I’ve campaigned hard for hybrid Town Meeting for the past two years because accessibility matters.

For decades, Belmont’s Town Meeting was dominated by middle-aged homeowners, while many parents, people with disabilities, and working residents were effectively shut out. Not so long ago, Town leaders raised alarms about hybrid Town Meetings—claiming they would weaken debate, be unfair to those in the room, or even threaten the institution itself—while paying little attention to who was being excluded.

That has changed. Access is now front and center, and we’ve proven that hybrid Town Meeting works.

Since my election in April, I’ve run a hybrid Annual Town Meeting, a fully remote Special Town Meeting, another hybrid Special Town Meeting, and we have yet another hybrid Town Meeting scheduled for March 4. Debate has been strong, and participation has been broad—both in person and via Zoom.

With today’s technology, there is no excuse for backsliding. Accessibility must remain a core value, or we risk silencing important voices in our community.

Belmont is not alone. Other Massachusetts towns are moving in this direction, and the momentum is clear. Our current authority to hold hybrid meetings expires in March 2027, and I’ve been actively advocating for permanent authorization at the state level.

Just as important, though, is local commitment. You have mine. I will continue pushing for hybrid Town Meetings so everyone has a real opportunity to participate and be heard.