THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 18, 2019 Page 5 MURPHY | FROM PAGE 1 She launched and led the City Council’s Waterfront Access Committee before many people even considered the potential of the Malden riverfront. Murphy responded to the growing concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety by working with fellow Councillor Peg Crowe to establish a citywide 25-mile per hour speed limit. And her original plan for a Ward 5 garden has evolved into a citywide community garden that now offers more than 100 beds for Malden residents with green thumbs but no place to plant. Although Murphy has been involved in countless other citywide projects and initiatives, she has remained the quintessential ward councillor responding to residents’ concerns and complaints about potholes, parking, sidewalks and trees. “The job is all about constituent services,” she said. “I believe in government where people have reps who are there to represent them.” Murphy has also spearheaded major projects to benefit residents in Ward 5. Neighborhood roads have been repaired and repaved, hundreds of lead water lines have been replaced, more than three acres of Ward 5 green space has been set aside for conservation, McFadden Manor has been redeveloped into Forest Park Assisted Living, and the Alex Gentile Memorial Park was upgraded and is now ADA-compliant. Murphy has an ambitious to-do list to start working on if she is elected to another term. One of the first challenges will be with the proposal for a new trash collection program, which she said needs more work and public input. Among the concerns are the fees, which will be a major cost increase for seniors, and the size and mobility of the proposed barrels and recycling bins. “I think the mayor did a good job taking a stab at it, but it needs some tweaking and, hopefully, we’ll come to a solution that will be satisfactory for all.” The question of artificial turf or natural grass at Roosevelt Park still needs to be decided. Murphy has supported a “financially responsible” solution using some of the new organic materials available for artificial turf fields. Murphy plans to continue advocating for height restrictions for future development. She appreciates the fact that the housing industry’s interest in Malden allows the city government to require developers to provide some much-needed affordable housing, but she doesn’t feel major residential He also supports the proposal to overhaul the city’s trash collection system. “I like what I’ve been seeing, and I’m happy we are getting rid of PayAs-You-Throw and moving towards barrels and new recycling bins,” he said. Although he wants to learn Danyal Najmi Ward 5 Councillor candidate projects are in the city’s best interest. “Do I want to see the city’s density increase? No, I don’t think it will favorably affect Malden,” she said, adding that major residential projects are stretching school resources and city services thin. Fiscally responsible budgets, better city parks and more road and sidewalk repairs are also on her agenda, but Murphy’s overarching interest is in her neighborhood with her constituents. “I want Ward 5 to be a place you’re proud to call home,” she said. Danyal Najmi A first-time candidate for elected office, Danyal Najmi is campaigning on a platform that blends local issues with regional challenges and goals. A career coach at the Somerville Community Corporation, Najmi said on-the-job experiences drew him into the race for the Ward 5 City Council seat. “I work at a nonprofit where I help connect residents with jobs and housing,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of people who have been forced to leave the area. Housing is the main issue, but there are a lot of other things.” Najmi has proposed a slate of measures to ease the current housing crisis. He supports eliminating zoning regulations on height, density and lot sizes that make it difficult to build new residential housing. He favors allowing homeowners more freedom to add “in-law” apartments that will increase the housing supply. And he feels the Malden Hospital site offers an opportunity to build more housing with green spaces and walking trails. Najmi also feels the city should look at some large existing parcels of land and how they are being used. “I think we could use our space more efficiently,” he said. “Stop & Shop has a huge parking lot. Instead of using so much space for parking, we could use it for housing.” Najmi believes Malden’s housing shortage is tied to the demand for housing near public transportation. He feels Malden needs to work with neighboring communities to expand the MBTA’s rapid tranBarbara Murphy Ward 5 Councillor sit service to Melrose, Saugus and Lynn, which would, in turn, spread the demand for housing throughout the communities north of Boston. Just over half of Malden residents are renters, and Najmi supports establishing a tenant’s right to first refusal, which would give renters up to eight months to arranged financing to buy a property that an owner wants to sell. He also supports eliminating the state ban on rent control and setting reasonable limits on rent increases. Removing lead water pipes is a priority for Najmi, who has called the city’s water system a “public health emergency.” He feels city funds and available state funding should be used to remove all lead pipes on public and private property as quickly as possible. Najmi also feels public health would be boosted with more access to healthy food. “I would like to bring an open-air market back to Malden where residents can buy fresh produce at affordable prices,” he said. Najmi, who describes himself as “100 percent pro-environment,” supports making biking and walking in Malden better and safer to help move the city toward a car-less community. Eminating from The Clubhouse in Chelsea... A Tradition Continues Just as we prepare a great steak, we strive to provide a dining experience just the way you like it. Function Room up to 75 Guests 817 Broadway (Route 1 South), Saugus (781) 558-2271 more about Roosevelt Park and the debate over artificial turf and natural grass, he said that ultimately he would support whichever solution residents in Ward 5 favor. Najmi is committed to reaching out to Malden’s different ethnic communities to provide services and offer economic and educational opportunities. And he’s well equipped to develop those relationships. He speaks fluent English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi and Haitian Creole and is learning Mandarin. He also supports increasing civic participation among Malden’s different immigrant communities by expanding voting rights to noncitizens. And he feels Malden should demonstrate its commitment to undocumented immigrants by officially becoming a sanctuary city. AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Get Your Vehicle Winter Ready! 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