THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 21, 2023 Page 3 Incumbent Novoselsky faces two challengers for Ward 2 councillor seat By Barbara Taormina REVERE - The Ward 2 race for the City Council seat will head into a preliminary election on September 19. Three candidates with rich and diverse backgrounds are competing for the opportunity to represent the Ward that many think of when they think of Revere. Incumbent Ira Novoselsky, who has held the seat since 2002, is facing challenges from Danielle Osterman, a social worker and the city’s Community Development Program Manager, and Universal Life Church Minister Sandro Anaya. Novoselsky lives in a multifamily home with his extended family in the house he was born in. He said he is running for another term because it’s a job he enjoys. “I like keeping my Ward beautiful,” said Novoselsky, who has insisted that his heart and soul belong to Ward 2 and the city of Revere. He lists his accomplishments as improving the Ward’s streets and sidewalks with reconstruction and repaving projects and adding crosswalks, streetlights and signs and speed bumps to slow down traffi c. He lot of good things to Revere, including solid union jobs that will allow people to aff ord a Suff olk Downs apartment and recreational opportunities. Several years ago, Novoselsky worked with a private developer to create 30 units of housing for veterans on Shirley Avenue. Overall, however, he said affordable housing is a challenge because it’s not profi table for developers. As for the new high school, NoIRA NOVOSELSKY Ward 2 City Councillor ing care of my neighbors,” he said. But on a broader level, NoDANIELLE OSTERMAN is also proud of the new playground at Garfi eld School, the renovation of Curtis Park and the public staircase from Hillside Avenue to Campbell Avenue. A dog park at Fitzhenry Square is on his to-do list. He seems most proud of the revitalization of Shirley Avenue, which has undergone a major makeover with millions of dollars in investments. “My target is Ward 2 and takvoselsky serves on the zoning and public works subcommittees. He said he advocated for a new DPW facility paid for with community investment funds. It took eight years to push that project along, but the new DPW is expected to open in September. Novoselsky is a big supporter of the Suff olk Downs development. He acknowledges that the residential component won’t do much to alleviate Revere’s acute need for aff ordable housing, but he said the project will bring a voselsky said the Wonderland site was his fi rst choice and he was unhappy the council voted to shift the project to the existing site. “I’m a sports guy and they will be losing the fi elds,” he said. He also feels the original site will be a costly problem because of its underground infrastructure. And he is concerned about the need for a new middle school, which was planned to be sited in the renovated existing high school building. “I don’t know if I’ll vote for the money for a school at the current location,” he said. Danielle Osterman is hoping to parlay her experience as a social worker and Revere’s Community Development Program Manager into a seat on the City Council. “I decided to run because I think the neighborhood needs an elected leader to work for working-class families,” she said. Osterman’s priorities are affordable housing, job opportunities, fair and reliable transportation and environmental justice. Her work with the city has involved running free tax clinics, workforce development initiatives, and expanding access to childcare. Osterman describes herself as a macro social worker, meaning she works with other organizations and state agencies to form partnerships to bring funding to the city to boost businesses and workers and improve city facilities and services. “Ward 2 is the most densely populated and diverse neighborhood in the city and I want to make sure its welcoming for everyone,” she said. Originally from Connecticut, Osterman came to the area and fi rst settled in East Boston. She moved to Revere after being priced out of her home, so she knows fi rsthand the challenge of aff ordable housing. She said ELECTION | SEE Page 19
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