Thank you for your recent issue with coverage of all the candidates running for City Council this election cycle, including Randy Block for Ward 4.
Since meeting Randy and his wife Karen in 1990, I have grown to appreciate his calm and methodical approach to questions and issues. I remember a conversation with him in 2010 when I was exploring starting a chapter of a national climate advocacy organization. Randy drew on his experience as Executive Director of the nonprofit Parents Helping Parents to advise me on the challenges I would face, including how much first steps would influence the future character of the group I was forming.
Over the years I’ve found his ability to put issues into perspective and talk through alternatives very valuable. Randy’s problem solving skills were on full display when he served as chair of a committee working to respond to a proposal for development of office space, retail, and housing at the Riverside MBTA station. Working with the Ward 4 councilors, an agreement was reached for a development of 1 million square feet, about a third less in overall size and with a larger fraction devoted to housing than originally proposed.
Today, the City is faced with having to respond to the challenges of complying with the state’s Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities, updating zoning generally to address greater Boston’s housing availability and affordability crises, adapting to climate change, as well as all the normal fiscal and operational factors associated with running a city of Newton’s size. Randy’s calm demeanor and problem solving skills would be tremendous assets to the City Council as it confronts these challenges and makes decisions that will determine what kind of city Newton will be in the coming decades. I enthusiastically endorse Randy Block for Ward 4 Councilor.
Gary Rucinski
Newton Lower Falls