2025 Councilor At Large Debate by Somerville Media Center

Governing Body: Somerville City Council (Debate for Councilor-at-Large candidates) Meeting Type: Municipal Election Debate Meeting Date: November 4th (implied, as candidates will appear on this ballot date) Attendees:

• Candidates for Councilor-at-Large: Holly Simeone, Ben Wheeler, Kristen Strezo, Jack Perenik, Will Mbah, Marianne Wallace, John Link, Scott Istvan
• Moderators: Kerry Rodriguez (Councilor-at-Large Debate), Ben Orenstein (Mayoral Debate)
• Organizers/Hosts: Joe Lynch (President, Somerville Media Center Board of Directors), Ian Judge (Somerville Theatre/Crystal Ballroom)

Executive Summary: The 2025 Somerville Municipal Election Debate for Councilor-at-Large candidates featured eight individuals discussing their platforms and approaches to key city issues. Major themes included housing affordability, permitting reform, special education oversight, and public safety in business districts. Candidates emphasized their unique qualifications, with incumbents highlighting their track records and challengers focusing on new perspectives and specific policy proposals. The debate included structured Q&A sessions, head-to-head discussions on specific topics, and a rapid-response lightning round, providing insight into their stances on critical municipal challenges.

• Joe Lynch, President of the Somerville Media Center Board of Directors, welcomed attendees to the 2025 Somerville Municipal Election Debates for Mayoral and Councilor-at-Large candidates.
• The debates are presented by the Somerville Media Center and the Somerville Beacon, with support from the Somerville Theatre and the Crystal Ballroom.
• Moderator Introductions:
  • Kerry Rodriguez: Moderating the Councilor-at-Large debate; former Somerville resident, former Chair of the Somerville Democratic City Committee, labor organizer, and President of the National Parents Union.
  • Ben Orenstein: Moderating the Mayoral debate; Somerville resident, tech entrepreneur, and founder of the Somerville Beacon.
• Attendees were encouraged to be respectful. Replay of the event will be posted by 5 p.m. tomorrow.

• Kerry Rodriguez outlined the debate structure:
  • Opening Statements
  • Main Q&A
  • Two Head-to-Head Exchanges
  • Rapid Response Round
  • Closing Statements
• Time Limits:
  • Opening/Closing Statements: 30 seconds each
  • Main Q&A: 45 seconds per answer, up to two 30-second rebuttals per question
  • Head-to-Head: Two-minute answers, one-minute rebuttals
  • Rapid Response: Yes/No or one-word prompts
• Moderator rulings on timing and decorum are final.

• John Link: Somerville Public School parent, former educator and software engineer, advocate for housing and safe streets. Aims to fight displacement, support public schools, and bring practical problem-solving with a commitment to equity and community.
• Kristen Strezo: Incumbent At-Large City Councilor, running for fourth term. Single mother of two in Somerville schools, lives in affordable housing. Focuses on expanding affordable housing, union labor, small businesses, seniors' right to age in place, and ensuring all residents feel valued.
• Scott Istvan: Coder, comedian, former bartender, candidate for Councilor-at-Large. Prioritizes overhauling the permitting process for individuals and small businesses. Supports walking, transit, biking, and building more housing.
• Jack Perenik: Led a nonprofit engaging youth in politics and advocating for statewide affordable housing. Involved in crafting the city's green space master plan. Aims to bring a clear and measured view to achieving community goals.
• Marianne Wallace: Lifelong Somerville resident, union leader, social worker. Goals include addressing substance abuse and mental health issues, increasing worker rights, and promoting good-paying jobs for affordable housing.
• Will Mbah: Incumbent Vice President of the Somerville City Council. Emphasizes building strong community through solidarity, compassion, and fairness, measuring progress by how the city treats its most vulnerable.
• Ben Wheeler: Parent, educator, problem-solver. Cares deeply about housing affordability, safer streets, and support for working families. Believes in collaborative wisdom and utilizing community knowledge.
• Holly Simeone: Lifelong resident, Somerville High School graduate, parent. Advocates for women's representation and diverse backgrounds on the council. Chair of the Disability Commission, brings a perspective for people with disabilities and marginalized communities.

• Scott Istvan: Focuses on tackling the permitting process, citing personal experience as a small business owner and stories from residents facing bureaucratic hurdles for home improvements or accessibility modifications.
• John Link: Highlights experience as an educator and Somerville Public School parent with two children in the system. Advocates for safe streets (sidewalks, potholes, bike lanes) and affordable housing through the Somerville Community Land Trust. Aims to ensure Somerville remains a place for working-class families.
• Will Mbah: As an incumbent, emphasizes a track record of "boldness, inclusivity, rooted in hope." Running for a fourth term, citing top vote-getter status in the primary as testament to his work.
• Jack Perenik: Acknowledges common ground among candidates but focuses on specific mechanisms for delivery. Pledges to eliminate special permit requirements for housing and mixed-use buildings in mid-rise districts to reduce costs and ease development. Proposes an intersection safety plan to address high accident areas.
• Holly Simeone: Differentiates herself through current work as Chair of the Disability Commission and past state-level advocacy (DD Council). Emphasizes understanding how to partner to deliver services, especially regarding budget changes and climate.
• Kristen Strezo: Incumbent in third term, running for fourth. Highlights proven track record, personal experience living in affordable housing as a single mom with kids in Somerville Public Schools. Chairs the Housing and Community Development Committee, understanding the complexities beyond zoning and permitting.
• Marianne Wallace: Cites a proven track record of passing ordinances, specifically working with the City Council on Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) and advocating for it at the state level. Emphasizes PILOTs as crucial for alternative revenue in times of service cuts.
• Ben Wheeler: Notes the "baseline of decency and human goodness" in Somerville politics. Focuses on moving from "good to great" by refining ideas and proposals, collaborating with community organizations and other cities, and leveraging all available resources.

• Ben Wheeler:
  • Tools: More staff, specifically case managers for permit applications.
  • Stats: Publish "aging" of permit applications and their current stage.
  • Other: Implement occupancy permits for quick temporary approval for businesses.
  • Goal: Listen to businesses to identify most useful stats.
• Marianne Wallace:
  • Problem: Long delays for home improvement permits (e.g., windows).
  • Solution: Streamline process for small repairs.
  • Tools: Implement an "aging system" for permits, hire more inspectors due to current shortages.
• Kristen Strezo:
  • Problem: ISD staffing issues (no current ISD director), lack of clear communication for applicants.
  • Action: City Council has consistently increased ISD staffing in budgets.
  • Goal: Continue dialogue on what's working and what isn't.
• Holly Simeone:
  • Problem: Cited an instance where a historical home was demolished before review completion due to process failures.
  • Tools: Improvements in software, more staff, better training, increased clarity in the process.
• Jack Perenik:
  • Problem: Current system is expensive for residents and renters.
  • Solution: Combine permit types (e.g., heat pumps, currently 3 permits in Somerville vs. 1 in Cambridge/Medford). Reduce overall ISD workload.
  • Other: Make building housing in mixed-use districts, dormers, and ADUs legal "by right" to remove them from the permit process.
• Will Mbah:
  • Problem: ISD is understaffed, simple remodels are difficult.
  • Solution: Streamline processes, allow "by right" zoning for small homeowner projects (e.g., porch remodels, height increases).
  • Approach: Incentivize homeowners; apply normal due process for large developments.
• John Link:
  • Problem: Acknowledges staff shortage. Current data (SummerStat) is old and hard to analyze.
  • Solution: Improve data collection to focus energy effectively.
  • Example: Cited a resident's difficulty and cost in subdividing land for a modular home.
• Scott Istvan:
  • Stats: Time between submission to approval, time between submission and first review.
  • Solution: Group like permits. Automatic notification for abutter meetings. Clear, objective requirements for all permitting.

• Jack Perenik:
  • Council Role: Revenue driver; reforming land use can generate funds for special education.
  • Action: Condition funds for special education programs to ensure publication of results.
  • Goal: Improve on "least restrictive learning environments" and address the state's "needs improvement" designation.
• Holly Simeone:
  • Problem: Lack of transparency, personal experience with placement issues. Parents' rights documents are long and untranslated.
  • Solution: Independent audit of processes and testing. Advocates are needed.
• Will Mbah:
  • Context: School Committee is in charge of schools. Issues often discovered through neighbors.
  • Problem: Schools may be under-resourced, under-funded, or not paying enough attention to special needs.
  • Solution: Fund schools to uncover data and methodology for identifying special needs.
• Kristen Strezo:
  • Problem: Special Ed budget is not enveloped in the School Committee budget; City Council can only accept or reject. Trend of moving kids from IEPs to 504s.
  • Action: Push School Committee for individualized budget presentations for Special Ed. CPAC presented to Council last month.
• John Link:
  • Problem: Parents not discovering learning disabilities until private schooling.
  • Solution: Listen to CPAC report, ensure funding for paras.
  • Action: Fund an independent audit, then work with School Committee on recommendations.
• Scott Istvan:
  • Problem: Heartbreaking stories from parents whose children's needs are unmet.
  • Solution: Make special education a top budgetary priority.
• Ben Wheeler:
  • Problem: State Education Department designated Somerville's special ed handling as "sharply in need of improvement." Many parents take students out of district.
  • Solution: Educator funding (Somerville Educators Union contract improved paraprofessional pay). Pilot inclusion model in classrooms.
  • Action: Formal role for groups like CPAC and parents.

• Ben Wheeler:
  • Approach: Safety for everyone, including people in crisis.
  • Tools: Non-police responders for crisis engagement (addiction, homelessness, mental health).
  • Long-term: Permanent supportive housing, urgent opening of College Ave shelter.
  • Success: All people feel safe in public spaces.
• Marianne Wallace:
  • Tools: More social workers (currently working with police department) for outreach, mental health, housing, substance abuse.
  • Long-term: Work with Mayor Wu to open Long Island Shelter (currently blocked by Quincy Mayor).
• Kristen Strezo:
  • Approach: Everyone has a right to be in the community, but must abide by community standards of respect.
  • Action: Increased cleaning, porta-potties (requests made). Listen to business community.
  • Goal: Action-oriented solutions for Davis Square.
• Holly Simeone:
  • Collaboration: Need to collaborate with Quincy and Boston to avoid moving problems.
  • Problem: Cannot force people to seek help; lack of places for those who want help.
  • Authority: Mayor decides policing approach; City Council cannot dictate.
• Jack Perenik:
  • Problem: Council has failed to unite public health and safety, failing vulnerable residents.
  • Long-term: Federal and state investment in permanently supportive housing.
  • Immediate: Connect people to existing resources (CHA Community Behavioral Health Center), provide transportation.
  • Policy: Drug court diversion program instead of incarceration.
  • Rebuttal (Kristen Strezo): City Council lacks control; this lies with the Mayor's office. Council pushes administration for collaboration, but it's frustrated.
  • Rebuttal (Marianne Wallace): Agrees Mayor controls policing. Problem is lack of funding and spaces for mental health/substance abuse/housing. Need regional collaboration.
• Will Mbah:
  • Disagreement: Disagrees with Jack's assessment of Council failure.
  • Problem: Incident in Davis Square (business owner attacked) highlights resource misallocation (e.g., police at construction site vs. Davis Square).
  • Authority: Reallocation of resources lies with the Mayor's office.
  • Observation: Current approach is "designed by disaster" – reactive, not proactive.
• John Link:
  • Solution: Permanent supportive housing (long-term). Separate non-emergency responders from police.
  • Disagreement: Drug courts are a form of incarceration; criteria are subjective.
  • Approach: Utilize existing partners (Behavioral Health Network, CHA). Pressure for more shelters and beds.
• Scott Istvan:
  • Solution: Case managers outside the carceral system. Better partnership with nonprofits (city needs to pay bills on time).
  • Long-term: Permanent supportive housing.
  • Success: No more empty storefronts (eyes on the street for community health).

• Question: Empty lab space (3M sq ft region-wide). Should Somerville: A) hold out for life sciences, B) incentivize conversions to housing/other uses, or C) push interim uses (artists, nonprofits, incubators)? Name one zoning/code change championed in first 90 days.
• Kristen Strezo (2 minutes):
  • Complexity: Lab space is specifically designed; not easily converted to housing.
  • Current Action: Economic Development Department is working on this; City Council is exploring creative uses.
  • Preference: Incentivize artist and musician space.
  • Stance: Affordable housing may not be suitable for lab buildings, but creative use of space is essential.
• Ben Wheeler (2 minutes):
  • Challenge: Lab buildings have unique construction (reinforced floors, air circulation) making conversion difficult for most uses.
  • Potential Uses: Light manufacturing (flexible zoning needed).
  • Preference: Option C (temporary permits for interim uses) is important.
  • Example: Allow artist groups to lease space for workshops/galleries if no permanent tenant for a year.
  • Other Ideas: Educational resources for biotech students (given local universities).
• Rebuttal (Kristen Strezo): Emphasized musician space, noting difficulty in finding practice space.
• Rebuttal (Ben Wheeler): Agreed profoundly, as a drummer.

• Question: John, you cited research that good bike/transit design helps retail. If we commit to a 12-month design, evaluate, adjust pilot on one corridor, which corridor would you nominate? Top three success signs? What triggers a tweak?
• John Link (2 minutes):
  • Corridor: Highland Ave (though current mayor delayed redesign). Cautions against "endless feedback loops."
  • Alternative: Bow Street in Union Square for partial pedestrianization.
  • Challenge: Need to address parking.
  • Focus: Safe streets for everyone (sidewalks, intersections).
  • Success Signs: Storefront vacancies, turnover rate (acknowledges data limitations, often relies on businesses).
• Will Mbah (2 minutes):
  • Agreement: Agrees with John's points. Proponent of bike lanes and business driving, believes they can coexist.
  • Process: Public engagement with business community during street redesigns (e.g., Holland Street, Highland Ave). Listen and incorporate needs, not just for listening's sake.
  • Problem: Some residents claim lack of notice for public processes.
  • Data: Proposes bringing city staff to businesses to generate data on customer arrival methods to understand parking needs.
  • Approach: Pragmatic policy-making, as "policy is nothing without people."
• Rebuttal (John Link): Emphasized data collection for both businesses and pedestrians. Focus on accessibility and safety for all users.
• Rebuttal (Will Mbah): Agreed, as co-founder of Somerville Alliance for Safe Streets.

• Question: Two concrete permitting targets? One curb access standard enforced during street redesigns (loading, ADA, short-term pickup)? How to verify promises?
• Holly Simeone (2 minutes):
  • Problem: Non-compliant designs, lack of ADA understanding, failure to follow laws.
  • Solution: Better design from the outset, starting with education. Involve community, commissions, boards, seniors.
  • Curb Access: ADA is a law, not optional. Criticizes arguments that accessibility costs too much or takes up space.
  • Perspective: As a parent of a child in a wheelchair, highlights personal experience with inaccessible infrastructure. 25% of population has a disability (physical or hidden).
• Jack Perenik (2 minutes):
  • Permitting Targets:
    1. Time to first review (indicates backlog, initial engagement).
    2. Abandonment rate (projects never happening due to process).
  • Impact: Permitting issues increase costs for residents and contractors.
  • Curb Access: ADA is a floor, not a ceiling; aim to exceed legal requirements.
  • Verification:
    • Track occupancy rate of accessible spaces.
    • Monitor illegal blocking and tickets issued.
    • Implement automated enforcement for blocked accessible spaces.
    • Ensure "safe streets for everyone."
• Rebuttal (Holly Simeone):
  • Solution: More training for employees, accountability for completing training.
  • Problem: Blame-shifting for design/construction issues. Outsourcing work leads to loss of control.
  • Critique: Don't blame HR for inspector shortages; examine job conditions, training, resources.
• Rebuttal (Jack Perenik):
  • Council Role: Follow up on criteria for reported data.
  • Transparency: Clear, accessible public reporting in plain language for projects.
  • Accountability: Identify failures and engage Mayor's office to improve enforcement.

• Question: City's role in harm reduction/public health? Specific funding priorities? Civil liberties guardrails? One specific ADA improvement in 6 months? Two success indicators?
• Marianne Wallace (2 minutes):
  • Harm Reduction: Implement safe injection sites (currently people injecting in public). Combine with pathway to treatment.
  • Other: More needle disposals.
  • ADA: Focus on dangerous sidewalks and curbs (inspired by Holly Simeone). Prioritize road safety, especially around McGrath O'Brien Highway (lack of crossing guards, kids getting to school).
  • Idea: Staggered school start times in areas with multiple construction projects/schools.
• Scott Istvan (2 minutes):
  • Harm Reduction: City should hire case managers/social workers (outside police department) to ensure no fear of interaction and accountability to city/voters.
  • ADA: Sidewalks are not wide enough (pet peeve). Problematic for mobility devices (wheelchairs, walkers, strollers) and trash day.
  • Solution: Better regulations for sidewalk widths, especially in residential areas. Improve sidewalks across the board.
  • Other: Snow removal is a huge accessibility issue; make it a priority (currently falls to homeowners).

1. City-funded sidewalk snow removal pilot this winter?
   • Yes: Scott Istvan, John Link, Will Mbah, Ben Wheeler, Marianne Wallace, Kristen Strezo, Holly Simeone, Jack Perenik
2. Six-month look back after major street projects to check results and adjust?
   • Yes: Scott Istvan, John Link, Will Mbah, Ben Wheeler, Marianne Wallace, Kristen Strezo, Holly Simeone, Jack Perenik
3. Safe consumption sites, supporting exploring a Somerville site with regional partners?
   • Yes: Scott Istvan, John Link, Will Mbah, Ben Wheeler, Marianne Wallace, Kristen Strezo, Holly Simeone, Jack Perenik
4. Tiered linkage during downturns with an automatic sunset or trigger to restore the baseline (should linkage percentage be tiered down during economic downturns with automatic restoration)?
   • Yes: Scott Istvan, John Link, Will Mbah, Ben Wheeler, Marianne Wallace, Kristen Strezo, Holly Simeone, Jack Perenik
5. Hybrid by default for all public meetings with live captions and multilingual interpretation?
   • Yes: Scott Istvan, John Link, Will Mbah, Ben Wheeler, Marianne Wallace, Kristen Strezo, Holly Simeone, Jack Perenik
6. Evening/weekend community school use of Somerville High School for ages 14 to 30?
   • Yes: Scott Istvan, John Link, Will Mbah, Ben Wheeler, Marianne Wallace, Kristen Strezo, Holly Simeone, Jack Perenik
7. After-hours shared use parking MOUs for churches, universities, and municipal lots to support business districts?
   • Yes: Scott Istvan, John Link, Will Mbah, Ben Wheeler, Marianne Wallace, Kristen Strezo, Holly Simeone, Jack Perenik

• John Link: Expressed love for Somerville and desire for it to remain a place for families. Pledges persistence, honesty, collaboration, and communication on the City Council. Asks for votes on November 4th.
• Jack Perenik: Privileged to discuss issues. Asks for votes based on dedication to policy goals: affordability, preserving artist spaces, maximizing public parks/buildings, safe/accessible roads. Cites endorsement from former Congressman Tony Coelho (ADA author). Pledges strong constituent service.
• Kristen Strezo: Emphasizes being responsive, working with and for residents. Highlights proven track record of service, listening, and taking action. Asks for votes on November 4th.
• Ben Wheeler: Stresses Somerville's strength in learning from each other, adapting, and building on shared insight. Believes leadership is about creating space for collaboration and following through. Asks for votes.
• Scott Istvan: Reiterates top priorities: overhauling permits, walking, transit, biking, building more housing. Thanked moderators, Somerville Media Center, Somerville Theatre, Crystal Ballroom, staff, and attendees for engagement in local politics.
• Will Mbah: Thanked moderators, colleagues, and public. Stated local leadership can be bold, inclusive, and rooted in hope. Pledges to fight for a fairer, stronger, and more united Somerville where every voice matters and every family thrives. Asks for votes on November 4th.
• Marianne Wallace: Lifelong resident, dedicated to caring for people. Highlights skills in city-level work, collaborative state-level work, and policy writing for equity and inclusion. Asks for votes on November 4th.
• Holly Simeone: Emphasizes need for different voices on the council. Highlights unique life experience and representation of marginalized communities. Aims to bring a systematic approach to advocacy and foster community.