Accomplishments and Plans:
Moving Medford Forward For Us All

My work has been guided by a simple belief: Medford’s future should be built by and for the people who call it home.

That’s why I’ve fought to make real progress: from securing historic funding for our public schools to passing game-changing reforms protecting renters and building affordable housing. We’re modernizing our infrastructure, expanding green spaces, and making City Hall more transparent and accessible. Every step of the way, I’ve put people first, pushing for a Medford that’s more affordable, more vibrant, and more inclusive.

Learn more here about the Medford People’s Platform, which I’ve signed onto, check out a map of my First Term Accomplishments here, and learn about my work on the official City Council Governing Agenda here.

Table of Contents

  1. Housing Affordability
  2. Youth and Education
  3. Equity and Inclusion
  4. Revitalizing Medford’s Economy
  5. City Services and Quality of Life
  6. Climate, Transportation, and Infrastructure
  7. Public and Mental Health
  8. Transparent Governance
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What Justin's Done:

  1. Protecting Renters: Strengthened tenant protections with a housing stability ordinance and supported tenants’ unions fighting displacement.
  2. Zoning for Affordability: Led major zoning reforms to boost affordable housing, legalize accessory dwelling units (ADUs), reduce parking minimums, and regulate short-term rentals.
  3. Planning for the Future: Passed the Housing Production Plan and launched the next phase of zoning reform to put residents’ needs before those of big developers.
  4. Funding Affordable Housing: Established an Affordable Housing Trust so the City can invest directly in housing solutions.
  5. Supporting Seniors & Retirees: Raised the income cap for senior tax deferrals and voted to increase the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retired municipal workers.
  6. Pushing for Tax Relief: Initiated discussions on a primary residence tax exemption and began exploring protections around condo conversions.
  7. Connecting Residents to Aid: Helped residents access state and federal resources like student loan relief, home energy rebates, and affordable internet programs.

What Justin Plans to Do:

  1. Expanding Inclusionary Zoning: Focus on transit-oriented, environmentally-friendly development, building on the Housing Production Plan we passed last year.

  2. Making Housing More Affordable: Work to expand income restrictions so that more residents, especially those earning below 80% of area median income (AMI), can access affordable housing.

  3. Building More Affordable Homes: Advocate for an Affordable Housing Overlay and explore capital projects that will grow Medford’s housing supply.

  4. Leveraging State and Federal Resources: Maximize use of federal and state funding programs like HOME funds, Community Development Block Grants, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and tax opportunity zones to fund affordable housing.

  5. Addressing Housing Inequality: Recognize and address the intersectional effects of social inequality, power imbalances, and housing discrimination in policymaking.

  6. Ensuring Accessibility: Work to make sure that low-income housing in Medford is accessible to people with disabilities.

  7. Improving Health and Safety: Strengthen enforcement of housing health and safety codes, including funding a more comprehensive rodent mitigation strategy.

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What Justin's Done:

  1. Secured a historic $8 million increase in the school budget, preventing the layoff of dozens of teachers and school staff.
  2. Negotiated hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for Medford’s public schools in the FY2023 and FY2024 budgets.
  3. Worked with the City and School Committee to begin the process of building a new high school.
  4. Supported student-led efforts and called for increased engagement with students to shape City policies.
  5. Pushed for more youth mental health resources, advocating for better access to support and strategies to address student behavior.
  6. Collaborated with City staff to create opportunities for youth involvement in local activism, climate work, and internships at City Hall.

What Justin Plans to Do:

  1. Prioritizing School Funding: Continue to secure strong, sustainable school funding to prevent the historic underfunding that hurts students most.

  2. Protecting Public Education: Advocate for a “hold harmless” provision for charter school reimbursements to safeguard up to $8 million in public school funding.

  3. Standing Against Cuts: Oppose any budget that reduces education funding.

  4. Expanding After-School Access: Partner with community groups and officials to find lasting solutions to the after-school placement shortage.

  5. Creating Student Opportunities: Expand volunteer, internship, and work opportunities for Medford students in city government.

  6. Promoting Equity and Excellence: Partner with the School Committee to ensure racial and social equity in classrooms and boost pay for teachers, paraprofessionals, substitutes, and before/after-school staff.

  7. Expanding Access to Extracurriculars: Work to eliminate financial barriers to arts, sports, and other activities and collaborate with city staff and nonprofits to grow sports and arts opportunities, especially for lower-income families.

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What Justin's Done:

  1. Inclusive Listening & Representation: Created City Council listening sessions focused on historically overlooked communities and empowered the Human Rights Commission to push for equity in city policy and hiring.
  2. Protecting Rights & Safety: Passed laws safeguarding gender-affirming and reproductive healthcare, and codified the city’s policy of non-cooperation with ICE in non-criminal cases to protect immigrant neighbors.
  3. Language Access & Civic Engagement: Provided constituent services in Chinese and Spanish, expanded citywide language access, promoted immigrant civic participation, and grew the community liaison program.
  4. Surveillance Oversight & Equity Planning: Helped pass an ordinance for community control over public surveillance and pushed the city to update its Social Justice Roadmap, including funding an independent racial equity study.
  5. Advocating for the Most Vulnerable: Promoted diverse hiring, expanded outreach for SNAP enrollment, and advocated for unhoused residents.
  6. Standing Up Against Discrimination: Elevated anti-Asian violence and racial disparities in traffic stops, and engaged directly with city leadership to demand accountability.
  7. Equity in Planning & Development: Ensured racial, income, and neighborhood equity were centered in the City’s housing, climate, and development plans.
  8. Lifting Up Immigrant Voices: Celebrated immigrant cultures through public events and led a successful regional push that convinced the Biden Administration to reverse discriminatory policies against Haitian immigrants.

What Justin Plans to Do:

  1. Fighting Systemic Racism: Continue to challenge systemic racism, reform policing, and bring a critical lens to policymaking.
  2. Expanding Access and Inclusion: Pass ordinances to increase translation services, create Youth and Immigrants’ Commissions, and make community liaison positions permanent.
  3. Making Public Safety Holistic and Accountable: Fund a community-centered response to crime and establish a civilian review board for greater policing oversight.
  4. Building a Diverse Workforce: Partner with city and school leadership to improve hiring practices, leadership pipelines, and staff diversity.
  5. Creating Welcoming Spaces: Expand access to gender-neutral bathrooms, add more seating and public toilets, and make public spaces more inclusive.
  6. Supporting LGBTQIA+ Health: Provide greater access to mental and physical health resources for LGBTQIA+ residents in need.
  7. Using Better Data: Promote better, disaggregated data collection and evaluation to inform smarter, more equitable policies.
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What Justin's Done

  1. Zoning Reforms for Economic Growth: Passed the first zoning recodification in 60 years, paving the way for major life science and commercial developments that will create jobs and increase entertainment options in Medford.
  2. Medford Square Redesign: Led efforts to repurpose and redesign Medford Square, bringing in more housing, businesses, and a better parking plan to revitalize the area.
  3. Support for Local Businesses: Helped keep local businesses in Medford during eviction threats, ensuring they could stay and thrive in our community.
  4. Modernizing Regulations: Worked on ordinances to modernize food truck and outdoor dining regulations, helping local businesses adapt to changing needs.
  5. Paid Family & Medical Leave: Advocated for paid family and medical leave for municipal employees, supporting workers in times of need.
  6. Cost of Living Adjustment for Retirees: Voted to increase the cost of living adjustment for municipal retirees to ensure they have the support they need.
  7. Protecting Local Arts & Culture: Coordinated with community stakeholders and councilors to protect Chevalier Theater from an illegal, out-of-town competitor development.
  8. Public Art & Beautification: Asked the Administration to explore opportunities for public art installations and beautification projects to enrich our city.

What Justin Plans to Do

  1. Supporting Local Businesses: Help local entrepreneurs thrive and create incentives to shop and live local.

  2. Revitalizing Our Squares: Drive innovative efforts to finance revitalization of Medford Square and other local squares.

  3. Smart Growth & Zoning: Encourage business and housing growth along key corridors and create walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.

  4. Connecting to Resources: Link businesses with advisors, grants, and resources to modernize and grow.

  5. Supporting Workers: Tackle wage theft, protect tenants, and support union labor in new developments.

  6. Greening & Beautifying: Expand tree canopy and public art to make downtown more vibrant and welcoming.

  7. Regional Cooperation: Partner with neighboring cities to protect labor rights and prevent a race to the bottom.

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What Justin's Done

  1. Modernizing Local Government: Launched a City Council newsletter, expanded our social media presence, and reformed Council rules to make public participation the norm—not the exception.
  2. Language Access for All: Provided constituent services in Chinese and Spanish, helping more residents navigate city government in the language they’re most comfortable with.
  3. Fixing What’s Broken: Secured $250,000 to remove half of Medford’s old tree stumps and passed $1 million to start repaving sidewalks, bringing repairs in-house to save money.
  4. Cleaning Up Our Streets: Partnered with City and State agencies to reduce litter and launched targeted efforts to cut down on nip bottle and sharps litter in public areas.
  5. Bringing Government Closer to You: Expanded city events and services into more neighborhoods to make City Hall feel less distant—and more responsive.
  6. Rethinking City Governance: Led City Council efforts to review the City Charter, exploring ward representation and a better balance of power between the Council and the Mayor.
  7. Prioritizing Accessibility: Advocated for better accommodations across city services and worked to make public spaces more inclusive and welcoming for all.
  8. Fighting Noise Pollution: Kept pressure on the City and the FAA to address airplane noise and its impact on quality of life.
  9. Improving Snow Removal: Pushed for a sidewalk snow removal program that prioritizes pedestrian access and provides support for residents who can’t shovel on their own.
  10. Fixing Parking & Public Info: Provided input on the new Parking Department and led community outreach to improve the City’s website and digital services.
  11. Safer Streets for All: Advocated to reduce speeding, noise, and cut-through traffic in residential neighborhoods through smarter infrastructure and enforcement.

What Justin Plans to Do

  1. Improving Communication & Engagement: Streamline city communications to reach residents without email or phone access and invest in technology to enhance community feedback and participation in city planning processes.

  2. Fostering Access & Equity: Pass an ordinance to fund translation and interpretation services for all city services, ensuring engagement with underserved communities, and provide menstrual products in all city facilities.

  3. Improving Your Quality of Life: Continue efforts to combat rodent infestations, regulate blasting in construction projects, and collaborate on addressing airplane noise with federal stakeholders.

  4. Inclusive Public Spaces: Expand access to gender-neutral bathrooms in city facilities, parks, and public spaces, and ensure all city facilities meet ADA compliance with a focus on disability justice in capital projects.

  5. Recreation & Arts Access: Partner with Medford Recreation and the Arts Council to increase access to sports and arts for low-income residents.

  6. Trust & Accountability: Foster a culture of trust and accountability across city departments and maintain the See-Click-Fix program to enhance public service.

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What Justin's Done:

  1. Revitalized Parks & Accessibility: Secured millions in funding to modernize and revitalize parks across the city, increasing accessibility for disabled residents and offering amenities for all ages.

  2. Zoning Reforms for Sustainability: Passed zoning reforms to promote walkability, energy efficiency, and sustainability in new developments, including a Green Score to encourage eco-friendly building practices.

  3. Environmental Protections: Banned polystyrene products, limited noisy gas-powered leaf blowers, and took steps to preserve our tree canopy.

  4. Fixing Our Streets and Sidewalks: Secured $1 million to repave sidewalks and brought repairs in-house, saving taxpayer money. Pushed for new biking and sidewalk infrastructure to set a model for future developments.

  5. Public Transportation & Blue Bikes: Worked to restore bus service for South Medford and Medford Hillside, expanded the Blue Bikes network into Medford, and advocated for electric municipal vehicles.

  6. Expanded Bike Lanes: Pushed for bike lane expansions to better connect neighborhoods and regional networks.

What Justin Plans to Do:

  1. Carrying Out Climate Goals: Continue implementing the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan to cut emissions and reduce non-sustainable materials in Medford.

  2. Expanding the Green Canopy: Grow our urban tree cover to combat heat islands, especially in lower-income neighborhoods, and create more livable communities.

  3. Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition: Support downsizing and electrifying the municipal fleet, installing more EV charging stations, and expanding bike access—especially for low-income families—through voucher programs.

  4. Tackling Building Emissions: Target emissions from buildings, which contribute 67% of Medford’s carbon output, by encouraging electrification and renewable energy use through financial and zoning incentives.

  5. Setting Net-Zero Standards: Support a net-zero or carbon-neutral requirement for new developments and promote green renovation projects.

  6. Reducing Natural Gas Dependence: Phase out natural gas in municipal buildings and move all publicly owned or operated facilities to 100% renewable electricity by 2030, with a citywide transition by 2035.

  7. Holding Companies Accountable: Require gas companies to check for and repair leaks and protect residents from paying for leaked or unaccounted-for gas.

  8. Building Safer, Greener Streets: Advocate for road repaving for safer pedestrian, cyclist, and driver access; expand free and accessible MBTA transportation; and prioritize clearing sidewalks and crosswalks during snowstorms.

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What Justin's Done

  1. Created dedicated city positions to respond to the health and economic impacts of COVID-19
  2. Advocated for more mental health resources and staffing, especially for students facing pandemic-related struggles
  3. Expanded access to COVID testing and vaccinations, with a focus on protecting seniors and other high-risk groups
  4. Pushed the City to improve public health communication, ensuring data was regularly updated and transparent
  5. Helped the City coordinate outreach—in multiple languages—with nonprofits, community groups, liaisons, and faith organizations to close vaccination gaps
  6. Passed resolutions on best health practices, including calls for better masks and more testing access
  7. Proactively supported Medford’s monkeypox response before it became a wider public concern

What Justin Plans to Do

  1. Health Investments: Advocate for increased funding in municipal and school health services.

  2. Rodent Mitigation: Develop and invest in a comprehensive strategy to address rodent issues.

  3. Public Health Preparedness: Push for emergency protocols and long-term support for city services, including schools and nursing homes.

  4. Mental Health Awareness: Lead a proactive campaign to destigmatize mental health and increase outreach for affordable services.

  5. Accessible Health Services: Ensure that applications for 504s and IEPs are accessible, with clear information readily available.

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What Justin's Done

  1. Keeping Residents Informed: Launched the City Council Newsletter and expanded social media updates so residents can easily stay informed on council work and decisions.
  2. Promoting Budget Transparency: Led efforts to publish more budget and spending information on the City website and advocated for open data practices to empower public engagement.
  3. Planning for Long-Term Revenue: Partnered with the Mayor to establish task forces and reform efforts focused on developing clear, transparent strategies for sustainable revenue growth.
  4. Talking Honestly About Revenue: Helped lead frank public discussions about the need to raise revenue to maintain city services, including exploring owner-occupied tax exemptions.
  5. Supporting Participatory Budgeting: Backed key reforms like the Budget Needs Assessment Ordinance, the PILOT Commission Ordinance, and City Charter amendments to give residents a stronger voice in how our budget is built.
  6. Piloting Community Feedback Tools: Introduced a Community Budget Survey to give residents an easier way to share their priorities and guide council decisions.

What Justin Plans to Do

  1. Institutionalizing Transparency & Civic Participation: Continue working on ordinances that create greater opportunities for residents to engage in policy- and budget-making processes, ensuring transparency in decision-making.
  2. Empowering Immigrant & Underserved Communities: Advocate for the hiring of translators and the permanent funding of community liaison positions to improve outreach to immigrant and underrepresented communities.
  3. Enhancing Public Engagement through Open Data: Develop an Open Data ordinance that allows residents to contribute to identifying municipal problems and developing solutions, fostering a more collaborative approach to governance.
  4. Strengthening Communication Channels: Maintain regular updates on social media and conduct surveys to solicit input, ensuring that civic feedback is collected professionally and transparently.
  5. Improving Feedback Processes: Implement more inclusive, representative, and user-friendly technologies for civic feedback processes, enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of public input.
  6. Encouraging Smart Growth & Economic Development: Explore ways to increase the commercial tax base through smart growth initiatives on vacant lots, zoning reforms, and strengthening the business office at City Hall.
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