Government

Watertown’s Community Preservation Act Turns 10, Learn More at Celebratory Hearing

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Please make sure the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Turning 10 celebratory public hearing is on your calendar. Join the Community Preservation Committee to: 

Learn more about the CPA projects in Watertown

Share your ideas and priorities as we update the CPA 5-year plan 

Engage with your neighbors in breakout groups sorted by open space/outdoor recreation, community housing, and historic preservation

Enjoy anniversary cake. When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 7PM

Where: Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Room

Contact Lanae Handy at lhandy@watertown-ma.gov for more information or if you have questions.

Elections

LETTER: Watertown Resident Supports State Senate Candidate

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To my Watertown friends and neighbors:

Senator Will Brownsberger is running for re-election and I enthusiastically support his continued service as our State Senator. Over many years of public service, Senator Brownsberger has earned the trust of our communities through thoughtful leadership, accessibility, and an unwavering dedication to serving his constituents. 

I have been especially impressed with Senator Brownsberger’s commitment to improving education in Massachusetts, and in Watertown. The Senator is aware of particular funding challenges that arise in our community. Through his investigation into the highly-complicated funding formula for schools (Chapter 70), he discovered that Watertown was not receiving the money to which we are entitled. Over his 12 years in the State Senate, this has led to nearly $22 million dollars of additional funding coming from the state to Watertown.

Elections

Charles River Chamber Hosting House, Senate Candidate Debates

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The Charles River Regional Chamber will host a pair of debates with candidates running to represent Watertown in the State House. The 10th Middlesex House debate with John Lawn and Alison Leary takes place on July 21, and the Suffolk and Middlesex State Senate debate will be on Aug. 10. See more information from the Chamber, below. Join us for two virtual debates between candidates for the State House competing on Sept 1.

Government

Mt. Auburn St. Project: Sidewalk Reconstruction, Drainage and Tree Trench Installation

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During the week of June 13-17, sidewalk work will continue in the areas of Elton Street, Winsor Avenue and Langdon Avenue. Drainage work will take place between Bates Road and Spruce Street, while tree trench installation will take place from Stearns Road and Spruce Street. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown below. Concrete Placement

Concrete placement will take place on the following westbound sidewalk locations starting along Mount Auburn Street:

617 Mount Auburn Street to Elton Street. On Mount Auburn Street from Winsor Avenue to Langdon Avenue.

Government

City Council Moving Out of City Hall for July 14 Meeting

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The Parker Annex Building (Courtesy of City of Watertown)

The City Council will not be meeting it the usual place on July 14. The meeting will be held in the Parker Building at 7 p.m. The meeting includes a votes to set next year’s water and sewer rates, on proposed changes to the Noise Ordinance, and a presentation about the City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. See more information provided by the City, below. Due to scheduled maintenance in the Watertown City Hall Council Chambers, the Watertown City Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, will not be held at City Hall. The meeting will instead take place at Parker Building in the Community Meeting Room, 2E.

Elections

State Senate Candidate Endorsed by Statewide Environmental Group

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Will Brownsberger

The following announcement was provided by the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund:

The Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund has endorsed Will Brownsberger for re-election as Suffolk and Middlesex District State Senator, a credit to his commitment to the environment and climate action. Issues of environmental justice, public health, transportation, and energy policy are inextricably linked. Because of this, we need leaders at every level of government who will call for ambitious action. 

“Will Brownsberger has consistently advanced policies that strengthen climate resilience and support a cleaner energy future,” said Casey Bowers, Executive Director of the Environmental League of Massachusetts Action Fund. “His leadership on building decarbonization, grid modernization, and clean energy technologies will help Massachusetts continue making progress toward its climate goals.”

Will Brownsberger is running for the Suffolk and Middlesex District seat, a position he has held since 2012. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Brownsberger was the 24th Middlesex State Representative from 2007 until 2012. Since taking office, Brownsberger has championed affordable housing, climate resilience, criminal justice reform, and investments in mental and public health services.

Elections

See the Replay of the State Senate Forum Hosted by the Watertown Democrats

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The Watertown and Belmont Democratic Town Committees hosted a forum for the two candidates for the Suffolk and Middlesex State Senate seat: Will Brownsberger and Daniel Lander. A video of the forum is available. Watertown Cable Access TV recorded the forum, and the replay is available online at http://vodwcatv.org/internetchannel/show/5649?site=1

The two candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination for State Senate. Votes will be cast in the State Primary on Sept. 1, 2026.

Government

Police Drone to be Discussed by City Council’s Public Safety Committee

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The prospect of the Watertown Police Department using a drone will be discussed at the City Council’s Committee on Public Safety on July 9. The drone, which costs $49,396, would be dispatched to an area where a crime or incident like an auto accident is reported. It would be able to get anywhere in town in two minutes, which is faster than the typical response time for a police officer in a cruiser, Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan told the City Council in March. The drone can fly automatically to a location, and can also be overridden and controlled manually. The drone would be dispatched from the Watertown 911 Center, and would not go out to every reported incident, Hanrahan said.