Meeting Minutes: 2025 City of Somerville Mayoral Debate
Meeting Date: November 4, 2025 (Debate held prior to this date) Governing Body: City of Somerville Mayoral Candidates Type of Meeting: Mayoral Debate Attendees:
- Candidates: Jake Wilson (Councilor), Willie Burnley Jr. (Councilor)
- Moderator: Ben Orenstein (Founder, Somerville Beacon)
- Host Representatives: Joe Lynch (President, Somerville Media Center Board of Directors), Sean Eiffel (Executive Director, Somerville Media Center)
Executive Summary
This debate featured mayoral candidates Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr., both current City Councilors at Large, discussing their visions for Somerville. Key topics included housing affordability, the city budget, departmental performance, and responses to social issues. Both candidates emphasized the need for effective leadership and addressing critical city challenges, though they differed on specific approaches and priorities, particularly regarding the city budget and the implementation of ballot questions.
Official Meeting Agenda & Discussion
I. Welcome and Introductions
- Joe Lynch, President of the Somerville Media Center Board of Directors, welcomed attendees to the 2025 Somerville Municipal Election Debates.
- Lynch highlighted the purpose of the debate: to provide insight into the mayoral candidates and their approaches to governance.
- Ben Orenstein, founder of the Somerville Beacon, was introduced as the moderator for the mayoral debate.
- Orenstein outlined the debate format:
- Two-minute opening statements (Councilor Wilson first, then Councilor Burnley Jr.).
- Main Q&A segment with approximately eight community-sourced questions (90 seconds per answer, 30-second rebuttals).
- Rapid-fire yes/no round using signs.
- Two-minute closing statements (Councilor Burnley Jr. first, then Councilor Wilson).
II. Opening Statements
- Councilor Jake Wilson:
- Expressed gratitude to hosts and attendees.
- Highlighted campaign momentum, including endorsements from elected officials, labor organizations, the Boston Globe, and Somerville Dems.
- Emphasized a commitment to a positive, issue-focused race.
- Identified critical city challenges: affordability, safe streets, declining city services, rodents, homelessness, and substance abuse disorder.
- Stressed the need for effective leadership and operational efficiency to achieve policy objectives.
- Stated his goal to be a mayor who implements policy plans and delivers results for Somerville.
- Councilor Willie Burnley Jr.:
- Thanked hosts and welcomed Somerville residents.
- Introduced himself as a renter on Winter Hill and an at-large City Councilor.
- Stated his mayoral candidacy is based on the belief that Somerville can be more affordable, accessible, and accountable.
- Argued that current times are not typical, requiring a mayor who fundamentally challenges the status quo rather than offering incremental change.
- Asserted his lived and professional experience qualify him to lead this challenge.
III. Main Q&A Segment
Question 1: Housing Production and Emergency Shortage
- Context: Somerville declared a rental housing emergency in 2019, yet average rents have risen.
- Councilor Wilson:
- Advocated for aggressive upzoning around new Green Line transit stations to increase density.
- Cited current efforts to upzone around Gilman Square as an example.
- Mentioned the development at the former Star Market site (299 Broadway) as a model for exceeding the minimum 20% affordable housing requirement.
- Suggested exploring social housing models, referencing Vienna.
- Councilor Burnley Jr.:
- Emphasized his record as a renter and his commitment to not accepting donations from for-profit developers.
- Highlighted past actions: expanding tenants' rights, enforcing broker fees at the state level, and passing zoning changes to reduce housing construction costs.
- Proposed establishing an Office of Social Housing in his first term to create permanently affordable housing on municipal land, citing a blighted municipal lot near Gilman Square as an opportunity.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson): Declined.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Burnley Jr.): Declined.
Question 2: City Budget Cuts
- Context: Revenue from new construction dropped 49% in two years, property taxes are constrained by Proposition 2 1/2, ARPA funds are exhausted, healthcare costs increased, and school spending increased. Hypothetically, if a 10% ($35 million) budget cut were required, what specific departments, programs, or positions would be cut?
- Councilor Burnley Jr.:
- Challenged the premise of the question, arguing against "local austerity" given federal funding issues (e.g., weaponization of grants, withholding funds from sanctuary cities).
- Stated that "the money is there" at the state level, citing the millionaire's tax and advocating for state and federal funding for programs like Head Start and his proposed Office of Social Housing (funded by a 3% community impact fee on Airbnbs).
- Emphasized the need for political will to utilize existing funds.
- Councilor Wilson:
- Acknowledged the tough fiscal situation, including a potential loss of $19.5 million in federal funds.
- Stated he would not eliminate departments but would look at operational efficiencies.
- Suggested consolidating "middle management, deputy director, finance analyst jobs" if headcount reduction is necessary.
- Mentioned using "rainy day funds" (stabilization funds) if the situation warrants.
- Expressed reluctance to name specific positions to avoid causing anxiety among city employees.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson): Declined.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Burnley Jr.): Declined.
Question 3: Single Accomplishment in First Term
- Councilor Wilson:
- Identified "staffing up" as the top priority, ensuring the city has sufficient personnel to achieve policy goals.
- Cited high vacancy rates, such as one in five jobs in DPW and 40% in the grounds division, leading to service deficiencies.
- Emphasized the need for strong recruitment and retention strategies to make Somerville an "employer of choice."
- Councilor Burnley Jr.:
- Agreed on the need to fill vacancies but summarized his priority as "implementation."
- Stated that Somerville has many great plans but needs to put them into motion.
- Highlighted the importance of making city workers feel welcomed, referencing painful contract negotiations.
- Recalled supporting the Somerville Municipal Employees Union by voting to freeze mayoral executive staff salary increases, contrasting his vote with Councilor Wilson's.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson):
- Clarified his vote on the salary freeze, stating he had an alternative approach discussed with union leadership.
- Attributed the outcome to "chaos" and a different motion from a colleague that impacted the CAO position.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Burnley Jr.):
- Contradicted Councilor Wilson's impression, stating the union specifically requested leverage through the salary freeze.
- Reiterated his support for workers' dignity and fair compensation.
- Councilor Wilson:
Question 4: Reversing a Ballantyne Administration Policy
- Context: Mayor Ballantyne received only 23% of the preliminary election vote.
- Councilor Burnley Jr.:
- Stated the biggest issue was a lack of "action" and too many "studies," referencing his campaign slogan "fewer studies, more action."
- Criticized the administration for not acting on progressive values.
- Highlighted his own legislative record: expanding tenants' rights, workers' rights, attempting to use ARPA funds for medical debt abolition, and cutting inequitable permitting fees for small businesses.
- Expressed confidence that as mayor, he would have the resources and staffing to implement these actions more broadly.
- Councilor Wilson:
- Acknowledged policy overlap between candidates but emphasized differences in "approach, priority, and style."
- Stated the biggest change would be a focus on "making decisions" and "approachability."
- Emphasized the importance of the mayor being accessible and listening to residents, business owners, and workers.
- Attributed the preliminary election results to voters making themselves heard about the mayor's approach.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Burnley Jr.):
- Shifted to the topic of ballot question 3 (divestment from Israel).
- Stated he would implement the question if it passes, while Councilor Wilson has indicated he would not.
- Argued for listening to voters and acting on their demands.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson):
- Used the opportunity to advocate for a "yes" vote on ballot question 1 (new city charter).
- Highlighted the five years of work involved in developing the charter and its approval by state authorities.
Question 5: Davis Square and Seven Hills Park Safety
- Context: Residents express frustration over safety concerns in Davis Square and Seven Hills Park due to homelessness, addiction, and mental illness.
- Councilor Wilson:
- Acknowledged the "huge issue" and its impact on the campaign.
- Differentiated homelessness and substance abuse disorder as separate but intersecting crises.
- Advocated for an approach combining "compassion and accountability," setting a baseline for conduct while recognizing the difficult situations individuals face.
- Proposed short-term solutions: opening the delayed and expanded shelter in Davis Square.
- Proposed medium-term solutions: building more permanent supportive housing with wraparound services.
- Proposed long-term solutions: reopening Long Island facilities.
- Emphasized regional collaboration to address a regional crisis.
- Councilor Burnley Jr.:
- Agreed there is a public safety and public health crisis.
- Criticized the city's lack of urgency and financial authorities not being fully utilized.
- Noted Somerville has "zero beds" for these individuals, compared to Cambridge's 60.
- Advocated for transitional and supportive housing beyond just shelter beds.
- Stated he would not support "sweeps" or removing people's property, referencing Councilor Wilson's past newsletter comments as being open to such actions.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson): Declined.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Burnley Jr.): Declined.
Question 6: Disappointed Constituency
- Context: The city faces competing demands (housing vs. neighborhood character, bike infrastructure vs. parking, services vs. taxes). Name one constituency that will be disappointed by your administration and why their disappointment is worth it.
- Councilor Burnley Jr.:
- Stated his "friends in the development community" would be disappointed, as he would not accept their donations.
- Also, those "doing very well for themselves" who believe Somerville is fine would be disappointed by his pursuit of "transformative change."
- Emphasized fighting for working people and renters to ensure they can stay in Somerville and maintain economic and cultural diversity.
- Noted his campaign is funded by renters and those facing displacement, contrasting with his opponent's donations.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson):
- Confirmed that he asked the moderator to refund a donation, which was done.
- Councilor Wilson (Answer):
- Stated "owners of surface parking lots" would be disappointed.
- Advocated for better land use and criticized surface parking lots as inefficient.
- Supported the upcoming stormwater surcharge fee, which would disproportionately affect large impervious surfaces like parking lots, including those at stores like Target.
- Argued this is a fair way to fund expensive work to prevent sewage in waterways and modernize the sewer system, as these properties contribute more to the problem.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Burnley Jr.):
- Agreed with Councilor Wilson on the stormwater surcharge.
- Criticized the city's reliance on expensive consultants for such initiatives, stating that under his administration there would be "less consultants."
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson):
- Agreed with Councilor Burnley Jr. on the frustration with consultants, specifically mentioning a "particularly frustrating study" regarding ratepayer assistance that was found to be illegal under Massachusetts General Law.
Question 7: Ballot Question 3 (Divestment from Israel)
- Context: Ballot question 3 asks if the mayor and elected leaders should end city business and prohibit future investments and contracts with companies engaged in business sustaining Israel's "apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine."
- Councilor Wilson:
- Acknowledged the community's motivation to act locally on global issues, specifically the "atrocity" in Gaza.
- Expressed understanding for wanting to ensure tax dollars do not fund such activities.
- Raised legal concerns regarding Chapter 30B (public procurement) and the legality of divestment under state law, citing Medford's experience with a vetoed ordinance and legal opinion deeming it illegal.
- Suggested such issues might be better pursued at the state level.
- Stated he would be voting "no" on the question as written due to legal limitations.
- Councilor Burnley Jr.:
- Stated he would be voting "yes."
- Praised the community's energy and the over 8,000 certified signatures (more than one in eight residents).
- Expressed belief in democracy and the right of residents to demand their tax dollars not be invested in companies like Caterpillar or those producing F-35s.
- Argued that Medford provides a model and that city solicitors often align with the mayor's wishes, implying legal opinions can be influenced.
- Highlighted Somerville's leadership as the first city in the state to pass a ceasefire resolution.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson): Declined.
Question 8: City Department with Largest Performance Gap
- Context: Which city department has the largest gap between your ideal and its current performance, and what will you do about it in your first six months?
- Councilor Burnley Jr.:
- Identified Inspectional Services Department (ISD) due to its broad responsibilities (rats, business inspections, development inspections, health) and being understaffed and without a director.
- Proposed bringing in "the right kind of leadership" to be innovative and potentially re-divide labor within the department.
- Aimed to streamline permitting to make ISD's job easier and encourage more businesses.
- Supported the idea of "pop-up permits" to reduce empty storefronts.
- Councilor Wilson:
- Agreed that ISD is "100% correct" and "most in need of a dramatic change."
- Cited widespread resident and business owner frustration with ISD.
- Proposed hiring a director committed to reform.
- Criticized misplaced priorities, such as "drywall screw inspections" over health and safety enforcement.
- Highlighted difficulties with solar panel activation, bathroom/bedroom additions.
- Suggested moving beyond "Citizen Serve" as a software platform, citing frustrating user experiences.
- Emphasized new leadership, culture change, and new software for ISD.
- Rebuttal (Councilor Burnley Jr.):
- Agreed with Councilor Wilson.
- Stated that ISD's work is often dictated by "onerous permitting processes" controlled by the mayor's office.
- Reiterated his past actions as a councilor to change permitting fees and his intention as mayor to implement "holistic change."
- Rebuttal (Councilor Wilson):
- Agreed with Councilor Burnley Jr. on the "hell that business owners go through" with the "Byzantine process" of opening a business.
- Stated the need to reduce the average two-year timeline for opening a business.
- Shared an anecdote about a garage door permit being required only in Somerville.
IV. Rapid-Fire Yes/No Segment
- Police witness illegal drug injection in public park, should they arrest?
- Councilor Wilson: No
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: No
- Complete all 29 miles of protected bike lanes by 2030, even with significant parking loss?
- Councilor Wilson: Yes
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: Yes
- If rent control made legal in MA, would you implement it in Somerville?
- Councilor Wilson: Yes
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: Yes
- Support an anti-camping ordinance for public areas?
- Councilor Wilson: No
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: No
- Support combining Winter Hill and Brown schools into a single new building?
- Councilor Wilson: Yes
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: Yes
- Support Question 2 (increasing mayor's term from two years to four years)?
- Councilor Wilson: Yes
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: No
- Support automated traffic enforcement cameras for speeding and red light violations?
- Councilor Wilson: Yes
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: Yes
- Support a project like Copper Mill (20+ story building in Davis Square)?
- Councilor Wilson: Yes
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: Yes
- Support increasing pay for city councilors to commensurate with full-time work?
- Councilor Wilson: Yes
- Councilor Burnley Jr.: Yes
V. Closing Statements
- Councilor Willie Burnley Jr.:
- Expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share his vision for an affordable, accessible, and accountable Somerville.
- Highlighted his four years as City Councilor, making a difference in residents' lives.
- Stated the limitations of the City Council and his intent as mayor to leverage resources, staffing, and state/federal connections (from working for Senators Warren and Markey) to implement transformative policies like social housing and developing Gilman Square.
- Called for community unity and principled, pragmatic leadership to ensure Somerville remains a place for all, not just the wealthy.
- Encouraged support at willieforsomerville.com.
- Councilor Jake Wilson:
- Stated that the debate questions covered key campaign issues.
- Emphasized his "laser focus" on city issues and a "clear roadmap" for addressing them with programs and services.
- Stressed his work ethic, drawing on his farm upbringing.
- Highlighted the broad support for his campaign from "massive numbers of Somervillians."
- Asked for votes and volunteer support (door knocking, phone banking, poll standing).
- Stated his understanding of issues comes from both his councilor role and conversations with thousands of residents.
- Expressed excitement for a "new day in Somerville" and his ability to lead the city forward with a "North Star goal" and motivate city employees.