Today, July 26th, is the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Last week, I spoke on a panel commemorating Disability Pride Month and the ADA. The ADA is a piece of civil rights legislation the guarantees access to employment, public services, and government agencies. We still have a…
Posts published by “Letters to the Editor”
As I’ve aged, access to Crystal Lake has become more and more difficult. A decision has been taken to designate one side of the area front as beach, and totally neglect the other. The “beach” side has benches and even a mat leading to one of the docks. The non-beach…
I was surprised to read that Superintendent Anna Nolin announced that the Pledge of Allegiance “to the United States flag” will now be said before each School Committee meeting (starting in September), and that Newton students will be required to “pledge the flag each day.” It baffles me as to…
It is extremely encouraging to see the Healey/Driscoll Administration’s determination to make public transportation a major priority and was hopeful when the MBTA applied for a Federal ASAP (All Stations Accessibility Program) Grant to address necessary and critical improvements to the Newtonville Commuter Rail Station. It was unfortunate, however, to…
I am responding to Rhoda Grill’s letter of June 4 in which she states that only one person she spoke with at eight Newton churches agreed to have the church display a “Stand against Antisemitism” lawn sign on its property. Good for that standout church. As Grill writes, “churches have…
I am a resident of Newton. We bought our house off of Crafts Street on the Newtonville/Nonantum line in 1977. I am also a business owner of a non-profit arts organization run from an office in my house. For all of our time here, the area behind what is…
It was good to read that the 50th Annual Mayor’s Community Breakfast was a success. I am glad this Newton tradition exists to celebrate and re-affirm shared community values about unity, belonging, and mutual respect and understanding. As the Mayor said in her remarks, all this is especially important now with the backdrop…
I am writing as a concerned Jewish resident of Newton, where I have lived for more than four decades. Of late I have been deeply rattled by the wave of anti-Jewish hate sweeping the world, the country, and even our own city of Newton. This hatred has manifested itself locally in…
This morning I discovered one of my yard signs was defaced. People in this country have the right to their own opinions and to express those opinions, but no one has the right to trespass or deface private property. If you don’t like or disagree with a yard sign or…
I also have “concerns”… about your article on the library’s May 9 reception for the Nakba photo exhibit – starting with the title: the EXHIBIT “sparks concerns”? The suppression of a planned, public event by a loud, angry, verbally abusive mob, while the City’s police stood by and did nothing,…