Vote Medford 2005

Michael McGlynn

Michael McGlynn – Running Unopposed for Mayor

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McGlynn: Q1 - Medford Square

The revitalization of Medford Square is still in the planning stages.  If you were walking through Medford Square and along the Mystic River ten years from now, what would you like to see there? How would you as mayor try to implement that vision?

McGlynn's response:

I HAVE WORKED WITH MANY CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY ON A SHARED VISION FOR MEDFORD SQUARE AND BEYOND… A VISION OF CONNECTIVITY ALONG THE MYSTIC FROM THE WINCHESTER/ARLINGTON LINE TO THE MALDEN/EVERETT LINE.  WE HAVE COMPLETED OPEN SPACE IMPROVEMENTS AT STATION’S LANDING, CONNECTING TO MACDONALD PARK, TO HORMEL STADIUM AND TO MYSTIC RIVERBEND PARK.  MEDFORD SQUARE WILL BE THE NEXT AREA, WHERE WE CREATE OPEN SPACE, CONNECTING TO THE CONDON SHELL, MEMORIAL PARK, AND DUGGER PARK, TO THE MYSTIC LAKES.

I SHARE A VISION FOR GREATER ACCESS TO THE RIVER, FOR CREATION OF MORE GREEN SPACE AND FOR THE FORMATION OF A BOARDWALK BEHIND THE STORES IN THE WEST END OF MEDFORD SQUARE ALONG THE MYSTIC.

ADDRESSING TRAFFIC ISSUES ARE A CRITICAL ELEMENT OF THE PLAN.  TRAFFIC CALMLY WILL CREATE A PEDISTRIAN FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.  WE MUST MAKE BUSINESS AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES A PART OF ANY PLAN TO MAKE IT A SUCCESSFUL ONE.  ALL OF THESE FACTORS NEED TO BE SUPPORTED BY ADDITIONAL PARKING AT BOTH ENDS OF THE SQUARE.

McGlynn: Q2 - Low- and Moderate-income Families

What is the city doing to ensure that low and moderate-income families and individuals can move to and continue to live in Medford?  Are there additional measures that could be taken and what can you, as the mayor, do to address this issue?

McGlynn's response:

AS CHAIR OF THE RE-USE COMMITTEE FOR OUR RETIRED SCHOOL BUILDINGS, I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY OF MEDFORD.  THE HILLSIDE, DAVENPORT, GLEASON, HERVEY, SWAN AND FRANKLIN SCHOOLS ALL PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES… WITH 15%-25% OF UNITS DESIGNATED AS AFFORDABLE.  IN ADDITION, WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS AT BOTH ABBOTT DEVELOPMENT AND STATION’S LANDING.

MEDFORD MUST DO MORE TO KEEP YOUNG MEDFORD FAMILIES IN MEDFORD, BY CREATING FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER OPPORTUNITIES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDFORD’S EMPLOYEES.  THIS CITY CAN ACHIEVE THESE GOALS THROUGH ORDINANCE CHANGES THAT INCLUDE A PERCENTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL MEDFORD DEVELOPMENTS.

McGlynn: Q3 - Small Business encouragement

What measures can the city take right now to help Medford’s small businesses flourish and to help attract more small business owners and customers to the city?

McGlynn's response:

THE FIRST THING A CITY MUST DO IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROPER MAINTAINENCE OF ITS INFRASTRUCTURE.  THE CITY OF MEDFORD MUST MAINTAIN OUR SIDEWALKS, STREETS AND TREES IN ORDER THAT BUSINESSES HAVE A PLEASANT ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH TO THRIVE.

MEDFORD HAS IN PLACE A CITY BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM, WITH EXPANDED PLANTINGS EVERY YEAR WHICH BEAUTIFY OUR BUSINESSES AREAS.   WE MUST CONTINUE TO BROADEN THIS PROGRAM.  THE CITY ALSO OFFERS A FACADE PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS BUSINESSES TO UPGRADE STOREFRONTS THROUGH FEDERAL GRANT MONIES.  THE CITY OFFERS GRANTS TO BUSINESSES WHICH ARE MATCHED BY THE BUSINESS OWNER TO IMPROVE STOREFRONTS.  I ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY RE-INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND WORK WITH LOCAL BANKS TO PROVIDE LOW INTEREST LOANS TO EITHER EXPAND THEIR MEDFORD BUSINESS OR RELOCATE THEIR BUSINESS TO THE CITY OF MEDFORD.

SMALL BUSINESSES ARE CRITICAL TO THE TAX BASE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE PUBLIC WHO DEPEND UPON THE SERVICES THEY OFFER.  FOR A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AREA TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE CITY MUST MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

McGlynn: Q4 - Why Medford Public Schools ?

If parents were to ask you why they should send their children to Medford public schools rather than private schools, what would you tell them? 

What would you tell them if their children had a physical, social/emotional or developmental disability?

McGlynn's response:

THE STORY OF THE MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A GREAT STORY TO TELL!  DURING THE 1980’S THE MEDFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS INFRASTRUCTURE WAS DETIORATING RAPIDLY AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BUILDINGS, TEXTBOOKS, EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY WERE PLENTIFUL.  AS MAYOR, I HAVE LED AN EFFORT TO RE-BUILD ALL OF OUR K-8 SCHOOLS AND I HAVE COMMITTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE RENOVATIONS AT MEDFORD HIGH SCHOOL.  WE NOW HAVE A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT PEOPLE VISIT FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.  THEY COME TO MEDFORD TO ASK US HOW WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SUCH A DRAMATIC TURNAROUND.

OUR NEW SCHOOLS OFFER NOT ONLY AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING, ENHANCED BY OUR GREAT TEACHERS AND STAFF, BUT ALSO PROVIDE THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC, ART AND TECHNOLGY ROOMS, WITH GYMS, CAFETERIAS AND AUDITORIUMS WHICH IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

MANY OF MEDFORD’S SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENTS IN STATE-WIDE TESTING SCORES.  MORALE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AND COMPLAINTS ARE NEARLY NON-EXISTENT.  MEDFORD IS PROUD TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES ATTEMPTING TO BUILD NEW SCHOOLS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

McGlynn: Q5 - My Leadership & Accomplishments

What within the past three years has given you most pride as mayor?

McGlynn's response:

MY PROUDEST MOMENT IN LEADING THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LEADING THE CITY OF MEDFORD THROUGH ITS SECOND RECESSION IN EIGHTEEN YEARS WITHOUT CAUSING ANY MAJOR DISRUPTIONS IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS.  WE HAVE NOT HAD TO CLOSE ANY SCHOOLS OR FIRE STATIONS, OR LAY OFF ANY FIRE OR POLICE PERSONNEL.  INSTEAD, DURING THIS PAST RECESSION, WE HAVE BUILT NEW SCHOOLS!  I TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND THIS STATE AND I AM PROUD TO HEAR PEOPLE SPEAK OF MEDFORD’S CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN WEATHERING FINANCIAL DIFFICULITES.

MOST RECENTLY, I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WORK EFFORT OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE BUILDING OF THE NEW SCHOOLS FOR THE BENEFIT OF MEDFORD’S YOUTH AND TO ALL THOSE WHOSE EFFORTS PRODUCED A NEW MONUMENT TO OUR VETERANS.  WE MUST CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR THEY ARE OUR FUTURE, WHILE STILL TAKING THE TIME TO REMEMBER AND RECOGNIZE OUR VETERANS FOR PROVIDING US WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE FREE.