Aaron Berdofe
@aaronberdofe.bsky.social
Welcome to my personal journal. It’s mostly about Swampscott. I’m sorry if you came here for something else.
My 7 year old when driving through a parking lot in Vinnin Square tonight:
“What is this parking lot even for? No one ever parks in it?!”
From the mouths of babes…
“What is this parking lot even for? No one ever parks in it?!”
From the mouths of babes…
November 15, 2025 at 11:50 PM
My 7 year old when driving through a parking lot in Vinnin Square tonight:
“What is this parking lot even for? No one ever parks in it?!”
From the mouths of babes…
“What is this parking lot even for? No one ever parks in it?!”
From the mouths of babes…
Swampscott town meeting warrant just dropped…and this will be a pretty short and boring meeting.
The PARC grant is for resurfacing Abbott Park.
Article 10 will be interesting since they are officially closing soon, but hey we might have a plan shortly.
The PARC grant is for resurfacing Abbott Park.
Article 10 will be interesting since they are officially closing soon, but hey we might have a plan shortly.
November 15, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Swampscott town meeting warrant just dropped…and this will be a pretty short and boring meeting.
The PARC grant is for resurfacing Abbott Park.
Article 10 will be interesting since they are officially closing soon, but hey we might have a plan shortly.
The PARC grant is for resurfacing Abbott Park.
Article 10 will be interesting since they are officially closing soon, but hey we might have a plan shortly.
The search when you see vaguely references to something but don’t have the context…
November 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
The search when you see vaguely references to something but don’t have the context…
This would completely eliminate the chance of any housing being put here ever except maybe one $2m single family house.
swampscotttides.org/featured/sav...
swampscotttides.org/featured/sav...
Historical Commission Considers New Districting For Glover House as Fundraising Ramps Up to Preserve Historic Landmark
The Historical Commission is looking into pursuing the creation of a single-housing historic district to ensure the Glover Farmhouse is not demolished. General John Glover’s farmhouse may be the on…
swampscotttides.org
November 14, 2025 at 5:58 PM
This would completely eliminate the chance of any housing being put here ever except maybe one $2m single family house.
swampscotttides.org/featured/sav...
swampscotttides.org/featured/sav...
Looks like there is actual movement on the Hawthorne Redevelopment.
I never had strong opinions on this except for making sure is some sort of permanent acknowledgement of Indigenous people here, but this seems like a good compromise of all the wants.
swampscotttides.org/featured/g1-...
I never had strong opinions on this except for making sure is some sort of permanent acknowledgement of Indigenous people here, but this seems like a good compromise of all the wants.
swampscotttides.org/featured/g1-...
November 14, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Looks like there is actual movement on the Hawthorne Redevelopment.
I never had strong opinions on this except for making sure is some sort of permanent acknowledgement of Indigenous people here, but this seems like a good compromise of all the wants.
swampscotttides.org/featured/g1-...
I never had strong opinions on this except for making sure is some sort of permanent acknowledgement of Indigenous people here, but this seems like a good compromise of all the wants.
swampscotttides.org/featured/g1-...
YIMBYs of all political stripes give left-NIMBYs a lot of crap regularly, but conservative YIMBYs seem to be afraid to tackle these sorts of NIMBY takes from their own party. Why?
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 14, 2025 at 12:02 AM
YIMBYs of all political stripes give left-NIMBYs a lot of crap regularly, but conservative YIMBYs seem to be afraid to tackle these sorts of NIMBY takes from their own party. Why?
Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
🏡 Help us get more housing on the 2026 ballot!
Join AHMA, Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem, and the Legalize Starter Homes Ballot Initiative for a Day of Action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/2sk34xt9
Join AHMA, Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem, and the Legalize Starter Homes Ballot Initiative for a Day of Action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/2sk34xt9
Legalize Starter Homes Day of Action
Cambridge City Councillor Burhan Azeem, Abundant Housing Massachusetts, and the Legalize Starter Homes Ballot Campaign are organizing a coordinated Day of Action to rally support for legalizing…
tinyurl.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:43 AM
🏡 Help us get more housing on the 2026 ballot!
Join AHMA, Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem, and the Legalize Starter Homes Ballot Initiative for a Day of Action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/2sk34xt9
Join AHMA, Cambridge City Councilor Burhan Azeem, and the Legalize Starter Homes Ballot Initiative for a Day of Action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/2sk34xt9
Microbuses! Imagine a little micro-network of microbuses zipping around our micro-region on the North Shore here.
www.marbleheadindependent.com/marblehead-p...
www.marbleheadindependent.com/marblehead-p...
Marblehead pilots electric microbus as potential transport option
The demonstration offers residents a glimpse into how emerging electric mobility technology might reshape travel in coming years.
www.marbleheadindependent.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Microbuses! Imagine a little micro-network of microbuses zipping around our micro-region on the North Shore here.
www.marbleheadindependent.com/marblehead-p...
www.marbleheadindependent.com/marblehead-p...
Apparently a little coordinated Sunday Facebook posting is happening today from the team that is against the Lynn multimodal improvement project.
Honestly, not overly concerned this will have an impact because they seem to only exist on Facebook, but let’s dive into the claims here.
Honestly, not overly concerned this will have an impact because they seem to only exist on Facebook, but let’s dive into the claims here.
November 9, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Apparently a little coordinated Sunday Facebook posting is happening today from the team that is against the Lynn multimodal improvement project.
Honestly, not overly concerned this will have an impact because they seem to only exist on Facebook, but let’s dive into the claims here.
Honestly, not overly concerned this will have an impact because they seem to only exist on Facebook, but let’s dive into the claims here.
Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
And last night, Winthrop voters doubled down, electing a slate of anti-MBTA Communities candidates to the Town Council.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/05/b...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/05/b...
In Winthrop, the state’s ambitious housing law was on the ballot. It lost in a rout. - The Boston Globe
Candidates opposed to the MBTA Communities Act — the controversial housing law that has ignited fierce debate in Winthrop and other towns in Eastern Massachusetts — won all six council seats that were...
www.bostonglobe.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
And last night, Winthrop voters doubled down, electing a slate of anti-MBTA Communities candidates to the Town Council.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/05/b...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/05/b...
Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
A story about what all of those local housing fights are really about: change.
A housing crisis, a state law, and Winthrop's fight to stay the same.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/b...
A housing crisis, a state law, and Winthrop's fight to stay the same.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/b...
How the state’s most ambitious housing law in decades is tearing this peninsula town apart - The Boston Globe
Many towns have been divided over the MBTA Communities Act, but few as badly as Winthrop.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:10 PM
A story about what all of those local housing fights are really about: change.
A housing crisis, a state law, and Winthrop's fight to stay the same.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/b...
A housing crisis, a state law, and Winthrop's fight to stay the same.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/b...
Marblehead teeing up a big FU to the state and people who need housing again:
marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/11/04/i...
marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/11/04/i...
Is Tedesco Country Club the town’s solution to 3A compliance? - Marblehead Current
The town is considering rezoning the 32 acres of Tedesco Country Club located in Marblehead for multifamily housing to help meet requirements of the MBTA Communities Act. “We feel pretty confident tha...
marbleheadcurrent.org
November 4, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Marblehead teeing up a big FU to the state and people who need housing again:
marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/11/04/i...
marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/11/04/i...
Annual reminder that of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts, only 55 of them hold local elections in November.
#mapoli
#mapoli
a rainbow and a star with the words " i know you know "
Alt: a rainbow and a star with the words " the more you know”
media.tenor.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Annual reminder that of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts, only 55 of them hold local elections in November.
#mapoli
#mapoli
Once again, the people that wanted people of color to be terrorized are ticketed to bits by a Trump admin whereas everyone else thinks he’s a failure.
People were warned then and they're being warned now and they're still not listening.
November 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Once again, the people that wanted people of color to be terrorized are ticketed to bits by a Trump admin whereas everyone else thinks he’s a failure.
This is one of those quiet sleeper issues that town finance departments have certainly been aware of, but the general public has actively avoided. How many towns have a rising school budget? All of them?
www.mma.org/new-report-f...
www.mma.org/new-report-f...
New report from MMA documents a fiscal crisis in cities, towns - Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)
The MMA released a major report this morning that documents a convergence of forces that are putting dramatic pressure on city and town budgets and on the vital, quality-of-life services provided by m...
www.mma.org
November 1, 2025 at 12:16 PM
This is one of those quiet sleeper issues that town finance departments have certainly been aware of, but the general public has actively avoided. How many towns have a rising school budget? All of them?
www.mma.org/new-report-f...
www.mma.org/new-report-f...
Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
This is a good way to put it. I'm not going to write anyone off as an irredeemable human being but as a political matter, the American right is animated by bigotry and misinformation. It just is.
I'd say that you can find good in many people who voted for Trump, but you won't find it in their reasons for voting for Trump or in their ideas about politics.
I know Trump voters who can be kind and generous and loving. If you ask why they voted for Trump they'll give you misinfo and bigotry.
I know Trump voters who can be kind and generous and loving. If you ask why they voted for Trump they'll give you misinfo and bigotry.
October 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
This is a good way to put it. I'm not going to write anyone off as an irredeemable human being but as a political matter, the American right is animated by bigotry and misinformation. It just is.
Continuing on the generative AI for raw slop that people can react to before hiring actual professionals. Some reimagined Swampscott locations to make the more pedestrian friendly and add housing/commercial.
October 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Continuing on the generative AI for raw slop that people can react to before hiring actual professionals. Some reimagined Swampscott locations to make the more pedestrian friendly and add housing/commercial.
I once sat at a meeting with the local Democratic town committee and started asking if people knew what the DNC party platform said in regards to housing and I got a bunch of blank looks. Turns out no one knew what was on the party platform. THIS WAS THE LOCAL DNC COMMITTEE!
(1) People do not form their opinions of the Democratic Party by reading the party platform.
What percentage of the public do you believe has any clue what is in the Democratic Party platform? I’ll give you a hint: it is lower than whatever number you just thought of.
What percentage of the public do you believe has any clue what is in the Democratic Party platform? I’ll give you a hint: it is lower than whatever number you just thought of.
October 28, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I once sat at a meeting with the local Democratic town committee and started asking if people knew what the DNC party platform said in regards to housing and I got a bunch of blank looks. Turns out no one knew what was on the party platform. THIS WAS THE LOCAL DNC COMMITTEE!
And another for the Essex 6th district. It’s getting crowded in here… I think this will be oldest candidate so far.
marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/10/28/m...
marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/10/28/m...
Moulton’s longtime aide hits campaign trail for 6th District seat - Marblehead Current
Rick Jakious of Swampscott, longtime chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, has announced a run for Moulton’s seat representing the Massachusetts 6th District. Moulton announced earlier this month ...
marbleheadcurrent.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
And another for the Essex 6th district. It’s getting crowded in here… I think this will be oldest candidate so far.
marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/10/28/m...
marbleheadcurrent.org/2025/10/28/m...
Maybe I’m missing it, but why does no news outlet have a “follow this story” feature on their websites? Seems like a basic feature that would entice people to read more of the news instead of just scroll headlines.
October 27, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Maybe I’m missing it, but why does no news outlet have a “follow this story” feature on their websites? Seems like a basic feature that would entice people to read more of the news instead of just scroll headlines.
Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
Agreed! We should be empowering our cities and towns to take action to address local challenges, not hobbling them. #mapoli
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/24/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/24/m...
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu calls for state to repeal Prop 2½ law limiting annual increases in property tax collection - The Boston Globe
The law allows municipalities to increase the total amount they collect in property taxes every year only by 2.5 percent, not including tax revenue from new developments.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Agreed! We should be empowering our cities and towns to take action to address local challenges, not hobbling them. #mapoli
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/24/m...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/24/m...
This is so true. You’re battling against both the lack of motivation in people AND the armchair organizer who “helpfully” keeps interjecting with “what if” ideas that they aren’t willing to execute on.
I try to avoid "real organizers vs. fake/keyboard organizers" framings for the most part but one thing you learn quickly from organizing is how difficult it is to get people to do anything at all, how much you're competing against sociologically. people are overworked and tired
October 26, 2025 at 1:20 PM
This is so true. You’re battling against both the lack of motivation in people AND the armchair organizer who “helpfully” keeps interjecting with “what if” ideas that they aren’t willing to execute on.
Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
Just curious, how many units of housing are going to be in this ballroom?
I can’t believe there are not one but two articles, in major papers, with this dumb framing. It is not NIMBY to express dismay when a big part of the White House is suddenly rubbled
October 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Just curious, how many units of housing are going to be in this ballroom?