Letters

LETTER: What’s Goes Crash in the Night – Snow Plows!

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For the first time since my husband and I moved here in 2009, snow plows at night are keeping us awake, and during the last two storms did so for ​nearly four hours after we tried to go to sleep. We’re not sure what made them so loud. They seemed to be moving fast around our intersection (we’re one of the corner houses). We and some others have bedrooms very close to the street, and most of the houses are close to the street in general, so the noise is close to many people. We watched the plow for awhile (it was clear we wouldn’t be sleeping for some time) to try to determine just what it was crashing and banging against – curbs, sewer grates, potholes?

Arsenal Mall

LETTER: Tower at Arsenal Mall Too Tall, Will Loom Over Charles River

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To the citizens of Watertown, regarding the Arsenal Project MP/SP proposal,

As I sat in the audience of the Planning Board meeting of Dec. 14, 2016, I was again disappointed. In over a year of meetings the issue which I thought would have been a major concern to both the citizens of Watertown, the city councilors and the city planning department employees was rarely discussed. The issue I am referring to is the development of a 12 story building (building “G”) approximately 100 feet from Greenough Boulevard. Now the reason the developer wants to build this building is obvious.

Letters

LETTER: Simple Sign at Watertown Library Warms the Heart of a Resident

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Editor,

This morning I walked through the doors of the Watertown Library and was heartened to see a simple black and white sign in the door stating “The Watertown Free Public Library welcomes and serves everyone.”  

In these divisive times it was a welcome reminder that I live in a community that is diverse and that I believe takes pride in that diversity.  This diversity was evident to me in the families that came to the door trick-or-treating on Halloween, in the number of different languages spoken in the schools and in my work as a tutor with Project Literacy. As a white woman, I am unlikely to face discrimination in Watertown and I can’t presume that there is no discrimination or acts of harassment in our town.  But in general, Watertown feels like a welcoming community and my hope is that we will all look for ways to foster that sense of community as we move forward in 2017.  

Joan Blaustein
Riverside Street

Letters

LETTER: Resident Condemns Trump’s Call for Russians to Release Emails

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Dear Editor:

As an “American Patriot,” I am appalled that Donald Trump would suggest that Putin’s Russia hack and intervene in the American Electoral Process. More appalling to me is the lack of outrage by fellow American Patriots of whatever political persuasion; Republican or Democrat, conservative, liberal or progressive. As far as I am concerned, Trump has abridged the highest level of trust one can confer on a candidate for an office at any level of government whether local, state or national. I was taught as a child to walk a mile in the other person’s shoes before criticizing, but in this case I have to look at the obvious!!!! Can one imagine where or what would have happened to Donald Trump if he had been in Russia during Putin’s last election and he asked the United States Government to hack Vladimir Putin’s emails.

Autism

LETTER: Resident Backs Library’s Decision to Host Autism Event

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To the Editor:

On Wednesday, the News published a letter protesting a program scheduled for Saturday, March 12, at the Watertown Free Public Library. The author, Julie Cotton, had already sent a version of the letter to the Library Director and Trustees and requested they cancel the program. The sponsoring organization, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), was founded by parents who believe that certain unproven medical interventions can benefit, even cure, their autistic children. These therapies are controversial and widely believed to be ineffective, potentially dangerous, and supported by flawed research. In 2014, the FDA issued a consumer update on the subject under the headline “Beware of False or Misleading Claims for Treating Autism.”

I sympathize with the Ms. Cotton.

Letters

LETTER: Citizens Group Opposes Regulations on Watertown Homes

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To the Editor,

“I don’t want anyone telling me where to plant my roses”. That was the parting message John Labadini, President of the newly-established Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association at the end of a public meeting at the Library last Thursday evening. That meeting was arranged to acquaint Watertown residents of a new initiative being pursued by the Town’s Planning and Development office. The Department is drafting proposed Residential Guideline regulations setting design standards for the appearance of our homes and for owners who want to, or need to, tear down and replace an existing structure. The Association feels that property designs are ownership property rights, not the Town’s.

Elections

LETTER: Council President Candidate Thanks People for Help and Support

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Dear Editor,

I am gracious for and wish to thank all who voted for me on Tuesday, Nov. 3. While we fell short of being elected, I met some absolutely fantastic old and new friends. It was a pleasure meeting everyone and discussing the community’s journey into the future. This is a great community; and by being a candidate for an elective office, it contributes to your lifelong learning. As I travelled around each day and met someone new or old, during conversations, I learned something new and a different perspective from my own point of view that I had not considered.

Elections

LETTER: School Committee Candidate Explains Why She is Running

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My name is Kendra Medville Foley and I am a candidate for the Watertown School Committee. I am running for School Committee because I am passionate about the importance of education – for my three young children, for the children and families in Watertown and for the health and vibrancy of our town. I know that an excellent school system not only helps every child and family, but also makes an enormous contribution to a community being safer, stronger, and more vibrant. Two years ago, when my oldest child entered kindergarten, I got involved with the schools through the Hosmer PTO and Watertown Strong Schools. The process of advocating for greater investment in our schools by attending School Committee meetings, attending budget and finance subcommittee meetings, and talking to parents, teachers and administrators convinced me to run for School Committee.