Letters

LETTER: Do You Know Where Your Neighborhood is Going? (Part 2)

By |

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Looking at Trends

Looking back on the past few years, I see a trend:

1 – The Watertown Square Planning process was a plan to rezone our city core. The MBTA state Law that mandated zoning for 1701 new housing units was a major part of this process, and yet a plan for 1,701 didn’t even reach our councilors’ desks, not to mention the community. After community input for 1,701 units, the City came back with a plan for 6,320 units and effectively defined Watertown Square as an area that extended west on Main to Lexington Street and up Galen, almost to the Mass Pike. The City ultimately “settled” for a number just over 3,000 (3,133) units. The response from our City government when this bait and switch was pointed out?

Letters

LETTER: Do You Know Where Your Neighborhood is Going?

By |

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part One: Preserving Our Neighborhoods

“Preserving neighborhood character involves balancing tradition with growth through strategieslike historic designation, context-sensitive zoning (scale and setbacks), protecting green spaces, community engagement, and rehabilitation of existing buildings, all while fostering a sense of place, often focusing on a neighborhood’s unique look, feel, and activities, rather than just enforcing uniformity, to maintain stability and appeal.”

The above AI definition of preserving neighborhood character is a far cry from the standard, knee-jerk response to the phrase “preserving a neighborhood’s character” as a racist construct. (See also this AI definition: The phrase “preserving neighborhood character” has a complex history rooted in racially exclusionary policies [often referred to as redlining] that were used to maintain segregation in housing in the United States. While seemingly neutral today, the language was historically used as a coded way to prevent people of color from moving into predominantly white areas”). Can it be used for these purposes? Sure.

Letters

LETTER: Hardware Chain Sharing License Plates from Flock Cameras with Law Enforcement

By |

To the Editor:

Dozens of Home Depot Stores in Texas are sharing parking lot surveillance camera license-plate scans — through the Flock network — with the Johnson County, Texas, Sheriff’s office. This is according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation and 404 Media. 

Visitors to those stores are unaware that they are being tracked. 

I think, until I hear otherwise, that I will limit my hardware shopping to our local friends at Coolidge Hardware. 

William BeckettWatertown Resident

Letters

LETTER: A Constitutional Question for the 250th Anniversary

By |

As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Constitution, we should confront a structuralquestion that receives far too little attention: What happens if a President refuses to comply witha ruling of the Supreme Court? Over decades, both Congress and the Court have contributed to a presidency with more concentrated power than the Framers intended. Congress has weakened itself through gridlock and partisan entrenchment. The Supreme Court, through decisions expanding presidential immunity and narrowing avenues for accountability, has further strengthened the office. The result is a modern presidency that holds the only practical enforcement authority in the federal system.

Letters

LETTER: Watertown’s Trash Pickup is Broken

By |

The New Trash Pickup Rules Don’t Work

Three years ago, Watertown significantly changed the rules around trash pickup. Previously, we could get rid of most things easily by putting them out with the trash. Now, the system is to call Republic to schedule a pickup for bulky “burnables” such as old furniture, and they charge a variable amount per item determined by Republic based on size and shape. They won’t take them otherwise. Similarly, so-called “white goods” such as electronics and small appliances must also be scheduled with Republic, and mattresses need to be scheduled with yet another different service.

Letters

LETTER: The More Things Change — Fiscal Anxiety and Growth in Watertown 100 Years Ago

By |

This week we enter 2026. But what was Watertown like in 1926? The year 1926 found Watertown at a critical juncture, grappling with the growing pains of a rapidly modernizing suburb. As the town transitioned from its industrial roots toward a more residential future, the municipal government faced the daunting task of balancing fiscal conservatism with the urgent need for infrastructure expansion. The following history, drawn from the 1926 Watertown Annual Town Report, reveals a community navigating the complexities of the early motor age, educational demands, and the eternal debate over the “tax burden.”

Letters

LETTER: Former City Councilor Weighs in on City Using Flock License Plate Capturing Cameras

By |

Greetings Councilors:

Now that the electorate is aware of the Flock Safety camera fiasco; the Council is backpedaling to save face with a public process. Please: don’t insult us by spinning the words. Let’s not forget: the Council approved the Flock Safety equipment purchase through the budget process.The horsie was out of the barn on 06/10/25, when the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget was unanimously approved. Manager, Proakis signed the Flock contract on 09/11/25. Followed by a purchase order on 09/12/25.