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Author: Elisabeth Carr-Jones

You’re Invited to LWVA’s Annual Holiday Party!

snowflake artwork in color

Monday, December 11, 2023
6:00 – 9:00 PM
Kathy & Paul Fennelly’s Home – 97 Gray St., Arlington

Mark your calendars for the Arlington League’s Annual Holiday Potluck Party, in person!
Appetizers and drinks will be served at 6:00. Main course will start at 6:30.
Our featured guest speaker will be Arlington Deputy Town Manager-Operations Christine Bongiorno!

Christine Bongiorno became Deputy Town Manager Operations on September 11, 2023, after serving the Town as Director of Health and Human Services (HHS) for nearly two decades. The Deputy Town Manager Operations assists the Town Manager in the operation of the Town. As Director of HHS, Bongiorno led a team working toward improving public health and meeting the human services needs of the community through the Health Department, Council on Aging, Veterans Services, Arlington Youth Counseling Center and the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Divisions. Source: Bongiorno Named Arlington’s Deputy Town Manager Operations. LWVA members, friends and family are most welcome to come and hear Christine speak about her priorities for Arlington, and to provide comments and ask questions.

Directions: 97 Gray St. is at the intersection of Gray St. and Churchill Ave., which is the 4th right after you turn onto Gray St. from Pleasant St. (Route 60). If you’re traveling on Gray St. from Arlington Heights, Churchill Ave. is the 4th left after the lights at Highland Ave. The house is a large gray home on the right side if you’re traveling up from Pleasant Street. There is plenty of on-street parking.

Please let Meredith Zona know by Thursday, December 7, if you can attend and what dish you would like to bring. If you need a ride, please tell Meredith and we’ll make arrangements. Call her at 781-648-2753 or e-mail meredith.zona@stantec.com. Looking forward to seeing you there!

November/December 2023 Bulletin

In this issue of the League of Women Voters of Arlington Bulletin:

  • November-December Calendar
  • Co-President’s Message
  • LWVA Holiday Party December 11, with Guest Deputy Town Manager-Operations Christine Bongiorno.
  • MBTA Communities Law Meeting
  • Second Webinar in LWVMA Offshore Wind Series Airs November 16
  • Day on the Hill: Act for the Future
  • Membership Application/Renewal Form
"View Bulletin" button for November/December 2023 Bulletin

Special Town Election – November 7

Special Election Information from the Town of Arlington:

Vote by Mail Applications
The Town is mailing postcard applications to registered voters who wish to request a ballot in the mail for the November 7 Special Election. Any signed form can also be accepted. There is an online application as well that does not require printing or signing if you don’t receive a postcard in the mail.

Election Workers Needed
The Town Clerk is accepting applications for election workers to work the Check-in table. If you are interested, please complete the online application and you will be contacted about training.

Early Voting Schedule
The Select Board has approved early voting hours starting on Saturday, October 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Town Clerk’s Office on the second floor of Town Hall. Early voting is also available during regular office hours the following week. See the Election Calendar for the full schedule.

Confirm your Voter Registration
The deadline to register to vote for the November 7th Special Election is Saturday, October 28th at 5:00 p.m. You can confirm your voter registration especially if you recently moved or changed your registration. Inactive voters may apply for a mailed ballot or will be able to vote in person after completing a form at the precinct.
Visit the Elections & Voting page for updates.

Town of Arlington Massachusetts logo
View a Specimen Ballot

October 2023 Bulletin

In this issue of the League of Women Voters of Arlington Bulletin:

  • October 2023 Calendar
  • Town Day Cancellation Notice
  • Co-President’s Message
  • Senate President Karen Spilka to Address LWVMA at Day on the Hill
  • Voting Rights Groups, Residents Overwhelmingly Support Voting ACCESS Act
  • Membership Application/Renewal Form
"View Bulletin" button for October 2023 Bulletin

Learn About the MBTA Communities Law

"MBTA Communities: Zoning for Multifamily Housing in Arlington" logo

From Jennifer Susse, LWVA Member

Tuesday, September 26, 7 p.m.

Home of Kathy and Paul Fennelly, 97 Gray Street, Arlington

Come join us as we discuss the MBTA Communities Law. This law requires cities and towns served by the MBTA to increase the supply and type of housing in order to address high regional housing costs. The type of housing incentivized is sometimes referred to as “missing middle housing.” These are the triplexes and small apartment buildings that Arlington used to build, before the last major zoning recodification in the 1970s.

There is a good introduction to the MBTA Communities Act on the Equitable Arlington website (https://equitable-arlington.org/), but very briefly the law requires 175 communities that are located near transit to create a district of reasonable size where multifamily housing is allowed by right. The final proposal is still being hashed out, but it will likely affect between 2 and 4 percent of Arlington’s buildable land.

The MBTA Working Group will soon conclude its work and send its recommended proposal to Arlington’s Redevelopment Board (ARB) for consideration. Then the ARB will have a series of meetings, both to refine the proposal and hear from the public. Finally, Town Meeting members will vote on a proposal at the special Town Meeting that starts on October 17th.

Directions: 97 Gray St. is at the intersection of Gray St. and Churchill Ave., which is the 4th right after you turn onto Gray St. from Pleasant St. (Route 60). If you’re traveling on Gray St. from Arlington Heights, Churchill Ave. is the 4th left after the lights at Highland Ave. The house is a large gray home on the right side if you’re traveling up from Pleasant Street. There is plenty of onstreet parking.