Good morning. 


Thank you Mr. Chairpersons and all members of the committee for the opportunity to testify before you today. I’m Jass Stewart, a City Councilor at Large in Brockton, here to support S. 1568, An Act to Create Equitable Job Access.

A quick snapshot of Brockton, the Commonwealth’s sixth largest city.

We have a population of about 94,000. We are officially a majority/minority city, with minorities making up 53 percent of the population. The city’s median individual income is only $28,810. We have a high poverty rate, with state aid per capita at $1,597, far above the state average of $345. Because of poverty, more than half the city’s budget is supported by state and federal aid. Unemployment is at 10.4 percent, 3 points higher than the state average. And for blacks, national unemployment numbers are at a striking 17.2 percent—and I’m assuming this number is similar for Brockton.

Now, this picture, on the surface, appears bleak. But there’s something special about Brockton, and the people I represent. There’s a spirit, a drive that says you never give up, you never give in, and you always work hard to find or even create the next big opportunity.

I’m in my first term in office. And during this time, I have attended over 800 public events, held countless private meetings, and responded to more than 600 phone calls. I’ve interacted with literally thousands of people. And the number one call, the top request from residents, has been about their search for jobs.

People in Brockton want to work. They want to earn a living. And the search for employment ranges. From Loic Assobmo, the Brockton High School graduate looking for a summer job to help pay for college to Marcus Wyatt, the twenty-something ex-offender looking to get back on his feet, willing to work at any job where he can prove himself again. People are ready to work.

For Loic and Marcus, we were lucky. I was able to help them both find jobs locally in Brockton with employers who needed the help and understood the need—they understood the positive impact hiring these young men of color would have on Brockton’s community. And that’s why this bill is so important.

S. 1568 helps to ensure that all of our residents, especially those affected by high unemployment and low incomes, benefit from job creation stemming from state-funded contracts.

There’s a unique and timely opportunity here for government to play a more constructive role in the lives of residents. It’s not about government handouts; it’s about the government creating access to jobs—the best form of state aid any community or constituent could ask for.

I thank you for taking on this important work. Thank you for the honor of testifying today.