Council on Aging

LETTER: Praise for Town’s Support of the Watertown Senior Center, Director & Staff

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Mr. President, Councilors, and Mr. Manager. It is my pleasure to express a positive message at this time. A while ago you provided the Council on Aging with the fruits necessary to advance the scope of the Senior Center, such as more hours for our able bodied staff to stretch their abilities. And they have them. Mr. Manager [Michael Driscoll] you appointed a Director [Anne-Marie Gagnon] whose experience and advice allows the Members of the Council on Aging to ponder every aspect of senior living and needs.

Letters

LETTER: Thank You to Watertown DPW for Helping With Blocked Sewer

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Many thanks to Peter Anastasi and his co-workers at the Watertown Water Department. Recently I had a serious backup in my sewerage system. I first called a private relief company and after trying unsuccessfully to relieve the blockage I was told that I probably had a broken drain pipe and would need a private company to replace the line from my house to the street. They indicated that I could get a list of approved contractors from the town highway department. I then called the Public Works Department and within 15 minutes I had Mr. Anastasi at my front door.

Government

OP-ED: School Funding Formula Not Fair to Communities Like Watertown

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Submitted by State Sen. Will Brownsberger, whose district includes Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston. Overall, state aid to schools is inadequate and, although the current distribution formula works out well for Belmont and Boston, it is unfair to many communities, including Watertown. I hope we can pass the “millionaire’s tax” this November and use the proceeds to increase school aid under a simpler, more rational formula. The state distributes approximately $5 billion annually in unrestricted aid for local schools, known as “Chapter 70” aid, covering on average roughly 1/3 of total local school costs. Aside from MassHealth, unrestricted local school aid is the single largest item in the state budget — roughly 20% of state tax revenue.

Letters

LETTER: Watertown Families Struggling to Heat Homes, Stay in Their Home Are Often Unseen

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Most will agree that January’s cold snap was brutal. We hunkered down in our homes and cranked up the thermostat. We survived nicely with an extra sweater. But for some in Watertown, the cold was truly unbearable. These are folks many of us don’t see or hear about.They include the young family in which Dad is out of work with a long-term injury, Mom is working two minimum wage jobs trying to make ends meet, and one of the two children has a chronic health problem that requires constant medical attention.

Environment

OP-ED: Sen. Brownsberger Looks at Local Flooding Risks From Climate Change

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As a legislator, I’ve been concerned to reduce our contributions to climate change.  Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to better understand the local flooding risks caused by the climate changes we seem unable to prevent. It’s hard to know how much the seas are going to rise. First, no one knows how much the people of the world will be able to reduce carbon emissions. Second, even within a given emissions scenario, the uncertainties are considerable.  For example, if we just assume continually growing emissions, the estimates of probable local sea level rise vary by a factor of two from 3.2 feet to 7.4 feet by 2100. Much of Boston lies quite low, so these uncertainties matter.

Letters

LETTER: Kneeling During Pledge is Not Un-American, It Stands Up for Others

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Taking a knee is not disrespecting the flag. Nor is it disrespecting the sacrifices of those who have served. Rather it is exercising one of the freedoms that our forefathers fought to preserve. Freedom is like a muscle – it must be exercised or it will atrophy.  Exercising one’s right to protest peacefully is in fact honoring the sacrifices of those who have preceded us.

Councilor Bays

LETTER: 13-Year-Old Boy Disappointed With Councilor Bays Kneeling During Pledge of Allegiance

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Editor,

Just to introduce myself, my name is Antonio Molle, I am a 13- year old lifelong resident of Watertown. I am writing to express my extreme disappointment and frustration in Town Councilor Caroline Bays for taking a knee during the pledge of allegiance at the recent town council inauguration. An elected official is expected to set a good example for all citizens, especially our town’s youngest citizens. Being proud of our country means being a good role model. Before long, some Watertown students will be kneeing during the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of each school day.

Caroline Bays

LETTER: Open Letter from Town Councilor About Kneeling During Pledge of Allegiance

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Dear Watertown resident,

I wanted to say a few words to you before the town council meeting tonight. As many of you know I knelt during the Pledge of Allegiance at the inauguration. I did so because I can not say “with liberty and justice for all” while that is not true in our country. People of color throughout our nation do not experience the same rights and privileges as white Americans. From the disproportionate punishment young children experience in schools to the disproportionate arrests, convictions, and sentences adults receive in the criminal justice system, people of color live with discrimination and persecution that people who are white do not experience.