I am writing as a long-time Newton resident, not as a Newtonville Area Councilor.
Initially, I was ready to support the repeal of the winter overnight parking ban. I even signed the petition outside the Star Market, believing that asking the people was the best way to handle City policy.
But the more I studied this issue, the more I realized that this ballot question — a simple yes on repealing the ban — is an attempt at a quick-fix and completely ignores the complex realities of our city. This is not about convenience; it’s about public safety and responsible city planning. I urge you to vote NO.
The public safety imperative
My biggest concern: emergency access.
After a snow event, when plows push snowbanks to the sides, many of our older streets and village centers barely have room for two cars, even without parking. Add cars parked on one or both sides, and you create an immediate hazard. Fire trucks, ambulances, and large utility vehicles often cannot get through if someone parks carelessly.
I know someone in Newton whose house burned down one winter night. Thankfully, the fire truck was able to arrive and stop the fire before it spread to neighbors’ houses, and nobody was hurt. But it definitely makes you think: what if someone had parked their car on the street? The ban was in place that night, a repeal would have allowed someone to park there. Then what?
This isn’t theoretical; this is a real risk when we prioritize a parking spot over clear public access. I’ve experienced the danger of narrowed streets in Newton during the winter. Our family car was damaged beyond repair in a crash when a car crossed the yellow line due to snow banks— thankfully no injuries! If the ban were repealed, someone could have legally parked their car in that exact spot, making everything worse.
A blanket repeal for the entire city is too great a gamble with our emergency response capabilities, and safety in the winter.
Ignoring future complexities
Peter Klapes, a founder of the ballot question, described it as one of convenience and quality of life during a September 17 interview on NewTV. But the reality is that a simple repeal makes future city planning and housing density efforts dramatically harder.
- The MBTA Communities Act: The MBTA Communities Act requires Newton to create more housing density near village centers. More housing means more people, and more cars.
- New Building Costs: New residential buildings in areas like Newtonville already charge upwards of $200 a month for parking. If we eliminate the winter parking ban, we are actively incentivizing residents of these new developments to avoid paying those high fees and instead park their cars on adjacent side streets for months at a time. This shifts the financial burden and inconvenience directly to families already living in those neighborhoods.
- College Students: The election is in early November, and students return to school shortly after Thanksgiving. If the ban is repealed, how many will be tempted to bring their cars back for the rest of the academic year to avoid the hassle and expense of getting back and forth to school? The repealed ban would allow them to park on Commonwealth Avenue carriage lane, and many of the neighboring streets, turning them into unregulated parking lots just as winter weather is coming.
A complex city like Newton, with 13 villages and neighborhoods developed from the 1800s to the 1980s, cannot be managed with a single, sweeping policy change that assumes all our streets are modern, wide, straight, and equally utilized.
A tailored solution is possible
The City Council and various committees have considered this issue numerous times and voted against a blanket repeal each time. A more nuanced approach is required — one that proposes opening specific streets to overnight parking, subject to local approval and police review. This allows for tailored, localized solutions where parking is genuinely needed, while preserving the critical safety ban on narrow, essential, and high-traffic emergency routes. Voting yes, which would make overnight parking unregulated and unmanaged, is not the right policy. We are voting on the ballot question as written, not the adjustments that can be done afterwards. The repeal would create a rushed, one-size-fits-all solution that prioritizes convenience over safety and planning. Vote NO, and let the City Council make a plan that manages Newton’s parking. Visit www.newtonparking.com.
