Newsletters

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We are now in the process of cataloging newsletters (yippee!). For the latest info, please sign up to get my newsletter in real time here. -KS

Late Fall and Early Winter Newsletter, 2025

`   Late Fall and Early Winter Newsletter, 2025 Hello, My Dear Friend, The 2025 Election season is over and I’m delighted to return as your City Councilor, at-Large. I thank you for your continued belief in me and your support. This January 2026, I’ll be sworn-in for my fourth term in office.   Always know that my focus is on you, finding everyday solutions to make your life easier, happier, more supported. I want to make sure you’re living your best life here in Somerville. Below you’ll find some of the more recent wins and some of the work I’m doing. I’m also setting up some new ideas and solutions for the incoming term.  I also have some Office Hours coming up. You’ll find the information below.  Until then, I wish you a very Happy Holidays season. I hope it’s restful and joyous. Know you can reach out to me if you need to: 617-209-9915 or strezoatlarge@gmail.com.  Yours in Service, Councilor Kristen Strezo  Somerville City Councilor, at-Large     OFFICE HOURS Join me for Office Hours at City Hall on Friday, January 9th, 2026 at Somerville City Hall  from 11:30 am-12:15 pm (Somerville City Hall, 2nd floor, City Council Chamber).  If you can’t make it that day and time, know I’m always happy to set up a time to meet in-person or talk over the phone or zoom. Reach out to me, if so.   ORDERS and RESOLUTIONS Here are some of summaries of some Orders and Resolutions I’ve put forward this Fall and Winter.   October 2025 ORDER – In an effort to uphold my commitment to public and street safety, I made it a priority to address the electricity loss in Ward Seven caused by the snagging of overhead wires by a semi-truck. Continuing to work with DPW and the Lights and Lines team prevent this issue from reoccurring.  RESOLUTION – for the Administration to discuss with the Council whether there is a  need to create additional alternative locations for people to store their belongings.  DPW offers bins and lockers on a short term basis. For longer term solutions, City is looking at models where unhoused individuals have regular access to lockers. The Health and Human Services Department, along with various other departments, are continuously looking at best practices throughout the country on unattended personal items.  If there is a complaint or someone finds unattended items, staff work to determine if the items represent a safety hazard, and if so, that is removed right away. Other considerations include whether the item(s) block egress, if they are located in a sensitive environment such as schools, playgrounds, or construction sites. Belongings that can be stored are kept and then the process begins to identify the owner or if it was truly abandoned begins. Conversations with city departments continue to explore avenues on this work.  RESOLUTION- for the Administration to provide the following data on needles found in and around Davis Square outside of the designated receptacle box; breakdown of specific location whether they are used or unused.  November 2025 RESOLUTION – Pushed for the city to increase its communication strategies to reach out to residents about food insecurity issues. Passionately advocated for the use of robocalls, texts, or electronic road signs to make outreach a priority in managing poverty in Somerville.  RESOLUTION – Advocated for information access and transparency in city responses to address the closure of the West Somerville Community Bike Path from Cambridge into Somerville.  RESOLUTION – Advocated for direct communication, information, and answers to any residents that had questions or concerns about the status of SNAP benefits and the programs the city offers to support food insecurity concerns. The Department of Health and Human Services claimed to have 10 contacts through the office to provide information on benefits and sign new residents up for SNAP benefits if needed. Advocating for these initiatives was monumental in creating sustainable city responses, Mayor Ballantyne appropriated $875,000 from the Community Benefits Stabilization Fund for food security initiatives.  December 2025 CITATION – Highlighting the work done by the Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SSEPAC) to assist vulnerable students in the classroom and address the gaps present in the school system. SSEPAC continues to create inclusive spaces for students in classrooms and take decisive action to address disparities for students with disabilities.  ORDER – Continuing to advocate for increased transparency on ongoing and approved development for new housing units. Committed to monitoring the increase in new housing and the city’s work to make these units permanently affordable following the adoption of SomerVision 2040. RESOLUTION  – Staying committed to assessing the labor and costs associated with the reopening and functioning of the Founder’s Rink. Accessibility of these community spaces is a priority.   SOME WORK HIGHLIGHTS Hunger and food insecurity is often a silent pain. Many of us don’t know what our neighbors hold in their pantries and fridges, and with grocery store inflation, federal funding cuts and a lagging job market (AND government shutdown), many Somerville residents are feeling this. There has been an increase of inquiries for food resources in the Boston area. Still, we have to do all we can to stretch with less resources alongside our already hard working community partners.  Knowing this, I’ve spent this late Fall building the structure for a few programs to community outreach and empowering our community to help address food insecurity. I believe in us and I truly believe we have so many ways to help our neighbors. In the New Year, I hope to unveil what I’ve been researching and planning to help tackle poverty and food insecurity. Stay tuned.  And, if you’re worried about hunger, know you can call Somerville’s own 311 (or 617-625-6600) for food resources. You can also call or text the Project Bread FoodSource hotline at 800-645-8333. They’re available weekdays 8am to 7pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm.  If you are homebound within Somerville, there ARE resources to get food to you. Additionally, please know you can also reach out to me, and I’ll be there to help you as much as I can.    SUPPORTING FAMILIES I gave a Citation to the Somerville Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC) and I highlighted the letter that they sent to Massachusetts DESI (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) in August, 2025. If you care about the civil rights of our Somerville students, please take a look at their report.    BOOSTING UP VOICES THAT NEED TO BE HEARD  Interested in what Somerville seniors are raising as important concerns? Check out the 2025 Aging in Somerville Community Needs Assessment here, which was a partnership between UMass Boston and the Somerville Council on Aging.  And…I’m always thinking about how we get around our community, finding ways to increase safety, and finding ways for us collaboratively to be more green and out of cars, if we’re able. Throughout the year, I’ve put forward or co-signed more street safety Council work throughout your neighborhoods, and have had success getting EVEN more potholes fixed and some more speed bumps, neighborhood safety features and traffic calming measures in place at your requests. I take this work extremely seriously; I’m Vision Zero: Zero Injuries, Zero Fatalities.  You have options for more shuttle buses. For instance… DID YOU KNOW?       The Tufts Shuttle Bus is FREE for ALL Somerville residents? No ID necessary, just hop on the bus. One shuttle runs between Davis Square and the Medford campus, another shuttle runs down to the Tufts Fenway campus to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. AND… there’s a Saturday Tufts grocery store shuttle bus that goes to the Medford Stop and Shop on Fellsway (you know, that plaza where you can also go to the Ocean State Job Lot, Carter’s, Chipotle, Pet Supplies Plus, Aldi and the bank? Yes, there!). All Tufts shuttle buses run ONLY during the academic year (September – May). You can track the shuttle buses at this website, and there is an app, as well. Check it out.  If you do take it, let me know how it goes. If you have any issues riding the Free Tufts shuttle, please let me know about that, too.    ALSO I’ve pushed forward more city support including more visibility to help support you in the Small Business community. Recently the city’s Economic Development department unveiled a Loyal 2 Local campaign, encouraging Somerville residents to Shop Local this holiday season. I’m happy about this. Our local business community is part of what makes Somerville so special. I want our Somerville businesses to thrive. Our local small businesses are what make us so special.  Please remember to shop in Somerville this holiday season, from catering services for parties in East Somerville to one-of-a-kind gifts in Davis Square to commissioning pet care services in Ball Square so you can travel out of town or organic cat toys in Union Square. We’ve got it ALL!    AND HOW ABOUT SOME MORE WINS The work to preserve body autonomy and reproductive justice is ongoing. Over the years, I’ve put forward numerous Budget Requests for the City of Somerville to create Emergency Contraception Vending Machines.  Proud to say that Somerville’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Department recently launched two new Health based vending machines (that are free to the public) and  included in these free vending machine boxes are emergency contraception, condoms and menstrual pads and diapers—among many other items.  I’m grateful to HHS for hearing my points and taking the need for these vital items seriously. You can see the boxes yourself in two locations: West Branch Library (40 College Ave, Somerville) and Project Soup (165 Broadway, Somerville).   With that, I wish you a VERY HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a JOYOUS New Year! I’m looking forward to connecting with you soon. I hope you have plenty of time to connect with loved ones and all those who boost up your spirits.  May you have lots of long walks on the beach, longtime tosses of the football or lots of time laughing together as you watch a favorite movie. May your days be merry and bright.                                                                   Let’s keep in touch. Find me on Instagram, Facebook, Threads and BLUESKY www.kristenstrezo.com  FOLLOW ALONG  INSTAGRAM   THREADS  FACEBOOK

Late Winter 2024 NEWSLETTER

Late Winter Newsletter 2024  My Dear Friend,          I wanted to update you on what I’ve been working on these past months. Know I’m working hard every day to make sure you’re living your best life here in Somerville. So many good things happening.         And, also! I wish to invite you to some upcoming in-person Office Hours I’ll be having. See below for dates and times. Hope you can join me. Know I’m here at your side, always.  My Best, Councilor Kristen Strezo OFFICE HOURS Join me for Office Hours at City Hall on Friday, March 22nd from 11:15 am-12:30pm (Somerville City Hall, 2nd floor, Committee Room) and Tuesday April 23rd from 8:15am to 9:30am at True Grounds Cafe in Ball Square (717 Broadway).  If you can’t make it that day and time, know I’m always happy to set up a time to meet in-person or talk over the phone or zoom. Reach out to me, if so.  THE WORK Quick refresher: I chair the Housing and Community Development Committee and the Equity and Vulnerable Populations Committee, although I serve on numerous Committees in City Council.        This winter in Housing and Community Development (HCD), we discussed the current plans–and the process–for the Arts and the Armory building and the Warming Center. We received an update on vulnerable resident housing needs from Director Shachter of the Office of Housing Stability. This month, we’ll talk about universal playground design and we will begin to discuss the cost of water bills–and how the city can help deflect the rising costs.       I also represent the City Council on the Small Business Anti-Displacement Task Force. We’ll soon be uniting the work in the HCD committee, discussing the task force’s findings and recommendations in the Spring, including proactive measures to address repeat offender vacant store fronts, and relay how damaging a Snow Emergency can sometimes be to our small businesses.  SUPPORTING FAMILIES       Keeping up the work to support parents, children and families, I am the City Council Liaison on the Children’s Cabinet, an internal monthly committee meeting that unites all city departments that serve children and families. The committee, in partnership with Harvard University’s By All Means initiative aims to better the lives of Somerville families.        In these meetings, we discuss and plan how to best serve our youngest constituents- and all parents and guardians who love them. I like to bring back to the Children’s Cabinet what I’m hearing from you (as anonymous feedback from the community) and I’m always happy to relay what you’re experiencing in the hope it will help. Let me know if you ever wish to talk further on this.      Over the past months, we’ve been discussing summer needs for children, capacity, and how departments are trying to get ahead of hiring staff to ensure programing. There are also steps being taken to expand summer programs for Special Needs children.   A SPACE FOR EVERYONE       Over the winter, I proposed a budget request to allocate money to establish a small area for a children’s bookshelf within City Council Chambers. I’m super excited about it! I envision that this designated area hold children’s books, maybe crayons or small toys. But more than anything, this area is validation that children, families, guardians, caregivers are supported here in Somerville, too; that City Hall is a space for all. We need to convey that message that parents guardians are welcome, heard and planned for.  REAL MOMENT…      We’re living through some strenuous times right now and I want you to feel safe and supported here in Somerville. I believe in the strength of our community and that love truly conquers all. With that, know that hate has no place here.       I have spent countless hours–and years—ensuring that this credo stands. But, discord, unfortunately, hums in the background. We’ve seen an indisputable rise in hate crimes throughout our state. Antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate-based acts of violence have increased. I am tracking this within our city. I will continue to do so.        If you feel that you have experienced something like this, know you can report incidents within Somerville here. If you do report something, please (strongly consider and/or DO) reach out to me via email, call or text (call or text preferred). I want to be the best support I can to you. Know you are not alone. Know you can reach out to me.  WITH SPRING FLOWERS COMES BUDGET SEASON  Budget Season is fast approaching and soon the Mayor’s Office will unveil their FY25 Budget proposal. See my submitted FY25 Budget Requests here.  There is still time to submit Resolutions in support of Budget ideas. Happy to talk with you if you have suggestions.  YES! We do this together. And, I need your support to continue on the work: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/re-elect-strezo                                             Let’s keep in touch. Find me on Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Or…in our beloved community.  www.kristenstrezo.com  FOLLOW ALONG  INSTAGRAM  TWITTER   THREADS  FACEBOOK

SOME 2021 ARCHIVES

• July – So much to look forward to!
• June Updates – A Month of Action
• Some articles covering my work for our beloved Somerville

SOME ARCHIVED POSTS BELOW…

May 4, 2020

I stepped into my role as City Councilor during a pandemic. It was a bit of an unconventional experience, which I talked a little about on my Facebook page.

Still, despite the uncertainty around us. I am honored to serve during this time. For, I have seen the intense goodness in people throughout Somerville and our greater community, people genuinely concerned with their neighbors and the most vulnerable in our community. I’m sure you have witnessed all this, too. I ask you, please, to focus on that. 

I know there’s a lot of massive change happening in a very short span of time. There’s a lot of loss around us, from jobs and revenue to illness and losing loved ones. Still, I urge us all to believe in the good. Believe in the compassion of humanity. Whatever the greater lesson of all this is, we will get through it. 

I take my role as City Councilor extraordinary seriously. I am here to serve. Please let me know how I can. I want to hear from you. Please reach out to me, check in. 

All my best,

Kristen 

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May, 2020

I stepped into my City Councilor role during a pandemic. Some constituents sympathized at how upsetting that must be for me. But, I partially disagreed. Because there is great responsibility in stepping into a role like this at this historical time.

There is no time to get comfortable or “settle in” as the newest councilor. And, that, for me, is just fine. I won’t get lackadaisical. I never wanted to and I won’t even have the chance.

Because of COVID-19, there is no “settling in”. Lives are at stake. Our smaller businesses–our family owned restaurants, art galleries, Somerville-centric magazines and newspapers, immigrant owned businesses–are clutching on with all they have to survive. We have to do everything we can to prevent displacement and evictions. We have to act, swift, to prevent hunger and food insecurity. We have to do all we can to protect jobs. We have to make sure people have access to the supplies they need–like face masks–to proactively guard their health.

Getting residents the protective gear and food they need is critically important. During this shutdown, I’ve been out there in my free time distributing necessary needs for those with limited access. I’ve been calling around and driving all over the place making food deliveries to our most vulnerable residents. I will do so for as long as I have to. Because this is about all of us.

But, just as vitally important as getting to supplies, like PPE, is how we safeguard our community against the very items designed to protect us. And that’s why my very first order as a City Councilor was to address the uptick of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) litter in our city. The order asked that the Director of Communications to create signage that will remind the public of the PPE littering health risks. And, although I don’t want to go there–the financial penalties aka fines for intentionally littering any PPE.

Because, it doesn’t take even a long walk through Somerville to find disposable rubber gloves or masks along the sidewalks or in the grass or in parking lots. Disposed PPE lay along most roads and streets. This is a problem. Just think, if you have small children, some may even be compelled to pick up a disposed brightly colored purple glove.

And, aside from that, this order prompts our neighborhood to consider our city employees–specifically the ones that have to pick all of that litter. Or…if PPE is not picked up before it rains, the PPE litter is guided into our waterways into another source. All scenarios are very undesirable results.

So, the hope of this order is to address the basic concept of looking out for each other through considering our community. And, this is just one order. I’m just getting started.

I want to leave you with the idea that I’ve been blessed to see so much good in people through the horror of this pandemic. I bet you have, too. There’s a lot of good glowing out there. Let’s focus on that. And, let’s build each other up through all this.

Reach out to me and let me know how you’re doing out there.

❤️-Kristen

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March 15, 2020

City Councilor Stephanie Hirsch has announced that she will be stepping down from her role as City Councilor at Large. I am grateful for her hard work and commitment to Somerville and wish her the best as she moves on into her next role.

As the next largest vote earner, I am thrilled to honor your past support as I step up to serve in Councilor Hirsch’s place. I am, as ever, wholeheartedly devoted to making sure you’re living your best life here. And while a goal that big is truly a community effort, as your City Councilor, I assure you that I will give you my all to make it happen.

I’ve listened to your priorities this past year and they included sustaining and building an affordable Somerville, a greener city and safely enhancing our many modes of transportation like walking, biking and public transit. I am committed to, and believe in, all of these values. Your priorities are my priorities.

Over the next several weeks, I am working to make this transition as seamless as possible. I am in the process of compiling and studying past agendas and diving in deeper into our most pressing issues like COVID-19 preparedness and response. If you’d like, please share any insights you may have on the topics that each committee is discussing. Your voice matters to me.

The city will be issuing me an official email address that I will send out in my next update. If you’d like to contact me immediately, the best way is strezoatlarge@gmail.com.

I look forward to collaborating with you in this lovely city of ours.

Respectfully yours,

Kristen Strezo

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October 30, 2019

The Somerville Times has just announced my endorsement as candidate for Somerville City Councilor-at-Large! Read this article about my candidacy in the Wicked Local, or check out my Election Profile in the Patch!