Caroline Bays

LETTER: Open Letter from Town Councilor About Kneeling During Pledge of Allegiance

By |

Dear Watertown resident,

I wanted to say a few words to you before the town council meeting tonight. As many of you know I knelt during the Pledge of Allegiance at the inauguration. I did so because I can not say “with liberty and justice for all” while that is not true in our country. People of color throughout our nation do not experience the same rights and privileges as white Americans. From the disproportionate punishment young children experience in schools to the disproportionate arrests, convictions, and sentences adults receive in the criminal justice system, people of color live with discrimination and persecution that people who are white do not experience.

Government

Town Councilor Dattoli Holding Office Hours Tuesday Evening

By |

Town Councilor At-Large Michael Dattoli announced he will be holding office hours on Tuesday, January 9th. 

Office Hours begin at 5:00pm in the Trustees Room at the Watertown Free Public Library.  Councilor Dattoli can be contacted by phone at 617-999-5333 or email at michaeldattoli@gmail.com.

Coolidge Square

Discuss Plans to Redesign Mt. Auburn Street in East Watertown at DPW Open House

By |

Find out about plans to redesign Mt. Auburn Street through the business district of East Watertown and share your thoughts at a meeting hosted by the Watertown Department of Public Works on Jan. 30, 2018. The Watertown DPW sent out the following announcement:

COOLIDGE SQUARE OPEN HOUSE  for a Mount Auburn Street Project Update
Date: Tuesday, January 30, 2018  
Snow Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2018*
Time: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: The Apartments at Coolidge School – Auditorium 319 Arlington Street, Watertown
Visitor parking is available in the front of the building and additional spaces are behind the building along the fence. All other spots are for residents only.

Government

Town Council President Sees Development, Communication & Schools as Priorities for New Term

By |

As the new Town Council term begins, Watertown Council President Mark Sideris looked toward the next two years and said that some of the major focus will be on traffic, development and communication with the public, as well as the upcoming school building projects. Newly elected Town Councilors, School Committee members and Library Trustees were sworn in by Town Clerk John Flynn on Tuesday night at the Mosesian Center for the Arts. After his swearing in, Sideris addressed the audience in the theater at the Arts Center. Development has been a big issue for several years, and Sideris said he would like to take a new approach at looking at new projects in town, from those completed, to those under construction and projects just getting started. “I will be working with the Community Development and Planning Department to coordinate a field trip to visit the sites that have been developed,” Sideris said.

Government

Town Councilor Kneels in Prayer During Pledge of Allegiance at Watertown’s Inauguration

By |

At the Watertown Inauguration on Tuesday, one of the newly elected Town Councilors stood out by kneeling during the Pledge of Allegiance. Caroline Bays, who was elected to her first term as Councilor-At-Large in November, said she knelt in prayer during the Pledge. She then stood for the National Anthem. Bays said she was kneeling in support of those who have had their freedoms curtailed. “The Pledge of Allegiance states that we are a nation which stands for liberty and justice for all,” Bays said in a statement.

Government

CPA Tax Appearing on Tax Bills for First Time, Some Can Get Exemption

By |

Watertown homeowners noticed a new line on their property tax bills, the one for “CPA Tax.” The new tax is on all bills, but some residents can qualify for an exemption on the new tax. The tax is the surcharge for the Community Preservation Act, which was passed by voters in 2016. The money raised by the tax will go into a fund earmarked for projects related to affordable housing, open space/recreation and historic preservation. The CPA adds a 2 percent tax surcharge.

Aaron Dushku

Two Councilors Honored by Colleagues as They Bid the Board Farewell

By |

As Watertown prepares to inaugurate the newly elected officials on Jan. 2, 2018, two familiar faces will not be among the Town Councilors sworn in – Susan Falkoff and Aaron Dushku. Their colleagues paid tribute to the two Councilors stepping down this year during the final Council meeting of 2017. Each received a proclamation from the Council along with a framed print of Town Hall. Falkoff served as a Councilor-At-Large for a dozen years.

Government

Rep. Hecht Provides Year End Review of Work in the State House, in Town

By |

Watertown State Rep. Jonathan Hecht wrote up a review of the accomplishments for his district and the state on his website, including increasing state dollars coming to Watertown, approval of the Greenway path in East Watertown and studies to improve major roadways in town. Hecht’s office sent out the following statement:

State Rep. Jon Hecht invites Watertown residents to read the 2017 year-end review he has posted on his website: http://www.jonhecht.com/2017-in-review/. Learn about legislation adopted this year in Massachusetts, get an update on district projects and priorities, and see what’s in store for the second half of the 2017-18 legislative session. Anyone wishing to receive Rep. Hecht’s updates and office hour announcements by email can sign up at http://www.jonhecht.com/sign-up/