Elections

LETTER: Candidate for Democratic State Committee Introduces Himself

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Friends, Neighbors, and Constituents:

I am a lifelong Democrat and resident of the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex senatorial district. I attended high school in a neighboring town, and later graduated from Boston University and the London School of Economics. We live in a highly diverse and prominent district and I am writing to remind voters in Watertown, Belmont, Brighton/Allston, Back Bay, and Fenway to come out and vote on Tuesday, March 1 in the Presidential Primary election. Now as we turn to this election year, the stakes could not be greater for our nation and our local communities. I urge voters to take a hard look at all of the candidates running for U.S. President and the U.S. Congress, and down ballot races.

Elections

LETTER: Founder of Progressive Watertown Backs Steve Owens

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Letter to Editor;

I’ve been lucky to be a political organizer in Watertown. Watertown’s reputation as a progressive base has grown with each election, from the Patrick for Governor campaign to the rousing campaigns for Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and other progressive statewide and local races. In each of these elections, Steve Owens has proven his mastery of GOTV by helping to secure clear majorities for the Democratic candidate in Watertown. During these elections, the state-wide committees saved their resources and let Watertown run with it. In fact, the Warren campaign credits Watertown with training many of their regional coordinators.

Government

LETTER: Town Councilor Says Tax Increase Are Hurting Watertown Residents

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{Note: Angeline Kounelis originally sent this letter to Town Manager Michael Driscoll.}

Dear Editor;

On Nov. 24, 2015, the majority of the Town Council voted to accept the 20 percent Residential Exemption as presented in material prepared by the Town Assessor, Board of Assessors and Town Auditor for the allocation of property taxes between property classes for Fiscal Year 2016. During the presentation, it was clearly stated that single family and condominium owners could realize a savings of approximately $200. Multi-family dwellings would most be impacted with a possible five to $800 increase. These figures are now reality, and then some. Of the options that have been presented to the Town Council for consideration, for many years I have advocated for a more fair and equitable increase of the owner occupied exemption to 25 percent that would shift more of the burden to absentee landlords.

Charity

LETTER: Wayside Thanks Sacred Heart Parish for Its Generosity

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Dear Editor,

On behalf of Wayside Multi-Service Center’s Social Services Resource Specialist program for the Town of Watertown, I am writing to express how moved we were by the generosity of the Parish of the Sacred Heart this Christmas season. As the Social Services Resource Specialist for the Town of Watertown, I work with many families in the community that need extra support and resources, and for these families, as for many of us, this time of year can be very difficult. The generosity of gift donations the Parishioners contributed helped over 30 families have a very special holiday! I often think of the quote from Mahatma Gandhi that says, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” Rev. Curran and the Parish of the Sacred Heart have shown compassion, friendship and the best form of community through their generous donations. On behalf of all the families, and the staff of Wayside Multi-Service Center, we thank the Parish of The Sacred Heart so much again and we wish you all a wonderful 2016!  

Sincerely,
Danielle DeMoss, LICSW
Watertown Social Services Resource Specialist
Wayside Youth & Family Support Network /Multi-Service Center
127 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA.

Elections

LETTER: Councilor Endorses Steve Owens for Democratic State Committee

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On Tuesday, March 1, Primary Election Day in Massachusetts, Democrats from across the state will vote for candidates running for the Democratic State Committee. Our senatorial district, which is represented by State Senator Will Brownsberger and includes Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston, has the opportunity to elect a new member to an open seat. We need a candidate who embodies progressive democratic values, who can motivate Democratic activists, and who can build the Democratic Party in Massachusetts. I believe the candidate who can do this is Steve Owens, the chair of the Watertown Democratic Town Committee for the last eight years. Since 2006, when he ran the highly successful Watertown for Deval effort, I have watched Steve educate and inspire hundreds of volunteers to speak with confidence about Democratic candidates.

Development

LETTER: Resident Offers Recommendations to Council on RMUD Zoning

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Dear Town Councilors et al.,

Please consider the following recommendations regarding the proposed rezoning of the eastern end of the Arsenal Street corridor. Some of the following will be familiar to some of you, some of it is new. The Process:

Timing: It is more important to thoroughly consider the details of rezoning than to enact a rezoning by any particular date. If there are concerns about potential of-right development under the current zoning, a brief moratorium on large development in the proposed RMU area, until the rezoning is adopted, would be appropriate. Evaluate as a package: The rezoning should be evaluated as a package.

Government

LETTER: Outgoing Library Trustee Reflects on the Inauguration

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To the Editor:

The Inauguration of Town Officials January 4 at the Arsenal Center for the Arts was a joyous occasion. I saw a lot of smiling people that evening, on stage and in the audience. Congratulations to all. The good people of the City called the Town of Watertown elected a fine bunch of people to steer our community forward. Four years ago I recited the oath of office for the last time as a Library Trustee.

Elections

LETTER: Former Fire Union President Endorses Dem. Committee Candidate

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Dear Editor,

On March 1, 2016, “Super Tuesday,” Watertown voters of the Democratic Party will go to the polls to nominate a candidate for the U.S. Presidency and elect two State Committee members (one male and one female). I am respectfully requesting that the Democratic voters of Watertown consider David Kazis to the open seat to serve as the Democratic State Committeeman for the Second Suffolk and Middlesex Senate District. David Kazis is a proven hard working progressive Democrat and he is familiar with the needs of Watertown, including constituent’s economic discrimination concerns over the proposal to create a new Regional Mixed Use District and DCR’s plan to create a Greenway community path between Watertown and Cambridge. David worked at the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC, under the leadership of Howard Dean in 2005, and also volunteered on several campaigns, including helping to elect Elizabeth Warren to the United States Senate in 2012. David is a strong proponent of transparency and would serve on the Party’s Statewide Board of Directors.