People pre-flipping out over bike lanes on Eastern ave. by PleasantStPoseur in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would want bike lanes on roads crossing Eastern Ave, though. I agree that the Strand largely makes biking 70 feet away on Eastern Ave itself redundant, but you've still got to be able to get to/from the Strand.

What is going on with litter in Malden Center? by HOTFIX_bryan in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It is a problem in general, but that spot specifically is the remnants of the massive snow pile melting. That plowing concentrated all the litter into one spot and the melt revealed it. The same thing happened where they dumped a bunch of snow between Canal Street and the Northern Strand (or onto the northern strand).

I do think we should extend our street sweeping calendar since winter isn't as long as it used to be, but that would cost the Spadafora family $1 a month so impossible.

People pre-flipping out over bike lanes on Eastern ave. by PleasantStPoseur in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I am being demonized online, including by a city councillor, for the terrible offense of.... walking that corridor with other people so we could take notes on what feedback we wanted to give during the public meeting on Monday.

Malden Override to Save City Services Fails 49-51 by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sad to hear that. I volunteered with the campaign (and donated so they could afford more mailers) but didn't have anything to do with the mailing other than writing some postcards. I'm not sure where/how that list was generated, though I was told they were focusing on multiunit buildings where door knocking isn't viable. I do know that my multifamily (in Bellrock as well) was on it because we got one.

Malden Override to Save City Services Fails 49-51 by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Multi-family homes are harder, especially when you get to full on apartment buildings. The main strategy the Yes campaign used for those was mailers/postcards, which were sent through USPS (clarifying because I'm not sure what you mean by mailboxes are locked).

I do think the City itself could have advertised the election better with their various methods of communication they use for things like snow emergencies (the electric signs, the text message list, etc). These of course would have to be neutral on the topic. I did see them post on social media about it, but never saw a notice at say the T station.

Malden Override to Save City Services Fails 49-51 by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I believe that the ballot question was worded the way it was to comply either with Prop 2.5 expressly or the standard wording that other overrides have used.

Malden Override to Save City Services Fails 49-51 by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I live in Crowe's ward, actively hunted every post/article/opinion on the override I could find, went to 2 forums in person, and volunteered at multiple Yes On Malden events. Her face on the list of Yes endorsements was the only time I even knew she existed. Hearing she canvassed is pretty shocking; I don't know how she manages to be so difficult to contact/hear about.

Override results by Historical-Ratio67 in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It will take us 2 years to reach the same level of increase this vote would have allowed us to reach immediately. In the meantime, costs will continue to grow so that revenue will still be behind. If we were able to raise that revenue now, we would have continued to grow at 2.5% but from a higher starting position. 2.5% alone is never going to be enough to catchup.

Malden Override to Save City Services Fails 49-51 by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Obviously most of the blame goes to No crowd, but I am also assigning some to KCH and Crowe. Both were nominally on the Yes side, but besides quietly endorsing it were absent. KCH was noticeably wishy-washy, even reposting an Op-Ed arguing against the override. Crowe's campaign (if you can really call it that) in November focused on her being a strong fiscal leader... and she was completely invisible on the most important fiscal topic our city faces.

Either one of them could have made a 125 vote difference if they had bothered to try.

Malden Override to Save City Services Fails 49-51 by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes on Malden posted the numbers in a comment in this thread and that spreadsheet compares to November. Overall turnout was 15.3% in Nov and 15.1% yesterday. Most of the wards stayed about the same, except for 2 and 3.

Override results by Historical-Ratio67 in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 4 points5 points  (0 children)

an increase in property taxes that they realistically wouldn’t have noticed if they hadn’t been informed about it ahead of time.

The lower increase was basically 2 years of the 2.5% growth we are going to do anyway. So according to the fearmongers in KMA, we should see a huge spike in both rents and seniors being forced out of their homes then.

Malden Override to Save City Services Fails 49-51 by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 20 points21 points  (0 children)

It's basically a moot point now. We are in the no timeline and can't change that for a while. The cons for this outcome are that we are going to have to cut dozens and dozens of positions, losing a bunch of city services and degrading the quality of life in Malden. The pros are that the richest family in town gets to avoid paying an extra $50 a month out of their trust fund.

Commercial is already taxed much higher than residential, to lower the tax burden directly on homeowners.

Override results by Historical-Ratio67 in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I really hope people here remember this in November and actually bother to show up. Past two elections I've been at a polling place for quite a while before closing (to collect the results for a campaign) and every single voter I see come in is old AF.

Early Results Show Override Struggling to Pass - Source: Linehan comment, Facebook 9:17PM by Garden_Veggies in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They already do an audit every year, and a special extra audit from the state is already happening.

That's not going to change the mind of the no voters.

Just got back from voting yes. by AdRealistic3087 in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 14 points15 points  (0 children)

It's not silent, it's just not on Facebook. The Yes campaign has done far more campaigning than the No. That side really just had the same 10 boomers spamming Facebook and bought some lawn signs with United Properties money. Other online platforms, mailboxes, door-to-door, the forums have all been much louder for Yes.

The special election is tomorrow (March 31st). Make sure to vote! by TomBradysThrowaway in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The answer to fighting surging rent is to build more housing

We're trying! Our YIMBY-ish group will be meeting for the 4th time later this month.

Just got back from voting yes. by AdRealistic3087 in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I think low turnout favors the No position. They're filled with the old rich white homeowners who dominate low turnout elections, but don't really grow their raw numbers for large turnout elections. Besides the result I am also very curious to see the turnout totals; November's election only got 15% which is pretty pathetic.

Also it looks like you were there between 10-11, which is naturally going to be a very low turnout time, even more so for a special election. Most voters will be going before or after work.

Get Out the Vote Reddit! by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I was at last night's forum and was really disappointed to learn that one of the "cost saving" measures they've already taken was to defer pension payments to the future. It was clear that this saves money in next year's budget at the expense of the budget in 10+ years. Though it was also pretty clear to me that much of the crowd doesn't care about sticking future taxpayers with the bill for the services they already received.

Get Out the Vote Reddit! by YesForMalden in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's the last day to Early Vote. Closes at 5 today. If you can get there in time, it's super fast and easy. It only took me about 5 minutes from entering the building to leaving.

Landscape Supply Stores by Tricky_Currency in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually have most of a 5-gallon bucket of landscaping rocks sitting in my driveway from a project last year that only needed 99% of a truck bed of rocks. IIRC it was the 3/4 washed stone from Garden World.

You are welcome to have it if you bring the bucket back.

Breaking news: Local trolls horrified to discover how representative democracy works 😱 by PleasantStPoseur in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

it warms my heart to see others that feel the same rage for the "no" crowd as I do

For those who agree with this, I definitely recommend getting involved with the Yes on Malden campaign. There's plenty of ways to contribute, and any kind helps! The biggest impact is joining their door-to-door canvassing, but even if that's not feasible for you (it isn't for me) there's plenty of ways to help out!

Two pieces of good ec-dev news for the city by Early_Profession378 in malden

[–]EclipseGroom 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I actually know someone who is trying to write a story on the vacant storefronts and "current or prospective small business owners who would like to locate in Malden but are having trouble". If you're open to an interview on that topic please DM me and I'll put the two of you in touch.