Lynn City Council Candidate Q & A: Coco Alinsug (Ward 3)

In this year's Lynn municipal election, Ward 3 voters will have the choice between two candidates to represent them on the city council. With current Ward 3 City Councilor Darren Cyr running for mayor, that choice will be among newcomers seeking the city council seat. Coco Alinsug is one candidate running for Ward 3 City Councilor. Alinsug is originally from the Philippines, having moved to the United States in 1996. Currently, he works as an outreach and enrollment manager at Fenway Health, New England's leading primary health center for the lesbian and gay community. 

I chatted with Alinsug to learn more about his vision for Lynn and candidacy for Lynn City Council. 

Thanks for chatting with me, Coco! You are running for Ward 3 City Councilor; why did you make the decision to run for City Council this year? 

Politics is in my blood, I grew up surrounded with politics and politicians. I still remember the words my dad said to me when I left the Philippines to come to America in 1996: “I was hoping you would follow in my footsteps and enter politics.” My dad, Ember Alinsug, is a former Councilor and Vice-Mayor of Consolacion, the biggest town in the province of Cebu, Philippines. I come from five generations of public servants. Not just my dad, but my grandparents, great grandparents, and great-great grandparents all held public office. In fact, my grandmother, Felisa, was the first woman Councilor of Consolacion in 1950. At that time, it was almost unheard of for a woman to be involved in politics.I am proud to now be able to tell my dad that his son is continuing the family legacy of service. I might not be in the Philippines now but I am continuing that legacy in a country halfway around the world, a country I now call home. My environment has changed but my heart and dedication to serve has not. I inherited this dedication from my dad, my grandmother, and my forefathers who paved the way for me to enter politics. Since I moved to Lynn I have worked and served this city in different capacities. I decided to run for City Councilor this year because I want to continue that and expand my service not only to my ward but for the whole city.

Tell us a little bit about how your campaign has been going thus far. How have you been connecting with Ward 3 voters? 

Eighteen years ago, when I moved to Lynn, I moved to the Goldfish Pond area of Ward 3, I immediately volunteered my time with the neighborhood association, and I have been doing so even until now wherein I sit as a Board of Director of the Goldfish Pond Association. The reason why I’m sharing this story is because it became easy for me to connect with my neighbors and of the whole of the ward. Since I made the announcement to run in March, I have visited all the areas of Ward 3 at least twice already and am looking to do more. I am a firm believer that direct conversation with your constituents is where you get to have a feel of all the needs of the ward and its residents. 

As you speak with Ward 3 residents, what have you found to be the most common concerns? Which of these issues would you prioritize if elected to the City Council? 

I have a lot of beautiful and informative conversations with my neighbors and fellow Ward 3 residents, based on my conversations with them, I listed my visions and plans for the ward and the city based on the feedback I gathered from them, which includes the following: 

 

BRING CITY HALL TO WARD 3 CONSTITUENTS:

• Provide regular updates to constituents via newsletters and social media outlets
• Conduct semi-annual ward meetings in rotating precincts to discuss concerns, and update constituents about current city projects
• Appoint Precinct Captains to monitor and respond rapidly to the specific needs of each precinct
• Hire a volunteer intern to interact with City Hall as our liaison officer for Ward 3 

WARD 3 INITIATIVES:

• Assess flooding problems in areas of Ward 3, and work toward a solution to water quality issues at King’s Beach
• Improve safety: better lighting, clearing blocked traffic signage, working toward improved street maintenance
• Promote neighborhood initiatives and share best practices with all areas of Ward 3
• Work toward rehabilitation of Kiley Park, Clark Park, Goldfish Pond, and other areas
• Promote and participate in regular Ward 3 cleanups

SUPPORT CITY INITIATIVES:

• Work with the objective of not raising property taxes in the near future
• Work with city and state officials to help create more affordable housing for seniors, veterans, lower-income residents, and municipal employees
• Strongly support the Housing Lynn Plan
• Explore the use of additional grant writers to find new revenue sources for the city
• Empower youth, senior citizens, and others to help each of them achieve his/her fullest potential, regardless of age or ability

 

Major topics of discussion this year more broadly across the city center around housing, development and gentrification. On your website, you definitively state that you strongly support the Lynn Housing Plan. Why specifically do you support the Plan? 

It’s long overdue; this issue hits close to home. When I moved to this country, I too had my own challenges in assimilating to my new society. I used to experience homelessness and know how it feels to sleep in your car for months because I have no place to go to. It’s hard and you lose your dignity. I will work my very best to make sure that everyone and no one is left behind, we need to have this issue as a priority.

Related, while there has been a lot of focus on development as an avenue toward creating a population that can support downtown businesses, there has been less focus on local job creation. What are your thoughts on improving employment opportunities for Lynn residents? 

I am a listener and a team player. I need to bring everyone to the table to have a conversation on how to move our city forward and fix our problems as soon as possible, which includes unemployment. We need to bring businesses, community advocates, local officials to the table and create a master plan on how to address this. 

Finally, as we move toward the primary and November general election, why should Ward 3 voters consider your candidacy for City Council? What makes you uniquely qualified to represent Ward 3? 

If elected, I will be the first Filipino-American City Councilor in New England and the first out LGBT City Councilor. There’s a lot of pressure but pressure and challenges is what makes me effective as a leader. I am a proven and effective worker locally and internationally. I encourage you to check my website at www.cocoalinsug.com to learn more about me. For all Ward 3 residents, we will do this TOGETHER!!!

Lynn City Council Candidate Q & A: Natasha Megie-Maddrey (Ward 4)

In addition to four Councilors At-Large, Lynn voters will have the opportunity to elect a ward councilor this fall. Natasha Megie-Maddrey is running against long-term incumbent Richard Colucci in the Ward 4 Councilor race this year. Megie-Maddrey is an attorney who has been involved in a number of activities in the city including organizing around public education. 

Here she responded to a few questions regarding her candidacy for City Council.

Thanks for chatting with me, Natasha! You are running for Ward 4 City Councilor but this is not your first campaign for the position. Why did you make the decision to run for City Council again this year?

I decided to run for City Council in my Ward again because I believe that all residents of Ward 4 are not being represented. I have talked to several residents who have lived in the Ward for a long time and don’t know who their Councilor is. Walking around Ward 4 you see the differences in the different parts of the Ward. I believe that the entire Ward should be beautiful and not just part of it. We don’t have Ward meetings and we need more opportunities for neighbors to get to know each other better. 

Give us a sense of your campaign efforts thus far. How have you been getting your message out to Ward 4 voters and how do you plan to continue to connect with the ward going into the November general election?

Since pulling papers in March, I have been out every day engaging with voters. I have knocked on countless doors and have had a lot of conversations with people who have lots of concerns. People have concerns about the violence in the neighborhood, the drugs, the speeding, the trash, and the rising cost of taxes, to name a few.  I have also been fundraising in order to be able to reach more voters. Our team will continue to knock on doors every day as well as hold virtual phone banks, and hold sign visibilities. If you would like to volunteer we would love your help, please fill out this form. https://forms.gle/1JASnB2MSizUVYJcA  

Housing continues to be an issue in Lynn now in terms of people facing eviction or having trouble affording housing costs related to the pandemic in addition to previous questions about gentrification and displacement. What is your stance on the housing issue in Lynn? How would you propose addressing this issue?

The housing issue in Lynn is a crisis that needs to be addressed. I would advocate to implement the Housing plan that was developed. We need to make sure that those that currently live in Lynn are not being forced out. The pandemic showed us that we have a lot of inequalities in our city. There are so many people who are living in overcrowded apartments, the reason for this is because of the increasing cost of rent. We have gorgeous new developments being built, but these apartments do not have any affordable units, and most of our residents can’t afford to live in them.  All new development that comes into our city should have at least 20 percent be designated as affordable units. We also need to make sure that all of these new developments have CBA agreements (community benefits agreements) which basically means that all the money that the developers make, they need to give a percentage back to help the community. I also would like to see more programs for our young adults to be able to purchase homes. This is the best way for us to build generational wealth for our children. My daughter is currently 22 and looking for her own apartment but the apartments in Lynn are just too expensive. We need to make Lynn a place where we can all thrive and live a prosperous life. We can do better if we all work together. No one should have to live in fear of being priced out of a city they call home. 

When we worked together with Lynn Parents Organizing for a Better Education, we had a number of conversations about community schools. How do you think the city can work better with existing schools, nonprofits and other community organizations to better support and provide resources to residents?

I believe we should have community schools. The schools belong to us, and they should be available to the community at large. Schools should be a place where adults can take ESL classes, where you can learn a trade, and where we can also network. As far as all the non profits in Lynn, we have over 300 nonprofits in our city. The problem is most of them don’t talk to each other. I would love for Lynn to invest in Community Mapping. This would basically mean that we connect all the nonprofits together on a virtual map, where it would be easy for someone to find whatever services they need. Once we have a Lynn Community Map, I think we should also have a Ward Specific map that people could opt into. If you are plumber, or a carpenter you could be put on this list, and then when someone is looking for a plumber they could easily see on the Ward map where all the plumbers are and easily contact one of their neighbors. Our city has so many talented people, and we need to make it easier for us to connect a need with a qualified person. 

There’s been a lot more focus in the past year on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. What populations or areas of the city do you see as currently being underserved and in need of greater representation in terms of having their voices heard during decision making processes?

All of Lynn is currently being underserved. Our city is full of diversity, and when you look at our elected officials the diversity is clearly lacking. Take a look at Ward 4, in 2019 only 12 percent of those who were registered to vote actually voted. This is a huge problem in my opinion. I think part of the problem is the voting locations. In Ward 4 there is only one polling location, and this location is very inconvenient for someone who lives in the Highlands for example. We need to have more than one polling loation in every ward. In Ward 1 there are 3 polling locations and as a result, they have the highest voter turnout. We need to make it easier for people in Lynn to vote. We need to elect new people that have new ideas and would bring better representation to city hall. All of Ward 4 needs to come out and vote on both September 14th and November 2nd.  

Finally, what skills and experiences make you most suited for the City Council? Why should Lynn residents consider your candidacy for Ward 4 City Councilor this fall?

I was the first in my family to attend a 4 year college and obtain a Bachelor’s Degree. I then went on to obtain my JD from New England School of Law. I believe that my license to practice law makes me uniquely qualified to be a city Councilor. I am also easily accessible and if I am not able to solve your problem I will help direct you to someone that can. I care deeply for this city and all the people who live here. I want to see our city continue to thrive and prosper and be the best it can be. If you would like to learn more about me, please find more information at www.natashaforlynn.com, cell phone 617-755-3853 or my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TeamMegieMaddrey

_____

The Lynn municipal primary will be held on Tuesday, September 14th and the general election on Tuesday, November 2nd. 

_____

You may also be interested in: 

• Lynn Mayoral Candidate Q & A: Jared Nicholson 
• Councilor At-Large Q & A: Nicole McClain

Councilor At-Large Candidate Q & A: Nicole McClain

Along with the mayoral race, Lynn voters will also have the opportunity to elect members of the City Council and School Committee this fall. Currently, there are seven candidates running for four Councilor At-Large seats on the City Council.

Nicole McClain is one of the seven candidates on the ballot this fall. McClain is a Army National Guard veteran who previously deployed to Iraq and later earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. In addition to being a childcare provider, she serves on the Essex County Commission on the Status of Women, Lynn Human Rights Commission, and the Lynn Racial Justice Coalition. 

McClain responded to a few questions regarding her candidacy for Lynn City Council.

Thanks for chatting with me, Nicole! You are running for Councilor At-Large; why did you make the decision to run for City Council this year?

I am running this year because I see a need that is not being filled by our local government. Community leaders petitioned our local government during the year 2020 to address racial inequities and we were not met with opposition. They were willing to speak with us but that is all they wanted to do. A lack of knowledge about the issues of their constituents of color was apparent and I want to fill the need. I do not want to take away from those already receiving great representation. I want to make sure we all are being represented and considered by our local government.

While many have begun to engage in more activities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aftermath of the last year will still need to be addressed in an ongoing manner. If elected to City Council, what issues would you bring to the forefront in terms of the recovery process?

As Councilor At Large I would address the impact COVID has had on our small business owners. I have been looking into state grants and resources available to assist in financial recovery for small business, our seniors and our youth. 

On your website, housing is listed as one of your key issues. Displacement is one facet of this issue but also the eviction crisis and housing insecurity that may be the result of pandemic-related financial difficulties. What is your stance on the housing issue in Lynn? How would you propose addressing this issue?

It is obvious that we are in a housing crisis in our city. Lynn is composed of moderate and low income residents. Housing has become unaffordable for a lot of us. We need current developers and future developers to reinvest in our city. As Councilor At Large I would be the voice advocating for a  percentage of units in these developments to be affordable. I would be advocating for the housing Lynn plan to be implemented. The housing Lynn plan was developed over the year 2020. It is a first step to addressing the housing issues in our city. https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/housing-lynn/

On your campaign website, you also list youth development as another issue. What specific programming or initiatives do you have in mind?

I would implement visits with the local government for a day. Visits to GE. These programs would be for our High School students to give them exposure to positions that they can possibly hold upon graduating. This is an effort to retain our talented youth. Mentoring, financial literacy, resume writing and basic skills that help with transitioning into adulthood are initiatives I would focus on making available to our youth. 

How do you think investing in youth could help to curb violence in our community?

Investing in youth will give some of them a sense of purpose and expose them to another avenue to success. These programs will not completely stop all of our youth from turning to the streets but the hope is to expose as many young Lynn residents as we can to different avenues that will lead them to be productive citizens of society.

You talk about ensuring that the diverse needs of our community are considered during decision-making processes. What populations or areas of the city do you see as currently being underserved and in need of greater representation?

I grew up in areas of Lynn that were seldom or never visited by local government officials. Timson St. in Ward 3, Marian Gardens in Ward 6, Apple St. in Ward 4. These are places I lived. There are many areas of our city and many cultures that are in need of help. As Councilor At Large I am not trying to narrow it down to certain places and people. I am trying to listen and meet the needs of the community as much as I can. That is why a connection with local community organizations is so important. Our local community organizations are boots on the ground. They know our community well and local government needs to partner with them to make better informed decisions. 

Finally, what skills and experiences make you most suited for the City Council?

I have already proven my ability to work with local government and as a part of a team.Through working as a part of the Lynn Racial Justice Coalition Body Worn Cameras are used by our police department. A Diversity Equity and Inclusion officer has joined Lynn City Hall, and an Unarmed Crisis Response team is being formed to reduce the use of lethal force in our city. I am a community leader. I founded North Shore Juneteenth Association INc. an organization that started in 2017 and is still going strong. This org educates our community on the positive contributions of Black Americans in the U.S. and spreads the word about the Juneteenth holiday. I have been a part of change and I feel I can do even more as a member of the Council. 

 Why should Lynn residents consider your candidacy for the position this fall?

I want to bring local government and local organizations together to create a cutting edge municipality that includes all of Lynn's residents. 

___________

For more information on McClain: www.nicoleforlynn.com

Lynn Voter Turnout 20% in Yesterday's Election

Yesterday, Lynn held it municipal election for both City Council and School Committee. Overall, turnout in the city was approximately 20% (19.99% according to the unofficial results to be precise). Voter turnout did vary depending on ward with Ward 1 posting the highest turnout at just over 30% and Ward 4 with the lowest turnout at 12.21%. 

For the full election results, see here. 

Turnout in this year's municipal election was the lowest it has been in city elections during the past decade. 

When comparing turnout just in elections where there is no mayoral race like the election this year, turnout was also lower overall. 

In 2020, voters in the city will have the opportunity to cast their vote for President, US Senate, Congress, State Senate and State Representative. Voter turnout in Lynn during the last presidential election (2016) was 65%. 

Source: City Elections and Voting Webpage

Lynn Ward 5 Candidate Q & A: Marven Hyppolite

Marven Hyppolite, currently a district aide and caseworker for Congressman Seth Moulton, is currently running for Ward 5 City Councilor against incumbent City Councilor Diana Chakoutis. Hyppolite previously ran for Ward Councilor losing the 2017 election by 105 votes. Here we asked Marven a few questions about his candidacy for City Council. 

You have previously run for Ward 5 City Councilor. What is motivating
you to run for City Council again in this year’s municipal election?

I’m running because I fear that If I don't speak up, my family and friends will no longer be able to live in the city we call home. The overwhelming majority of ward 5 is not being represented. Our councilors can ignore us because we do not vote, for them there is no incentive to reach out to us. I think that's wrong and dangerous, it's getting more expensive for renters and homeowners to get by, we need a councilor that is going to address our day to day struggles and do the work necessary to involve ALL OF US in what's happening in our city.

Thinking about your background and past experiences, what perspective
would you bring to the Lynn City Council, if elected?

During the day, I work as a caseworker for Congressman Seth Moulton. I would bring improved constituent services to Ward 5, I plan on creating a ward 5 team to help advocate for ALL OF US.  I also speak 3 languages and have been the only candidate in ward 5 to do outreach to all our immigrant communities. I also know how to engage the youth, we are the future of this city and it is time we had a seat at the table too.

Much of the focus on Lynn’s development has been on downtown, an area the Ward 5 Councilor represents. In what ways do you think the city has been successful in its efforts in regard to downtown Lynn? What do you think could be better, either in terms of planning or action?

The city in my opinion has not been successful in that regard. First, we are the largest city in the North Shore and we do not have a planning department or a city planner. Second, we hand out tax breaks with nothing in return for the city. We need to be leveraging our proximity to Boston to the benefit of the people already living here.

Our development strategies are impulsive and short sighted. Look at the vault building downtown; there are 27 vacancies in the building!  We need to be more strategic about how and where we build, and we need to be giving residents a say as to what they want to see built in Lynn.

We need to find a way to revitalize Lynn without displacing the people already living here. We do not want what happened to Cambridge and Somerville to happen to us. 

In the last city election without a mayoral race (2015), voter turnout in Lynn was approximately 22%. Do you think believe there to be a general apathy or disinterest in the city’s government? More specifically, how would assess the city’s inclusion of voices or perspectives of younger Lynners (those aged 29 or younger) in the decision-making and planning process?

Sadly, I think there will be more apathy, a lot of Lynners are completely done with politics, and they’ve been burned too much by false promises. Funny enough a lot folks mention things like the city is run by the mafia and that I am wasting my time trying to get in. I will not give up though, I really believe more and more people are waking up, so I will remain hopeful.

As far as the youth in the city are concerned, we are always told to get in line and wait our turn. Our voices are not really valued, however I think the responsibility falls on us to get organized and vote, if we don't then we can't complain. 

If you could spearhead one major project or initiative in Lynn, what would it be and why?

The creation of ward teams for every ward, when you call most elected officials they have staff to help take calls and do outreach. City council should be no different, we have a lot of seniors with experience and great ideas, we also have a lot of youth looking for experience and the energy to do outreach. We could easily fund staff made up of youth and seniors to get everyone more involved in the process. It would be a total game changer for our city. 

Finally, why should Ward 5 residents vote for you in this fall’s election?

You should vote for me because I have been the only candidate to knock every part of ward 5. I have the experience and the energy to make sure ALL OF US no matter where we live, will have a seat at the table. When I become councilor, you become councilor too.

For More Information: 

• 2019 Candidate Profile: Marven Hyppolite (LCTV)

Lynn Political Calendar 2019

Nomination papers for the 2019 Lynn municipal elections will be available on Monday, March 25, 2019.

Requirements:

• Councilor At Large or School Committee: 350 signatures; not more than 100 from any one ward
• Ward Councilor: 100 signatures from the ward

Other Important Dates: 

• Friday, June 21st at 4pm: Deadline to take out nomination papers
• Monday, June 24th at 4pm: Deadline to file nomination papers
• Tuesday, September 3rd: Preliminary Election
• Tuesday, November 5th: City Election

For more information: http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/citydepartments_clerk_elections.shtml#gpm1_2

Lynn Voter Turnout 2017

Yesterday in Lynn, residents turned out to vote for mayor, city council and school committee with challenger and current State Senator Thomas McGee overtaking incumbent mayor Judith Kennedy 64% to 35%. Voter turnout in the city this election cycle was lower than in previous mayoral races at just 28.16% (or 14,489 voters of the 52,722 Lynn residents who are registered to vote).

Turnout in Ward 1 was the highest at 45.7% and lowest in Ward 4 at 16.3%.



Ward 1 accounted for 30% of the votes citywide.

Source: http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/cityhall_documents/clerk_elections/election_results/city_of_lynn_election_results_nov_2017_unofficial.pdf

Lynn Councilor At-Large 2017 Q & A: Jaime Figueroa

Jaime Figueroa is one of eight candidates running for Councilor At-Large in this year's Lynn municipal election. Here he answers some questions about some of the pressing issues facing the city. 

 One of the major issues in the forefront during this year’s election is the current state of the city’s finances. What is your assessment of Lynn’s financial health in terms of the causes but also what should be done to address the issue?

I believe we can’t blame one administration for the current state of our finances. This is due to several years of incompetence and poor management. To address the issue, I would propose a comprehensive audit of every department and agency in the City. The next step would be to sit with every department head or team and adjust their budgets to fund what is needed, not what is wanted.

In terms of the budget, people often call for “an increased commercial base.” How specifically do you think Lynn should go about actually bringing in new businesses? Do you believe that TIFs (tax increment financing) make smart strategic as well as financial sense in this regard?

I believe the major problem is the selling off of our public buildings. It does not benefit the City - it's just a quick cash influx with no long-term gains. What we should be doing is renovating some of these buildings into shared-work spaces and invite start-ups being priced out of Boston, Cambridge and Somerville to make their home in Lynn. We are the biggest city on the North Shore and we should be the technological hub of the North Shore. Other buildings like the old Marshall Middle School, should have been kept by the city. The city should have put out an RFP for a 40-50-year lease and rights to build to the current developer. That way we keep the land, which will appreciate, thereby growing our net worth as a city and helping to grow our bond rating.

Another pertinent topic is the increase in violent crime as well as opioid overdoses in the first half of this year. Do you think this issue has been addressed appropriately thus far? Why or why not?

No. We need more preventative programs in place to deter people from engaging in these types of activities. Just increasing funding for the police does not guarantee a safer community. We must be proactive in our pursuit to change and stop violence and drug activity in our community. We need our community to actively participate with local officials to start changing the way we address these problems.

If you had to name three things that had to be included in Lynn’s ‘capital improvement plan,’ what would they be and why?

a. Increase tax revenue by not selling off public property and instead investing in these properties. We should be renovating some spaces for startups being priced out of Boston, Somerville, and Cambridge and help them to call Lynn their home.

b. We should be thinking about ways to expand our creative economy. We are the biggest city on the North Shore and should be the technological hub of the North Shore. We should be investing in shared, Incubator, and maker spaces in our city. We should have a waterfront full of businesses that represent innovation and technological advancements.

c. Lastly, we need a full-time city planning department to assist the city with its new vision. Also, a grant writing department to supplement city budget shortfalls.

Why should Lynn residents consider voting for you to City Council as Councilor At-Large?

The next City Councilor At-Large needs to possess innovative thinking to move this city forward. The next councilor should be willing to sit with other councilors in municipalities that have turned their city around, such as Salem, Somerville, Cambridge, etc. Your next councilor needs to be willing to protect and advocate for maintaining our cultural diversity. I believe I possess these characteristics and I’m willing to work tirelessly and full time for all the people in the city of Lynn.

For more information:

• Website: https://www.figueroaforlynn.com/ 
• Facebook: Figueroa At-Large
• 2017 Candidate Profile: Jaime Figueroa (Lynn Community Television)