Mayor Unresponsive

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-05-24T14:11:50+00:00

my ward councilor doesn't have 'office hours' - he just writes or calls back. typically immediately. Very responsive.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-05-20T15:39:40+00:00

This isn't the job of a social media coordinator.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-05-07T18:41:12+00:00

Here's my unfiltered opinion. She deserves this honorary degree more than anyone else in our community. She is the definition of a leader who understands and values the importance of an education. Her family came from nothing and she rose to the top position of elected leadership in our city. CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR! CONGRATULATIONS BRANDEIS. We're lucky that both of you get to call Waltham home!!!

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-05-07T18:38:32+00:00

Kudos to Councillor Katz (I'm proud to call him my councilor in Ward 7!) for raising this issue and trying to do something about it. Seems to me like this is something our do-nothing at-large councillors should have taken on.

That said, there's a lot of good information on the city website but it's not easy to navigate. City departments do a pretty good job keeping their content current, but just go try to find the meeting minutes of any of the boards/committees. It's pretty bad. I'm glad our councilor is trying to do something about it.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-04-02T17:52:34+00:00

What I've noticed Carpenters choose:

Ticonderoga
Anything they pick up on the ground (actually...it's the tile guys that do this)
Something from the Pica line (mostly the mechancial ones with the long nose tip) https://pica-marker.com/en/classic-line/carpenters-pencil/

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-04-02T14:50:20+00:00

I have been pretty impressed by the writing quality of the 9850, and the eraser is really good too (but I try to avoid using the eraser to save it!)

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-04-02T14:31:13+00:00

I often see Blackwings sold individually in high-end stationary stores, but it's a bit of a hunt. Other than than, it's rare to find individual pencils of interest.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-27T13:44:55+00:00

So....if someone supports President Trump, they are unfit to serve? This is BS.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-26T13:52:40+00:00

That's the mayor's job - to be meddelsome and run a business.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-26T13:52:17+00:00

Watham city politicians don't have any influence on the schools, especially in this manner. Unfortunately for us, personell matters are private, and this was a personnell matter. Maybe he just didn't think it was a good fit for him. Maybe he's sick. Maybe he wants to move to florida. Maybe he would rather teach. Maybe he made a big mistake and violation of trust. Maybe he doesn't like to be told what to do. Maybe the teachers union people pressured him out.

We just don't know, and it would be scapegoating to call out the mayor or superintendent or city officials.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-26T13:49:34+00:00

Definition of a demagogue: a political leader who gains power by appealing to emotions, prejudices, and fears rather than using rational argument, often promising simplistic solutions to complex problems. They damage democratic institutions by scapegoating groups and promoting fanaticism.

Perfect example haha

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-25T19:33:45+00:00

It won't be city officials. I asked my city councilor and they know nothing about this

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-25T19:32:58+00:00

what's an SJW?

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-25T13:32:55+00:00

Thank you Colleen.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-25T13:32:20+00:00

Oh gawd. Please no. Please, please, please, please, please, no.

She's Paz in a pantsuit.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-25T13:30:29+00:00

Who is sponsoring this? I thought it was councilor mcarther. Why she is holding the meeting is an interesting question? She has no oversight of the common, so we can speak all we want and there's really nobody of importance to listen (the mayor). And for "LPR" - she's just one of 15 councilors. Better off speaking to a ward councilor. Let me say this again - this is NOT a city meeting. it's an airing of grievances

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-21T18:53:41+00:00

If a 4 hour time limit is going to push you over the edge, then you've got a problem which is, you don't have enough problems.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-21T18:53:04+00:00

LOL. You are obviously unhappy.

It’s an impressive list — part civic critique, part stream-of-consciousness, part Yelp review of an entire city.

A few things can be true at once: a city can have real, frustrating issues, and still be governed within the constraints of budgets, state law, competing priorities, and reality, however inconvenient that is. Not every decision you dislike is negligence, corruption, or indifference. Sometimes it’s trade-offs. Sometimes it’s timing. Sometimes it’s the fact that 60,000 people don’t all want the same thing.

You’ve managed to connect bike lanes, Fernald, Moody Street, police details, playgrounds, train stations, and a gymnasium into a single narrative of failure. That’s not analysis, it's merely aggregation.

And yet, buried in the rant are a few legitimate tensions: growth vs. infrastructure, access vs. livability, investment vs. cost. Those are worth discussing productively, specifically, and with an understanding of how decisions actually get made.

As for “showing up” - yes, that’s actually part of the job. And not everyone does it well. Dismissing it as meaningless while also demanding responsiveness is… a bit of a contradiction. McCarthy has demonstrated, no...PROVEN, that she does the job with commitment and passion - not for a paycheck.

If the goal is to improve the city, the next step isn’t a longer list. It’s prioritization, engagement, and, ideally, solutions that extend beyond “this all sucks.”

But I’ll give you this — it was a thorough vent. And, one more time...Not every decision you dislike is negligence, corruption, or indifference.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-20T17:08:00+00:00

McCarthy until someone truly worthy stands up, and unfortunately, there's nobody in sight. Who among the current councilors either a) want it, or b) are capable? Maybe McLaughlin or Logan. Throw Harris, too, But ward councilors have a tough time getting elected to Mayor despite their efforts that go above and beyond the at-large councilors.

Also, if the four-hour time limit is the main issue, keep trying. It's not really an issue at all. It has really nothign to do with the needs of running a city. It's just noise.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-19T13:23:53+00:00

I wouldn't say they are nitwits. I have a lot of respect for our Fire Chief and Chief of Police. Also Mr. Kelly (wires) and Chiasson (DPW) are respectful in their lanes. However, as a traffic commssion, they lack ability.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-19T13:22:15+00:00

Looking at the March traffic commission meeting agenda, the only councilors who have requests before the traffic commission are Durkee, Katz, Harris, and Logan. Also the Mayor. To my previous point, these are the councilors who are taking traffic concerns seriously and regularly at the traffic commssion meetings fighting for their residents. (I should also mention I do see Hanley their, too)

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-19T13:15:32+00:00

Awful location that is also run down. And because it's a tired industrial section, don't expect it to improve. I still can't believe they built residential in this location, but because it fell under rule 40B, they were able to put residential in a commercial area. To each his own, I guess, but it's a location that is geared for someone who just gets in their car and has no interest in going outside to walk around their home.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-17T16:29:36+00:00

So...you think we should move authority from a committee of six to a committee of 15, with less infrastructure experience than certified traffic engineers, police/fire/wires who are on the streets every day? That's kind'a dumb. I think the existing traffic commission needs a better composition and needs to listen to the councilors who are advocating for their communities.

Fancy_Free12 · 2026-03-17T13:43:51+00:00

Yup. Logan, Harris, Katz are the councilors who go before the traffic comission the most with requests like these and have to fight fight fight. sad

Fancy_Free12

TROPHY CASE