First-year City Councilors-at-Large: Getz in Ward 5, Lobovits in Ward 6

Last week, Fig City News presented interviews with the four Ward Councilors newly elected a year ago, to learn about their first years on the Council. This week, Fig City News is checking in with two more first-year City Councilors, the two new Councilors-at-Large: Rena Getz in Ward 5 and Alan Lobovits in Ward 6.

Fig City News spoke with each of them near the end of their first year in office to find what they learned, what surprised them, and who helped with their transitions. 

Rena Getz

Rena Getz said the biggest adjustment from her prior role — as President of the Waban Area Council — to City Councilor was shifting from being an advocate to being a representative. She said that much of her focus in 2024 has been learning how Newton’s bureaucracy works. 

She and fellow Councilor Alan Lobovits engaged in a city-wide listening tour during their first months in office, seeking to learn about residents’ concerns. Getz said many residents wanted to express their opinions about development, and specifically Newton’s Village Center Overlay District (VCOD), the zoning plan that the City Council approved in 2023. 

Getz calls housing a complex issue that requires much discussion, and she considers housing to be the most important issue facing Newton. Given the development projects currently underway, Getz thinks that observing what works well and what doesn’t will provide guidance for future decisions.

Asked to identify Councilors who have helped her transition, Getz cited Council President Marc Laredo, complimenting Laredo’s even-handedness in encouraging productive debate. She praised the chairs of her two committees, Lisle Baker for Zoning and Planning, and Susan Albright for Public Facilities, highlighting their extensive knowledge and long commitments to Newton.

Getz said that meeting with Neighborhood Area Councils is one way she stays connected with residents, and she said that the City is fortunate to have those groups staying in close touch with their neighborhoods. She expects to develop a newsletter for constituents in the next year. 

Getz fully intends to run for re-election to City Council in 2025, saying, “I’m just getting started.” 

Alan Lobovits

Alan Lobovits said that a primary reason he ran for City Council was the disconnect he saw between the residents and officials: that City officials were not sufficiently listening. Lobovits said that Newton has many knowledgeable individuals and advocacy groups that should be heard. He acknowledged that the Council does not, and should not, always vote simply based on residents’ comments, but that it is always important to hear from the voters.

In the listening tour that he and Councilor Getz conducted at the start of their terms, the two listened to the comments and concerns of residents. The themes that emerged from the tour emphasized traffic, housing, and the environment. Most common concerns related to safety issues, such as the risks to children in crosswalks, and cars speeding through neighborhoods. 

Lobovits communicates with residents via a monthly newsletter, and he said most requests and inquiries come to him via email and phone calls. In most circumstances, he directs residents to the appropriate City department and says that the City takes safety concerns seriously. 

Lobovits serves on the City Council’s Land Use Committee and the Programs & Services Committee. Among its responsibilities, the Land Use Committee reviews requests for special permits and site plan approval petitions. Lobovits said that Committee members often have productive informal meetings with developers in advance of formal requests. At these early meetings, Councilors can provide constructive feedback regarding the City’s goals, and developers can adjust plans before making presentations to the Committee. 

When asked about the influence of his prior career as a pediatric physician and organizational leader, Lobovits said that to be most effective, he learned to prioritize communication, especially listening. He said he sought to identify how best to deliver medical care. Currently, he’s focused on how best to create a system to deliver government services. His next planned initiative is to speak to the city’s business owners to learn more about their needs.

Lobovits said all Councilors have been generous with time and advice and have helped speed his learning process.