Letters

LETTER: In Support of a Compromise Rent Control Bill

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By Tony PalombaCity Councilor At-Large

As an At-Large City Councilor in Watertown Massachusetts I am acutely aware of the housing storage that Massachusetts is facing – both for those who wish to purchase a home and who would like to rent. We also know that the cost of homeownership and renting is continuing to climb. The burden of these two factors makes it difficult to provide low-income and moderate-income residents with affordable housing. In Watertown approximately half of our residents are renters, 39% of whom are “cost burdened”, meaning that they spend more than one-third of their income on housing. The median income for Watertown renters is $105,360 with many renters having an income of about $77,000.

Letters

LETTER: Hope is Not a Strategy — Pleasant Street and Beyond

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(Updated June 16, 2026 at 2:24 p.m.)

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

I want to mention three meetings, one that I attended on June 5th that City Council President Mark Sideris conducted. These meetings are a relatively new concept as a result of our last Charter review. Each councilor is required to have one community meeting a year and invite the public. It’s a good idea. I also want to mention the Watertown Planning Board meeting on June 10th on zoom that I attended (thank you to my friend who kept track of this stuff and mentioned it to me when I was otherwise occupied).

Letters

LETTER: Parents Concerned About Students With Disabilities, Call for “Vote of No Confidence” for School Administrator

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To the Editor,

We are a group of Watertown caregivers and community members writing to raise urgent awareness about an active community petition concerning the experiences of students with disabilities in Watertown Public Schools. Families across the district have repeatedly raised concerns regarding access to appropriate special education services, consistency of implementation, communication with families, and meaningful inclusion in decision-making processes. These concerns reflect sustained experiences shared by multiple families over many years and warrant serious public attention. In response, a community petition was created calling for the School Committee to place on its agenda a public discussion and action on a Vote of No Confidence for the Director of Student Services. This petition remains open and active.

Letters

OP-ED: In Support of Instituting Medicare for All

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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.

Letters

LETTER: Questions About Letter Endorsed by Majority of Council

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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?

Letters

LETTER: Resident Endorses Challenger in District Attorney’s Race

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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

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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

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“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.