As a Newton resident, I urge my neighbors to vote “Yes” to end the city’s outdated overnight parking ban.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.…
Posts published in “Letters to the Editor”
We publish here Letters to the Editor with the intent to reflect a broad range of opinions and insights of Newton residents. Please note our submission guidelines and send letters (maximum of 300 words) to [email protected].
All views expressed in any signed article, letter, column, or post
on Fig City News are those of the writer and not Fig City News.
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…
Newton’s schools have had a rough stretch — strikes, tight budgets, and constant debate. We all want great teachers and strong programs, but we also need leaders who can make good ideas actually work. That’s why I’m supporting Jonathan Greene (Ward 6, at-large). I got to know Jonathan early in our…
I’m writing to express my enthusiastic support for Julie Irish in her campaign for Ward 5 City Council. As a longtime resident of Newton Upper Falls and current President of the Upper Falls Area Council, Julie brings the kind of grounded, community-first leadership our ward deserves. Julie has spent decades…
I recently attended an event with School Committee candidate Jonathan Greene and have enjoyed reading about his priorities in these pages. I especially appreciate that he values transparency for parents. I’m impressed by his practical perspective, leadership experience, and empathy. I came away convinced that Jonathan Greene is the right…
I want to share why it’s essential to vote NO on the ballot question to repeal Newton’s winter overnight parking ban. Our City Council has revisited this issue several times in the past decade, and many councilors and candidates now agree that Newton needs a neighborhood-specific parking plan — one…