Background

What is The RoxVOTE Campaign? RoxVOTE is an effort by a non-partisan group of Roxbury-based organizations and residents focused on empowering the Roxbury community by increasing our voting numbers. The RoxVOTE Campaign is engaging Roxbury residents through a diverse coalition of faith-based, community-based and resident-based organizers to show the steps people can take, to get others to vote, hold elected officials accountable and be more empowered by knowing what the issues are and how they affect our community on a day to day basis.

Why is The RoxVOTE Campaign needed? Right now, the Mayor and City Council make decisions about how much money to spend on education for schools in our neighborhood, which roads will be repaired, how much affordable housing will be created, how much money will go to each neighborhood for police, social services, etc. By joining the RoxVOTE campaign, we will show our leaders that we want them to do more to respond to the specific needs of the Roxbury community by increasing our voting population by at least 10%.

What is the goal of The RoxVOTE Campaign? The RoxVOTE Campaign seeks to give Roxbury residents a voice for an historic pact to increase their community's power through voting in local elections. We believe that through voting, Roxbury residents will increase their visibility to local elected officials and increase the level of public services and resources from these officials via the city budget. This will in turn provide access to better health care, education, housing and transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation.

Who should join The RoxVOTE Campaign? We need organizations like yours to take responsibility for getting the word out in your Ward and Precinct. Help to organize volunteers in your area, help coordinate phone banking locations, transportation to the polls, and door knocking events. (link to sponsor signup - see below).

We need Roxbury residents to come out and help to get their blocks organized, encourage their family members and friends to vote, volunteer to make reminder calls to registered voters, flyer the neighborhood, speak about the importance of voting at their neighborhood association meetings and church services, learn about the issues and get others interested in voting by sharing how the issues impact their lives and how voting can change things positively. Get involved.

 

Issues Better city services. We all know that some neighborhoods-like Roslindale and South Boston--have less crime, cleaner streets, fewer broken street lights and better snowplowing. Why? Because they have more voting clout (defined as the percentage of registered voters who actually go to the polls and vote). The neighborhoods with less voting clout, like Roxbury, have poorer city services. Research on "social capital" confirms the connection between voting and city government responsiveness to neighborhood concerns. (See Bowling Alone, by Robert Putnam; and "Social Capital" from the Infed Encyclopedia).

Housing. If you don't vote you may not be here in 10 years! Rents are rapidly rising in Roxbury (up more than 200% over the past ten years), forcing many tenants to move to places like Brockton or Providence for an affordable apartment. As property values rise, property taxes are going up, squeezing long-time homeowners with low- or fixed-incomes. Also, homeowners are tempted to sell and "cash out" of Roxbury.

Why Voting?Local elections are just as important as presidential elections. In 2009, local positions are up for election (Mayor and City Council). Local elections can more impact on your neighborhood than the presidential elections did. The President doesn't decide how much money to spend in Roxbury on police, street cleaning or fixing potholes. Our Mayor and City Council decide these things.

Your vote can increase Roxbury's political clout. In 2009 the Mayor and City Council members are up for election.