Elections

LETTER: Why Progressives Should Vote for Brownsberger in Sept. 1st State Primary

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As a former board President of Progressive Massachusetts and one of PMs first members, I have fought for Progressive legislation for many years and I understand how legislation gets passed. 

So when Will Brownsberger and Dan Lander both called me and asked for my endorsement (as a Watertown City Councilor), despite the fact that Lander and I are more aligned ideologically, I knew the decision was clear — Brownsberger was my choice. 

And if you are a progressive who wants to see progressive legislation actually passed at the state level, Brownsberger should be your choice too. 

After many years of watching how the statehouse works, I have come to understand it is all about power and relationships. 

Over the years, Brownsberger has demonstrated his competence, knowledge, and commitment to his fellow Senators, which is why he now holds the Senate’s second highest position as President Pro Tempore. 

The respect and friendship doesn’t just benefit him personally. It is why he is so effective at rallying the support he needs to pass bills. And I am talking about bills that Progressives support, such as the Affordable Homes Act of 2024, the 2018 Criminal Justice Act, and the Gun Reform Act of 2024 

I have always appreciated how honest my Senator is with me and we have argued, debated, and clashed over issues. But we have agreed with each other on the vast majority of issues, such as criminal justice reform, housing, climate issues, LGBTQ+ issues, and many more. 

It would be shortsighted to throw my support to a challenger who would enter the statehouse as a novice starting from the ground floor. I want a senator who I know will fight — and win — many of the battles I support at the statehouse. 

And as for those issues we might argue about, I know I might be able to change his mind. I know he will listen and investigate issues we don’t agree on. 

You know the section of the 2018 Criminal Justice Reform Act on solitary confinement?

Elections

LETTER: Resident Endorses Brownsberger for State Senate

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In the upcoming State Senate primary I will be voting for Will Brownsberger. There are three important reasons why. First, we need a Senator who will put the needs of Watertown and Belmont front and center in their consciousness, rather than focus on Boston. Watertown is a textbook example of a streetcar suburb. Indeed, the Watertown that we now know was brought about in the early 20th century by the electrification of the streetcars which ran along our main thoroughfares.

Letters

LETTER: And the Plan for a Five Story Parking Garage in Watertown Square Marches On!

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

This is in response to the very thoughtful letter by the Watertown Business Coalition, a group that has the difficult but rewarding task of working with all local businesses, the city government and the public at large to be a partner in shepherding Watertown into a successful future. Coalition members, I read your letter, and there’s lots to agree with, but there are lots of things to be concerned about. First, I like your trademark positive approach to the work ahead, and I echo your call for more data:

Improved traffic flow:

You list improved traffic flow, and yet our City government is unwilling to take the time to test out some of the changes before making them permanent. Haste makes waste. Why not take the time to test these road concepts, as has been done in other communities, before spending our increasingly dwindling municipal money on what could be potentially a failed concept?

Elections

LETTER: Former City Councilor Endorses State Senate Candidate

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Greetings East Enders and Neighbors Beyond:

CONSIDER A VOTE FOR WILLIAM “WILL” BROWNSBERGER CANDIDATE FOR REELECTION SUFFOLK AND MIDDLESEX STATE SENATE, PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

Are you aware that Will was raised in Watertown? Will is a Team Builder who will not forget his roots in Watertown. Will and his colleagues will get the job done for Watertown. 

“Watertown, MA – August 5, 2026 – Governor Maura Healey signed into law H.5569, the property tax classification bill that will protect Watertown residential taxpayers from an estimated 18% increase in future tax bills.” “I was proud to work with the City of Watertown and my colleagues in the House to bring this compelling and important legislation through the Senate,” said Senator William Brownsberger.” Sen. Brownsberger brought to light the 10 year underfunding in Chapter 70 Education Aid that Watertown was not receiving. The formula fix raised Watertown’s aid share from 13% to 17.5% by FY 2019, now at 19%

Sen. Brownsberger’s close collaboration with Mass. DCR, MassDOT, MBTA and numerous other state agencies, will continue Watertown’s quest for City enhancements

Please join me in voting for Will Brownsberger on Tuesday, September 1st. Will has a steadfast commitment to our Watertown community and its residents.

Letters

LETTER: Continued Support for the Watertown Square Area Plan & Comments on Central Parking the Square

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To Our City Council and to our Watertown neighbors and community at large …

The Watertown Business Coalition (WBC) is writing to express our continued support for the Watertown Square Area Plan (WSAP) as well as the concept of improved centralized parking behind Main & Church Streets. As an organization which serves businesses of many sizes, non-profits and the community at-large we are constantly thinking of ways to connect people and to advocate for pragmatic approaches which serve as many stakeholders as possible in our community. The Watertown Square Area Plan has many goals, but paramount among them are characteristics and goals that “take back” a downtown that has seen regional planning shaping roads and corridors that are ours. Since the introduction of an Exit off the Mass Pike and the removal of the Green Line more than 50 years ago, our downtown began a slow progression towards becoming a “pass-through” versus being a destination. A Vision for Revitalization

As we think about the parking questions in front of us, let’s review the goals of a “New” Watertown Square.

Letters

LETTER: Housing Advocates Encouraged to Attend Meeting on Watertown Square Redevelopment

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This Monday, Aug. 10th, the city will hold a public meeting to update the public about the Watertown Square Demonstration Project at 6 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library. For those who need a reminder, here’s where things stand. The city has proposed redevelopment of the parking lot behind CVS, along with several adjacent private parcels of land. The project will add 200-300 new units of market rate housing (including 30-45 new deed-restricted affordable units through our inclusionary zoning ordinance) as well as some new public open space.

Letters

LETTER: Concerns About Redesign of Mt. Auburn Street

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Greetings Councilors:

Are you aware of the many resident concerns being voiced about the excessive size of the sidewalk bump outs along the Mount Auburn Street Corridor? Someone is certainly monitoring the negative feedback. Note the most recent Mount Auburn Street Project Updates for the week of Aug. 3rd. The City’s Project Team clearly places the onus of the design concept on the 07/10/2018 endorsement vote of the Town/City Council.

Letters

LETTER: MWRA, Keep Your Promise of a Clean Charles River

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I don’t know about you, but I love being able to access the Charles River here in Watertown. We have invested a lot in cleaning up our waterways, especially the Charles River and it shows. Many of us remember when you had to get a tetanus shot if you were exposed to the water. But we have waited a long time (since 1972!) for the MWRA to live up to its promise of a truly swimmable, fishable Charles River. 

However, a recent proposal from the MWRA will betray this promise and replace it with certain pollution for many years to come. The main object in the way are the continued Combined Sewerage Overflows (CSOs) that are released into the river whenever we have serious rainstorms. Rainstorms are becoming more severe, dropping large amounts of water at a time and triggering these CSOs.