NDCC Candidate Forum: My Remarks

Hi, I’m Beth Trach, and I’m running for Ward 4 City Council. I am running unopposed, but I see this campaign season not as an invitation to walk onto the Council, but as an opportunity to walk the neighborhood — to listen and connect. As of today, I’ve knocked on nearly 900 doors in Ward 4, and the topic that comes up more than any other is housing.

I’ve spoken to seniors who need single-story living but can’t find anything in town. I’ve spoken to retirees who felt guilty about staying in a home that’s ideal for a growing family, but they have nowhere to downsize to. My own young adult child just moved to Boston because it was cheaper than renting in Newburyport — and that’s largely because there just isn’t anywhere to go. We’ve lost some 300 rentals over the past decade, which leaves many people stuck.

The housing crisis was decades in the making, so there are no silver bullets here. It will take time to solve, but it’s important that Newburyport pulls all of the levers we have to help make more of our housing more affordable. Options worth exploring include upzoning to make it easier to build duplexes instead of McMansions, expanding our historical preservation definitions to protect smaller midcentury homes, and a residential property tax exemption. I’m committed to working with the Council and the Mayor to develop smart policy for Newburyport.  

All of that said, the solution to a housing crisis is to build more housing — in particular, rentals and modestly sized homes. That’s why I support the Kmart project. When I talk to people about this issue, there are concerns about traffic and safety (which I share), and there are many questions. But what I have discovered is that most people agree on the big picture: they know we need housing, and they support mixed-use development where people can get what they need within walking distance of where they live. And when they better understand the process, they are able to trust it more. 

For example, at one meet and greet I had an in-depth conversation with residents who came in hot with their fears about the project. Twenty minutes of discussion later, they said, “I feel so much better now. Thank you for taking the time to really explain it.”

And that, I think, is what people are asking for right now. They are looking for leaders who listen and take the time to answer their questions and work through issues in good faith. They are exhausted by in-fighting and fear-mongering. They’re not looking for a list of everything that’s wrong — but rather, for ideas about how to make it right.

And I stand in front of you as a Democrat because I believe that our platform holds the key to solving our toughest problems. We may feel powerless nationally, but we have the opportunity to put our progressive values into action locally. 

So before you vote, ask candidates about those values. Will they stand up for abundant housing? Support our vulnerable immigrant and queer neighbors? Will they make budget choices that reflect these values? 

The Newburyport we live in today didn’t just happen. It was built on thousands of choices, big and small. We build the future we want with the choices we make today. Local government matters, because nothing is trickling down. We have to build it from the ground up.

Thank you.

To read more about this event, see a recap and report card on The Townie.