Thank You

Ward 7!

 

Serving as your Ward 7 City Councilor has been the honor of a lifetime.

Dear friends, neighbors, and supporters,

After deep reflection and heartfelt conversations with my family, I have decided to resign from the City Council effective June 30, and not seek reelection this fall. I will stay on through budget season, ensuring our ward has a voice and vote on next year’s budget.

Serving as your Ward 7 City Councilor has been the honor of a lifetime. Truly! Together, we have achieved so much — from securing funding for the Clarendon Hill redevelopment, to expanding language access across city government, to redesigning Holland Street for safer travel. We secured $100,000 in community benefits for safer streets through a rezoning process, reaffirmed Somerville’s commitment as a sanctuary city, and advanced critical efforts to make our community safer, more affordable, and more inclusive.

These accomplishments are not mine alone—they belong to all of us who believe in a better Somerville.

This decision wasn’t easy. Since becoming a mother, I have felt the pull between my devotion to public service and this amazing city, and my desire to be present for my young family. After reflecting, I know that stepping back now is the right choice. Although I am stepping away from elected office for now, I remain deeply committed to Somerville’s future. I’ll continue to stay engaged as a neighbor, advocate, and active member of our vibrant community.

Thank you for your trust, your encouragement, and your partnership. It has been the privilege of my life to serve you. I look forward to continuing to serve for the next couple of months and will continue to keep you posted on city and ward-specific news.

With deep appreciation,

Judy Pineda Neufeld

I am also very excited to be endorsing Emily Hardt – a parent, teacher, former union organizer, and nonprofit leader who will bring a deep love for our city and the practical skills to make government work better for all of us as our next Ward 7 City Councilor.

Please join me in supporting her campaign! We know campaigns take resources and I hope you'll join me in sending her a donation today! Learn more about Emily here.

Meet Judy Pineda Neufeld

 

Advocate for Immigrant Neighbors

As a Latina and Jewish woman and the proud daughter of immigrants, I bring to the Council a keen understanding of equity and cultural competency that helps me value diverse perspectives and find commonalities where others cannot. Prior to my election, I helped lead the city through the Covid-19 crisis as the head of the Immigrant Services Unit, and I have continued to advocate for much-needed resources for our immigrant neighbors as City Councilor.

Small Business Owner

After recruiting, training, and supporting thousands of women to run for office while I was with the nonprofit Emerge, I went on to build my own leadership development company, running women’s leadership workshops, trainings, and retreats. As City Councilor I am a strong partner for the local businesses who form the fabric of our community and help our city thrive.

Community Organizer

I am also a strategic planner who has consulted and trained mission-driven organizations on how to lead through a lens of inclusion, equity, and justice. I have developed comprehensive business plans for city departments and large national non-profit organizations to deepen their impact, and have brought that community-based planning with me to the Council, leading on comprehensive language justice planning, pandemic recovery funding allocation, street redesign, and more.

As City Councilor, I have worked for:

  • An Equitable Covid-19 Recovery Plan

  • Affordable and Accessible Housing

  • An Accessible and Livable City

  • Healthier, Connected Communities

  • Greater Access to Municipal Decision Making and Services

  • Addressing Environmental Injustice and Building a Sustainable Future

  • Reimagining Public Safety