Councilor’s Message
Hi Neighbors,
I hope this email finds you well.
On Thursday, September 17th, I attended the Wollaston Garden Club’s first meeting of the fall to learn from speaker Leisha Johnson from Wayland Gardens by the Yard. Leisha specializes in creating beautiful, ecological landscapes inspired by nature - Mini Meadows for Small Spaces.
On Saturday, September 19th, I attended the annual Churchill Rd block party and enjoyed some great conversations and live music from the Bandidos.
Later that day, I joined the Wollaston Hill Neighborhood Association team for what turned out to be our last Saturdays in the Park concert series featuring Quincy’s own The Fall. Such a great way to connect with neighbors! Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate for the final event on the following Saturday.
On Wednesday, September 23rd, I attended the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Parkways Flood Resilience Adaptation Strategies meeting concerning Quincy Shore Drive. In this meeting, DCR sought input from attendees about strategies for coastal resiliency, presenting different roadway and pedestrian walkway configurations. You can learn more about this topic here, and you may find the Quincy Shore Drive assessment here. DCR would also like your input through their survey, which you can find here.
On Friday, September 25, I attended the Quincy Chamber of Commerce Leadership Breakfast to hear Mayor Tom Koch discuss important business developments in the city. The Chamber congratulated Helen Shiner on a very successful term as board chair and welcomed Caryn Smith as the new chair — two great friends and community leaders!
Over the weekend during the storm, I visited several sites across the ward that experience routine flooding, and I responded to several downed trees and power outages. While checking in on Ballou St, I stopped to help a neighbor clean up a large mess of beer cans (several cases) and related packaging from a storm drain. She indicated it was from a group of kids the night before, which is disappointing. That neighborhood has a long history of flooding, and much has been done to improve it over the years, but even a small amount of debris in a storm drain can cause problems.
As the storm began to dissipate on Sunday, I attended “Celebrating Courage: Honoring the Historic Link Between Quincy and Sierra Leone” at United First Parish Church, the Church of the Presidents, on Hancock Street. Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio joined Rev. Rebecca Froom and Adams National Historical Park Superintendent Marianne Peak to mark the 1841 Amistad case, in which Quincy-born John Quincy Adams helped win freedom for 53 Mende captives from what is now Sierra Leone. The program connected that legal fight against slavery with Quincy’s living relationship to the country.
Thank you for signing up for this eNewsletter. Please feel free to share it with friends and neighbors who may find this information helpful.
Sincerely,
Walter Hubley
City Councilor, Ward 3
Council Update
On Tuesday, September 22nd, I chaired the first Municipal Technology Committee meeting. In this meeting, we discussed the work product of a resolution I put forward in the first half of 2026 that sought to understand the top reasons residents contact the city in person and how we might make those interactions available online to further improve constituent services. In this process, we discovered that the city’s IT team, working with city department heads, makes available the most common constituent service requests online. Most that are not available online are intentional, such as services that require proof of ID or notary services. Other notable in-person-only services are some senior and veterans services.
I am in the process of scheduling the next Municipal Technology committee meeting and drafting complementary resolutions exploring online improvements. In this next meeting, I plan to review the work product from a resolution I submitted seeking an update on the city’s municipal broadband initiative. Having spent 25 years of my career working in the broadband industry, I have many questions about both the status and approach of this initiative. It is important for the residents of Quincy to get an update and a thoughtful discussion about the plans going forward.
Tuesday, September 29 — Finance / Oversight Committee, 6:00 p.m.
This is the only upcoming committee agenda posted. It is a joint Finance and Oversight session. The amended agenda lists the following Council Orders:
2026-106 — Oversight of the Public Works Enhancement Fund (Ch. 92 of the Acts of 2004), including Quarry Hills lease deposits, spending, pavement-plan compliance, and a hold on further spending until the review is complete
2026-081 — Request for a formal third-party audit of Quarry Hills Associates lease deductions, expenses, and payments
2026-042 — American Rescue Plan spending transparency
2026-056 — Council on Aging department-head theft and related federal charges
On October 5th, at 6:45, the council will hold an ordinance meeting to discuss Council Order 2026-123 - elected officials' salaries. I really look forward to engaging in this discussion to help drive this topic to resolution.
On October 6th, at 6 PM, there will be a public hearing on the use of Flock cameras (ALPR) in Quincy. followed by an ordinance committee meeting to discuss Council Order #2026- 104 about the same topic. I am still interested in hearing from constituents about ALPR cameras and their use in our city. Please read the section below if you are interested in this topic. I would love to hear your perspective.
I always want to hear how you feel about all topics before the council so I can best represent you and our neighbors. You may reply to this email or email me at whubley@quincyma.gov to provide any input or feedback you have.
Flock (ALPR) Cameras
I have received a large number of emails, phone calls, messages, and in-person feedback regarding Flock ALPR cameras. I know this issue matters to many residents, and I take that seriously.
Flock cameras and automated license plate readers (ALPR) have become a national debate for good reason. Communities across the country are asking hard questions about privacy, data retention, who can search the records, how information is shared outside the city, and whether the public-safety value justifies the tradeoffs. Those questions apply to Quincy too. Residents should not have to wonder how a tool on public roadways is being used, or whether the rules around it are strong enough.
I share many of the concerns I have heard. I also believe any decision on this topic should be made with public input. That is why I supported the resolution calling for a hearing and public forum on the city’s use of these cameras. That process will give residents a chance to speak, allow the Council to ask detailed questions, and require a clear accounting of how the system is used, audited, and limited.
I am going into that process with an open mind. I want to hear from residents, from the Police Department, and from people who have studied both the investigative value and the civil-liberties risks. Your perspective should be part of that record, and I am grateful for those who have shared their thoughts thus far.
In my day job, I design technology solutions and security systems for affordable housing across the US, including video surveillance systems (VSS). That work, of course, informs how I think about this issue. A family cannot build stability, send kids to school with confidence, or feel connected to a neighborhood if they do not first have a safe place to live. Security technology can be a critical part of that. At the same time, I recognize the difference between cameras on private property and ALPR cameras on public roadways that capture vehicle information as people move through the city. Those are not the same thing. Public systems require a higher standard of justification, oversight, and public trust.
The areas I will inquire into during this process include:
The investigative value of the cameras in Quincy, including documented outcomes and what alternatives exist
Who may access the data, under what circumstances, and how those searches are audited
How long information is retained and when it is deleted
Whether data is shared with agencies outside Quincy, and under what restrictions
The safeguards against misuse and the accountability measures that apply if those safeguards fail
Concerns about the current vendor with respect to security, their contract terms, and past performance
The feedback I have received from residents has varied. Some residents appreciate the effectiveness of the tool, while others are concerned about privacy. Both are understandable perspectives, and both will inform how I approach the hearing.
If you have not yet shared your thoughts or have additional thoughts to share before the hearing, I want to hear from you.
Proposed Development Projects
100-150 Newport Ave Extension
Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) is creating a new transit-oriented residential community at 100 & 150 Newport Avenue Extension. The existing office buildings and associated surface parking lots will be replaced with 520 units throughout four multifamily buildings with landscaping, open space, and approximately 550 total parking spaces.
Inside the residential buildings, units will range from studios to three-bedroom units with Class A finishes. Future residents will have access to desirable common area amenities, including a clubhouse, resort-style pool, fitness center, co-working spaces, dog park, and on-site parking.
I hosted a community meeting on Tuesday, June 16th, at 6 PM at the location of the development at 150 Newport Ave Extension. Representatives from TCR were on-site to answer questions and take feedback. This meeting invitation was sent to over 4,000 nearby Ward 3 residents, shared to over 400 people over email, shared on social media, and reported on in the Patriot Ledger and QATV. The meeting was well attended, and some valuable feedback was provided by residents.
There was a planning board meeting on Wednesday, July 29th at 6 PM. I was greatly disappointed that the project document set that was submitted with the planning board application was almost identical to the design that was presented at the community meeting I hosted in June. At my request, the matter was continued to October 14th to afford more time for the applicant to consider community input. You can read the letter I submitted to the planning board here. You can watch the meeting segment in its entirety here.
LATEST UPDATE: On August 19th, State Representative Bruce Ayers and I have contacted TCR to inquire about the traffic study performed by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., with MassDOT staff involvement and awareness. It is important that MassDOT has a strong awareness of this project as it interacts with state roadways, specifically the Neponset Bridge. I appreciate Representative Ayers partnership on this important aspect of this project.
The planning board is the permit-granting authority. If you are unable to attend, you can still provide feedback at whubley@quincyma.gov. The full document set for this proposed project can be found here.
Community Calendar
Pickleball Tournament
On October 3rd and 4th: Quincy Recreation Pickleball Tournament. Make sure to register by Tuesday, September 9th by noon.
Food Truck Festival
Saturday, October 3rd, noon - 6 PM!
Quincy Youth Fall Sports
Spaces are limited - sign up soon!
Cradles to Crayons & CultureKind Clothing Drive
From October 5th - 23rd, CultureKind, led by Ward 3 friend and neighbor Mihaela Rusu, is partnering with Cradles to Crayons on a clothing drive. Please see the details below.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
On Tuesday, October 6th, at 6:30 PM at Central Middle School, join local leaders and professionals for an informative and compassionate conversation focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Free Women’s Self-Defence Class
Tuesday, October 6, and Wednesday, October 7, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the Norfolk County HOPE Center & QPD are offering a free two-day women’s self-defense class at the new Quincy Safety Complex.
Free Dental Care
On Thursday, October 15th, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Hope Center will be providing free dental care for those who qualify. See details below.
City of Quincy and Dana-Farber - Free Momogram
Thursday, October 29th, 7 AM - 3:30 PM - pre-registration required.
Pumpkin Spice Festival
On Saturday, October 17th, from noon - 4 PM, the Wollaston/Montclair Neighborhood Association will host their Pumpkin Spice Festival. This year, the association celebrates its 35th anniversary of serving our community.
Lions Club Free Vision Screening
On Sunday, November 1st, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the Lions Club is offering free vision screening at the Kennedy Center at 440 E Squantum St, Quincy, MA.
Free Kidney-Focused Health Screening
Saturday, November 7th, 1 PM - 4 PM, the City of Quincy is partnering to provide free kidney-focused health screenings.
City of Quincy and Other Services
Pay Your Bills Online @ Pay.Quincyma.gov
The City of Quincy will launch the new online payment portal on July 1, 2026. Visit Pay.QuincyMa.gov to register and learn more.
QCAP Heating Cost Assistance
The cost of heating is a major cost for familes in the Northeast. QCAP can help - click here to learn more.
Foster Parenting and Adopting Information
You can have an impact. Visit mass.gov/dcf or reach out to me directly.
Helpful Information
Street light outages - call TPAL at 617-376-1478
Snow Removal Hotline (617) 376-1927 or snowhotline@quincyma.gov
2026 snow emergency parking: when winter begins in an odd or even year, parking is on the odd or even numbered side of non-emergency neighborhood streets.
Pot Hole Hotline: (617)-376-1914 or potholehotline@quincyma.gov
Flooding Issues/Water-Sewer: (617)-376-1910
Downed Trees-Parks Dept.: (617)-376-1251
Power Outage-National Grid: (800)-465-1212
Gas Leak-National Grid: (800)-892-2345
Quincy Emergency Operations Center: (617)-376-1470
Constituent Services: (617)-376-1500
Stop & Shop Carrage Retrieval Line for abandoned carrages: (617) 770-8753
Quincy Public Schools will notify families and staff of school closures through the School Messenger system. Text "Yes" to 67587 to opt into receiving text messages.