Investing in Our Communities And Environment

The state treasurer oversees the $42 billion public school teacher and state worker pension fund. As your next treasurer, James O'Keefe will invest in projects that will assure the required return to pension holders, preserve the quality of life in Massachusetts and create thousands of new jobs.

We must invest in our communities, in projects that meet our needs, not those of corporations. We can solve our housing crisis by turning abandoned properties into quality housing. We can build our economy by providing capital to start small businesses. We can save our environment by investing in renewable energy, creating good local jobs and keeping us out of imperialist wars over oil.

Investing in a clean environment

In global warming, we face the threat of our coasts swamped by higher sea levels and increasing temperatures. James O'Keefe is committed to helping to halt global warming by making sure that we invest in energy conservation and renewable energy technologies.

Investing in energy conservation and wind and solar energy technologies will create good local jobs in the construction and electrical sectors, among others. Denmark, which already derives 15% of its electricity from wind power, is one of the leaders in wind turbine design and production. By investing in renewable energy locally we can expand this industry in Massachusetts to the benefit of our economy and environment.

Investing in renewable energy and conservation reduces our need for fossil fuels from the Middle East, and helps us stay out of imperialist wars over oil.

Investing in small business

People are leaving Massachusetts because of the cost of living has increased and wages have not kept up. As state treasurer, James O'Keefe will ensure that we must invest in local companies to help them get started or to expand.

Investing in housing

Increasingly, our fellow citizens must move away from friends and family to find an affordable place to live. The number of new units of housing built each month in Massachusetts is half what it was in 1986. We can lower the price of housing by expanding the amount of housing in Massachusetts. James O'Keefe is committed to investing in housing that meets the needs of the people of Massachusetts, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. We can rebuild abandoned properties to provide needed housing and quality jobs.

Investing democratically

James O'Keefe is committed to fostering our democracy by giving citizens the power to decide what investments their community needs and the investment dollars to make those projects a reality. Citizens know what building need to be reclaimed for housing or business space. Citizens know what business needs their community has. Citizens know how to make the neighborhood economy sustainable.

James O'Keefe is committed to setting up town meetings where citizens can decide their community's investment needs and develop project guidelines. Such a system would encourage people proposed and implement sound businesses that will fullfill a community's investment needs while also increasing the control citizens have over their economy.

Investing responsibly

As the son of public school teachers, James O'Keefe will make sure that the state's money is invested wisely for the future retirement of our state workers and teachers while also paying dividends to our state.

Links

James O'Keefe Calls State Pension Investments Risky, Calls for Reform - 8/9/2002
Closed Door DEA Action Threatens Legitimate Businesses - 2/5/2002