Election Profile: Kristen Strezo For Councilor-At-Large

SOMERVILLE, MA — Voters will select four councilors-at-large from a pool of eight candidates in Somerville's municipal election Nov. 5. Kristen Strezo, 40, is a freelance writer and first-time candidate.

Strezo lives in Somerville with her two young children and her grandmother. She has a master's degree and is trained as a journalist.

Are you running for office in Somerville? Contact Alex Newman at alex.newman@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Somerville Patch.

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

Affordability. We need immediate solutions to combat the affordable and equitable housing crisis in Somerville. This means exploring paths to homeownership programs for our lower and moderate income residents, including: reinstallation of rent control (as a renamed and reframed program), taking on the burden of paying broker's fees for tenants, and changing the way we allow tenants to pay security deposits, so that no person is ever forced to pay nearly $10,000 before renting an apartment-this is scandalous and unacceptable. We cannot afford to lose some of our most valued communities to the threat of being priced out of Somerville.

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

I bring a unique voice to City Council; I live in affordable housing. This critical issue in our city needs representation from someone living it. I know the difficult decisions many families face and I deeply understand how this inclusionary zoning can change lives. We all deserve to live, remain, and thrive in the city we love, whether we are long-time residents or newcomers.

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

My goal is only to enhance city council, and the quality of the work it can do for our Somerville residents and communities. I hope to collaborate with our current counselors and work hard to make sure all of somerville is represented.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I am running as a working mother of two kids and a care-giver. I understand personally a lot of what our working families are going through and I plan to bring this real, lived experience to my work as City Councilor for Somerville. Affordability and accessibility to housing in this city is a huge priority. Working toward making Somerville a cleaner, greener city and keeping climate change response on a local level at the forefront of our work is also a priority. This includes enhancing safety provisions for pedestrians and bikers in Somerville, and not just our residents who travel by car. Additionally, I hope to help protect our small businesses and working artist communities, and

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

Nothing has prepared me more for this job than my lived experience as a dedicated mother and caretaker my children and my 92-year-old grandmother. We learn to become very resourceful for the people we love. Finding affordable and accessible solutions for my two children and my grandmother in Somerville has enabled me to get to know this wonderful city on an incredibly thorough scale, and better understand the struggles that many other residents have faced and still face in our city.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"When times are tough, focus on the moments that will be funny to tell as stories later in your life."

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

I’ve been a fighter and advocate for social justice for a long time. I’ve been serving Somerville as a commissioner as well as an activist, musician, and feminist. I was the lead singer in a feminist punk band for over a decade. I relished the stage and the ability to bring meaning and attention to social injustices. After knocking over four thousand doors in Somerville, I’m inspired by each of your stories and I’m resolved to stay at the mic, calling out inequities and fighting for your best quality of life.