Government

Council President Outlines City’s Protections for Undocumented Immigrants, Does Not Favor an Executive Order

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City Council President Mark Sideris. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

After receiving questions about and requests to protect immigrants in Watertown in recent weeks, City Council President Mark Sideris emphasized the steps being taken by the City to provide safety and security, but said he does not favor the City Council passing a resolution or executive order regarding immigrants in Watertown. Sideris spoke during the President’s Report at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. After a resident was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 10, people reached out to Sideris and other elected officials. He stressed that he was speaking on his own behalf, not for the entire Council.

Elections

LETTER: Retired Judge Endorses Sen. Will Brownsberger

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To The Editor,

I am writing to enthusiastically support Senator Will Brownsberger’s re-election campaign and will be voting for him on Sept. 1. During my legal career, encompassing 20 years as a public defender and 24 years as a juvenile court judge, I have learned a lot about the legislative process and the importance of having an effective and forceful advocate who understands the issues and the needs of our community. Will has been in the forefront of youth and criminal legal reform efforts, and his voice is now needed more than ever. I work with a wide network of advocacy groups who realize the imperative of having someone who has the institutional history and credibility to get things done.

Government

Detailed Plans for Watertown Square Project to be Presented at Open House

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Save the date for the Open House on Watertown Square Implementation on May 20, 2026, from 3-8 p.m. at 9 Galen St. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Join the Open House! The City of Watertown invites you on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, between 3-8 PM to 9 Galen Street for the Watertown Square Implementation Open House!Stop in anytime between 3-8 PM to visit stations that will inform you more about the Demonstration Project and the Urban Revitalization Plan. 

Topics that you can engage with at the Open House include:

A detailed outline of the drafted Demonstration Project Plan, as presented by City Manager Proakis in April. Guided tours of Demonstration Project area with members of the project team.

Government

City Councilor Caroline Bays Hosting Annual Public Meeting

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Caroline Bays

City Councilor At-Large Caroline Bays will host her annual meeting on April 27, 2026 at the Watertown Library

Bays provided the following announcement:

“I wanted to invite you to my Annual Meeting,” Bays said. “After hearing questions about what Watertown can do about ICE in Watertown and also curiosity about the Watertown Square Area Plan, I decided it was a good time to hold my Annual Meeting.” Bays’ annual meeting will take place on Monday, April 27 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Watertown Free Public Library’s Lucia Mastrangelo Room. The Library is located at 123 Main St. in Watertown.

Government

Watertown’s Budget Maintains Programs & Staffing, But City Needs Legislature’s Help to Do So

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Photo by Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

Despite uncertain economic times, Watertown’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget will maintain the City’s program and staffing from the current year, but keeps staffing “headcount neutral.” The City will be in better shape than many communities in the area, City Manager George Proakis told the City Council on Tuesday night. Proakis presented the Fiscal Year 2027 Watertown Budget, which totals $226,212,930. The budget is 0.43% less than the revised FY26 budget. Pulling out of the other financial uses line (that includes using “free cash”) which fluctuates by year, the increase from FY26 to FY27 is 6.8%.

Government

After Recent ICE Detention in Watertown, School & City Officials Were Asked About Plans & Protections

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Following the detention of a Watertown man by federal immigration enforcement agents on April 10, School and City officials discussed actions being taken or planned by local officials. At about 9 a.m. on Friday, April 10, a man was taken from his vehicle on Rutland Road by ICE agents after they broke the window. Witnesses contacted the LUCE hotline, which got in touch with the Watertown Rapid Response Network (RRN) (a group of about 250 residents with “concerns about the current immigration enforcement”) who contacted the man’s wife. The man was taken to a detention facility in Plymouth, according to a member of the RRN. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, a member the Rapid Response Network requested that City officials “issue an executive order that prohibits City resources from being used for immigration enforcement, prohibits immigration activities on City property, requires valid warrants before ICE enters City buildings, ensures transparency and community notifications regarding ICE activity, and protects every Watertown residents Constitutional and human rights.”

Government

Congresswoman Clark Secures $500K for Watertown Square Project

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The preliminary design for the Four Corners plan to redesign the intersection in Watertown Square. (Courtesy of the City of Watertown)

Watertown will get half a million dollars to help design the streetscape for the Watertown Square redesign. The money was secured by Congresswoman Katherine Clark. See more details in the City of Watertown’s announcement, below. The City of Watertown received $500,000 in Community Project Funding, secured by the Democratic Whip and U.S. Representative Katherine Clark (MA-5) as part of Congressionally Directed Spending, to support the Watertown Square streetscape design project. 

This funding is part of over $12 million secured by the Congresswoman for 15 community projects across Massachusetts’s 5th district.

Government

LETTER: City Government —Trust, but Verify

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(Updated April 13: the number of units allowed in the Watertown Square Zoning was corrected to 4,423 (from 3,701) after confirming in the approved Watertown Square Area Plan)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

After attending the April 6th meeting on potential changes to Watertown Square and reviewing comments to my Watertown News Letter entitled “How Honest is our Development Process?”, I decided to tackle the issue of government honesty and transparency head on, with real life, current examples. First, I’d like to thank commenters for your thoughtful takes. And for. those who’ve served on City committees like the Watertown Charter Review Committee, I give a special thanks! The few months that I spent on the Watertown Blue Ribbon Commission were enough to convince me that this is a lot of work!!