By Judy Locchi Jacobs

As most of you know, I have been writing as a volunteer for Somerville News Weekly since 2017.

As someone who has enjoyed blogging and writing opinion pieces about a variety of topics on line, the one most from the heart is my city and your city, a place we call home.

Those of you who know me best, understand how I am. It’s a major part of our personalities for many of us— as one close friend shared, “You are a died hard Somerville Girl”. That’s true.

I will defend any one of our local residents who’s been wronged. We are a force to be reckoned with no doubt. We tell it like it is and don’t care how it may effect us. That’s called courage and perseverance, two qualities my parents taught me. Well, sometimes I might push back too hard, but no one can accuse me of being a phony. The soon to be former mayor knows this as my former employer. I’ve moved on from both bad experiences for speaking the truth and I couldn’t have done it without the support from my friends and family. Thank you to Billy for letting me post and write facts I experienced during peak times of corruption during the tenure of this mayor. I understand why many local families fled our city but I also understand the hidden struggles by displacement. I believe Billy will do his best in helping our community work together to make it better for everyone.

I’ve stood at many televised city meetings fighting for our elderly, veterans and working class families to ensure their voices are heard and demands met, only to have fallen on deaf ears by this council and mayor, also his other various employees.

We are paying high taxes and getting very little in return. Every issue Billy posts in his campaign literature is exactly what we want.

For years, we have sat by the side lines watching this group of politicians strip our real estate away so they could get rich off the hard work of others. Our elderly have been pushed aside as well as our veterans and families.

The benefits and casualties of learning what the other side was up to provided my friends and family, as well as my writing to get the word out. This became most important to me as I learned that big corporate investors were marching in to take over our neighborhoods. These entities were involved with my former employer. I had to make a choice— give up my career or save my home and try to save our city from the wrecking ball.

But I soon realized it’s not enough. We need Billy to set things straight. We want balance, and are willing to work on programs that will stop the fear of becoming displaced and most of all, we want residents to feel inclusive and that people care about each other’s well being in this city.

There are plenty of negatives that have come out of this failed leadership under Mayor Curtatone. If we let them take this election from us, he will never let go of those reins.

I sacrificed along with many of those who spoke out and I would do it all again if it means we can have a future here. For decades I was busy with my family obligations and working full time and continue to reside in our family home purchased by my father in 1930, in W7. But I never forgot my city and its people who make Somerville a special place.

Please share with your family and friends who are voting on November 2nd.

Read Billy’s latest story about questionable practices of the primary election. It should be up soon. Technology is a great thing until it’s not. That’s why we need election reform to make sure it’s all legal. I have seen problems at the polling stations in past years, also at the recent primary election which was disgraceful. Some of those details are now available in his paper and will be online.

Billy is running on a sticker campaign on November 2nd, 2021. Please write in his name and fill in the dot beside it. There will also be stickers made available by request and by mail.

This is our only chance to take back our city.

Contact me with any questions you may have.

Thanks to all!

Judy Locchi Jacobs