I am writing in response to the letter by Rockwell, Monahan, and Walters about my July 25 Op-Ed, Saving our Village Centers — Retail in the age of Zoning Redesign. I would like to explain what I meant about a great Shopping Experience. Retail is not only about stores but…
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In a letter (Village Center Zoning and Retail- A Response) responding to an Op-Ed (Retail in the age of Zoning Redesign), authors Rockwell, Monahan, and Walter asserted that Op-Ed author Carol Todreas was being misleading and supported their assertion with “facts” that are not true. The fact that the authors…
The board of Friends of Albemarle wants to share some insight about the experiences of pedestrians and cyclists using the intersection of Albemarle Rd. and Crafts St. ever since the flex posts were installed in the vicinity of this intersection. We have found and heard from others that the flex posts currently…
We are writing in response to Carol Todreas’ July 25 op-ed article about retail and the proposed Village Center Overlay Districts (VCOD). We agree that we are blessed to have village centers that have weathered the challenges of COVID. We recognize Ms. Todreas’ experience in retail, but it is misleading…
I was both surprised and disappointed to read Carol Todreas’ Fig City op-ed in which she suggested that Newton’s proposed village center rezoning will somehow harm our small retail, restaurants and other shops. To the contrary, we see the plan to allow for the gradual addition of more housing and…
I had an experience this morning (Tuesday July 24th) at roughly 9:30AM that left me DEEPLY grateful to an unknown woman. I had just escorted my friend to help her retrieve critical documents and her transponder from her car, which had been totaled by someone running a stop sign and ramming into it. We…
I would like to respond to Richard Slater’s letter last week asserting that atmospheric CO2 concentration has reached a saturation point beyond which a higher concentration will produce no additional warming. That is an often-used but misleading argument. Carbon dioxide and other global warming gases not only cause our atmosphere to absorb…
You might be interested in an alternate view of the climate change issue. Our city now has large solar panels, charging stations and electric cars making alternate viewpoints relevant. I have followed research on this subject for several years. My training is in molecular physics and my career has focused…
As a longtime Newton resident, member of Newton’s Urban Tree Commission, and economist researching the economic benefits of trees, I support the strongest possible protection of Newton’s tree canopy. Cutting healthy trees harms every neighborhood in Newton through: Each leads to meaningful costs to Newton residents. While the proposed Tree…
The meeting of the Zoning and Planning Committee on Monday was so packed that the Zoom system was overloaded (it was quickly fixed) and Councilor Deb Crossley, chair of the committee, asked people attending in person to hunt for seats in the balcony. The turnout was a tribute to the…