LETTER: Resident Concerned About Rat Infestation Due to Garbage Strike

Here we go,

We will be approaching the most serious time for trash accumulation in the next few days. As people get beyond the storage limits of their hard plastic and covered trash containers, some will begin placing garbage in plastic bags outside of their homes. As the temperature really heats up past 90 degrees, the raw garbage will ferment and become magnets for our already abundant rodent population.

Teamsters Union Releases Statement About Trash Strike

The following announcement was provided by Teamsters Local 25:

Following a strike vote that passed by more than 90 percent on Monday, members of Teamsters Local 25 at Republic Services are about to conclude their first week of the work stoppage without a fair offer from the company. 

Watertown City Manager, Municipal Leaders Urge Swift Resolution to Trash Strike

Watertown DPWWatertown trash and recycling pickup has been uncollected since July 1 when workers at Republic Services went on strike.

Watertown City Manager George Proakis joined several mayors, town managers, and town administrators urging company Republic Services to come to a deal to end the strike that has stopped trash and recycling collection since July 1, 2025. The letter also identifies weaknesses in the company’s response to the situation, including slowness of deploying backup resources and lack of communication. See the letter below.

Weather Forecast: Sunny Fourth Followed by Classic Summer Weather

The upcoming stretch features a classic run of summer weather. After a hot, stormy start to the week, a cold front clears the region just in time for Independence Day, ushering in drier and more comfortable air. High pressure then dominates much of the holiday weekend, keeping skies mostly sunny and humidity at bay. Another warm-up arrives by Sunday into Monday, with 90°F possible again and a slight uptick in storm chances. While a few showers may pop up later in the week, widespread rain looks unlikely.

MBTA Offering Free Fares on Night of Fourth of July

The following announcement was provided by the MBTA:

The MBTA announced that fares will again be free this year on bus, subway, ferry, Commuter Rail, and the RIDE on Friday, July 4, 2025, after 8:30 PM. Boston is regularly predicted to host over a million visitors for the July 4 holiday. To accommodate increased ridership, the MBTA is encouraging travelers to plan their commute in advance and reminding riders of its holiday service schedules.