Yes for Malden

04/01/2026

Malden Override to Save City Services Fails 49-51
First Gateway City to Attempt Proposition 2½ Override Since 2008

Tonight is a loss for our City. The services we love and that keep our community strong - from our plow drivers to our first responders to our children's librarians - are now at risk of not showing up when we need them most. Our public servants will again be asked to do more with less. This time, with less staff. Too many people will lose good, dignified jobs because of tonight’s results. The voters have chosen the path we take, and we must all live with those consequences.

We will continue to lean on the community that powered this campaign. Our 70 volunteers include first-time canvassers, seniors putting pen to postcard, and residents old and new talking with their neighbors about why they love Malden. We were joined by our siblings in the labor movement with generous support above and beyond what they are normally called to do. That community will sustain us in the days ahead, when we have tough conversations about the future of our City. We know that we cannot do this alone, and we know that our challenges ahead are large.

We are the first Gateway City to attempt a Proposition 2 ½ override since 2008. Malden has a long and proud history of charting our own path forward, and making history when we need it most. We are not done saying Yes for Malden.

“Disappointed is certainly the word that comes to mind with tonight’s outcome, but the voters have spoken and we will move forward,” said Mayor Gary Christenson. “I want to thank every resident who took the time to participate in this process. Whether you supported or opposed the override, your engagement reflects a shared commitment to Malden’s future. While this is not the result we hoped for, we respect the decision of the community. Our finance team will now begin the difficult task of identifying necessary reductions to balance the budget. These decisions will require careful, thoughtful prioritization of the services our residents rely on. Our community has faced challenges before and we will find a way to move forward together.”

“While tonight’s outcome isn’t the one we hoped and worked so hard for, we are still committed to doing the difficult work of setting up our community for a stable financial future. Malden’s strength is in coming together as a city to overcome difficult moments, and this will be no different,” said City Council President Amanda Linehan. “We hope our residents will continue to stay engaged in the budget process moving forward as we confront the tough decisions we are going to have to make.”

“We had clearly hoped for a different result,” said City Councillor-At-Large Carey McDonald. “We made our best pitch, but the cuts we’ll have to make will be painful. That’s why it was so important that the voters themselves made this call. The deck is stacked against cities like ours who need more help from Beacon Hill to be able to sustain the basic services our residents rely on.”

Yes for Malden is a grassroots group of Malden residents working to protect critical community services in Malden. Learn more at

Malden is facing a financial crisis - only the voters can stop dozens of layoffs across police, fire, DPW, library, and other City departments. Join us as we come together to protect the things that matter in our community.

03/31/2026

🏁 Today’s the big day! Voting is open until 8pm, get out and vote! Thank you for coming on this journey with us!

One last time, all together, vote YES on Questions 1a & 1b!

03/29/2026

😴 Rest up, it's voting time in only 2 days! Our wonderful volunteers have been doing final follow ups for GOTMV this weekend. Remember, make a plan to vote this Tuesday!

👀 You may have also seen a few mailers arriving at your home. We are very grateful to our graphics volunteers and the Massachusetts Teachers Association for helping us reach more people via mail!

⏰️ We only have 2 more days, Vote Yes! on Questions 1a & 1b!

03/28/2026

👀 A few days ago we introduced GOTV. Now get ready for GOTMFV! What does it mean? Wellllll...for us, let's just say it stands for "Get Out The Malden Funding Vote".

🚩 Even today, we spoke with voters that forgot Election Day is Tuesday and did not have a plan to vote. An override vote in a nearby community lost by less than 300 votes last week. Elections in Malden are often decided by about 20 votes!

⏱️ There's still time! Sign up for a canvass time slot: https://www.mobilize.us/yesformalden

🧠 And don't forget to vote Yes! for Questions 1a & 1b on Tuesday!

03/27/2026

👀 Check us out, we're in the news! If you saw some familiar faces and logos in the Advocate, we're making a final push this weekend to get the word out about the election and what Yes! means to us all!

😌 Have a relaxing weekend, because next tuesday is voting time! Do you have a plan to vote yet? What about your friends and family? Check up on them, have lunch together, see what their plan to vote is!

We'll see you all next tuesday. And remember, vote Yes! on Questions 1a and 1b!

03/15/2026

Early Voting starts tomorrow!

Here's a quick refresh on what each question does, and what happens when both 1A and 1B get at least 50% of the vote.

Don't forget to study up, know the real cost to you, and vote Yes starting tomorrow.

03/12/2026

We have seen at the national level how widespread public sector layoffs and service cuts sow chaos and harm communities like Malden. Our residents can’t afford to see this happen here.

The City of Malden is the largest employer in our community, so cutting City jobs means cutting workers out of our local economy and cutting incomes for many Malden families. This could feed a negative cycle: fewer workers and tighter family budgets mean less economic activity in Malden, which could lead to more budget cuts.

Stop the spiral, and vote Yes on March 31.

03/07/2026

Yes for Malden LOVES our union support!

Did you know Yes for Malden is the only campaign in this election with not one, not two, but SIX unions endorsing it? Malden Police Patrolmen's Association, Malden Public Library Local 394, Malden Fire Local 902, the Malden Education Association, Greater Boston Labor Council, and Greater Boston Building Trades Unions.

Now, that's some serious solidarity.

Stand with our workers and vote yes on March 31!

03/06/2026

Don't let the rainclouds get you down, it's nearly spring! Join us this weekend as the weather turns sunny to talk to your neighbors. Without a majority of voters saying YES on 3/31, there will be many more rainy days ahead.

Sign up for your next volunteer shift here: https://www.mobilize.us/yesformalden/

03/04/2026

A "NO" vote is NOT neutral. Without an override, Malden will lose over 50 positions. That means hardworking Malden residents who work for police, fire, the library, and public works will be out of a job. Slower city services. Fewer police and firefighters. Reduced library hours. Slower snow plowing.

This isn't abstract. These are our neighbors. Our services. Our city. Vote YES on March 31st.

02/17/2026

Yes for Malden: Social Media Code of Conduct

This page is dedicated to sharing information about the upcoming tax override vote and Yes for Malden’s position. We welcome thoughtful conversation and differing viewpoints, and we expect all participants to engage respectfully.

To maintain a constructive space, the following rules apply:
1. Be Respectful
Disagreement is expected. Disrespect is not. Address ideas, not individuals.

2. No Namecalling
Namecalling, insults, mocking, or demeaning language toward any person or group will not be tolerated.

3. No Personal Attacks
Attacks on character, motives, or personal identity are not allowed.

4. Stay On Topic
Comments should relate directly to the tax override vote and the issues connected to it.

5. No Harassment or Threats
Harassment, intimidation, or threats will result in immediate action.
If you violate these guidelines:
You will receive one warning.
If the behavior continues after a warning, you will be blocked from the page.

We reserve the right to remove comments that violate these rules in order to keep this space focused, respectful, and informative.
Thank you for keeping this conversation productive.

02/16/2026

FAQ: "What do the two different amounts on the override question mean?"

Question 1a: Provides the city with $5.4 million. Prevents worst-case scenario but still requires 10-20 layoffs and $2+ million in cuts.

Question 1b: Provides the city with $8.2 million. Covers nearly all the budget gap and preserves core city services. Covers the state-mandated school funding increase.

The highest dollar amount that gets over 50% YES votes wins. VOTE YES ON BOTH QUESTIONS to maximize our chances of passing at least one level of funding.