Councilor’s Message
Hi Neighbors,
I hope this email finds you well.
On Saturday, October 3, the Woodward School for Girls held its annual Women of Distinction Gala in the school’s historic 18th-century schoolhouse. This year’s theme was a Venetian Masquerade. As a former Woodward parent, former Woodward Parents’ Association president, and former Head of School, it was a pleasure to be asked to be part of the evening. I admire all three of this year’s honorees.
Emily Lebo, M.S., RN, is a longtime friend and neighbor (Ward 3 resident), and I have admired her work and community contributions for many years. When I was head of school, she served with me at Woodward as academic dean and school nurse. She is a healthcare leader and vocational-education director, a former vice chair of the Quincy School Committee, where she served for 14 years, and a recipient of the 2024 Massachusetts Association of School Committees Lifetime Achievement Award. Over her career, she directed career, vocational, and technical education programs for Quincy and Boston Public Schools and consulted statewide. Few people in this city have spent more of their working life on behalf of students.
I was honored to introduce Cynthia Sierra and to welcome her to the Woodward community. She has been chief executive officer of Manet Community Health Center since January 2016, after serving as acting CEO, and has been part of Manet’s senior leadership since 2008. Under her leadership, Manet has opened four new primary-care sites and a community outreach office and added vision, pharmacy, and radiology services, with double-digit growth in patients and visits.
This year’s trailblazer is Dr. Lynn Perry Wooten, ninth president of Simmons University and the first African American to lead the institution. She took office on July 1, 2020, and has led Simmons Strategy 2027, a plan centered on the university’s assets, its financial model, and its campus culture, along with the Simmons Edge, an accelerated pathway that links undergraduate study to career preparation and graduate education. It was a pleasure to meet her, and I welcome her to the Woodward community.
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 September 29th, the council held a joint Finance / Oversight Committee meeting. Because of a scheduling conflict, I arrived late to this meeting. Once a year, my company holds a mandatory in-person senior staff meeting with senior staff members from across the country.
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
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.
School Committee Member Kathryn Hubley - Hats and Mittens Drive!
For the past 18 years, my wife Kathryn Hubley has organized the New Hats & Mittens collection for Quincy Public Schools kids in need. Every year, about 200 students - kids in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or from homes where keeping the heat on comes before buying winter gear - need something warm. School nurses discreetly distribute the items and tell us every year how much they’re appreciated.
New hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, or socks are welcome - store-bought or handmade, all sizes from preschool through high school. Please help us keep our kids warm this winter.
QFD Bocce Tournament
This is the new date for this event. See you there!
Marina Bay Fall Festival
Fun family event on the boardwalk on October 11th!
Block-tober Fest on Forbes Hill
Friend and neighbor Jeremy Newman organized a great event to get together with neighbors. Hope to see you there!
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.
Montclair/Wollaston Neighborhood Association 35th Anniversary Commendation
Join the City Council on October 19th at our regular council meeting, where we will recognize the Montclair/Wollaston Neighborhood Association’s 35 years of service to the community.
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
Drinking Water Notice
DPW Calendar
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.