Bill White, 2011 Alderman 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 that have impacted our neighborhoods, sometimes convening committee meetings right in the effected neighborhoods. As examples, my committee has been very active in addressing problem properties owned by absentee landlords that have had adverse impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. I have also convened numerous meetings to deal with the rodent problem that affects some of our neighborhoods and raises serious health and safety problems, especially as to children. My committee recently held a meeting where a well-known national expert, Bobby Corrigan, put on a seminar. He will also be working with our Health Department to finalize a protocol to address rodent problems in our neighborhoods.

I am also very proud of supporting the Dream Act Resolution that Somerville passed. I also have continued the practice that I began fourteen 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 in the Park Street, Summer Street and Lexington Avenue areas with respect to proposed developments.

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

1. 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. 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.
2. With the recent developments in Washington, D.C., there is no doubt the decline in state aid will continue. Given the current philosophy in our Congress, I see cuts in federal aid to states as a foregone conclusion for the next two years. 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.
3. 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 rodent problem.

3. What are your ideas about ways to work to keep Somerville affordable for families of all income levels?

A combination of wise housing policies and economic development should help to keep Somerville affordable. The Green Line extension would have had the dual effect of making certain areas of Somerville less affordable but at the same time, it would have brought commercial development which would have led to jobs and increased revenue. Now, with the Green Line extension effectively terminated for the near future, the pressure on affordable housing should be reduced. And, at the same time, a driver of job growth has also been eliminated. We are now left with Assembly Square as a mechanism for job creation, without the impact on housing costs that the Green Line would have had. Therefore, we should explore options that meet the requirements of Massachusetts law to promote jobs at Assembly Square for Somerville residents.

One item that should be reevaluated is the guidelines for the affordable housing lotteries. Perhaps applicants should be ranked with preference given to families that are displaced from their residences. With the Green Line now delayed for almost a decade, it is unlikely that we will see much in the way of displacement, since, except for the recent proposal in Union Square, there have not been any sizeable developments that displaced existing residents. Also, with the collapse of the real estate market, we have not seen much displacement caused by condominium conversions. Instead, we have seen some consequences from foreclosures and as a community should work with residential homeowners who are facing foreclosures.

4. Do you support ordinances to promote local jobs for local residents and if so please describe how you would go about supporting these kinds of efforts.

I have signed on as a supporter of an ordinance to promote jobs for local residents and have provided copies of ordinances passed in other communities. There are two pressing problems with any such ordinance. The first is to draft one that passes legal muster. There are constitutional provisions that limit such ordinances and courts have struck such ordinances down. The other problem is to mesh such ordinances with practical hiring requirements.

5. Do you support plans to have a Wal-mart open in Assembly Square? Why or why not?

In general, I have not been a proponent of big box stores locating in Somerville because, on the one hand, they bring in a great amount of traffic and have a negative impact on small businesses, and, on the other hand, bring in relatively little in property taxes. In fact, in 2001, I introduced a proposed zoning amendment that would have limited the construction of big boxes. The Wal-mart, however, is a bit of a different issue. The Wal-mart in issue is not a traditional Wal-mart super store but is, instead, a large food store that will be a prototype for this area, and will occupy the site of a vacant big box store. Although I don’t approve of their employment practices in general, I would have to take a look at a number of issues before making a decision. For example, what would their salary and benefit package be and how would that compare with the salaries and benefits provided by Super Stop and Shop or Shaw/Star Market? Also, what would their pricing structure and inventory be? The existing superstores in Somerville are relatively high priced and many consumers complain about the quality of their produce. Would the Wal-mart be a low priced competitor that could help Somerville consumers, especially low income ones, provide quality food at a reasonable cost for their families?

6. Why are you the progressive choice in your race?

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 14 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 major development at Assembly Square almost 14 years ago to the recent proposed developments at Park Street, Summer Street and Lexington Ave., I have always fought for a public process and supported residents. 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.

7. Which progressive candidates have you supported in the last five years?

Marty Martinez.

8. What is your stance on the Green line extension through Somerville?

I have been a strong proponent of the Green Line since I was first elected. I believe that the current decision of the state to effectively derail the Green Line will have an adverse impact on the community. We have spent tens of thousands of dollars and people hours in planning for the Green Line, all of which will go to waste. Much of the City’s plans for commercial development and the creation of jobs were tied to the Green Line Extension. I believe that the City must take strong steps to get the Green Line extension back on schedule.

9. 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.