Ward 5 Councilor candidate Joey LaCava

Joey LaCava likes learning about Waltham’s history. He grew up in Waltham, and appreciates how the city makes space to teach its history. He said he’s proud of how the city has grown and made space for more diversity while maintaining its core values and character.

LaCava is the councilor for Ward 5, which stretches approximately two-thirds of the way through the city from the Watertown border to just past the intersection of Weston and Main streets. He said being Ward 5 Councilor means learning about issues all over the city and that his work touches on everything from West End traffic to industrial zoning in eastern Waltham.

LaCava lives with his wife and children on the east side of Ward 5, near the Willow Street fire station and across the street from his in-laws. He said that he has always been intrigued by local and state politics but started paying closer attention when he started to see restaurant regulations affect his family restaurant. 

LaCava co-runs Shopper’s Cafe on Moody Street with his brother and sister, a responsibility they inherited from their father. He also serves on the advisory board of the high school’s culinary arts program, although he admits he has been less active there lately.

He said he loves being a ward councilor and helping address his constituents’ infrastructure needs for their neighborhoods. For example, he said he has been trying to redo the sidewalks in his ward over the last few years.

One big issue that his ward’s constituents raised in The Waltham Times elections reader survey was housing affordability, which LaCava agrees is particularly pressing in Waltham. However, he said he thinks the city should be focusing on creating policies that would attract outside developers who will then be able to build housing in the city. “I don’t think the city should be in the business of development,” he said.

Similarly, he approved of Waltham’s engagement of an outside company to audit its zoning code as a first step to assessing its zoning and land use issues. He emphasized that the City Council needs to be ready to take action on those recommendations. 

He said the city should look for creative solutions to keep buildings occupied and keep taxes down. For example, he said as interest in lab spaces seems to be drying up, the city should investigate how to effectively bring in other options, such as housing, around Route 128.

On the topic of city services, he said the City Council’s main role is to provide departments with funding and resources. He said the council has made sure Waltham’s schools are properly funded, although he added that since the school system’s budget goes through the School Committee, the City Council has a less direct impact on it. Still, he said he appreciates Superintendent Maria Mendonsa providing council members with updates on the school board and said he hopes to maintain that ongoing relationship with school board leadership to keep informed about the district’s needs.

He said the City Council can make sure first responders have all the resources they need and that the upcoming police station redesign is “a long time coming.” LaCava also gave a specific shoutout to the work of Waltham’s Department of Parks and Recreation, which he said plays a huge role in bringing young families to Waltham. “It’s a tremendous, tremendous asset to the city that you don’t see in a lot of the cities and towns around us,” he said.

LaCava said the best way to ensure government transparency is for residents to “be vocal and active” in city discussions. He encouraged Walthamites to keep reaching out to their councilors, including him. He also pointed out WCAC’s live broadcasts of City Council meetings as a way to keep informed of decisions and encouraged more people to show up to meetings in person.

Similarly, he encouraged residents to vote in the upcoming municipal election and expressed concern that high incumbency rates would disincentivize participation. 

“I think we’re expecting single-digit [turnout] percentage-wise, and I think that’s sad. I hope constituents and residents are paying attention. I hope they come out and vote and make their voice heard,” he said.