Meet Josh Rosmarin

Q: Josh, how did you first get involved in local politics?

My very first involvement with local politics was in grade school, when my mom was the treasurer on an override campaign to fund the renovation of the Milton public schools. I have fond memories of getting to open all the checks that supporters mailed to our house. When the override passed and I ultimately got to attend a new high school, I saw first-hand how much impact local politics can have on people’s lives.

When my wife and I moved to Watertown in 2018, I was interested in getting more involved in the community, which is how I ended up working on your city council campaign in 2021.

Q: Why are you drawn to organize around housing in Watertown?

I believe our region’s housing crisis affects everyone in our community, and the only way we can achieve a thriving, diverse, sustainable community is by addressing the crisis head on.

Housing is a uniquely local issue, with many policies and regulations designed by our City Council and implemented by our Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals. That's why I also believe that an organized group of residents can have an outsized impact by advocating for pro-housing policies right here in Watertown.

Earlier this year, I started Housing for All Watertown with a small group of neighbors to formalize our work and get more people involved.

Q: How can people get involved with Housing for All Watertown?

Easy! If anyone’s interested in joining our email list, they can sign up here. We just had our launch event last weekend, and are super excited to bring more neighbors into the fold!

Q: What do you do for work?

I advise donors who are interested in using evidence and analysis to have the greatest impact with their political giving. I mostly work at the federal level, though, so I’ve never actually had the chance to focus on Massachusetts politics professionally!

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

I love to run, read, and travel, and I have very strong opinions on ice cream. I also have a fourteen month-old daughter who loves exploring the East End’s playgrounds; she’s the one who’s spotting dogs from three blocks away.