FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
J.T. Scott Announces Run For Ward 2 Alderman’s Seat
Somerville, MA – March 9, 2017 – Community activist and local business owner Jefferson Thomas (“JT”) Scott announced his candidacy for Ward 2 Alderman today. JT is running on a platform of affordability, responsible development growth, government accountability, and increased wellness for all residents.
“We need to ensure that development benefits the community instead of only enriching the developers,” said Scott. “Change is coming to Ward 2, and we have to work together to make certain that the Somerville we love has a place for all of us.”
As an active part of the public process around development in Union Square, including the formation of the Union Square Neighborhood Council and serving as vice-chair of Union Square Neighbors, JT has been fighting for better neighborhood planning for years. “We must be vigilant and engaged if we want better outcomes from development in Somerville,” said Scott. “I believe our Aldermen should represent the residents and fight for our shared values.” To that end, he has declared that he will not be accepting campaign contributions from real estate developers.
Affordability in the City is especially important to JT. Since moving to Somerville and opening his business here in 2011, he’s seen many of his friends and neighbors forced to move out to surrounding suburbs by the rising costs in Somerville. In addition, as a business owner and Board Member of Union Square Main Streets, he sees just how hard it is for other local businesses being pressured by rent hikes on their small shops – and how those pressures result in higher prices for customers.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be able to secure a home for my family and my business, but most people in Ward 2 don’t have that assurance. Rising property taxes increase costs for renters and homeowners alike,” Scott said. “We have to take a comprehensive approach to resolving the City’s financial issues to ensure that the burdens don’t fall entirely on our residents. We also must enact smart policies that enable small businesses to start, grow, and remain in Somerville providing tax revenues for the city and good jobs for the neighbors.”
Increasing wellness in the community is also a priority for JT. As proprietor of CrossFit Somerville he works with neighborhood residents daily on improving their health and quality of life, but says the issue is larger than push-ups and pull-ups. “Real wellness requires more than strength. We need a community with more green and open public spaces, improved public transportation, reduced pollution, increased bike/walk accommodation, and an array of options for our schoolchildren and elders alike.”
JT will have an official campaign kickoff event in April, but for now he says he’ll be continuing to do what he’s done for the past 6 years: listen to his neighbors and work together with them on the issues facing Ward 2. “I’m not a career politician. What I do have are new ideas, a new perspective, and years of experience working with large and diverse groups of people to find innovative, collaborative, and workable solutions to seemingly impossible challenges.”
To find out more about JT Scott and his campaign you can visit his web site at www.JTforWard2.com or follow on Facebook: facebook.com/JTforWard2