Your Local News, Sports & Information Online! Scan and Subscribe! Vol. 34, No. 38 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday MALDEN PRELIMINARY ELECTION: Incumbents top lists for Ward 6 Councillor, Ward 4 School Committee Winslow-Leone Ward 6 rematch in November General Election; MacklinAnnab will face off in Ward 4 in one of closest finishes on record By Steve Freker I ncumbents topped the final count in both races on the Malden Preliminary Election ballots on a day when the overwhelming majority of voters stayed home. It may have well been a record low turnout in Malden electoral history for any election — a mere 6% overall — but that did not mean there was not any lack of drama. The voter turnout in Ward 4 for the School Committee was even lower — just 4.4%, or only 181 of ELECTION | SEE PAGE 9 Ward 6 sign holders at the 630 Salem Street Housing polling place are supporting City Council candidate Jerry Leone, who finished second in the preliminary election and now advances to the General Election on November 4. (Advocate Photo) Sept. 11, 2001 – Never Forget T 617-387-2200 Friday, September 19, 2025 ~ OP-ED ~ Too Much of a Good Thing: Why Our City Needs a Balanced Tax Base By Craig Spadafora, Councilor At Large he saying “too much of a good thing” highlights the need for balance. For Malden, that good thing is residential housing — perhaps a surprising idea for some. Malden, like most cities, is facing mounting fiscal pressure — infrastructure, insurance, payroll, healthcare. Having a strong commercial tax base is not just beneficial, it’s essential. Currently Malden tax base is approximately 90% residential. While this reliance may seem convenient, it places an unsustainable burden on homeowners, limiting our city’s ability to fund essential services — services that are vital to our community’s well-being, such as education, public safety, and infrastructure. This cycle results in higher property taxes, which can lead to affordability challenges for many residents. If you think it’s expensive now just wait. Residential taxes come with notable costs that can dimmish their overall effectiveness. While taxes are intended to bolster the city’s coffers, they are often inadvertently strained by education, public safety, and infrastructure costs to support those residents. Commercial and industrial sectors require fewer city services (e.g. Schools, parks, public safety) than residential areas, making their tax contribution more “profitable” for us. It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep! But that is not the entire story. Commercial activity generates a more diverse and dynamic stream of revenue and channels beyond just the property assessments. There are sales, meals, entertainment, hotel, and business licenses. Increasing more commercial goes beyond just increasing revenue. It directly contributes to job creation, providing diverse employment opportunities that support Malden residents. Consider this: OP-ED | SEE PAGE 3 IN SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE: Malden Police Commissioner Barbara Murphy (right) joined Mayor Gary Christenson (third from right) and Malden School Committee Vice Chairperson Jennifer Spadafora in the memorial at the Malden Central Fire Station on September 11. See photos inside. (Courtesy/Gino Spadafora Photos)
2 Publizr Home