Below find answers from Ari Iaccarino,  Jon Link and Tuesday Thomas:

I was the first candidate to declare that one of my main priorities if elected would be to help implement a city-wide shoveling and de-icing program. The lack of accessibility during winter for people with assistive walking devices, strollers, and even those without is such low-hanging fruit to fix. I also want the city to have an increased trash pickup/sidewalk washing schedule in areas like Davis and other squares. Regarding Davis Square, I believe we should have a safe consumption site somewhere where folks can consume with supportive services out of the public eye. This would not have to be in Davis, but there should be a known place where people can go that’s not in one of the only third spaces we have in the city. I’d also like to have a police officer stationed around Davis on foot during popular business hours. I’ve personally witnessed Officer Edna do a great job of talking to houseless people and ask about if they’re signed up for services. This supportive presence and a zero tolerance for drug dealing and violence would help neighbors and patrons feel safe. In the long run, we need more supportive housing, and having his will not only improve perceptions of our squares but also just be the right thing to do as long as the business community stands beside organizations like the Homelessness Coalition and others, especially when well-to-do neighbors try to prevent buildings and services from working. Finally, I would like to be able to get traction going on allowing parking at churches, municipal buildings, and university property after classes/service hours. The Tufts Administrative building has a bunch of spots that patrons could park at and then walk to to get to Davis Square. I believe the Baptist Church on the corner of Morrison Ave has plenty of empty spots throughout most of the week as well. 501c3s and churches have the privilege of conducting services in Somerville, and they need to be part of the parking solution on property that is otherwise unproductive.

 

 

Reducing inclusionary housing percentages is a non-starter for me; I believe we need to increase inclusionary percentages to have middle class folks as well as the poor and rich. However, one of the main goals of my campaign has been to reduce other permitting not related to safety or overall ecology. Time is money, and I’d like to reduce the time it takes to build. In addition to reducing permitting, I’d like to make sure we hire more Inspectional Services Department (ISD) staff so that it doesn’t take forever to build. I’d also be willing to pursue bonded and insured professional engineers as a supplement to continue speeding up building. I’d also like to pursue more mixed zoning, specifically in neighborhood residence (NR) districts, small-scale or creative commercial uses are only possible via a special permit and mostly limited to converting existing nonconforming buildings. I’d like to see a targeted expansion like permitting ground-floor cafés, studios, or flexible workspaces by-right in select NR areas (especially on pedestrian-oriented corners or transit-accessible streets). These would create walkable micro-hubs without altering the fundamental residential character of these neighborhoods, ideally. This may not result in massive building, but more micro commercial activity would make neighborhoods vibrant and friendlier for small businesses.

 

There is approximately 3 million square feet of life science space that is unoccupied in the city. What are your strategies for filling empty lab spaces?

Another pillar of my platform is to instill a real estate vacancy tax. Our real estate is too valuable to be the target of speculation and other unproductive measures that keep Somerville from growing. If a vacancy tax passes, corporate landlords will need to act in order to avoid said tax.

The Condo Conversion Ordinance Amendment: The process was done with no public input during the Fourth of July week. Do you feel this was transparent? Would you 
have done things differently?Public engagement is always important and builds trust.

 

I have little to no sympathy for corporate and investor landlords. I do not consider them to be fundamental members of a business community but rather glorified ticket scalpers. (Owner occupied landlords in houses and small buildings are an entirely different question). I have had multiple friends that have had to leave Somerville because of arbitrary rent increases, and we’ve all seen small businesses who no longer operate because of high rents. Regarding whether condo ownership is a way for first time home buyers to become home owners in Somerville, I don’t think there’s currently much of any property in any fashion that is a viable way to become a land-owning member of Somerville unless you’re a millionaire or win the housing lottery through the city. I support tenant relocation payments and modest waiting periods. You’re uprooting someone from their home. We need less tenants and more home owners; Somerville doesn’t need to be a hub for the rich to have a permanent rental portfolio, and we should be prioritizing builders who want to make money through the act of building rather than acting as glorified ticket scalpers.

 

 

Let’s start with the fact that the City doesn’t communicate well or at all with businesses when it comes to street-level projects. I’ve now spoken to multiple owners, many who do not live in Somerville, who do not understand that Somerville is a special city and not like many suburban areas outside of Boston. We are a heavily bike/pedestrian-friendly city, and that should never be a
surprise to a new business when deciding to set up shop here. I’d be happy to work with the Chamber of Commerce to enhance communication around these expectations. In addition, I’ve spoken to members of the Chamber about their own difficulties in getting the City departments to work with them when it comes to creating and executing plans. This is a product of the current administration and a group of leadership that fundamentally lacks communication skills. I was one of two native-English-speaking content marketing employees for a global company of 3,000 employees — one of my main responsibilities was to facilitate communication between multiple departments to make sure that projects and marketing assets were accurate, on time, and compelling. I would use my expertise in this to align City Hall with the Chamber and small businesses. A special note: I have committed to doing City Council full time, not part time, and members should keep this in mind when choosing candidates who could potentially represent their interests and spend the time being IN PERSON at City Hall to get things done. In addition, members of the Chamber of Commerce already know that I’ve helped two local owners connect with the Chamber itself and relevant city councilors because THE BUSINESSES DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS AN OPTION. And that’s the problem — we have business owners that have no idea what resources are available to them, so educating these owners is paramount. Most folks in Somerville have no idea who their city councilors are, and it’s not surprising that Chamber members also have no idea. I’m here to change that.

 

Some people and businesses in our community say that we have parking issues. How would you mitigate those concerns or change the situation? On recent changes to streets in Somerville would you require after say 6 months of completing a street project a look back with meetings of the people and businesses in the area to see if these changes solved the problem or created more problem?

We do have parking issues. We need more business and metered parking for longer than two hours. Before any street project commences, I would require the City to have in-person meetings with business owners and residents on the affected street to make sure that the community is heard and that proposals are grounded in reality and not theoreticals. If we do this, then the need for retroactive reflection should be reduced. As I mentioned previously, I would also like to see unproductive parking lots open to the public after classes/service hours. You don’t get prime property in Somerville for nothing.

The answer is in-person tours and physical mail; these are not happening at the frequency they should be. Building trust digitally not at the site in question does not build trust, and we need more trust. Like I’ve said before, most folks have no idea who their city councilors are, and I would be involved to act as a megaphone for small businesses, and when required, for reason if the city has a point. These traffic calming measures are important, but certain measures seem to have been made even without the support of first responders, which is also concerning to me.

 

 

Awareness is key. If folks don’t know they have tools and resources, then that’s a fundamental flaw in communication. I’ve said previously that we need more physical mail announcing to residents and owners who their city councilors are and what resources are available to them. If elected to city council, I will also make regular visits to stakeholders as part of routine tours of the city, and that’s a great time to identify gaps in access and increase connections.

 

 

I would like to make sure meetings are transparent and that everyone has the opportunity to participate. I personally like the chat capability because folks bring up great points that leadership can reflect on later or even use in the meeting itself to enhance productivity and quality of said content. I would support all meetings listed in your question to be public with a virtual component as an option. City councilors and elected officials should be attending as many meetings as possible in public; if they aren’t, then there’s a larger question around presence in the city.

 

 

I’d like to see local association be proactive in reaching out to me to see how I can advance their agendas as long as they conform to good governance and positive outcomes for city residents. I
want to make doing business in Somerville easier and a pleasure for small businesses, and I want the Chamber to help me reduce barriers for these important people in our community.

 

__________________________________________

 

What are your top three priorities for the city as a City Councilor?

Affordable housing (and displacement in general), safe streets, supporting our schools

 

Improving safety and walkability in our business districts means addressing root causes while making our squares more welcoming. I support expanding unarmed community responder programs and building stronger partnerships with local organizations, including the Behavioral Health Network, so people in crisis receive care instead of criminalization. This approach makes our districts safer for businesses, workers, and residents alike. At the same time, we must protect our commercial centers from speculative development that drives out small businesses and leaves storefronts vacant. I will advocate for affordable commercial space requirements in new developments, so local businesses can remain anchors of our squares. Vibrant storefronts create steady foot traffic and a stronger sense of safety. Cleanliness and comfort are also key. That means consistent trash pickup, rodent control, reliable lighting, and regular city presence, alongside adding more greenery, trees, and public seating so our squares are places where people want to spend time, not just pass through. In Davis Square specifically, closer collaboration with the MBTA is needed to make areas like Statue Park, Seven Hills Park, and the busway feel safe, clean, and inviting.

 

Commercial development had been robust in Somerville but with the economic slowdown commercial development and housing developments have ceased. In spite of this slowdown the City Council recently voted to increase linkage fees even though Somerville already had the highest fees including permit fees and inclusionary housing percentages in the State. How are you going to encourage developers to build, rather than go to other cities with lower linkage, fees, permit fees and inclusionary housing percentages? What incentives would you offer?

Development in Somerville should continue, but it has to benefit both residents and businesses to be sustainable. I don’t believe the answer is racing other cities to the bottom with fees. Instead,we should offer clear, predictable incentives for projects that meet community needs. For example, I support affordable housing bonuses and zoning flexibility for projects that deliver more deeply affordable units, family-sized housing, or accessible units. On the commercial side, we should offer incentives for developments that provide affordable retail space for local businesses instead of leaving storefronts vacant or priced beyond reach. Somerville’s value proposition has never been that it’s the cheapest place to build. It’s that we are a vibrant, well connected community where people want to live, shop, and invest. By focusing on incentives that reward the right kind of development, we can keep Somerville attractive to builders while ensuring growth strengthens, rather than undermines, our neighborhoods and business districts. 

 

 

The empty lab space in Somerville is the result of speculative overbuilding, not a lack of support from the City. These properties are privately owned, and it would be irresponsible to bail out developers with public dollars when the City is facing serious budget shortfalls. What the City can do is take a smarter approach going forward. We need to diversify commercial development so we are not overexposed to one sector, and ensure that large projects deliver community benefits like affordable housing, local business space, and public realm improvements regardless of what happens in the market. For existing empty spaces, the City can work with property owners to explore interim uses such as affordable artist studios, nonprofit and community space, or short term business incubators rather than allowing empty buildings to drag down surrounding districts. Long term, the lesson is clear: we need more balanced planning that prioritizes housing and small business vitality alongside commercial development instead of chasing speculative trends.

 

The Condo Conversion Ordinance Amendment: The process was done with no public input during the Fourth of July week. Do you feel this was transparent? Would you have done things differently?

The business of the City cannot stop every time there is a holiday week, but on issues as important as the Condo Conversion Ordinance, we owe the public a fair chance to weigh in. In this case, the timing limited community participation and did not feel transparent. I would have scheduled broader outreach and at least one well-publicized hearing before final action, with plain-language summaries and translation so residents could fully understand the changes. Somerville needs strong tenant protections, but we also need a process that people trust.

 

 

Condo conversions are one of the biggest drivers of displacement in Somerville. Multifamily homes that once housed several working families are too often converted into single-family condos or luxury units, shrinking our housing supply and driving up rents. Extending relocation payments and waiting periods does not stop responsible development, it ensures tenants are treated fairly and our neighborhoods remain stable. The real solution to high housing costs is building more homes. I support policies that encourage new housing production, including market-rate units, so we expand supply instead of cannibalizing the limited housing stock we already have.

 

 

Safe, well-designed streets are good for business. Nationally, studies show corridors that added protected bike lanes and transit improvements saw stronger retail outcomes. In New York City, retail sales grew 49% on 9th Avenue after a protected lane and commercial vacancies dropped nearly 50% in Union Square. In Toronto, a detailed study of the Bloor Street bike lane found local businesses saw customer spending rise faster than nearby control areas, and 90% of visitors arrived without a car. In Salt Lake City, bike counts rose 30% and business performance along a new protected lane outpaced citywide trends. Closer to home, Cambridge commissioned a study comparing streets with new separated bike lanes to similar corridors without them. It found no consistent negative effect on business performance — retail rents, vacancies, and employment held steady. In fact, research from Portland State University shows people who walk, bike, or take transit visit more often and spend as much or more per month as drivers. How I will advocate for projects that support, not harm, small-business access: • Pair street changes with curb management that businesses help design, for example short-term parking, shared loading windows, and pickup zones, which increase turnover and customer access. • Coordinate delivery and service access early, map loading needs block by block, and adjust hours and signage as needed. • Ensure there is adequate and appropriate accessible parking for those with limited mobility. • Mitigate construction impacts with “open for business” wayfinding, temporary loading, and (importantly) proactive communication. • Track outcomes using data like foot-traffic counts and available sales proxies, then tune designs quickly. • Add seating, lighting, greenery, and cleanliness measures that make customers stay longer and return more often.

 

 

I hear concerns about parking, but the reality is that surface parking is one of the least efficient uses of our limited street space. Our priority should be moving people, not storing cars, while ensuring that accessible parking and essential short-term spaces for deliveries and pickups are always available. When we redesign streets, the focus should be on making them safe, welcoming, and productive for businesses and residents. That means managing curb space more effectively with short-term parking, pickup and delivery zones, and accessible spaces so the same curb can serve far more customers than long-term car storage ever could. As for evaluation, I support looking back at projects, but it takes longer than six months to see how travel patterns, business activity, and neighborhood life adjust. A one-year and/or two-year review with objective data like pedestrian counts, bike counts, transit ridership, and vacancy rates will give us a clearer picture than a premature check-in based only on initial perceptions.

 

 

Traffic calming is about saving lives, and that must remain the City’s first priority. Every neighborhood deserves safe streets, and no resident should have to risk their safety because a project stalls. At the same time, the City must do a much better job communicating clearly and early. There are often public input meetings, but they are poorly attended. That suggests the problem is not a lack of process but that residents and businesses are not being reached effectively. I would push for more visible outreach through clear advertising of meetings, multilingual materials, and both in-person and virtual options so people know when and how they can weigh in. Input from residents, businesses, and institutions should shape how traffic calming is designed and implemented, but safety itself cannot be put up for debate. When people see their feedback reflected in design choices, trust in the process improves even if not everyone agrees with every detail.

 

 

Everyone in Somerville deserves equal access to City services and programs, and that starts with communication. The City must do a better job of making information widely available and easy to
understand, through clear outreach, multilingual materials, and publicly accessible data so people can see for themselves how decisions are being made. Transparency is about building open systems that work for everyone. I will push the City to communicate clearly and consistently, and also to ask residents, businesses, and institutions how they prefer to receive updates so we are
actually reaching people rather than just checking a box. When information is accessible, predictable, and public, trust in the process grows.

 

 

Transparency and accessibility are essential, but they also need to be balanced with running meetings effectively. Not every meeting is meant for public comment, and adding participation features to routine committee work would make it harder for the City to get through business. That said, when public input is expected, the City should use the best available virtual tools and make it clear how residents can participate. I do support requiring that all meetings be publicly accessible, with both in-person and virtual components so more people can attend. But mandating that every elected official attend every meeting in person could backfire by reducing participation, limiting flexibility, and even risking quorum. The goal should be more transparency and access for the public, paired with meeting structures that allow the City to work efficiently.

 

 

Local associations are most valuable when they serve as a bridge between their members, residents, other organizations, and the City. I would like to see groups like the Chamber bring forward constructive ideas, share insights from their members, and help identify solutions that strengthen both our business districts and our neighborhoods. I see partnerships with associations as an opportunity to better understand day-to-day challenges, communicate more effectively with the business community, and work together on policies that keep Somerville vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive. Many of the changes highlighted in this survey are good and necessary for the safety and well-being of our community, even if they are not perfect. By approaching issues collaboratively and helping to shape how change happens, organizations like the Chamber can be a real asset to both the Council and the city as a whole.

______________________________________

Candidate -Tuesday Thomas

What are your top three priorities for the city as a City Councilor?

My three priorities reflect what I hear from the neighbors I’ve talked to.
1. Affordable housing (streamline permitting, encourage gentile density and fast-track multi-family projects and ADUs) 2. Safer streets (protected intersections, targeted enforcement and better bike infrastructure) and 3. Government that actually works to help the people who want to live and work here (less red tape, city hall liaison for residents and preparedness for the end of federal funding).

What would you as a city councilor put forward to improve safety, cleanliness, and walkability in business districts? In Davis Square what measures would you take to ensure safety for all business and residents?

I start by focusing on smart design and solutions, not more rules. First and foremost, our roads need to be in shape with better street paving and level sidewalks. The Urban Forestry department should be included in the discussion to ensure roots don’t become disruptive down the road. I will push for protected intersections, starting with Davis Square. I will also push for red light cameras. I would also like to explore the feasibility of synchronized lights on streets like Somerville Ave and Highland. I support smart strategies using evidence-based approaches to make it safer for all of us to get around Somerville. Following the lead of Nick Hancock and his Litter Crew, who volunteered their time to clean up Davis Square. I propose funding a maintenance jobs program that offers day-to-day employment for people in need of work to clean and care for public spaces, like Davis Square, for an immediate positive impact on our neighborhoods. (Similar to the successfully clean-up programs deployed in San Diego, New York City, Portland, New Jersey, etc.) As Councilor At-Large, I would push for a pilot bike patrol program in high-traffic, pedestrian-focused neighborhoods to help to raise the visibility of the police department and enhance their ability to connect with the community in keeping with Somerville’s Vision for becoming more bicycle-friendly.

Commercial development had been robust in Somerville but with the economic slowdown commercial development and housing developments have ceased. In spite of this slowdown the City Council recently voted to increase linkage fees even though Somerville already had the highest fees including permit fees and inclusionary housing percentages in the State. How are you going to encourage developers to build, rather than go to other cities with lower linkage, fees, permit fees and inclusionary housing percentages? What incentives would you offer?

Having worked with developers, I know they hate delays and regulations that are inconsistent and unclear, not so much fees. When I interviewed contractors to build a house in Somerville, pretty much everyone complained about the process in this city. I’m a champion of process improvement and optimization. I want to make building in Somerville to run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Two of the most powerful incentives for developers are a clear path to building and a solid opportunity to turn a profit. We need to make Somerville a place where developers can count on partnership and shared vision for success. We can be progressive and pro-growth at the same time. As City Councilor At-Large, my focus is to streamline the permitting process and provide better coordination between departments. I will push for creating a City Project Coordinator to provide a single point of contact and act as a facilitator for small and mid-sized developers. This alone could enable developers to avoid months of back-and-forth. I would also push to further expedite permitting for green features, affordable projects and those with community space. Somerville’s proximity to Boston and Cambridge along with its public transportation and walkability scores make it ideal for investor value and long-term profitability. As Councilor At-Large, I would push for a pilot program that mirrors Boston’s “Compact Living Policy” that allows developers to build smaller units without requiring parking spaces for property adjacent to the T. If developers know they can rent or sell units quickly at a profit, they’ll pay higher fees.

There is approximately 3 million square feet of life science space that is unoccupied in the city. What are your strategies for filling empty lab spaces?

Somerville needs to be competitive for life sciences. Streamlining the permitting process can help, whether it’s permitting for modifications for lab equipment and installations, or zoning that allows mixed lab/office/residential use. I will push for partnerships with Harvard, MIT and Tufts as well as organizations like Cambridge Innovation Center, but the market has changed and requires a shift in paradigm. Nearly a third of lab space in Greater Boston is vacant. According to the Boston Business Journal earlier this month, “empty lab buildings around Boston are a testament to the biotech industry’s boom and bust.” In June, Boston.com reported that the development firm Bulfinch is changing up its plans for the site of Needham’s former Ford dealership, exploring a pivot to a mixed-use project with hundreds of housing units instead of an office and laboratory complex. As City Councilor at large, I will push for pilot programs to test solutions that include converting proposed lab space into something the community needs, like ground-floor retail and housing. The key is recognizing that not every lab building needs to stay a lab building forever. For targeted and innovative solutions, we need to access the data behind what’s working and what’s not.

The Condo Conversion Ordinance Amendment: The process was done with no public input during the Fourth of July week. Do you feel this was transparent? Would you have done things differently?

I do not feel the process behind the Condo Conversion Ordinance Amendment was as open or inclusive as it should have been. Good policy requires good process. We can’t build trust if we making housing decisions while people are at home barbecuing instead of attending City Council meetings. If I had been on the City Council, I would have worked for a more transparent and inclusive approach. I want to ensure homeowners, renters, advocates, and housing experts are invited to participate. That means: 1. Public listening sessions 2. Publishing plain-language summaries, and 3. Including diverse perspectives If I’m elected to the City Council, I’ll fight to restore and strengthen transparency because it’s not just about process, it’s about trust.

The Condo Conversion Ordinance Amendment: If the City has a goal to make housing more affordable, how does making development take longer and have more risk by doubling the tenant relocation payments and the condo conversion waiting period? Do you agree that condo ownership is a way for first time home buyers to get into Somerville?

Making development take longer and take on more risk with a longer conversion waiting period seems counter intuitive to a goal to make housing more affordable. I do agree that for many, condo ownership is a way for first time home owners to get into Somerville.

How will you ensure that changes to parking, bike lanes, or public transit projects support—not harm—small business foot traffic and customer access?

To ensure transportation projects support small businesses rather than harm them, we need a collaborative, transparent and proven approach to city planning and transportation projects. The city should be working with and listening to businesses. If I’m elected, I’ll push to: 1. Involve small businesses early in the process. That means listening and learning through surveys and one-on-ones. Business owners need to be included on advisory committees to have a say in how construction should be implemented to minimize disruption. (Perhaps by avoiding weekends or peak times during the day.) 2. Mitigate construction issues. Provide clear signage that businesses are still open. Supplement with temporary lots to ensure accessibility. Partner with business organizations to simultaneously market the businesses, the community and the improvement efforts of the city. 3. Implement proven “best of breed” solutions. Prioritize wide, walkable sidewalks protected from construction and loading zones/short-term parking near entrances. Check in regularly with businesses owners to learn what is working and adjust what’s not. I believe business owners are not anti-bike lane or anti-transit, they’re pro-customer access. A bike lane that brings more customers is great. A bike lane that makes it impossible for elderly customers to visit is a problem we need to solve. The best transportation initiatives make it easier for everyone to get to where they’re going, including our amazing small local businesses.

Some people and businesses in our community say that we have parking issues. How would you mitigate those concerns or change the situation? On recent changes to streets in Somerville would you require after say 6 months of completing a street project a look back with meetings of the people and businesses in the area to see if these changes solved the problem or created more problem?

Parking is extremely important to me because it’s not just about where you can leave your car, it’s about being able to access the things you need. Like so many projects, follow-up needs to be done to make data-driven decisions in the future by learning from successes and making adjustments for improvements going forward. As Councilor At Large, I will push for neighborhood parking studies to understand current usage and better enforcement of existing rules. I’m not talking about expired meters here. I’m talking about the blatant disregard of bike lanes by inconsiderate drivers and delivery vehicles. I will also focus on improving public transit by getting shuttle service running in a loop from Assembly Square to Somerville Ave and reopen talks with the T for micro-transit on the steep Somerville hills that are difficult for the 40-foot buses. Like any workplace or sports event, after-action reviews are critical. We need to access what worked and what didn’t. That means: 1. Compiling feedback from residents and small businesses 2. Reporting and analyzing costs and impact. 3. A clear path to make adjustments to future projects based on the data collected. I believe we can make changes that are smart, cost-effective and responsible, but only if we stay connected to the people who live and work here.

Why is the city significantly adding numerous traffic calming measures throughout various neighborhoods without input from all residents, businesses and religious institutions? What we are hearing is the city conducts listening sessions but are not hearing what is being said. How would you change that?

Traffic calming should calm traffic, not upset neighbors. I believe the best solutions come from the people who live and work on the streets. Residents, local businesses and religious institutions absolutely should be included. I recently signed a petition for a counterproposal for Lexington Ave that was put together because community members felt they were not included in the execution of what is for them a sub-optimal traffic calming measure. Engineering is a big part of the solution, but so is listening. If I’m elected, I’ll push for more transparency, clearer communication and collaboration. It’s frustrating when changes are proposed without hearing from the people who will be affected most. As Councilor At Large, I will advocate for: • Neighborhood involvement/consultation for traffic calming and street redesigns, especially near parks, schools and vulnerable pedestrian areas. • Improved communication from city departments with clear updates on why particular designs are chosen and why alternatives are ruled out. • Support for projects like the improvements you’re proposing that can be tested and refined. • Making it easier for residents to engage, not just react, in building and maintaining infrastructure because you shouldn’t have to start a petition to be heard. City government should act as a partner, not a distant planner. Together we can make our streets safer and our process fairer.

What will you do in your elected role to ensure that everyone including businesses and religious institutions in Somerville have equal access to all City services, resources, programs, and meetings?  How will transparency play a role?

Everyone in Somerville should feel seen, heard, and supported — regardless of their age, income, language, ability, or housing status. But too often, important information and services don’t reach the very people who need them most. If elected, I will work to change that! Here’s how I’ll help ensure equal access: 1. Proactive Multilingual Outreach. Somerville is beautifully diverse, but City Hall often communicates in just one language. I’ll push for citywide communications , including announcements, public meetings, and key documents to be consistently translated and accessible in the top languages spoken by our residents. 2. Flexible Meeting Formats. Not everyone can attend a 6:00 p.m. meeting in person. I’ll advocate for hybrid options, recordings, and meeting materials shared in advance — so more residents can participate on their own time and terms. 3. Dedicated Liaisons for Vulnerable Groups. I believe City departments should include trained liaisons for our immigrant communities, elders, people with disabilities, and those experiencing housing instability. These liaisons can guide people through city services, just as a caseworker would. 4. User-Friendly Platforms. I’ll champion improvements to the city website and digital platforms — making it easier to find services, apply for permits, or attend virtual events without technical hurdles. When information is hard to access, it’s the same as being left out. I believe that transparency isn’t just about publishing data or livestreaming meetings — it’s about building trust by sharing the why behind decisions, not just the what. I’ll work to ensure that decisions aren’t made behind closed doors and that public input isn’t just collected, but clearly reflected in the city’s actions. Access and transparency go hand in hand. Together, they form the foundation of a government that truly works for everyone. And that’s the kind of Somerville I’m committed to helping build.

Currently city meetings (virtual) do not have participation features such as raise your hand button, chat features and restrict participants visibility to see who is in the meeting. Do you feel this is open and transparent? Please explain your reasoning. Also, as a City Councilor, would you require that all city meetings including all city council committee and board meetings be held in public with a virtual component and that all elected officials be required to attend in person all meetings in public?

The current virtual meeting setup is the bare minimum, not the gold standard. If we’re going to ask people to participate in democracy, we need to give them the tools that actually enable participation. Current System Problems • No “raise hand” feature – means people can’t signal they want to speak • No chat function – eliminates real-time questions and clarifications • Limited participant visibility – makes it feel like speaking into the void • Poor audio quality – makes it hard to follow complex discussions • No breakout room capability – for working group sessions My Technology Requirements • Full-featured virtual platforms- with raise hand, chat, polling, and screen sharing • Professional audio/video equipment- in council chambers for clear broadcast • Technical support staff – available during all meetings • Multiple device compatibility – works on phones, tablets, and computers Enhanced Participation Features • Real-time polling- for community input on issues • Anonymous question submission- for sensitive topics • Translation services – available in multiple languages • Screen reader compatibility- for visually impaired participants • Mobile accessibility- for people without computer access In-Person Attendance Requirements I believe all elected officials should attend meetings in person unless they have a medical or family emergency. Virtual options are for community participation, not for elected representatives to phone it in. Required Meeting Standards • All council meetings – held in public with virtual component • All committee meetings – open to public participation • All board and commission meetings – with remote access • Emergency meetings – still require community notification and access • Work sessions – open to public observation even if not public comment If we expect residents to engage with city government, we need to make that engagement meaningful and accessible. Half-measures on technology just create half-engaged communities.

What would you like to see from local associations in terms of working positively and proactively with you and your office? How can organizations like the Somerville Chamber of Commerce be an asset to the new City Councilor?

At the end of the day, I believe in local government that listens and collaborates. I see organizations like the Somerville Chamber of Commerce as teammates in building a city that’s vibrant, equitable, and responsive to those who live and work here. Somerville is at its best when we’re working together in partnership. As a City Councilor At-Large, I would welcome and encourage active, ongoing collaboration with local associations, neighborhood groups, business networks, and advocacy organizations. As City Councilor At Large, I will focus on 1. Open Lines of Communication. Let me know what’s working and what’s not. Let’s talk early, before frustrations mount or decisions are made in a vacuum. 2. Shared Goals, Shared Solutions – Whether it’s streamlining permitting, activating vacant storefronts, or improving parking and signage during construction. I know these groups can help shape practical, equitable solutions. 3. Working Together To Create A Better Somerville – I would encourage all associations to share ideas and create pilot programs and work together on their execution. Local associations bring an expertise and on-the -ground insight that no one can see from behind a desk.

-Somerville Chamber of Commerce