Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/letters/)
Hi All,
I read the agenda for last night’s City Council meeting. As I went to the City website and clicked on the City Council agenda, it “beach balled” forever! Thinking that it was my problem, I tried to open other agendas for that evening and found that this did not happen on any of the other agendas. I called 311, and they could not replicate the problem. (By the way, at the City Council meeting later in the day, I saw that Council President Sideris was having a similar problem).
By David BlitzmanWatertown Resident
My cousin’s life was saved by Obamacare. Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act and Patient Protection Act expanded health coverage for Americans, improved consumer protections, and decreased costs for American consumers. Prior to this act, she was stuck in medical limbo (hell) fighting with insurance as so many Americans are forced to do. However, due to the passage of the Obamacare, her insurance was now mandated to cover the surgery that saved her life. It is due to this fact, that I will always be grateful for Obamacare and how government intervention can and did make the world a better place.
Greetings Councilors:
Am I missing something? On June 3, 2026, a letter appeared in Watertown News; purportedly signed by eight Watertown City Councilors advocating in support of Medicare for All.
Where was the open public process? I do not recall seeing a City Council Agenda Item that would have allowed for discussion on the topic. Who did the research? Where was the transparency in a Q & A format?
To the Editor,
In May, my husband and I had the pleasure of hosting a meet-and-greet fundraiser for our friend — and my husband’s colleague — David Solet, who is running for Middlesex District Attorney in the September primary election. During the event, David spoke passionately about what he calls the “Issues That Matter,” including stopping the flow of illegal guns, supporting sexual assault victims, protecting communities from dangerous offenders, combating hate crimes, improving prevention efforts, protecting elders from financial exploitation, and ensuring conviction integrity. What stood out most to many of us in attendance was David’s commitment to making the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office less political, more efficient, and more focused on helping victims and strengthening communities. The thoughtful questions and conversations among our fellow Watertown and Middlesex County residents made me realize that more people need to learn about David and his vision for the office. Because he is running a grassroots campaign, his resources for advertising and outreach are limited.
The health care crisis in Massachusetts is increasingly impacting Watertown residents and others across the state. The bankruptcy of the Steward Health Care System and the unfair profit-driven practices of insurance corporations, hospital conglomerates and “Pharma” have increased premiums to make insurance and needed care out of reach for thousands of working people, while the ability of our businesses to hire, grow and promote their employees diminishes. The costs incurred under the current healthcare system are an unnecessary burden to individuals, families, businesses, cities and towns, including Watertown. We believe that access to affordable, quality health care is a human right and a fundamental component of a decent and just society. Yet the United States remains one of the few developed nations that does not provide an equitable system of universal health coverage to its residents, while health outcomes are far worse and costs far higher.
“Jewish Voices Critique the Antisemitism Commission” — That was the title of the meeting at the Watertown Library on May 21. It tells you things could have gotten ugly. Thanks to careful planning and skilled moderation, even though the event was tense, it mostly remained civil. The topic was urgent and divisive. In December, 2025, the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism released its policy recommendations.
Dear Editor,
A fact I did not know until today pertains to establishment of Memorial Day. The information is in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. As we know Memorial Day is the day our nation pauses to honor the service and sacrifice of our military heroes who gave their lives to secure our freedoms.
However, overlooked is the earliest commemoration of what would later become Memorial Day was organized on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, S.C., at a former Confederate prison camp known as the Martyrs of the Race Course Cemetery. The memorial service was established by over 1,000 newly freed African Americans, U.S. Colored Troops and a small group of White Charlestonians. This group came together to honor the 257 Union soldiers who died as a result of the poor conditions of the Confederate prison camp during the war. They exhumed the soldiers from a mass grave that the Confederates made and created proper burial grounds for the Union soldiers.
Greetings Councilors:
Wake up residents of Watertown!!! If you want to accept the words of a developer; maybe I can share some out-of-circulation drachmas. In reference to the Watertown Square Financial Post Office; I stated in 01/02/2024 communication as follows:
“Phrases such as: “We hope to move back” and “considering relocating and moving-back” are not reassuring. Two plus years is a long time for open-ended uncertainties.” “Watertown’s Team engaged in the development process for the multiple parcels at 104-126 Main Street.
By Linda ScottWatertown Resident
A long-time resident and respected Watertown businessman wrote a response to my recent Watertown News letter on the proposed 4 or 5 story parking garage to replace the CVS open air parking lot. He wrote about Watertown Square not being a destination: “We don’t even have a post office anymore which I consider a must have convenience which attracts people to any City Center.“
Sorry. We have squandered our ability to have a post office in our city center, and for what? Here’s a bit of the history:
April 11, 2023
I refer you to an April 11, 2023 letter that I wrote concerning this topic to Watertown News, entitled “How will Main Street Project Impact Post Office, the Square & Affordable Housing?” In it, I ask the question: Where’s our post office going? I’ll quote part of the answer:
“When asked, and they are asked quite frequently by residents, the developers just shrug their shoulders and say that they’re in negotiations.