Endorsement of Christina Delisio for State Representative, 5th Essex District

To the Editor,

As a Gloucester resident and independent voter, I am proud to endorse Christina Delisio for State Representative of the 5th Essex District, and I urge you to vote for her in the March 31 general election.

Our communities understand and appreciate the need for more housing.  But housing creation should never come at the expense of safety, infrastructure limits, or the quality of life of people who already live here.  Too often, residents are steamrolled when large developments are pushed through despite legitimate concerns about traffic, safety, inadequate infrastructure, environmental impact, and neighborhood character.  I have experienced this personally.  Gloucester's ZBA, Planning Board, and other City officials have turned their backs on homeowners whose properties and neighborhoods were being put at risk by a developer who simply didn't care about anything but building as big as possible.

And we are not alone.  Across Massachusetts, residents are being dismissed, overruled, and left unprotected while developers get what they want.

That cannot keep happening.  We urgently need leaders who truly represent us ALL, not special interests.

Christina Delisio has already proven she is that leader.  Over ten years on the Manchester-by-the-Sea Planning Board, including as Vice Chair, she stood for responsible development and respect for local voices and local choices.  A Civics teacher in the Lynn Public Schools, an environmental consultant, and an attorney who earned her J.D. while raising three children, Christina brings real-world judgment to every challenge.

On the controversial MBTA Communities Act, Christina has done the work most Massachusetts officials won't.  She built a 4,000-member information and advocacy group, delivered presentations in nearly two dozen Massachusetts communities to educate residents about the MBTA Communities Act, and helped secure the State Auditor’s determination that the law constitutes an unfunded mandate.  That is the kind of tenacious, informed, fearless, capable, and community-first leadership we need at the State House.

Christina believes in transparency, fairness, local input, and thoughtful planning.  She will judge issues on their merits, not party lines.

We all support sensible housing creation, but not at the expense of safety, infrastructure limits, or the character and integrity of the neighborhoods we call home.  Christina Delisio will make sure local voices are not just heard but actually acted upon.  Please join me in voting for her in the general election.

Saltanat Berdikeeva

Gloucester, Massachusetts