“While I am deeply appreciative of the herculean efforts of Senator Brownsberger, his hard-working team, and the difficult task before them, the current redistricting proposal is a missed opportunity to unite the two working-class communities of the South Coast - Fall River and New Bedford - into one congressional district. 

Together, these two anchor cities of the South Coast represent one of the largest concentrations of Azoreans in the world, and this shared cultural heritage is woven into the fabric of our communities. Facing the same challenges and aspiring to the same goals, we share a regional economic interest in the completion of South Coast Rail, the development of the offshore wind industry, the presence of the Blue Economy, the combined One Southcoast Chamber of Commerce, and the unified health services of Southcoast Health Systems. 

It is my grave fear that splitting these two communities of shared interest is a hugely missed opportunity to unite the voices of the working-class people in these cities. For the sake of the region, Fall River should move into the 9th District and be united with New Bedford.” 
 --Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D- Westport), Chair, Senate Committee on Ways and Means