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Page 10 DEBATE | FROM PAGE 1 encouraging everyone to come together.” DiMarco said, “My campaign is all about consensus, better roads, fixing our streets, better parks and better government. Matheson, a former longtime Malden Councillor, a runner-up in the 2019 mayoral election and also a local attorney, said, “We need experience, not personal agendas [on the City Council].” Matheson said that during the recent pandemic era “too often we have seen popularity of causes promoted by individuals that are not for the greater good.” Matheson cited the “Defund the Police” and “People’s Budget” movements, which seek to decrease the police department budget, lower the number of police officers and staff and reallocate police funding to other resources. “I am for a fully-funded police department and I am fully supportive of our public safety personnel in this city.” First-time Malden political candidate Carey McDonald said that “this is a critical election. We have to work toward empowering community voices and to include our large range of residents in decisions.” McDonald said more attention must be focused on Malden streets and parks, lead pipe removal and a climate action plan in Malden. McDonald also cited his leadership of the Malden Police Accountability and Alternatives group, which was formed as a result of former President Barack Obama’s “Reimagining Policing Pledge,” which is defined on its website as “a call for mayors and local officials to review and reform use of force policies, redefine public safety, and combat systemic racism within law enforcement.” Spadafora said his goals in seeking reelection this year are to “embrace and not forget about our past [in Malden] and “work hard on all that lies ahead.” Spadafora said Malden must honor its lifelong residents by preserving the city’s history and legacy while also “seeing that our young people have the opportunity to carve out their own place in this city.” The incumbent said, “We must strongly support our Police Department, Fire Department, teachers and nurses and our DPW [Dept. of Public Works] to make sure our citizens are getting the services they pay for and deserve.” He cited examples of the leadership he has provided as City Councillor, including “helping keep people safe and secure; the wise and prudent use and allocation of public dollars; and leading the creation of a nationally-recognized municipal lead pipe replacement program.” Following are some questions that were asked, along with parts of some of their responses Q: The city has implemented several resources as a means of acknowledging its diverse community, such as language services. Is there any role you have played in this and what would you like to see done in the future? THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 1, 2021 DeLacey: I am a strong advocate of language translation. The School Committee has adopted language translation for its meetings. Despite several City Councillors who are against translation services for its meetings, I will support making this happen. DiMarco: I have operated a business in Malden for 19 years and used language translation services the entire time. The city should be using its resources to expand these services more and more. Matheson: The city has done a good job in translating ballots and instructions in the last election and has more planned moving forward. We need more interfacing with residents in the languages they understand; this issue is not going to go away. McDonald: It is essential for funding translation services, and I support a standard translation program citywide. We have to have more classes for our residents and forums. Spadafora: Accessibility through language and translation services is essential for our community. Malden is a statewide leader in translation of our ballots, and we have to continue this strength. We also have to continue to promote diversity in our hiring practices. Hayes: There is no reason why we don’t have more translation [services]. The City Council meetings should have had it years ago. With the new ESSR federal funding package, we should use some of those funds for citywide translation. There’s really no excuse. 2) How can the city be more helpful to small businesses and immigrant- and minority-owned businesses? DiMarco said most new businesses fail because the entrepreneurs that start lack the knowledge of how to launch and sustain their new enterprise. He suggested free business training programs. “We have to bring these programs back to our city and find space to accommodate them.” Matheson said he believes Malden has “a great history” of popular restaurants and small business and retail shops. He said he was encouraged by the resurgent Malden Square. “It’s coming around and it’s great to see.” McDonald asked, “How many Malden residents have started out businesses in their own homes?” He added that the city should create “business incubators” to promote and then support new, local entrepreneurs. “You don’t have to be able to afford a brick and mortar location” to open a new business,” he said. Spadafora said, “A key to a strong business community is one that its business owners feel safe and that’s why a #1 priority in this city is a strong police force.” Spadafora agreed that efforts must be made to “increase accessibility to capital and expertise” for immigrant, minority and women business owners. He said that technical skills training for those residents whom it would help find employment with local businesses would be worth exploring as well. Hayes said that “women and minority owned businesses were affected the most – by far – by the pandemic.” She added, “The #1 thing I heard from black and minority business owners is they were not able to access the loans that were available from different sources that would have assisted them.” Hayes added, “We need collaborative support... we need input from everyone to make sure these businesses are supported.” DeLacey said, “Malden should be a destination for small businesses” and noted that this city had already expanded both the variety and number of businesses, restaurants, service industry and retail. DeLacey said his goal would be “to engage the city... bring together local business owners [and determine] how they could be best supported.” Q: How can the city of Malden – particularly those in city government – increase the diversity of its own workforce? Matheson noted the City of Malden has already hired a fulltime Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator (Bybiose Larochelle) and is making strides. “Our [municipal] staff should more accurately reflect our community.” Matheson added, “I wouldn’t be in favor of laying people off or hiring people just because of their race.” He said he would strongly support the progress the city has made in this goal and work to help to continue this progress. McDonald said making singular hirings based on diversity is not the goal. “It doesn’t work even if it was legal,” he said. “The main question is, what are the barriers?” to hiring a more diverse workforce. McDonald said he has had experience in this area and cited ways to enhance the city’s process. “There are Malden residents who have language experience and those doing service in Malden to consider [for employment]. Recruitment and monitoring hiring pools are important for equitable hiring process.” McDonald said the issue “is not unique to Malden and there are hiring challenges all over [the region].” McDonald said there has been positive progress in this city. “Malden has made progress, and a lot of work has been done.” He added, “[Diversified hiring] is a living, breathing document we must keep in our goals.” Hayes answered, “This goes right to the core of who I am. You can’t use scare tactics and scare people [with this issue]. You can’t fire white people and hire people of color and diversity, which would be silly and illegal.” Hayes said she agreed it was appropriate to hire a DEI coordinator by the city, “but it’s the bare minimum – one person. We need a whole department.” Hayes said she is especially concerned with diversity in the Malden Public Schools workforce. “We have to have a workforce [in the schools] that reflects our students. We have lost teachers [of color] and we have to address that.” DeLacey said the city should commit to an expansion of language translation services which would enable an expansion of outreach to recruit more candidates to reflect diversity in the city’s workforce.” “It’s crucial to use language translation and use it in outreach. We could start today with volunteer organizations and then expand it. The City Clerk’s Office has done it. Let’s sign up now.” DiMarco said, “First, what has to happen is education. We have to make sure [candidates] are educated [and prepared] for jobs.” DiMarco also said it has to be an ongoing dialogue to ensure that goals are met. “It should not take debates to come to a consensus.” DiMarco agreed with another candidate that “there should be a Diversity Department, not just one person that would be a good start.” Talking about the issue was progress, DiMarco said, “but there is still a lot of work ahead.” Q: What is the most pressing issue in the city of Malden? Spadafora said the COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone in the city and jobs, housing affordability and access to government. “The biggest problem is we don’t know where the end is... we have to stay vigilant and continue to be ready to act to meet the needs of our community … COVID had tentacles everywhere in Malden and we have to be ready to help.” Hayes said, “Recovery from COVID and prepping for the future is the biggest issue.” Hayes said that during COVID she “tried to take immediate action to help people … No one was prepared; Malden wasn’t prepared. We need better plans in place, particularly in outreach to minority populations.” She said, “COVID isn’t ending DEBATE | SEE PAGE 16

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