Newton Election Supervisor John Doyle has informed the City Council that the Vote Yes to Repeal the Winter Overnight Parking Ban ballot committee has obtained sufficient signatures to place the repeal of the ban on the ballot in November 2025.
The committee — which was formed in June 2023, raised $19,224 and spent $18,368 in the signature-gathering effort, according to its end-of-year report filed at City Hall on January 18, 2024. The group is chaired by former City Councilor Jim Cote, with Newton Highlands Jeremy Freudberg serving as Treasurer. Freudberg’s father, Jeffrey Freudberg, contributed $16,300 (84.8%) of the group’s funds, followed by $500 from Traute Marshall. (Marshall led a ballot committee seeking to defeat the March 2023 capital exclusion and operating overrides.) Jim Cote and Jeremy Freudberg contributed $103.48 and $100 respectively.
The committee spent $15,676 (84% of spending) on professional signature collection by Pallitin Petitions LLC.
The Newton winter parking ban currently runs from December 1 to March 31. In October, the City Council rejected the citizens’ petition 21-3, affirming a 7-0 vote vote by the Public Safety and Transportation committee against repealing the ban.
The ban could, in theory, come before voters sooner if a municipal election or referendum is called sooner than the November 2025 municipal elections.
Fig City News has learned that starting February 1, Trio will offer monthly underground parking in its garage (845 Washington Street, Newtonville) for $250/month to non-residents of Trio needing a parking solution. Non-residents will receive a sticker and a garage transponder allowing access to the garage. Email customerservice@trionewton.com to request an application.
