Wilbert Pineda

Nonpartisan

Clean Community Spaces: Our streets, parks, and public walkways deserve to be clean and walkable. I will push for an increase in funding for sanitation, more frequent trash pickups, bins, and public cleanups to reduce litter.

Collaborative Programming: By working collaboratively with Somerville Public Schools, parents, community organizations, and local businesses, we can expand existing programming and develop new initiatives that ensure our youth have the resources they need to thrive and develop.

Infrastructure Investment: Let's increase Somerville's investment to repair roads, sidewalks, and aging sewer systems. As your city councilor, I will advocate for sustainable infrastructure projects to reduce carbon emissions and enhance mobility.

Mental Health and Support Services: I remain committed to advocating for the improvement and creation of spaces where teens can access mental health support, tutoring, stress relief opportunities, and the chance to connect with friends and community members in meaningful enriching ways.

Supporting Our Teachers: On average, educators spend 500–1,000 of their personal funds to provide students with the tools they need to succeed. This is unacceptable. I will advocate through my role as City Councilor to collaborate with Superintendent Rubin Carmona and the Somerville School Committee to increase school budget funding to ensure classrooms are equipped with essential materials and hire more subject interventionists, reducing the financial burden on teachers and fostering more well-rounded development through support for our students.

Public Transit Investment: Let's continue our investment through collaboration with the Massachusetts Bay State Authority (MBTA) and state partners to ensure reliable, accessible service for all residents.

Extended Learning Opportunities: My dream is for our brand new high school building to have expanded after school programming which includes bringing back nightschool to occur during evening time through collaboration with the Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE), educational nonprofits, higher education institutions, local trade unions, and more.

Disability Services and Accommodations: The process of obtaining a 504 plan or IEP can be daunting and inequitable, often requiring relentless advocacy by involved parents. No student should face such obstacles. I will push for better identification of students who need accommodations, hold our systems accountable to meet their needs, and work to address the broader challenges faced by the disability community in our city.

Preventing Displacement: I will advocate for rent control measures at the state level and implement policies to protect tenants and prevent displacement of long-term residents- especially our elderly who deserve to age in place.

Environmental Impact: As your City Councilor, I make the commitment to advocate and fight hard to incorporate policies and programs that reduce carbon emissions- we deserve to breathe cleaner air.

Facility Modernization: We must secure state funding to renovate and upgrade outdated school buildings, addressing accessibility challenges and longstanding issues like those at the Brown School. Every student deserves access to modern, well-equipped learning spaces that support their educational journey.

Expanding Affordable Housing: I will work collaboratively with developers, community organizations, and partners to expand affordable housing options in Somerville. By implementing diverse strategies such as mixed-income housing, we can create opportunities for more people to stay and join our community while preserving the unique character and charm of our neighborhoods.