As Lynn emerges from the devastating effects of COVID-19 and the fiscal mess that Mayor Thomas M. McGee inherited and sorted out, the next mayor will confront a host of infrastructure needs across the city.
I believe Jared Nicholson is best equipped by temperament and training to make informed, intelligent, and equitable choices for all.
His campaign is primarily a door-to-door exercise that has provided a walking view of the roads with input from the residents who know better than anyone about problems in the neighborhoods.
People are concerned about traffic and the condition of some streets. The voters understand there are concerns other than just the pothole in front of their house, though that cracked surface is still very important.
A significant void in the fabric of the city is a permanent senior center. I’ve heard Jared Nicholson offer this as the first answer to questions about his priorities when it comes to infrastructure.
Imagine a place to meet friends and take classes. High technology comes to the Council on Aging with personal computers available so people can learn how to get their grandkids’ pictures on Facebook.
There is a relatively recent addition to the municipal toolbox to assist with these types of projects. The Planning Department staffed by experienced, professional planners will be an invaluable resource to a new mayor. The coordination of studies, permits, and interagency cooperation that necessarily accompany multiple projects will keep that office extremely busy.
Jared Nicholson has extensive experience working with the planners of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). MAPC is the regional planning agency with expertise in multiple disciplines from arts and culture to housing and transportation.
Nicholson collaborated with MAPC as a member of the Steering Committee which produced the Housing Production Plan, currently in the approval process.
He also assisted then-City Councilor Brendan Crighton with pro bono legal advice on a rezoning project to improve planning for development, and teaming up with MAPC and others on this much-needed overhaul.
The next mayor will need to maximize federal and state resources to assist with the funding, design, and construction of critically needed infrastructure improvements. The endorsements from U.S. Rep. Moulton, state Sen. Crighton, and Mayor McGee are predicated on Nicholson’s demonstrated teamwork abilities.
The McGee administration has wisely-leveraged federal and state grants to make needed infrastructure improvements to Washington Street, Essex Street, and Western Avenue. Central Square and surrounding environs are also undergoing a dramatic transformation as Lynn is on the cusp of a development surge.
Cleaning up Lynn’s beaches is critical. I saw firsthand how cleaning up Boston Harbor transformed the city from a national joke to a pristine environmental showcase. Nicholson has consistently spoken out on the need to rejuvenate this cherished community gem.
There are other important overall goals that are important. These include improving walkability to increase foot traffic and accessibility, including extending the Northern Strand Community Trail to the ocean.
There are other ideas that Nicholson has proposed such as building a test kitchen to give fledgling restaurants a place to start and learn for a while. When cooking and business skills are developed sufficiently, the new owners can confidently move up and into the market leaving the test space for the next group of entrepreneurs.
The voters of Lynn want ancient schools replaced. Nearly half of the beloved institutions of learning in the city are over 100 years old. Jared Nicholson has used his time on the School Committee to work with the legislative delegation to improve how school buildings are funded.
Jared Nicholson is the right candidate for mayor because he will take care of local problems at our beaches, schools, roads, and the need for a senior center. Those are solid reasons for your vote.
Victor L’Esperance is a political activist with local, state, national, and international campaign experience.
