Matt Leming

Drug Policy

Decriminalization of plant-based medicine for therapeutic uses. Following the examples of Somerville and Cambridge, our own Senator Jehlen’s work at the state level, and the FDA giving these medicines breakthrough therapy status in light of the scientific evidence, I will work to reschedule plant-based medicines for therapeutic use in Medford. Learn more

Economy

City Hall is operating at skeleton capacity, and we are losing our most talented city staff members to higher-paying jobs elsewhere. Medford needs to build up and support its most skilled staff members in City Hall, rather than relying on outside contractors for so many essential services. Learn more

The City’s commercial tax base currently sits at 12% of its annual revenue when it should be closer to 30%. We need to develop a mix of dining and entertainment around Medford Square and Riverside Ave. We should encourage further development projects around Mystic Ave, Route 16, and the Mystic Valley Parkway. We need to drive forward the ongoing Transforming the Square projects. And we need to especially work to make the permitting process for opening a business and keeping restaurants open late at night easier. Learn more

The source of many of the city's problems is a lack of funding. There is little ability to remedy this, however, given that the details of our city’s finances are unclear. Residents need to be able to see, with absolute clarity, how their taxes get used by the City. We need to create a clear and transparent budgetary process and an Open Data Policy, enabling both the public and experts to be able to look at our finances with a fresh set of eyes. Learn more

Education

As a member of the Medford City Council, I will work to ensure that those who provide our public educators are provided with the salaries they deserve. The most important way Medford City Council can support its schools and teachers is to work to increase revenue for the budget so that we never have to cut services or lay off teachers. Learn more

Aside from the important role of providing a budget, the City Council has very few hard powers over Medford Public Schools. As a Councilor, I will work with my colleagues on the Medford School Committee and Medford Public Schools Administration to ensure an educational system that keeps Medford students successful and safe. Learn more

Environment / Energy

Electric vehicles will not solve every environmental challenge, but they are an important stepping stone to fighting climate change. I will support the development of new electric vehicle charging stations around Medford and the adoption of electric vehicles by the City of Medford’s fleet. Learn more

We need to implement carbon-neutral requirements for new, heavily resource-demanding structures. I will work to ensure that the City makes reporting on carbon emissions from such new buildings obligatory, as we work towards carbon-neutral development. Learn more

We need to work with Medford’s Energy and Environment Committee to promote policies that encourage the installation of solar panels in our neighborhoods. Learn more

Limiting carbon offsets in old buildings, which typically rely on gas, is more challenging than new developments. To gather the extent of the problem, we need to require old buildings to report total emissions to a local planning board. Learn more

Government Reform

If elected as a City Councillor, I will continue to work with the Charter Study Committee to ensure that public and expert feedback is incorporated into the Charter Review process. Learn more

Changes to the Charter need to be approved by the City Council, but City Councils often refuse to vote on essential and needed changes to the City's charter, especially when those changes affect elections (e.g., term limits, changes from at-large to ward-based representation). Because the Charter Study Committee is composed of Medford residents and experts and will incorporate feedback that is in the best interests of our community, I commit to standing by and voting for their ultimate recommendations. Learn more

Medford has active immigrant communities, but few show up to city council meetings. We need to not only welcome everyone, but engage in active outreach. This can be done by using our community liaisons (individuals that the city normally employs for multilingual services) to recruit to citizens city boards, diversifying communications lists, advertising and simplifying the process of joining city council meetings, and identifying and reaching out to community leaders not typically engaged in Medford politics. This is especially true when engaging in community outreach efforts for feedback. Learn more

Ongoing utilization of virtual and hybrid meetings. As the pandemic weans and we return to normal life, so have the discussions regarding the use of virtual meetings for city boards and meetings. We ought to continue the use of virtual and hybrid meetings, both to include participants that may be unable to attend or may feel unsafe attending and increasing overall transparency. Learn more

The first time I applied to one of Medford’s city boards, I carefully prepared a resume, hit the “submit” button, and heard nothing back. It was only after networking that I was able to get a reply. This practice does not promote inclusivity or even outside thought. If elected, I will pass a requirement that all city boards interview first-time applicants. Learn more

Housing

In keeping with the MBTA Communities Act, we need to encourage and attract affordable housing developers to build affordable housing near the new Green Line Extension. I am committed to this process, and I will work in my capacity as a Councilor to determine what residents’ concerns are, what the City Council’s responsibilities are, and consult with those most knowledgeable to ensure that Medford takes advantage of this opportunity to produce housing that is convenient and accessible to our GLX terminal. Learn more

I commit to supporting a growing City Hall staff of affordable housing professionals, with the goal of creating an Office of Housing Stability in Medford. I will consult directly with the Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability to ensure that they have all the resources they need to work most effectively on addressing our city’s housing demands. Learn more

Zoning reform in Medford will allow us to build affordable housing in places it is not currently allowed — above shops and restaurants in Medford Square, in high rises, and so on. Changing our zoning in these areas to allow more housing will, among other things, provide more housing and increase revenue. Learn more

Affordable housing is difficult to pay for. The AHT is a fund that can be used to support affordable housing projects. Medford only implemented one in 2023. The next step is to build up revenue streams to put money into the AHT. Once state law allows the City Council to do so, implementing a real-estate transfer fee that does not affect single homeowners would be another critical funding source, and I will work assertively to ensure its passage. Learn more

Medford has for far too long left various actors involved in housing justice unengaged with our community. I will forge new partnerships with such entities, such as community development corporations and various nonprofits, and invite them to play a role, alongside the City, in the housing solutions that the community needs. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

The Fair Share Amendment was passed last year by the voters of Massachusetts so that millionaires would pay an extra tax that could go towards infrastructure repairs and education. Funneling that money towards Medford would be a vital means of repairing our roads and funding our schools. This will require collaboration with our state representatives, who are currently fighting to prevent further tax cuts in other areas that would effectively render the Fair Share Amendment moot. Failing at this, we need to pursue other measures, such as a Prop 2 ½ Override, to direct the appropriate funding towards our schools and roads. Learn more

Infrastructure that leads to safer roads. Speed limits of many roads in Medford are not consistently followed, which often leads to car crashed. There is a need to put more speed bumps, speeding signs, raised crosswalks, and rumble strips on roads in Medford where crashes frequently occur. Learn more

Redirection of traffic patterns. Traffic is currently directed to go through Medford Square without bringing extra commerce. Traffic patterns and parking through Medford Square need to be revised and rethought. This is a longer-term initiative that will coincide with Medford’s Transforming the Square initiative. Learn more

Many of the most-used roads in Medford, notably Main Street, are in poor condition and need repaving. This will be aided by an upheaval of our old pipe infrastructure, which frequently leads to roads being dug up and repaved in a patchwork manner, negatively impacting them in the long-term. Learn more

Wages / Job Benefits

As long as any employer has the option to underpay their employees, every employer will be incentivized to pay as little as possible. We need to support local unions, which guarantee extra representation to workers, and we need to work towards increasing the minimum wage from $15 to $20 per hour. Learn more