Alicia Bowman seeks reelection as one of two At-Large City Councilors from Ward 6 and spoke recently with Fig City News. Before election to the City Council, Ms. Bowman was co-founder of Safe Routes to School, Founder of Tour de Newton, and past president of Bike Newton. She is an…
Posts published in October 2023
Vicki Danberg is running for re-election as one of two At-Large City Councilors from Ward 6 and spoke recently with Fig City News. First elected to the Newton City Council in 2004, Ms. Danberg is currently Vice-Chair of the City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee and Chair of the Real…
Alan Lobovits is a first-time candidate for one of the two Ward 6 At-Large seats on the City Council and spoke recently with Fig City News. The retired pediatrician and longtime Newton Highlands resident is running because he became increasingly aware and concerned about the impact of Village Center Zoning…
After a lengthy debate, the City Council rejected Mayor Fuller’s proposal to establish an Operations Booster Stabilization Fund — a fund designed to help pay for a portion of the annual general fund appropriations for the City’s pension system. As the Mayor explained in August, the fund would hold $20,500,000…
I support Doris Ann Sweet for Ward 6 Councilor. As a founder and leader of Engine 6, Doris Ann works to enable sensible middle-income, lower-income, and senior housing to help address the housing and climate crises. Personally, I’m struck by the suffering caused by the housing shortage that causes sky-high…
On October 21 & 22, the four Area Councils will host debates for candidates in contested races for City Council. Although they were originally planned to take place in-person at Zervas School, they will all be held only on Zoom via this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87146459563 (Meeting ID: 871 4645 9563). The change…
After reading the FCN story about the “Candidates express concerns about upcoming Area Council debates,” I was disappointed to hear that several candidates for public office claimed that the four Newton Area Councils were incapable of organizing a City Council debate in an unbiased fashion. As a former Area Councilor,…
The city of Newton, Massachusetts is currently at a crossroads with regards to city planning, especially due to the requirements put forth by the 2021 MBTA Communities Act, which requires more housing density close to transit stations. As we approach the city council election on November 7, the debate around…
I am concerned about the lack of NewMo vehicles for residents in the Newton Lower Falls area. I live in the Hamilton Grove Apartments with at least 100 Senior Citizens with disabilities. As a disabled Senior Citizen living on a fixed income, it is difficult to find reliable and cost effective…
I am delighted to support Doris Ann Sweet for Ward 4 City Councilor. I have been lucky to spend time with Doris Ann in the past few months and believe she will be an excellent city councilor. She is knowledgeable and thoughtful, is an active listener and data-informed problem solver,…
Echoing the October 4 decision of the Newton City Council’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee, the City Council voted 21-3 to reject a citizens’ petition to repeal Newton’s winter parking ban. Council President Susan Albright, Councilor Andrea Kelly, and Councilor Holly Ryan cast the dissenting votes. The petition, initiated by…
In its meeting on October 16, the City Council voted to give the developers of the Crafts Street Proposal for Elder Housing with Services a one-year extension to exercise their special permit instead of the two years requested. Mark Development, in partnership with SRG Senior Living received approval last November…