Katjana

Year's End Fundraiser for Mayor-Elect Katjana Ballantyne

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 17:31:29 +0000

Year's End Fundraiser for Mayor-Elect Katjana Ballantyne Mayor Katjana … Fri, 12/10/2021 - 12:31

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You're invited to Mayor-Elect Katjana Ballantyne's Year-End Fundraiser with special guest Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. Join us to re-energize and strengthen our campaign for a more inclusive, equitable Somerville where we can all thrive!
#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli #somerpoli #somerville

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...brave enough to meet constituents w/o body armor

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 03:59:59 +0000

...brave enough to meet constituents w/o body armor Mayor Katjana … Mon, 09/13/2021 - 23:59

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#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli

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"Somerville deserves a woman for mayor who is brave enough to meet her constituents w/o wearing body armor. That woman is @KatjBallantyne."-Chip Goines, @chipgoines #mapoli
"Somerville mayoral candidate @KatjBallantyne isn't afraid of her constituents, like Billy Tauro. How do I know this? Because unlike Billy, she doesn't wear body armor and doesn't drive around town in a black hummer as if Davis Square was Baghdad."-Chip Goines, @chipgoines #mapoli https://twitter.com/wtfdic_hour/st
#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli

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Katjana for Mayor

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 14:00:00 +0000

Katjana for Mayor Mayor Katjana … Sat, 03/13/2021 - 09:00

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I’m Katjana Ballantyne and I’m running for Mayor of Somerville.
I’m running to represent the values and culture of Somerville, to make sure that everyone’s voice will be heard in city hall and I’m running because our next Mayor needs to have the skills and experience to be our chief executive.

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Hello, I’m Katjana Ballantyne and I’m running for Mayor of Somerville.

I’m running to represent the values and culture of Somerville, to make sure that everyone’s voice will be heard in city hall and I’m running because our next Mayor needs to have the skills and experience to be our chief executive.

These three qualities – values, inclusion, and experience – will be critical in choosing who should lead our city through our current and future challenges.

Our values are proudly progressive; we cherish our diversity and we work for social, economic, environmental, and racial equity. We have accomplished a lot together but there’s much more to do.

Culture is more than our politics; We promote the arts. We value bike lanes, dog parks, and community gardens as well as healthy neighborhoods, safe streets, and thriving businesses.

Our culture and values are why we love our city, and I’m proud that I’ve worked for a decade as a Councilor and President of our City Council to represent our culture, and to represent all of our residents.

Second, our next Mayor, and the City Council must do a better job listening and allowing all voices to be heard. We need to listen to everyone, not only the usual suspects or the loudest voices.

I am known for my inclusive leadership style in my service as a City Councilor and in three decades of business and volunteer work. It takes a little longer to engage everyone in making decisions, but an inclusive process creates buy-in and leads to our proudest achievements.

Finally, our next mayor needs to have the skills and experience to be the chief executive of a dynamic city. She needs to help us navigate the current COVID crisis and to lead our recovery back to a safe, thriving Somerville and no one can do that alone. We will need to retain and support our talented city staff and get everyone working together.

We know we can live our progressive values, nurture our institutions, support our local businesses, keep our city safe, and keep building upon what’s great here so we can all thrive together. That’s why I’m running to be the next mayor of Somerville and, if you share those goals too, I ask you to join us.

Thank you, and see you on the campaign trail.

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Regressive taxes won't lead to affordable housing

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 16:59:53 +0000

Regressive taxes won't lead to affordable housing Mayor Katjana … Mon, 06/19/2023 - 12:59

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#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli #somerpoli #somerville

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In the Press

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Letter to Banker & Tradesman

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We agree with last week’s Banker & Tradesman editorial that affordable housing needs new sources of funding that can bring in enough money to actually make a difference – but advocating increased property taxes as the answer is completely wrongheaded (“Third Way Needed for Affordable Housing Money,” June 11, 2023).

Working- and middle-class families, public safety officials, the elderly, teachers, first-time buyers – all are being priced out of the market. The aim is to help them – not to add more regressive taxes to their burden.

What is not regressive and would actually make a difference is the adoption of transfer fees that would be added only to high-end real estate sales, and only if a community chose that option. Communities that adopt the fee can determine the threshold and the percentage, and for cities and towns with the worst problems, the fee can raise millions. Transfer fees are already working in many other states — the entire state of Vermont, for one — generating vital revenue.

Read the full article at Banker & Tradesman

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Free Transit Passes to Low-Income Residents

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 16:34:57 +0000

Free Transit Passes to Low-Income Residents Mayor Katjana … Tue, 06/13/2023 - 12:34

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#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli #somerpoli #somerville

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Transit benefits programs in Somerville

#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli #somerpoli #somerville

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The City of Somerville, in partnership with the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), is launching a pilot program to distribute 500 fully subsidized MBTA passes to low-income households in Somerville.

“In Massachusetts, public transportation has become cost-prohibitive for too many residents, so Somerville is stepping up to the plate,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “No one should be forced to choose between buying a T pass or paying for groceries, and low-income riders have little recourse. When we cover the cost of fares, we remove a barrier to ridership and deliver economic relief to those in our community who need it most. I’m grateful to CAAS for their partnership on this initiative, and I hope we can inspire similar programs to take shape across the region.”

Click here for information on transit benefits programs in Somerville

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Mayor: Somervillle gets AAA bond rating

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Wed, 31 May 2023 17:39:20 +0000

Mayor: Somervillle gets AAA bond rating Mayor Katjana … Wed, 05/31/2023 - 13:39

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Will reduce the City’s borrowing costs

#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli #somerpoli #somerville

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is proud to announce that the City of Somerville has been awarded the highest long-term debt rating of 'AAA' from S&P Global Ratings, a municipal bond credit rating agency, solidifying the City’s financial stability and creditworthiness. The upgraded rating, which benefits residents by lowering the City’s borrowing costs, reflects more than 20 years of prudent financial management, strong economic growth, and commitment to fiscal responsibility from both the current and previous Mayoral administrations.

"Somerville’s new bond rating is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the City’s public servants, both past and present, and it is great news for our community. Higher ratings reduce the City’s borrowing costs making critical investments such as school, road, or sewer reconstruction more affordable,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “I want to extend my deepest thanks to former Mayor Joe Curtatone for laying such a robust financial groundwork, as well as every one of the City’s dedicated staff members whose hard work helped us reach this achievement. Our ‘AAA’ rating highlights Somerville’s commitment to responsible financial management and provides a strong foundation for our community's future. My administration will continue to prioritize fiscal responsibility and investment in projects that build progress for all."

Read the full article at somervillema.gov

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Somerville opens Engagement Center for unhoused

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Wed, 24 May 2023 16:54:51 +0000

Somerville opens Engagement Center for unhoused Mayor Katjana … Wed, 05/24/2023 - 12:54

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Daytime support for Somerville's unhoused

#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli #somerpoli #somerville

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Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, in partnership with the Somerville Homeless Coalition, has announced the recent opening of a new Engagement Center to support Somerville’s unhoused residents.

“The opening of Somerville’s new daytime Engagement Center is a game changer, allowing us to provide more robust support services for some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “Many shelters in our area only operate at night, meaning unhoused individuals are not able to access any support services during daytime hours, a huge roadblock when looking for work and housing. I want to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to make this center a reality, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our community.”

Read the full article at The Somerville Times

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Markey, Ballantyne discuss Green New Deal

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Tue, 16 May 2023 15:49:36 +0000

Markey, Ballantyne discuss Green New Deal Mayor Katjana … Tue, 05/16/2023 - 11:49

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Senator Markey, Mayor Ballantyne kick off Sustainaville

#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli #somerpoli #somerville

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Mayor Ballantyne opened the meeting by describing the climate action progress that Somerville has already begun and the city’s goals for the upcoming years.

“We can make Somerville a national leader, a national model for climate resilience, connecting our environmental efforts with the city work on housing with the economy and social justice,” Ballantyne said.

She described how Somerville is already ahead of the curve, being “one of the first communities in the country to set a goal to be carbon negative by 2050.”

Ballantyne also described the goals she has for the city in the coming year. Her administration is laying out an action plan in 2023, which would — according to Ballantyne — focus on those residents of the city that are the “most likely to bear the brunt of climate change impacts.”

Ballantyne believes that a specific reduction factor crucial for reaching this goal is green transportation.

“We need to continue making sustainable transit the safe, easy choice for getting around,” Ballantyne said.

Read the full article at The Tufts Daily

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Mayor signs pact for equitable urban development

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Fri, 12 May 2023 11:58:40 +0000

Mayor signs pact for equitable urban development Mayor Katjana … Fri, 05/12/2023 - 07:58

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Mayor signs historic development agreement

#KatjanaForMayor #SomervilleMA #mapoli #somerpoli #somerville

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"Expanding economic opportunity - if we do it right - development is one of the most impactful ways we can bring positive investments to our neighborhoods: creating good jobs; affordable housing; vibrant business districts.

With this Compact, we are evolving that concept. We are building a more equitable urban environment. There is incredible potential to use the development industry to physically change the way people are living. With more diverse representation, we expect to see more cultural competency in our built environment.

When people move through our city, who feels like they belong?

Who's represented in its design, and who's been adapting to someone else's vision?

We have made this commitment to give people control over the conditions they live in.

It's a powerful concept, and that what's so exciting about this initiative.

Including equity benchmarks drives innovation in the development industry and it pushes us toward more transformative change."

Read the full article at The Somerville Times

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Campaign kickoff with guest Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne — Thu, 11 May 2023 13:48:04 +0000

Campaign kickoff with guest Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll Mayor Katjana … Thu, 05/11/2023 - 09:48

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I invite you to join me and special guest, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, for my Campaign Kickoff event on Wednesday, May 31st, 6-8 pm, at the Burren, 247 Elm Street.

We’ve accomplished a great deal together in these first two years, and in the years to come we will keep working to translate our progressive values into progressive policies and progress for all. We are just getting started.

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