Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 35, No. 17 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Mayor submits FY27 municipal budget proposal of $240.3M to City Council Budget cuts include approximately 32 jobs citywide, including all Malden Police cadets, five firefighters and 14 full-time positions across city government By Steve Freker M Malden Mayor Gary Christenson submitted a $240.3 million municipal budget proposal to the Malden City Council for its review at Tuesday night’s City Council Committee of the Whole meeting. (Advocate File Photo) alden Mayor Gary Christenson formally submitted the Fiscal Year 2027 municipal budget proposal to the City Council Tuesday evening at a Committee of the Whole meeting held in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Accompanied by a transmittal letter, the budget appropriation was the ominous, proverbial “other shoe to drop,” as the numbers include cuts necessary to cover a near $10 million structural deficit. (The complete text of Mayor Christenson’s FY27 budget transmittal letter to the City Council is included on page 2.) Included among the cuts are the elimination of approximately 32 full- or part-time jobs across city government, including cuts in the ranks of the Malden Police Department and Fire DepartBUDGET | SEE PAGE 5 Wayne Martineau Sr. Ten Mystic Valley Juniors Earn National Merit Recognition By Steve Freker T hey grew up together in one of Malden’s most well-known Mystic Valley Regional Charter School juniors who earned National Merit recognition: Maya Abuzaid, Victor Caetano, Adam Cheng, Wassim Daoud, Sadra Hashempour, Prisha Kumar, Ihsan Nigdelioglu, Kyle Phung, Angelina Ricciardone and Emma Wang. (Courtesy MVRCS) By Emily Brennan M ystic Valley Regional Charter School is proud to announce that ten members of the junior class have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their exceptional academic achievement. Maya Abuzaid, Victor Caetano, Adam Cheng, Wassim Daoud, Sadra Hashempour, Prisha Kumar, Ihsan Nigdelioglu, Kyle Phung, AngeliMERIT | SEE PAGE 5 neighborhoods, right on the same corner, among the same people. Their friendship was formed over 50 years ago and it never wavered. That is why it was so hard for Chris Simonelli to say goodbye to Wayne Martineau Sr. at services held Monday in Malden for one of the city’s most popular and respected residents. It is no secret that Simonelli, who is now on his second “tour” representing Ward 7 on the Malden City Council, is someone who wears the proverbial “heart on his sleeve.” So did his late, lifelong friend Wayne, who passed away suddenly on April 20 after a brief battle with cancer. Councillor Simonelli recalled Wayne Martineau before requesting a moment of silence in his friend’s name at the last full Council meeting. It was not an easy task for the born-and-bred Malden guy who still lives in the same neighborhood. “We both lived in the Newland Street projects and we grew up with the same friends and same neighborhood,” Simonelli recalled at the Council meeting. “In an important time of our lives, we all looked out for each other, Wayne a lot more than others, probably. He always went the extra mile.” “Wayne was a frequent babysitter for the younger kids in my family and me at times,” Simonelli said, and with a smirk, “if he was here he’d probably say he was still doing it for me!” Simonelli told his Council colleagues and those watching the Council meeting that Wayne Martineau, who worked many years for Malden Housing in his adult life, must have had “a calling.” “I believe we are all here for a reason,” said Simonelli, who had a difficult time with his emotions during his tribute, at times fighting a losing battle holding back tears. “Wayne was here with us to help people. He helped evREMEMBERS | SEE PAGE 8 Ward 7 Councillor Chris Simonelli 617-387-2200 Friday, May 1, 2026 Councillor Simonelli remembers well-known Malden ‘good guy’ & mentor after unexpected passing Wayne F. Martineau Sr., lifelong Malden resident and local city employee, suddenly, at 66
2 Publizr Home