| It’s been a lively 2024 in Reading politics so far, and the pace continues as we gear up for Town Meeting (starting April 25) and the special election on May 14—not to mention MBTA Communities, the senior center, and the Killam school replacement. First, a quick review: at the April 9 meeting, the Select Board voted 3 to 1 to proceed with the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jackie McCarthy’s abrupt resignation. Thanks to so many of you for speaking up and demanding transparency! You can watch the Board meeting discussion here. Although the investigation’s status is uncertain, this was a hard-won victory. We have a divided and chaotic Select Board where we often face a 2-2 deadlock on key issues. To build a responsible, ethical, and common-sense board, and to help continue the Select Board transparency that new chair Carlo Bacci is helping to institute, we must elect the right person. That person is Melissa Murphy, and here’s why: |
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| Murphy recognizes that Reading has become increasingly divided and will rally the Select Board and town around priorities and initiatives that benefit everyone, with a focus on LOCAL needs first. As she puts it, “I have witnessed a growing divide between elected officials in this Town. I intend to work tirelessly to change that. We must return to being a town government that can simply get things done for its residents. Major national political issues and parties should not factor into the activities and decisions in Reading.” That’s why Murphy has put forth a motion at Town Meeting advocating for a forum bringing together multiple elected and appointed town bodies to help residents understand the tax implications of all the major upcoming projects, including the Killam school, senior center, trash/recycling rate increases, etc.—rather than being presented with a piecemeal view. Murphy proposes to bring in more public bodies and provide a more holistic view of finances than past forums the town has held. Contrast that with Tara Gregory, who, both in current and previous campaigns, openly signals support for more and more town spending, higher taxes, and bigger government in the form of a new Commission on Disability; directing more spending on capital projects and infrastructure of questionable need (like wider sidewalks and bike lanes along Walkers Brook Drive); and charging a permanent 1%-3% surcharge on property tax bills via support of the Community Preservation Act—all while claiming to address tax rates. Given an unstable national and state situation characterized by rampant spending and inflation that damages us all, it is crucial that we control what we can on the local level by supporting Melissa Murphy and her priorities: •Responsible budgets: Murphy will closely scrutinize proposals and control the pace, scope, and timing of projects to ensure that residents can afford to fund them. • MBTA Communities: Adding the minimum required 1,493 additional units will greatly burden the town’s constrained infrastructure, creating new expenses while also creating new tax revenue. The devil is in the details, and Murphy will be a strong voice in ensuring a complete discussion and review of alternative proposals, including ones that do not over-deliver on compliance. In contrast, Gregory has posted on social media opining that single-family zoning is not still necessary in Reading. • Water rates: The rate changes were implemented inequitably, where residents in multi-unit buildings are subject to very high rates based on the total building usage instead of their individual usage. This rate change also severely impacts larger households—even if they conserve water, more people means their total usage bumps the home into a much higher water rate. Murphy voted in 2023 to support David Zeek’s Instructional Motion to examine the tiered water rates, especially those for multi-family and condo buildings. Melissa advocated at Select Board meetings in 2023 in favor of second water meters to help residents save money on water bills, and she would advocate for this again as a Select Board member. • Supporting residents and small business owners: Murphy understands the value small businesses bring and the pressures they face with rising costs and burdensome regulations. She will advocate for Reading’s small businesses and have an open line of communication with them, especially when the town considers new initiatives that may impact them, as it did with bag bans and plastic bans in the past. As well, as road commissioner she will be more forthcoming in alerts about road closures and detours, which will benefit business owners and residents who want to shop (and park) downtown alike. For more on Murphy’s priorities, as well as to get involved in the campaign, visit her website. Reading is at a crossroads and faces many crucial decisions and challenges. It is essential we support the common-sense candidate who will be the deciding vote on things we all care about. Local elections are decided by the smallest of margins, so please vote for Melissa Murphy on or before May 14, and share this crucial information with your friends and contacts. Sincerely,Reading Votes•Murphy recognizes that Reading has become increasingly divided and will rally the Select Board and town around priorities and initiatives that benefit everyone, with a focus on LOCAL needs first. As she puts it, “I have witnessed a growing divide between elected officials in this Town. I intend to work tirelessly to change that. We must return to being a town government that can simply get things done for its residents. Major national political issues and parties should not factor into the activities and decisions in Reading.” That’s why Murphy has put forth a motion at Town Meeting advocating for a forum bringing together multiple elected and appointed town bodies to help residents understand the tax implications of all the major upcoming projects, including the Killam school, senior center, trash/recycling rate increases, etc.—rather than being presented with a piecemeal view. Murphy proposes to bring in more public bodies and provide a more holistic view of finances than past forums the town has held. Contrast that with Tara Gregory, who, both in current and previous campaigns, openly signals support for more and more town spending, higher taxes, and bigger government in the form of a new Commission on Disability; directing more spending on capital projects and infrastructure of questionable need (like wider sidewalks and bike lanes along Walkers Brook Drive); and charging a permanent 1%-3% surcharge on property tax bills via support of the Community Preservation Act—all while claiming to address tax rates. Given an unstable national and state situation characterized by rampant spending and inflation that damages us all, it is crucial that we control what we can on the local level by supporting Melissa Murphy and her priorities: •Responsible budgets: Murphy will closely scrutinize proposals and control the pace, scope, and timing of projects to ensure that residents can afford to fund them. MBTA Communities: Adding the minimum required 1,493 additional units will greatly burden the town’s constrained infrastructure, creating new expenses while also creating new tax revenue. The devil is in the details, and Murphy will be a strong voice in ensuring a complete discussion and review of alternative proposals, including ones that do not over-deliver on compliance. In contrast, Gregory has posted on social media opining that single-family zoning is not still necessary in Reading. Water rates: The rate changes were implemented inequitably, where residents in multi-unit buildings are subject to very high rates based on the total building usage instead of their individual usage. This rate change also severely impacts larger households—even if they conserve water, more people means their total usage bumps the home into a much higher water rate. Murphy voted in 2023 to support David Zeek’s Instructional Motion to examine the tiered water rates, especially those for multi-family and condo buildings. Melissa advocated at Select Board meetings in 2023 in favor of second water meters to help residents save money on water bills, and she would advocate for this again as a Select Board member. Supporting residents and small business owners: Murphy understands the value small businesses bring and the pressures they face with rising costs and burdensome regulations. She will advocate for Reading’s small businesses and have an open line of communication with them, especially when the town considers new initiatives that may impact them, as it did with bag bans and plastic bans in the past. As well, as road commissioner she will be more forthcoming in alerts about road closures and detours, which will benefit business owners and residents who want to shop (and park) downtown alike. For more on Murphy’s priorities, as well as to get involved in the campaign, visit her website. Reading is at a crossroads and faces many crucial decisions and challenges. It is essential we support the common-sense candidate who will be the deciding vote on things we all care about. Local elections are decided by the smallest of margins, so please vote for Melissa Murphy on or before May 14, and share this crucial information with your friends and contacts. Sincerely,Reading Votes•Murphy recognizes that Reading has become increasingly divided and will rally the Select Board and town around priorities and initiatives that benefit everyone, with a focus on LOCAL needs first. As she puts it, “I have witnessed a growing divide between elected officials in this Town. I intend to work tirelessly to change that. We must return to being a town government that can simply get things done for its residents. Major national political issues and parties should not factor into the activities and decisions in Reading.” That’s why Murphy has put forth a motion at Town Meeting advocating for a forum bringing together multiple elected and appointed town bodies to help residents understand the tax implications of all the major upcoming projects, including the Killam school, senior center, trash/recycling rate increases, etc.—rather than being presented with a piecemeal view. Murphy proposes to bring in more public bodies and provide a more holistic view of finances than past forums the town has held. Contrast that with Tara Gregory, who, both in current and previous campaigns, openly signals support for more and more town spending, higher taxes, and bigger government in the form of a new Commission on Disability; directing more spending on capital projects and infrastructure of questionable need (like wider sidewalks and bike lanes along Walkers Brook Drive); and charging a permanent 1%-3% surcharge on property tax bills via support of the Community Preservation Act—all while claiming to address tax rates. Given an unstable national and state situation characterized by rampant spending and inflation that damages us all, it is crucial that we control what we can on the local level by supporting Melissa Murphy and her priorities: •Responsible budgets: Murphy will closely scrutinize proposals and control the pace, scope, and timing of projects to ensure that residents can afford to fund them. • MBTA Communities: Adding the minimum required 1,493 additional units will greatly burden the town’s constrained infrastructure, creating new expenses while also creating new tax revenue. The devil is in the details, and Murphy will be a strong voice in ensuring a complete discussion and review of alternative proposals, including ones that do not over-deliver on compliance. In contrast, Gregory has posted on social media opining that single-family zoning is not still necessary in Reading. Water rates: The rate changes were implemented inequitably, where residents in multi-unit buildings are subject to very high rates based on the total building usage instead of their individual usage. This rate change also severely impacts larger households—even if they conserve water, more people means their total usage bumps the home into a much higher water rate. Murphy voted in 2023 to support David Zeek’s Instructional Motion to examine the tiered water rates, especially those for multi-family and condo buildings. Melissa advocated at Select Board meetings in 2023 in favor of second water meters to help residents save money on water bills, and she would advocate for this again as a Select Board member. Supporting residents and small business owners: Murphy understands the value small businesses bring and the pressures they face with rising costs and burdensome regulations. She will advocate for Reading’s small businesses and have an open line of communication with them, especially when the town considers new initiatives that may impact them, as it did with bag bans and plastic bans in the past. As well, as road commissioner she will be more forthcoming in alerts about road closures and detours, which will benefit business owners and residents who want to shop (and park) downtown alike. For more on Murphy’s priorities, as well as to get involved in the campaign, visit her website. Reading is at a crossroads and faces many crucial decisions and challenges. It is essential we support the common-sense candidate who will be the deciding vote on things we all care about. Local elections are decided by the smallest of margins, so please vote for Melissa Murphy on or before May 14, and share this crucial information with your friends and contacts. Sincerely,Reading Votes•Murphy recognizes that Reading has become increasingly divided and will rally the Select Board and town around priorities and initiatives that benefit everyone, with a focus on LOCAL needs first. As she puts it, “I have witnessed a growing divide between elected officials in this Town. I intend to work tirelessly to change that. We must return to being a town government that can simply get things done for its residents. Major national political issues and parties should not factor into the activities and decisions in Reading.” That’s why Murphy has put forth a motion at Town Meeting advocating for a forum bringing together multiple elected and appointed town bodies to help residents understand the tax implications of all the major upcoming projects, including the Killam school, senior center, trash/recycling rate increases, etc.—rather than being presented with a piecemeal view. Murphy proposes to bring in more public bodies and provide a more holistic view of finances than past forums the town has held. Contrast that with Tara Gregory, who, both in current and previous campaigns, openly signals support for more and more town spending, higher taxes, and bigger government in the form of a new Commission on Disability; directing more spending on capital projects and infrastructure of questionable need (like wider sidewalks and bike lanes along Walkers Brook Drive); and charging a permanent 1%-3% surcharge on property tax bills via support of the Community Preservation Act—all while claiming to address tax rates. Given an unstable national and state situation characterized by rampant spending and inflation that damages us all, it is crucial that we control what we can on the local level by supporting Melissa Murphy and her priorities: •Responsible budgets: Murphy will closely scrutinize proposals and control the pace, scope, and timing of projects to ensure that residents can afford to fund them. MBTA Communities: Adding the minimum required 1,493 additional units will greatly burden the town’s constrained infrastructure, creating new expenses while also creating new tax revenue. The devil is in the details, and Murphy will be a strong voice in ensuring a complete discussion and review of alternative proposals, including ones that do not over-deliver on compliance. In contrast, Gregory has posted on social media opining that single-family zoning is not still necessary in Reading. Water rates: The rate changes were implemented inequitably, where residents in multi-unit buildings are subject to very high rates based on the total building usage instead of their individual usage. This rate change also severely impacts larger households—even if they conserve water, more people means their total usage bumps the home into a much higher water rate. Murphy voted in 2023 to support David Zeek’s Instructional Motion to examine the tiered water rates, especially those for multi-family and condo buildings. Melissa advocated at Select Board meetings in 2023 in favor of second water meters to help residents save money on water bills, and she would advocate for this again as a Select Board member. Supporting residents and small business owners: Murphy understands the value small businesses bring and the pressures they face with rising costs and burdensome regulations. She will advocate for Reading’s small businesses and have an open line of communication with them, especially when the town considers new initiatives that may impact them, as it did with bag bans and plastic bans in the past. As well, as road commissioner she will be more forthcoming in alerts about road closures and detours, which will benefit business owners and residents who want to shop (and park) downtown alike. For more on Murphy’s priorities, as well as to get involved in the campaign, visit her website. Reading is at a crossroads and faces many crucial decisions and challenges. It is essential we support the common-sense candidate who will be the deciding vote on things we all care about. Local elections are decided by the smallest of margins, so please vote for Melissa Murphy on or before May 14, and share this crucial information with your friends and contacts. Sincerely,Reading Votes |
Endorsement: Melissa Murphy for Reading Select Board
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