Bill White, 2009 Alderman-At-Large Questionnaire Responses

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)?

During my last term in office, I am particularly proud of my role as Chair of the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety. In 2007, when I was removed from the Finance Committee, I was made Chair of the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety. Traditionally, that committee had rarely met. Since becoming Chair, I have transformed the committee as a mechanism to deal with health and safety problems in many of our neighborhoods, sometimes convening committee meetings in the effected neighborhoods. Many of the meetings have involved problem properties that impact folks in the surrounding area. Also, I used the committee to address health issues in the City. For example, the committee met with representatives of the Cambridge Health Alliance when cutbacks in service were proposed and lobbied against many of them. Concerns were presented to me about the dental care that Somerville children were receiving. As a result, the committee met with the health director to address dental needs of Somerville’s children and how the schools could be used to improve dental care. I also have continued the practice that I began twelve years ago when I was first elected, to work on planning and development issues effecting both large areas and local neighborhoods. For example, I met with and supported neighbors who wanted lesser building height maximums in the new Union Square zoning. I have also monitored the proposed future development at Assembly Square, and have expressed concern that the City’s need for commercial development there may not be met. I put forward a Board Order that requested there be a comprehensive development plan for the Inner Belt/Brick Bottom area. And, I have attended numerous Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board meetings in support of neighbors.

2. What are your top three agenda priorities and how will you take action on these priorities?

a. During the coming term, I would like to continue in my efforts to promote sound development and the passage of zoning appropriate for the particular needs of the City. East Somerville is now the subject of a major rezoning proposal for Broadway. Of specific import is the preservation of existing neighborhoods and planning for mixed use projects that mesh well with adjoining neighborhoods and incorporate appropriate scale and open space with good commercial development.

b. I fear that the decline in state aid will continue. As such, I see further stress placed on the City’s budget. I will continue to support increased citizen participation in the budget process up front and work with the community in addressing this difficult fiscal environment.

c. I will continue to use the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety to address problem properties and landlords in the City and to work on health issues such as the relationship between the City and the services provided by the Cambridge Health Alliance.

3. What do you think the City should do with the Powerhouse School?

The public process relating to the reuse of the Powder House School is continuing. At his point, I have an open mind and have not made any decision about the reuse of the School.

4. Do you believe the City's charter should be changed? If so, what changes do you support?

I served as an aldermanic representative on the recent charter review committee formed by the Mayor. During the process, I stated that I did not support a change in the Mayor’s term to four years or an appointed school committee. Some interesting proposals did surface. One proposal relates to internal administrative changes. Currently, even when minor changes to the Charter are proposed, such as reconfiguring departments or administrative positions, the approval of the state legislature is necessary through a home rule petition. Many modern charters provide for a separate code of administrative procedures. These administrative procedures could be changed with the approval of the Mayor and 2/3 of the Board of Aldermen and would not require a home rule petition to the legislature. Another possibility would be to have a separate audit process done by a firm hired by the Board of Aldermen which would report to the Board of Aldermen and to provide the Board of Aldermen with funding for separate legal counsel.

5. What are your ideas for addressing Somerville's current budget crisis? Of the budget recommendations Mayor Curtatone currently is considering, please prioritize your top three.

First and foremost, Somerville needs good commercial development to bring increased tax revenue and good jobs. This would reduce the City’s reliance on state aid. However, until that happens we will continue to suffer whenever there are reductions in state aid. It is important, then, to maximize community involvement in the budgetary process during these hard times. Community involvement can bring new ideas to the table, but it also allows elected officials to hear the impact of such cuts.

I do not understand that part of the question that states, "of the budget recommendations Mayor Curtatone is currently considering." As the budget process is complete, we have not been informed of the future recommendations he is currently considering and I cannot comment on that part of the question. My priorities would be to continue funding the schools and police and fire at least at current levels during these difficult times. I would also like to see increased funding to human services when the economic situation improves.

6. PDS has taken a position against expanding predatory gambling in Massachusetts as a way to increase state revenue and local aid. Do you agree with the position of PDS? Why or why not.

I certainly would not support the location of a casino in Somerville. Recently the Speaker and Senate President expressed their support of the Governor’s proposal to allow casino gaming in Massachusetts. I am definitely against unregulated gaming of the type found in Nevada and on Indian reservations. If passed, I would hope that our state follows the regulatory scheme enacted in New Jersey which subjects casinos to extensive regulations. This would include regulating such things as game limits, types of games, extension of credit, alcohol consumption while gaming, and use of credit cards to fund gaming.

7. Why are you the progressive choice?

One of my most deeply held beliefs is that a City should be a real community, fostering the involvement and interaction of its residents in civic and social life so that residents have a feeling of belonging to our City, with the power to influence decision makers on issues that impact them. As an elected official, I have tried to conduct myself in a way that promotes that sense of community. My approach to government over the last twelve years has emphasized the need to give our residents a sense of empowerment in a government that conducts its business in a transparent fashion. From issues surrounding development at Assembly Square almost 12 years ago to the recent proposed zoning for Broadway, I have always fought for a public process. During the debate over the proposed parking changes by the Traffic Commission, I was concerned about the process and supported the failed Aldermanic resolution that asked for a public hearing to give a voice to the people on those proposed changes. I later attended the public hearing that finally was held, and asked the members of the Commission to listen to the concerns of the folks who were to speak. I have also tried to bring government to impacted areas and groups by holding aldermanic committee meetings in effected neighborhoods. For example, when I served as chair of the newly created Senior Services Committee of the Board of Aldermen, I brought committee meetings to the Senior Buildings. I have also held Public Health and Public Safety meetings in impacted neighborhoods as well. Should I be successful and win reelection, I would like to continue in my approach.

8. What will you do to ensure that the Green Line does not displace residents? What are your ideas for balancing affordable housing, business development, and creating/ preserving open space along the green line?

In the past, I have sponsored orders that the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development begin planning for the Green Line expansion. Zoning is the one tool that aldermen have to address these concerns. Certain areas such as the Inner Belt, Assembly Square and the Boynton Yards/auto salvage yard area outside of Union Square should be designated for commercial development along with a residential component. Other areas, especially existing residential neighborhoods, should remain largely residential. Like the Union Square zoning, affordability should be a definite component and the percentage could be increased from current levels in exchange for a greater affordability component. Preference for affordable units should be given to those residents who are displaced from any area of Somerville as a result of Green Line gentrification. Likewise, open space that is available for public use must also be preserved and increased through zoning. I think that we should resist the push for dense development that will impact existing residential neighborhoods. That is why I voted in support of reduced heights in certain areas of Union Square.

9. What progressive candidates have you supported in the last five years?

Marty Martinez.

10. What else should we know about your candidacy?

Having now served for almost 12 years in office, I think I am pretty much an open book.