Somerville, MA: Kicking off a run for a third term as the Ward 5 Alderman in Somerville, Mark Niedergang will host a re-election fundraiser at Olde Magoun’s Saloon on Wednesday, March 8, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. Special guest State Representative Christine Barber will speak and complimentary food will be served.
Mark Niedergang has served three years as Ward 5 Alderman, after eight years as the Ward 5 School Committee member. “With the help and support of Somerville residents”, Niedergang says, “We have helped make Somerville a great and desirable place to live. Ironically, because of our success, we now face new challenges. Without activism by residents and strong leadership from our city government, we won’t keep Somerville a mixed-income, diverse, creative and eclectic community for much longer.” 
The Board of Aldermen will continue to make big decisions in the next few years on critical issues such as the Green Line and Community Path Extension, re-zoning Union Square and the entire City, sewer and water infrastructure, and much more. We need wise and experienced leadership to guide the City, manage City finances effectively, and to slow the increase in taxes and fees.
Alderman Niedergang works on neighborhood issues such as traffic calming, parking, potholes, street paving, streetlights, trees, rats, and development projects in Ward 5. Affordable housing is a primary concern. Last year, Niedergang worked with activists and other aldermen to increase the affordable housing required in new developments from 12.5% to 20%. For the first time, some new affordable units will be reserved for middle-class families. In 2015, he co-chaired the Mayor’s Sustainable Neighborhoods Working Group. Niedergang currently serves on the Mayor’s Real Estate Transfer Charge Task Force exploring a 1% fee on most residential real-estate sales. This would raise millions of dollars every year for affordable housing. Other priorities for 2017 are to generate more commercial development (which provides more tax revenue and jobs), to increase the City’s job-training programs, and to ensure that union labor is used on all major developments. Helping people get better work that pays more will enable them to handle higher housing costs and stay in Somerville.
Niedergang credits his constituents, and the many active and engaged City residents, who share their concerns and ideas with him, with helping him to do his job better.