Public Input & Constituent Services

The number one job of any public servant is returning phone calls and emails. Whether the concern is related to trimming a tree and filling a pothole, snow plowing issues and sidewalk repair, every issue deserves to be treated with the same level of respect and urgency. As your Ward Councillor and as a Communications Director in the State Senate, I know just how important this part of the job is.

In addition, I have always prided myself on listening to constituents on the input and receiving your feedback. When I was first sworn-in as your Councillor, I launched a constituent services website, www.AnthonyAndronico.com, that was complete with a welcome survey to help me understand where you needed my focus to be. The survey results were very helpful to me as I got adjusted to the new role.

More recently, I was proud to author a resolution that was unanimously supported by my colleagues calling on the Administration to solicit public input into how the city should spend more than $50 million in federal COVID-19 Relief funding, and for a full accounting of where any of that funding had been previously allocated.

Your voice deserves to be heard whether it’s regarding relief funding, budget allocation, new investments, or a potential new ordinance.

Taxes & Spending

Quincy is a great place to call home, and because of this we’ve seen a massive boom in development as more people seek to become Quincy residents themselves. However, this has played a role in driving up property valuations and causing many longtime residents to feel the squeeze on their property taxes.

To help ease your tax burden, I believe we should implement a “Residential Property Tax Exemption” that would allow owner-occupied homes to see an up to 35% reduction in their property taxes. This exemption is common around Greater Boston and I think our homeowners should benefit more from the development within the city than they have in the past decade. This past session, I was proud to cosponsor a resolve to further explore the feasibility of implementing such a policy.

In addition, I was proud to have written and passed a resolution calling on the Administration to provide an accounting to the council on how the nearly $50 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding was allocated and for the Administration to solicit public input on how any remaining funds should be allocated within the community.

Lastly, I know that I can’t say yes to every spending proposal that comes before us at City Hall. During the FY23 budget debate, I voted to cut over $600,000 from the budget overall – while it may not seem like a lot, I know every bit counts. I’ll continue to ask the tough questions and work to ensure that your tax dollars are spent responsibly.

Infrastructure

Our city's infrastructure is the backbone of our community, facilitating our daily lives and economic growth. I have consistently heard from constituents about the state of our roads and sidewalks. In 2021, I had the privilege of advocating for and voting in favor of a plan to invest in our infrastructure over the proceeding five years. In Ward 2, this meant a significant improvement of 33,000 feet of road repair, and 19 water main replacements, contributing to safer and smoother travel for all. If re-elected, I will continue to prioritize infrastructure investment by seeking out further funding opportunities, to ensure that all our community's infrastructure needs are met.

Community Upkeep

A vibrant and well-maintained community is essential for fostering a sense of pride and belonging among our residents. Neglected public spaces, litter, and blighted properties can contribute to a decline in community spirit. During my tenure, I have been proud to champion projects and initiatives to continue to build on the progress we’ve made. This has included safety enhancements at the Fore River Clubhouse, amenity upgrades at Faxon Park with more on the way, and a planned municipal broadband internet pilot program for Quincy Point. Additionally, I’ve been proud to work with all city departments and my constituents to address issues related to blighted properties, rodent infestations, park cleanup, public safety, education, permanent housing, zoning/development, and more.

Fighting the Compressor Station

For the past seven years, I’ve stood alongside my neighbors in the Fore River Basin to call for the end of plans to construct and operate a compressor station in North Weymouth. I’ve spoken up at Health Impact Assessment meetings conducted by MAPC, worked behind the scenes as an aide in the State Senate to get an air quality monitoring station in the Fore River Basin, and authored a resolution as a member of the City Council calling for the immediate shut down of the station after it experienced multiple unplanned toxic gas releases. We’re years into this fight because it’s the right thing to do – the station is situated on only 4 acres of land, it’s on a waterway, in an environmental justice zone, next to a $200+M bridge, and surrounded by thousands of residents in harm’s way.

Zoning, Development, & Traffic

Depending on when you grew up, you’ll envision Quincy in one of two ways: either as the bustling downtown that drew hundreds of shoppers a day with attractions like Remick’s and the Bargain Center, or as a run-down area that had empty storefronts that was longing for life. While I grew up with the latter, I’ve heard plenty of stories from my family about the former.

The revitalization that Quincy's downtown has experienced in the last decade is a welcome change. With that said, the development we have experienced needs to be contained to the downtown and the city must keep the integrity of our neighborhoods. That means opposing projects that don’t fit with the character of existing neighborhoods - a modern four unit, three story building shouldn’t be put up in a neighborhood of mostly single-family homes for example.

With that in mind, this past session, I was proud to have cosponsored a resolve seeking a citywide review of our zoning codes. While the city continues to be developed – both in residential and commercial sectors – many in our city have felt that their voices are not being heard when it comes to this issue.

It’s been a few decades since we have had a comprehensive review of our full zoning code, although hundreds of small changes have been made, and I hope the Administration follows through on the Council’s request.