By Joe Aiello
I could start this article by declaring all is good in Winthrop. Many many things are great about our town but there are real challenges that could overwhelm us. Winthrop’s Town budget is in long term crisis. For too long our government has ignored its infrastructure liabilities including water, sewer, stormwater systems as well as streets, sidewalks, buildings and parks. The challenges of climate change require that we accelerate investments in 4 key neighborhoods that frequently flood and our Center Business District. Those costs alone will be more than $80 million. Incrementally funding engineering work is not the answer. Our neighbors’ health and property are jeopardized.
Many candidates in this cycle are saying we don’t need grants. Without state grants your taxes will go up dramatically. They brag about 10 miles of road and sidewalk work in recent years. That work was funded by Federal Covid recovery grants. The Winthrop Beach restoration project, the current Revere St project, the CBD projects were all funded in total or part by state grants. Same for our school buildings. We have always depended on grants to fund the vast majority of our construction projects.
3A Housing law is complicated. However a few of us on the Council including myself and Hannah Belcher worked with the state in a way that enabled us to end up with a solution that is really good- No new units will result from 3A, no changes in condo docs, no changes to building, health and safety codes. Nothing
If we don’t approve the Planning Board’s plan we’ll not only lose out on grant money; we’ll also likely face daily fines from the State Attorney General and your taxes will go up.
Before you go to the ballot box check to see if the various candidates understand our situation. We have a choice in this election- either bury our heads in some poor past practices and a failure to acknowledge our financial dependency or bravely look to the future and secure grants, push our regional agencies for better outcomes ( we now have a T ferry!) such as more money from Massport, getting Boston to fix the traffic signals at Orient Heights and turning our attention to better schools and youth services, investments needed in our first responders but most importantly bring back a Town dialogue that is anchored by mutual respect and trust in each other. That will make us a beacon to others. I ask for your support on November 4.
Joe Aiello is a Town Councilor representing Precinct 5.