Malden Election Profile: Amanda Linehan For City Councilor

MALDEN, MA — There are three contested City Councilor races in Malden's municipal election Nov. 5. Amanda Linehan, 37, is running against Julianne Orsino in Ward 3.

Linehan lives in Malden with her husband, Mark, and six-year-old daughter. She works for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, a public planning agency, and sits on the board of directors of the Malden Redevelopment Authority. She said she will resign from her post at the MRA if elected.

Linehan has bachelor's degrees in journalism and jazz music from the George Washington University. She is also a graduate of Emerge Massachusetts and the Commonwealth Seminar.

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The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The affordability of our community is by far the most pressing issue our next Councillor will face. Malden is growing and changing, and we need to act now if we want to make sure nobody gets left out in the cold. I've personally knocked over 2,500 doors since March, and many of the people I've met fear they'll be forced out of Malden by the rising housing costs. They want a City Councillor who will listen and take action. Whether they are renters facing eviction, seniors looking to downsize, or recent college grads and first-time buyers locked out of the market, they want a real change. Having spent my career creating and preserving homes for working people, I have topical policy knowledge and over a decade of experience working across every level of government to effect real change. My first step as City Councillor will be to propose a package of housing tools that a) requires developers to build units working people can afford, not more luxury housing; b) creates an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which will allow the city to acquire vacant, abandoned or neglected properties and turn them into home ownership opportunities; c) helps seniors stay in their homes via property tax abatement and water bill discounts; and d) rewards small, local landlords for offering rents that middle-income households can afford via tax incentives. I also propose that we audit our residential tax exemption program to make sure it's only benefiting Malden residents living in their primary residence, and that we create a sensible and practical Airbnb ordinance. Malden is a desirable community where businesses and residents alike want to invest. We need to work together to make sure all future development brings community benefits and helps us build a strong city for future generations.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have a deep knowledge of neighborhood planning issues, a demonstrated track record of working across all levels of government to make real change, and over a decade of professional experience leading projects, working with communities, and conducting inclusive outreach and communication. I've spent my career building up communities and bringing together diverse voices on civic issues. I am not afraid to lead on tough issues, and collaborate across differences so each member of our community feels welcome, heard, and understood. I don't just talk about inclusive outreach, I walk the walk. My campaign has more than two dozen volunteers knocking doors and talking to voters in multiple languages. Our campaign materials are fully ADA accessible and translated. We reach out to renters AND homeowners. We use digital tools like live-streamed "virtual" town hall discussions on Facebook AND more traditional backyard gatherings and talking to commuters at the train station. What sets me apart is that I live the issues voters face every day: I ride our buses and trains, I send my daughter to our neighborhood school, I walk and bike on our crumbling streets and sidewalks, and I juggle family life with a full-time job and community service. In the eight months of our campaign, our volunteers and I have knocked over 6,000 doors and spent every free moment talking to voters. More than 120 people have donated to our campaign because they believe in a safer, more affordable future for Malden. As your Councillor, I'll continue to work hard, and build broad coalitions to make real change in Ward 3 because that is what our residents deserve.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I am running for an open seat, but I know Ward 3 residents want things done differently under our next City Councillor. Almost every person I talk to wants better communication in the ward, and that's a huge reason I'm running. In fact, I've already printed my cell phone in every local newspaper so that voters understand I am committed to responsiveness and transparency. I want to use my professional skill set to transform community engagement in Ward 3. I want to hold more neighborhood meetings, at different times of the day and on varying days of the week. I will fight for childcare and translation/interpretation at our community meetings, so that all Ward 3 voters can participate in our democracy. I will hold office hours at various locations around our ward so that it's always possible to find me for a face-to-face discussion, and I will launch an email newsletter and a Twitter presence, both things that are long overdue in ward 3. I will also partner with our school committee to share information and engage families and caregivers on city issues.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

My campaign is defined by improving communication no matter where you stand on the issues. With better communication, we can build a community where we can all be proud to live, and a community that plans strategically for the future. I have a bold vision for Malden that keeps the city affordable to middle class people, that protects and preserves our parks, green spaces and trees, that makes it easy to get around whether you drive, bike, walk, take public transit or have mobility challenges. I have a vision of Malden where we collaborate as neighbors to make our community better for each end every one of us. I am proud to have the endorsement of many environmental, labor, and social justice organizations, and I hope that's an indication of the values I hold as a candidate.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I've spent my entire career in journalism and public service, so I understand very well both the demands of public sector work and the ethical considerations that have to be made every single day. When you are publicly accountable, the stakes are much higher for every decision you make, and I am ready and willing to hit the ground running as an accountable Councillor on day one. I've been part of the Malden community for more than 13 years, and we are so blessed to own a home here, to be raising our child here, to be part of the public school community, and to be involved in the local arts and culture sector. Thanks to my full-time job and the two boards that I serve on, I'm already working to refurbish Malden's parks, to reopen the Malden River to public access, to bring good commercial development and middle class homes and jobs here, to promote smart economic development, and to ground our decisions in data and community input. I've worked for my entire life to build friendly, productive relationships with neighbors, with local officials, and with the non-profits, faith communities, and civic and cultural institutions that are already building Malden's future. I can't wait to build on that coalition of support to lead and collaborate on the Malden City Council.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"Done is better than perfect," and "you go farther together than alone." As a manager, as a parent, and as a candidate, these words of wisdom have stuck with me in tough moments and challenging times. Building consensus is a skill, and learning how to work across differences and share credit are important indicators of success in government, as they are in life. Working hard is good, but working smart is even better, and we can only work smart if we work together.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

One of the most gratifying things voters have told me is that I have earned their support not strictly because they agree with all my policy positions, but because I'm the most respectful and responsive politician they've met -- or, in a startling number of instances, because I'm the only candidate who has ever taken the time to knock on their door in the first place. We have so many voters to reach and a vanishingly small amount of time until Election Day, and if you haven't met me yet but want to, I'm only a phone call or email away. My cell phone is 617-388-1556, and my email is amandaformalden@gmail.com. I'll be out door knocking every day and I hope we get to talk face to face! Thank you for being invested in our community, and I ask for your vote on November 5th.