Government efficiency and transparency, displacement, accessibility, community spaces, green policy, a potential ballot measure on Palestine and rodent control were among the topics as incumbent mayor Katjana Ballantyne and her challengers – councilors at-large Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr. – took the stage Monday in the election season’s first mayoral forum.
The forum was hosted by the Union Square Neighborhood Council in person and online. The candidates and in-person attendees convened at 8 Tyler St., part of the Somernova campus, a site near the square approved recently to add more than 1.5 million square feet of mixed-use space.
Council board member Isabella Drago, who acted as moderator, asked a dozen questions edited by the council from community submissions. Candidates were given 90 seconds to respond to the questions between opening and closing statements. A recording of the forum is on the council’s website.
Record vs. new leadership
Ballantyne pointed continually to her record as mayor, framing her candidacy as necessary in the face of federal attempts under president Donald Trump to increase immigration arrests and limit funding to immigrant sanctuary cities such as Somerville.
“My leadership record in these uncertain times demonstrates that I am the clear choice to continue making progress and to defend the values and the federal benefits from Trump’s attacks,” she said.
Ballantyne highlighted her role implementing an Anti-Displacement Task Force and a Green New Deal. She noted growth in affordable housing; implementation of rat control measures, including a hormone that shrinks rodent birth rates; and the use of new software among zoning staff.
Burnley and Wilson positioned themselves as alternatives suited to the current moment. Both said that they want to be mayors available to the community – something they implied was lacking in the current administration.
“People want to feel good about their city again. It’s clear to me from all those conversations. The city is ready for new leadership decisions that need to be made, better communications, a mayor who listens. I’ll be that mayor,” Wilson said.
Concerns over developer donations
The challengers took issue with accepting political donations from developers with projects underway in the city, echoing concerns raised at a Ward 7 candidate forum last month.
Burnley criticized Ballantyne’s acceptance of campaign donations from affiliates of Rafi Properties, the company that owns the Somernova campus. Data from the Office for Campaign and Political Finance shows that Collin Yip, Rafi’s managing director, has contributed $2,000 to Ballantyne since 2021. He’s donated more than $37,000 to Massachusetts political candidates since 2013, two years after he founded the company.
“I think it’s really dangerous when we have a mayor who has taken money from this developer directly, thousands of dollars from their employees, and then is involved in the charge of the zoning process,” Burnley said.
Burnley committed not to accept funds from for-profit developers, while Wilson agreed not to accept funds from developers with active business before the city. OCPF data shows at least one development donation to Wilson, of $250 from Oxford Properties vice president Mark McGowan in March. They also commended the work of neighborhood councils, including the USNC.
Ballantyne did not address explicitly the concerns raised around developer dollars. In her response, she instead called on city councilors to engage with communities. “Outside the neighborhood councils, you know, it’s the councilors. I hosted so so many community meetings when I was the councilor, talking about development, making sure that the residents had a voice, that the abutters had a voice,” she said.
Divide over Palestine ballot measure
Candidates were asked to share their plans for implementing a ballot measure proposed by activist group Somerville for Palestine should the measure appear on the ballot and pass.
The measure calls on the city and mayor “to end all current city business and prohibit future city investments and contracts with companies as long as such companies engage in business that sustains Israel’s apartheid, genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine,” its proposed text reads.
Wilson and Ballantyne said they did not believe that divestment outlined in the ballot measure was legally feasible. Wilson said that it was “symbolic” and “nonbinding,” and would alienate some residents.
“And we’re facing real threats right now, with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] picking up our residents. I think instead of finding ways to find division, we should be focused on keeping our community safe,” Wilson said. After the forum, he told Cambridge Day that he believed that divestment would not be allowed under Section 4(b) of Massachusetts’ procurement laws, which state that procurement should be based on cost and quality.
Ballantyne highlighting a lawsuit lodged by Somerville and Chelsea against the federal government and seeking relief from federal deportation efforts.
Burnley, on the other hand, said he would implement the ballot measure if passed and expressed frustration with what he called “what about-ism” from the other candidates.
This post was updated July 24, 2025, to add information about mayoral challengers’ discussion of donations from for-profit developers.
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