Setti Warren’s State of the City: ‘We have to think big’

by | Mar 17, 2015 | Newton | 5 comments

Newton Mayor Setti Warren’s State of the City speech last night was built on the theme of thinking big and thinking long term.

…. we have to think big, not just about making the right decisions for today’s citizens, but for those that come after us, 20 to 30 years from now. To do this we must be responsible stewards of our finances, infrastructure, environment, education, and public safety

5 Comments

  1. Paul
    Paul on March 17, 2015 at 10:23 am

    Yup– Setti Warren is thinking big and long-term alright– for himself.

    He’s been verifiably dishonest and non-transparent about Austin St.

    He shuts down a process for housing when it impacts the potential wealthy backers of his future campaigns (Waban), but does the opposite in Austin St. when his financial backers happen to be pro-development (Dinosaur).

    He’s a hypocrite looking out for himself– that’s the only common thread between his positions in Waban and Austin St.

    I ask any of his supporters to suggest otherwise.

    Newton doesn’t need Setti Warren.

  2. NativeNewtonian
    NativeNewtonian on March 17, 2015 at 11:35 am

    All one needs to do is take a look at the staffing (or lack thereof) in Setti Warren’s City Hall to know how “successful” he has been. As City employees continue to leave at an alarming rate, even Warren’s supporters should be starting to question what the heck is going on there.

  3. tomsheff
    tomsheff on March 17, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    I share your frustration with our current Mayor. I feel bad everyday since he won that I got involved in his campaign in 2009, but it doesn’t do any good to keep complaining about him. Find someone who can beat him and in 3 yearsrun him/her (that was for Emily Norton, lol) and bite your tongue until then. It doesn’t do anyone any good if we just complain over and over again it makes us all look petty (which I know we’re not). Just suck it up and in 1-2 years find someone who will beat him.
    I’m not saying you can’t constructively criticize him (no one is above criticism) just stick it out.

  4. Blueprintbill
    Blueprintbill on March 17, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    “We have to think big”. Why big ? What’s so important about grandiosity ? Why not just THINK,… about what is happening right around us right now. About the traffic jambs, leaking buildings, rotten streets and sidewalks, dying trees, loss of existing affordable housing, sewer backups, loss of the Garden City’s inherent character, etc etc and how these issues might be rectified. It seems to me a bit presumptious , ( narcissistic ? ), to assume one might be able to predict , impose ones will on, and design for the future 20 or 30 years . This sounds like monument building talk. ‘ How can I leave my mark? ‘. Forget about todays citizens, their sensibilities, their problems. They dont count, think about how my reputation can be secured or enhanced, think about what future position I might occupy. Maybe Secretary of HUD under a Clinton, then maybe governor,.. like Andrew Cuomo ? Maybe if I build “800 housing units” for eastern Massachusetts, my resume might qualify me?

  5. tomsheff
    tomsheff on March 17, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    He’s starting to take responsibility for the state of the city. No comments regarding Mayor Mann or Mayor Cohen’s administration