Candidate Profile: Karen Colon Hayes, Councillor At Large

MALDEN, MA — Karen Colon Hayes is one of six candidates vying for three city councillor at large seats in the Nov. 2 municipal election. The at-large race is Malden's only citywide election this year, but there are also elections for city council and school committee in certain wards.

Malden Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles this week.

Hayes was the previous director of Human Services and Community Outreach for the city of Malden. She has also served on the Malden Cultural Council and worked at the Malden Teen Enrichment Center.

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

Age (as of Election Day)

54

Position Sought

Councillor At Large

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Husband Patrick, Daughters Maya (22) Sara (20) Noelle (16) dog Shiloh and Guinea Pig Buddy

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

I have no relatives in politics, although we certainly like to discuss it! My father, Fernando Colon is a retired Union President who worked in the federal criminal justice department in New York and my brother-in-law is a NYPD police officer.

Education

Bachelors in Social Work/psychology and some Masters level courses at Simmons School of Social Work (left to be a stay at home mom)

Occupation

Previous Director of Human Services and Community Outreach for City of Malden, currently a Candidate for Councillor At Large

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Previously appointed to Malden Cultural Council and Malden Teen Enrichment Center

Campaign website

www.karencolonhayes.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Thirty years ago my husband and I walked off the orange line and knew this was the place for us! It is a diverse city, close to Boston with public transportation and borders the Middlesex Fells Reservation. We are avid hikers and enjoy the open green space as well as the Malden River where we canoe and kayak with the family. I love this city and I am running for office to make Malden more inclusive, resilient, and forward thinking. I have watched as other candidates have missed opportunities which could have prevented many of the crises that we are experiencing from happening. Whether it's housing, climate change, infrastructure, or education, some of my opponents have lacked the foresight required to preserve Malden’s quality of life.

As a person who has dedicated the last 15 years to serving Malden, I can not sit idly by and watch our city continue to miss opportunities. We have to start acting with urgency so we can plan to preserve our communities while we continue to move forward.

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

Recovery from the pandemic is a crisis we cannot ignore. I will continue the work I have already started by making sure we have an expanded Human Services Department to respond to the needs of our residents and supporting our small businesses as they recover. Recently I attended a forum by Commonwealth Corporation and U.S. Small Business Administration where they gave free resources and grant opportunities to help our local businesses. During the pandemic, the city with help from the MRA (now known as The Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD) provided some very helpful resources for rent relief, a moratorium on evictions, and some small business loans. This is a good start, but it’s not enough. There were many small businesses that did not meet the criteria for these loans and the paycheck protection program (PPE) was difficult to navigate. We missed opportunities to partner with some of these agencies to provide information and assistance on available safety nets for our community.

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

I am the only woman running for At Large, and I am the only candidate that has both insider and outsider perspectives when it comes to city hall operations. Nine years I worked for the City of Malden, having been promoted from the Mayor’s Community Outreach Coordinator to the Director of Human Services. I know how city hall works and I can hit the ground running. Over the past nine years, I have developed close relationships to our non-profit organizations, Malden Public Schools and our diverse Community Groups. During a time where budgets are tight, I will utilize partnerships and share resources with these agencies. Malden is a city rich in resources, but systems are poor. I will work to bridge this gap.

I will also use my social services experience and temperament to build consensus on the council with meaningful and respectful dialogue.

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

Whether its housing, climate change, infrastructure, or including the voice of the people with public comment some of my opponents have lacked the planning required to preserve and protect Malden’s quality of life. For instance, Climate Change is not new - it's been an issue all 18 years Spadafora has been in office, and yet we have no climate action plan. Councillor Spadafora and Matheson both voted no to inclusionary zoning in 2016 which played a role in the housing crisis we are currently experiencing. Their approach to Zoning has been reactive and not proactive. The primary goal of our Zoning ordinances is to protect our residents and their quality of life. During a recent Planning Board hearing, Spadafora said “Beggars can’t be choosers” referring to the people of Malden.

We are not beggars who must accept any development that comes our way. We need to be disciplined in establishing clear goals in what we want our city to be, and no longer can we do the same thing and expect different results. It’s time for bold leadership and change we can trust.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Cities across the world are being tested to the extreme with the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to public health crises, we have economic, social, and systemic racism crises. I think we did a fair job of keeping the public informed and trying to get information out during a shut down.

However, the impact on our city, especially to those most vulnerable like seniors, people with health complications, people with language barriers , and our small business owners has shown where and how we need to improve so we are better able to function during a time of crises.

Some elected officials and candidates were more present than others during this crucial time in our city. I would have pushed to have our elected officials meeting remotely much sooner than they did. The public was desperate for information and although councillors may have been communicating from home with their constituents, that is very different from deliberating as a body in a public forum. We needed to hear what plans were being discussed to put our minds at ease- if you aren’t privy to information, it’s human nature to fear the unknown.

During the shut down of City Hall, I was going to the senior center every day, including weekends. I was connecting with our seniors by phone, email and social media. I was one of the only city representatives (aside from Chris Webb, BOH Director) on regional weekly calls with public health officials, including local hospitals. What I will do differently on the council is partner more with our sister cities. On these calls, we shared information and best practices. We can’t continue to go it alone- we need to collaborate, share resources and stop operating in a silo.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My main issues are addressing the current housing crises and stability, ensuring inclusion and equity are at the heart of all our decisions, helping small businesses recover and preserving green and blue space in Malden.

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

I have a proven track record of listening to the people of Malden, understanding what the issues are and creating sustainable solutions. In 2011 when the Mayor tasked me with leading the Summer Youth Employment Program, I immediately put together a team of stakeholders and together we expanded the program and included a curriculum for young people to develop essential job skills for future success.

To address our homelessness problem, I worked side by side with our interfaith and community partners to start the first Malden Warming Center. During the pandemic, I connected community leaders and volunteers to begin a Mutual Aid group, Malden Neighbors Helping Neighbors. This group was essential in meeting the needs of our seniors and other vulnerable populations as well as our local health centers by providing masks, cleaning products and other crucial supplies to assure the safety of our residents.

I have also worked within the Mayor’s office and the interfaith community on a Prayer Vigil to address racial violence happening in the US and abroad. From this vigil, the first ever Community & Unity Dialogue series was formed to actively address racism and promote racial justice. As a direct result of this effort, the City reinstituted the Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission, the ADA Commission, and instituted training in our schools and municipal leadership. My history shows I address problems head on and form sustainable solutions.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever shared with me regarding public service was from a Pastor in our neighborhood. He told us “elected officials will be voted in and out, but the community is here forever. Community work is hard, if it wasn’t, everyone would be doing it.” I think about that when I get tired!

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

I am a fierce advocate for the people. I have boundless energy when it comes to standing up for those less fortunate who may not have a voice and I have a soft spot for our seniors and youth. I am mission driven which guides me in all my decisions. For instance, just this past month while meeting with a group of seniors, I heard their concerns about Medicare Advantage and their fear of not being able to afford medications if cuts are proposed. I immediately connected with Congresswoman Katherine Clark's Office who set up a meeting to help these seniors advocate for themselves. This is the kind of attention you can expect from me as your City Councillor.