Questions Unanswered as Plainville Becomes Latest Town to Receive Migrants

Above, Rep. Marcus Vaughn speaking in Plainville.

Little more than 10 days after Franklin learned that one of its hotels was being taken over by the state to house migrants, Plainville found itself in the same situation. But even as local leaders like State Rep. Marcus Vaughn struggled to provide answers, the number of questions has continued to grow regarding tax and economic impacts:

• What is the impact on the state’s important travel and tourism industry of having hundreds of hotel rooms taken out of service? How will that impact restaurants, shopping, and entertainment venues in places like Franklin? “The biggest challenge has been trying to actually uncover the list of hotels that are involved, which has proven elusive based on privacy and proprietary issues. Without that list there's really no way for us to conduct any kind of analysis on how it may impact tourism numbers.” -- David O'Donnell, Vice President of Strategic Communications at Meet Boston (formerly the Greater Boston Convention and Visitor Bureau)
• What will be the tax impact on towns like Franklin that receives a 6% room tax from each hotel room rented. in FY `22 that totaled almost half-a-million dollars. The amount of funds collected each year is directly related to the number of rooms rented. Will the state pay this tax? Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has not yet responded to an inquiry. Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said he has not been given an answer and has reached out to the legislative delegation for answers.

And in Plainville, Rep. Vaughn Expresses Frustration

In a letter to his Plainville constituents, State Rep Marcus Vaughn expressed hopes for the well being of migrants as well as concerns for locals in need and for local schools.

An Important Update for Plainville Residents and KP Community

Hello everyone,

I hope this message finds you well. As your Representative, I have always held the commitment to be open and transparent with my constituents, ensuring you are well-informed about matters that directly impact your lives. Today, I have a significant announcement to share that involves our community.

Late this afternoon, the Plainville, Massachusetts Town Administration received unexpected communication from Governor Maura Healey's office, bringing to their attention a situation that requires our immediate attention. Plainville is set to host a number of immigrant families for temporary emergency housing. I want you to know that your town officials, including myself, are working diligently to gather all the necessary information and manage this situation responsibly.

The Selectboard members and Town Administrator have posed essential questions to the appropriate authorities, questions that I’m sure echo your concerns and our town's best interests:

• Which hotels will be impacted by this decision?
• How many families are expected to arrive?
• There is an implication that the first families might arrive as early as tonight.
• Are there school-aged children among these families?
• Are there pregnant mothers within the group?
• What languages do we need to provide support for?
• Are there any known health challenges within the group?
• How long is their stay projected to be?

At this point, we have only received information that the State will be providing food assistance in some capacity. It's important to convey that your town officials, along with myself, are actively seeking answers to these pressing questions on a minute-by-minute basis.

Surprisingly, neither I nor my office were directly contacted by the Governor's office. Presently, I'm uncertain if they have communicated with our Senator, Senator Becca Rausch or her office. While compassion for those in need is essential, we must ensure that our town's well-being remains a priority. This includes safeguarding crucial services like schools and public safety, which we provide on a daily basis.

I am fully aware of the concerns you may have, and I share your compassion. It's crucial to note that our community still has Massachusetts residents – seniors, veterans, single parents, and families – on housing waiting lists for over a year. Many constituents have been awaiting placement for several months. Moreover, rising inflation has raised worries about putting food on the table, and some citizens are struggling to access adequate healthcare and affordable prescription drugs. We have a range of pressing issues that demand our attention, starting with addressing the needs of our own citizens.

Rest assured, I am listening to your voices and will advocate for your interests at the federal level. Our citizens are experiencing hardships, and these must be addressed before we extend assistance to those outside our community.

Thank you for your understanding and support during these challenging times.”