Early Voting

Early Voting is a Big Hit in Watertown, Still Time to Take Advantage

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After the first two days it was 890. On Friday it was over 2,000. And by the end of Tuesday night – day seven – 3,490 Watertown residents had cast their vote during the early voting period. This is the first election where early voting has been an option for Massachusetts voters and Watertown residents have flocked to Town Hall to take advantage. “This is the first time for the Commonwealth, so we didn’t have anything to judge it by,” said Watertown Town Clerk John Flynn.

Community Preservation Act

LETTER: Now is the Time to All Pitch in to Preserve, Improve Watertown

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To the Editor:

It’s time for Watertown to recognize that we need to do more to create affordable housing, educate our kids for the present and future, maintain and improve our public parks and other recreational spaces, and preserve the heritage of old Watertown that’s getting destroyed. The pressures on us from commercial development and economic forces much bigger than our town or state make it necessary for us all to pitch in to keep Watertown an attractive place for young and old, families and individuals. The Town administration has done an exceptional job at keeping our tax rate well below the state average, but that discipline has come at a major cost. As a community we haven’t had the wherewithal to deal with the changes washing over us. We can’t afford to dream about how cities and towns ought to be funded while ignoring the realities of how the system now works and how to make the most of it.

Community Preservation Act

LETTER: CPA Could Bring New Life to Old Buildings in Poor Shape

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In addition to some anti-CPA letters, the October 28 edition of the TAB also contained the glossy supplement Lens which included the article “Renovation and Innovation.” The piece showed how Bridgewater has restored and updated several historic buildings in ways that now save the town money, energy, and staff time as well as preserving examples of their history — a project partially funded by their CPA. Creative solutions like that are what we at the Historical Society of Watertown have suggested when talking about Orchard House and the Schick House (houses we do not own and over which we have no control). They represent the type of buildings that could be restored and converted to use as office space for some small business or organization. The Schick House could even become a bed and breakfast. Using CPA funds for that sort of project, besides preserving historic architecture, would create useful space for small businesses that generate taxes and provide jobs.

Elections

Groups For and Against Question 5 – the CPA – Make Their Cases

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The election is a week away, and the debate over whether Watertown should adopt the Community Preservation Act – the CPA – continues to rage. 

Watertown News invited the supporters and opposition of the CPA on the town ballot to state their case for why voters should vote “Yes” or “No” on Question #5. Invest in Watertown, which proposed the Ballot Question, got 1,000 words, and the two groups publicly opposing the CPA – the Concerned Watertown Homeowners and Watertown Strong Schools – each got 500 words. Read their statements by clicking the title below:
Yes on 5: Invest in Watertown Supports Passing Community Preservation Act
No on 5: Concerned Homeowners, Watertown Strong Schools Oppose CPA
Also, find out more about the details of the CPA by clicking here.

Elections

Yes on 5: Invest in Watertown Supports Passing Community Preservation Act

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Vote Yes on #5

1) It does great things for communities! 161 towns have already adopted the CPA and not a one has repealed it. It has proven successful in meeting community needs, including protecting what is special while attracting even more funding from additional sources year after year. Waltham has restored buildings and monuments. Belmont renovated its swimming pool.

Elections

No on 5: Concerned Homeowners, Watertown Strong Schools Oppose CPA

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Concerned Watertown Homeowners
Are you a homeowner, renter or business owner? If so, Question 5 will no doubt have a negative economic impact on you and your family. The CPA is a property tax surcharge to raise funds for open space, historic preservation and affordable housing. It’s also a permanent tax on a tax. This money will come from our cash strapped neighbors’ wallets.

Elections

LETTER: CPA Would Make Watertown a Better Place to Live

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To the editor:

As a Watertown citizen of many years, I enthusiastically support the CPA for the following reasons:
1. It would make Watertown a better place to live. Parks, playgrounds, trails and gardens would be developed and improved. Water quality would be protected and climate change impacts would be reduced. Thousands of new, affordable homes for seniors, families, and veterans would be created.

Community Preservation Act

LETTER: Group of Residents Support CPA and Improving Schools

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To the editor:

“Say Yes to the CPA”

We are longtime Watertown residents with young children destined for our fine schools, and we are excited to be voting Yes on Question 5. As people who are deeply devoted to our town, we believe that the Community Preservation Act will bring innumerable benefits to us all. When we decided to raise our families here, we did so for two reasons: First, we were inspired by the commitment of Watertown Strong Schools and other advocates to making our schools great. Second – and just as important – we love the community here. Raising four young children between our two families, we enjoy using Watertown’s parks, attending concerts in Saltonstall Park, strolling along the River, and watching the construction vehicles building up our town.