Government

LETTER: Resident Responds to State Senator’s Op-ed on Automated Traffic Enforcement

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{The following is a response to an Op-ed written by State Sen. Will Brownsberger that was published on Watertown News on March 19, 2018. Read the Op-ed here.}
As someone who works with technology on a daily basis, I appreciate Brownsberger’s effort to convince us that cameras and computer programs can help us. But his message confuses me. He hints that municipalities would use this tool transparently and conservatively, yet also tells us that this method will be a lucrative way of securing revenue from citizenry; the machines will “easily pay for themselves”. He further perplexes us when in one line he says the barriers are “not technological” but then admits “no currently [sic] mechanism” that can ascertain the actual perpetrator.

Letters

OP-ED: Are We Ready for Automated Traffic Enforcement?

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The following was submitted by State Sen. Will Brownsberger

Automated enforcement of speed limits and red lights could substantially reduce accidents. So far, we have not been willing to use the new technology in Massachusetts. To improve safety, I hope we can build support to experiment with automated enforcement in a thoughtful and transparent way. The technology to recognize license plates is now quite reliable. The barriers to using plate readers for enforcement of basic traffic laws are not technological.

Council on Aging

LETTER: Praise for Town’s Support of the Watertown Senior Center, Director & Staff

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Mr. President, Councilors, and Mr. Manager. It is my pleasure to express a positive message at this time. A while ago you provided the Council on Aging with the fruits necessary to advance the scope of the Senior Center, such as more hours for our able bodied staff to stretch their abilities. And they have them. Mr. Manager [Michael Driscoll] you appointed a Director [Anne-Marie Gagnon] whose experience and advice allows the Members of the Council on Aging to ponder every aspect of senior living and needs.

Letters

LETTER: Thank You to Watertown DPW for Helping With Blocked Sewer

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Many thanks to Peter Anastasi and his co-workers at the Watertown Water Department. Recently I had a serious backup in my sewerage system. I first called a private relief company and after trying unsuccessfully to relieve the blockage I was told that I probably had a broken drain pipe and would need a private company to replace the line from my house to the street. They indicated that I could get a list of approved contractors from the town highway department. I then called the Public Works Department and within 15 minutes I had Mr. Anastasi at my front door.

Government

OP-ED: School Funding Formula Not Fair to Communities Like Watertown

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Submitted by State Sen. Will Brownsberger, whose district includes Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston. Overall, state aid to schools is inadequate and, although the current distribution formula works out well for Belmont and Boston, it is unfair to many communities, including Watertown. I hope we can pass the “millionaire’s tax” this November and use the proceeds to increase school aid under a simpler, more rational formula. The state distributes approximately $5 billion annually in unrestricted aid for local schools, known as “Chapter 70” aid, covering on average roughly 1/3 of total local school costs. Aside from MassHealth, unrestricted local school aid is the single largest item in the state budget — roughly 20% of state tax revenue.

Letters

LETTER: Watertown Families Struggling to Heat Homes, Stay in Their Home Are Often Unseen

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Most will agree that January’s cold snap was brutal. We hunkered down in our homes and cranked up the thermostat. We survived nicely with an extra sweater. But for some in Watertown, the cold was truly unbearable. These are folks many of us don’t see or hear about.They include the young family in which Dad is out of work with a long-term injury, Mom is working two minimum wage jobs trying to make ends meet, and one of the two children has a chronic health problem that requires constant medical attention.

Environment

OP-ED: Sen. Brownsberger Looks at Local Flooding Risks From Climate Change

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As a legislator, I’ve been concerned to reduce our contributions to climate change.  Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to better understand the local flooding risks caused by the climate changes we seem unable to prevent. It’s hard to know how much the seas are going to rise. First, no one knows how much the people of the world will be able to reduce carbon emissions. Second, even within a given emissions scenario, the uncertainties are considerable.  For example, if we just assume continually growing emissions, the estimates of probable local sea level rise vary by a factor of two from 3.2 feet to 7.4 feet by 2100. Much of Boston lies quite low, so these uncertainties matter.

Letters

LETTER: Kneeling During Pledge is Not Un-American, It Stands Up for Others

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Taking a knee is not disrespecting the flag. Nor is it disrespecting the sacrifices of those who have served. Rather it is exercising one of the freedoms that our forefathers fought to preserve. Freedom is like a muscle – it must be exercised or it will atrophy.  Exercising one’s right to protest peacefully is in fact honoring the sacrifices of those who have preceded us.