City Councillor Robert M. Penta

Dear Medford Citizens ~

When one is elected to be the people’s representative that representation sometimes gets caught up in the mode of political correctness.

The term of being politically correct has too often kept the common sense thinking of aspiring candidates and elected officials from saying and voting as they should or would have liked to.

I have never taken the side of being politically correct to satisfy any one vote needed to be taken. On occasions, I have voted alone or in the minority as to the issue presented because what I, or others, believed not to be in the best interest of our city at the time.

With that being said, serving on the Medford City Council has been a privilege that I have accepted with great honor.

As such, my selected statement for this announcement represents but a sampling of the many topics of City interest happening at any time. 

For Medford, our historical and educational foundations have faired well.

At Tufts University, Medford has one of the finest institutions of higher learning in our nation which is recognized internationally as well. Our Medford public and private schools prepare our students well for pursuing higher education such as at Tufts.

Medford owns a piece of early American history as a community involved in ship building, rum making, colonial homes and the Underground Railroad. Additionally, the Royall House, the Slave Quarters, the Medford Historical Society and the Brooks Estates add to the jewels of Medford’s History needing to be preserved.

We are living in a Medford that has made some wonderful population changes that represent a new and diverse forward way of thinking. I believe that for our city to move forward we need our new Medfordites to become more actively involved in our City’s operations.

During the past two years, I, along with my colleagues, have supported the needs and financial bonding for new and refurbishing of city and school department buildings. I also supported the need for upgrades for some parkland properties.

The need for a new public works building, new school science labs, new school computer technology, refurbishing of the city’s fire stations and some police station upgrades and the purchasing of new police and fire vehicles prompted major concerns for debate. I strongly advocated for a long range, committed plan to staff and maintain that for which we would be spending millions of dollars on . I am pleased to say that I, along with my colleagues, successfully voted for that commitment.

I have enjoyed working toward having our City relationships interact within our art community, the business community, our local churches, our sports teams, our parks and natural resources, our volunteer organizations and our police and fire department as examples of moving Medford forward with a new vibrancy.

Projects and topics that I would love to continue working on as your councillor are:

·  the Cradock Bridge restoration and mitigation for businesses,

·   the revised use of the Chevalier Auditorium as a center for entertainment the arts and cultural acknowledgements

·   the look and see into a police Truck Enforcement Unit (be it part time or full time),

·   supporting a pilot Medford Square traffic enforcement program that will demonstrate the need, if any, for an 8.5 million dollar Governor’s Ave parking garage.

·   public safety lighting at the Condon Shell, Rt. 16 parking lot behind St. Joseph’s Church,

·   addressing the possibility of a Lawrence Memorial Hospital takeover and its’ affect upon our City,

·   addressing a better small business approach with tax incentives,

·   continuing to pursue a minimum of two new police cruisers every year,

·   pursuing a “What’s best for Medford Wellington Circle traffic plan”, before any Everett casino is built, if at all,

·   adhering to City wide conservation, environmental, renewable energy and economic growth standards,

·   advocating and encouraging the Mayor, who has total,  Comcast and Verizon cable contract authority, to maintain an accountable and reputable public access, cable tv channel on  behalf of cable paying subscribers,

Additionally, I want to re-introduce a “Squares are More” economic and beautification enhancement program for our city’s squares that offers new business storefronts, signage, sidewalks, crosswalk striping, lighting and tax incentive opportunities.

I have maintained a watchful eye of responsibility regarding the financial commitment(s) our city needs to maintain regarding its tax levies, bonding, free cash spending, revolving and overlay accounts, enterprise accounts and linkage accounts.

On issues to be, whether I am in the forefront or a part of them, I want to continue being understanding and compromising to situations as they arise. I choose not to be a quiet voice but rather a voice that speaks out loud and clear not only when problems arise but also when opportunities await us in the best interest of our children and our community.

My years of college, graduate and law school education along with further post graduate studies at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and the Senior Executive Management Program at Harvard University have collectively afforded me the insight to work within our neighborhoods, business community and educational system.

Along with my family and friends, I would appreciate your support and your vote for City Councillor Robert M. Penta on Tuesday, November 5th, Election Day. 

We thank you !