John's Thoughts on Town Issues
FISCAL STABILITY
In June of 2019, voters approved an operating override with a commitment that the town would not ask for another override for 4 years. In doing so, we also made a series of commitments aimed to help our school-aged children and seniors, including:
In the wake a global pandemic, with uncertainty in future revenues, both locally and at the state level, we need to find creative ways to maintain fiscal stability and honor the commitments we made to our school aged children and seniors.
COMBATTING RACIAL INEQUITY
Both nationally and here in Arlington, horrific acts made against people of color have put the issue of racial inequity at the forefront of all policy discussions. Locally, we have had many discussions, including a four part forum on race, aimed to identify structural, institutional and individual racism that still exists here in town. Town officials and staff have collaborated with experts and our residents in efforts to end racial discrimination in Arlington and ensure that we are truly a municipality where all are welcome. We have made significant progress, but there much more work to do.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
Soaring property values in Arlington have led to a housing affordability crisis in town. Almost universally, officials and residents have expressed a commitment to take action to increase affordable housing. We have engaged in an ongoing effort to review zoning bylaws to identify common sense changes that will help to realize this important goal. In the next year, we will take action to break down barriers to affordable housing and support diversity in Arlington.
REBUILDING AFTER COVID-19
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on all Arlington residents, strained families and businesses, and put our residents a great risk. Town officials have partnered with residents to take all necessary precautions to keep our residents safe, with the least impact possible on our local businesses. I am truly proud of the way Arlington coalesced in response to COVID-19 and kept the Town a safe place to live.
In order to support our amazing local businesses, the Select Board created the Arlington Economic Development Recovery Tax Force to assist businesses survive during the Pandemic. As the vaccine rolls out and we see light at the end of the tunnel, it will be imperative for the town government and residents to commit to supporting our local businesses to ensure they can remain open or re-open when safe to do so.
MUGAR DEVELOPMENT
Growing up in East Arlington near the Mugar Property, I have personal experience with the flooding, traffic and air and noise pollution issues that residents face in that neighborhood. The proposed project by Oaktree Development, LLC would exacerbate these issues further by eliminating the ability of the site and its wetland areas to buffer storm water, and adding hundreds of additional vehicles to the rush hour traffic on Lake Street. I joined all of my colleagues on the Select Board and asserted a firm commitment to fight against this proposed development.
While I support the 40B law as a means to create much needed affordable housing in Arlington, the law should not be used to override the Town’s right to protect its wetland areas and prevent a development that would adversely affect neighboring properties.
TRANSPORTATION AND SUSTAINABILTY
Arlington officials and residents have consistently advocated for aggressive action to combat climate change. In the past term, the Select Board unanimously affirmed the town's goal to be carbon neutral by 2050, approved By-Law changes to support "green" building practices in town, and supported transportation improvements aimed at promoting public transit and non-fossil fuel vehicles.
One of the first issues the Select Board reviewed when I was elected in 2018 was the Bus Rapid Transit pilot program in East Arlington. This program was a major success and allowed Arlington robust population of Bus riders easy access to Alewife Station for their morning commute. The Board has also taken steps to promote bicycling as a means of alternative transportation and supporting our avid cycling community. The instituted the Lime Bike bike sharing program, and more recently the Board approved the installation of several BlueBike stations in town. Transportation is a dynamic issue and continued improvements to Arlington's transportation system will remain a priority of mine in the next term.
In June of 2019, voters approved an operating override with a commitment that the town would not ask for another override for 4 years. In doing so, we also made a series of commitments aimed to help our school-aged children and seniors, including:
- Increasing school funding to address enrollment growth;
- Implementing a phased school budget increase to address the achievement gap for high needs students, to ensure we have safe, supportive schools, and attract, retain, and develop talented staff;
- Investing in mobility improvements for all residents and supporting Age-Friendly initiatives by adding specific budget items for pedestrian improvements and senior transportation; and
- Continuing to explore, evaluate and implement tax relief options for vulnerable property tax payers in Arlington.
In the wake a global pandemic, with uncertainty in future revenues, both locally and at the state level, we need to find creative ways to maintain fiscal stability and honor the commitments we made to our school aged children and seniors.
COMBATTING RACIAL INEQUITY
Both nationally and here in Arlington, horrific acts made against people of color have put the issue of racial inequity at the forefront of all policy discussions. Locally, we have had many discussions, including a four part forum on race, aimed to identify structural, institutional and individual racism that still exists here in town. Town officials and staff have collaborated with experts and our residents in efforts to end racial discrimination in Arlington and ensure that we are truly a municipality where all are welcome. We have made significant progress, but there much more work to do.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
Soaring property values in Arlington have led to a housing affordability crisis in town. Almost universally, officials and residents have expressed a commitment to take action to increase affordable housing. We have engaged in an ongoing effort to review zoning bylaws to identify common sense changes that will help to realize this important goal. In the next year, we will take action to break down barriers to affordable housing and support diversity in Arlington.
REBUILDING AFTER COVID-19
COVID-19 has had a profound impact on all Arlington residents, strained families and businesses, and put our residents a great risk. Town officials have partnered with residents to take all necessary precautions to keep our residents safe, with the least impact possible on our local businesses. I am truly proud of the way Arlington coalesced in response to COVID-19 and kept the Town a safe place to live.
In order to support our amazing local businesses, the Select Board created the Arlington Economic Development Recovery Tax Force to assist businesses survive during the Pandemic. As the vaccine rolls out and we see light at the end of the tunnel, it will be imperative for the town government and residents to commit to supporting our local businesses to ensure they can remain open or re-open when safe to do so.
MUGAR DEVELOPMENT
Growing up in East Arlington near the Mugar Property, I have personal experience with the flooding, traffic and air and noise pollution issues that residents face in that neighborhood. The proposed project by Oaktree Development, LLC would exacerbate these issues further by eliminating the ability of the site and its wetland areas to buffer storm water, and adding hundreds of additional vehicles to the rush hour traffic on Lake Street. I joined all of my colleagues on the Select Board and asserted a firm commitment to fight against this proposed development.
While I support the 40B law as a means to create much needed affordable housing in Arlington, the law should not be used to override the Town’s right to protect its wetland areas and prevent a development that would adversely affect neighboring properties.
TRANSPORTATION AND SUSTAINABILTY
Arlington officials and residents have consistently advocated for aggressive action to combat climate change. In the past term, the Select Board unanimously affirmed the town's goal to be carbon neutral by 2050, approved By-Law changes to support "green" building practices in town, and supported transportation improvements aimed at promoting public transit and non-fossil fuel vehicles.
One of the first issues the Select Board reviewed when I was elected in 2018 was the Bus Rapid Transit pilot program in East Arlington. This program was a major success and allowed Arlington robust population of Bus riders easy access to Alewife Station for their morning commute. The Board has also taken steps to promote bicycling as a means of alternative transportation and supporting our avid cycling community. The instituted the Lime Bike bike sharing program, and more recently the Board approved the installation of several BlueBike stations in town. Transportation is a dynamic issue and continued improvements to Arlington's transportation system will remain a priority of mine in the next term.
