On February 20, in her annual State of the City address to the City Council (text and NewTV video), Mayor Ruthanne Fuller honored the late Audrey Cooper — “a person with a very big heart, a deep commitment to community, a readiness to collaborate, and a dedication to the joy of volunteering” — and announced that the Newton Center for Active Living (NewCAL) will be officially named the Cooper Center for Active Living. The Mayor noted Audrey Cooper’s lifetime commitment to improving the Newton community — “our youngsters and our elders, our body politic and our centers for community building and learning, the vulnerable among us living … and the interconnectivity of our neighbors across all 13 villages.” Audrey Cooper’s lifelong efforts and results were seen at Underwood Elementary School, Newton Community Service Center, the Newton Free Library, and the Newton Senior Center.
In discussing the State of the City, the Mayor acknowledged that the community is “still recovering from some bruising trials” and said that the work of local governance challenges residents “to have empathy for those with whom we disagree and to build consensus as we chart the path forward.” She then focused on three key responsibilities of our local government:
- Educational Excellence
- New Superintendent of Schools
- New contract with teachers
- Larger budget increase for schools due to a one-time property-tax settlement
- Forward-looking Governance
- Recently updated zoning
- More electrification of buildings
- More trees and better care of them with updated Tree Preservation ordinance
- Newton Thrive program for economic mobility
- More help for substance use disorders and mental health challenges
- Continuous improvement in local government practices
- Up-to-date Infrastructure
- Busiest municipal building design and construction since 1950s
- Four major school projects
- Major projects at Jackson Homestead and Police facilities
- Further electrification of heating and cooling
- Two new pools and splash pad
- Lights and turf fields
- Half-way to goal for road quality, to shift from catch-up to maintenance
- Improved road safety with traffic calming and pedestrian signals
- Redesigning Newton Highlands center and rebuilding Petter Square in Upper Falls
- Accelerated funding for upgrading commuter rail stations
The Mayor closed by saying, “The state of our city is strong and our residents are resilient and engaged. We are committed to investing in our youth, our older adults, our neighborhoods and our village centers. We believe in focusing simultaneously on today’s needs and those of the generations that will follow. While we have different opinions, we are all Newtonians and we are all committed to this community. By working collectively and collaboratively, we can address the issues that divide us with solutions that unite us. …Let us be led by the example of Audrey Cooper as we resolve to strengthen our civic body with stronger bonds.”
