I’m supporting Rena Getz in the upcoming election for City Councilor At-large from Ward 5. Rena is uniquely qualified to lead on addressing the disruptive development policies that threaten to destroy historically significant architectures and rapidly change the appearance of our villages over the coming decade. Rena speaks softly with deliberate…
Posts published in November 2023
I have known David Micley all his life. Growing up he was deeply involved in our synagogue and we worked together at the Combined Jewish Philanthropies. David was an amazing part of our staff, a creative leader among his colleagues and a real leader in the community. He was driven…
A common concern regarding the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) project is that newcomers to Newton living in new, larger developments will potentially create more parking demand than can currently be supplied. Reassuringly, local real-world data shows that this is not the case. At ten multi-family housing sites in Newton, only…
It seems we are living in an age of disinformation when people say things deliberately or inadvertently which have no basis in fact. This is the case for claims in the Ward 4 Councilor race that Randy Block is against the construction of a rail trail in Newton Lower Falls.…
The Zoning and Planning Committee of the City Council has approved new zoning for business districts after a long and thoughtful process, ably assisted by the Planning Department. The Committee and the planners sought out, and benefited from, extensive public input. The committee began work several years ago with the…
A recent social media post referred to anti-development candidates. Let’s be clear. We have NO anti-development candidates. We have candidates who support Newton’s compliance with the MBTA Communities, which requires that Newton zone for a 25% increase in housing units. They support no more until an impact analysis, and additional community education…
U-CHAN (Uniting Citizens for Housing Affordability in Newton) will not be officially endorsing any candidates for City Council based on their stance on the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning proposal, as the short-term and material impact on very low-income households is minimal. As an organization that is well-versed in the multitude…
We support Vicki Danberg for re-election to Newton City Council as she has been a leader in matters of housing, the environment and safety. Vicki chairs the Newton Plastics Reduction Working Group, dedicated to reducing use of single use plastics in the City. She led the successful ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam)…
I’m a voter in Ward 4. I shall vote for Randy Block for City Council. Randy is a thoughtful listener on the issues surrounding Newton. He will work hard and represent us well. Please join me in voting for Randy. Alvin SheltonNewton Lower Falls
Newton is on the precipice of an important decision. A decision that will determine not if Newton changes – all communities change – but how Newton changes. That decision is embedded in the Village Center Overlay District proposal now before the Newton City Council. As with every public policy decision,…
There is some criticism that the Save Our Villages signs are “misleading.” While I have not bothered to count the actual number of floors depicted, I will safely assume that the graphic image on the sign was not meant to be a literal translation of Newton’s rezoning proposal, but more so…
Anyone who has ever heard Rena Getz speak at a public hearing or meeting knows that her knowledge of Newton’s ordinances, zoning regulations and history is extraordinary. Rena has devoted decades to community service as a volunteer and as an elected member of the Waban Area Council. Currently serving as…