Judith Garber Town Meeting Precinct 4
My goals as Town Meeting member are to:
- Advocate for policies to make Arlington as welcoming and inclusive as possible, with a focus on affordable housing and racial justice
- Be a responsive, accessible, and open-minded representative
- Serve as a resource for educating precinct members on Town government events and policies, and help others get involved
Thank you!
Thank you for electing me as a new town meeting member for Precinct 4! I am thrilled to represent you in Arlington.
Upcoming Events
- Monday, April 19, 7pm: Precinct Meeting for Precincts 2, 4, 6 — Join neighbors in East Arlington for a Precinct Meeting to discuss the upcoming Town Meeting warrant articles.
- Monday, April 26, 8pm: Town Meeting!
- Town Meeting will be virtual this year (Zoom link not yet available)
- Annual Town Meeting convenes every Monday and Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., until all articles are heard.
About me
Hello! My name is Judith Garber (she/her) and I am very excited to run for represent Precinct 4 at Town Meeting in Arlington. I have been a resident of East Arlington for three years with my partner Eric, and I have been living in the Boston area for ten years.
During the day, I work in public policy and communications at a healthcare nonprofit. In non-pandemic times, I also play competitive ultimate frisbee in the Boston area. You can often find me throwing a frisbee at Magnolia Park, running on the bike path, or at the evening Black Lives Matter vigils on Mass Ave.
Why I’m running
I’ve always been interested in politics and social justice. I am a member of the Equity Committee for the local ultimate frisbee organization in Boston. I’ve volunteered in several campaigns, including Will Mbah’s successful campaign for Somerville City Council in 2017 and the Yes on Three campaign in 2018 to protect transgender MA residents from discrimination. For the past four years, I have been a volunteer tax preparer for VITA in Cambridge, which has taught me a lot about federal and state tax policy.
However, I didn’t have much knowledge about Arlington’s local issues until last year. After the murder of George Floyd, I felt compelled to join in the evening vigils for Black Lives Matter. Since then, I have been committed to working with my neighbors on local issues such as diversity and inclusion, government transparency, affordable housing, police accountability, and more.
Now I’m ready to get more involved in local government, and I would be honored to represent you. In the pandemic, I got a chance to explore Arlington, taking long walks around Spy Pond and Mystic River. It’s made me realize that I want to help make this beautiful town more accessible for people of all income levels and walks of life. These political issues are personal as well; Eric and I want to stay in Arlington, but may not be able to afford to, given the rising rents and cost of living in this area.
What I care about
Affordable housing — We have a housing crisis in the Boston area, and Covid-19 has only made the situation more dire. My partner and I are renters in Arlington and we know how rising rent is a serious financial issue for families. I am committed to helping create more affordable housing for low-income households, with a focus on households making 60% or less of the area median income.
Racial justice — Arlington prides itself on being a progressive town, but we still have a long way to go towards making this town as inclusive and welcoming as possible. Last year I spoke out in favor of a civilian review board for Arlington’s Police Department and for the Black Lives Matter banner to be returned to the Town Hall. Recent incidents of racial profiling and abuse of power by the Arlington Police Department confirm that we need more accountability from the APD. I am also passionate about creating policies to reduce racism and bias in the housing market, which we know is a serious problem in the Boston area, including Arlington.
Transparency and solidarity — I love the feeling of community that comes from taking action with my neighbors, and I support ways to get more interested precinct members involved in town government. As a Town Meeting member, my goal will be to make local issues and town government as accessible as possible. I will support efforts to make town meetings accessible virtually, even after the pandemic, so more people can participate. I am committed to open communication and discussion with all precinct members, to best represent the interests of all of us in the precinct.
Contact Me
What issues in the town or precinct are most important to you? Have questions about town government or the voting process? Just want to chat? Email me at JgarberTMM4@gmail.com.
You can also contact me via snail mail or knock on my door at 130 Massachusetts Ave, Apt 4.
Judith Garber for Precinct 4 Town Meeting Rep! 