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2 months ago

Malden appoints Sean Salazar as interim representative to Northeast Metro Tech At a Jan. 28 special meeting, the Malden School Committee appointed Sean Salazar to fill the city's interim seat on the Northeast Metro Tech regional vocational school committee after interviewing two finalists and debating admissions, AI and program alignment. The committee directed the city clerk to arrange swearing-in.

Sean Salazar has been appointed as Malden's interim representative on the Northeast Metro Tech committee, bringing his expertise in career and technical education to a pivotal role during a time of change.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #VocationalAdmissions

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2 months ago

Council rejects $36 million debt-exclusion ballot question for Northeast Metro Tech The council voted 2–9 against placing a $36 million debt-exclusion question on a special municipal election ballot to fund construction of the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical School; finance committee had recommended against it citing overlap with a separate override question and voter confusion.

Malden City Council's shocking 2-9 vote has dashed hopes for a $36 million debt-exclusion ballot aimed at funding the Northeast Metro Tech School, raising questions about voter confusion and future funding strategies.

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2 months ago

Malden council approves $1.5 million Section 108 loan for Malden River Works, including boathouse The Malden City Council voted unanimously to authorize a $1.5 million HUD Section 108 loan to help fund phase two of the Malden River Works project, including a permanent boathouse and a salt shed; the loan will be repaid from Community Development Block Grant funds, not the general fund.

Malden City Council just greenlit a $1.5 million loan to kickstart the Malden River Works project, bringing a much-needed permanent boathouse to the community!

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CommunityDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #PublicParticipation #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

Malden City Council announces 2026 committee assignments, creates new economic development committee The council approved the consent agenda and the council president announced 2026 committee chairs and memberships, including a new economic development committee to identify corridors for rezoning; the appointments were placed on file by voice vote.

The Malden City Council has taken a bold step towards economic growth by creating a new development committee aimed at revitalizing key corridors in the city.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CommunityEngagement #EconomicGrowth #PublicSafety #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

Council forwards solicitor’s findings to Attorney General after heated debate over alleged serial deliberation After a city solicitor found no technical quorum during outreach about an appointment, several councilors disputed the findings and the council voted to send the solicitor’s report — with a note about outstanding questions — to the Massachusetts Attorney General for review.

The Malden City Council's heated debate over alleged secret communications has now sparked an investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #OpenMeetingLaw #GovernmentTransparency #CitizenPortal #CivicAccountability

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3 months ago

Votes at a glance: council adopts ballot order, ordains ordinances and confirms appointments The council adopted an amended order placing two Prop 2½ questions on the March 31, 2026 ballot, ordained two ordinance amendments (off‑site parking fees and used car dealer requirements), confirmed a license‑board appointment, and voted to enter executive session 8–2 on potential grant litigation strategy.

Malden City Council made significant moves this December, including adopting crucial ballot measures for a special election and amending key ordinances affecting local businesses.

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3 months ago

Sen. Jason Lewis proposes small streaming fee to replace lost community media funding Senator Jason Lewis told a Malden-recorded Beacon Hill interview he’s sponsoring a bill to place a modest fee on streaming services so the state can collect and distribute funds to community media stations, replacing lost cable franchise-fee revenue.

Senator Jason Lewis is pushing for a new bill that would impose a small fee on streaming services to help revive funding for vital community media stations facing revenue losses.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CommunityMedia #LocalGovernment #DigitalAccess #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

Lewis: 'Fair share' funds used to expand free school meals, free community college and early-college programs Senator Jason Lewis told the host that revenue from the 'fair share' (millionaires tax) is locked for education and transportation and is funding universal free school meals, free community college, expanded financial aid and early college programs; childcare supports were also discussed.

Massachusetts is transforming education and childcare with funds from the 'fair share' tax, making universal free meals and community college a reality for many families!

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #UniversalMeals #ChildcareSupport #EducationAffordability #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

Senate bill would create device-free school days with medical and communication exceptions Senator Lewis said the Senate recently passed legislation to create personal-device-free school days (unless devices are needed for instruction), include exceptions for medical or special-needs students, and require schools to provide a way for parents to contact students via the office.

Senator Jason Lewis champions a new bill that could transform school days by creating device-free zones to enhance focus and learning, while still accommodating medical needs and parental communication.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #EducationReform #DigitalDistraction

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3 months ago

Lewis: Massachusetts needs 220,000 housing units; zoning changes and Affordable Homes Act aim to close gap Senator Jason Lewis told host Emmanuel Marsh Massachusetts faces an estimated shortfall of about 220,000 housing units and described recent policy tools — MBTA Communities zoning changes, the Affordable Homes Act and legalized ADUs — to spur multifamily development.

Senator Jason Lewis reveals a staggering shortage of 220,000 housing units in Massachusetts and unveils bold strategies to tackle the crisis, including groundbreaking zoning reforms and the largest investment in housing programs in state history.

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3 months ago

Senate bill would add protections and a transparent process to challenge library materials Senator Lewis said the Senate passed legislation to guard against politically motivated book bans by creating a transparent challenges process, preserving librarians' professional judgment about age-appropriateness and shielding librarians from retaliatory action when they follow professional standards.

Senator Jason Lewis champions new legislation to protect school and public libraries from politically motivated book bans, ensuring that professional judgment prevails in our educational spaces.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #EducationReform #FreedomToRead #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

Senate-backed Massachusetts Data Privacy Act would expand individual control over data, ban sale of sensitive data Senator Jason Lewis said the Senate unanimously approved the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, which—if passed by the House and signed by the governor—would limit collection to necessary data, expand opt-in/opt-out rights, ban sale of sensitive data and prohibit collection or sale of minors' data.

Massachusetts takes a bold step towards protecting your privacy with the Data Privacy Act, aiming to give individuals more control over their personal data and ban the sale of sensitive information.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #YouthOnlineSafety #ConsumerPrivacy

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3 months ago

Lewis: Massachusetts will push back against federal policies—AG lawsuits, protections for reproductive and immigrant rights Senator Jason Lewis said Massachusetts is responding to federal policy moves by suing or otherwise defending state policies: the attorney general has filed numerous suits, the state has strengthened reproductive and gender-affirming care protections, and leaders are assessing ways to mitigate federal funding cuts that could affect healthcare.

Senator Jason Lewis vows that Massachusetts will fiercely defend its residents against harmful federal policies while enhancing protections for reproductive rights and immigrant care.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #ReproductiveRights #HealthcareAccess #ImmigrantProtection

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3 months ago

Malden council votes to place two tax‑override options on special election ballot After public comment and a seven‑meeting finance review, the council adopted an order sending two Proposition 2½ override questions — $5.4M and $8.2M annually — to a special municipal election on March 31, 2026, with amended ballot language to meet state requirements.

Malden City Council is gearing up for a pivotal election, proposing two tax override options that could reshape the city's financial future!

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #TaxReform #PublicFinance #ElectionTransparency #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

Students, staff and residents urge Malden School Committee to reverse non‑renewal of Malden High principal Hundreds of students, teachers and parents spoke at the Dec. 8 Malden School Committee meeting, calling the decision not to extend Principal Chris Mastrangelo’s contract 'opaque' and urging a one‑year extension to allow a dignified retirement; petitioners said the abrupt move has destabilized the high school community.

The Malden community is rallying to demand answers and a one-year extension for Principal Chris Mastrangelo, calling the committee's decision "opaque" and a threat to trust and stability in their schools.

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3 months ago

CPAC presents special‑education caregiver survey; superintendent pledges program review and audit The Malden CPAC presented an anonymous caregiver survey (114 responses) documenting inconsistent IEP/504 implementation, communication gaps and staffing shortfalls; Superintendent Sippel said the district will conduct an internal audit of special‑education services and a program review with DESE metrics, with audit results due to the committee by April.

Malden's caregivers reveal alarming gaps in special education services, with nearly half feeling unsupported and calling for urgent reforms.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CaregiverSupport #SpecialEducation #CitizenPortal #IEPImplementation

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4 months ago

Councilor Cica files open-meeting complaint alleging 'serial deliberation'; council sends complaint to city solicitor Councilor Jadine Cica presented an open-meeting-law complaint accusing Councilor Colon Hayes of private communications that collectively involved a quorum and sought to influence a recent appointment vote; the council voted 9-2 to refer the complaint to the city solicitor for investigation.

Councilor Jadine Cica has filed a serious complaint against her colleague for allegedly undermining open meeting laws in a controversial appointment vote.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CitizenPortal #DueProcess #CivicAccountability #OpenGovernment

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4 months ago

Malden council adopts discretionary hiring pause after debate over scope and contracts After debate over mayoral authority, union obligations and board appointments, the Malden City Council passed an amended resolve urging an immediate discretionary hiring pause across city departments; the non-binding measure passed by roll-call vote after councilors added language to limit its reach.

The Malden City Council just passed a controversial resolve urging a discretionary hiring pause amid budget pressures, sparking heated debates over fiscal responsibility and union obligations.

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4 months ago

Council rejects four proposed debt-exclusion ballot questions, refers $36M vocational-school item to finance After extensive debate over timing and fiscal impact, Malden City Council voted to send the $36 million Northeast Vocational Technical School debt-exclusion to the finance committee and rejected separate $10M and $25M debt-exclusion proposals for lead‑pipe work, Roosevelt Park, an art center and an East Side fire station.

The Malden City Council's recent vote has sparked heated debates over a $36 million vocational school project while four other crucial funding proposals faced defeat—what's next for the community?

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4 months ago

Malden public forum previews Proposition 2½ override as officials warn cuts would hit police, fire and housing supports At a Nov. 19 public forum, Malden officials outlined a proposed Proposition 2½ tax override (roughly $5.4 million) to close an operating gap and avoid cuts; residents raised concerns about renter impacts, service reductions and whether a larger or tiered ballot question should be offered.

Malden officials are facing tough decisions as they propose a $5.4 million tax override to prevent cuts that could jeopardize essential services like police and fire response times.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #PublicFunding #CivicEngagement #CitizenPortal #CommunityServices

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5 months ago

Candidates propose dual enrollment, internships and device education to ease high-school-to-adulthood transition Malden candidates advocated a mix of college-credit programs, early career internships and teaching responsible device use as ways to smooth the transition from high school to adulthood. Peter Piazza emphasized AP/IB and dual enrollment; another guest argued for device-responsibility education instead of blanket bans.

Malden candidates are shaking up the conversation on how to best prepare high school students for adulthood with innovative ideas like dual enrollment and responsible phone use education.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CareerReadiness #CitizenPortal #AdvancedCoursework

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5 months ago

Candidates emphasize belonging, restorative practices and inclusive special‑education supports in Malden schools Guests on a Malden podcast said student agency, emotional safety and restorative responses to incidents should be part of efforts to make schools safe and welcoming. One candidate highlighted restorative justice and another emphasized inclusive placements and peer mentoring for students with disabilities.

Malden candidates are advocating for a school culture where every student feels heard, supported, and safe through innovative practices like restorative justice and inclusive education.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CitizenPortal #RestorativePractices #InclusiveEducation

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5 months ago

City councilors point to zoning, mixed use and affordable‑housing tools as paths to new revenue for Malden Ward 5 City Councilor Ari Taylor said restaurants, hotels and retail could boost Maldens revenue base. Ward 3 Council President Amanda Linehan urged zoning changes in key corridors and described the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and Community Preservation Act as tools to leverage federal dollars and partner with nonprofits for new affordable units

Malden's city councilors believe that smart zoning changes and targeted economic development could transform the city into a thriving hub of restaurants, hotels, and vibrant shopping!

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CitizenPortal #CommunityInvestment #ZoningReform

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5 months ago

Malden candidates say schools must protect students amid federal immigration enforcement Two school committee candidates told a local podcast that Malden Public Schools should prioritize safety for students and strengthen community ties to help families affected by federal immigration enforcement. One candidate urged revisiting the districts 2019 Safe School Zones resolution.

Malden Public Schools candidates are calling for stronger community ties to protect students from federal immigration enforcement—could your neighborhood be the key to their safety?

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CitizenPortal #CommunitySupport #ImmigrationProtection

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5 months ago

Council narrows department head salary schedule change to fiscal 2026 after lengthy debate The City Council approved an amended change to the department head salary schedule limited to fiscal year 2026 after extended debate over fiscal uncertainty. The amendment passed 7–4 and the council enrolled the paper as amended by the same margin.

The Malden City Council's recent vote to limit department head salary changes to fiscal year 2026 has sparked intense debate over the city's financial future and staffing stability.

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5 months ago

Malden discussion on raising residential tax exemption from 30% to 35% focuses on homeowners, large apartment complexes and renter impacts City Assessor Nate Kramer presented options to raise Malden’s residential exemption from 30% to 35%. Councilors debated who would benefit, how landlords and large apartment buildings could be affected, enforcement of eligibility, and next procedural steps including an Oct. 28 classification hearing.

Malden City Council is weighing a proposal to raise the residential tax exemption from 30% to 35%, sparking a heated debate on how it will impact homeowners, apartment owners, and renters alike.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CitizenPortal #TaxReform #CommunityEngagement

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5 months ago

Candidates propose overrides, development and new taxes to close Malden budget gap Candidates told a youth forum Malden faces a structural budget gap and floated a mix of short‑term and long‑term revenue options, including a tax override, commercial development, meals/hotel taxes and taxing short‑term rentals.

Malden city council candidates are grappling with a budget crisis, proposing everything from tax overrides to new revenue strategies that could reshape the city's financial future.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #CitizenPortal #TaxReform #CommercialDevelopment

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5 months ago

Youth ask about Chinese, Creole and other languages; candidates back expanded language options and local steps High-school youth asked candidates how they would expand language offerings. Candidates and incumbents proposed grow-your-own teacher programs, community partnerships, cultural events and curriculum steps toward dual-language options while noting funding and teacher-supply constraints.

Malden High School students are rallying for more Asian languages, but candidates face tough challenges like funding and recruiting qualified teachers.

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#MaldenCityMiddlesexCounty #MA #LanguageInclusion #CitizenPortal #CulturalDiversity #EducationAccess

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5 months ago

Candidates warn of student mental health crisis and call for more school counselors At the forum several candidates raised student mental health as a pressing crisis, saying schools lack social workers and counseling capacity and that some families struggle to get external support from DCF.

Candidates at the Malden School Committee forum are sounding the alarm on a student mental health crisis, highlighting a dire shortage of counselors and the urgent need for better resources.

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5 months ago

Malden school committee candidates press for more funding, urge Chapter 70 fixes at forum At a Malden candidate forum, multiple school committee candidates singled out school funding as the district's top problem, calling for state Chapter 70 formula changes, local ballot action and clearer accountability for how money is spent.

Malden School Committee candidates are sounding the alarm on funding shortfalls, linking it to declining student support and academic performance – can local activism turn the tide?

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