Five city councilors stop colleagues from setting date for Northland vote

Newton’s next ban? How about fossil fuel?

Just weeks after Brookline voted to ban the installation of oil and gas pipes in new buildings as well as in extensive renovations of existing buildings, Jon Chesto at the Globe reports that some Newton City Councilors want to do the same thing. 

Here’s two excerpts from Chesto’s article:

Opponents representing various business development constituencies argue that this piecemeal approach to energy regulation will simply drive up construction costs and hinder economic development, while achieving minimal environmental benefits. They say the electricity-powered alternatives to natural gas, such as heat pumps, are more expensive and less effective.

 

[Newton City Councilor Emily] Norton, a former Sierra Club leader who oversees the Charles River Watershed Association, said she’s not really concerned about the impact on economic development. Instead, she’s

Building climate change resilience

Note: This is not a campaign pitch! It’s about her full-time job. Emily Norton and Vernon Walker have an excellent article in Commonwealth Magazine about how communities can build climate change resiliency into their local geographies. It’s worth a look. ...
Bryan Barash announces campaign for Ward 2 Newton City Council

Bryan Barash announces campaign for Ward 2 Newton City Council

Newton resident and a long time Village 14 blogger Bryan Barash has formally announced plans to challenge incumbent Emily Norton for the Ward 2 City Council contest in November of 2019.  (Note: Although this is mentioned in a different thread, we traditionally post campaign announcements as a new thread. Barash will suspend blogging during the campaign or if he is elected.) 

Here’s his campaign website and announcement 

My name is Bryan Barash and I am running to be your local Ward 2 City Councilor.

At a time when so much of our politics is divisive, we need to come together as a community to meet the needs of our neighborhood and our city. As your city councilor I will utilize my decade of public policy expertise, combined with my intimate knowledge of both state and local government, to ensure your concerns are heard and your needs are met at City Hall.

I believe strongly in the power of kindness, the impact of compromise, and the decency of the