I strongly support Mali Brodt (Ward 6) for School Committee. Mali Brodt was a middle school history teacher for 16 years. She is now a School Adjustment Counselor in Reading Public Schools. The fact that Mali has a long history working in public schools is the number one reason that I am supporting her. Anyone…
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I am voting for John Chaimanis. Why? Because he is a leader who brings new ideas and solid experience with budgets and fiscal planning. Newton needs this. In many ways, we’re in a rut—facing financial problems that show up in our sidewalks and roads, our schools, our small businesses, our commercial…
Newton voters presumably want to know about the experience and expertise of all candidates for School Committee. They rightfully expect School Committee members to be effective stewards of our public education system, to promote good policies and services for all our schools, to value excellence in education and to advocate…
I strongly support repealing the overnight on-street parking ban in Newton during the winter. My spouse and I used to live on the first floor of a two-family home in West Newton, and my niece and her husband lived upstairs. We all worked, and it was difficult for us to…
Newton’s overnight parking ban has been part of city life for nearly a century. First adopted in the 1930s as a year-round restriction, it was refined over time — limited to November through April in 1985, shortened in 2007, and adjusted in 2019 to December 1 through March 31. Since…
I’m voting YES to repeal the winter parking ban, both to help my neighbors and because the reasons given to oppose the repeal don’t hold up. During the winters when it was lifted, emergency vehicles had no problem. The random hours don’t make sense; if an ambulance can get past…
As election day approaches, many are ready for new leadership. I am ready for leaders who listen and don’t lecture. Many are tired of being told what to think vs. being asked what we think. I recognize this skill in John Chaimanis, candidate for At-Large City Councilor from Ward 4. I…
Good governance in a democratic system depends on the collaboration of many independent voices and the existence of checks and balances among various branches of the government. When a single faction controls multiple branches of local government, it may work better for that faction, but the city as a whole…
As a Newton resident, I urge my neighbors to vote “Yes” to end the city’s outdated overnight parking ban. The current 4-hour restriction does little to serve the public good; it simply creates frustration and deepens inequity between those who have a driveway or garage and those who do not.…
I am writing to support the repeal of the winter parking ban. Some neighborhoods and streets would be adversely affected, if the ban is lifted. They must be protected and restrictions should remain. However, the 1936 law has outlived its usefulness for much of Newton. We managed during the height of the pandemic, when…
We’re writing to express our support for the repeal of Newton’s overnight parking ban. As 30+ year residents of Newton, we’ve never really understood the virtue of a blanket parking ban for such an extended time period. It increasingly seems more of a burdensome relic rather than a statute of any real value. Ostensibly, the ban is to…
There are many great City Council and School Committee candidates this year, many of whom I’m enthusiastically supporting. Politics works best when we are all engaged and when people step up to run for office. However, it has been/is incredibly disheartening to see the rancor and divisiveness of our local…