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Comments
Glory Hallelujah!
YEAH STEPHANIE MUCCINI BURKE!
So glad that all the noise made by the juvenile Penta supporters has gotten them only sour grapes, confusion, and now some ripe conspiracy theories.
Why I voted for Burke
There's a good article which illuminated Penta's pigheaded do-it-my-way attitude toward community media and city workers. In short, Penta wanted to use the city's website to post political messages and instructed the town webmaster (who also runs Inside Medford) to post his view. She said no, anything which goes on the website needs to go though the town clerk. Penta then made a bunch of accusations and was out of line.
That said, Penta's website is pretty amazing in a geocities sort of way.
First new mayor in 28 years?!
Wow. Just, wow.
The most surprising...
...thing about this election is that the CPA passed and it wasn't even close. This is really a signal that Medford is in the midst of change. I could not imagine it passing in the "old" Medford.
Not really surprising
In an election that was supposed to be all about change and a fresh start, incumbents running for re-election were 9 for 9, the two new city council members are currently on the school committee, and the new mayor has worked for the city for 20 or so years as city councilor and budget director. The top 7 city council finishers were unchanged from September's preliminary election, too. So in the so-called most important election in nearly 30 years, only 2 of 14 people elected are "new." While the CPA being passed was impressive and relatively unexpected, nothing else about the election bespeaks a "fresh start" or a "new" Medford.
Gentrification
They are opening a vegan catering place in West Medford. Is that isn't a sign of change I don't know what is.
Burke is closer to fresh blood then Penta who is about as good-old-boy as they come. They where the only two running for mayor so it was a given that a former councilor was going to win.
I was saddened that Neil didn't make city council and that so many incumbents won but that is pretty par for the course in MA/US politics where people will elect the same people over and over yet complain about the fools in government.
More education than income
People bought in and then didn't move when the kids got to school age, and now the knowledge workers out vote those who inherited their homes and never mentally left high school.
Changes
Yes, Penta is definitely more old-school Medford than Burke. He talks about change, but his first reaction to anything new is negative. He is not for the Green Line to Route 16 without "further study”, as is Neil O. Burke came out strongly for it.
But, I will say that I think Penta sincerely cares about the city and he was well spoken and well-behaved during what I saw of the debates.
I just noted the Vegan place yesterday and was kind of surprised, although I am seeing a noticeable uptick in manbuns in Greater West Medford. Also, surprising is the fact that the city allowed the Halloween Block Party in West Medford Square with alcohol! Place is going crazy.
Vegan catering in Haines Square . . .
A vegan caterer in W Medford is consistent with the changes in the past few years ($8 smoothies, anyone? $150 dinner for two? West Medford has had both those options for quite some time.). Medford will truly have changed, however, when someone opens a vegan caterer and $8 smoothie place in Haines Sq.