Katjana Ballantyne Mayor

Katjana Ballantyne

Mayor

Somerville, Massachusetts

I have worked to limit climate change by my words as a politician and by my actions. I don’t own a car by choice for the last 13 years, even as a family of 4 we don’t own a car. I bought a house and changed our windows to energy efficient windows, and I super insulated interior walls, exteriors walls, all ceilings, attic and roof…. Trying to have the least amount of carbon footprint.

I proposed a new sustainability section for the Somerville Zoning Code, required a Green Score, and required LEED Platinum certifiable for new buildings over 50,000 sq. ft., supported Mother’s Out Front and a municipal ordinance that eliminates gas leaks, proposed a Dark Sky ordinance addressing location, color temperature standards, prescriptive standards, proposed a Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance, proposed an ordinance to establish a local green space as a minimum, propose an ordinance for native trees & plantings and proposed a total plastic bag ban.

We have accomplished much, but there is so much more to do, and it is imperative that we take action now!