“A Breach of Trust: Partisan Politics in Barnstable’s Public Spaces” By Ronald Beaty

“A Breach of Trust: Partisan Politics in Barnstable’s Public Spaces” By Ronald Beaty

On October 2, 2025, the West Barnstable Community Center, a taxpayer-funded cornerstone of our town, is set to host a “Postcard Party” organized by Cape Cod Women for Change, a local arm of the progressive Indivisible network. Framed as a friendly gathering with snacks and community spirit, the event invites residents to write postcards urging voters to support specific electoral outcomes—tactics designed to boost Democratic turnout in upcoming races. While civic engagement is vital, hosting this blatantly partisan event in a town-owned venue violates both legal and ethical standards, undermining public trust and fairness in Barnstable. This misuse of our shared resources demands condemnation and reform.

The facts are clear. The West Barnstable Community Center, managed by the Town of Barnstable’s Recreation Division, is a public asset meant to serve all residents equitably. Yet, this event, explicitly tied to Indivisible’s mission of mobilizing “like-minded” progressive voters, transforms a neutral space into a staging ground for partisan advocacy. Massachusetts law, specifically G.L. c. 268A, forbids public resources—facilities included—from supporting private political activities unless equal access is guaranteed for all viewpoints. No evidence suggests Barnstable has such a policy, nor does the event’s promotion mention a full-cost rental fee to offset taxpayer subsidies. This effectively funnels public funds to one side’s agenda, a violation that could trigger State Ethics Commission fines up to $10,000 or event cancellation.

Municipal policies reinforce this prohibition. While Barnstable’s exact regulations for community center use are not fully public, regional norms—such as Barnstable County’s ban on partisan events in county facilities—suggest strict limits on political activities in public spaces. The event’s organizers, by failing to disclose a permit or fee, likely bypass these rules, risking unauthorized use. If town staff facilitated this event without scrutiny, it compounds the breach. Such oversights not only flout administrative procedures but also expose Barnstable to complaints from residents excluded by the event’s partisan framing.

The ethical lapses are equally troubling. Public facilities symbolize our community’s commitment to fairness. By hosting an event that caters to “like-minded” progressives, the town implicitly endorses one political faction, alienating residents with differing views. This erodes trust in our institutions, particularly in a politically diverse area like Cape Cod. The event’s vague language—“doing good work” and “community”—masks its intent to influence voters, potentially misleading attendees or officials about its partisan goals. Transparency, a cornerstone of ethical governance, is absent here. Organizers should have clearly disclosed their affiliation with Indivisible, a group funded by progressive powerhouses like the Open Society Foundations, and their aim to sway elections.

Moreover, the event exploits community goodwill. By offering snacks and a social atmosphere in a public venue, it cloaks political activism in the guise of civic unity, leveraging the town’s credibility to legitimize its agenda. This risks dividing residents, as those unaware of the partisan purpose may feel misled, while others, excluded by the “like-minded” call, are sidelined. Ethical event planning demands honesty about intentions, especially in spaces funded by all taxpayers.

The timing—days before potential 2025 election deadlines—amplifies these concerns. Postcarding, a proven tactic to target infrequent voters for Democratic causes, is no neutral exercise. It’s a calculated effort to influence outcomes, and hosting it publicly gives it an undeserved civic imprimatur. Even if within the IRS’s 501(c)(4) limits for Indivisible’s political activities, the event’s scale and venue raise questions about unreported expenditures, inviting further scrutiny.

This is not about stifling free speech. Organizers are free to postcard in private homes, libraries, or churches, as Indivisible often does elsewhere. But using a town facility without equal access for all groups—say, a conservative counterpart—crosses a line. Imagine the outcry if a Republican group held a similar event in the same space without oversight. Fairness demands consistency, not selective access.

Barnstable must act. The town should cancel this event unless organizers secure a full-cost rental and open the venue to all political groups on equal terms. Clear policies prohibiting partisan use of public facilities, or requiring strict neutrality, are overdue. Residents deserve transparency—public disclosure of permits, fees, and event purposes. Organizers, too, must rethink their approach, moving such activities to private spaces and owning their partisan intent upfront.

This event’s implications extend beyond October 2. It tests our commitment to impartial governance and community unity. Allowing public spaces to become battlegrounds for partisan agendas sets a dangerous precedent, inviting division and distrust. We must demand better—of our town, our organizers, and ourselves. Let’s protect Barnstable’s public resources for all, not just the “like-minded.” Our community’s integrity depends on it.

Ronald Beaty