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

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

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You may also be interested in: 

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

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)

LCA Ward Councilor Debate

The Lynn Community Association hosted a Ward Councilor debate last night at the Lynn Museum. Candidates in the contested ward races (Wards 4, 5 and 7) participated and questions included those on the city's negative reputation, crime and the proposal for a 2am bar closing time. Ariana Murrell-Rosario is running for a second time in Ward 4 against incumbent Richard Colucci, Marven-Rhode Hyppolite is running against current Ward 5 councilor Diana Chakoutis and the candidates for Ward 7 are both newcomers with Brian Field facing off against John "Jay" Walsh.

When asked if Lynn residents were satisfied with the city's governance, the candidates overall believed they were for the most part but acknowledged that this may depend on who you were speaking with and where they lived in the city. Hyppolite stated that many residents might be unaware of the services that the city has to offer while Walsh believed that dissatisfaction stemmed mostly from quality of life type issues. Colucci noted that there are naysayers but that Lynn is "happening" and noted increasing real estate prices. When it comes to crime, the candidates did not believe that Lynn was particularly unsafe with Chakoutis saying that she did not feel unsafe. Hyppolite called for addressing the root causes of crime  such as poverty and a lack of opportunity in order to decrease crime and engage young people. Colucci reiterated throughout the debate that Lynn is "going in the right direction."

In regard to a question about the proposal for a 2am bar closing time, Field, an experience bartender, stated that the issue was not time but a responsibility issue noting that intoxication can occur at any time. Walsh suggested a trial period on Friday and Saturday nights to see how things go and Murrell-Rosario was explicitly in favor and that a later closer time would help establishments financially.  

The candidates were also asked about the $15 million that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is reporting that public education in the city is underfunded by. Colucci and Chakoutis both believed that there needs to be more state funding for public education; Field called for changes to the net school funding formula and what could be considered as school expenditures including items like maintenance. Murrell-Rosario believed an audit was in order to determine if monies received from the state were being spent appropriately. Hyppolite called it "unacceptable" that the schools were that underfunded and said it was up to cities to "make education a priority."

The candidates mostly agreed on a question about infrastructure that the city's roads are in need of repair. Chakoutis believed that Boston Street and the number of vacant commercial properties there needed to be addressed while her opponent thought housing was the most important infrastructural item. Murrell-Rosario also mentioned housing as she noted the amount of urban plight in Ward 4 calling that one of her campaign platforms. She suggested working with the Lynn Housing Authority in order to create programming to address her housing concerns. Visions for the city in five years included more night school programming a Lynn Tech in order to provide job training opportunities (Walsh), more restaurants (Chakoutis) and increased dialogue so that no Lynners are left behind and all can share in the increasing prosperity (Hyppolite).

The general election will be held on Tuesday, November and the primary has tentatively been cancelled.