Letters

LETTER: Resident Endorses Challenger in District Attorney’s Race

By |

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.

Letters

LETTER: Medicare for All Letter Signed by 8 Watertown City Councilors

By |

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.

Letters

LETTER: Experience at Jewish Voices Critique the Antisemitism Commission Event

By |

“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.

Letters

LETTER: History of Memorial Day

By |

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.

Letters

LETTER: What Has City Council Done to Save Post Office?

By |

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.

Letters

LETTER: About Our Post Office

By |

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.

Letters

LETTER: City-Owned Land an Opportunity for Mixed-Income Housing

By |

Watertown is a Mixed-Income City, City Land Should Prioritize Mixed-Income Housing

This coming Wednesday, May 20 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., the City will host an open house at 9 Galen Street where residents will have an opportunity to better understand the proposed Watertown Square Demonstration Project, ask questions, and weigh in on our visions and priorities. At last month’s rollout of the demonstration project, the City shared a lot of information about its plans for Watertown Square. We heard about a new parking garage, 200-300 units of market-rate housing and new open space in parcels behind the existing CVS, much of which is city-owned. Like many residents, we have questions about the project. We are particularly interested to hear more from the City on the following questions:

• What would need to be in place for housing over the garage to be possible?

Letters

OP-ED: Tech is Not Always the Answer

By |

Something remarkable happened in 2025: about 18 states banned students’ access to smartphones and other personal electronic devices from the first to the last bell of the school day (bell-to-bell). More states followed in 2026. This shift reflects growing awareness that these devices are intentionally designed to steal our children’s attention – negatively affecting school environments and obstructing effective learning. Rave reviews are pouring in from bell-to-bell schools across the country. Disciplinary incidents are down, attendance is up, grades are improving, and students report feeling more connected to one another and to their school.