Elections

LETTER: Congressional Candidate Thanks His Supporters During State Primary

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Open Letter from Republican Congressional Candidate John Hugo to the People of theMassachusetts 5 th Congressional District:

I want to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate every single person, no matter the party and no matter who you voted for, who took the time to do their civic duty on Tuesday September 4. Our republic only works, indeed can only thrive, if informed citizens participate. I’m truly humbled and honored that 64% of those who voted in the Republican Primary selected me to be the Republican Nominee. I want to congratulate Dr. Louis Kuchner, my primary opponent, for running a spirited campaign that took the high road and focused on issues. He has graciously endorsed my candidacy and pledged his support.

Elections

Group of Voters to Examine Nurse Staffing Ballot Measure at 4 Day Event in Watertown

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Citizens’ Initiative Review provided the following announcement:

The 2018 Citizens’ Initiative Review is coming to Watertown. From Wednesday, September 12 through Saturday, September 15, 20 Massachusetts voters will gather at the Watertown Public Library to produce a clear, reliable statement of essential information on Question 1, the ballot initiative on nurse staffing limits. Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR) is an innovative project in civic engagement designed to help voters make informed decisions on complicated ballot questions. The 2018 CIR is being organized by the office of State Representative Jon Hecht (D-Watertown) and the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University, with guidance from a nonpartisan Advisory Board that includes former Governor Michael Dukakis, Representative Brad Hill (R-Ipswich), and leading academics and advocates in the field of voter education and civic engagement. The twenty citizen panelists who will gather in Watertown have been selected to reflect the state’s overall voting population in terms of age, gender, race/ethnicity, place of residence, party affiliation, and education.

Elections

Devaney Wins Race for Governor’s Council & All the Watertown Results from the State Primary

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Watertown’s Marilyn Petitto Devaney prevailed Tuesday in a tough primary election for the District 3 Governor’s Councilor seat. Devaney will not face a Republican challenger in her bid for a 16th term on the Governor’s Council after defeating challenger Nick Carter of Newton. Devaney received 56 percent of the vote, districtwide, with 95 percent of the precincts counted. There Republicans have no candidate on the ballot for Governor’s Council District 3. Carter, an attorney, ran a well funded campaign and sent out several mailings to voters, while  Devaney, a former Watertown Town Councilor, self-funded her campaign.

Government

Sidewalk, Street Construction Around Hosmer School to Continue Through Fall

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The Watertown Department of Public Works provided this update on the construction on the sidewalks and streets around Hosmer School. 

Work has progressed on the MassDOT Hosmer School Safe Routes to School Project. The majority of work on the west side of School Street and in front of the Hosmer School has been completed. A section of the intersection at Chauncey Street has been left in a temporary condition as we continue to await Verizon and Eversource wire transfer. The focus of construction will now shift to the east side of Boylston Street, towards Fairfield/Dartmouth Street. Construction will continue during the fall.

Elections

Massachusetts’ State Primary is on Tuesday, See Who is on the Ballot

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The 2018 Massachusetts State Primary will be held on Sept. 4, the day after Labor Day. 

Democrats, Republicans and unenrolled voters who want to vote in either of the parties primaries will be able to vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 4. The Democrats have several contested races, including governor, lieutenant governor and a race with a candidate from Watertown. The Republicans have four contested races, including three vying for U.S. Senator.

Government

DPW Announces Temporary Walking Routes to WHS During Common Street Project

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The Watertown Department of Public Works provided this update on the Common Street road project:

Over the summer, the Town has begun construction along Common Street from Mount Auburn Street to the Church Street/Orchard Street intersection, including portions of Columbia Street and Spring Street as part of the Common Street improvement project. The scope of the project includes the full reconstruction of each roadway with the objective of increasing safety and improving operations for all users within this corridor. General information is available at the Town’s web-site: http://www.watertowndpw.org/173/Common-Street

Construction will continue during the fall. As students are heading back to school, safety through the active construction zone is paramount. DPW, working with the School Department and Police Department Traffic Division, has developed a temporary pedestrian safety and control plan (See photo above).

Elections

LETTER: Governor’s Council Candidate Defends Mailers, Shares Endorsements

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Editor:

I write to respond to a letter claiming one of my mailers was false. First, I have an unblemished record for professional integrity as a lawyer with over 25 years experience and have earned the highest grade for ethics from my peers. I have not lied in any of my mailers or during this campaign. I am running to protect our state courts and values as Trump erodes well-established rights and values at the federal level, among them the attack on truth and facts. I am not interested in running based on falsehoods. I can support each of my statements.

Development

Arsenal Yards Developers Proposing Limiting Area Where Increased Height Would be Allowed

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The developers of Arsenal Yards have submitted an alternative amendment for increased height for the planned residential tower on the former Arsenal Mall property. 

The original proposal called for increasing the allowable height from 130 feet to 197 feet (an increase of 67 feet) for Building G in the Arsenal Yards development. The additional height would allow the condominium building to be 18 stories tall, instead of 12, but would have the same number of units. Also, the footprint of the building would be reduced. The original proposed change to Watertown’s zoning ordinance would apply to properties at least 10 acres in size located anywhere in the Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD), which includes the properties where both malls are located, along with some property along parts of Arsenal Street, Coolidge Avenue, Elm Street and Arlington Street. The alterations proposed by Boylston Properties would ask for the same height increase, but limit it to the areas south of Arsenal Street.