and providing free exterminations

  • Push affordable healthcare so that no one has to decide between paying for medical care or paying rent

  • Fight to keep ICE out of our communities so that our families can live and work in peace

Veterans

Despite risking everything to protect our nation, many military service members face poverty, homelessness, and a convoluted bureaucracy after finishing their contracts. Chelsea, Everett, and Massachusetts itself are home to many veterans, who I hope to support by:

  • Expanding healthcare to fill in the gaps that the VA leaves

  • Improving services at soldiers' homes. We need to increase resources and funding in veterans’ homes to provide our heroes with the quality of living they deserve

  • Promoting legislation to protect veterans in the event of a state of emergency. We must never allow what happened with COVID to happen again

  • Facilitating the process of veterans buying houses and establishing homes in our communities

La unidad es nuestra fortaleza.

Judith se postula para representar a Chelsea y Everett
como su próximo representante estatal.

¡Únete a nuestra campaña! Para información y actualizaciones.

“No hay nada más poderoso que una comunidad que sabe luchar por sí misma.”

Hija de una madre soltera que llegó a este país con poco de su Honduras natal, Judith ha pasado su vida entendiendo completamente las luchas de los inmigrantes de clase trabajadora que constituyen la gran mayoría de esta comunidad diversa pero económicamente desfavorecida. Su empatía por sus problemas impregna todo lo que hace. Y, estos antecedentes personales le han dado a Judith una pasión por el servicio público, particularmente por la población luchadora de Chelsea, que es obvia y contagiosa. Judith es claramente el tipo de servidora pública comprometida que el gobierno necesita tan desesperadamente.

Judith, una defensora constante de las pequeñas empresas y defensora de los trabajadores esenciales.

Sobre Nuestro Distrito

Después del censo de 2020, se llevó a cabo un nuevo proceso de redistribución de distritos para el Congreso Estatal de Massachusetts. Ahora los residentes de Chelsea y Everett tienen una oportunidad que nunca antes se nos había presentado, para elegir a alguien que nos represente en el Congreso del Estado de Massachusetts. Para poner a NUESTRA comunidad en primer lugar. Ubicado en el condado de Suffolk, el Distrito 11 de MA representa a más de 40,787 personas en Chelsea y partes de Everett.Nuestras comunidades son el hogar de pequeños negocios, hospitales, y una sociedad cívica incomparable al resto del estado.

Apoyos Políticos

Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus

Carpenters Union

Iron Worker's Local 7

SEIU Local 888

Chelsea City Council President, Roy Avellaneda

Chelsea City Councilor, Tanairi Garcia

Chelsea City Councilor, Norieliz Dejesus

Chelsea City Councilor, Melinda Vega

Chelsea School Committee President, Kelly Garcia

Chelsea School Committee Member, Claryangeliz Covas Caraballo

Chelsea School Committee Member, Katherine Cabral

Chelsea School Committee Member, Yessenia Alfaro

Activist, Gladys Vega

Activist, Dinanyili Del Carmen

Former District 5 School Committeeman, Robert Pereira

SOBRE Judith Garcia

“No hay nada más poderoso que una comunidad que sabe luchar por sí misma.”

Hija de una madre soltera que llegó a este país con poco de su Honduras natal, Judith ha pasado su vida entendiendo completamente las luchas de los inmigrantes de clase trabajadora que constituyen la gran mayoría de esta comunidad diversa pero económicamente desfavorecida. Su empatía por sus problemas impregna todo lo que hace. Y, estos antecedentes personales le han dado a Judith una pasión por el servicio público, particularmente por la población luchadora de Chelsea, que es obvia y contagiosa. Judith es claramente el tipo de servidora pública comprometida que el gobierno necesita tan desesperadamente.Judith experimentó de primera mano las desigualdades y los desafíos que enfrentan las familias inmigrantes y de clase trabajadora, en un estado tan "próspero" como Massachusetts. Como concejal de la ciudad durante cuatro mandatos, ha sido una defensora intrépida y ahora quiere postularse para representante estatal para luchar por políticas públicas que hagan que nuestro estado sea más compasivo y justo para las familias que literalmente hacen que nuestras comunidades funcionen.Judith nació y fue criada en Chelsea por una madre soltera, quien hasta el día de hoy es una trabajadora esencial en una fábrica local en Chelsea. Judith asistió a las Escuelas Públicas de Chelsea, donde desarrolló su pasión por el servicio público y comunitario. Después de graduarse de Wheaton College, regresó a Chelsea y comenzó a trabajar con Health Care for All como especialista bilingüe, ayudando a familias a obtener un seguro médico gratuito y de bajo costo.En el 2015, Judith fue elegida para el Concejo Municipal de Chelsea, la primera hondureña estadounidense en servir allí, donde ha sido reelegida por cuatro mandatos consecutivos. En el Concejo, ha defendido temas que van desde viviendas asequibles hasta el acceso a la educación y la justicia ambiental. Cuando el COVID-19 golpeó duramente a Chelsea, Judith lideró los esfuerzos de recuperación y respuesta en la ciudad, encabezó la creación de un fondo de ayuda de emergencia de $1,5 millones para pequeñas empresas, aseguró un fondo de ayuda de $25,000 para los costos de entierro de las víctimas de Covid-19 y recaudó $10,000 para la despensa de alimentos de Chelsea. Una estrella política en ascenso en Massachusetts, recientemente fue seleccionada por el equipo de Seguridad Nacional de la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris como asesora para asuntos hondureños. También se desempeñó como sustituta de alto perfil de la senadora Elizabeth Warren y del excongresista Joe Kennedy III. Actualmente, Judith trabaja en The Neighborhood Developers, donde se desempeña como Gerente de Comunicaciones.