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Tonight, the Medford Public Library will host a meet-and-greet with the candidates running for city council. The event kicks off at 7pm in the Bonsignore Hall. There are many important issues to consider, and this event will give you the opportunity to speak with each candidate after their presentations. Each will be given three minutes to pitch their candidacy.

It’s up to you to decide what the real issues are. Zoning is currently the hot topic. While most candidates are not opposed to it, they advocate for its intelligent execution. Our Revolution may have internal discussions on the matter, but they follow Zac’s lead. In this case, diversity of opinion is not optional.

Affordable housing is another major concern—but first, we must ask: what does “affordable” really mean? Increasing the housing supply does not necessarily lead to lower prices. Medford is the second-largest developer of new housing in Massachusetts, behind only Boston. With 5,000 new dwellings added, have housing prices declined? If that volume doesn’t make a dent in affordability, how much will?

These two issues—zoning and affordability—are closely connected. Our Revolution argues that people want density. That may be true, but density comes at a cost. On Fulton Street, three single-family homes were sold last year. Each was converted into three story units, with rent for the building starting at $6,000 per month. You do not need to guess as to the future of this home, it is very much being prepped for condo conversion and in this part of Medford, the median price for a condo is $500k Is that affordable? Let’s also consider the strain on resources. One of these former single-family homes now contains seven bathrooms. The impact was immediate—neighbors reported a noticeable drop in water pressure. Our infrastructure simply cannot support large-scale development.

City services are also affected. The understaffing of the Medford Fire Department is well documented. Increased housing will stretch an already thin force even further. While fires may not occur daily, emergencies happen nearly every hour. These first responders are out in all conditions—from the hottest summer days to the coldest winter nights. They don’t take time off, and Medford cannot afford to lose them.

So how do we begin to address truly affordable housing? One idea is to rebrand the term “housing project.” Subsidized housing is no longer just for the poor. If Medford wants to make a meaningful impact, it must take bold steps. The city lot recently sold over to the MBTA was a missed opportunity. It could have been used to build a city-controlled housing complex with rent control.

That lot could have supported an apartment building where two-bedroom units rented for $1,500 per month, with priority given to at-risk families. The city would have recouped its investment in a short time—and made a real difference.

The above is among the many issues that concern and impact the residents deeply. Reach out to these candidates, go to their fund raisers but most importanly – Talk to each other. Be civil and open and lets work together. We have a lot of bright minds, lets use it to our advantage. More on the independent candidates can be found here on our website – https://medfordhappenings.com/who-is-running-for-medford-public-office/