Government

OP-ED: End of Session Crunch in the State Legislature

By |

State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who also represents Watertown and parts of Boston, provided the following piece:

It has already been a productive legislative session, but negotiations underway have the potential to make it especially significant. In April, we enacted  a transformational set of criminal justice reforms. Last month, we settled a major package to reduce economic inequality — raising the minimum wage, providing paid family and medical leave and also resolving a dispute over the sales tax. Several measures that have significant resonance in the current national political climate have crossed or should shortly hit the Governor’s desk: Extreme risk protective orders to reduce the risk of gun suicides, automatic voter registration and the repeal of archaic anti-abortion laws. Another measure that resonates nationally is still up in the air — “safe communities” legislation that would assure that local police focus on maintaining order and protecting residents rather than doing the immigration enforcement work of ICE. The safe communities measure is pending as part of the state’s budget for fiscal 2019which is now a couple of weeks late.

Government

Mt. Auburn Street Project Inches Forward, Concern About Parking for Businesses

By |

The renovation of Mt. Auburn Street, including the “road diet,” took a small step forward Tuesday night when the Town Council gave a preliminary nod for the first set of designs in a long process before the $14 million project becomes a reality. The plans given a tentative OK by the Council include the Complete Streets plan to reduce the number of lanes for motor vehicles from two in each direction to one, and adding left turn lanes at many intersections, and bike lanes along the entire length from Patten Street to the Cambridge line. Parking for Businesses
Conditions were placed on the approval after Councilors received more than 80 emails over the weekend from concerned customers of Pet Haven Animal Hospital. The plan had called for removal of on-street parking in the “T” intersection on Mt.

Around Town

Town Solves Filippello Park Parking Problems for Fall, Not Long Term Ones

By |

Watertown’s Filippello Park draws many visitors, from those going for a stroll, to children enjoying the playground, to sports leagues playing on the softball or soccer fields. The demand usually ramps up during the evenings, and park users will park on nearby streets, so residents of those areas struggle to find a spot of their own. 

Monday night, the Town of Watertown held a meeting about plans for the park during the fall, but the room full or residents had bigger issues on their minds. Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon announced that the two playing fields at Filippello Park will not close, as previously discussed, during the fall. The Town looked for field space in other towns, or at Daly Field, in Brighton, but little was available, and none with lights. With the fields remaining open, parking had to be found because the main lot off Grove Street will be closed while the entrance that end of the park is renovated during the fall.

Government

Find Out When You Can Meet with State Rep. Jonathan Hecht

By |

Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours once in Watertown this July, his office announced. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following time and location:
Tuesday, July 24th, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St, Watertown, 3rd Floor hallway
Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Bicycling

OP-ED: State Sen. Brownsberger Pushing to Make Roads Safer for Bicyclists

By |

(The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who also represents Watertown and parts of Boston)
When I cycled across the country in 2011, I saw a lot of roadkill. I was constantly aware that all it would take was one mistake by me or by one of those caffeinated guys in big rigs and I’d look about the same. On the open road, I developed a profound gratitude towards the tens of thousands of drivers who did not hit me. The Senate just approved a safety package that would require a clearance of at least three feet for vehicles passing vulnerable road users like highway workers, cyclists and pedestrians.  It would add an additional foot of required clearance for each ten miles per hour of speed.

Election 2018

Watertown Republican State Committeewoman Endorses Diehl for Senate

By |

The Diehl for Senate campaign provided the following press release:

Representative Geoff Diehl, the endorsed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, announced that he has received the endorsement of Republican State Committeewoman Deborah Dugan of Watertown. “I am pleased to endorse Geoff Diehl for U.S. Senate. As a State Representative, Geoff has done more for the people of Massachusetts than Senator Warren has done as a United States Senator,” said Dugan. “I am honored to have received Debby’s endorsement. She is extremely hard worker and her strong support will help us win Watertown,” said Diehl.