Alderman at Large Questionnaire: Tony Lafuente

  1. What political or community activism accomplishments are you most proud of during your last term in office (or the last two years if you have not previously served)? What specific things do you want to accomplish during the coming term?

    There have been a number of events over the last two years that I have participated in that were important to me. Some of those are being involved in Pat Jehlen's campaign, being a member of St. Ann's Parish finance committee which voted to sell the "Men's Club" property to Somerville Community Corp. for affordable housing, helping Marty Martinez in his bid for office, and now being involved in the Toxic Waste Contamination issue at 50 Tufts St.

    If elected, I look forward to working hard with community activists as it pertains to 50 Tufts St. to make the polluter more accountable for the contamination. My feeling is that there isn't enough pressure from the present leadership to protect the residents and all the affected. I look forward to sharing my experiences of being an immigrant, a business person, and a community member to further enhance the city of Somerville in making government more accessible to those that feel left out of the system. By sharing my business experiences and ideas with my colleagues we can generate ideas that will bring more commercial interests to the city which will offer residents good job opportunities and a more stable tax base.

    I also believe that we need to look at the zoning of the City. It is time to revisit our zoning ordinances. Since the last revision of the ordinances the City has experienced tremendous development accompanied by the pressures and problems that go along with such growth. We need to control zoning so that commercial interests do not interfere with neighborhoods, and neighborhoods are not overrun by development. We need to maintain the quality of life for our residents.

  2. How will you balance business development with the needs of low-income residents as the green line comes to Somerville?

    There are no easy answers to this problem. Development, and in this case, rapid transit, bring both positive and negative sides.

    The positive being our ability to use rapid transit rather than automobiles, cutting pollution, congestion, and minimizing long term health risks.

    The negative side is of course the displacement of families and less fortunate members of our community. Housing due to development becomes desirable and expensive. So the question is, how do we balance this? As alderman, I will work hard with community activists and professionals to build new housing where possible, like the development at Jacques and Temple street by the SCC, empower SCC and other organizations to further renovate and turn existing housing, where appropriate, into affordable housing. As we continue to discuss the problem of affordability, it is only through leadership, dialogue and inclusion of those active in this issue that we can and will develop ideas and answers to this problem for now and the future.

  3. Would you support instant runoff voting (or similar voting reforms) for city elections? Why or why not?

    No. I believe the present system works well and it gives the voting public the opportunity to change their vote, if they wish, as they learn more about the candidates. I believe that we the voters have the right to question, challenge and change our vote from the primary to the final for whatever reason we elect. Openness, accountability and freedom of speech, in my opinion, really take hold between a primary and a final election. To cut it short, would eliminate that and thus take away one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans.

  4. Why is the gang ordinance not enforced, and what do you plan to do about it?

    The gang ordinance, like many other ordinances that are law, are implemented as a reactionary method to an issue or problem. The gang ordinance is not working because resources were not dedicated to implement the ordinance. In my opinion, the ordinance was a tool used to detract attention, calm fears, and put people at ease with this problem. I believe that our Public Safety department is doing a good job with the resources they have to deal with this problem.

    As far as future solutions, I feel that specific public safety training, earmarking specific professionals to deal only with gang issues, be proactive to address existing problems, and working hard with community leaders to curb new membership into the gang culture will help to make this problem better.

    Whether it is community outreach, after school programs, parental education in conjunction with active Community Policing, I am confident that we can curb the amount of gang activity and involvement in our community.

  5. What specific steps will you take to strengthen the community policing program?

    I am committed to encouraging that we as a city commit funding from our own budget to fund this program. I am committed to working hard with the Administration, the Police Department and my colleagues on the board to aggressively seek grant funding for this program and other new and innovate programs to ensure more involvement by the Police in our community.. I would also look at proposing higher visibility of Policing in the areas of concern during times of the year that crime activity increases. For example, more policing during the summer and early fall than in the winter, concentrated in squares and high crime areas than quieter areas. I do not believe that one officer per ward is the answer. Concentrate our resources where they are needed.

  6. What specific steps will you take to increase the civic involvement of immigrants?

    Well, I guess what better way for immigrants to feel empowered but have an immigrant on the Board of Aldermen. Not only did my family and I go through the same steps that present day immigrants go through, but I know how people feel when they are in a new country. My fluency in Portuguese and Spanish, will allow many people and groups to naturally use me as a conduit for representation. I look forward to encouraging this underrepresented group to participate in the process.

    Immigrants get involved in the civic process through the leadership and example of others. I will offer that leadership and example.

  7. What specific steps will you take to promote pay equity in Somerville? (see http://www.mass.gov/women/payequity/payequity.htm#legislation)

    With all due respect, this is a state issue and really has no bearing on this alderman's race. I believe we have a fine state delegation that represents us well on this issue and others.

  8. What will you do about Somerville's budget crunch?

    How can anyone answer this question in an honest and proper way when we as a community do not fully know how monies are being spent at the present time? We need to look at our City's budget with the understanding that we will not be able to fulfill the needs of all in the City, that we need to prioritize what is important and work to accomplish that goal. We need to look at what are the biggest costs to our budget, is it personnel, health care etc, and address how we can reduce those costs such as implementing a hiring freeze, or consolidating positions. Are City's services spread out across the city in too many buildings? Can they be consolidated? We all know that we are funding many boards with vacant positions. It is time to look at this to determine how we can effectively keep people involved yet not waste money on underutilized boards and commissions. We have to look at what is needed operationally, and how we will perform the task to accomplish that. We have finite resources and we need to be more effective in using them.

    If we are committed to maintaining affordable housing in the City and keeping this City affordable for its residents we need to implement a strategic marketing plan to encourage and facilitate the growth of commercial interest in the city. From real estate development to business development, we need to develop a long term program to attract, maintain, and grow development in Somerville.

    As a former Mayoral candidate, I was very clear that we need Class A development. What I was proposing four years ago is happening at Wellington Circle. The Assembly Square development can bring this to Somerville. I am going to work hard to ensure that it does.

  9. How will you create a town-gown relationship with Tufts comparable to that of Cambridge and Boston with their Universities?

    We are a very different community from Boston and Cambridge and thus our relationship has to be different. Mayor Curtatone has and is working with Tufts to implement programs that are creating a better relationship with Tufts. What we need to do is to update, increase when and where possible, and allow the mayor to continue to dialogue with Tufts for the benefit of Somerville. I will be a positive member of the Board to encourage the Mayor to continue in his quest for additional involvement from Tufts University.

  10. What else should we know about your candidacy?

    My candidacy is one of Pro Active ideas and sharing my experience with the leadership of our community. Somerville has come a long way and it has a bright future ahead. I would welcome the opportunity to help shape that future.

    As an immigrant, and a business owner for over 30 years, I understand how difficult it is to succeed. I understand that setting priorities, implementing those priories and working hard bring success. I will bring those traits to the Board of Aldermen.

    I also understand how difficult it is to be an immigrant in a new country and I also understand how rewarding it can be. I will use my experience to bring people together and facilitate access for those who are under represented.