Alison Leary has announced that she will run for the Ward 1 Alderman seat presently held by Alderman President Scott Lennon (Lennon has said he will run in the June special election to fill the Ward 1 At Large seat, now vacant following the death of Alderman Carlton Merrill.)Here’s her announcement.
ALISON LEARY ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR WARD 1 ALDERMA
Newton, MA—Newton resident Alison Leary announces her candidacy today for Ward 1 Alderman. She is running to succeed Board President Scott Lennon who has stated that he will run for Ward 1 Alderman-at-Large in the upcoming special election.
“Though I have been impressed with the direction the City has been moving under the Warren Administration, I have some concerns about the high cost of living in Newton undermining the diversity and stability of residents of more modest means,” said Leary.
“We must ensure that all city residents continue to have access to top-notch public education. Our schools are the lifeblood of our community and inexorably intertwined with our economic health. Also open space, affordable housing and public safety are important issues that I would pursue as an Alderman from Ward 1.”
“My active involvement in Newton civic life has shown me that a committed group of individuals can have a tremendous positive impact on our city” said Leary. “I look forward to talking with Ward 1 residents over the next several months about the future of our city.”
Among the questions Alison Leary will be asking her Ward 1 neighbors:How can we be a brighter, more vibrant community?
How can we stimulate local business and sensible development?
How can we support our schools and our seniors?
How can live more efficiently and sustainably?Leary is a dedicated environmentalist and community leader. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Sierra Club. She also co-chairs the Environmental Committee for the League of Women Voters Newton and serves on the
oard of directors of the Newton Conservators.Professionally Alison has worked as an educator with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, as a case manager for a leading mental health and human services provider, and currently works part time for The Boston Globe as a digital products support specialist.
Alison Leary lives on Chapel Street with her husband Peter Mooradian. She has two young children attending Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School.
Oh G-D NO! OH NO!
With regards to Alison Leary’s concerns about the “high cost of living in Newton” her program will do nothing but exacerbate this.
Based on conversations I have had with people in Newton this is what Alison wants to establish in the City of Newton:
* Water bottle Tax (fee to consumers)
* Paper bag Tax (fee to consumers)
* Plastic bag Tax (fee to consumers)
* PAYT -Pay as you throw for trash. (fee to consumers)
Joshua – You’re assuming we consumers don’t already pay for the items on your list. Why is PAYT bad? We all pay for trash removal (it’s rolled into our property taxes). With PAYT consumers can reduce their trash bill, because they only pay for the trash they throw out. It’s just like gas or water – would you rather pay an average of all Newton gas users bills or just pay for the gas your household uses?
Ditto for the plastic/paper bag tax. Consumers are already paying for plastic and paper bags, it’s rolled into their grocery bill. That’s why some stores give rebates when you bring your own bag.
I’m curious – how much do you project the water, paper and plastic ‘tax’es you list would cost the average Newton resident annually? Is it really worth the all caps alarm?
Lucia – co-chair of the LWV Environmental Committee and BIG Alison fan
I still cannot understand why so many people in Newton still consume bottled spring or filtered water when some of the best water anywhere comes out of the tap from Quabbin.
Another item on PAYT: Families that consume more (often more well off) also tend to generate more trash. Is this not a more progressive way of allocating the burden of trash removal?
How unoriginal… only water bottles, plastic and paper bags, and trash? Isn’t there something else to tax we aren’t (or ARE) already being charged for… The good news it that if we aren’t already paying it Newton will elect progressive lawmakers who will conjure a way to get you to pay twice for it (trash removal, water bottle ‘management’, carry-out bag ‘management’).
Chris, Newton has already started a PAYT fee schedule for those who have excess trash: $2.25 per orange bag and $200.00 per year for a second blue barrel.
When Newton implements a fee for the first blue barrel and the green ones, trash collection will no longer be included within our property taxes as Lucia indicates it currently is included.
I’m always glad to see new people stepping up to run for office. I’d like to see every race contested. Democracy means nothing when a candidate wins by default. Congratulations and thank you to Ms. Leary.
@Bob– I think most people are buying the convenient package, not the water. Personally, I’m concerned about drinking tap water in excess. A few years ago I had to replace the main water line to my home. The inside of the old pipe had so much calcification that it had narrowed to the thickness of a pencil. So I’m concerned about mineral deposits infiltrating tap water after it’s left on its journey from the Quabbin. I’m also concerned about older pipes inside the home that may have been welded together with lead.
@Lucia– I don’t get it. How can consumers reduce their trash bill with PAYT? Right now we don’t get a trash bill, because [as you wrote] it’s included in our property taxes. Are you suggesting property taxes will be reduced with PAYT?
Lucia and Mike, I believe that Alison Leary and folks like her aren’t planning on reducing property taxes in exchange for PAYT and her laundry list of other taxes.
Janet, please tell me that Alison doesn’t stand a chance in Ward 1!
Chris, I couldn’t trust Alison and folks like her with the idea of reducing property taxes in exchange for PAYT and other user fees. Most likely, someone like Alison will seek to increase taxes as well as institute PAYT.
@Josh– Maybe you’re right. But why not give Ms. Leary a chance to state her own positions, rather than jumping to conclusions? I share your concern about PAYT, without a corresponding decrease in property taxes.
@MikeStriar
Are you high? Corresponding property tax decrease in Newton with PAYT?? LMAO! Thanks for the afternoon laugh!
The TAB might want to correct it’s statement regarding Allan Ciccone Sr. I believe he is the father of “Jay” Ciccone and not his son!
Mike, I’m going to have to defer to Janet Sterman on this one. She’s the Ward 1 Democrat Chairperson and as such I can rely on her to analyze and evaluate local candidates.
That’s what I like about Janet. That’s why we have a great rapport. I can analyze and evaluate city financial statements and she can analyze and evaluate civic affairs, policies and personalities.
Hi, now that I’m off work I can comment.
Joshua,”Oh G-D NO! OH NO!
Wow, I’m impressed I can inspire that kind of reaction in somebody. I didn’t think you even knew I existed, never mind already have my agenda set up for me.
I didn’t think I had written down a long list of tax increases in my press release. …
Actually, I think the tax increase boat has sailed. And we are all on it. Now, the hard work begins. And you, and Janet and myself and many others will work together to make sure that the money is spent on what it is suppose to be spent, and that we squeeze every efficiency we can out of each dollar.
I don’t think a blog is the best way to get into details about my “program”, and it is only March for God’s sake. But I will be reaching out to all in Ward 1 about the direction of the City; the priorities, the problems, and what some of the solutions might be. I invite you Joshua and anyone else to call me and we can set up a time to meet. I am very open to all thoughts and ideas.
I am in favor of an expanded bottle bill, if that’s what you mean about a fee on bottled water? But that is a statewide issue. I have not proposed a fee on water bottles, as they are already a colossal waste of money all on their own. Bob Burke is absolutely right, we have some of the best water, coming from the pristine Quabbin reservoir.
Yes, I would like to see single use plastic bags phased out, and encourage consumers to bring their own re-usable bags. And the best way to do it is to add a fee, or stop offering them altogether. (Washington DC has a very effective program). The idea is not to raise revenue, (in fact I would propose the retailer keep the fee, not the City), but to change consumer behaviors. Our disposable culture has to change.
Regarding trash, Newton spends some 6 million dollars a year on waste disposal. The cost of disposing of trash will only to continue to go up. How do we reduce costs? Expand recycling rates and encouraging re-use (The City actually has a great swap program at Rumford Avenue ) are key components. I think there are opportunities to save money in trash. But, I have not heard anyone say that PAYT will reduce property taxes. I can talk about the sister Towns of Hamilton -Wenham who instituted a PAYT program saving the Town of Hamilton alone $110,000 in the first year. But that’s a longer conversation.
Thank you Mike for encouraging new candidates, and for giving me a chance to state my own positions.
Janet, I would encourage you to give me some competition in Ward 1 by declaring your candidacy. You and I will never see eye to eye. But democracy does not work without people like yourself, as well as Joshua and others who hold elected officials feet to the Fire, and demand the best from our City officials. That is the way it is suppose to be.
@Janet– Glad I made you chuckle. I’ll be playing at the Comedy Connection all weekend. Remember to tip the bartenders and waitresses. lol
Alison, I’ve seen your profile. Plus I’ve heard about you from a number of Ward 1 Democrats.
You supported three extravagantly expensive property tax increases in order to underwrite more government spending by the City of Newton.
“The cost of disposing of trash will only to continue to go up.” Actually, the cost of waste disposal has remained relatively stable from 2009 to 2012. The reason why the cost of waste disposal has been stable since 2009 is because we aren’t relying on the same entity (government worker unions) to handle waste disposal as we do our other city services. We opened up municipal waste disposal to competition, the costs have remained stable and we have a great service. What was the catalyst behind this? The catalyst was competition.
2009
http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/37253
2012
http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/46185
“I am in favor of an expanded bottle bill, if that’s what you mean about a fee on bottled water?”
I’m opposed to it because it represents more unfunded regulatory mandates that small-businesses have to deal with.
“Yes, I would like to see single use plastic bags phased out, and encourage consumers to bring their own re-usable bags.
And the best way to do it is to add a fee, or stop offering them altogether.”
Otherwise known as a tax
http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1320:tax-tax-tax-now-they-want-your-grocery-bags&catid=63:beyond-the-rhetoric&Itemid=8
“But, I have not heard anyone say that PAYT will reduce property taxes.” And I’m opposed to the idea of a PAYT on top of the current level of property taxes.
Janet, I urge you to do whatever you can to help Allan Ciccone, Sr. to win. Don’t take Alison’s bait.
As I have said before, it’s more like “pay-as-you-throw-up”. When Newton went to automated trash removal, we could have gone with PAYT. At that time we instituted expensive garbage bags with the Newton City Seal on it for “overflow” trash. I would like to know what additional cash will flows to Newton’s operating budget when we starting paying for trash removal as a fee per household. (Are we currently getting paid for our recyclables?)
Joshua,
Not sure where you got your info…. Newton contracted out trash disposal years ago. I would have to ask Elaine Gentile the exact year. We no have not paid extravagant salaries to “government worker unions” to collect our trash in maybe 20 years. But that is only a small part of the reason that the City has held down trash disposal costs.
The City of Newton enjoyed a favorable twenty-year manual trash collection contract, which ended June 30, 2008. Automated trash collection and single stream recycling started in April 2009 (the pilot in October 2008), which has kept costs down by encouraging more recycling, as well as saved money with “avoided tipping fees”, and increased efficiency (One man per truck), and reduces on the job injuries (Less getting out of the truck, less lifting).
Trash collection is down 4,000 tons since 2008, which is about a 25% reduction. The city pays to tip about 20,000 tons of trash, and 11,000 tons of recycling. Recycling is up about 7%. Our overall recycling rate is about 52%, which is better than average for a non-pay-as-you-throw community (this info from a recent meeting with Elaine Gentile and Courtney Forester).
Janet, last I checked we were not getting paid for our recyclables, as the market really took a hit with the recession, but we do avoid the more expensive tipping fees, which is significant, and the markets will eventually recover.
Very few households actually use the orange overflow bags. Its really a non-issue. Bulk pickup is still free (couches, clean-outs), for about 5 items/week. White goods, Metals, electronics are $12, no matter the volume–these get recycled.
The State is running out of landfill space, that is what I meant about the cost of disposing of trash will only continue to go up. So far, good management and pro-active policies have made costs more manageable here in Newton.
Yes I support “taxes” that actually save consumers and cities and towns money, like the expanded Bottle Bill.
Yes, I think throw away disposable plastics are a huge problem in the environment and we need to do something to avoid their use. Voluntary programs are not effective.
Joshua, try talking to me directly, instead of a “number or Ward 1 Democrats”. I’m happy to discuss any city wide issue with you, (I don’t believe you are in Ward 1). My cell phone is 617-821-5619.
Kind Regards,
Alison
Alison, based on your support for the three recent property tax increases as well as your support for PAYT waste disposal, grocery bag taxes and an expanded (statewide) bottle bill, I have to tell you that it will be difficult for you to convince me to change my support from Allan Ciccone Sr to you.
I think you missed the point I was trying to make about competition and municipal waste collection. The point I was trying to make was that competition has helped keep the cost of municipal waste collection from skyrocketing. Competition has made it so that it is cheaper to buy the service rather than do it ourselves. If only we could introduce competition to other areas of government. Let’s see what we could buy with our tax dollars from someone other than the monopolistic source we buy the bulk of our city services from now. I think we can achieve great savings.
“Joshua, try talking to me directly, instead of a “number or Ward 1 Democrats”.”
They helped provide me information about you, which you have confirmed based on your posts. I did what Custer should have done, I sent scouts.
“We have not paid extravagant salaries to “government worker unions” to collect our trash in maybe 20 years”
No, but we pay generous salaries and benefits to government worker unions in other areas of city government.
Allison, the “Great Swap Program at Rumford” is run by volunteers, not the City. The City begrudgingly allows it to happen once a year.
Thanks Barbara for that info about the “great Swap program”. I’m surprised to hear that the City isn’t more enthusiastic about it. I know about the website; http://www.2good2waste.org/newton/ , which is an online swap. I would certainly be willing to work with Courtney and Elaine, and the volunteers on ways to improve the program.
Joshua, I did not miss your point about competition. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of it in the trash hauling/waste disposal business. Waste Management is the big player around here. The real savings in trash are the three “R”. Re-use, reduce. recycle.
No doubt competition can help save money, but the City already puts many contracts out to bid and has renegotiated contracts resulting in considerable savings. Could we do better? Maybe we could. We should be re-evaluating our contracts and purchases regularly. By the way, what are the “monopolistic sources” that you are referring to?
Regarding my support for the three overrides; it would have cost us even more if we didn’t pass them. We throw good money after bad when all we do is run around putting out fires. I am particularly concerned about the state of our elementary schools, which are overcrowded and literally falling apart, and our water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure.
My children’s school, Lincoln Eliot, had no heat on one of the coldest days of the year, the teachers ‘lounge is now a classroom, and we experienced sewage back up on election day a couple of years ago. It is not even a priority school. I grew up in Newton and attended the public schools. I want my two children to have the same excellent education and opportunities as I did some 40 years ago, but not necessarily the same heating system and gym floor.
Like others, I am frustrated about the misguided decisions that resulted in deferred maintenance and the selling off our neighborhood schools that contributed to this hole we’re in. But I’m convinced that a “no” overrides would have only continued the decline, and end up costing us more in additional costs, lost opportunities for State funding, even reduced property values.
Sometimes we don’t recognize the importance of a moment or a decision
when it happens — only in hindsight does it become obvious. Our challenge is to get people to have foresight , and realize the long term impacts of the decisions we make today.
Measures like the bottle bill are not taxes. You get you money back when you return the bottle. And they save cities and towns money. According to MA DEP data an updated bottle bill would save communities an estimated $7 million per year in combined trash collection and disposal costs.
@Alison– I also supported the overrides, and agree with your assessment. It’s very likely we will need to have more debt exclusions in the near term future to address some of the other school buildings. If the City implements PAYT without a corresponding reduction in property taxes, then PAYT would in effect be another tax increase. If the City increases taxes in that way, it hurts the likelihood of passage for future overrides. So here’s a question… If you had to choose between PAYT and an override to fix Lincoln-Eliot, which would you choose?
Alison, WRT “By the way, what are the “monopolistic sources” that you are referring to?”
I was referring to the government employee unions.
“I am particularly concerned about the state of our elementary schools, which are overcrowded and literally falling apart”
Overcrowding in schools? I’m concerned we have 538 non-resident students attending Newton Public Schools.
I’m concerned that people want to sweep this issue under the rug
I’m concerned that the 538 non-resident student population is slightly higher than the FY 2013 enrollment for Bigelow Middle School.
http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/sites/default/files/users/44/superintendent%27s%20proposed%20fy14%20budget.pdf
I’m concerned that this is close to the combined projected enrollment for Ward and Williams in FY 2014
I’m concerned that the number of non-resident staff kids attending Newton Public Schools has more than doubled in the last 10 years.
I’m concerned that the pro-override crowd claimed that 538 non-resident kids didn’t represent a material cost yet a few hundred more Newton kids required $9.2M/year in additional spending for new staff, short-term space and new buildings beyond the Prop 2.5 limits.
“Measures like the bottle bill are not taxes.”
I thought I made it clear that they represent an unfunded mandate and a new cost to the business community.
http://www.nationalbcc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1320:tax-tax-tax-now-they-want-your-grocery-bags&catid=63:beyond-the-rhetoric&Itemid=8
I disagree about bottle bill not being taxes. If it walks like a duck and swims likes a duck… Now the state government wants their $0.02 on bottled water. Let the bottler’s pay the fees for their choice in bottling. The Bottle Bill just sticks it to the consumer, IMO. I can only speak for myself, but I never buy bottled water and am a frequent recycle-r as I pick up so much of this type of trash in Newton’s streets and parks.
Hi Mike thanks for your question. (Pay As You Throw (PAYT) VS. a Tax Override?).
I would not support a tax override for renovations to Lincoln Eliot. First, we just passed one, which was a difficult and divisive here in parts of Ward 1, and though I know the community supports the school, people also need to support themselves.
One of the reasons I supported this particular override was because it will help all Newton schools. It will provide money to hire more teachers across the board, and the maintenance and repair money currently being drained by the three worst schools will be freed up for improvements to the other buildings. Lincoln Eliot is on the capital improvement plan (CIP) for roof, windows and boiler replacement. I feel confident the school will get much needed attention, and I certainly will be an advocate for it.
The key to re-building our infrastructure is good planning and keeping overall costs down to free up money for repairs. A PAYT program could be a part of this plan. Could PAYT reduce property taxes? I don’t know the answer, but it is something I would certainly investigate.
Joshua, the City has renegotiated its contracts with all 17 collective bargaining units to bring increases in line with revenue growth, saving the city $178 million over the next five years. Zero-based budgeting will save $15 million over the next 2-1/2 years. The City re-negotiated a natural gas contract that will save about $500,00, and also entered into a 3-year electric contract, creating 100 percent green energy.
OPEB liability dropped by $40 million over the last year and the city is requiring set asides from new employee salaries to handle their future obligations.
We are on the right track.
Alison, WRT “I would not support a tax override for renovations to Lincoln Eliot.”
I don’t support PAYT or a tax override for renovations to Lincoln-Eliot, even though I went there myself. I have found a number of fiscally flabby items in the city’s budget and I don’t believe that anyone should be talking about new taxes or increasing property tax rates until they are addressed.
“The key to re-building our infrastructure is good planning and keeping overall costs down to free up money for repairs. A PAYT program could be a part of this plan. Could PAYT reduce property taxes? I don’t know the answer, but it is something I would certainly investigate.”
As much as I like to pursue research-oriented projects, this is something I would have to defer to you personally as I have a number of projects I need to attend to myself.
“saving the city $178 million over the next five years. Zero-based budgeting will save $15 million over the next 2-1/2 years.” If Setti Warren saved $178M, then why has annual spending increased from $287.5M in 2010 to $312M in 2013 and is expected to reach $386M in 2018?
“The City re-negotiated a natural gas contract that will save about $500,00,” I think Aubrey McClendon and hydraulic fracturing has more to do with that. All the city did was take advantage of lower gas prices. Ordinary companies do this as a regular, ordinary occurrence. I would expect Newton to have done this and I would not give any special credit for Newton for doing it.
“OPEB liability dropped by $40 million over the last year and the city is requiring set asides from new employee salaries to handle their future obligations.” But OPEB increased from $532M in 2010 to $639M in 2011 before it made its vaunted $38M decline from 2011 to 2012.
Allison, since you brought it up, what did the city do to cut 40M off of OPEB? Making new employees pay in the future I wouldn’t think effects this number? My guess is the rate of healthcare increase dropped, which is hardly the city’s doing.