During the October 6 School Committee meeting, a blink-and-you-missed-it 30-second portion of Dr. Anna Nolin’s regular Superintendent’s update gave a window into ongoing frictions and growing pains between two conjoined Newton institutions that are managed far differently today than only a few years ago: This wider context colors the public’s…
Posts published in October 2025
A community-based science team is heading to Paris this weekend to compete at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, a global event promoting innovation in synthetic biology. One of the team leaders is Aneesha Aryan, a Newton North High School student who helps guide community outreach for the project.…
Newton’s overnight parking ban has been part of city life for nearly a century. First adopted in the 1930s as a year-round restriction, it was refined over time — limited to November through April in 1985, shortened in 2007, and adjusted in 2019 to December 1 through March 31. Since…
I’m voting YES to repeal the winter parking ban, both to help my neighbors and because the reasons given to oppose the repeal don’t hold up. During the winters when it was lifted, emergency vehicles had no problem. The random hours don’t make sense; if an ambulance can get past…
As election day approaches, many are ready for new leadership. I am ready for leaders who listen and don’t lecture. Many are tired of being told what to think vs. being asked what we think. I recognize this skill in John Chaimanis, candidate for At-Large City Councilor from Ward 4. I…
Good governance in a democratic system depends on the collaboration of many independent voices and the existence of checks and balances among various branches of the government. When a single faction controls multiple branches of local government, it may work better for that faction, but the city as a whole…
As a Newton resident, I urge my neighbors to vote “Yes” to end the city’s outdated overnight parking ban. The current 4-hour restriction does little to serve the public good; it simply creates frustration and deepens inequity between those who have a driveway or garage and those who do not.…
I am writing to support the repeal of the winter parking ban. Some neighborhoods and streets would be adversely affected, if the ban is lifted. They must be protected and restrictions should remain. However, the 1936 law has outlived its usefulness for much of Newton. We managed during the height of the pandemic, when…
We’re writing to express our support for the repeal of Newton’s overnight parking ban. As 30+ year residents of Newton, we’ve never really understood the virtue of a blanket parking ban for such an extended time period. It increasingly seems more of a burdensome relic rather than a statute of any real value. Ostensibly, the ban is to…
There are many great City Council and School Committee candidates this year, many of whom I’m enthusiastically supporting. Politics works best when we are all engaged and when people step up to run for office. However, it has been/is incredibly disheartening to see the rancor and divisiveness of our local…
I am writing today to enthusiastically support Julie Irish for Ward 5 Councilor. City Councilor is often a thankless job, and being a Ward Councilor is perhaps even more so. You are the first call for residents’ problems and expected to have the answers for most issues. A great Ward…
This is a pivotal year for the Newton Public Schools, with a new Mayor on the horizon and six of eight School Committee seats turning over. As a Newton parent and voter, I’ve followed these races closely, and one candidate stands out for his vision, integrity, and readiness to lead…