“Why I chose to run for Winthrop Town Council, Precinct 3
Dear Editor,
Since announcing my decision to enter the race for Winthrop Town Council Representative Precinct 3, I have received incredible support from my spouse, family, friends, neighbors and many people throughout the Winthrop community. The Winthrop town council leadership has been very kind as well. At 55 years old, I have never before considered running for any public office. It was not any easy decision. I thought long and hard before making the leap. I decided to do this because residents need and deserve to have a choice, and to see different perspectives.
Winthrop has its challenges. Every community does. We are somewhat unique being geographically seated between Massport/Logan Airport and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Wastewater Treatment Facility at Deer Island. For many residents who own property here and for those who do not, having two large-scale enterprises operating right on your doorstep creates issues. There is no way it cannot. But what should come out of it are those enterprises striving to serve as a good neighbor within the community.
The expansion of Terminal E at Massport will increase exponentially the number of flights to and from Logan Airport. This ultimately means more noise and air pollution over Winthrop and other communities which surround Massport. For those neighborhoods in Winthrop such as Point Shirley, Cottage Hill and parts of Winthrop Shore Drive that sit directly under these flight paths, the terminal expansion just compounds this issue even further. The only solution is for mitigation efforts to be directed towards soundproofing of homes in affected neighborhoods.
Many communities across the country that are in close proximity to airports are receiving assistance with soundproofing efforts not only for homes, but for schools and businesses. Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota and California are just a few states that have taken mitigation efforts seriously in order to assist those communities who are severely impacted.
Improvements to HVAC systems, HEPA filters in schools and soundproofing of windows and doors has served to improve the wellness and safety of students, teachers and paraprofessionals.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Wastewater Treatment Facility at Deer Island is literally a twelve minute walk from my front door. Tanker trucks often carry corrosive materials to the facility and roll past my house. Driving through the narrow streets of our neighborhood is the only point of access to the MWRA facility, unless the MWRA began transporting these trucks on barges across the harbor. There is a pier that was constructed so that materials and personnel could be brought to Deer Island and the MWRA facility during the Boston Harbor Clean-Up Project. The goal was to avoid trucking everything through Winthrop.
Unfortunately, the pier is not used in this manner at the present time. It would be an incredible relief to our residents for the tanker trucks and equipment to once again be brought over on barges. I was told that the last time this idea was brought into a conversation was 2015 or 2016.
Winthrop has an incredibly high water rate than many other surrounding communities. Given that the MWRA facility is right in our backyard, you would assume our rate might be somewhat lower. Unfortunately, that is not the case. It can be very expensive to live here in comparison to other communities nearby. These are just a few of the issues here in Winthrop, There are many more.
That is why I decided to throw my hat into the ring. I am vested here. I care about the people here deeply. I have lived in rural, urban and suburban communities in Massachusetts and throughout the United States. It gives me something to compare Winthrop to. When you have a broad range of experience beyond your own community, it changes your perspective and helps to expand your knowledge base a bit more. Even if I do not end up serving on the Winthrop Town Council, I will still have a strong voice and I will continue advocating for this community.
Scott Mahoney- Wright
Candidate for Winthrop Town Council; Precinct 3