Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action - www.jewishalliance.org. 
18 Tremont Street, Suite 320, Boston, 02108 - tel: 617-227-3000 fax: 617-227-3453

                                                   13 Tammuz 5765                        July 20, 2005

Helping to Encourage Affordable Housing

Meeting Reminder:  CLSA meets on Thursdays during the summer, JALSA Office, 12:30 p.m., 18 Tremont Street, Boston, Suite 320.  If you can't attend meetings and want to be on our action list for potential assignments, please email decter@jalsa.org.  This is a special list of persons who want to receive highlights from CLSA meetings.  There are many projects under current discussion where individuals may help from home or office.

Alliance for High Standards NOT High Stakes,  Thursday, July 21, 10 am. JALSA Office, 18 Tremont Street, Boston, Suite 320.    Continuing editing of report.

JALSA is pleased that the Attorney General has not certified the proposed referendum to overturn the Massachusetts stem cell bill on the grounds that issues dealing with religion may not be the subject of the initiative or referendum process.  Thanks to Joel Eigerman and Mark Michelson who prepared our most recent brief on the subject of exclusions to the initiative process in the case of Wirzburger v. Galvin where the US Court of Appeals upheld the Massachusetts constitutional language dealing with exclusions to the initiative process.

Dear Friends,

JALSA members have a long history of supporting the creation of affordable
housing. Now we have an opportunity to really make a difference.

B'nai B'rith has a proposal to create a project in Newton that would create
132 units of housing, 33 of which will be affordable to low-income families
and individuals. They are facing some opposition, and are now creating a
"Friends" group to show that there is strong support in the community for
this worthy development. JALSA would like to ask our members who live in
Newton to sign on as "Friends" of the project, and to forward this e-mail to
others in Newton who would also be interested in signing up. More details
about the project and how to become a "Friend" are below and attached. If
you would are willing to have your name listed as a "Friend" please e-mail
the JALSA office at decter@jewishalliance.org.

There will also be many opportunities during the process for people to speak
out at meetings, write letters to the editor, and generally show support for
affordable housing. JALSA is now involved in forming an interfaith coalition
in Newton to demonstrate support for this development. If you would like to
be involved in JALSA's work on this project, please contact the JALSA office
at 617-227-3000 or e-mail decter@jewishalliance.org.so that we keep you
updated.

Many thanks.

Background Information on Becoming a Friend of B'nai B'rith Housing

B'nai B'rith Housing New England is proposing to build 132 one and
two-bedroom condominiums adjacent to the Boston College T station on
Commonwealth Avenue. Known as the Covenant Residences on Commonwealth, 25%
of the condominiums will be available for people who are at or below 70% of
area median income and the remainder will be available at market rate. These
units will be available to both individuals and families.

Attached is a fact sheet with a rendering of the project and detailed
information about the Covenant Residences and B'nai B'rith Housing New
England. This project is essential to providing affordable housing in
Newton.

A "Friends of The Covenant Residences on Commonwealth" group is forming, and
we hope that you can join. Joining the Friends means that you will be doing
the following:

1.. Lending your name to this cause and putting your name on our "Friends"
letterhead.
2.. Encouraging others to support the Covenant Residences on Commonwealth.
3.. If possible, attending an occasional public meeting to show your
support.
Over the next few months, B'nai B'rith Housing New England will provide the
Friends with progress updates on the project.

Please call or email me back any questions and your agreement to be a Friend
of Covenant House. Also, please indicate whether you might be interested in
opportunities to speak at public meetings or to the media.

We appreciate your consideration of this worthy endeavor, and thank you for
your help.

Sincerely,

Sheila Decter
Executive Director
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action

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