OpenCommonwealth

06/01/2026

05/15/2026

OP-ED: Once again, our city politicians are wasting time and resources to solve a problem that does not exist.

by Bruce Friedman

Instead of focusing on how the City of Malden (Official) can generate revenue, attract businesses, increase the commercial tax base, Ari for Malden decides its a good time to expend precious resources on something which has zero impetus, zero relevance, and zero usefulness, a moratorium on “Data centers” in Malden.

First, Malden has recently suffered a court determination that Section 12.12.190 is unlawful in its entirety as codified by the city council in the Benevolent Botanicals case. This case should remind the council that restricting permits, zoning and other commercial interests has real consequences if not done properly and an outright ban could be very difficult to support legally.

Second, what is a “data center” meant by the language of the moratorium?

The federal government defines “data center” in 42 USC§17112(a)(1). The term "data center" means any facility that primarily contains electronic equipment used to process, store, and transmit digital information, which may be- (A) a free-standing structure; or (B) a facility within a larger structure, that uses environmental control equipment to maintain the proper conditions for the operation of electronic equipment. This definition means that a closet in a building that has a CRAC or even HVAC equipment to control the temperature of the closet that has computers, storage, and/or networking equipment in it is a “data center”. We already have these in Malden.

Massachusetts adds definition for the purposes of economic development of “Qualified Data Centers” under (M.G.L. c. 23A, § 70 and M.G.L. c. 64H, § 6(zz)) where Massachusetts as a state is providing economic incentives for “data centers” to be built in Massachusetts, unlike Malden, where they add the following qualifications; Physical Infrastructure: The facility must house information technology equipment (servers, routers) and possess uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), generator backup power, and sophisticated fire suppression systems. Enhanced Security: The legal definition mandates restricted access, permanent security guards, video surveillance, and electronic entry systems (biometrics, passcodes, or keycards).Scale Thresholds: It must comprise at least 100,000 square feet of space on a single or contiguous parcel. Economic Thresholds: The operator must invest at least $50 million in qualified costs within 10 years and maintain at least 100 jobs within the Commonwealth.

If this is what is meant in the moratorium, a minimum of 2.3 contiguous acres of land would be required, how many industrial parcels of land this size or larger exist in Malden?

If Microsoft or Google or Amazon.com decided for some reason that Malden is where they wanted to build a new “data center” as described and contemplated by the state of Massachusetts above, do we want this council, with its current legal staff to attempt a ban and fight such an action? I am guessing that the citizens and taxpayers of the city would be deeply divided about this opportunity, yet again, the city council speaks, takes action and decides what’s best for all of us, regardless of the cost and regardless of the risk.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of OpenCommonwealth.org

City Councillor Ryan O'Malley City Councillor Carey McDonald Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan City of Malden (Official) Peg Crowe for Ward 1 City Council KCH for Malden Mayor

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

OP-ED : Mayor Gary Christensen protects his cronies and tailors his "cuts" to exact revenge on the voters, will the city council hold him accountable? -- by Bruce Friedman

The City of Malden (Official)'s Fiscal Crisis is of its own making and will continue until we demand it stops.

The new proposed budget is out. The budget actually increased, yes; it increased from 2026’s budget. Mayor Gary Christensen’s proposed 2027 budget is $4,207,892.71 LARGER than 2026’s adopted budget.

This mayor and his administration could not be more tone deaf.

The people spoke, they asked us for a proposition 2.5 override and we voted NO.

This budget is also NOT balanced, it depends on $8,920,000.00 of transfers of funds from free cash, enterprise funds, special revenue and trust funds. It should be noted that the. Budget has not been balanced (revenue equals or exceeds expenses) since at least 2022, however prior to this, the non-revenue additions to the revenue were buried in a generic “other financing” category in the budget.

Now let’s look at what’s really proposed by the budget:

1. There has been no proposed cut to the mayor’s budget for his administration and NO reduction in his staff from 2026, they have actually increased their salary expenses. This is abhorrent.
2. Human Resources has not reduced staff from 2026, and had added 3.2% in salaries and 6.5% overall increase over 2026.
3. The City Clerk’s office has not reduced staff from 2026, and has increased salary expense.
4. Strategic Planning has not reduced staff from 2026.
5. The Legal Department has not reduced staff from 2026.
6. The Controller has not reduced staff from 2026, and has increased salary expense.
7. The Library, this is the worst offense in my opinion, they eliminated the custodian, then they kept all remaining 20 city-funded positions and increased their longevity bonuses.

Mayor Gary Christensen did cut; he cut police, fire, public works, public facilities, the senior center, veterans services, the youth employment program and many other things that hurt the citizens.

It is clear, Gary fulfilled his promises, he promised to bring the pain to the people of Malden if they failed to vote yes to his Proposition. 2.5.

The Mayor has saved and actually expanded his cronies departments, he has taken care of those who remained loyal to him and has punished the people of Malden with this budget.

You should contact your City Councilor, you should voice your concerns and you should instruct your city councillor to vote NO to this budget.

Gary should be forced to go back and correct #1-7 above, reduce costs from his office, HR, the City Clerk, Strategic Planning, Legal, the. Controller and the library with meaningful and substantial cuts.

You should ask your city councillors to only vote for a balanced budget, one where our revenues are the same or more than our expenses, no more stealing from the reserves.

All of the budgets can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7ytxd08mt30pyoipyh2ut/AJvcgLjdEFDKLue6mTeeH2E?e=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawRoJrtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkZ3lEZ0pvQTlndGNaTWhPc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpMINS_NrtQHB499FZnWABcOchl9CFaR6NS8iDQdtitYa8y1p-B8qKtqMX_B_aem_ufSK8B_NFwSBxUqXxG5pFw&rlkey=ble1aiouzpz485c9ktowlrpdq&st=pimfyqaq&dl=0.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of OpenCommonwealth.org

The OP-ED was originally posted on May 6th to OpenCommonwealth

05/06/2026

OP-ED : Mayor Gary Christensen protects his cronies and tailors his "cuts" to exact revenge on the voters, will the city council hold him accountable?

by Bruce Friedman

The City of Malden (Official)'s Fiscal Crisis is of its own making and will continue until we demand it stops.

The new proposed budget is out. The budget actually increased, yes; it increased from 2026’s budget. Mayor Gary Christensen’s proposed 2027 budget is $4,207,892.71 LARGER than 2026’s adopted budget.

This mayor and his administration could not be more tone deaf. The people spoke, they asked us for a proposition 2.5 override and we voted NO.

This budget is also NOT balanced, it depends on $8,920,000.00 of transfers of funds from free cash, enterprise funds, special revenue and trust funds. It should be noted that the. Budget has not been balanced (revenue equals or exceeds expenses) since at least 2022, however prior to this, the non-revenue additions to the revenue were buried in a generic “other financing” category in the budget.

Now let’s look at what’s really proposed by the budget:

1. There has been no proposed cut to the mayor’s budget for his administration and NO reduction in his staff from 2026, they have actually increased their salary expenses. This is abhorrent.

2. Human Resources has not reduced staff from 2026, and had added 3.2% in salaries and 6.5% overall increase over 2026.

3. The City Clerk’s office has not reduced staff from 2026, and has increased salary expense.

4. Strategic Planning has not reduced staff from 2026.

5. The Legal Department has not reduced staff from 2026.

6. The Controller has not reduced staff from 2026, and has increased salary expense.

7. The Library, this is the worst offense in my opinion, they eliminated the custodian, then they kept all remaining 20 city-funded positions and increased their longevity bonuses.

Mayor Gary Christensen did cut; he cut police, fire, public works, public facilities, the senior center, veterans services, the youth employment program and many other things that hurt the citizens.

It is clear, Gary fulfilled his promises, he promised to bring the pain to the people of Malden if they failed to vote yes to his Proposition. 2.5.

The Mayor has saved and actually expanded his cronies departments, he has taken care of those who remained loyal to him and has punished the people of Malden with this budget.

You should contact your City Councilor, you should voice your concerns and you should instruct your city councillor to vote NO to this budget. Gary should be forced to go back and correct #1-7 above, reduce costs from his office, HR, the City Clerk, Strategic Planning, Legal, the. Controller and the library with meaningful and substantial cuts.

You should ask your city councillors to only vote for a balanced budget, one where our revenues are the same or more than our expenses, no more stealing from the reserves.

All of the budgets can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7ytxd08mt30pyoipyh2ut/AJvcgLjdEFDKLue6mTeeH2E?rlkey=ble1aiouzpz485c9ktowlrpdq&st=pimfyqaq&dl=0

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of OpenCommonwealth.org

City Councillor Carey McDonald Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan Ari for Malden City Councillor Ryan O'Malley Ward 8 Councillor Jadeane Sica Malden KCH for Malden Mayor Peg Crowe for Ward 1 City Council Stephen Winslow Malden City Councillor https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586262153815 .christenson.39

04/23/2026

The City KNEW! The City of Malden (Official) absolutely knew before the proposition 2.5 vote. On or BEFORE March 18, 2026, Toni Mertz, the CFO/Assistant Superintendant/Finance Director identified the "error" that the reported $1.6 MILLION dollar shortfall in required Chapter 70 funding was not a real number. They knew, they failed to disclose and the lied to us, all of us.

City Councillor Carey McDonald Ward 3 Councillor Amanda Linehan , when did you know?