[statecom-discuss] Fwd: No Fees on Offenders

[Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com]

Wow, the things that happen that ouodn't hear about because you go away!   
See below and then google "Patrick safety fees" if you want to read the press 
coverage at the time...

I don't know how much people are following developments with the new 
adminstration but Patrick has pretty consistently proposed regressive taxes - this is 
certainly yet another one.   

And what is the appeal of another fee on those who get convicted?   
Overwhelming low-income folks, overwhelmingly people of color?   Given that white 
collar crime is rarely prosecuted, this just continues the criminal justice 
system's bias.

but what I really find staggering is that the only appeal I see here is the 
right wing tough-on-crime = people of color as criminals subtext.   didn't we 
just hear all this outrage when Healey used that angle to try to win an 
election?   But it's okay as the basis of tax/fee policy?

Love, grace