Newton Mayor Setti Warren has been spending time meeting with Newtonville business this week to listen to their concerns and answer their questions about the Austin Street project. Here’s a few images from his Twitter feed…
Always good to see my friends at the @RoxDiner! Great chatting with Paul the owner this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/zaXljBIalF
— Setti Warren (@MayorWarren) October 29, 2015
Had a great time speaking with customers and staff at @ghowellcoffee in #newtonville today! pic.twitter.com/xoNF6Iv2AX
— Setti Warren (@MayorWarren) October 29, 2015
Really enjoyed stopping by and chatting with the crew at #greatharvestbread in #Newtonville today #NewtonMA pic.twitter.com/pSjgwgdr3E
— Setti Warren (@MayorWarren) October 29, 2015
Chatting with the staff at @GoodwillIntl at Austin Street lot in @Newtonville this afternoon. #NewtonMA pic.twitter.com/3jnWcE88ql
— Setti Warren (@MayorWarren) October 29, 2015
Chatting with the terrific staff at @CityPizzanewton in #Newtonville this afternoon #NewtonMA pic.twitter.com/d1CUtTVjlb
— Setti Warren (@MayorWarren) October 29, 2015
Nothing like a stop at @CabotsIceCream on a beautiful day! Thanks to Joe and the team for all you do for the City! pic.twitter.com/LaO3NVHWXJ
— Setti Warren (@MayorWarren) October 29, 2015
He should do that atleast once per year.
I am actually pleased to see Setti out more than he had been. His support at the recent Highlands MBTA meeting and comments at the EDC Awards presentation was good for Retail Politics.
Mayor Warren has done a good job opening the doors of City Hall to businesses and organizing quarterly business meetings in the rotunda and at the library.
I agree with Groot. It’s also great to see him meeting one-on-one with Newtonville’s small businesses. There’s been so much misinformation about the Austin Street project. Merchants deserve a change to be heard and to ask questions.
I had scripted out a long editorial cartoon to appear in two weeks about a certain well-traveled, disengaged Mayor. Edited and polished it.
Throw that idea out the window now.
Setti needed to talk to business owners in Newtonville long ago. He needs to talk to them now because many business owners are very concerned about the negative impact of this development on Austin St. The proposed traffic changes alone will have a significant disruption of traffic especially if Bram Way is closed to traffic and Austin St. is made one way going west. Also, there is a proposal to install a light at Newtonville Ave and Walnut to mitigate safety concerns. These are dramatic changes which will deter people from coming to N’ville.
Well the real question is whether he’s listening.
@Colleen – why do you think adding the traffic light will deter people from coming to Newtonville? Personally, it will make me more likely to drive through that section of Walnut rather than detouring around it. I find it difficult to adequately split my attention between the cars in front of me, those trying to merge or turn, and the pedestrian crossing and have been wishing for years that there were a stop light.
@Greg,
I agree , “… There’s been so much misinformation about the Austin Street project”. Including this mayors hair brained scheme at allowing 50 cars to park on the construction site. I hope this was a part of his dialogue with the business owners he visited., because when the Genersl Contractor for the job pulls the plug on that idea the lights will come on as to just how ingenuine he can be.
@Blueprint: If you attended last night’s Land Use Committee meeting you would have had the opportunity to see how the 50 car accommodation would be managed. I’m sure you will also be comforted to know that the construction workers will be “required” to park at Aquinas. I mention both these items because I know you’ve been stressed about them. Hope you can can have a more enjoyable relaxing weekend knowing this!
It is great to see the mayor talking up the project.
Do you think Mayor Warren was talking to the staff in Goodwill truck about the all the ‘stuff’ they’ll be getting when the area small businesses close?
Better late than never to be touching base with the business owners. Great public relations can sometimes sell a poor policy. Unfortunately, when the PR campaign ends, the fallout from the poor policy remains.
I don’t know who they are, but I received a mailing from “The Garden City Coalition” today.
It says “Keeping the garden in the “Garden City” and talks about how urbanizing housing policies threaten the balance. Very well done.
What’s most interesting about the mailing is that the listed endorsements seem to be 100% policy (rather than personality) based and includes many incumbents and well as newbies and challengers. (I’m one of those endorsed as well…thank you)
Usually we see a more ‘old school vs new school’ but this appears to be a very broad range of people who are not normally on the same slate/list. I think it speaks in part to how critical a threat increased density is to the city.
Alan, the Goodwill truck will be gone when the construction commences according to the current proposal by ASP . Maybe the mayor was saying “goodbye” to the staff.
@Patrick: I recognize that the Austin project has been upsetting to you and that there’s NOT ONE THING that you like about it. But I have some small good news: My understanding is Goodwill has identified a new location for its truck and reportedly is very happy about the new site. I will leave it to them to make the announcement but perhaps your weekend will be just a tiny bit more cheerful knowing this.
Has anyone ever said this Mayor doesn’t know how to play politics? He’s a professional politician, and clearly knows how to play the game. But I’m interested in two things… First, who took the photos? Because when viewed collectively, the whole thing seems very staged. More importantly, what did these business owners say to the Mayor about the proposed Austin Street project, and did they know their photos would be used for political purposes?
The Garden City Alliance doesn’t show up on a Google search. Of greater concern is that the Garden City Alliance is a PAC that hasn’t filed with the OCPF (Office of Campaign & Political Finance). This is 4 days before an election and a PAC that has not filed with OCPF has sent out a mailer that must have cost thousands of dollars and we don’t know who funded it.
A lot of lists are flying around this week. You win some and you lose some when you throw your hat into the ring, but I’m proud to say that my name is only on lists from people or organizations that are open and transparent as to who they are.
@Mike,
I heard a dinosaur or two were part of the pack.
Charlie and Jane:
I am equally as curious about the Garden City Coalition. But I don’t share Charlie’s view of the PAC as somehow middle ground. I got the mailer as well. They endorsed EVERY SINGLE challenger. No incumbents. None.
Charlie you state:
“What’s most interesting about the mailing is that the listed endorsements seem to be 100% policy (rather than personality) based and includes many incumbents and well as newbies and challengers. (I’m one of those endorsed as well…thank you)
Usually we see a more ‘old school vs new school’ but this appears to be a very broad range of people who are not normally on the same slate/list. I think it speaks in part to how critical a threat increased density is to the city.”
So basically they endorse a few incumbents that are running unopposed (but not all incumbents) and that somehow makes this a mailer that is cut from a different cloth than the NVA? Charlie, did that just escape your notice in your excitement that this unknown group recommended you as well? ;-) The fact that they endorsed every single member of the NVA slate? Still think this is a broad range? C’mon Charlie, you are better than that, as you occasionally say to Greg (occasionally well deservedly so…)
And Jane, I agree completely. PACs with unknown members and supporters sending out mailings right before the election reeks. Reeks.
And Charlie, the mailer that states that “Newton is one of the best places to live in this country. Urbanizing housing policies threaten that balance.” I connect that directly with the editorial we all talked a great deal about. That is a pretty loud dog whistle.
Can we, either before or after the election, figure out who this group is? Does anyone know Lisa Thorson? Lisa is listed as Chairman and Treasurer. Can anyone from NVA publicly state that they aren’t connected to the group and didn’t coordinate with them? How about candidates they endorsed?
And just to clarify, the mailer did endorse some incumbents. They just happened to be in races without challengers. Pretty nice cover for recommending the NVA slate.
Geez. Gail, I’m really torn about Jake for this reason. The more I see his name on these types of mailings, the more the NVA supports him, the less I feel like he is independent. I’d love some new blood on the Board. But I’m really opposed to this type of political manipulation.
@Fig: Jake has not asked for NVA’s support and, in fact, I think he’s trying to distance himself from them. My take is that the only reason they are glomming onto him is that they realize he might be the only challenger to win and they desperately need a victory. If this is your reason for not voting for Jake, you are allowing NVA to manipulate you.
Hey look, it looks like the leader of the PAC has written letters to the TAB supporting Lynne LeBlanc on September 7 2015….
Look, I’ve got no objection to folks opposing Austin Street. I think Jeffrey P. and Matthrew and others have been great to talk to. I might even vote for Jake. But this type of bull in a local election really makes me mad.
If the Garden City Coalition had come out and said “we support the challengers” instead of just our issue is urbanization, I wouldn’t mind. I welcome the NVA to the political process. But this type of dark money is poisoning our larger political system, and I hate this stuff in Newton local elections.
@fig
If it makes you feel better I didn’t got one :-(
Do they have a website or can somebody provide a link to a copy of it?
Simon, I only got mind today. Maybe you’ll get lucky tomorrow!
Jane, it would appear that a local PAC (Garden City Coalition)does not register with the state, but with the local election official. Who gets to call first Monday morning?
I don’t believe this is correct, based on conversations I had with the communications person at the Office of Campaign and Political Finance a couple of months ago. Organizations that spend money campaigning for candidates are supposed to register as a PAC with the state. The Garden City Coalition does not appear to have done so.
I’m going to come out and say this. I am PROUD not to be endorsed by these PAC’s. I’m an independent who represents the views of the people not the views of the special interest/PAC. I am proud that I am not endorsed by the NTA, NVA, Dems, NCC. While I may miss out in some votes, I hope to have the support of the independents/unenrolled in the city. I don’t need anyone’s money and my vote and issues will be what I think is best for the city, not a SPECIAL interest group. All I want is the endorsement of you, the people.
@fignewtonville. Have you talked to Jake in person yet? In not, you are the last person in Newton to do so! He gave out his cell number in his Tab op-ed. There is no reason to be torn. Call him. He is a straight shooter.
I don’t call myself a Newton Street opposer (although compared to you, I am). I am against, in general, efforts by the government to bend zoning to fit a politicians view of what the “right” mix of housing stock is. That being said, something needs to be done with the parking lot. No solution exists that will make everyone happy. I don’t pretend to know the right solution. Newton bends zoning all of the time, if someone put a gun to head and said that I needed to pick between bending zoning with Austin Street versus another project, I might pick Austin Street.
I think PACs have no place in local elections because anyone who is against “urbanization” from anywhere can contribute to them. This well-worded mailing may have convinced some residents of its broad appeal as Charlie is pushing. Including incombents, who are not being challenged, is a good tactic. Although Charlie stressing this mailing is supporting candidates but is “policy based” helps lend credibility too. I’d like to know what challengers have been supported because of their “personality” because it seems to me its always been about policy, this one particular policy.
The thing about Jake always being included is puzzling to me. I haven’t heard him so much as distance himself from NVA candidates as much as just adding nuance to his opposition to Austin Street. He has had every opportunity to say he would support a development on Austin Street if it were (whatever he considers) a better deal for Newton. He could specifically say he does not support the anti-growth stance of the NVA. He could ask them not to include him in their endorsements and propaganda. Instead he benefits from the PAC mailing and their other marketing efforts and, like a good politician, leaves the door open to speculation. And yes I have talked to him personally. So this is all I know about Jake: he is a consummate politician with connections and campaign backing but he also works hard, is personable seeming to work well with others and is experienced in many ways that could benefit our BOA.
Adam – I incorrectly named the group in my post. I think it’s safe to assume that someone has already called City Hall.
Gail, the OCPF FAQ (Quick Answers->PACs) as well as the form seem pretty clear that registration is with the municipality.
I’ve never seen the name Lisa Thorson before, but today I visited Oak Hill’s facebook page, which I belong. As I was looking at some post I saw a post from Lisa Thorson. Therefore, I have to assume Lisa is from or near Oak Hill Park.
Adam – Following campaign finance law is a PAC’s and a candidate’s legal responsibility.
Local Political Action Committees
PACs concerned only with candidates in a specific city or town. These PACs organize and file periodic reports with their local election officials.
On the OCPF home page under Getting Started
Jane, I’m confused by your replies to Adam about PACs being required to register in the city and suggesting many will call city hall Monday morning.
Are you saying you know the PAC did not register with the City and has broken campaign finance law?
“Safe to assume someone has already called city hall.” “PACs legal responsibility.”
Marti – It was Adam who said many people will be calling City Hall on Monday. Following Campaign Finance Law is a legal responsibility, and one that every candidate and PAC should take seriously. It could very well be that the Garden City Alliance is in compliance with the law – my intent was to communicate that it’s a serious responsibility and I certainly hope that this group has registered with the City.
My apologies if my responses appeared clipped or unclear. It’s the final weekend before Election Day, time is running short, and candidates of all persuasions are working hard this weekend.
Clearly, it should be assumed that the Coalition is following the rules and that all other slates, groups, and individual candidates are as well.
It is unseemly to suggest otherwise without any tangible evidence and only acts to sidetrack attention from the real core issue: The strong public backlash against those who wish to actively create a more densely populated Newton rather than allow the city’s population to grow slowly and organically.
Awww. Charlie, you’re better than that. When an anonymous group emerges days before an election, especially in an age when it is really easy to be transparent. (i.e. create a website, a facebook page, comment on the local blogs, etc.) it is entirely “seemly” to question its secretiveness.
Charlie’s Shapiro has it right !
There is a lot of unfounded speculation about the legality , propriety, or even good manners of a group pulling together funds for a cause they believe in. Good journalism ? (Gail ?). Will a retraction be printed tomorrow if all was done on the up and up ?
oh wait,…no,.. this is a ” Blog ” ( a fitting descriptor ), where anyone can say / throw anything on the wall to see if it might stick. It’s not a pretty picture but we do want to have our way /say, anyway we can get it. It’s village 14 ! ” The Vile Blog” !
@Blueprint: It would be both “good manners” and appropriate for someone from the Garden City Coalition to post a comment here and share details about their group and philosophy. That wouldn’t end the questions about the legality but it could move the conversation back towards the substantive and away from the speculative.
Oh and, yes, “this is a ‘Blog.'” Guilty as charged. Although given your clear dislike for Village 14, I do wonder why you spend so much time here?
Charlie – As I mentioned, all candidates win some and lose some with the many lists flying around in the last week. I have no problem with that at all. People and groups should endorse candidates they feel comfortable with. My concern is with just one group about one concern (PAC status) out of the many groups/individuals making endorsements. As you know, candidates put time and effort in trying to report accurately their expenditures and funds received.
As a public employee, I have to be very careful about having even a hint of a connection to fund raising, so it could be that I’m more concerned with issues of campaign finance laws than others.
I’m off for the day – the last Sunday before Election Day! I hope this has clarified my concerns and, Marti, I promise not to post any unclear messages while on the run today.
Greg,
Why should the Coalition City, Alliance , Coalition ,whatever, post here.? Apparently everybody in town got their mailing? Their message is out.
The online Urban Dictionary” defines “Blog” as “A meandering blatantly uninteresting online diary that gives the author the illusion that people might be interested in their pathetic life, consisting of such riveting entries as ‘homework sucks’, and ‘ I slept till noon today’ “.
To which I might add ” I’m retired and I have a lot of spare time on my hands to waste on trying to protect what little investment I have left in this city from politicians and their acolytes whose personal agendas are threatening same.
@Greg-
That was slick. You changed it from questioning wrongdoing to questioning secrecy.
Of course it’s OK to question who funded the mailing. But it is not fine to accuse anyone of guilt unless you have evidence. Period.
It is of course the PAC’s responsibility to follow the rules. It’s also fine for citizens to check up on these things. Public records are there to be viewed by the public. I, for one, am not accusing anyone of anything, but I will be attempting to see what information is available on this group, and will post the results here. A last-minute mass mailing from a previously known PAC deserves at least a sanity check. If nothing else, it would clear up assertions made here (in good faith, I believe) that the group erred by not filing with the state.
PACs or Party Bosses have no role in local election.
I am also against Mayor fundraising for his campaign outside Newton, or using some of the sophisticated fundraising tools such as NGPVan or political consultants to manipulate me. I understand both these tactics were used in last mayoral election and for the over ride.
I guess its too much to ask to keep big and dirty politics out of Newton.
Charlie:
I think you are missing the bigger picture, intentionally. I think I was the first one to be upset at the Garden City Coalition mailer. There were several posts that questioned if they had filed correctly as a PAC. But those posts all stemmed from my initial “are you kidding me” post. And my post is about the use of dark money PACs in Newton politics. Legal? I’m sure. I’m sure they filed with whatever elected or city or state official they had to. It was a professional looking mailing, and it had a chairman listed and the usual PAC bells and whistles. Even if they didn’t, I don’t care.
What I care about, what the purpose of my post was, and what makes me upset about the mailing is that I don’t know who sponsored it, I don’t know who donated, and by the time I do, the election will be over. If Jake or Lynne or for that matter any candidate is being funded by a corporation or the Koch brothers or Govenor Baker or a church or NDCC I won’t know. I disagree with dark money on the national level, the state level, and now the local level. And this type of event, where money flows into an election from an unknown source the weekend before we vote has always seemed to me to be an abuse. Legal? Yes. Dirty? Yes. I don’t care who does it. Democrat or Republican.
So I think Greg was just taking the issue back to the beginning. Where you failed to take it btw, in your original post where you so boldly praised the non-partisan nature of the mailing, failing to mention it endorsed all the challengers and failing to mention the dark money PAC behind it. Just saying.
Charlie, I’ll post this in the dedicated thread, but apparently the forms required by the PAC weren’t filed until today. You know, the day before the election. You were outraged that folks were questioning this particular PAC without evidence. Well, evidence is now available.
As I don’t think you are part of the PAC, I don’t think you are the proper focus of this discussion. But I do want to point out that the folks who questioned whether this was on the up and up were correct to ask questions. Bad enough this is dark money, at the very least they can file the proper paperwork before they clutter up my mailbox…