COVID-19 Vaccine

LETTER: Resident Objects to Vaccine Requirement for Watertown Public Schools Staff

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To the Citizens of Watertown,

Watertown Public Schools is now forcing a COVID vaccine mandate on all WPS staff, even though, according to school committee members that I emailed, 96-98% of their staff are already vaccinated. The schools have already achieved herd immunity. Clearly, this new mandate is targeting the handful of people who do not want to try this new vaccine. There is plenty of evidence, both anecdotally and statistically, showing that some people have been severely injured or even killed by the new COVID vaccines. This is not a conspiracy theory, it’s a fact.

Election 2021

LETTER: A Reflection on the 2021 Watertown Election

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To the Watertown community,

We are heading into the final days of this election cycle and as we do so, I have begun to reflect on what the past month of campaigning has brought and what the next five days will look like. When I decided to run for office, my goal was to bring people together, participate in spirited debate, and to help build a better Watertown. I have been coaching soccer in town for fifteen years and have had the privilege to have coached hundreds of, if not a thousand, kids in town. Instilling in them the fundamentals of soccer so they can succeed on the field is only part of what I do as a coach. The other, and more important, part is instilling in them life skills such as sportsmanship, teamwork, leadership, integrity, resilience, and perseverance.

Charter Changes

LETTER: Resident Dissatisfied by Public Safety Committee Process, Endorses Council Candidate & Charter Changes

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I have serious concerns about how Councilor Feltner has used her position of power as the chair of the Committee on Public Safety and it is one of the strong reasons I will not be voting for her for District B Councilor. I will be voting for Tiffany York for District B Councilor, and urge fellow neighbors in District B to join me because this is a critical time to have Councilors with competency in what justice, equity, diversity and inclusion means and how to actually create it on the next Town Council. As a light-skinned person of mixed African and European heritage who presents as white to most people, I benefit from an enormous amount of skin privilege and see it as my responsibility to speak up as I am able to when I see and experience racism, and to work to make our community safer for all residents. And it is hard. While I don’t experience most skin discrimination, I have ancestrally inherited fears of targeting and reprisals when being brave enough to speak up.

District D

LETTER: District D Resident Endorses Candidate for Town Council

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Dear Watertown Community and District D Residents,

I am a proud member of District D in Watertown and strongly support Connie Henry for District D Town Councilor. Connie has been an educator in the Boston Public Schools, recently retiring after serving as Assistant Director of K-12 Mathematics. Even though she is retired, Connie now continues to support students in her work at Boston University. She has been a passionate resident and advocate for District D in Watertown for 45 years and raised her children andgrandchildren in this Town. Connie’s long-term passion for climate issues includes early work on the dismantling of the former nuclear reactor in Watertown, and now supporting a sustainable climate action plan and securing green space for all residents.

Charter Changes

LETTER: Resident Backs Council, School Committee Candidates, Opposes Charter Changes

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To the Editor:

I’m writing today, urging the Common Sense mainstream Watertown voters to participate in the upcoming non-partisan municipal election on November 2, 2021. Watertown is at a tipping point. As I mentioned, our municipal elections are nonpartisan and for good reason. Councilors and School Committee members are elected, charged, and paid to administer purely local concerns. Yet, there are those who for 2 decades now, have tried to use their municipal office to promote partisan issues, often radical, rather than focusing on the daily nuts and bolts operations of the community.

Elections

LETTER: District B Resident Endorses Candidate for Town Council

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I am writing to endorse Lisa Feltner for re-election as our District B Councilor. I have valued Lisa’s work for our neighborhood and for Watertown as a whole for many years. She has a deep understanding of complex town issues, a willingness to work tirelessly to develop and implement sound public decisions, and a true openness to the views of all residents. She has long been a champion of resident involvement in town affairs. When I first met Lisa, she was a leader in the Concerned Citizens residents group – formed to provide resident input on contaminated site redevelopment and other local development challenges.

District A

LETTER: East End Resident Endorses District A Councilor Candidate

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Dear East End neighbors,

I’m writing today as an East End homeowner, a father, and a public servant to endorse Nicole Gardner for Watertown District A Town Councilor. Join me in voting for Nicole on Election Day, this coming Tuesday, November 2. For the past four years I have had the privilege of serving Watertown as an elected member of the Library Board of Trustees alongside District A Council candidate Mike Hanlon. I’m endorsing Nicole Gardner because she has the intellect, vision, experience, and energy to meet the complex challenges Watertown faces today. Nicole brings 30 years of experience in business management and human resources to this role.

Elections

LETTER: State Rep. Supports Candidate for School Committee

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Dear Watertown,

It is with great enthusiasm that I write today to endorse Jennifer Nicholson for Watertown School Committee. Watertown is fortunate to have a candidate for School Committee of her caliber and dedication. Jennifer’s commitment to our school community is undeniable. She is a graduate of Watertown Public Schools herself and now a parent of two children at the Cunniff School as well as PTO Co President at the school. Her educational background, which includes a business degree from Boston College and a Master’s in Education, will serve her well as she aims to bring fresh ideas and new energy to our school district leadership. 

Throughout her entire campaign, Jennifer has been insightful, enthusiastic and straight forward.  It is clear that she is passionate about education and invested in the future of our schools. Her vision for WPS is one in which all students are both supported and encouraged to reach their fullest potentials. She is ready to devote herself to serving our schools in this role and I am confident that she will be a reliable, collaborative and resourceful member of the Watertown School Committee. Please join me in voting for Jennifer (Holt) Nicholson on November 2. John LawnState Representative 10th Middlesex District

(NOTE: The deadline for submitting election letters is Thursday, Oct.