Letters

LETTER: Good Transportation News From Sen. Brownsberger, Rep. Hecht

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With the arrival of cooler weather, thoughts are turning to the coming winter and avoiding a repetition of last year’s transportation woes, especially on the MBTA. The Baker Administration and the legislature did a lot of work on that issue this spring and summer and overall the results were good – a strong MBTA budget (with substantial investments in storm readiness) and new authority and tools for the Governor to make good on his pledge to fix the T.

But as important as it is to fix what we already have, meeting the transportation needs of our area will require much more. Rapid development, changing demographics, and climate change mean we need to think creatively about improvements that will make our transportation system a truly positive factor for our economy and communities. Last week saw important progress in that direction for two of Watertown’s key transportation corridors. First, the state put out to bid a study for the Mount Auburn Street/Fresh Pond Parkway area.

Election 2015

League of Women Voters Reminds Residents About Election This Week

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The League of Women Voters of Watertown recognizes that everyone is still enjoying the end of summer and perhaps worrying about the start of the new academic year.  However, the town election season is also coming up.  In particular, the citizens who live in District B have a chance to make their choices in the Preliminary Election on September 17, 2015.  Please take note of the date because it is a Thursday rather than the usual Tuesday. We encourage all the voters in District B to exercise their privilege to vote in this election.  

Raya Stern, President
League of Women Voters of Watertown

(Note, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday).

Elections

LETTER: School Committee Candidate Explains Why She is Running

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My name is Kendra Medville Foley and I am a candidate for the Watertown School Committee. I am running for School Committee because I am passionate about the importance of education – for my three young children, for the children and families in Watertown and for the health and vibrancy of our town. I know that an excellent school system not only helps every child and family, but also makes an enormous contribution to a community being safer, stronger, and more vibrant. Two years ago, when my oldest child entered kindergarten, I got involved with the schools through the Hosmer PTO and Watertown Strong Schools. The process of advocating for greater investment in our schools by attending School Committee meetings, attending budget and finance subcommittee meetings, and talking to parents, teachers and administrators convinced me to run for School Committee.

Elections

LETTER: Watertown Man Announces Candidacy for Library Trustee

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Sheppard Ferguson, former President of Booksellers of Harvard Square, is on the ballot to be elected a Trustee of the Watertown Free Public Library. He believes his career creating and managing successful bookselling companies and as a free lance photographer working internationally will add strength and breadth of experience to the Board as it advises and assists the ongoing work of the library and its Director. An avid user of the library (1,676 check-outs in five years), Ferguson joined the Long Range Planning Committee of the library last winter. Since he has spent many hours studying the Library and Town’s planning and budget documents and talked with dozens of people about the library. Not surprisingly Ferguson confirmed that the Library is well loved by its users from Watertown and many surrounding communities, and is supported by the Town Council and Administration.

Entertainment

LETTER: Candidate Sees Shortcuts in Watertown Schools’ Goals

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Dear Watertown,

I want to encourage Watertown citizens to consider the 2015/2016 Superintendent’s goals and the learning goals discussed at the August 10th School Committee meeting. Goal setting is a powerful tool that school districts use to achieve purposeful results. Goals help schools focus energy, attention, resources, and motivation. They inspire commitment and action or, in their absence, inaction. Watertown Public Schools (WPS) is a ~$45 million per year education system, serving 2700+ diverse students with a staff of approximately 550 people.

Letters

LETTER: Resident Writes About Hillary Clinton, Edward Snowden

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Dear Editor,

Our national politicians are speaking about security for our country and the use of a personal server by former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Wasn’t this about the time or during the period that Edward Snowden the so called “whistle blower” was giving all the information he could possible give to Russia in order to gain their asylum. Personally, regardless of political affiliation, I consider him to be a traitor to his country. Perhaps, Secretary Clinton’s use of her personal server was more secure than our federal government’s server. At any rate it is “food for thought”.

Elections

LETTER: Council Candidate’s Ideas for Unused Branch Libraries

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Watertown’s two branch libraries have been vacant since closing in 2006.  During the past decade, two separate re-use committees have struggled to find appropriate utilization for the decaying buildings. Any re-use of either branch library will require heavy reconstruction, and costs for proposed uses by outside groups have been estimated to exceed the return on investment. Some have indicated that selling one or both of these buildings is the only solution, while others point to the former Parker School as a reason to maintain ownership. Along with the former Police Station building, I believe that Watertown has the potential for an innovative approach to managing and revitalizing these vacant sites, which takes into account other challenges our local economy is already confronted with. For example, re-use should address job creation, the rise in out-of-district educational costs, and attempt to make health care costs more affordable.

Letters

LETTER: Former Council President Seeks Alternate Way to Choose Police Chief

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Dear Editor,

During this past Tuesday night’s Town Council Meeting, several Councilors questioned the search/appointment process the Town Manager explained that he favored. Evidently, he stated that the process that he wished to employ is utilized in several other communities. Since the community is well served by an interim appointment , there should be not be a rush to appoint another Police Chief. The vacancy offers the Council the opportunity to refer the matter to the Public Safety Sub-Committee. The Public Safety Sub-Committee can conduct public hearings so that they can hear from the taxpayers and residents of Watertown regarding the appointment process and the qualities they wish to see in a Police Chief.