Paul Schlichtman

Not true.
Coalition for Healthy Democracy has filed reports with about $2.2 million in contributions.
www.ocpf.us/Filers/?q=95...

It wouldn't be a Democratic primary. It would be an open primary, and the second place Democrat wouldn't be eliminated.
Imagine Auchincloss (D) versus Mermell (D) in the 2020 general election instead of uncompetitive Auchincloss (D) versus Julie Hall (R).

I looked at the campaign finance reports. Most of the "top two" money is coming from non-billionaires in MA. Ranked Choice, on the other hand, was flooded with out-of-state billionaire money.

You can't get fewer candidates than one - and that's our current situation.
In most districts, we can move from one uncontested Democrat, or a Democrat and sacrificial GOP/unenrolled, you will be able to get two Democrats on the November ballot.

How do you come to that conclusion?
Three-quarters of our state legislative seats are uncontested on Election Day. Our low-turnout primary is the Tuesday before Labor Day, a voter suppression tool. Unenrolled Republicans pull Democratic primary ballots and defeat progressive candidates.

We need to repeal this 1980 law before any planning for transit along the former Lexington Branch railway can be conducted. A Home Rule Petition is on the warrant for this year's Town Meeting in Arlington.

The 1977 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Red Line Extension: Harvard Square to Arlington Heights is posted on the Extend the Red Line webpage. Pay particular attention to Volume 2.
1977 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Red Line Extension – Harvard Square to Arlington Heights

The alleged @mbta.com "Better Bus" project failed to add service when the GLX opened. In fact, they cut service on Route 80 because half of the route runs parallel to the new Green Line service. Frequent service from Medford/Tufts to Arlington Heights would be a game-changer. better80.com

After ambitious state law, Lexington welcomed a wave of new housing. Now people there are having second thoughts. - The Boston Globe Lexington is set to add at least 1,600 new apartments and condominiums in the coming years.

Mike Kennealy, now a Republican candidate for governor, has flipped his stance on the law and is on the campaign trail criticizing Healey’s enforcement of the guidelines he helped write while working in the Baker administration.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/05/b...

"The first modern three room kitchenette apartments to be built in Arlington."
#ArlingtonMA Advocate, November 5, 1926

Please join some friends and neighbors as we kickoff my 2026 campaign, as I run for re-election to the Arlington School Committee.
This will be an informal gathering, where you can stop by, have a nosh, and say hello. We will be in the back room at Donut Villa next Sunday between 1:00 and 4:00.

Probably the town building inspector.

Zoning boards typically rule on special permits and variances. Zoning bylaws are enacted by Town Meeting, butzoning bylaws cannot be enacted retroactively, so that a permitted use on a parcel cannot be rendered illegal with a change in zoning. Board of Health may be the best lever for change.

South Dakota Republicans Worry Kristi Noem Might Return The Atlantic: "Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has faced intense scrutiny from Republicans and calls for her firing from Democrats since the January 24 shooting of Alex Pretti by Customs and B...

South Dakota Republicans Worry Kristi Noem Might Return politicalwire.com/2026/02/20/s...

Brutal new poll delivers ‘dangerous,’ ‘corrupt’ labels to President Trump More than half of Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump's overall job performance, raising major concerns for the GOP.

Economist/YouGove: Americans Find Trump:
Racist 47% - 24%
Corrupt 49% - 23%
Cruel 46% - 22%
Dangerous 50% - 20%
Overall Job Approval 39% - 56%
www.masslive.com/politics/202...

Rep. James Talarico On Confronting Christian Nationalism, And Strange Days In The Texas Legislature YouTube video by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Here's the Colbert interview with James Talarico that CBS didn't allow to air.
youtu.be/oiTJ7Pz_59A?...

Flashback Quote of the Day "Remember when we learned that our wealthiest and most powerful people were connected to a guy who ran a literal child sex trafficking ring? And then that guy died mysteriously in a jail? And now

Flashback Quote of the Day
“Remember when we learned that our wealthiest and most powerful people were connected to a guy who ran a literal child sex trafficking ring? And then that guy died mysteriously in a jail? And now we just don’t talk about it.” -JD Vance
politicalwire.com/2026/02/17/f...

We're also the third largest town (population) in the Commonwealth. Of course our override will outpase Gosnold and Monroe.

I'm running for re-election to the #ArlingtonMA School Committee. Please join us Sunday afternoon, March 1 at Donut Villa!

On the other hand, #ArlingtonMA Town Meeting is becoming more and more friendly to density - a majority (but not 2/3 voted for two family by right last year. Watch that support evaporate if we can't maintain current levels of service for the 46,000 folks who already live here.

Assembly Square - Wikipedia

Assembly Square is 143 acres, Assembly Row is 45 acres. It's sitting next to a T station. Show me where #ArlingtonMA 45 acres and good transit, and I am happy to rezone it to accommodate a similar project.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembl...

Daylight saving time returns. Here’s when we ‘spring forward.’ - The Boston Globe We may lose an hour of sleep on March 8, but the upside is more sunlight in the evenings.

Only 23 days until Daylight Saving Time returns! (One of my favorite holidays!)
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/13/m...

That big parking lot is an eyesore. That's the first impression of Arlington Center you see when entering the center from the north on Mystic Street. It makes walking along Mystic Street toward Arlington Center an unpleasant experience.

I live across from that big parking lot. I agree. I would also love to have a Red Line stop in Arlington Center - which would provide basic infrastructure for increased density in the center. With great transit, one story commercial buildings are no longer viable.

Plus, your argument has an obvious corollary - voting against an override with small cuts (instead of large cuts with a no vote) would translate to not supporting greater density because we are cutting schools. A failed override will result in larger class sizes and an argument against more density.

When you look at the cities and towns that don't need an override (have excess levy capacity) - the state map hints at the story. A place like Waltham has $42 million in excess levy capacity, as they have vacant land and a great location for commercial development.

www.mass.gov/info-details...

Cambridge has never had an override because they are well under their levy limit (they can raise an additional $172 million without an override - plus they have had intensive development around Kendall Square. Somerville is up against their levy limit, but there's lots of development at Assembly Sq.

Additionally, Arlington has changed zoning to support new growth, but it won't happen unless a developer buys a parcel and develops it. Perhaps the biggest opportunity for new growth is Walgreen's in East Arlington. We can allow redevelopment, we can't force it.

New growth is a function of turning vacant land into significant projects. Arlington is built-up, so the growth is only the difference between the value of what you tear down and what replaces it. By the very nature of the community, our new growth will always be toward the bottom of the list.