Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

Note: This letter was written and then read before the Medford City Council on Tuesday evening, March 12, 2024.

It expresses my thoughts on the state of the city of Medford’s elected city council body and the direction they are taking us.

Thank you!
Anthony D’Antonio

To say that I am disappointed and angry, but not surprised in the least, by the actions, attitudes and discriminatory accusations towards our citizens that the current, irresponsible and questionable motion being brought by this sitting council this evening, is monumentally understated.

The sitting council members, those supported, endorsed and financed by the progressive socialist group “Our Revolution”, have furtively laid the groundwork to target and punish Medford citizens…in particular; home owners, business owners, taxpayers and workers…that’s just about everyone, except themselves and their agenda. Why!? It’s what progressive socialists do…find ways to take and spend your hard earned money and possessions.

The council body has drawn that infamous red line in the sand, creating a schism, which is, for all intents and purposes, the systematic and ultimate degradation of a city… a city along with its people who stand proud…a friendly, productive, prosperous, caring, diverse, and, your favorite word, inclusive, for more years than most of you councilors have walked the earth…many more!
You exercise ambiguous language when you attempt to introduce to us national and state political agendas under the guise of “it’s good for Medford”, “it’s good for the people” when in fact it is not.

Your efforts in these matters are not welcome…as are not your attempts to indoctrinate Medford to a socialist doctrine. Not here…not now… not ever!
I am steadfast in declaring that I have very little faith, if any at all, in your abilities as city councilors to perform your duties as city councilors; your lack of experience in life’s circus is pretty evident…verbosity is a lame substitute for performance when used to deceive the public…we are not fooled nor are we fools!
Understand this, we, the majority of Medford’s citizens, the hard working property owners, the business owners, the longtime residents who for many years have contributed to and for the betterment of Medford, are the people who you work for…period. We are not your property!

I refuse, as I believe we all do, to be treated as chattel for your political ideologies and schemes…none which are beneficial for this city. This is not the place for you to build your curriculum vitae on the backs and the bank accounts of Medford’s citizens. What gives you the audacity to assume such and lay the groundwork?

Your responsibility as city councilors, when you took the oath of office, was to insure that we have a city made safe for its residents, schools, students, visitors; good streets, sidewalks, etc., to welcome and support businesses so they may flourish, and, also as important, if not most importantly, financial integrity, discipline and acuity…which we are sorely lacking…fix this first…don’t burden us financially because we have a weak, ineffective and irresponsible administration and you lack the tools and experience needed to mitigate this problem.

We are not your cash cow. You are paid extraordinarily well to perform your duties ….
We’re waiting for our return on investment. I don’t see anything on the horizon! Please, do your job or tender your resignations!
Anthony D’Antonio 12 March, 2024… Before the Medford City Council