Vote Medford 2007

Marks: (Q1) Affordable Housing

Real estate developers in this city know that I am looking over their shoulders when they draw up the blueprints for a new building. I've done all I can to ensure that every multi-unit building project in Medford reserves affordable units for the elderly or low-income, such as the site of the former Lincoln Kennedy School in South Medford. As a City Council member, I have authority to push for this when the sale or development of the building is in some way associated with the City - for example, if the City is selling a site to be developed for condominiums. Another issue I am exploring is inclusionary zoning, which could have a great impact on creating many more affordable and elderly housing units.

Marks: (Q2) Making Medford Safe for Pedestrians & Cyclists

This is a good issue for me, because for the past six years I've been working to make city streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. When it wasn't popular, I requested that the City do the following: Raise crosswalks and widen sidewalks to protect pedestrians from passing cars; add or repair signage, such as Pedestrian Crossing signs, at heavily traversed intersections; create or widen bike paths; and add thermoplastic crosswalks, which are highly reflective and slip-resistant. Despite much opposition, I've made safe sidewalks a signature project. Through my pushing, the City has installed more than 50 of the thermoplastic crosswalks. Already we're seeing the savings. Because thermoplastic sidewalks have a life expectancy of four to five years, we're saving on labor and paint. Painted sidewalks have to be re-marked twice a year. We're also not seeing slip-and-fall lawsuits with thermoplastics, which can't be said of painted sidewalks, which become slick in rain and snow. A year ago I put a resolution before the council to further improve pedestrian and bicycle traffic. This has never been a trendy or green issue for me so much as it has been an ongoing, practical, needs-based problem that should be followed to preserve and protect the public safety of Medford citizens.

Marks: (Q3) Encouraging Diversity in Medford City Government

Diversity is important. And the best way to support diversity in our community is to ensure that everyone is given an equal voice - especially since such matters of sexual orientation or income are, quite rightfully, revealed at the discretion of the individual, and in some cases, protected by law. I have been pushing from Day 1 forward representation in Medford. Ward representation gives everyone a stronger voice. This type of representation, in place in such cities as Somerville, links a representative to a particular section of th is city. In Medford, our city charter says that all City Council members are elected at large. If you are elected from a ward, and you vote to serve the interests of that ward, you're more likely to talk to your neighbors and friends about the concerns that don't always make it to the public forum and to enact true and not idealistic change.

To effect this change, I could request that we change the city charter by submitting a proposal or creating a petition. But I would rather do it in a way that empowers Medford citizens and makes the process fair. I would like to put it on the ballot.

Marks: (Q4) Candidate Action Plan for Green Line Extension

Sometimes, when a politician says, I need more information to act upon this, he or she is actually not equivocating! Sometimes, the most reponsible answer is to say, true consensus depends upon receipt of complete information. Right now, many people from many different city interests are still trying to figure out to what extent this will affect our city operations. At this juncture, we're not sure of how far the Green Line is going to be extended into the city for example. We're not sure to what extent Medford planners will work with transportation officials in the planning. We need to take a step forward and to define the very real issues at hand, to define who will be working on what committee, and to establish problems and solutions, such as what to do about how many parking space we'll need to create to accommodate the Green Line. I can only promise I will watch this issue with some vigilance and step in as soon as I can in a responsible fashion.

Marks: (Q5) Priorities for Medford Square Revitalization

Forums like this prove that Medford already has an energetic populace willing to find ways to make a vibrant city even more exciting. I've been working on this in my own way by interacting with business owners to ensure that the infrastructure that supports all of the businesses in town - the water system, the power system, the roads, and the maintenance of other essential city services, is in place. Now we need to build upon my work with marketing vision. Medford needs an anchor retail store, for example. Medford also needs financial support from the public and private sector to put into place longstanding plans to build up the waterfront near the downtown area to make the most of the area for the shoppers who go there. We're delighted to host the many restaurants, medical businesses, and banks in the area, but we need to make the people who work at those places and patronize them more comfortable by allowing them a place to gather while visiting - a park or boardwalk, for example. Our goal is persuading people who come to Medford to stay awhile, to go to downtown attractions such as the theatre or art spaces. I will continue to support businesses in Medford in this endeavor.

Marks: (Q6) South Medford

First, I would refer you to answers I've given in this form addressing issues of the environment, transportation, and the water and sewer systems.

The 'traffic problems' in Medford are really parking problems, especially in South Medford, because there is no municipal parking lot. So-called 'little' issues like this can have large consequences when neglected. So I think the first thing we have to do is re-assess our use of certain public spaces and how to re-form them to serve the people. For example, the Curtis Tufts School has roughly 48 students. We could relocate the programs placed there to Medford High School and re-cast use of the space. We could open the Tufts School parking lot as municipal parking and either sell off the school or transform it into a badly needed artists' space. The latter would create many revenue opportunities through art classes, art exhibits, and live performances.

Marks: (Q7) Investing in Medford's Historical Resources

There's no worry that Medford, inspiration of Jingle Bells, and historical hub for shipbuilding, rum distilling, and brick manufacture, will ever be lost in the history of this country. It's kept alive through entities like the Brooks Estate land trust as well as the Royall House. To keep this alive, I would absolutely support a bond initiative! I believe the preservation of our historic properties and artifacts is important to t he character of the city.

However, we can't ignore current history. By that I mean that we must look to our present buildings as living history, and as such, preserve them. For example, while all of our schools serving K through 8 are state of the art, Medford High School is crumbling. Our eighth graders are going to enter a school that has had only minor improvement in years, like computer centers, labs, etc. Although we have placed $2.5 million into repair of the high school, we have to keep up on preventive maintenance - whether it is the gym one year, or the cafeteria another. As a City Councillor, I would invite you to join me in following very closely the activities of our school committee, and to ask them the same tough questions I do. This is no time for back-slapping or glad-handing. This is the time for accountability. I invite Medford residents to show up at meetings and go through budget items line by line to see the answers given to those tough questions.

Marks: (Q8) Arts & Culture for Medford Revitalization

We do not have an arts center, that is true. When the Swan School building was up for sale, a Medford arts group approached me about turning the school into an arts center. I could not have been more happy. There was enough space and light in that building to make a fine arts center. I lobbied for this and did much work, but we lost the vote by one. I considered this an insult to the artists of Medford, who have never really had their own space. The building was not appropriated as an arts center because it was believed that it could be sold for much more. However, city officials in Medford overlooked the value that could have been gained by the intangible as well as the tangible benefits of having an arts center. Augmenting the profit gained from events at the center would be the public relations value of showcasing Medford as a place in which artists can learn and grow. However, that building, like so many others, is now a condo building.

Marks: (Q9) Budget Transparency

I remember this very well, because when the school budget was presented, the superintendent didn't even show up.

The best tool for improvement is the calendar. In order to make sound budget decisions, we must make a systematic approach; that is, develop a systems of ideas presentation and peer review. Department heads must meet ahead of time to review budgets, make realistic recommendations for improvement, and put together a plan that could then be presented to the public. In this way, the public would act as a peer reviewer of the budget. This is only proper, as the budget affects themselves and their children! In this process the questions asked should also be asked of members of the school committee and of the superintendent. As a former three- term member of the school committee, I welcomed questions from residents and felt that I should be able to either answer questions given me or refer people to the person who could best answer them. I also know that the best way to improve the budget is to do precisely what most people do not want to do - go through the budget line by line. Until those involved are willing to do that, and with dedication, we will see the same problems we have seen in past years.

Marks: (Q10) GIC for Municipal Employees' Health Insurance?

I support that 110 percent, because by joining it, it will contain costs and may even drive them down for both the city and municipal workers. The only reason I am not taking advantage of the plan at this time is because I get coverage through my employer.