Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & Environment Monthly Meeting Nov 2021
Land Acknowledgement
Working Group Reports:
The Pigsgusset Initiative recently hosted a webinar with panelists presenting the Mass Indigenous Legislative Agenda. The forum has been recorded and will be posted for those who missed it. They plan to submit the petition to the Town Council in early December re: renaming Columbus Delta. Many will be participating in Legislative Advocacy Day and attending the Nov 25 National Day of Mourning in Plymouth.
Watertown Community for Black Lives plans to continue their second Tuesday standoutd throughout the year- weather permitting. They have been busy responding to issues raised during the recent town election. They received feedback that many appreciated their role and candidate endorsements. They are currently debriefing the most recent Public Safety Town Council Subcommittee meeting.
Watertown Faces Climate Change continues planning for the town’s new high school and celebrating the two net zero elementary schools. They are actively participating and generating feedback on Watertown’s Climate Action Plan and gearing up to generate support for the Fair Share Amendment, to be placed on the ballot next Fall. They also share things you can do. Pat Rathbone recently learned about electric induction cooktops and convinced the library to purchase ones for residents to try out.
Refugee Support Group members continue supporting individual families and have been attending training sessions on Afghan cultural issues in preparation for anticipated refugees. They have researched Ascentria’s Neighborhood Support Teams, a formal program that some communities have adopted, but found it didn’t quite fit for them, so will use their resources to help other teams. The biggest problem facing the families they work with is finding housing. They are also working on a project called Green Line Homes, initiated by member Mary Skinner, to find ways to secure reduced rental apartments by offering pro bono renovations to landlords.
Friends of Bees – no current report
Debriefing the recent Watertown elections
Focused discussion planned for this meeting was the recent local election. Positives included appreciation for Watertown Forward’s terrific work engaging the community in the successful, significant passage of changes to the Watertown Charter. But the candidate races were marked by toxic, negative, misleading attacks on many of the progressive candidates. A few very vocal people on multiple sites used over the top language meant to excite people, and they painted candidates as threats. Most of this was centered around misleading accusations of promoting defunding the police. Dan D’Amico, a first-time candidate for Councilor at Large, experienced personal attacks that led him to write a public response, which was effective and highly praised. WCPJE was also attacked. While most progressive candidates won, it was a painful, alienating experience. Running in District A, Nicole Gardner mounted a very successful effort. She attributed it to three rounds of door knocking, building relationships, and many neighborhood coffee gatherings with face to face contact. Personal engagement was key to countering specific attacks. Incumbents won, too. Many new voters were brought to the polls. The question was raised of how to keep new voters engaged, and how to help new young candidates who don’t have time to do intensive door knocking to reach new voters.
Discussion also focused on the false narratives from supporters of the police who perceived us as outsiders and a threat. Elodia Thomas felt the criticisms and complaints about police treatment of people of color were not believable because they were not publicly substantiated with examples. Many gave thoughtful responses about the powerful forces that make speaking out in public difficult and urged her to more carefully understand the dynamics.
Respectfully submitted, Deborah Peterson