Somerville Mayor-Elect Forms 17-Person Advisory Committee

SOMERVILLE, MA — Somerville Mayor-elect Katjana Ballantyne has formed an advisory committee of 17 area advocates and professionals to provide their input on issues such as COVID recovery, climate change and affordable housing.

"Somerville residents are one of greatest resources for our city and our government. We achieve our greatest successes when we are inclusive and work together," Ballantyne said in a statement. "These experienced community leaders, scholars, and activists represent a wide range of policy areas and expertise. While they may take different approaches, they are passionately committed to making Somerville a better place and a stronger community while providing me with the best information available as we tackle the challenges ahead."

Katie Brillantes, who has a master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard University, is serving as the committee's director. The committee held three virtual meetings in early December.

"During the course of those meetings, members discussed their opinions about short and medium/long term goals for Mayor-elect Ballantyne's administration," said Brillantes. "The intention of these meetings was to synthesize and convey priorities of these community thought leaders to the Mayor-elect."

The 17 members of the advisory committee are:

• Stephenson Aman, Activist - public housing, safety & equity
• Michael Brown, Activist - public safety
• Bonnie Denis, Chair - Disabilities Commission
• Howard Horton, Executive Director Cambridge College Global
• Maggie Joseph, Social services and housing advocate
• Tom Lamar, Advocate - biking, pedestrian safety for all users
• Dr. Daniele Lantagne, Civil & Environmental Engineering, CDC Public Health Engineer, Advisor COVID to World Health Organization, Tufts University
• Paula Magnelli, Co-founder Los Padres Latinos Somerville, Equity & Education advocate
• Tony Pini, Legislative & Political Director Mass. & Northern N.E. Laborers
• Gonzalo Puigbo, CEO, Somerville Community Corporation
• Ellin Reiser, Board Member Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership (STEP)
• Professor Juliette Rooney-Varga, Prof. of Environmental Science and Director Climate Change Initiative, UMass/Lowell
• Letissia Scott, Education & housing advocate
• Bill Shelton, Mystic View Task Force, Activist Economic Development
• Larry Yu, Sustainability & Equity advocate
• Renee Scott, Natural Open Space advocate

Ballantyne will be sworn in as mayor at Inaugural Ceremonies on Monday, Jan. 3.