Marisol Santiago announced her candidacy for re-election to City Council. The following is her statement:
Dear Neighbors,
It has been an honor to serve you as your District 3 School Committee Representative. Throughout the pandemic, we have witnessed uncertainty, grief and significant loss in our community. As a mom of a child in our public schools, I understand firsthand the sacrifices we have had to make. From navigating remote learning experiencing job loss, housing and financial insecurities, and wanting to protect our loved ones, we have had to make tough decisions.
Our youth, parents and seniors deserve leadership on the City Council that can not only address the immediate needs of our district but also bring forth thoughtful planning for the future. A future that protects how we have grown together through this pandemic. We have made some progress but there is much more to do.
We have had to make difficult decisions as a city and I am proud to have been part of local leadership that immediately went to work for you. Switching to remote learning was not an easy decision but necessary to protect our families. Without much state guidance, my advocacy on the city’s pandemic task force and commitment to ensuring access to key resources remain a focus of my work at every level.That is why I brought my expertise as a statewide leader in the effort to better fund our schools more fairly across Massachusetts. Because of our hard work together, we were able to pass the Student Opportunity Act that builds a stronger district and funds a strong Chelsea.
As promised, I focused on increasing community engagement with our schools, co-hosting a community budget process to foster transparency and worked with our Superintendent to deliver a five-year strategic plan. The District hired over 90 new positions and assured that community stakeholder voices were present at every step. These measures are indicative of my commitment to improve our City of Chelsea and work for you. Together we welcomed a new Equity and Diversity Officer, were able to launch a Parent to Paraprofessional Program and a Paraprofessional to Teacher Pipeline – to ensure our teachers are more representative of our community and create paths that lift inclusion.
As we continue to build forward, Chelsea won’t be able to do it alone.
This is why I am running to continue to represent you on the Chelsea City Council. We deserve a bold, independent voice that carries our stories where it matters! We must stay on course and finish what we started. Our vibrant community deserves a voice they can trust and a demonstrated ability to lead with our neighbors side by side. As a voice during unprecedented times as your School Committee Representative, I am committed to continuing this work for our district on the Chelsea City Council.
Let’s continue to build a future that lifts every neighbor.
I humbly ask for your vote on Tuesday November 2nd.
Thank You.