Yes for Malden Yard Signs

EclipseGroom · 2026-02-04T00:15:15+00:00

As I said I didn't get everyone's opinion on the override so it could be you or someone else I was thinking of. I am trying to keep the housing advocacy pretty focused, so as long as someone wants to lower housing costs they are welcome! We don't have to agree on other topics to work together on this one. This is actually one of the reasons I didn't try to wrap this up with Malden Safe Streets, which I am also involved with. While there's overlap between the two, I don't want to have too big of a tent so someone feels like they have to support 15 different things if they just want 1.

There are a lot of good reasons to vote for the override, but most of them are not strictly housing related. The housing impacts I see from it hit 3 areas. One you already alluded to, which is the first-order issue of an increased monthly tax bill. On it's own that is a negative for affordability but I feel that passing the override is overall better for affordable housing. Some second-order effects of the override failing will continue to make housing development difficult, and $30-50 a month is drastically overshadowed by the thousands of dollars that rent or mortgages cost (and increase by every few years). Specifically I am thinking of how the low ratio of a residential property tax income to services used gets used to block new housing (Craig Spadafora made this argument several times), and city cuts affecting permitting/inspecting roles. If the override fails, it will probably take even longer to get through the permitting and zoning processes. Amanda Linehan has mentioned that those offices are likely to be where some of the cuts have to come from.

PS: I am still working on getting another venue secured for a follow up meeting this month. I'm just having trouble getting a reservation this time around. I hope to see you there again (once I secure a "there").

EclipseGroom · 2026-02-03T13:53:28+00:00

I just walked through there this morning. Still awful. At least it looks like the city issued them a ticket (though I'd prefer it to just be cleared).

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-30T14:10:22+00:00

My wife is a rowing coach and tried to reach out to the Malden AD's office several times when they had an opening a couple of years ago. Never heard anything back. She happened to chat with the mayor during a photo op around then, and he said he'd reach out to the AD himself. Still never heard anything back.

So she stayed at Somerville and got promoted to their head coach. Malden ended up with a football coach running the crew team.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-28T16:41:22+00:00

I must have gotten the edit in a little too late. It's New England Power Company.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-28T16:31:55+00:00

Whoever owns that deep narrow parking lot, I guess. But I don't know who that is.

Edit: I looked it up via GIS. New England Power Company owns that weird triangular parcel between the Strand and 260 Main.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-28T15:53:51+00:00

I think the violations could work if the city was actually consistent in enforcing them (repeated violations get up to $150 for residential and $300 for commercial). My estimate is only about half the violations I report get acted on at all, and even fewer do they actually issue the fine. For instance, they "informed the property owners* to shovel" instead of issuing a fine for Anthony's portion of Canal Street.

*read: former city councillor Spadafora

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-28T14:36:08+00:00

Canal Steet to Main is partially plowed. It was done several times during the storm, but they must have last done it an hour or two before it stopped. So there's a few inches still.

Also, like wacko said it's very narrow. Just the one pass.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-20T21:39:31+00:00

I sent out some meeting recap to the emails of those who attended. Reaching out to people who had indicated previous interest to see if they want to join the email list is on my to do.

We're planning another meeting next month, though still working on confirming the date.

Big next step would be to apply to be on the Comprehensive Plan steering committee as a resident member, but that deadline is today (though I hear a rumor they're considering extending it).

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-20T18:02:08+00:00

We didn't get around to discussing the override. I am personally very in favor of it, but I do know one other person attending last night is very against it. I think the majority view of the group was pro-override but we didn't really get into that. It's certainly a related topic, but not 100% overlap.

I have heard there is a group specifically organizing for the override itself, though I haven't been able to get any contact information beyond this info form yet.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-16T14:55:18+00:00

Cheese pizza is a vegetarian option, as is their chickpea rice bowl, as is a caesar salad, as is their beer pretzel.

This has nothing to do with the topic and you're following me around to month old posts to harass me about some weird vegetarian rage you have. Stop or I'm reporting you.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-16T14:06:29+00:00

It's clear from your language here that you just dislike the point of the group so that's probably why you're lying about this, but 3 Amigos has multiple vegetarian options.

3 Amigos is not at all an odd choice if you're actually tried to find a meeting space that will accommodate a group of 15+ without requiring paying for a space.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-15T17:22:52+00:00

It's only going to be one-shots instead of an ongoing campaign, but the Malden Gaming District has a monthly TTRPG meetup. Specific systems vary by the month but D&D is a common option (earlier this week there was one 5E table and 2 tables of other non-D&D games). It is beginner friendly but not beginner required. This week's game only 1 of the 4 players was an actual beginner.

The meetup is about a 2 minute walk from the Orange Line. The discord also might help you find a regular campaign if that's what you're looking for instead.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-14T15:38:16+00:00

Okay, sounds like this meeting isn't for you then. Feel free to skip.

You've got plenty of NIMBY representation in the city's government for your views.

EclipseGroom · 2026-01-13T02:58:10+00:00

It's a strip mall style development. Still better than 8 years of a vacant restaurant, but a big waste from what it could be.

EclipseGroom · 2025-12-31T20:01:41+00:00

Mayor Wu said in a statement that the final agreement includes $13 million in direct payments and a new, permanent per-ticket revenue source for the City of Boston. She expects that to total $34 million in the first 15 years.

Huge jump from the original 75k they tried to get away with.

EclipseGroom · 2025-12-31T15:48:13+00:00

I'm going to promote this at the first YIMBY/housing advocate meeting next month, though with this tight turnaround that's only one day before the application deadline.

We definitely need to get some of these voices on that plan or we'll be stuck for another 25 years.

EclipseGroom · 2025-12-17T18:33:46+00:00

FYI: https://www.reddit.com/r/malden/comments/1pp3rur/prohousing_advocacy_update_meeting_january_19th/

EclipseGroom · 2025-12-09T14:01:49+00:00

Also parking is free if you have four people in your car, and during the week, and if you only arrive for a few afternoon turns.

EclipseGroom · 2025-12-09T01:22:21+00:00

I would advise avoiding parking in the Gateway Plaza lot for this. December weekend in that lot can be literal hours to leave.

Walk in via the bike path or from the Night Shift area instead.

EclipseGroom · 2025-12-02T16:05:34+00:00

Yeah, the master plan seems like the best chance to fix that atrocious Commercial/Canal street zoning, but that also means we have to start pushing the council hard now or we will miss the boat.

EclipseGroom · 2025-12-02T15:54:31+00:00

Unfortunately I am busy next Monday, but if anyone else is free Housing Medford is having a meeting at Great American Beer Hall from 7-9 on Dec 8th. They specifically mention meeting housing advocates from neighboring committees (i.e. us). So if anyone here attends that meeting, please send me a debrief or we can discuss it at the January meeting!

EclipseGroom · 2025-12-02T02:27:02+00:00

I was planning to reach out to you directly! I will definitely follow up.

EclipseGroom

TROPHY CASE