Government

Veterans Services Being Run by Human Services Director as City Seeks to Fill Position

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Watertown veterans presented the colors during the 2025 Memorial Day Ceremony. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown currently lacks a dedicated veterans services officer, but while the City works to fill the opening the Director of Human Services has taken on most of that role. Jenna Bancroft, the director of the Human Services Department, has been working to get veterans their benefits, and is helping to plan the Memorial Day Parade and related events, she told the City Council at the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget hearing on May 6. In Fiscal Year 2026, the current year, the Veterans Services Department merged into the newly created Human Services Department, said City Manager George Proakis. The City hired Jay Terminiello in October 2025, succeeding longtime VSO Patrick George.

Government

Human Services Department Adding Van, Staff to Help Meet Needs of Residents

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The Parker Annex Building, home to the Watertown Food Pantry and soon of the Human Services Department. (Courtesy of City of Watertown)

Less than a year old, the Watertown Human Services Department has plans to add new programs, such as a van to deliver meals and other services, and boxes with life-saving medicine for people overdosing. The Human Services Department’s first director, Jenna Bancroft, spoke to the City Council at a hearing on May 6. “Human Services is just 10 months old as a department, so we haven’t had a full year of service here in Watertown,” Bancroft said. “I will say too that the budget that we’ve proposed, I’m really excited for what we’re doing this coming year, as we continue to build relationships and really think about the needs and the gaps in the community.”

Government

Setback in Effort to Bring Post Office Back to Watertown Square

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After signs of progress toward a Post Office branch returning to Watertown Square, City of Watertown officials recently received some bad news. City Manager George Proakis told the City Council Tuesday night that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) informed the developers working on the project at 104-106 Main St. that they do not plan to open a branch in Watertown’s downtown. “Recently, the USPS informed O’Connor Capital Partners that they no longer wish to explore adding locations as part of a wider strategy shift, despite the willingness and interest from the parties involved,” Proakis said. “My understanding is they canceled multiple in-progress conversations about opening retail storefronts far beyond just Watertown.”

Elections

Senate Candidate Daniel Lander Endorsed by National Organization

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Daniel Lander. The following announcement was provided by the Lander for State Senate campaign:

Daniel Lander is proud to announce that his campaign for State Senate was endorsed by New Politics, a national organization that supports candidates who have strong backgrounds in public service. The endorsement highlights Lander’s experience serving his community with Americorp and working in the City of Boston. New Politics endorses and supports leaders who are dedicated to public service. The organization has endorsed candidates like Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, Gov. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, and U.S. Senate Candidate and Texas State Senator James Talarico.

Government

Watertown Police Could Get Drone; Department is Nearly Fully Staffed; Officer’s Will Get AI App

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A drone will likely be the latest high-tech addition to the Watertown Police Department, but the City Council had questions about where data collected will be stored and who will have access. Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan described the budget request during the May 6 Fiscal Year 2027 budget hearing. He also talked about staffing and a new AI program that will be used by WPD officers. The drone, which costs $49,396, would be dispatched to an area where a crime or incident like an auto accident is reported, Hanrahan said. “You can get to pretty much anywhere in the City in two minutes, and it’ll give us real time live feed of what’s taking place,” Hanrahan said.

Business

Space for Existing Chinese Restaurant & New Retailer Included in Plans for Watertown Mall

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A rendering of National Development’s plans to renovate part of the Watertown Mall. The green sign is where Joyful Garden will move, and the red sign is a new retailer. The new owners of the Watertown Mall showed plans to revamp part of the mall, which include creating a new space for a popular restaurant and creating space for a new retailer. National Development, a Newton-based national real estate development and management company, purchased the property from Alexandria Real Estate in 2025 with plans to make improvements. The renovations will focus on the area between Target and Best Buy, which will include the Registry of Motor Vehicles, a 31,000 sq.

Elections

Challenger Officially on the Ballot for State Senate Election

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Daniel Lander. The following announcement was provided by Lander for State Senate Campaign:

Daniel Lander’s campaign turned in one thousand signatures from across the district to qualify for the Democratic Primary ballot on Sept. 1st. This ensures that for the first time since 2012, voters will have a real choice in who represents them in the State Senate. “I am honored that so many people in the district have signed on to ensure voters have a real choice on their ballot on September 1st,” said Daniel Lander, Candidate for State Senate.

Government

Rep. John Lawn: “I’m a Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse” — Calls for End of Statute of Limitations

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State Rep. John Lawn

Watertown State Rep. John Lawn revealed that he was sexually abused by adults when he was a child in an Op-Ed he wrote for the Boston Globe, in which he also called for the end of statute of limitations in Massachusetts for child sexual abuse cases. Lawn wrote that he was abused by a “trusted leader” at a local pool and skating rink and a Catholic priest, both of whom are now dead. He went on to say that he remained silent even when revelations of abuse in the Catholic church arose, and even when asked by his mother after one of his abusers was arrested for abusing others. Massachusetts’ current child sexual abuse gives abuse victims can file suits up to age 53, and in cases of repressed memory, adults have seven years after realizing they were abused as children to file claims against abusers. “Trauma does not operate on a legal timeline,” Lawn wrote.