Mayor's Office

In the News

Mayor Ballantyne Delivers Landmark Contract Tackling Wage Bias and Boosting Pay for SMEA (now SMEU) Unit B

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne announced today the ratification of a new contract with the Somerville Municipal Employees Union (SMEU, until recently, called SMEA) Unit B that includes unprecedented wage increases designed to address long-standing wage bias. The new contract includes average salary adjustments between 14% and 17% in fiscal year 2025.  

Mayor Ballantyne Delivers State of the City Address, Outlines Ambitious Plans for 2025

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne delivered her State of the City Midterm address Monday night, highlighting the city's accomplishments in 2024 and outlining an ambitious agenda for the year ahead.

Somerville's Annual Holiday Celebrations

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council (SAC) warmly invite the Somerville community to join in the City’s 2024 holiday celebrations. 

Financial Assistance for Home Heating Costs

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, the City of Somerville Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, and the Cambridge Fuel Assistance Program invite Somerville and Cambridge community members to learn more about financial assistance available to help with home heating costs this winter.  

Transforming Private Land Into Public Spaces 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the City’s Public Space and Urban Forestry (PSUF) Division, is announcing the release of the Civic Space Design Guide, that provides a framework for developers and municipalities to collaborate to create Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) that serve and welcome all Somerville residents and visitors.

Mayor's Statements

Statement from Mayor Ballantyne on the Ceasefire

Thursday, January 16, 2024

Statement from Mayor Ballantyne on Arrest of MA Resident Accused of Making Antisemitic Threats Online

Wednesday, January 8, 2024

Statement on 2024 Presidential Election Results from Mayor Katjana Ballantyne

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Statement from Mayor Ballantyne on Somerville's Observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day 

Friday, October 7, 2022 

Mayor's Statement on Migrants Flown to Martha's Vineyard 

Thursday, September 22, 2022 

Meet Mayor Ballantyne

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, now serving her second term as Mayor of Somerville, MA, backs up her deep commitment to progress for all with 30 years of leadership experience in government, non-profits, start-ups, and international business. She previously served eight years on the City Council and two terms as Council President. Her tri-sector experience in government, business, and nonprofits qualify her uniquely to understand and align the incentives and strengths of all stakeholders to solve complex problems. Her leadership and life experience as an immigrant, engaged parent, and decades-long community advocate have taught her to value inclusive leadership. 

Learn more about Mayor Ballantyne

Whether serving as the Executive Director and CEO of Girls’ LEAP Boston, Board President of Somerville Community Corporation, Project Director for Workforce Development for the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, or as a volunteer mentor in the Somerville Public Schools or an elected official, Ballantyne centers her efforts of creating opportunities for all to thrive. 

Key priorities among others include housing affordability, job growth and training, diversity, social justice, education and youth development, responsible planning and economic development, environmental sustainability, green and safe transit, and inclusive and open government. She is a leading-edge champion of climate responsibility, including authoring the 2019 Somerville Green New Deal Resolution – the City’s visionary plan to create a sustainable, affordable, carbon-neutral Somerville – and co-authoring the Green New Deal for Massachusetts Now Resolution, adopted by the State Democratic Party Platform on the Environment in 2020. The first in her family to go to college, Ballantyne holds an MBA from Suffolk University and a bachelor’s degree from St. Michael’s College.  

Fun fact: Mayor Ballantyne walks the carbon-neutral talk. Her family of four has been car-free for 14 years, choosing to walk, take public transit, or bicycle. It's not unusual to see her chatting with her constituents on the bus. 

Follow the Mayor Online

Keep up with the latest news and events by following Mayor Ballantyne on social media: 

• Instagram
• Bluesky

You can also follow the City's official social media feeds on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky as well. 

Inaugurations and States of the City

Mid-Term State of the City (1/6/2025)

Mid-term Address - complete text (1/6/2025)

A course firmly set on equity, inclusion, and progress for all

Good evening, everyone, and Happy New Year.

It is an honor to serve this great city every day. And it is an honor to gather with you tonight.

To my family, thank you. Your patience and support mean everything to me. You remind me daily of why I do this work.

Before I get started, I’d like to highlight that tonight is the first time in Somerville’s history that the Mayor, City Council President, and School Committee Chairperson are all women. This is a historic milestone in our city’s leadership and a testament to our commitment to progress and representation.

And to think, it only took 183 years.

I want to speak about the guiding star of all the work we do here in our city government.

Simply put, we are driven to do right by ALL the people of Somerville. Every day, we are charting a course for our city based on equity, inclusion, and progress for all.

These are not just words. They guide the strategic investments of our funds. They are policies and plans that we hammer out together with our community – and then work like hell to deliver.

We are a city hard at work – always, in many ways

I count myself as exceptionally lucky to work on this mission with such a fine group of people. 

Our residents want to create positive change and progress for all.

For that progress and focus, I want to thank the City Council and the School Committee for their support, the community for joining in, our many partners for strengthening us, and especially the staff–all of our staff–who never cease to impress me with their dedication and talent.

I’d like to ask all staff here to stand for a moment of appreciation. Thank you for all of your hard work throughout the year.

Whether it was the Parking Department rolling out Safety Stick cameras that help keep cars from blocking bus stops, crosswalks, accessible parking spaces, or fire hydrants.

Or our Office of Veterans Services honoring our veterans with services and celebrations including gearing up to reinstall our Korean and Vietnam War Memorials this year.

Or 311 continuing to take record numbers of calls while building out their services to improve resident experience.

Or IT working behind the scenes to upgrade our systems and keep us efficient.

And there is so much on the horizon going forward.

Whether that’s Economic Development and Somerville Housing Authority securing a grant to launch free Wi-Fi for public housing tenants this year.

Or our Housing and Planning teams pushing the development and construction of nearly 700 affordable housing units in our pipeline.

My administration is moving Somerville forward.

No matter the Elephant Outside the Room, we will remain a city hard at work and true to its values

That said, before I dive into Somerville’s story, we must acknowledge the elephant outside the room.

The results of the 2024 election left many of us grappling with frustration, fear, and uncertainty.

But while walking down Highland Avenue recently, I spotted a sign of hope.  

It was a small blue lawn sign with an outline of Somerville on it that said “All are welcome here. One Somerville. Diversity is our Strength.” I’ve got the same sign at my home.

The City, schools, and PTA distributed these signs at the start of the first Trump administration to show our community values endure no matter who’s sitting in the White House. It bolstered me to see it at another home.

Yes, the sign is small and faded from years of weathering. But it is still standing, and its message is loud and clear:

Somerville has hope. Somerville welcomes all. And, for me, that means that Somerville seeks progress for all, which is the guiding force of my administration.

Remember who we are.

We are resilient, creative, and determined. We will treat our immigrant residents, and all residents, with decency, compassion, and respect. Those are non-negotiable values inside the city of Somerville.

Our progress comes in the daily work of local government; whether that’s combatting prejudice or filling potholes.

So, tonight as we look back at the mountain of work accomplished in 2024 and ahead to the work and challenges that 2025 holds, let me say this:

As the sands shift beneath us at the national level, Somerville will be your solid ground.

We must all stand against hatred and division, be it racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, transphobia, ableism, misogyny, anti-Arab sentiment, sexism, or similar attempts at othering.

When it comes to our immigrant residents, we’re ramping up “know your rights” trainings and legal support access–including the grim work of helping parents and guardians create plans for the care of their children should they themselves be deported.

I will never forget back in 2016. As deportation threats were ramping up, my younger daughter, a third grader at the time, looked up at me and said, “Mama, are they going to take you away?”

I’m a naturalized citizen, so I could comfort her that I was safe. But not all parents can.

The next thing my daughter said to me was, “Mama, me and my friends are going to protect my immigrant classmates.” I have never forgotten that.

Somerville is not in control of immigration enforcement. But we will – and we must -- adhere to the highest standard – a standard even a 3rd grader knows is right.

That Starts With a Commitment to a Strong Financial Foundation

The challenges we face—whether protecting immigrant families or providing for those most affected by today’s soaring costs of living—are made even steeper by national trends.

To meet these challenges, we must ensure a stable financial footing. We can't control national economic forces, but we can protect our community by managing our local resources wisely.

I am proud to share that for the second consecutive year, my administration has earned Somerville a Triple-A bond rating from Standard and Poors, a first for our city. And high ratings save us money – your money.

Our fiscal discipline allows us to continue the work we have started without pause or redirection despite economic uncertainties.

Make no mistake. Somerville is facing the same uncertain economic outlook facing the state and our nation. And as we navigate this down cycle, next year’s budget will again be tighter.

But our teams are hard at work finding operational efficiencies, and we are positioning Somerville to outperform the market.

We’re Strengthened by Investing in Staff – and Pay Equity

And we are using our financial strength to make deeper investments in the people of this city.

Last year we invested in new staff, road and sewer projects, green energy projects, a new fire station, expanded programs for youth, seniors, small businesses, and more to better serve our community.

We also successfully renegotiated agreements with four of our unions:

• Emergency and Telecommunications/Police Dispatchers,
• Crossing Guards,
• Firefighters, and
• Fire Alarm Dispatchers.

One of my proudest achievements as Mayor last year was our renegotiation of the E911 contract.

The people who pick up the phone when you call 911 and make sure help gets to you are mostly women.

• We also have Fire Alarm staff, who are mostly men.
• These two crews do essentially the same vital work. But the women at E911 have been paid less for decades.
• I am proud to say the new contract delivers higher salaries, respectful job titles, new differentials, expanded benefits, and stipends that align E911 with those offered to Fire Alarm workers.

As I’ve said many times: On my watch, Somerville will not stand for unequal pay for equal work.

We reached a tentative agreement for S-M-E-U- Unit B, our largest bargaining unit, in December. This morning S-M-E-U leadership joined me in my office as I signed the Memorandum of Agreement. Next it goes to their membership.

I’m proud of this contract. It takes on more than inflation. We sent an arrow right at the heart of long-standing bias—that's gender bias, class bias, and educational bias. Bias that is pervasive in our society.

Across 25 departments and over 90 different job titles, we did the work to be sure comparable work is comparably paid.

If it is ratified as it stands, it will be a step towards equity that is decades overdue.

As we go to work for you every day under these agreements, my goal is to be sure we are a city where every worker’s contribution is compensated fairly so we can attract and retain the best talent and staff.

Leading Through Inclusion

Our dedicated staff is part of the equation, but community also drives what we do.

At the heart of my administration lies a commitment to inclusive leadership. Progress is most impactful when it is created with and for everyone.

This has meant leading with intention—surveying hundreds of residents, holding extensive public forums, and engaging directly with community members.

Inclusive planning takes time, but it is essential to achieving sustainable, equitable outcomes.

From the moment I took office, I made it my mission to ensure that decision-making reflects the voices of our community:

• From our transformative plans for the Brickbottom and Assembly Square neighborhoods.
• To our Cultural Capacity and Armory Master Plans to keep the arts in Somerville.
• Or our Anti-Displacement and Public Safety for All Plans that will nurture and protect our residents for generations.

None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of the community members who have shared their time and skills. Our residents are a tremendous brain trust of talent and knowledge.

By embracing inclusive leadership and working hand-in-hand with our community, we are not just imagining a better future—we are building it together, turning aspirations into actionable progress.

We Stay Strong by Preserving Inclusion through Housing and Fighting Displacement

And I am proud to share we are making actionable progress on one of our region’s greatest challenges– a severe lack of affordable housing.

In Somerville, we are evolving housing stability supports from a small group of band-aid solutions to a robust ecosystem of initiatives.

We have distributed over $9.5 million in flexible rental assistance, helping more than 400 households stay housed.

Our new Municipal Voucher Program is also breaking new ground. It provides deep rental subsidies and has moved 29 families from uncertainty to safe, permanent housing.

This year we also launched a Guaranteed Basic Income pilot. The program provides $750 monthly to 200 qualifying families, including SPS families, allowing them to cover essential needs without restrictions.

But we are not just making it possible for those in need to pay for housing, we are making sure our city also helps build and fund the creation of affordable housing.

Our groundbreaking Early Action Acquisition Fund has already purchased 15 units that would have been gobbled up by the open market. We also used this money to fund the development of 60 income-restricted housing units.

And we have 684 units in our affordable housing pipeline. That’s 684 real projects in some stage of permitting or development.

• Thanks to Somerville’s leadership, starting in May, eviction records will be sealed for no-fault evictions for the first time in the Commonwealth’s history.
• I want to thank our State delegation for their partnership and support in the belief that everyone deserves housing.

Our three Anti-Displacement Task Forces are another key piece of this puzzle. I asked each group to focus on the needs of a specific population: either residents, artists, or small businesses.

• We will share the recommendations in February, and their findings will help guide the City’s work to keep us whole.

While we work to increase affordable, permanent housing, we are equally committed to supporting our unhoused neighbors with compassion and safety.

Being unhoused is not a crime. Our response to this crisis must be guided by an approach that not only acknowledges its complexity but also prioritizes the health, safety, and dignity of all community members.

This means addressing the root causes of homelessness with compassion while ensuring that public spaces remain safe and accessible for everyone

When the unhoused population in Davis Square grew this summer, we initiated a holistic response informed by our experience addressing an encampment under I-93 in East Somerville last year. 

In both cases, we led a multi-department effort in collaboration with the , tailoring solutions to meet the unique needs of each community and protecting everyone's safety.

I want to pause to say a special thanks to everyone at the Somerville Homeless Coalition. Every day they go above and beyond to serve our city’s unhoused population, and we are honored to work with them.

And we are using these approaches to address community needs around unhoused

• As we speak, our seasonal warming center is providing people with shelter from the cold. Since I opened Somerville’s first warming center in February 2023, we have expanded it every season, going from being open for a few nights to almost five months this year.
• A big thank you to our Council, City staff, and our nonprofit partners for making this happen, and thank you to the School Committee for graciously lending us the Cummings school building.

Public safety and human dignity are not oppositional forces. We can uphold both.

We Hold to Our Values by Seeking Public Safety Truly for All

That extends to every area of law enforcement. Comprehensive public safety is about more than enforcement, it’s about partnership.

This year, I appointed Shumeane Benford as Somerville’s new Chief of Police.

Our shared philosophy is that effective public safety isn’t focused on reacting after the fact—it’s focused on building trust, fostering collaboration, and preventing issues before they arise.

I am proud to share that this month, we will release the recommendations from our Public Safety for All, Civilian Oversight, and Anti-Violence working groups.

These reflect years of thoughtful, collaborative work by task force members - a mix of dedicated residents, city employees, elected officials, and experts in public safety.

To drive the work forward, we are hosting a community event in February, and we’ll be a Public Safety for All Project Manager to advance the path laid out in these plans.

And our Infrastructure and Asset Management and Economic Development teams, along with our Fire Department, are building Somerville’s first new fire station in over 100 years. 

The new station will open in spring 2025 and will serve Assembly Square for decades to come.

We Hold to Our Values by Fostering Inclusion Through Diversity

In this moment, however, public safety is more than being safe from broad threats like fire or crime—safety comes with inclusion, rights, and respect.

As an immigrant myself, I understand firsthand the challenges of navigating a new country. That’s why the City has continued to invest in breaking down language and cultural barriers.

• The most recent US census data shows that almost 25% of our residents are immigrants. So, I have empowered our SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs to lead citywide efforts to welcome and support immigrants and non-native English speakers.
• We are making big strides. Participation in community meetings and public processes has doubled in some areas, thanks to the expansion of
• And in 2025, we are launching a citywide public interpretation line so residents can get support in their native language from their very first call.

We Strengthen our Community With Accessibility for All

Inclusion means more than welcoming—it means making sure every resident can fully participate in community life.

This year, we took many strides toward making Somerville a more accessible city for residents with disabilities.

We bought the City’s first ever Braille embosser, began ADA upgrade plans for our website, and installed dozens of accessible pedestrian crosswalk buttons.

I want to thank the Commission for Persons with Disabilities and our Racial and Social Justice Department for raising the first Disability Pride Flag ever in our city.

Somerville is committed to being a place where every resident can thrive—no matter their abilities.

We Maintain Progress for all by Supporting our Seniors

In 2025, we’ll be taking on senior homelessness with our Older Adults Bridge Program, thanks to a State earmark from Senator Pat Jehlen.

This pilot program allows our Office of Housing Stability to intervene with financial and social services to keep low-income seniors from experiencing homelessness while they are waitlisted for subsidized housing.

We Maintain Progress and Opportunity by Empowering Youth

From our oldest residents to our youngest, Somerville supports every generation.

Our commitment to youth development starts with our schools, where we’ve defied regional trends of cuts and layoffs. Instead, over the three years of my administration, we increased the school budget by 27 percent.

In our Fiscal Year 2025 budget, we added over 35 net full-time equivalent positions to Somerville Public Schools.

But investing in youth doesn’t stop at the classroom. My administration has invested heavily in expanded after-school programs and new youth opportunities.  

Among other work in the coming year, we are:

• Piloting a school year expansion of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program.
• And launching “Let’s Get Workin’: a partnership between DPW and SHS’s Center for Career and Technical Education to offer paid, hands-on job training in professions like , plumbing, and carpentry.

And we need to connect our youth to the innovation and opportunity right here.

We are exploring partnerships with area businesses like classroom visits, site tours, demos, internships, and work-study programs where youth can tangibly see the possibilities.

Recently, on a visit to Ultragenics, a new biotech lab in Brickbottom, I ran into a Somerville High School graduate now working as a researcher there. Her parents immigrated here, and she has been able to continue to live with her family in Somerville because an exciting local employer hired her.

This is the kind of opportunity we need to be sure our kids can see – and can reach.

We Continue to Set the Table for the Future With Workforce Training

We must also advance workforce development for all ages if we truly seek progress for all.

Through our schools’ adult learning center, SCALE, and our City Division of SomerPromise, we’re opening access to job training that

Earning a stable income and accessing career opportunities are two sides of the same housing coin.

While housing programs address one side of the coin, the other focuses on job training and workforce development, equipping residents with the tools, skills, and support to secure sustaining jobs.

It takes both sides of the coin to help people not only find homes, but to stay in them.

We Drive Forward Progress for All by Dismantling Inequities and Shaping Somerville’s Future

In the face of a regional housing crisis, Somerville is leading the way, using zoning to combat displacement, preserve affordability, and create spaces for opportunity and connection.

When our strategic plan, SomerVision 2030, set a goal to create over 1,200

But we are not stopping there. Our transformative plans for the Brickbottom and Assembly Square neighborhoods could add another 1,200 affordable housing units.

We are also using planning and zoning to encourage the growth and development of both green tech lab space and our artist community.

Through the growth of green tech incubators like Greentown Labs we’re helping foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and local job creation in sustainable technologies.

We are equally committed to preserving arts and culture. During the pandemic, the City took ownership of the Armory to protect it as a creative hub.

With over $500,000 in grant support for the nonprofit Arts at the Armory, the building’s largest tenant, and a new Master Plan shaped by community input, the Armory building will continue to serve as a dynamic venue for diverse artistic expression and community engagement.

Through these efforts, Somerville is building a future rooted in creativity, sustainability, and innovation—staying true to what makes us unique.

We’re Facing Our Greatest Challenges by Tackling Climate Change

Preparing for the future also means planning for climate change.

Our goal is to do our part and more - going beyond our borders to fight global warming.

That’s why upon taking office, I raised our climate goals from targeting just Net Zero—balancing the amount of greenhouse gases we emit with the amount we remove—to aiming to be Carbon Net Negative by 2050, meaning our goal is to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than we produce.

This ambitious goal reflects the urgency of the climate crisis.

My administration has doubled the Office of Sustainability's budget and the number of full-time staff to tackle this crisis.

And in 2024, I unveiled a wave of ambitious climate policies and programs as part of our updated Climate Forward plan.

This year, we will release a report exploring what it will take to switch our multifamily buildings off natural gas and onto cleaner electric energy.

One of the potential solutions is a technology called networked geothermal.

Networked geothermal uses the steady temperatures below ground to heat and cool buildings above ground, offering an exciting opportunity to transition to cleaner, safer, and cost-saving energy at a neighborhood scale.

In 2025, I am excited to continue work with the community to bring clean energy to Somerville and seek funding for the project design.

Speaking of cool environmental solutions, DPW is now shopping in the produce aisle to keep our roads ice-free this winter. Their new pre-treatment brining system is made of beet juice. Turns out, beets really are a superfood.

The result? Less salt on roads, fewer impacts on cars, plants, and trees, and lower winter maintenance costs. We’re not just fighting snow—we are fighting for our environment, one winter storm at a time.

This is the Somerville I love: going way outside the box to find creative solutions.

We’ll Keep Building Equity Through Innovative Green Space

Empowering our residents means designing and building open spaces everyone can enjoy at absolutely no cost.

In 2024, we opened or expanded four public green spaces and broke ground on the Dilboy Athletic Auxiliary Fields and new pocket park at 217 Somerville Ave.

Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated Boynton Yards Park, a public space created through private development. This park is a perfect example of privately owned public spaces, or POPs.

I want to thank our Public Space and Urban Forestry team for their leading-edge work on POPs in Somerville – and in the landscape field.

As a Councilor, one of my proudest achievements was introducing Somerville’s Native Species Ordinance. In 2024, as Mayor, I was honored to build on that work and launch the City’s first-ever Pollinator Action Plan to protect our native pollinators.

This is a first of its kind plan for a dense, urban city like ours, and our hope is it can serve as a resource for similar cities across the country.

By blending private development, environmental innovation, and community-driven planning, Somerville is building a sustainable future for all.

And that brings me to infrastructure. We are not just imagining an equitable future—we are literally building it.

If it seems like half the city is dug up or under construction, that’s because, well, a lot of it is.

Recently completed projects include Eastern Pearl Street, Powder House Boulevard, Holland Street, and more—all are designed to improve traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and sustainability.

And this year, we completed Phase 1 of Highland Avenue’s repaving.

Now, we are getting ready for Highland’s full redesign, bringing this vital corridor into the 21^st century.

Then there’s the massive overhaul of sewer systems.

We are spending $243 million on the Somerville Ave. sewer overhaul, the Spring Hill Sewer Separation Project, and the massive Poplar Street Pump Station.

And can we celebrate for a moment? Last month, we were one of only four school projects to advance to the feasibility phase in the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s state funding program.

We are now one step closer to significant funding for the Winter Hill School project, which could possibly include the Brown School, if that turns out to be the best option.

The important thing I want you to take away is that we are literally laying the foundation for Somerville to be a thriving, clean and forward-looking city for its residents long into the future.

Together, We Rise

At the start of tonight, I spoke about threats from a change in Washington D.C. and about the growing narrative that diversity, equity, and inclusion are outdated – and that government has no role in making our lives better.

Our work proves otherwise. When equity for people guides local action, progress for all follows.

Consider that our residents just voted to increase our Community Preservation Act surcharge, unlocking funding for affordable housing, open space, historic preservation, and recreation space.

When I think about the future, I see a city that continues to live up to that determined little blue yard sign on Highland Ave: All are welcome here. One Somerville. Diversity is our Strength.

So tonight, I thank you—not just for being here, but for helping us act on the values that make Somerville truly special.

Together, we’ll face whatever comes our way.

Inaugural Address (1/2/2024)

Inaugural 2024 - complete text 

Good evening, everyone! Welcome, and Happy New Year!   

Welcome Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, State Senator Pat Jehlen, State Representatives Mike Connolly and Erika Uyterhoeven, and Middlesex County District Attorney Maryann Ryan. Welcome former State Representative Denise Provost, and our Emeritus Somerville Mayors Gene Brune, Dorothy Kelly Gay, and Joe Curtatone. And if I’ve missed any of our esteemed electeds, welcome as well to you too. 

Welcome as well to Superintendent Rubén Carmona, Chief Charles Breen, and all our Honored Guests, Friends, Family, City and School staff, and especially to, you, [wave arm] all of you, our community members here tonight. 

I’d like to start with some sincere thanks. 

First thank you to Marcus Santos, Reverend Raymond, Clerk Wells, the Honor Guard, all of tonight’s performers and interpreters, and everyone who helped behind the scenes with tonight’s ceremony. 

Thank you to my family, especially my husband, not just for all the dinners you've cooked, the buttons you've sewn, and the family support you've given me, but especially for making our intergenerational household work over the last 4 years while caring for my 92-year-old father with dementia, who passed recently. To my daughters, you are the best. You keep me grounded, and for that I thank you. Also, thank you to my brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews for your love and support. I love you all. 

Thank you to our dedicated, tireless, talented city workers who move this city forward every day. 

I want to take a moment and ask our city and school staff to stand. Please join me in thanking our staff for their service to our community.  

Thank you. 

And finally, thank you to all of you, our community members, here tonight, as well as those who couldn’t join us, for your support of this amazing thing we call local government.  

 Here we are.  

The 2024 Somerville Inauguration. 

Let’s pause and take stock of the meaning of this moment. 

Every person being sworn in tonight stepped up to serve our community. A number of months back, we each looked our loved ones in the eye and let them know we just might be a little busy the next two years.  

So, we all pulled our papers, ran our campaigns, and then the wheels of democracy began turning. We made our case, we knocked on doors, and residents made use of that hard-won right to vote in a fair election.  

Our community exercised a right that so many in the world do not have.  

And now we’re here.  

We’re launching another two years of local government facing both exciting opportunities and complex challenges.  

But one thing is certain: the 19 officials who took the oath of office tonight, including myself, now have the honor and responsibility to make sure Somerville continues to prosper, thrive, and hold to its core values.  

I have every confidence that we will each honor the faith you have put in us. 

So, it is with deep respect for my colleagues, for local government – and for democracy itself – that I congratulate all of our electeds.   

And I'm going to ask you to hold your applause to the end.

First, congratulations to all returning and newly elected Honorable Members of the City Council and School Committee! 

Congratulations as well to City Council President Ben Ewen-Campen, and Vice President Judy Pineda Neufeld, and School Committee Chair Ilana Krepchin and Vice Chair Sarah Phillps for being chosen by their peers to take on leadership roles.  

Congratulations to newly elected officials: Councilor at Large Will Mbah, Ward 5 Councilor Naima Sait, and Ward 7 School Committee member Leiran Biton.  

Thank you for your service and dedication to our community.  

I look forward to working alongside all of you in the coming term. 

Everyone, please join me in congratulating our new and returning officials.  

I am honored and humbled to serve you for another two years.  

I am keenly aware that I am only the second woman to be elected Mayor, since Somerville began electing Mayors more than 150 years ago. In fact, there are more Mayors named John than there are women Mayors in our history.  

I suspect I’ll be the only Katjana.  

But I am not defined only by gender. I stand before you as a first-generation immigrant, the first in my family to go to college, and one of the many who had to lean on friends for a place to stay when I first moved to the area and couldn’t afford rent. 

Even though I became a U.S. citizen when I was a teenager, I've been told numerous times as an adult that I'm not a real American, because I wasn’t born here.  

I know what it feels like to be treated like an outsider.  

I also know what it feels like to be embraced by a community that values diversity. 

Somerville welcomed me and strengthened me as I raised my family here. 

Somerville anchored me as I built a career dedicated to creating opportunities that can change people’s lives.  

Somerville shaped me as an advocate first and then as a public servant with the honor of working for change and progress for eight years on the City Council. 

Now, I have the honor of being Mayor of Somerville once again. I pledge to honor the trust that you have put in me every day I am in this office. I pledge to work with you, not just for you. 

My vision for Somerville is an inclusive, equitable city where we can all thrive together, and I know that’s the vision that this community shares. 

My promise to you is a city government that values community voices, seeks out best practices, and follows the data and science.  

I promise an administration that always holds itself to the highest standards for fiscal responsibility.  

Under my watch, we will remain fully committed to delivering quality core services like schools, public safety, and recycling. While also taking on some of our greatest challenges like housing, climate change, and racism.  

Our pursuit of progress for all will remain centered on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. These are not just buzzwords to me, or to Somerville. They are core, guiding principles that we forge into real-world impacts every day. 

This is Somerville. The culture wars raging across the nation will not shake us. Somerville will hold true to these values.  

Did you know we’re busy not just fixing streetlights but also adding great LGBTQ+ themed books to our libraries rather than removing them?  

While so many communities and institutions have drifted away from work to dismantle systemic racism, we’ve leaned in. 

While inhumane policies prevail at our borders and hate is stoked nationally, Somerville doubled its support for new arrivals who just want to work, contribute, and have better lives for their families. 

While nations discuss increasing carbon reduction goals to slow climate change, we’ve already raised ours.  

While gender defines income, opportunity, and how hard you have to work to be seen or heard in our society, we are working to break down these barriers. 

While harassment of transgender persons is being legislated into law elsewhere, we hired our first full-time LGBTQ+ Services Coordinator, and they are expanding our supportive work in multiple ways. 

While seniors face ever tightening resources, we’re expanding programming, supports, and opportunities for representation and engagement. 

In Somerville, we fight the good fights. And we do this all while taking on our aging sewer system, school buildings, snow removal, and more. 

This is Somerville, and I am so proud of this city.  

We are a city powered by vision, compassion, true grit, and most certainly a little bit of marshmallow fluff. That’s the inventive part - that makes us so creative.  

Those strengths give us opportunity. They also give us responsibility.  

Our challenge and our opportunity is to join together to create progress, not just for some, but for all.  

 I want to share with you a story about seeking progress for all. 

In 2023, we held our very first participatory budgeting process. 

Residents were asked to decide on spending $1 million in City funds. Over 900 ideas were submitted, and then they had to be narrowed down to 20 for the final ballot. 

We asked for volunteers, who came together to evaluate the proposals. I stopped by to see them at work, and what I observed was remarkable. 

Most of these volunteers were strangers when the meetings started. They came from all different wards, with their own ideas and beliefs about what type of ideas would benefit their neighborhoods most.  

Yet, as I walked around the room and chatted with different groups, all of them were having thoughtful, constructive conversations that always built toward creating the best ballot proposals for their neighbors to vote on. 

And they did just that, giving Somerville a final ballot with 20 carefully developed proposals that reflected our city’s ideals, concerns, and creative spirit. 

3,500 votes were cast to fund the five winning ideas. Many who voted were youth who don’t get to vote otherwise.  

Thanks to this collaborative process, we’ll now have new resources for food access and our bicycle network, as well as bus stop area improvements, more public trash cans, and new park shade structures.  

This group of seniors, adults, and a truly inspiring number of youths demonstrated an openness to engage, to learn, and to rethink. A model we can all strive for. 

This is the give-and-take of how we learn from one another to create progress. 

 It’s important to look back on the progress we are building on as we chart our path forward. 

Two years ago, we began to systematically strive to advance our work in three ways. 

One, we began to accelerate the urgent work of the city where possible. 

Two, we began deepening our approach where needed.  

And three, we began broadening our impact to deliver increased and more equitable service.  

 I want to talk first about accelerating our work. 

To protect lives, we added staff and funding to traffic safety, enabling us to install nearly sixty traffic safety treatments each year. The annual average for the five years prior was 15. This is life-saving infrastructure like bike lanes, improved crossings, and speed humps.  

To take on the housing crisis, we brought the number of affordable housing units actively in the construction pipeline up to an unprecedented 822 units. I remember when the City was justifiably proud to be striving for 100 affordable homes. 

To reduce the threat of displacement, we expanded housing staff, directed millions in investments, and pushed out an unprecedented $4.3 million in rental assistance. We tripled legal assistance for tenants facing eviction and tripled tenant outreach, education, and organizing efforts. 

We also kick-started a first-of-its-kind municipal voucher program to make rent deeply affordable for families without other options.  

We revived the Anti-Displacement Task Force, and we worked with residents to develop our ground-breaking rent stabilization Home Rule Petition, which the City Council passed unanimously just last month.  

To cool our neighborhoods and improve our air, we planted more than 1,300 trees, nearly doubling the number planted the previous two years. And we launched expert care programs for roughly 3,000 trees. 

To increase our work to prevent overdoses, Somerville Prevention distributed more than 4,000 doses of Narcan to community members and, with Cambridge, jointly held 173 overdose prevention trainings.  

To increase access to quality green space, we completed renovations of two parks and three schoolyards, completed the High School’s first ever athletic field, and have two more park projects underway, and three more set to launch in the coming year. 

Because no one in Somerville should ever go hungry, we accelerated food security initiatives. This includes providing nearly 600 monthly food boxes to 8 public housing sites and multi-use grocery cards to more than 1,000 students.  

To keep our public spaces clean and support our expanding rodent control efforts, DPW added and is maintaining 100 new solar-powered big belly trash cans. 

To increase youth enrichment, we opened the City’s first two teen centers and created a new Youth Services Division that hit the ground running, employing nearly 200 teens at 31 sites during our Summer Jobs Program.  

To assist residents without transportation, our new Taxi to Health program provided more than 9,000 rides to access food resources and health services. 

To better serve all of you, we increased 311 staffing and took more than 100,000 calls per year. 

To keep our city running, we’re advancing multiple major infrastructure and planning projects at once. This work was upended by the pandemic as staff focused on the emergency response. So now we are pedaling twice as hard to get things back on track.  

That means we’re overhauling our sewers while we’re also working to build a critical Pump Station that will manage stormwater for two-thirds of our city.  

We’re re-engineering dangerous intersections while we’re also restarting road and sidewalk reconstruction projects to improve mobility and accessibility -- including right out front on Highland Avenue. 

We’re upgrading old HVAC systems in our schools and enhancing maintenance protocols.  

We’re restarting neighborhood planning processes to improve accessibility, green space, and stormwater management, while we also construct a new Fire Station in Assembly Square, Somerville’s first new fire station in nearly half a century.  

This, all while we start planning for new construction for our schools. 

 Meanwhile we are deepening our work where needed. Often that means going back to the source, to you, to inform and guide our aspirations as a community.  

It also means studying the needs and the data to best guide our efforts. 

Anyone who has done wood-working or sewing knows the value of the advice to, “measure twice, cut once.”  

When we take the time to learn your priorities and study the facts before acting, we aim to use that same care.  

For one, to begin the important work of modernizing our fire stations, we inspected all our firehouses. Now, we’re developing the City’s first Fire Station Master Plan to guide needed upgrades and repairs. 

To ensure we provide the quality school buildings needed to prepare our youth for a successful future, we completed the City’s first K through 8 School Master Plan. With this work, we can better plan for today’s students and for tomorrow’s learning needs. 

To strive for a city where everyone can feel safe, our Department of Racial and Social Justice conducted an intensive, comprehensive, standard-setting Public Safety for All survey and discussion process. With this work, we can better move forward with more voices at the table to create safety for all.  

To make sure our efforts reflect your priorities, we’ve launched multiple engagement processes.  

Cultural Capacity Planning for the Arts, the Youth Justice League, Union Square Plaza planning process, Civilian Oversight, Public Safety for All Task Force, Mobility planning, the Prevention Needs Assessment Plan process, a Disparity Study to build equity in our City contracting process, and more. 

You’ve been sharing your ideas and concerns and we’ve been listening.  

And finally, to support fair wages for our workers and attract and retain talent, we launched a Wage Compensation Study prioritizing our unions first. With this, we can better build equity and fair wages not just in comparison to salaries in our neighboring cities.  

For the first time, we are also examining gender inequities across industries and within our own city structures.  

And I want to pause on this point and be clear:  I am determined that on my watch we will not perpetuate unequal pay for equal work. National data shows time and again that women are underpaid for doing the same work – and that is particularly true for women of color. Somerville can and will do better.  

 We have also been broadening and expanding our services.  

To advance our commitment to accessibility, we added staff to monitor ADA compliance for our buildings, sidewalks, crosswalks, and public spaces, and we are launching our next update process for our Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan. 

To support lifelong learning and aging in place, we increased the Council on Aging's capacity, programming, and supports for both seniors and caregivers. 

To keep our residents out of the legal system and prevent the long-lasting impacts of incarceration, we invested in new civilian Jail Diversion Clinicians within our Police Department. ​ 

To ensure language is not a barrier to accessing City services and civic life, we expanded our Language Justice and access staffing. 

And we are taking City Hall right into our neighborhoods with our new team of Community Health Workers, our expanded multi-lingual Equity Support Team, and a new social worker being hired for our libraries. 

To aid our lowest-income residents, we’re preparing to launch a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot to cover their most urgent needs – the first of its kind in Somerville. 

Our work toward opening an Overdose Prevention Center has required navigating a range of hurdles.  But I am proud to say it is advancing. We will provide this life-saving health service in our city. 

We established the City’s first-ever Stabilization Fund for persons put out of their homes by emergencies like fires or floods. With this, we will expand our ability to help make sure no one in Somerville finds themselves without a place to sleep in the wake of a crisis. 

We developed the city’s first ever Pollinator Action Plan expanding our environmental stewardship to the smallest of creatures, like butterflies and honeybees, which are vital to our ecosystem.   

Last winter, the City piloted an overnight warming center for unhoused persons for five nights, and we funded the Somerville Homeless Coalition’s new day-time Engagement Center to expand services. 

The Engagement Center is thriving, and this year, I am happy to announce that next week, we will be opening Somerville’s first City-sponsored seasonal overnight warming center.  

Our new warming center will be open not just for a handful of nights but for the remaining months of winter. Somerville is a community that understands we need to keep our unsheltered residents warm and connected to resources. 

 There is so much more, but the other way we are broadening our impact is by building opportunity.  

I call this pursuing both sides of the coin. On one side of the coin, we need affordability. On the other side we need economic opportunity. We need good jobs, job training, pay equity, and wage theft protection. And we need a faster path for immigrants to join the workforce. 

I want our residents to have the whole coin. 

To increase access to opportunity, education, and employment, we’ve pushed to advance public transit and mobility options.  

Two years ago, we didn’t have the Green Line Extension. Or the Community Path. Let’s pause for a moment and applaud everyone in Somerville who spent decades advocating for these monumental transit gains for our community. 

Public transit is an opportunity creator, and we’ve been working to advance transit access on all fronts.  

From equity work on new bus routes and free T pass programs for students, staff, and low-income families; to safer streets for walking, rolling, and biking, we are working to create affordable, sustainable ways for our residents to get around and to get to their futures. 

To prepare our students for success, we’ve made historic budget increases in our schools, expanded out of school time programming, and opened our first teen centers. We also launched a new program to coach Somerville students as they make the transition out of high school and into their next step be that college, training, or a career. 

To improve service access as they rebuild their civilian lives -- and to expand recognition for their service -- we upped staffing in our Veterans Office, which brought back the Memorial Day Parade; relaunched the Veterans Commission on Monuments; and strengthened programming. 

To support our entrepreneurs and small businesses, we not only committed more than $5 million in pandemic relief, we’re launching new efforts to market our businesses and skill-building supports.  

We are also working to preserve and propel our vibrant arts community. We expanded staffing and launched listening tours. We are expecting up to 550,000 square feet of new arts space to come online over the next decade, thanks to development carve outs. We will work with our arts community to best seize this opportunity. 

And I am proud to share that to build access to the wealth of online resources that shape opportunity today, we hired our first ever Digital Bridge Coordinator to build internet and device access as well as digital literacy. The fast pace of that work has already garnered Somerville recognition as a Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. 

 This work is local. It’s driven by local priorities. Carried out by local government. Conducted with our amazing local partners. 

But it happens in a broader context. 

We’ve been able to accelerate, deepen, and broaden the good work of this community, and this City, by intensifying the background work that doesn’t make headlines but impacts your everyday life. 

That includes improvements like scaling the organization to ensure we have the staffing and resources to meet evolving needs. It also includes investing in training, budgeting strategically, and ensuring fair wages for our workers. 

And it requires strong fiscal management so we can get more for your dollars.  

This is the work that helped secure our break-through triple A bond rating in 2023, the first time in the City’s history we’ve received this rating. 

A triple A rating means critical investments such as major school, road, or building projects will be more affordable for the City going forward. ​This is significant for helping us reach our goals. 

 As we work toward local progress, regional, national, and global opportunities and challenges can shape our outcomes. 

Again, this is a time of both opportunity and challenges.  

More than $77 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding has fueled our ability to support our residents, local businesses, nonprofits, and community priorities as we recover from the pandemic.  

Thanks to the vision of this community to pursue both housing and commercial development, we have record levels of new growth tax revenues and community benefits from developers that are also funding the progress and services we seek.  

The transformation of Assembly, outer Union Square, and Boynton Yards is helping to pay for our High School, our desperately needed water and sewer upgrades, and our expansion of funding for our schools.  

When those lab buildings go up, so does funding for youth mental health services, road paving, field maintenance, and more. 

Thanks to the advocacy of our federal and state delegations, the funding they bring in likewise funds our progress and critical projects. 

These are the opportunities we’ve either seized or created. And this is the momentum we will seek to build upon in the next term. But we must be clear-eyed that we are in a time of transition and uncertainty. 

As we seek to advance our SomerVision goals and neighborhood plans, the real estate market is tightening, the economy is fluctuating, and interest rates are higher. This can slow investment and reduce the City’s purchasing power.  

As we accelerate our climate action efforts to help slow down climate change and prepare for the impacts of extreme weather, the pace of climate impacts is picking up. 

As we work to hold true to our humanity and social values, hate and division is being actively sown in our society. 

As we do more than ever before for our unhoused residents, we do so in a context where that population is growing, and State emergency shelters are overflowing. 

As we work to deliver good local government empowered by fair elections reflecting the will of the people, democracy itself is threatened in our great nation.  

These are challenges we must unite to navigate in the coming term. 

I’m optimistic that we can and will continue to build progress for all even as we face new headwinds. I’ve seen us do this time and again. 

We’ve built the groundwork for continued progress. Our outstanding transit access, our diverse and talented workforce, and our creative planning put us in a good place to exceed expectations on continued growth. 

Our strong fiscal management and strategic reserves can help us weather unexpected roadblocks to progress.  

Our unshakable core values will keep us resolute in our goals for progress and dignity for all. 

And, I have one last story of Somerville’s compassion, grit, creativity, and determination. 

 Once there was a vacant Star Market. 

Maybe you know the rest of the story.  

In 2008, the Star Market closed, and the owner refused to sell - for years. So, residents and Councilors joined the City in creating a community-driven plan for the parcel. We established an Urban Renewal Plan that likely inspired the owner to consider selling. We attracted a developer who supports our affordable housing goals. We planned a ground-breaking project with more than double the required number of affordable housing units, as well as green space, and more. And then we hit the wall of insurmountable costs. We found unexpected contamination on the site. 

So, this City and this Council broke the impasse. To drive down costs, we used zoning, Affordable Housing Trust Fund monies, and – with the unanimous support of the Council – we passed a first-ever for Somerville special tax credit to provide $15 to $18M in tax relief.  

Then we celebrated. It all seemed set. But what you may not know is that later, we hit another wall. 

Interest rates went up, construction costs rose, and my office got a difficult call from the developer. They shared they had tried everything, but we needed to discuss how to break the news that week that they could no longer afford to purchase the property and proceed. 

But again, this is Somerville.  

I called a meeting with the developers, and we flipped that challenge around. We started talking solutions. We were not about to let a project with more than 130 deeply affordable units go quietly into the night. 

We went to the state. Talked options. And then we successfully applied for a MassWorks Grant that cut the project gap in half. So, after 15 years of standing vacant, the sale of the Star Market finally went through in October.  

By the way similar efforts have kept the Clarendon Hill public housing project and other initiatives on track. 

To be clear, we’re not done. We’re hoping as contractors get more eager in a slowing market it will close the final project funding gap. But the path to transforming the site is once again clear.  We will build this important project for our community. 

Somerville doesn’t give in, and neither do I, and neither do the public servants sworn in tonight nor the staff who serve you every day. 

And the stakes of what we do in local government have never been higher. 

We are building a Somerville that focuses on your everyday needs while also thinking about the uncertainties of tomorrow. 

And we remain steadfast. 

We will continue to take on the housing crisis using every tool possible. 

We will continue to create safe streets to save lives.  

We will continue to welcome and lift up those in need. 

We will serve our most vulnerable including the unhoused. 

We will celebrate and strengthen our arts and cultural economy. 

We will help our local businesses thrive, and break down barriers for women- and minority-owned businesses. 

We will seize opportunities to improve our neighborhoods and squares. 

We will deliver the best quality core services, and we will advance accessibility and language access. 

We will serve and honor our veterans. 

We will support and fairly pay our workers, and we will achieve pay equity regardless of gender, race, age, or any other factor. 

We will stand up for the rights and dignity of all persons. 

We will advance public safety for all and continue the hard work of dismantling systemic racism. 

We will prepare our students and workers for careers that help them thrive. 

We will use every tool to prevent overdose deaths and substance use disorder. 

We will lead the way on climate action, fossil fuel free construction, and be good stewards of our environment. 

We will fight for rent stabilization, a statewide approval of the local transfer fee, and every single initiative we need to support affordable housing.  

We will provide the education and school buildings our students deserve. 

We will seize this moment; we will do great things. 

We will move forward together. 

We will move forward with purpose. 

We will build progress for all. 

Thank you, Somerville. It is an honor to be part of our determined and wonderful community and to serve you. 

Thank you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mid-Term State of the City Address (1/3/2023)

State of the City - complete text 

Good evening, everyone, and Happy New Year.

President Ewen-Campen, Vice President Pineda Neufeld, Chair Green, and Vice Chair Krepchin, honorable members of the City Council, honorable members of the School Committee, and our State Delegation, Chief Femino, Chief Breen, Superintendent Curley, honored guests, and friends: Thank you for being here tonight.

It’s so great to be able to gather with everyone here tonight while also including all those who are joining remotely.

To my family: Thank you for your enduring patience and support. I love you. And I’m a better Mayor because of you.

To the Veterans and Gold Star Families with us tonight or watching at home: Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for protecting our freedoms and liberties.

To the employees of the City of Somerville: It can be nerve-wracking to work through a Mayoral transition. Thank you for welcoming me, for your partnership, and for your hard work from Day One. I am so impressed by your dedication, and I am proud to serve alongside you.

To the people of Somerville: Thank you for trusting me with the opportunity of a lifetime. I have to say – I really like the job. It’s been an honor to serve you, to be challenged by you, and to make this place we all care about even better. 

Putting Progress for All into Action to Build Our Collective Future

Exactly one year ago, I stood right here and shared my vision for how we’d work together to translate our progressive values into progress for all.

Tonight, I’ll outline how we put that mission into practice this past year -- how we got straight to work, day in and day out, on building our collective future. A future where all – not just some – can thrive.

Whether that’s building systems, building relationships, or building capacity to address both our immediate needs and the global challenges that affect us here at home, we have been steadily taking action to move our city forward.

Meeting the Needs of the Pandemic

In my first weeks as Mayor, we faced some steep challenges. After two years of compounding COVID-19 impacts, I took office during a peak of the Omicron surge. It can be easy to forget what that was like. 

Hospitalizations were spiking again. Residents were scrambling to find testing. Small businesses were struggling. Our most vulnerable, as throughout the pandemic, still faced the greatest barriers to access food, housing, employment, or good health.

Some people might call that trial by fire. But I saw it as a call to get straight to work.

Equity-Driven Response

We rapidly stood up new testing sites, launched weekly vaccination clinics, acquired 260,000 high-quality masks, and distributed more than 50,000 test kits. 

We quickly added housing and outreach staff to help people access essential resources. We disbursed more than $2 million to help our small businesses, and sent staff door-to-door to get them directly tapped in.

As we’re very aware, COVID isn’t over. We know cases in our region are rising once again, and we continue to follow CDC guidance. We are evolving our health and recovery efforts to meet every new surge, including the current one.

And always, we search for gaps, asking who are were missing? Who is most in need?

Historic Opportunity: ARPA

We also had a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity – a $77 million opportunity, thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act. With this remarkable source of funds, we could deliver rapid-response aid while also pursuing bold, longer-term initiatives to unravel deep inequities in our community. 

Investing in Women and Girls: Child Care and Closing the Wage Gap

And we seized the chance to do just that. As a former executive at a nonprofit serving at-risk girls, and as a mother of two daughters, I know how critical it is to invest in girls and women.

So even before taking office as Mayor, with the former administration, I committed an unprecedented infusion of $7 million into local childcare programs.

Massachusetts families face some of the highest prices in the world for childcare – more than housing. More than college tuition. Low-income households bear a disproportionate burden, and our low-income households are overwhelmingly led by women of color.

This isn’t a new crisis. It’s just been disregarded for decades, and now it’s more urgent than ever. It’s time for governments to step up to the plate. When we invest in girls and women, we correct an injustice, and we improve our communities for everyone.

In December, I also committed $2 million to fund local nonprofit projects focused on closing the wage gap for women. It’s 2023, and women still earn $17 less for every $100 earned by men. The gap grows even bigger for mothers and women of color.

The gender wage gap threatens not only the economic security of Somerville women, but also their families and children. We must do better to break this cycle, and Somerville will do better with this vital step forward.

Universal Basic Income

This year, we’ll also take another critical step to address poverty. With ARPA funding, we will pilot universal basic income for the first time in Somerville. Universal basic income directly addresses the impacts of poverty. And poverty is stealing health, wellness, and opportunities from Somerville residents. Through this program, we’ll provide funds to eligible low-income residents to spend on needs they themselves identify.

There was a headline in The Washington Post last month that read, “Universal Basic Income Has Been Tested Repeatedly. It Works. Will America Ever Embrace It?” Well, I can tell you, Somerville is embracing universal basic income. We’re going to learn what works with this pilot, and we will chart a longer-term path from there.

My administration is ready to use every effective tool we can to keep Somerville affordable and equitable.

Commitment to Inclusive Government

Central to my administration is inclusive and transparent government. I am steadfast in my commitment to incorporating community voice in decision-making and seeking out diverse perspectives, especially those not typically heard at a public meeting or on social media. 

Too many residents don’t feel included, or worse – feel dismissed. That really keeps me up at night. We can’t be content with the easy way.

Robust, diverse, meaningful engagement takes longer – absolutely. It gets complex. It requires that we all practice humility as we listen to one another. But we ultimately get better results because we find our shared purpose. We will always check in with the community as we find our path forward.

Participatory Budgeting

And there’s no bigger decision to be made than how we spend our money. That’s why we’re launching a participatory budgeting initiative -- another historic first for the city. This spring, we are giving residents a completely new way to engage in government and shape their own priorities. Through this initiative, residents will decide how to spend $1 million in City funds.

Likewise, I’m working with the Council and staff to be sure our larger budget process is transparent and responsive. As Somerville grows, it’s imperative that the community has a say in what our future looks like. We must create conditions not only to inform, not only to engage, but to do so meaningfully.

Language Access Capacity

In order to do that in a city as diverse as Somerville, we need robust resources for language access and accessibility.

This year, we’ll develop a five-year multilingual language access plan, which includes American Sign Language and Braille, and we will seek to partner with the Council to pursue a language justice ordinance to embed this commitment into everything we do.

Racial and Social Justice

These values are also at the core of our Racial and Social Justice work to dismantle systemic racism and create public safety for all. We’ve taken critical steps, driven by intensive community engagement with those most directly impacted, including residents who face racism daily and neighborhoods seeking to address crime and safety.

Specifically, that has meant gathering feedback from more than 1,000 community members for The Public Safety for All Survey, meeting with more than 50 local businesses, hosting hundreds of hours of Community Visioning Focus Group Sessions and events in seven languages, and knocking on hundreds of doors. I’m listening and knocking on doors too.

In addition to technical analyses, we are consulting with other cities and towns and experts, and we are gathering lived experience from individuals as empirical evidence. All of this will help our community to shape our policies on public safety models and civilian oversight.

And we are making progress:

• I’m proud to announce that our new Racial and Social Justice Youth League and our new Racial and Social Justice Community Engagement Ambassadors are ready to hit the pavement early this year to deepen this work.
• This winter, we will announce the impact areas that will be prioritized by the City’s first-ever Racial and Social Justice Fund, which was seeded with $750,000. 
• The findings of the Police Staffing and Operations Report will also be shared this winter– a critical step to inform our efforts.
• In January, constituents will be able to apply for the Public Safety for All Task Force. With feedback collected from thousands of community members, the Task Force will work to reimagine policing and public safety in Somerville and generate policy recommendations.
• In February, our Racial and Social Justice Department will host opportunities for the community to learn about civilian oversight and to hear from expert panelists to help guide the future of Civilian Oversight in Somerville.

We won’t fix centuries of oppression overnight. It takes time to build inroads, to build trust, and to make a difference. But Somerville is staying the course. We are making sustainable progress. We are meeting people where they are, and together we will shape policies that promote widespread public safety, equity, and accessibility for all across Somerville. 

Investing in Core Services

This is the work of building a better world. Of building our collective future on so many fronts. And in order to build well, we need the right tools. In Somerville, we pride ourselves on our ambitious goals, and we need a strong foundation to deliver on them.

That starts with City Hall. I was the first new Mayor in 18 years. With my professional experience in business, nonprofits, and government, I wanted to take stock of our finances and operations through those lenses to understand needs and chart a course for the future.

We are ensuring we have a strong foundation so we can do the basics better like road paving, park maintenance, or sewer service to improve our daily quality of life.

Our bond rating remains at its highest in City history, and I am working closely with our Finance team and the City Council through our budget process to continue this tradition of strong financial management and planning.

We must also be sure to attract and retain the best talent and crews because these are the people who directly serve you. So, we expanded our Human Resources department, established an internal task force for employees, and we are investing in and listening to our City workers more than ever before.

And we are taking a fresh look at all our processes, trying new things, and figuring out what works so we can do the essentials and do them well.

Whether it’s addressing rodent activity through our SMART Box pilot, or exploring new methods to install green infrastructure, or developing more robust protocols for setting up emergency shelters, we are gathering data, evaluating best practices, and holding ourselves to the highest standards.

Navigating Growth and Change to Benefit All

A strong foundation at City Hall also sets us up to effectively navigate the transformational change we’re experiencing across our city. The Somerville of today doesn’t always look like the Somerville of yesterday. This we well know.

The Green Line Extension

Perhaps most notably: We have five new T stops. We have a fully operational Green Line Extension coursing through Somerville. This is the part in the speech when we get to celebrate for a moment. After three decades of advocacy and hard work, the Green Line Extension is open and running!

Let’s have a round of applause for the many, many people who dreamed up, fought for, and then fought some more for the Green Line Extension!

The Green Line Extension and the Community Path Extension are transformational.

This was a fight for environmental and social justice and to create opportunity for all in Somerville.

I remember going to meetings long ago as advocates strategized on how to get the Green Line here. Those were the seeds. Those small conversations ultimately grew into a giant $2.3 billion investment in our community and region. And the new Green Line branch is now putting us on a solid path to a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable future.

But the work is not done.

• We must double down on efforts to address displacement and gentrification.
• We must continue to work for broader transportation equity.
• We must push the T to rebuild public trust and hold them accountable.
• And we must open the doors that transit offers us to bring in new, good jobs and connect and prepare our youth and workers – all workers of every background – for those new opportunities.

Tomorrow, we’ll continue this work. But today, let's celebrate this important milestone. This is a long, hard-fought dream, realized.

Ensuring Transit-Oriented Development Supports Community Priorities

As a community, we planned for this moment for decades. We fought for the Green Line Extension because public transit is a public good. It also sets us up to accelerate our community goals through transit-oriented development.

Building dense, mixed-use neighborhoods close to public transit brings in new housing and tax-paying businesses. And new homes, jobs, and tax revenues are essential to making our region more affordable, more sustainable, and more equitable. Bringing in new business helps secure our city’s financial health and helps pay for our public services.

But I want to be clear: We are taking deliberate action to ensure our growth is truly benefiting our people and our local economy.

Combatting Displacement

In the face of unrelenting market forces, we need bold action to combat displacement across the region.

Somerville is not an island; it’s estimated that Greater Boston needs 400,000 new housing units by 2040 to help ease housing prices and maintain needed economic growth.

So, we are pushing for regional action while we also pursue local policies aimed at making sure Somerville families, artists, nonprofits, and small businesses can stay and thrive here. 

Housing

That starts with safe, stable housing. We are laser-focused on preserving and expanding our affordable housing stock, building more housing overall, and finding effective ways to combat displacement.

Expanding Affordable Housing

Right now, we have 500 units of permanently affordable housing actively in the pipeline, and we’re pursuing creative ways to acquire more units.

Last year, we allocated $8.3 million to the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund to acquire land or properties for affordable housing, and the Somerville Community Land Trust celebrated its first acquisition.

Legislatively, we’ve built a statewide coalition to advocate for a real estate transfer fee, which could bring in up to $10 million annually dedicated to affordable housing.

Identifying Innovative Housing Stability Programs

And we are not letting up. We are identifying innovative programs to keep people in their homes, targeting resources to those who need it most, and exploring every avenue to fill the gaps in the system.

Case in point: our landmark Municipal Voucher Program. One of the first of its kind in the state, this new program will deliver essential rental aid to residents in crisis, predominantly low-income families with children, including immigrant families that are often not eligible for other supports.

During the pandemic, we kept our local eviction moratorium in place longer than any municipality in Massachusetts.

And when State-funded COVID resources wound down, we stepped up and created an innovative flexible assistance program for tenants and homeowners.

Research shows Somerville eviction rates have been far below the regional average and far below that of our neighbors. When we are bold and strategic, when we take the lead, we change lives for the better.

Call to Housing Action

And when we work together, when we cultivate a collective voice, we build power. So I am calling on the whole community to come together to be a part of a solution to housing instability.

Homeowners: When you sell, consider sales to nonprofit affordable housing developers.
Landlords: Look for voucher-holders, or reach out to the City before considering eviction. There are win/win solutions to stabilize both tenants and landlords.

To our incredible Somerville delegation at the State House: Continue to fight for legislative solutions so we have the tools we need to keep Somerville residents housed.

• We need Right to Counsel to help low-income tenants get legal support in housing court.
• We need the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act to give tenants and nonprofits the chance to purchase their buildings when they go up for sale.
• We need the HOMES Act to seal eviction records for thousands of tenants.
• We need a Real Estate Transfer Fee.
• And we need rent stabilization.

Let’s get these done for our community. 

Artist and Cultural Space

In addition to keeping residents here in Somerville, we need to keep the creativity that we're known for. Artists and makers of all backgrounds and disciplines are core to the city’s character and economy. Our artists are part of who we are. And they are acutely vulnerable to displacement.

So, I visited artist studios across the city last year, and I heard loud and clear: We must create, preserve, and diversify affordable spaces for the arts.

So how do we move forward?  We accelerate on-the-ground action while building out our long-term strategy.

Over the next four years, we’ll see nearly 300,000 square feet of Arts and Creative Enterprise space coming online. That didn’t happen on its own. That’s thanks to our planning and zoning requirements. Planning ahead again, this year we will also hire staff to focus solely on managing space needs for artists.

In parallel, we’re developing the City's first Cultural Capacity Plan to make the community’s creative portfolio stronger, more accessible, more sustainable, and more diverse. I call on the community to get involved.

Small Businesses and Nonprofits

And when we talk of displacement, we cannot forget the pressures on our small, independent local businesses and nonprofits. Both are vital to our community but rising rents can put them at risk.

In addition to supports, such as $9.5 million in COVID relief so far, as well as technical assistance programs and our new portal for nonprofits to apply for ARPA funding, we need new tools.

This year we will revive and expand our Fair Housing Task Force to serve as an anti-displacement task force for residents, businesses, nonprofits, and artists alike.

We are also already seeking new partners to assess affordability risks to our local businesses and to seek new strategies to help address this challenge.

As we realize the change we have long planned and hoped for, we must strive to ensure that the people and places who make us who we are can stay here and thrive.

Collective Care for Individual Health and Wellbeing

As we shape the Somerville of tomorrow, our shared values must anchor us through change.

For me, one thing that makes this city special is its commitment to care. To compassion.

I remember, about 25 years ago, when I was still fairly new to Somerville, I bumped into an acquaintance in Davis Square. We got to talking about local volunteer opportunities, and they mentioned how much this community values diversity.

That moment is forever embossed in my mind.

Back then, it was a different time. I’d never heard the word diversity as something to celebrate and to value. As an immigrant, growing up, my family and I were frequently ridiculed because of our differences, whether it was our accents, our food, or simply our culture.

But I remember thinking in that moment with my Somerville neighbor: This is a place where I could live. I hear this same sentiment today from new immigrants who tell me they stay here because Somerville cares—and we put that care into action.

We may, at times, disagree on details, but we are clear-eyed in our collective resolve: To improve the lives of others.

For one, we will always prioritize the health and wellbeing of all our residents. We care for the collective by attending to unique needs.

Engagement Center for Persons Experiencing Homelessness

Among those unique needs, we have residents experiencing homelessness, living in shelters or unsheltered on the street.

At the outset of the pandemic, social distancing needs forced emergency shelter programs in our region to serve far fewer people. The result was a steep increase in the number of people forced to live outside and sleep on the streets. The increase in Somerville, alone, has been consequential and ongoing. We must expand resources that meet their needs.

So how can we help? To start, I’m proud to announce that this winter, in partnership with the Somerville Homeless Coalition, we are opening an Engagement Center specifically to support unhoused residents.

This facility will be open during the day, when most shelters are not. It will allow clients to meet with service providers or use a range of essential resources like mail and internet. Clients will receive personal care items and other supplies.

The Engagement Center fills one important gap, but I've directed departments to work with our community partners to intensify additional efforts as well.

Our unhoused families, individuals, and Veterans deserve safety, dignity, services, and supports. They deserve access to shelter and pathways to new homes. In 2023, I will continue to marshal our collective resources to better serve those among us who are most in need.

A Supervised Consumption Site to Save Lives

This year, we’ll also advance our work to open a supervised consumption site – potentially the first in Massachusetts.

We typically lose at least 15 people annually to overdoses. Year after year, this heartbreaking loss grows larger. Haven’t we had enough? When there are tools available to save lives, we need to use them.

Supervised consumption sites are proven, evidence-based public health solutions. We’ve set aside $500,000 for a site here in Somerville.

We’ll continue to engage community members, neighbors, and people with lived experience as we move closer to choosing a location, and, most importantly, we will move forward together to save lives.

Fighting Repression Through Local Ordinances

It’s critical we keep this energy and put our progressive values into practice. In 2022, the nation saw a disturbing rise in hate crimes, hate speech, and repressive legislation. But as hateful policies and rhetoric find footholds with some, we will not sit idly by. I’m grateful to our City Council for their commitment to combatting hate and upholding the rights of our residents.

Targeting Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Reproductive rights are under attack in our nation’s highest court and across the country.

In response, the Council proposed and passed legislation that I was proud to sign. It targeted deceptive so-called crisis pregnancy centers and reaffirmed abortion as health care.

Protecting Access to Trans-Affirming Health Care

Last year, states across the country accelerated their onslaught against transgender people, filing more anti-trans legislation than ever before.

Here in Somerville, our Council proposed and passed an ordinance I proudly signed to protect the rights of individuals seeking gender-affirming and reproductive health care.

Let’s take a moment and recognize the Council for these two initiatives as well as all of the good work that they’ve done.

Traffic Safety

Another key piece of our collective wellbeing is street safety. Heading out for a walk, playing outside, or running an errand should never feel like your life is on the line. It’s unconscionable, and every day our city can decide whether to accept the status quo or to fight it. Under my Administration, we have chosen to fight. 

Last year, we propelled our safe streets agenda forward, delivering long-awaited improvements to College Avenue and Holland Street, and we installed more speed bumps, curb extensions, and crossing islands than ever before to slow down drivers.

Our overall crash numbers are down, but there’s only one acceptable number: zero. And tragically, we’re not there yet. In August, we lost another community member to a crash. We will not accept traffic fatalities as inevitable.

This year, we are tripling the number of traffic-calming treatments going in across the city – that means new raised crosswalks, speed bumps, protected bike lanes, and more.

We’ll also get shovels in the ground to rebuild Pearl Street, prioritizing pedestrian safety at intersections in East Somerville and Winter Hill around schools, day cares, parks, and senior housing. And I’m happy to share we will also strengthen our safe routes to school near the Healey, Brown, and Argenziano schools, and the High School.

I understand that changes to our roadways and to parking can come with challenges. But job Number One is to save lives.

We have to address traffic volumes and speeds. Physical changes that slow down drivers are the only sustainable, durable solution to traffic dangers.

I call on the full community to work with us street by street, driver by driver, and person by person – I’m calling on each of you – let's together achieve Vision Zero by slowing down, staying alert, following the rules, and putting life first.

Sustainability

Our health as a community is tied to the health of our environment and our planet. The stark reality is that our future is not guaranteed. And we, as a municipality, have the power and the responsibility to take action to help curb climate change.

This is no longer some far-off crisis we’re buckling up for – it’s here. And it’s an emergency. Massachusetts is warming faster than other areas of the country. We don’t have time to be timid.

Carbon-Negative Target

My first week in office as Mayor, I raised our carbon-neutral goals because we must meet the urgency of this moment. If I have anything to do with it, Somerville will be carbon-negative – not just carbon-neutral – by 2050.

And we put our money where our values are. Last June, we passed a budget with unprecedented investments in sustainability initiatives.

In the year ahead, we’ll update the Somerville Climate Forward plan to guide our work and to ensure it is informed by vulnerable residents, who are most likely to bear the brunt of climate change.

We are making progress:

• I’m happy to announce that this spring, we’ll break ground on the long-awaited Poplar Street Pump Station to reduce flooding citywide, reduce water pollution, and build resilience to the severe weather wrought by climate change.
• In 2023, we will launch the Clean Green program that will make energy efficient upgrades more affordable for eligible low- and moderate-income households.
• And with our State delegation and our City Council, we’ve sought approval from the Commonwealth to ban the use of fossil fuels in new construction. Nearly two-thirds of Somerville’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from buildings. We must decarbonize our building stock to make meaningful progress on our climate goals, and I look forward to working with our partners to get this done for our community.

Somerville is stepping up. We will do our part to address climate change.

Pollinator Action Plan

Step by step, we’re building a healthy, resilient future for ourselves and our ecosystem. This year we began work on our first-ever Pollinator Action Plan, which will guide us in supporting our threatened pollinators like bees, wasps, and butterflies. They’re essential to a functioning ecosystem, and they need our help.

This plan is the first of its kind for a city as densely populated as ours, and it will serve as a model for other communities to replicate.

In Somerville, we are ready to lead the way on protecting urban pollinators.

Historic Investment in Youth

Finally, there’s no future without our youth. Our young people will always be a priority for me and my administration, and right now, their needs are staggering. They have weathered so much in the past few years, and we know they need extra support around academics as well as mental health and wellness.

That’s why, in our first budget, we delivered a historic investment in our public schools – nearly double that of a typical year. Our 10% budget increase was the largest in Somerville Public Schools history and the largest in the state last year.

These funds support core learning, pay paraprofessionals a living wage, expand our special education services, and add more counselors and social workers.

This will help ensure that all youth in our city, particularly students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities, have access to a high-quality and well-rounded education.

As we take on a transparent search for a new superintendent, we are well-positioned under Dr. Curley’s leadership to support our students. We can’t build the Somerville of tomorrow without them. They are our future, and we will always make a strong investment in theirs. 

Teen Centers & Rethinking Senior Programming

Supporting our young people goes far beyond schools. Outdoor spaces, too, must be expanded and revitalized.

The Healey play areas opened in 2022, and the field will open later this year. We’ll also rebuild schoolyards at the Brown and the West Somerville Neighborhood Schools this year. We’re delivering dynamic spaces for learning and recreation that also serve the community.

And this year, I’m thrilled to announce even more dedicated indoor spaces for teens in Somerville.

The community has been asking for a Teen Center for a very long time: a free indoor space where all teenagers can just hang out and be themselves.

Last year, we quickly set up two interim centers at the Edgerly and Powderhouse Park, where Somerville teens have found fun and welcoming spaces.

I have to admit, I was picturing a Teen Center at one central location, but once we hired youth consultants and discussed with teens themselves, it became clear we’d need to pivot.

They want multiple spaces, scattered across the city, within a 15-minute walk from anybody’s house. It’s more accessible and also safer for them after dark that way. They identified the need for different programming for middle schoolers and high schoolers. They advocated for youth employment opportunities at each location, and for food – good food to be specific.

And once again, they’ve shown us it’s important to listen to any group we aim to serve – rather than to make assumptions.

We’ve likewise been listening to seniors looking to expand our services to better meet different phases of senior life. This year, we’ll be looking into new approaches to senior wellness, learning, and connection.

A Productive Year Ahead

I’ve shared tonight just some of the concrete, tangible ways we are delivering on our progressive values and focusing on quality core services. I’ve shared how we are guiding that work by listening to you. We are putting the pieces in place and building our collective future.

When I think back to a year ago and the progress we’ve made, I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished. Again, I want to thank every City Councilor, our delegation, and all the workers in this room and across the city for helping me steer this City toward a vision of Progress for All.

And I want to thank you, our community members. You’ve met me at meetings, at events, on sidewalks, and you’ve engaged in this work wholeheartedly.

In a time when so much feels turbulent, when currents elsewhere are moving toward division, and when once-in-generation challenges face us, I am forever grateful to serve a community that holds steadfast to the common goal of progress for all.

We are doing the work of building a better Somerville. A better community, a better world. With our vision set, our tools readied, we have a productive year ahead – together.

Thank you, and goodnight.

Inaugural Address (1/2/2022)

Inaugural Address - complete text 

Good evening, Somerville.

I stand before you tonight for an inauguration ceremony that will be unlike any our city has ever seen.

Normally, I’d be addressing a crowd of people and I’d be able to thank Senator Markey and Paula Magnelli in person for their kind words.

I’d have the chance to personally congratulate our newly elected and returning City Councilors and School Committee Members.

Even though you are at home let's take a moment now, to celebrate our incoming officials and recognize this important moment. Our City Council will look different than it ever has before. This is the first time we have representation from our Latino communities, with the election of two Latinas.

Congratulations everyone.

Normally, I’d also have the opportunity to shake the hands of our outgoing elected officials and thank them for their dedicated service to our City and Schools. I’d have a chance to personally thank Mayor Joe Curtatone, who has done so much for this city during his 26 years as Mayor and as a Councilor. Instead, I offer my virtual thanks to all of you for your many, many contributions.

I am humbled and honored to have won the vote of so many of you.

And I want every Somervillian to know, no matter how you voted or if you didn’t vote,

I will be listening to you and fighting for you too. At the end of the day, we all love Somerville and want what’s best for our community. Together we can get there.

But tonight, instead of gathering in the new high school, we find ourselves battling yet another new surge of COVID-19.

These are unprecedented times. We are living through a global pandemic. There is fear and uncertainty. However, I’m optimistic.

I’m optimistic because in Somerville, we have this amazing resource and that is our people, our residents, our community members. We can overcome this, not only with smart policy and investments but by working together.

We are a progressive city. During my eight years on the City Council, we've led on social, housing, and climate issues. We are a community full of activists. Our progressive values guide us every time we go to the voting booths.

The challenge before us is, how do we turn progressive values into progress for all. How do we impact everyone for the better?

Because too many people feel like the progress we have seen isn’t their progress.

My vision for Somerville is an inclusive, equitable city where we can all thrive together, and I know that’s the vision this community shares.

I know you’ll join me as we take on the work of making space for all voices and prioritizing those who have often been unheard.

Together we will create progress for all.

I’ll start by telling you about myself, much like I did when I was knocking on doors during this fall’s mayoral election – and on the thousands of doors I’ve knocked on since the very first time

I ran for office in 2011.

My name is Katjana Ballantyne. My pronouns are she and her.

I was the first and only one in my family to go to college. I worked and used student loans to earn first my Bachelor’s degree and then an MBA.

When I moved to the Boston area, I didn’t have much. Friends gave me a place to stay while I sought work and saved up for rent.

In 1993, I moved to Somerville and discovered a place that was fast changing. It was a city embracing its differences, diversity, and progressive values. Somerville was a place where I felt welcomed and included, and I’m grateful that my husband Rick and I and our two daughters, Iliana and Sophia, have built our lives here.

And before I go further, I want to acknowledge my family’s unwavering support throughout both my run for mayor and my campaigns for City Council. Being an elected official has meant many late nights. I appreciate my family’s patience, love, and support, which allows me to serve the city we call home.

I’ve served eight years on the City Council and I served twice as its President. I’ve also been a proud Somerville Public Schools parent for more than 20 years. My daughter Iliana graduated from Somerville High in 2015. Sophia, my youngest, is an 8th grader at East Somerville Community School.

My 30 years of leadership experience spans business, non-profit organizations, and local government, and it’s taught me many things.

I want to share perhaps the most important lesson:

I’ve learned first-hand that inclusive leadership creates shared purpose. It builds enthusiasm.

It makes sure everyone can own and shape the work. I am completely committed to inclusive leadership, because it delivers better results.

My personal experiences have also shaped who I am and how I serve. I was born and orphaned in Greece, and I was adopted there by my Scottish father, and my Czech-German mother. A family of immigrants from three different countries, we came to the United States when I was four years old.

When I was growing up, it wasn’t hard to notice we were different. The foods we ate were different, our clothes were different, our accents were different, our culture was different.

Even though I became a U.S. citizen when I was a teenager, I've been told numerous times as an adult that I'm not a real American because I wasn’t born here. So I know first-hand that some people are afraid of anyone they see as different.

My immigrant experience has taught me to value differences. Because it is the right thing to do, and has served me well, as I have served Somerville.

Because the first step in delivering progress for everyone is making sure we hear every voice.

I can tell you right now that we will remain a Welcoming City, a Sanctuary City. Somerville will remain true to its tradition of embracing newcomers. Somerville will continue to benefit from the hard work, creativity, and entrepreneurialism of our immigrant residents, our new residents, and our long-time residents.

And I will draw on my experience to serve you.

I’ve helped scale up multi-million dollar companies. I’ve worked in innovative, fast-moving start-ups where it was all hands on deck, thinking out of the box. While working at nonprofits, I got to see that beyond every data point there’s a human face. I learned how the people we served could change their lives when connected to new opportunities.

Now I have the honor of being Mayor of Somerville. I pledge to honor that trust you put in me every day I am in this office. I pledge to work with you, not just for you.

Policy setting in my administration will be based on community engagement, best practices, data, science and fiscal responsibility. But most important, it will always be carried out through an equity lens - our policy setting will be driven by our humanity.

I’ve made it a point during my eight years on the City Council to seek out all voices. I especially like to check in with our youth. They are an impressive bunch. We have teens leading on issues like gun control, climate change, and dismantling systemic racism.

I’ve joined them at Climate Change stand-outs, visited them in our schools, and recently I met with several dozen youth at Teen Empowerment and at our Next Wave/Full Circle School. I always learn from them. I asked these teens what they would do to make a better Somerville for everyone.

They brought up addressing racism in our schools, acting on climate change, de-stigmatizing ADHD and dyslexia, safe spaces for LGBTQ youth, and mental health.

And this is what really got me: They asked that they be allowed to be bold.

That was just the start of a conversation I hope to have with every group and every constituency. We need to treat everyone like they’re part of the mayor’s cabinet. We must assure that we can all be bold.

My administration is already gearing up to launch a “Voices of Somerville” 2022 Survey to ask you, Somerville residents, business owners, young people of all backgrounds, to tell your local government about the issues that are impacting you.

This will help us think about investments to improve the lives of those most impacted by COVID. It will also help us determine how Somerville can bounce back better from the pandemic while also taking on longer-standing issues.

In my administration, you will not just be a part of the conversation, you will help drive it.

And I will need your help. I step into this office during a pandemic that has claimed 100 lives in our city.

100 lives.

100 people.

I’d like to stop for a moment of silence to recognize these residents who have passed as well as all others lost to the pandemic. Please join me in a moment of silence.

The pandemic has impacted everyone. It has disrupted lives. It has cost our residents' health, jobs, income, education, and opportunity. Parents, students, and teachers have struggled with ever-changing and new challenges. Frontline, medical, and essential workers have taken daily risks to keep everyone safe and served. Seniors and those with greater health risks have faced anxiety and isolation. Individuals facing substance use disorder have struggled with new stresses as they’ve been cut off from supports. Those with long-haul COVID are fighting every day to regain their health. Mental health challenges have never been so pervasive, especially among our youth.

But we must recognize that the pandemic has hit some of us harder.

Black, Latino, and immigrant communities have suffered more severe health and economic impacts. Long-term health inequities and systemic racism set the table for this. Ongoing barriers to healthcare, vaccines, tests, and information have hardened the disparities.

We must break this pattern.

The stakes of what we do in local government have never been higher. Our solutions must be grounded in equity. Our efforts must leave no one out.

I know people are anxious and they’re worn down. We’re all trying to protect our loved ones and our healthcare system. We all feel the strain of this ordeal.

What I want people to know is we will continue to act decisively to keep COVID at bay. We will supply tests and higher-quality masks. We are planning right now for additional vaccine and booster clinics, including family and school clinics. We will hold virtual calls with those hardest hit. We will continue to fight to ensure that no one loses their home due to income loss from the pandemic. We will help our small businesses through the ongoing challenges they face.

And we will not be afraid to take needed measures.

I am working right now with neighboring cities and our Board of Health to put in place a vaccine requirement at local restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues, a move some of our local businesses have already made on their own.

And we will direct tens of millions of American Rescue Plan dollars to help people get back on their feet and get the support they need. We’re already devoting millions to childcare and rental assistance. My administration is also looking to use $3 million in ARPA funds to support free public transit for residents and families struggling the most to make ends meet.

We all recognize these have been challenging times, and it’s perfectly natural if you feel unsettled or uneasy. Mental health matters. We are also reviewing how best to help make sure people can truly heal from the stress.

We need to lead with and fund, compassion.

In the coming days and weeks, we will be sharing more of our first 100 days agenda. COVID response and recovery is the top item on the list. Everything else we do as a city government revolves around a thorough and equitable response to this virus.

In my administration, progress for all will be centered on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

And I want to be clear: equity should not just be a buzzword. Equity has to be our guiding star. Equity and justice have to be part of every conversation we have and every service we deliver.

We know poverty in Somerville has a face: It's children in our schools, where more than two-thirds of our students qualify for free and reduced cost lunch and where the majority of our youth are people of color. It’s residents in our neighborhoods, where single parents and guardians – usually women – struggle to meet rent. It’s workers at our businesses where too many still do not earn a living wage, and where gender and racial gaps in earnings remain wide.

These are the data points we need to change. These are the people whose lives we must impact. These are the people to whom we must extend progress, and this is why childcare is such a critical issue.

Access to quality childcare can help put every child in Somerville on track for more success in school and healthier outcomes. It can help parents and guardians overcome the barriers to education and good jobs.

This is why I worked with the Curtatone administration over the last two months to dedicate

$7 million in ARPA funds to childcare in Somerville.

The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have disproportionately hurt women– especially women of color, so I am committed to using $2 million in ARPA funding for resources to close the gender equity gap in Somerville.

As we continue to battle the pandemic and try to recover from it, we have to focus on efforts that will both immediately help those most affected and that will address the systemic causes of these disparities.

We’re all proud of the fantastic industries that are now calling Somerville their home. We are at the cutting edge of bio and climate technology.

Yet, we also need to create a way for the children in our community to plug into the innovation hub that we’ve built. They need to experience it and see that if they want it, there’s a place for them there in the future.

This is particularly true for young girls. The data tells us that when girls hit middle school, they have fewer opportunities to play sports, join clubs, and get involved. I got to see this firsthand with many of my daughter Iliana’s friends when she was growing up – girls who had to be caregivers and providers before they had become grown women.

As a Councilor, I had the privilege to tour Greentown Labs when they opened. We were shown a portable wind-power generator. It was the coolest thing. But what stayed with me was wondering, “Why aren’t our kids here to see this?”.

Our youth could literally be a building away from some truly groundbreaking businesses or innovative startups, but they’re miles apart in terms of being able to access that world.

We will invest in our schools, in before-school and after-school programs, and in birth to kindergarten resources. We will build a digital bridge to break down Internet access barriers.

I’ll say it again, equity has to be more than just a word.

We have to build connections between everyone in our community to make living in Somerville a shared experience rather than a siloed one.

It’s a village, step in.

Working through the leadership of the Racial and Social Justice Office, we will continue on a journey to dismantle systemic racism. We will intensify work to reimagine policing. Public safety in Somerville must be delivered free of bias or racism – as should everything our City and Schools do. Our first responders must be given the tools, resources, and training to help keep all residents safe and healthy. That includes strengthening non-police responses to mental health challenges in the City. We will ensure that police involvement with federal agencies shares our values. And with those most impacted at the table, we will ensure the city’s budget invests in the right places to deliver public safety for everyone.

Progress for all, of course, is grounded in housing and affordability.

Housing prices in Somerville and all through the Greater Boston region are unacceptably high. The first thing we need to say about that is that housing is a human right. Housing is fundamental to having food security, safety, education and job opportunities. We are going to strengthen tenants' rights and seek to create rent stabilization.

People should have the security of knowing they can continue to live where they live. Ending displacement must be our goal.

We’re going to look to use every tool available to us to increase our affordable housing supply. We need to build more affordable housing. We need to acquire more housing and keep it affordable. We need more market rate housing to take pressure off prices.

But we must also take on the issue of affordability itself, searching for opportunities to address the long-standing challenge of who has access, who has means.

We will also connect local people and labor to the jobs created by local development.

I think of affordability as a coin with two sides. On one side of the coin is the housing stock we need in every shape and size. On the other side are jobs and opportunities for advancement that increase household income and the ability to afford rent or a mortgage.

It’s not enough to help a sliver of residents get into official affordable homes. We need to give people the whole coin.

My administration will promote workforce development, fund education, take on income disparities, and grow community wealth.

We must also improve upon current programs. It may be surprising to some, but we have people who don’t earn enough to qualify for affordable housing. And we have working families and middle-income households who earn too much to qualify for affordable housing but too little to afford Somerville housing costs. Some of this comes from federal requirements we don’t control. But we must start thinking outside the box on this.

For one, my administration will be exploring rent-to-own programs for people unable to compete in our runaway home buying market.

To move affordability work forward as well as engage on school-based issues, I will establish a Somerville Families Task Force. Its goal will be to create more solutions to keep families in Somerville and to keep them connected as our community grows and prospers.

I’ll say it again, we need equity in our housing and in our schools that drives us toward progress for all.

We face unprecedented pressures to act boldly and swiftly on climate change. And my administration will get straight to work on environmental sustainability and climate change initiatives.

I have two daughters and, like many of you, the world they will inherit from us is a huge concern for me.

These aren’t just words for me. I live my life by these principles. Even as as a family of four, we haven’t owned a car, by choice, for the last 14 years. In Somerville, I ride public transit, walk and ride my bike.

I also proposed Somerville’s Green New Deal in 2019 and have been working to achieve its goals before and since. This Green New Deal calls for access to affordable and energy-efficient housing, public transit, safe biking, and easy walking for all. 

It makes clear that everyone needs and deserves healthy green space. We need trees to cool and clean the air, we need habitats for wildlife, and we need parks where we can play and relax. 

I am committing to further develop the Somerville Green New Deal with you – and to act on it- because we need a Green New Deal that delivers resiliency and progress on climate change for all.

I campaigned on a promise to put Somerville on a path not just to be carbon-neutral by 2050, but to be carbon-negative.

A good job will not be good enough when it comes to addressing climate. We must be outstanding.

We will look to create more green space all over the city. We will look to electrify everything, including heating and cooling in our buildings and our vehicle fleet. We will work to support green economy jobs and to ensure that green technologies are available to lower-income residents, so that all of us can reduce our energy use. We also will look to build neighborhood microgrids that supply affordable electricity and protect against power outages.

It is imperative that this administration takes dramatic steps forward that leave a permanent impact on our city.

The stakes for our children and society are too high to do anything less.

As we tackle broader challenges we will not lose sight of other needs. Additional areas of focus in my administration will be access, transparency, and accountability in City government; and strengthening and supporting the City’s workforce.

In the first 100 days, we will begin to create an Office of Accountability, Transparency, and Access. This office will increase the openness and transparency of Somerville local government. It will be the first of its kind in our city.

In partnership with the City Council, we will also seek to strengthen the City’s ethics ordinance and lobbyist registration. Together, we will strive to create greater accountability to residents about who is at the table pushing and working on policy at City Hall.

From day one, we will also be ensuring that services run smoothly.

We will ensure that quality staff and best practices are used to serve your needs whether it be in park maintenance, waste pick-up, water service, fire response, or rodent control.

Yes, I just mentioned rats in my inaugural address. It’s an issue I heard about from many of you on the campaign trail and as a Councilor. We are already doubling down on this effort with Inspectional Services readying to announce a new innovative program.

Again, I’ve spent many years bringing quality products to market, and I’ll apply that to bringing quality basic services to you as well. For that, we need to support our city workforce.

City staff have been on the front lines of this pandemic working hard to keep our community safe.

To those of you who have poured your blood, sweat, and tears into Somerville’s pandemic response, I want to thank you for everything you have done. I know that many of you worked long hours and took on responsibilities outside of your normal jobs.

As we continue to work through this pandemic and recovery efforts, I will launch a Work Better Task Force to hear directly from employees about the support they need to continue Somerville’s pandemic response.

My administration has also already begun to systematically assess not just pandemic but long-term staffing needs. I’ve worked with many City employees and our union members for years, and what I’ve overwhelmingly seen are dedicated public servants who are stretched too thin.

Whether working with labor and staff to identify gaps, reviewing service data, or assessing the capacity to deliver progress, I intend to strategically invest in the staffing needed to achieve our community’s goals.

We will announce more of our 100-day plan in the coming days and weeks.

And there is so much more we will work to advance over the next two years. That long list includes:

• building opportunities for our local small businesses to thrive,
• growing jobs and workforce training,
• supporting and celebrating our artists and makers,
• serving our veterans and seniors,
• advancing ADA compliance and our work to support people with disabilities,
• addressing the opioid crisis,
• upgrading our aging infrastructure,
• ensuring new immigrants are welcomed and supported,
• making our roadways safer for all users,
• championing our LGBTQ communities and everyone’s right to be their authentic self,
• addressing flood risk,
• re-envisioning policing,
• ensuring food access,
• and so much more.

For tonight what I want the people of Somerville to know is that I recognize the historically high stakes under which I am taking office.

Not only do we have a regional affordability crisis, deep racial and social injustices to address, and a planetary climate threat to contend with, we are still in the greatest public health challenge in a century.

That may sound daunting, but I have the good fortune to be Mayor of Somerville. We’re going to face our challenges together and beat them, because that is the nature of this community that long ago embraced me and became my home.

The debates we have in Somerville are over the best way to do the right thing, not whether we should.

So I’m hopeful. I’ve knocked at thousands of Somerville doors and the people I met there love this city. You care about Somerville and each other.

We have a record here of pulling together to not only get needed work done, but in Somerville, we dream big, we aim high, we break the mold.

I’m excited to be taking office because I know that together we can do this. We will do this.

We will seize this moment, and we will do great things.

My pledge to you as your Mayor is I will always have an open and honest conversation with you about the issues we face and our plans to address them.

We will move forward together.

We will move forward with purpose.

We will move forward with a true sense of community ownership. We will build progress for all.

Thank you, Somerville, and good night.