Letters

OP-ED: It’s All a Balancing Act, Part Three: Linkage Fees and Taxes…They’re Going Up How Much??

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

This is the second part of three looking at the impacts of the Life Science Industry on Watertown. Part One focused on the impact on housing and the environmental impacts. In Part Two, we looked at the costs to the City of Watertown to maintain safe control over the Life Science industry and its effects on our community. In Part Three, we’ll look at linkage fees and how they could help our community.  We’ll also look at how our community got into a position where in Watertown, a city well known for its fiscal responsibility, residential property taxes could soar to 18 percent higher by 2027. Linkage Fees:

Let’s start with the linkage fees mentioned in Part One.

Letters

OP-ED: It’s All a Balancing Act, Part Two: City-related Costs and Concerns

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

This is the second part of three looking at the impacts of the Life Science Industry on Watertown. Part One focused on the impact on housing and the environmental impacts. In Part Two, we’ll look at the costs to the City of Watertown to maintain safe control over the Life Science industry and its effects on our community. Let me repeat the quick caveat from Part One: In bringing these issues up, I am, myself, presenting an unbalanced scenario, in response to that 100% positive view of Sam Ghilardi’s report on bio labs in Watertown, so please keep that in mind. Watertown Building Inspections:

Another note: given all of the construction planned and in progress, do we, in fact, have the adequate City resources to assure that construction regulations and procedures are being followed and inspections and checkins are frequent enough to catch scofflaws?

Letters

OP-ED: It’s All a Balancing Act, Part One: Housing and Environmental Issues

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

A quick overview:

In Part One of this series, we’ll explore housing disruption and environmental issues plaguing Watertown. In Part Two, we’ll look at the costs to the City of Watertown to maintain safe control over the Life Science industry and its effects on our community. In Part Three, we’ll look at how our community got into a position where in Watertown, a city well known for its fiscal responsibility, residential property taxes could soar to 18 percent higher by 2027. As I read the Watertown News article on a meeting to be held by the Charles River Regional Chamber, See: Meeting announcement and read Sam Ghilardi’s very upbeat report there on all of the wonders and advantages that life science and bio labs bring to Watertown, it occurred to me that something was missing … balance. In fairness, people writing reports with Sam’s stated goal: “to promote Watertown as a community of choice for the life science industry …” usually stay away from what might be considered the whole picture.

Letters

OP-ED: Preventing Owls & Raptors from Being Poisoned by Rodenticides

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Photo by Katherine Patterson

By Katherine PattersonWatertown Resident

On Sunday, January 11th, we were amazed to see a beautiful barred owl sitting on a low branch in our backyard. We live next to Whitney Hill in Watertown, and had been hearing barred owl calls in the evening over the past few weeks (“who cooks for you?!”). After an hour our excitement turned to concern. The owl was now completely still, unbothered by any nearby noises. We tried to reach a wildlife rehabilitator, with no luck.

Letters

OP-ED: Impacts of Cuts to Federal Funding of Science Research

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By Kristen DeAngelisProfessor of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst & Watertown High School Class of 1993

I joined the Watertown High School Biology Club for the same reason everyone else did: the week-long scuba diving field trip to Bonaire. Never mind that I couldn’t clear my ears at the bottom of the pool, failing my initial scuba test. I went anyway, with my snorkeling gear. We spent hours identifying fish in their coral reef habitats and swimming at pristine beaches. But I also got to see a scientist, my high school biology teacher, Mr. Buckley, in action: collecting specimens, leading discussions on how reef systems work, and giving research presentations to the locals in exchange for our club to get a sunset ride on their catamaran. 

Today, as a research scientist and professor at UMass Amherst, I have a renewed appreciation for programs like our Biology Club and how critical they are to young people’s futures.

Around Town

OP-ED: Collateral Damage of the Air Accident in Washington

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By Clyde YoungerFormer Watertown Council President

Last Wednesday, Jan. 31, around 9 p.m., video captured a horrific collision of two airplanes as they erupted into flame. My mother told me that when she was eight years old her father was lighting a kerosene stove and it exploded and set him on fire; he ran, no one could catch up with him and he burned to death. However, he was on solid ground. One cannot imagine the horror the people on the two planes experienced as their planes came hurtling down in flames from the sky leaving an unerasable scar in the heart of their loved ones.

Around Town

OP-ED: Watertown Square Redesign Lacks Public Transit Improvement Plan

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Watertown Square. (Photo by City of Watertown)

By Mark Pickering

Watertown stands at a crossroads – on two separate issues. What we do now will guide the city’s way into the future. One question is whether to continue to be a city that emphasizes the use of cars and ignores public transit. The other question is whether to allow the construction of taller buildings in the Square.

Around Town

OP-ED: Casting a Better Vision for Galen Street

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As Southside Residents, we are excited to see the Watertown Square Area Plan’s investments in our neighborhood. We appreciate the Watertown Square Area Plan’s focus on making this area a destination. That kind of investment is sorely needed—and the residents of this neighborhood deserve better. Since the arrival of the Mass Turnpike back in the 1960’s, Galen Street has become an extended Pike frontage road for Exit 17, catering towards cut through commuters from Belmont and beyond, rather than Watertown Southside residents. As a result, Galen Street is overloaded with gas stations and tire shops, all oriented towards commuters.