Joseph McCabe presents nuclear disarmament resolution petition at Needham town meeting

The Needham Select Board convened on April 15, 2025, to discuss a citizen's petition regarding nuclear disarmament, presented by town meeting member Joseph McCabe and citizen Peter Metz. This petition serves as a follow-up to a resolution adopted by the Needham Town Meeting in February 2019, which urged federal leaders to prioritize nuclear disarmament in national policy.

McCabe outlined the petition's five key components aimed at reducing nuclear threats. These include pursuing verifiable agreements among nuclear-armed states to eliminate their arsenals, renouncing the first-use option of nuclear weapons, limiting presidential authority to launch nuclear attacks, removing U.S. nuclear weapons from hair-trigger alert status, and canceling plans to enhance the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

The petition emphasizes the urgency of these actions, citing escalating global tensions. Metz highlighted the increased threats from countries like Russia and China, which have raised concerns about the acceptability of nuclear weapon use. He noted that several nations are considering expanding their own nuclear capabilities, further complicating the global security landscape. Additionally, the impending expiration of the New START treaty, which limits nuclear arsenals between the U.S. and Russia, adds to the urgency of the petition's requests.

The Select Board's discussion underscored the critical nature of nuclear disarmament in light of current geopolitical tensions, with both McCabe and Metz advocating for immediate action from local, state, and federal officials to address these pressing issues. The meeting concluded with a call for continued dialogue and advocacy on nuclear disarmament as a vital component of national security policy.