Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/letters/)
By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
A Quick Look at Watertown’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
I’ve been looking at ourFiscal Year 2026 Budget. First, I’d like to thank our City Manager for. presenting us with a very well laid out document. These are some of my observations and some questions that I’d like answered as we continue to look at this very lengthy and detailed document. Let’s look at some City departments that actually bring in revenue.
Greetings:
Sometimes; residents express their thoughts and concerns on social media; inclusive of our much appreciated and respected, Watertown News. Through the years, I have learned that the public process only works when the powers that be hear directly from constituents; in documented communications. Nothing else counts! Take the initiative to make a difference. Participate in the open, public process.
To: Watertown Parks and Recreation SubcommitteeFor the past several months, I have been active as a resident to continue monitoring of items related to Parks, Recreation and Athletics for the Town of Watertown. More specifically, focusing on our recreation and athletic facilities as well as the policies which guide their use. I have attended meetings, shared documents, discussed issues by phone, email and texts with different levels of leadership, presented at the Open Forum time frame at the Council, School Committee as well as sharing major issues with the Commission on Disability, Traffic Commission and to your Parks and Recreation subcommittee. I have and will continue to be respectful, yet enthusiastic / determined in regard to this passion I have in hopes of making sure the leadership of Watertown makes the best decisions, is honest, informed, transparent, and eƯective with regards to our Recreation, Athletic and Park Facilities. Certainly, there have been many positive accomplishments over the years, but there have been many missteps, omissions, and poor decisions as well.
Dear Editor,
Shall we start a BELIEVE IT OR NOT WITH THE SECOND TERM
President Donald Trump introduced on April 3, 2025 a gold “Trump Card” Featuring his face onthe front. The $5 million “gold card” program is aimed at wealthy immigrants (note not Migrants) seekingU.S. residency. The announcement aboard Air Force One, offers “green card-plus” privileges toindividuals who invest $5 million in American businesses. It will replace the existing EB-5 visaprogram, which required lower investment amounts and job creation. The initiative is set to become available in less than two weeks.
By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
PART 3: Action Expresses Priorities (Mahatma Gandhi)
So, I went through the budget papers for Fiscal Year 2026. To make this a little shorter, I’ve abbreviated goals, etc. For the exact documents that I am outlining below, Click here and choose Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Policy Guidelines. An important note on transparency: I will be adding my opinions and questions to these pages. They’ll be in italics.
By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
PART 1: Watertown’s Days of Plenty
Over the last few years, there’s been a sort of “Boom town” attitude toward what we could afford here in Watertown. Despite the folks who said,”Don’t you think that we should slow down here? We’ve been here before, and this bubble is likely to burst sooner than later.” Those voices were drowned out and ignored. As one worried resident said, “When the downturn comes, it’s going to get ugly around here!”
You know when you have an uneasy feeling? Call it what you like … intuition, sixth sense, foreboding, “the jitters.” Well, lately I’ve been feeling uneasy and unsettled about the potential financial and policy direction of our City.
Greetings Councilors:
Has anyone noticed the cumulative monetary effects of all the new positions created within the City Administration? And yet; a second ambulance, for the well-being and safety of the citizens of Watertown, is in jeopardy of not materializing for the coming fiscal year budget. The last paragraph of the 03/06/25 Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oversight (BFO) Report states as follows:
“At the conclusion of the discussion, the Manager shared that there is uncertainty around the FY26 budget,…..He proposed that the Fire Department and Committee continue exploring the proposal, given the value of having an additional on-site ambulance service. However, he does not see this as a possibility for FY26 given where we are in the planning cycle, and the current forecast.” [Note: referral to BFO was made on 11/12/24]
So …, after the Council and City Manager hired over thirty new employees in two fiscal years: it seems as though the City is now in austerity mode. At the 2023 Memorial Day Parade; I spoke to several City Councilors. I strongly voiced my concerns against the then proposed increased level of new City hires, included in the FY 24 Budget.
Dear Editor,
Jews lived with Arabs Comfortably in the United States. Arabs lived with Jews Comfortably in the United States. Since coming down his golden escalator at Trump Tower on June 16, 2015, Trump has been fomenting hatred. Can you believe this has been going on for almost a decade? First it was All Muslims and Mexicans. Following the Unite the Right, president Donald Trump’s remarks about the rally generated negative responses.
Dear Councilors,
I am writing in disgust of the opt-out Electricity Choice notice I received today (attached). I should be able to expect continuity-in-service and business-as-usual without having to read a notice and take action. Shame on you all for allowing this to happen. I am sure you will agree that a large percentage of residents are too busy to bother reading notifications and will likely discard the notice without action. The consequence of their inaction will occur sometime later when they notice a higher bill. We can only speculate on their reaction when they learn that Watertown moved them into a program without their consent and they will be furious at the opt-out burden that was placed on them. Regardless of an individual’s perspective on clean energy, they will be upset. My anger is doubled in the knowledge that “clean energy” is a lie. I am sure there are still some folks in the town who still believe in the fairytales promoted by the climate zealots but I am not one. I have a first-hand, front row seat to the construction of wind turbines on Coxes Ledge. I have analyzed wind energy, particularly offshore wind energy, in great detail and it is flawed environmentally as well as economically. The clean energy narrative is a lie! It is not clean and it is not economical.