EV RETEVT V Vol. 35, No.2 E ER T -FREET www.advocatenews.net Your Local News & Sports Online! Scan & Subscribe! ADDOCCO TEAT Free Every Friday Everett appoints fi rst woman Lieutenant, fi rst Black Sergeant in Everett Police Dept. Historic promotions refl ect progress and representation within the department 617-387-2200 Friday, January 16, 2026 City councillors question plan for data center in Docklands Innovation District By Neil Zolot ity Councillors and community activists are questioning the wisdom of allowing data centers in the Everett Docklands Innovation District. “We have to be cautious,” Councillor-at-Large Katy Rogers said at the Council meeting on Monday, January 12. C “They use astronomical amounts of water and electricity to create noise.” “We need to dive into what From left: Police Chief Paul Strong, Captain Neil Burke, Lieutenant Heather Dupont, Mayor Robert Van Campen and Sergeant Eric Williamson. Special to Th e Advocate he City of Everett and the Everett Police Department (EPD) marked a historic T moment during the January 12 City Council meeting: The City approved a series of promotions that advance diversity and representation within EPD’s leadership. Sergeant Heather Dupont was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, PROMOTIONS | SEE PAGE 6 F. J. LaRovere Insurance Agency, Inc. 492 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-9700 phone 617-387-9702 fax INSURANCE FOR AUTO, HOME, AND BUSINESS We offer very competitive rates, and by representing many different companies we can shop for the best price for our customers. Call us today! Open Monday – Friday 9am-5pm and Saturdays 9am-12pm Messinger Insurance Agency 475 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 617-387-2700 phone 617-387-7753 fax FAMILY FUN: The City of Everett hosted the Inaugural Ball at the Connolly Center this past Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. This celebratory event marked the offi cial welcome of Mayor Robert Van Campen’s fi rst term and the beginning of the 2026-2027 term for City Council and School Committee members. Pictured, Mayor Robert Van Campen takes a moment to celebrate with his daughter, Lily and son, John, on the dance fl oor. See inside for photo highlights. (Photo by Emily Harney) we’d be signing up for,” Planning Board member Stephanie McColaugh agreed before the Council referred the matter to the Planning Board for study. She called data centers “risky for the longterm security of our water and grid infrastructure. They can use as much electricity as 80,000 to 800,000 homes. It’s not comparable to any other development and would take money out of our pockets to support private development. As a blue-collar community, subjecting residents to increased electric rates, future water insecurity, diminished air quality and increased noise is a step in the wrong direction. While this may appear to be a quick economic win, despite minimal jobs after construction, the stain on our electric grid and water systems may well hamstring more fruitful development.” “It’s not time for this,” Ward 2 Councillor Stephanie Martins added, also noting that the number ofj obs a data center would generate would be insignifi cant. A data center is a facility that powers the internet by storing and processing data, supporting email, web searches and nearly every online service people use. The Science Feedback website reports there are 9,000 data centers worldwide, but more are needed and are in dePLAN | SEE PAGE 14 Everett Celebrates in Style at Inaugural Ball
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