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…
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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…
The City Council seemed unprepared for 600 people to attend the 6/26/23 zoning meeting. It was frustrating to see no plan to allow everyone to speak. Sending written comments is just not the same. Councilors must make this process more transparent. I sympathize with those who want to move into…
We need to properly vet the documents and data on which housing goals are based. The state of Massachusetts doesn’t plan with realistic numbers. And Newton’s leaders follow the state’s numbers, which lead our politicians astray. After a recent query to the Mayor’s office, I found her claim that the…
Monday night’s “Public Hearing” for the proposed Upzoning of the Village Centers and surrounding neighborhoods was shameful. Over 6000 postcards were mailed and the Mayor promoted it as Resident’s opportunity to weigh in. It was advertised as a hybrid meeting in both the City Hall Chamber and Zoom. However, when…
One of the goals of the Newton Village Center Rezoning project is to increase affordable housing options in the city. A strategic and systemic plan for increasing density is a powerful and necessary tool for achieving this critical housing affordability goal. Other cities across the country have realized this fact. Minneapolis and three other…
Thank you to Councilor Marc Laredo for his recent questions to the City Council, as reported in Fig City News, regarding the zoning proposal. His thoughtful and thought-provoking questions raise many of the issues that the City has so far failed to address, despite similar feedback. He not only raises the…
Adding density, as legislated in the MBTA Communities Act and proposed by Newton, would transform the built environment in our village centers from New England village feel to Urban/City. It is unnecessary and does not address housing affordability. The Urban Institute has concluded that up-zoning does not lead to greater affordability.…