Author: Paul Roberts

Is Moderator Widmer really fair? I asked the experts.

A hand on a scale holding people

Mike Widmer’s running for Moderator on the basis of being fair and balanced. His decision to declare criticism of Town Officials ‘out of order’ suggests otherwise.

Opinion: Belmont’s Broken Zoning Is Making All Of Us Poorer.

two small children standing in front of a suburban home

Will your kids be able to buy a house in Belmont? 8 of 10 Belmontonians say it’s “very unlikely.” The MBTA Communities Act may change that- but not if NIMBY gets its way.

Tonight: Help Shape Belmont’s Housing Future

Boston Elevated Rail Map 1920s

A meeting tonight (Dec 7) at 5:30 will hash out the plan for public participation as Belmont develops its proposal for multifamily districts in Town, ahead of the 2024 Town Meeting vote to approve the new zoning and comply with State law.

Abutters want to slash Children’s Room hours over parking, traffic.

Benton Branch Library

Abutters to Belmont’s Benton Branch are up in arms that the nearly century old library might again be used as a library. They’re pressuring the Select Board to cut the operating hours by more than half: from 50 hours a week to just 20. Sign a petition supporting more hours for our kids and turn up Monday night to the Select Board meeting to voice your support for more Children’s Room hours.

Vote Local! My picks for this year’s Town Election

Voting Illustration

Belmont voters go to the polls April 4th to elect their town government. Here are my picks for Town Meeting and town-wide offices!

Yes on the Library. No on the Rink. Tuesday’s Vote Explained

Skeleton on Hillcrest Road

Voters were asked to approve two building projects. Only one passed. Why? Look to a nasty “No” campaign and November’s “majoritarian” Belmont.

Belmont: 4 reasons to vote “YES” on Question 5

Man Voting

There are lots of reasons you should vote YES on Question 5 to fund construction of a new Belmont library. Here are four worth considering before you vote.

How Belmont loses its Library in Five Simple Steps

Belmont Library Problems

A vote against funding for a new library building could – in short order – leave Belmont without a library at all. How? Read on…

(Updated) You Busy Friday Morning? 7-12 School Solar Is On The Block Again

Hand Made Signs Supporting Solar

It’s not deja vu: the Belmont Middle- and High School Building Committee is again seriously contemplating eliminating a rooftop solar array from the project, citing concerns about cost overruns. A vote is scheduled for Friday morning (February 11) at 8 AM. Please attend and show your support for the photovoltaic solar array.

Belmont: Our Best Days Are Ahead

sunshine drawing

Belmont’s best days are ahead of it. But no community ever shrank its way to greatness. To realize a brighter future, we need to embrace a vision for what our town can be, and do the yeoman’s work to make that vision reality.