Government

LETTER: City Council Should Make a Change to Its Rules

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I wish to Congratulate all the candidates that were elected or reelected to Serve The Community this past Tuesday.    

I write wishing the Council will make a small, but very important, rule change when they organize next year. I may be out of touch with how things are to operate nowadays, but if I were a Councilor today, I certainly would be a maverick. I preface my remarks by acknowledging that I don’t watch as many Council Meetings that I should. But, when I do physically or on TV, I am often disappointed in what I see. I have felt the Council is meek and couldn’t understand why. I have now found out why. The Council has abandoned the strength they have. I see a violation of Roberts Rule of Order where the President is allowed to make a motion without vacating the chair; allowing the Vice President to preside in order for him to make a motion. Of course, the Vice President, more than not, beats the other Councilors in seconding the motion. In the past, if uninformed on Roberts Rules, we were provided the necessary information.

Elections

LETTER: Group of Residents Endorses School Committee Candidate

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Dear Members of the Watertown Community,

We enthusiastically endorse Sheila Krishnan for Watertown School Committee. Having lived in Watertown for over a decade with two elementary-aged children in WPS, Sheila is a dedicated and involved community member. We stand behind Sheila for her commitment to student belonging and safety, educational access, and post-secondary pathways. As a dedicated public health-trained higher education professional and active Watertown citizen, we are confident that she will add an important voice to the Watertown School Committee to advance student learning, well-being, and success in our public schools. 

As parents of caregivers of elementary, middle, and high school students in Watertown Public Schools, we stand behind the district’s mission to create “an equitable, challenging, and innovative learning environment where everyone belongs and every student is empowered to shape the world around them.” We hope that each of our students builds lasting friendships and community with others, grows academically and socially, and goes on to actively contribute in meaningful ways to our world. If elected to the school committee, we unequivocally trust that Sheila would advocate for our children, listen to our and others’ needs and perspectives, collaborate with others and make decisions that advance the district’s mission.

Elections

LETTER: Housing for All Watertown Candidate Event Round Up

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On Sunday, October 26, Housing for All Watertown hosted a housing forum featuring the five candidates for Watertown’s four at-large city council seats: Caroline Bays, John Gannon, Theo Offei, Tony Palomba, and Tom Tracy. Forty Watertown residents heard the candidates discuss their visions for housing policy in Watertown (see the video recording of the forum here), and we were encouraged to see broad consensus on the importance of addressing our city’s critical housing shortage, even if the paths to get there varied across candidates. What united the candidates was clear. The high cost of housing is a core issue for many voters in Watertown, and building more housing — and especially affordable housing — is an urgent moral imperative. Several of the candidates told moving personal stories about their own housing journeys, whether it was an experience facing discrimination from a landlord, going hungry in order to pay the rent, or needing to devise creative housing arrangements to keep family nearby. 

Candidates also shared a strong condemnation of the results of this year’s fair housing audit study, which found that Watertown residents face rampant race- and income source-based discrimination.

Elections

LETTER: On Representation

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Dear Watertown Residents, 

With this year’s election we’re fortunate to choose from a group of candidates who bring to the table relevant experience, compassion, and a genuine interest in our community’s well-being. Not every city can make this claim. Over the last several weeks voters and candidates discussed topics including Watertown Square redevelopment, the middle school building, elementary school aftercare, school cell phone policies, library funding, and others. A topic with much less air time, but of great interest to many in the City, is diversifying our boards and commissions – elected and otherwise – and making them representative. 

When you ask people what they love about Watertown, they’ll often say its diversity and close-knit feel. 

We have diversity. These are the facts: nearly one third of Watertown residents – and close to half of all Watertown Public Schools (WPS) students – are racially and ethnically diverse, not to mention people from culturally diverse communities identifying as White (e.g., Armenian).

Elections

LETTER: Candidates Violating Election Rules, Posting Signs on City Property

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Because There are No Kings…

I’d like to comment on the way people conduct themselves when running for office. Hundreds of Watertown residents were in the Delta a few weekends ago, proclaiming that there should be no kings in the United States, that rules are for everyone! I believe that it’s important to take that into consideration when making our very important choices. Here’s an example:

I had heard rumblings of candidates for City Council, School Committee and Library Trustee skirting the election rules that are clearly spelled out in the election information available to them when they sign up. I contacted Noelle Gilligan, our City Clerk and Chief Election Officer, to ask about any rules that apply to those who submit papers to run for a city office.

Letters

LETTER: Resident Opposed to Resumption of Nuclear Testing

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Dear Editor,

Tariffs vs. Resumption of nuclear testing: A Wake-Up Call

Thus far, there has been no formal request for clarification from Donald Trump’s administration by Senators Ed Markey or Elizabeth Warren, nor by Representatives Jim McGovern, Katherine Clark, Ayanna Pressley or Seth Moulton regarding the president’s nuclear testing directive. That silence is deafening. We need our lawmakers — not just from Massachusetts, but across the aisle and across the country — to right the ship in Washington. Tariffs are reversible.

Elections

LETTER: Statement from City Councilor At-Large Candidate

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My name is John Gannon, and for three terms, I’ve had the honor of representing Watertown as your city councilor at-large. I’m now running for re-election this coming Tuesday, November 4. I was inspired to a career in public service by my family, teachers, coaches and members of this welcoming community. I grew up in Watertown and developed my own life here. My father, a partially-disabled WWII veteran, worked at the Watertown post office, delivering mail to our neighbors, and my mother, a first-generation American, worked as a secretary.

Elections

LETTER: Former Councilor Endorses City Council Candidate

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Greetings East Enders, and Neighbors Beyond,

CONSIDER A VOTE FOR TOM TRACY CANDIDATE FOR WATERTOWN CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE. ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH. Tom Tracy is a lifelong Watertown resident. Tom understands the nuances of Watertown’s diverse neighborhoods. Tom Tracy exemplifies what it means to give of oneself for the community where you raise your family, work and enjoy quality of life. Tom Tracy will speak for the people; because through his community interactions, Tom understands the challenges faced by the people who he will represent

Tom Tracy understands the worth of Watertown’s AAA Bond Rating – for 29 years, Tom served as Watertown’s Town/City Auditor – Tom played an integral Team role in formulating stable budgets that culminated in the acme of municipal finance

Tom Tracy personifies “Building for the Future” – Tom has held a leadership role on the School Building Committee since 2018

Please join me in voting for Tom Tracy on Tuesday, November 4th to continue our vision for Watertown’s neighborhood cohesiveness and financial wellbeing. In my opinion: Tom Tracy has earned our respect, votes and support!!! Thank you.