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Wilbert Pineda
Candidate For Somerville
City Council At-Large
Somerville • Immigrant • Youth • Latino • Somerville • Immigrant • Youth • Latino•
I'm running for Somerville City Council At-Large because our city deserves leadership that is bold, inclusive, and rooted in real-life experience. I bring a fresh perspective to the decision-making table—one grounded in both the challenges and opportunities our community faces every day.
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Youth
As a young person and recent graduate of Somerville High School, I have firsthand witnessed the challenges our youth face, including the lack of adequate support and the need for spaces that foster a sense of belonging within our community.
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.
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.
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.
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Housing
Somerville is in a housing crisis. Every resident from renters to homeowners deserve to stay in Somerville and have a say on our developments.Living 20 minutes away from Davis Square Plaza, I have witnessed the conversations to be had with neighbors on what the space should look like in the next 5, 10, and even 15 years. Having friends that have left our wonderful city due to the price of rent and living in Public Housing, I understand the urgency of our housing crisis.
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.
Community-Led Development: Ensure community involvement in decisions about new and existing developments by holding regular forums to gather input and share progress updates. Every resident deserves a say in how our city grows.
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.
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Food Security
Food security is a fundamental issue that touches the lives of too many in our community.As a volunteer and former steering committee member of the Somerville Food Security Coalition, and through my work with the City of Somerville Office of Food Access & Healthy Communities, I have seen firsthand how food insecurity affects our neighbors and friends.
School Meal Programs: For many of our students, school meals are not just a convenience—they are a lifeline, and often their primary source of daily nutrition. I have witnessed friends and classmates return home to limited resources, unable to access balanced, full meals.
Community Access to Nutrition: We must ensure that every member of our community, regardless of background or circumstance, has consistent access to healthy, nourishing food. By investing in programs that expand food access, supporting local food pantries, and addressing systemic barriers, we can build a Somerville where no one has to worry about where their next meal will come from.
Multilingual Resources: If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, please check out the following resources:
- Somerville Food Coalition
- Food Resource Flyers available in: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Nepali
- Get SNAP Benefits information in: English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Nepali
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Somerville Public Schools
Every student deserves a supportive and equitable education, and every educator deserves the resources to create an environment where students can thrive. I am committed to advocating for policies that ensure our schools are well-resourced, inclusive, and accessible to all.
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.
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.
School Infrastructure and Accessibility: At Somerville High School, the misuse of elevators by non-disabled students causes delays for those who genuinely need them. My past experience in disability service work and my current role as accessibility officer at UMass Boston has equipped me to review policies, advocate for systemic change, and ensure accommodations are met.
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.
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Public Health and Sanitation
Living in Somerville all my life, I've seen how public health and sanitation directly impact our quality of life, from our daily walks to our community gatherings.
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.
Rodent Control: I am eager to explore safe measures to tackle the rodent population that continuously have terrorized our community. I feel like collectively we agree, rats are a problem and should not be welcomed in our spaces.
Sustainable Waste Management: I'm a strong advocate for compost and proper recycling. Let's bring back the home composting program citywide through collaboration with our community partners. Through advocacy with regional partners for additional funding sources, I am confident we can enhance our programming and responsiveness to issues.
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Transportation
Being a student almost all my life and having grown up in Somerville, I've relied on public transit for everything—from grocery trips and attending school to getting around the city. With the new Green Line Extension, I had the privilege of commuting to Somerville High School daily, and through the Red Line, I have the ability to attend UMass Boston.
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.
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.
Climate Action: Check out the City of Somerville's Community Climate Action Plan for more information on our environmental initiatives and how we're working to create a more sustainable transportation system.
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Infrastructure
Growing up in Somerville, I've witnessed both the challenges of aging infrastructure and the positive impact of thoughtful improvements on our community's daily life.
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.
Public Spaces: We must maintain our parks and public facilities to ensure they are accessible, safe, and inviting for all residents. This includes regular maintenance, updates to meet accessibility standards, and improvements based on community feedback.
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Community-Driven Governance
My experience as a lifelong Somerville resident and active community member has shown me the importance of having a government that truly listens to and represents all voices in our community.
Accessible Representation: Maintain open lines of communication with residents through email, public forums, and coffee meetings to ensure every voice is heard and every concern is addressed.
Inclusive Policy Making: Prioritize diverse perspectives in policy discussions to reflect the needs of all residents, particularly underrepresented and marginalized communities. This includes ensuring language access and culturally competent outreach.