Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Rep. Elizabeth Malia:

Support us in our Struggle with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts For the Future of Our Garden!  45 Gardeners and Our Neighborhood Need Your Help.

For 29 years, residents of Jamaica Plain have had a community garden at the State Lab property in Jamaica Plain, near the Forest Hills T Station.  Today, over 45 gardeners grow several tons of food each year. Half the gardeners are employees at the State Lab and half are from the community.

In 1987, neighborhood leaders from the Asticou Martinwood South Neighborhood Association (AMSNA) negotiated the garden with the state --in part as compensation for having to live next to an ugly, noisy and poorly managed state property.

In 2015, the Commonwealth's Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) asked for AMSNA and Garden leaders to sign a license agreement that would give the state the power to terminate the garden, without cause, with 30 days notice.  We communicated that this was unacceptable and that we needed DCAMM to offer us long-term security.  The state has refused to negotiate with us.  On May 18, 2016, DCAMM sent a notice to gardeners that were trespassing and CUT OFF WATER TO THE GARDEN.  For three days, gardeners carried their own water to the site. Thanks to a Boston Herald story the State turned the water on.  We had a negotiating meeting on Monday May 23, 2016 and now we need your help.

Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz and Representative Liz Malia, we ask that you stand with your constituents and advocate for the community gardeners in the following ways:

1. Demand Accountability for the Water Shut Off.  Identify the responsible person within DCAMM who made the decision to cut off water to 45 community gardeners.  In order to build trust with the state, we need to understand who has the power to turn our water on and off.

2. Require the State to Negotiate in Good Faith with the Community --without threats of water shut-offs or eviction for trespassing. 

3. Do Not Force the Community To Sign A Bad Agreement That Jeopardizes the Garden.  The community should not be forced to sign an agreement that does not guarantee reasonable security against eviction without cause.

4. Help Secure the Garden.  Work to pass legislation or win a policy reprieve that allows the garden to obtain a reasonable lease.  MBTA community gardens have 30 year leases.  Or have DCAMM deed the property to Boston Natural Areas/Trustees of Reservations for continued use as a community garden.

5. Obtain A Letter from DCAMM Commissioner Carol Gladstone reassuring gardeners that while legislation and a long-term resolution is pending, that we will not be arbitrarily evicted.

We urge you to advocate for our community in the face of bullying by a state agency.  If we need a mediator, we will find one.  We need you, as our elected representatives, to advocate for the community's interests.