Medford Candidate Profile: Miranda Briseño 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.

Miranda Briseño is running for City Council in Medford.

Age

29 years old

Position sought

Medford City Councilor At-Large

Party affiliation

Democrat

Family

I am a second-generation Mexican-American, and my childhood was profoundly
shaped by my grandparents' decision to come to the US in search of a better life. They
worked super hard, doing everything from farm labor in the Central Valley to domestic jobs, just trying to get out of poverty. My parents, Maria and Max, kept that hard work going. My dad often skipped school to work with his own father, and my mom juggled multiple jobs throughout college, even with scholarships, to ensure her success. I grew up in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, with my twin brother, Marciel, and my younger sister, Maddie. I’ve lived in the Hillside neighborhood of Medford for 7 years, the last 5.5 years with my cat, Alto.

Education

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Government and International Politics and
Sociology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and a Master’s degree in Urban
and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University.

Occupation

As a Federal Programs and Regional Planning Coordinator in the Office of Transportation Planning at MassDOT, I oversee several federal programs, including Safe Routes to School, and other funding programs aimed at reducing air pollution and congestion through transportation projects. I also collaborate with communities statewide, guiding their projects through the MassDOT development process to ensure all requirements are met, securing timely funding and project advertisement for construction.

Previous or Current Elected Office

None

Campaign Website

www.mirandabriseno.com

Why are you seeking elected office?

I’m running for City Council because I believe the city we live in should reflect all of who we
are — and serve all of us. I’m proud to call Medford home, and like so many, I’ve felt the
pressure of rising housing costs and the stress of trying to build a future in a changing world.
I know what it’s like not just to live here, but to want to stay here. That’s why I want to build
a Medford where everyone belongs.
I have spent most of my career in public service, which means I have got a lot of experience
managing grants at the local and state level. Right now, I'm overseeing state-level funding,
which is pretty cool because I get to work with municipalities and regional planning agencies all over Massachusetts every day. This gives me a great chance to see and learn from all sorts of different projects and strategies happening in communities across the state, and how Medford might be able to implement similar projects here.

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

All of the issues that Medford faces are deeply interconnected with each other. Our
infrastructure, particularly roads and sidewalks, is in disrepair, hindering safe and efficient
transit. The escalating cost of living places a substantial burden on all residents. The federal
government's actions have hurt hard-working families and residents simply trying to live.
Despite limited resources, our public schools are striving to provide quality education.
The issue that underlies all of this is a budget that truly meets the needs of residents and
invests strategically in staff and resources to better serve Medford. I am encouraged by the
Financial Task Force put together by the current council to more effectively and
transparently figure out the City’s finances. But with Prop 2 ½ limits on taxes and rising
inflation, the City needs to generate more revenue. We can do some of it through more
strategic use of grant funding, which is my professional expertise. We can do some of it
through negotiating a better agreement with Tufts for PILOT payments.
But to generate the kind of revenue that would make a real difference, I see the path
forward as new revenue from new development, which grows the tax base, and on top of
that, also pays infrastructure impact fees. The new zoning on Mystic Ave and Salem Street
also provides incentives to developers who voluntarily upgrade the streetscape, where
buildings can be three or four stories by right, but can be a little bit taller if the developer
delivers things like raised crosswalks, bus shelters, and improves the streetscape.
11. What are the critical differences between you and other candidates seeking this post?
If I get elected, I would be the first Latina City Councilor in Medford. I have got some solid
experience in public service and local government, which I think is super important for this
job.
My time at the state level as a transportation planner has really taught me the ins and outs
of how things work, especially with transportation projects, and how to get things done. I'm
great at figuring out how Medford can get the most out of its current transportation budget
and tap into state funding. Plus, I learn a lot from what has or hasn't worked in other
communities across Massachusetts. Working at MassDOT has given me the chance to team
up with all sorts of people, each with their own ideas and ways of doing things. I am good at
finding common ground and getting everyone to work well together.

Having previous experience at City Hall has helped me build relationships across different
City departments. That means I have a good idea of where we need extra support and
funding to keep making Medford a welcoming and accessible place for everyone. I am really
looking forward to using all that knowledge to help Medford and make things better for
everyone who lives here.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Roadway Safety

Our roads and sidewalks are in desperate need of not just basic maintenance, but also in
need of improvements to make our neighborhoods safer for those trying to get around
outside of a vehicle. In the last 5 years, Medford has seen at least 84 crashes that resulted in
serious injuries or fatalities (MassDOT IMPACT Portal). We need to treat traffic violence like
the emergency it is. I will advocate for proven traffic calming measures such as curb bump-
outs to shorten crosswalks and increase visibility; raised crosswalks; and narrowing turn
radii, and I will advocate for the budgeting to make these street rehabilitations possible. I
will also advocate for an ADA transition plan to help make public spaces safe and accessible.
The city has a $100+ million backlog of road and sidewalk repairs. We have not made much
progress on this because we need new revenue. The tax override last year funded an in-
house road repair crew, which will help make state road repair money go farther, but was
not enough to actually make all the necessary repairs and improvements. One reason I
support new zoning to revitalize our squares is the new tax revenue and impact fees it will
bring in to fund improvements to make our streets safer for everyone.

Affordable Housing

Too many of our neighbors are struggling to afford to stay in Medford and can’t afford to
put down roots here. I will be a strong advocate for funding the Affordable Housing Trust to
create new, permanent affordable housing in Medford; strengthening requirements for
developers to build more affordable housing; pushing for stronger Community Benefits
Agreements with developers; and establishing an Office of Housing Stability to prevent the
displacement of long-term residents.

Community Safety

A safe community is one where everyone’s basic needs are met, where the most vulnerable
members of the community are protected, and where care is at the center of the programs
and policies implemented to support people. Continuing to protect our neighbors from
unlawful ICE detainments and creating and funding an unarmed, community-based, crisis
response team like Cambridge HEART and Lynn CALM will help create a safe Medford for everyone who calls Medford home. Similarly, we need to increase staffing and funding for our Health Department’s harm reduction efforts and other social services to support residents in need.

Fully Funded Public Schools

As a child of a special education teacher and a product of public schools, ensuring that
Medford Public Schools are fully funded is a top priority. Vibrant and thriving public schools
with a diverse and inclusive student body help create a resilient community. Our schools
deserve a budget that allows for increased wraparound support for families through
expanded options for after-school and summer care, the expansion of pre-K programs, fee-
free arts and extracurricular activities, and competitive pay for staff.
I fully support building a new flagship high school so that Medford’s youth can attend school
in a building that matches the exceptional education provided by our many dedicated
teachers and staff. I will vote to put the debt exclusion needed to raise funds for the new
high school on the ballot in 2027.

The best advice ever shared with me was __________

Two things can be true.

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

I deeply love Medford, a sentiment I believe is shared by all candidates. Many of my
positions and beliefs are informed by my lived experiences and the understanding that
many of today's systems and institutions were not built to help those who need them most.
I am committed to changing that.
My volunteer work with Mutual Aid Medford and Somerville (MAMAS) and other
community organizing efforts have allowed me to put my values into practice,
demonstrating that everyone deserves care and dignity, without exception. This conviction
drives my belief that we must do more for Medford residents who are struggling with food
insecurity, housing costs, childcare expenses, and overall survival.
I have faith in the power of community and the transformative potential of truly vibrant
public spaces to bring people together. I am grateful to have built a home in Medford,
forming strong, intergenerational friendships with neighbors from diverse backgrounds who
have supported me through challenges and celebrated my successes.
I hope voters will allow me to put my words into action and help create a Medford that
serves and helps everyone by electing me as one of your seven City Councilors on
November 4th.

See Also:

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