Medford Candidate Profile: Justin Tseng For City Council

MEDFORD, MA — The municipal election is fast approaching in Medford, and the city council race is highly contested.

Medford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles leading up to November.

Justin Tseng is running for reelection to the Medford City Council.

Age

25

Position sought

Medford City Councilor

Party affiliation

Democrat

Family

My parents, Huang and Jane, moved to the Wellington neighborhood in 2002 to settle and pursue careers in science.

Education

I am a proud product of our Medford Public Schools, graduating as the class valedictorian from Medford High School in 2018, and I went on to continue my studies at Harvard College where I graduated in 2022 with an honors degree in Social Studies (politics, economics, and history) and East Asian Studies. I am currently a law student at Harvard Law School.

Occupation

Before attending law school, I worked on several policy commissions, chairing the Education Policy Commission at Harvard’s Institute of Politics, and also served as the Chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project, America’s premier youth public opinion research group, where I advocated for young Americans on the national stage. While in law school, I’ve worked on freedom of speech cases and will soon be taking on public law work.

Previous or Current Elected Office

City Councilor since January 2022.

Campaign Website

www.justin4medford.com

Why are you seeking elected office?

As my parents stretched every dollar, they taught me that it was our public schools, our neighbors, and this community that gave me so much—from lifelong friendships to the chance to attend Harvard.

I ran for City Council to give back and pay it forward. Over the last four years, we’ve made historic investments in our schools and streets, passed landmark affordable housing reforms, and strengthened civil rights protections for all residents.

I’m running for re-election because Medford needs steady hands and bold leadership—to keep our city moving forward and build a future for us all.

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

The cost of living is the defining challenge of our time. Medford’s strength lies in the diversity of people who call it home—they give our neighborhoods character. But as housing costs rise, homeownership slips away, and federal cuts threaten families’ wellbeing, too many residents are being priced out. Too many neighbors remain on affordable housing waitlists, friends and classmates are moving away, and seniors and small businesses are feeling the squeeze.

Over my last two terms, I’ve helped create an Affordable Housing Trust, approve new affordable units, and pass reforms holding big developers accountable. The Council has also cut red tape and revitalized business districts by enabling new housing and mixed-use growth.

If re-elected, I’ll keep advancing a housing and affordability strategy rooted in three goals: affordability, anti-displacement, and accountability.

First, we must protect residents from displacement and make developers pay their fair share—by updating 30-year-old linkage fees, strengthening inclusionary zoning, and negotiating better community benefits agreements.

Second, we must support residents and small businesses directly. I’ll push to establish an Office of Housing Stability to help those facing eviction, connect residents to aid, and expand rental assistance for families in crisis. I’ll also advocate relocation grants for small businesses threatened by redevelopment.

Third, we must create more affordable homes and inclusive neighborhoods by passing an Affordable Housing Overlay to encourage mixed-use, transit-oriented development that working families can actually afford.

Finally, we must address community concerns about zoning through more outreach and collaboration. Housing reform can be an opportunity to deliver progress—with a Tree Protection Ordinance to safeguard our canopy, a Historic Conversion Ordinance to preserve Medford’s heritage, and a traffic management plan to cut congestion and keep our streets safe.

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

As the son of Taiwanese immigrants, and as someone who has spent his whole life here, I bring a perspective unique to local government. I know that in the past, for far too many, particularly for those who have been traditionally overlooked, City Hall has felt like a place where you needed to know someone to get something done. Diversity was too often treated just as a slogan. That’s why I’ve worked hard with my council colleagues to introduce innovative transparency reforms like City Council newsletters and listening sessions that bring City Hall to the people. I’ve worked hard to ensure better translation services and language access to residents, and I serve constituents in multiple different languages, including Spanish and Chinese.

As a law student, I deal frequently with legal matters, particularly in the realm of state and local government and civil rights. This education has unlocked tools I bring to the City Council, such as translating ideals into action, scrutinizing decisionmaking, and asking hard questions. Especially as our rights and safety are under attack from the federal government, these tools are pivotal to help our city government stand up for its residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As national politicians deal in division and uncertainty, local governments are left to pick up the pieces. Many residents feel fear and instability—especially from ICE and out-of-state authorities. While some leaders try to turn neighbors against each other, this City Council has worked to build a city that welcomes everyone. I was proud to pass Welcoming City ordinances ensuring residents can engage with the City without fear of discrimination, deportation, or punishment for who they are or the care they receive. True safety starts with trust. Moving forward, we must do more to support families affected by deportations, inform residents of their rights, and prepare for potential cuts to grants and social services. We can also make City Hall more inclusive by empowering boards and commissions to give residents a stronger voice in policymaking.

We must build on our historic investments in schools, streets, and public services. Those investments saved over 40 teaching jobs and expanded student opportunities. The next Council will likely vote on rebuilding Medford High School—a project I support. I see the Council’s role as a proactive partner: supporting after-school and childcare expansion, tackling our $200 million street and sidewalk backlog, and ensuring safer, more accessible roads. Zoning reform also presents an opportunity for the City to grow revenue sustainably and strengthen city services.

The best advice ever shared with me was __________

When I was a kid, my godmother taught me a Confucian saying, "In a group of three, there will always be a teacher." This piece of advice taught me to be open-minded, inquisitive, and to take opportunities to learn from others, especially if they have different experiences and perspectives. One of my favorite parts of being a city councilor has been the opportunities to learn from city staff, other electeds, and residents about various different policy areas and to hear about others' experiences.

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

The challenges of the moment may seem daunting, but my experience in getting real results for the people have shown me that with teamwork and an open mind, we can take control and turn moments of progress into lasting momentum. Everyone is welcome to visit my website, www.justin4medford.com, to learn even more about my platform, which covers a whole range of issues, or to email me at justin@justin4medford.com with their own ideas. Serving the city I’ve always called home has truly been the honor of a lifetime, and I hope to earn one of your seven votes this November 4.

See Also:

Medford Candidate Profile: Miranda Briseño For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Anna Callahan For Medford City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Emily Lazzaro For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Nicholas Giurleo For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Patrick Clerkin For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Matt Leming For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Zac Bears For City Council

Medford Candidate Profile: Liz Mullane For City Council