YEAR IN REVIEW: Here are some of Malden’s Top Stories of 2025

Seemingly interminable trash collectors strike and city’s Proposition 2 1/2 Override ballot question lead the list

By Steve Freker

As we welcome the New Year 2026, we also look back and recall some of the top stories that made the headlines in the Malden Advocate in 2025.

Nearly three-month trash collectors strike lasted from July 1 through the end of September

One of the toughest 79-day stretches in city of Malden history ended Monday when regular trash pickup in this city and 17 other North Shore communities resumed, ending a months-long workers strike. On September 21 was announced that waste management giant Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 reached agreement on a new, five-year contract. Malden and 17 other cities and towns — mainly on the North Shore — had watched trash pile up at times and related health issues mount up since about 400 Republic Services workers walked off the job.

Although replacement workers were working in the city on a somewhat regular basis since shortly after the strike began, it was not anything close to what is necessary to keep a city the size of Malden serviced. About 400 Republic Services waste collection workers walked off the job July 1, affecting residents and commercial businesses in greater Boston and North Shore cities and towns. The walkout caused disruptions to trash and recycling collections even as Republic brought in workers from other parts of the country to service local routes.

Malden Mayor Gary Christenson made municipal history in the City Council Chamber when he formally requested the Councillors consider a Proposition 2 1/2 property tax override. The Mayor outlined a specific sum of revenue he said was sought to supplement other cost-saving measures already taken or underway by the city’s administrative team. Chief among those was a switch from city-managed health care for municipal employees to a state-run program, which the Mayor said would save some $3 million. The proposed override would be for $5.4 million. Broken down per capita by Malden property taxpayers, the average residential homeowner would be asked to pay an additional $300 in 2026 to fund the requested sum. With the average Malden homeowner paying $7,360 annually in property taxes, the proposed override sum of $300 per homeowner would be around four percent for the one-time increase.

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Everett Police Officer placed on leave after being charged with allegedly biting Malden Police Officer in the face

In January, a Malden Police officer was allegedly assaulted by being bitten in the face and punched by an ex-girlfriend — an Everett Police Officer — while working a paid police detail at Stop & Shop in Malden. According to prosecutors, the Malden Police Officer, who was not identified, was assaulted a second time, later Sunday, when the suspect, identified as Everett Police Officer Marie Sylvain, 27, went to his home for another confrontation. Officer Sylvain left the Malden District courthouse — located in Medford — after pleas of “not guilty” to two charges of assault and battery on a household or family member were entered, according to an online report.

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Malden Public School proactive in addressing anxiety over ICE presence in region

Malden Public Schools, led by first-year Superintendent Dr. Timothy Sippel, was proactive — at the end of January and continuing through the school year — in addressing the announcement of new federal policies from Washington, D.C., regarding the intended deportation of immigrants who have entered the United States illegally. Dr. Sippel has put out messages and statements to Malden families noting the existing situation and assuring them that resources are available to assist them via the school district website: www.maldenps.org. And also, as Malden High Principal Chris Mastrangelo noted, No one is allowed into any school building except for educational purposes.

Mastrangelo also made a video, all-school presentation to all students and staff at Malden High School regarding the situation. Previously, these steps were taken, he said:

—Message of support has gone out to all students and staff

—Message of specific Massachusetts statutes around Immigration Officials entering schools has been shared with staff, students and families

—Dr. Sippel has shared messages with caregivers specific to student support and procedure

—Individual check-ins with students

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Malden Reads picks “Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” as 2025 book

A story of a boy who dreamed about helping his impoverished community achieve energy independence and eventually achieved his goal was the newest selection for Malden Reads 2025 Book of the Year. “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” whose author is William Kamkwamba, was introduced to the Malden School Committee. The story is set in drought-stricken Malawi, which is an impoverished country in southeastern Africa. “‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ tells the remarkable story of a young boy who, despite immense challenges, used his ingenuity to bring electricity and water to his village. William Kamkwamba, faced with food scarcity and limited resources, dreamed of harnessing the power of wind energy after learning about windmills in school textbooks.”