Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne spoke of the many accomplishments that her administration achieved in an address to the City Council last Thursday.

By Harry Kane

In one of the most challenging periods of our nation’s history, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s administration was a beacon of hope that guided the community to heal after the pandemic. The team will pass the torch on to the Wilson administration in the new year.

Mayor Ballantyne addressed the Somerville City Council on December 11 with an end-of-term mayoral report that summarizes the administration’s achievements and progress on major projects and initiatives.

“When I first ran for mayor, I laid out a vision of an inclusive and equitable city where we can all thrive together,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “That vision has guided every major choice over the past four years.”

She thanked city councilors, city staff, community partners, and residents for their commitment to serving Somerville and shaping the path forward.

One of the highlights Mayor Ballantyne spoke about was the strengthening of community engagement through participatory budgeting, a democratic process that allows residents to decide directly how to spend a portion of the city’s capital funds.

“My administration intensified outreach, built trust, and made inclusive engagement the expectation, not the exception,” said Mayor Ballantyne.

Next, she turned to anti-displacement efforts and the Public Safety for All Initiative, as beneficial programs that engage with the community through the City of Somerville’s Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ).

Voters decided on a new city charter in the November election, and budget priorities codified in the charter established core financial values and rules. The mayor pointed out that she sought input from city councilors for recommendations on budget priorities.

Looking back at the ARPA money from the pandemic years, the mayor said the city used approximately $44 million toward infrastructure and approximately $35 million toward equity initiatives for the city’s most vulnerable residents.

The administration delivered a landmark contract with the Somerville Municipal Employees Union (SMEU) Unit B that included unprecedented wage increases.

“That is lasting pay equity,” said Mayor Ballantyne.

To deliver on progressive values and help the city thrive, bringing in commercial development helped diversify the revenue base and relieve the burden off the residential property owners.

“My administration planned strategically for commercial development rather than leaving growth to chance,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “We developed tough tech zoning that established a model for supporting both commercial innovation and creative enterprises.”

The four new zoning amendments signed into law cleared the path for a transformational new master plan at Somernova, the 7.4-acre innovation campus in Union Square that will shape Somerville’s economic future.

Somerville is now positioned to generate roughly $255 million that will go toward affordable housing, job creation, resources for schools and core services, according to the administration.

A recap of the vital transportation infrastructure achievements includes 13 built or upgraded parks, strengthened street safety, and a decrease in crash data.

The mayor emphasized the importance of the Climate Forward plan and the groundbreaking Somerville Pollinator Action Plan. “Our natural environment is healthier, our built environment is safer, and our systems are more prepared for the future than they were 4 years ago.”

The mayor then spotlighted a nearly 30 percent “historic” increase in budgeting for public schools that was invested over 4 years.

The administration worked hard to prioritize the safety and well-being of all residents, explained the mayor, especially the youths, seniors, immigrants, residents experiencing homelessness, and people with disabilities.

Lastly, Somerville filed a federal lawsuit in February against the Trump administration regarding mass deportation, and she stressed the importance of maintaining the values of a sanctuary city.

Lance L. Davis, Ward 6 City Councilor and President of the City Council, commended outgoing Mayor Ballantyne with a citation for her outstanding service to the people of Somerville as Mayor from 2022 to 2025. “Thank you for your many, many years of service,” said Councilor Davis.