A Committee, headed by former Ward 3 Councilor Jim Cote and Newton Highlands Area Council President Jeremy Freudberg, filed papers with Newton City Hall to put an initiative on this November’s ballot to repeal Newton’s seasonal parking ban. The overnight winter parking ban goes into effect on December 1 and ends on March 31st.
In its statement, the Committee said “Newton’s winter overnight parking ban is outdated, unnecessary and exclusionary. It presents a huge burden to households with more than working person, multigenerational households, disabled/and/or elderly people, and generally people of lesser means.” The statement acknowledges the concerns of people who believe the parking ban “is a way to achieve goals related to climate and biking.” The Committee believes there are other ways than a unilateral ban to provide safety measures. According to the statement, for those with nuisance and safety concerns, Newton already has an ordinance prohibiting parking that obstructs traffic, as well as a Traffic Council, which can implement parking regulations for specific streets according to width, abutting uses, and other factors.”
Although the Committee only required fifty signatures as a requirement for a public hearing in the City Council, the Committee is determined to collect 10,000 signatures for a binding ballot question.
Learn more at: https://www.repealparkingban.org
