Mayor Katjana Ballantyne's leadership on environmental issues has made Somerville a recognized leader in climate change mitigation, urban ecosystem restoration, and carbon footprint reduction. She’s implemented many ground-breaking initiatives to address these critical issues. Examples are Mayor Katjana’s first-ever Pollinator Action Plan to protect native pollinators, building on Somerville’s Native Species Ordinance, which she introduced as a City Councilor. These are a first of a kind plans for a dense, urban city like ours, and have already become models for similar cities across the country.

"Veterans have shouldered one of the heaviest burdens demanded of any member of society. As mayor, I am resolved to repay veterans by helping guide them, not only to veterans benefits, but to every city service to which they are entitled." - Mayor Katjana Ballantyne

Mayor Ballantyne has decidedly resisted regional trends of cuts and layoffs. Instead, over the three years of her administration, she’s increased the school budget by 27 percent. In the fiscal year 2025 budget, she added over 35 net full-time equivalent positions to Somerville Public Schools. For our mayor, investing in youth doesn’t stop at the classroom. Her administration has invested heavily in expanded after-school programs and new youth opportunities, and she started a school year expansion of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program.

Mayor Katjana's leadership on infrastructure investments is transforming Somerville into a modern, sustainable, and equitable city. By prioritizing key areas such as public safety, transportation, water and sewer infrastructure, schools, and open space, she is laying the foundation for a thriving community for generations to come. And thanks to her strong fiscal management, she has earned Somerville’s first S&P Global, triple A bond rating so Somerville can afford to keep fixing what’s broken.

Mayor Katjana is committed to making Somerville a caring, healthy, age-friendly city where our seniors may age well in place while maintaining their health, independence, and dignity.
Has made great progress and understands that there is much more for us to do.
She's suing the Trump administration to preserve funding for Seniors’ benefits
Mayor Ballantyne’s Commitments To Improve Quality Of Life For Seniors

To help Residents to have access to good, local jobs, Mayor Katjana has,
Created pay equity standards for all employees union and non-union employees
Launched a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot to aid our lowest-income residents – the first of its kind in Somerville.
Committed more than $5 million in pandemic relief to local businesses
Committed $500,000 in grant support for the nonprofit Arts at the Armory
Created development carve outs of up to 550,000 square feet of new arts space to propel our vibrant arts community. We will work with our arts community to seize these opportunities
Created and expanded workforce training, through our schools’ adult learning center, SCALE, and our City Division of SomerPromise
Expand job training for all ages, including launching “Let’s Get Workin’: a partnership between DPW and the High School’s Center for Career and Technical Education to offer paid, hands-on job training in professions like HVAC, plumbing, and carpentry
Launched new efforts to market businesses and skill-building support training.
We hired our first ever Digital Bridge Coordinator to build internet and device access as well as digital literacy for our most vulnerable neighborhoods. Digital literacy helps residents to find good jobs