To the editor:
On Sept. 14, Lynn will have a very important preliminary election. A preliminary election is different from a primary because the candidates do not emerge from political parties. They come from our wards and our city community. The one on the 14th is very important because there are three candidates for mayor and only two will go forward to the November ballot.
All the candidates for the remaining offices will go forward to the November ballot.
We have terrible voter turnout. People say, “I’ll vote in November.” That’s like going to a restaurant and telling the server to “pick something for me.” You don’t do that, do you? You carefully read the menu, choose an item you actually like or maybe you choose something new and you consider the price.
The preliminary election is “making the menu” that you will choose from in November. Is eating at a restaurant more important to you than choosing leadership for our city?
Are you concerned about rents and availability of affordable housing? Only two mayoral candidates are focused on those issues. The third is wedded to developers and corporate interests.
Now here is some homework for you showing data from Lynn and surrounding cities/towns. Have a look: https://www.towncharts.com/Massachusetts/Housing/Lynn-city-MA-Housing-data.html
Did you know that Lynn has lost 5 percent of its housing units over the past 10 years while Boston/Worcester/Providence have gained 54.1 percent of their housing units?
Lynn has the highest percentage living in rental housing and the lowest percentage of homeowners? Among Lynn renters, 58 percent pay more than 30 percent of their income for rent?
I could say more but you can interpret the charts for yourself.
Don’t forget to vote on Sept. 14. Choose your menu wisely.
Mary Sweeney
Lynn
