Join Us for Two Comment Sessions This Fall!
By Ellen Putnam
Editor-in-Chief Ellen Putnam will be hosting the comment sessions
Photo Credit: Nancy Clover
As we move into election season, The Melrose Messenger will be hosting two public comment sessions for Melrose citizens to share their own experiences related to the override questions that will be on the ballot in November. We will publish some of the comments that are shared in an article about each topic.
Many of us have observed that discussions about the override (especially online) often descend into unkindness and name-calling. It is our hope that hearing one anothers’ perspectives in these comment sessions and then in the resulting articles will help remind us that we are all neighbors and we all deserve respect, even when we hold different views.
The comment sessions will take place on two Sunday afternoons at the Dunkin Donuts at 348 Main Street (between Grove Street and West Wyoming Avenue). The first comment session, which will focus on affordability, will take place on Sunday, September 21st between 1pm and 3pm. The second comment session, which will focus on city services, will take place on Sunday, October 5th between 1pm and 3pm.
In the first comment session, about affordability, we’re interested in hearing about your concerns with Melrose’s affordability, and how helpful (or not) city programs to address those concerns have been. Anyone who lives in Melrose is welcome to come and share their own experiences and concerns or (with permission) those of family, friends, or neighbors. All viewpoints are welcome.
In the second comment session, about city services, we’re interested in hearing about current experiences in the Melrose Public Schools (from parents, teachers, or even older students) and current experiences with other city services - roads, emergency services, senior center, etc, especially as they relate to current funding levels. Anyone who lives in Melrose or is otherwise connected to city services is welcome to come and share their experiences and concerns or (with permission) those of family, friends, or neighbors. All viewpoints are welcome.
While both topics are related to the override questions that will be on the ballot in November, these comment sessions will not be debates about the override. (We understand that other civic institutions may be planning events this fall that will present different perspectives about the override, and we will look forward to covering those events when they take place.) All participants are expected to remain respectful of others, even if they disagree.
The editor (me, Ellen Putnam) will aim to capture the range of views that are shared in the resulting article, although I may not publish every comment that is shared. Since these are sensitive topics, if you would prefer your comment to be published anonymously, you may indicate that during the discussion. If a participant indicates that they wish to remain anonymous, all participants are expected to respect that wish, including after the article is published.
Each session will be scheduled for two hours, and participants are welcome to stop in for a few minutes to share their views or stay for a while and listen to others. If you are unable to attend a comment session and you would still like to share your views on these topics, you can email your comments to editor@themelrosemessenger.org.
If you have concerns about what I publish after the fact, please feel free to reach out - I am always happy to publish corrections when needed.