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Malden council candidates make safety, housing and budget top priorities at city forum
Summary
At a city-sponsored candidate forum, ward and at-large city council candidates emphasized street safety and transit access, housing affordability and the city’s looming budget gap as the leading issues for the November election.
A candidates’ forum hosted in Malden drew current councilors and challengers for two rounds of questions on public safety, housing, climate and city finances. Candidates from multiple wards and several at-large contenders said improving traffic safety, preserving affordability and clarifying the city’s budget picture are central priorities for the next council.
Candidates repeatedly pointed to speeding and unsafe crossings, and described specific local projects they are pursuing or supporting. Ward councilors discussed traffic-calming measures already in place and proposed expansions — speed humps, redesigned crosswalks and new bus shelters — while other candidates said enforcement and neighborhood-level outreach (door-knocking, walking audits and volunteer walking/bike buses) were necessary complements to engineering solutions.
The forum also featured extended discussion about Malden’s fiscal outlook. Speakers described a multi‑million dollar budget gap and said residents may be asked to weigh in on options including a Proposition 2½ override, changes to the city’s tax base and a long-term master plan for commercial development. Several candidates said the city must protect core services — police, fire and schools — while pursuing revenue and cost-savings measures.
Housing and economic development were frequent topics. Incumbents and challengers described work to expand affordable units, approve accessory dwelling units and explore redevelopment of city-owned parcels, including reuse plans for sites discussed for mixed uses. Multiple candidates said boosting small businesses — especially AAPI and immigrant-owned businesses — and improving language access for city services are priorities to keep Malden economically vibrant and inclusive.
Climate and environmental issues also appeared across answers. Candidates cited the city’s recently adopted climate action planning work, tree‑planting and efforts to clean and program the Malden River as items they support or want to accelerate. Several candidates described programs to help homeowners access incentives for electrification and energy efficiency and to expand the city’s urban canopy.
The forum was moderated by Leverett Wing of the Commonwealth Seminar and organized with neighborhood and civic groups that provided simultaneous translation into Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese. Candidates from both the ward and at‑large slates urged voters to review proposed budgets and civic plans and to participate in the November election.
