Just after Ward 5 City Councilor John Rice announced that he will not seek reelection in 2019, local activist Bill Humphrey has tossed his hat into the ring.
Bill Humphrey is running for the Ward 5 City Council seat
by Greg Reibman | Jun 29, 2018 | City Council, City Council elections | 12 comments
Best luck Bill. It takes quite a courage to run for elected post, and keep the wheels of democracy turning.
I look forward to hearing your position on the proposed development in Ward 5 on Needham St.
I met Bill when he ran for governor’s council. I was waiting for my kids at the entrance to Drumlin Farm, where he was campaigning that day., on a progressive platform of social, economic & environmental justice. The chance meeting gave me an inkling that no one works harder to earn votes than Bill. And I came away impressed by Bill’s deep commitment to values I share.
The millennial generation is demanding a seat at the table with new energy to solve problems my generation has created and struggled to address. From affordable housing, & mobility choices for all, to clean energy, Bill speaks with the urgency of his imperiled generation, with solutions that will benefit future generations and us all.
Bill is an ideas guy with the heart of an activist. There’s nobody who will fight harder for the causes he believes in, and for Bill, those causes are equality for all, environmental justice, and the betterment of his hometown.
Newton will be well served if he is elected by his ward 5 neighbors.
I like Bill. I thought he would have been great on the Governor’s Council. He’d likely make an excellent City Councilor…
Bill would replace John Rice on the CC. John Rice has the worst track record on cannabis issues of any Newton councilor. Rice voted to ban medical marijuana. He voted to ban adult-use cannabis. He was one of three Councilors on Programs and Services that voted to send the opt out petition to the full Council, and he is the only City Councilor to have ever attended an anti medical marijuana rally…
I would not want to see Rice replaced by anyone with a similar anti-cannabis agenda. So I’d really appreciate hearing Bill Humphrey’s opinion on cannabis in general and on the petition to opt out in particular.
Nathan,
Due to newton’s proximity to Boston there will never be such a thing as affordable housing in Newton because prices here are relative to brookline and the city of boston.
If crime increases or schools degrade significantly then of course newton could have a significant discount and become affordable.
Some ideas to at least help:
Newton provides a 10k dollar interest free loan to anyone to create an accessory unit. No interest as long as the unit is rented at 5% below market rate. This is the closet to rent control you can get
Any home on a 10k sq ft lot auto automatically is multi residence if a developer builds micro apartments
Residents who volunteer to tutor low income students in their home are entitled to 10% discount on their property taxes
.. alternatively pray for a deep jobs recession in Boston
Neil – If you mean the Northland site (and not just the Needham Street Vision things overall), I have been attending the presentations on it, but there are a lot of significant elements that don’t seem finalized enough yet for me to be able to say either way. Some of it looks great, and I am pretty skeptical about other elements. In broad terms it seems like it would be a good site for something along the general lines of what they have in mind, but again I have reservations about certain aspects that might still be revised. Beyond one particular proposal, I think folks know that I am a strong supporter of affordable housing and backed other recent proposals in Ward 5. We’ll have to see what the details look like as it gets closer to being finalized.
Mike – I voted for the state referendum to make it legal and regulated like alcohol, I opposed the delays, and I oppose the proposed local ban (the opt-out). I hope your family is doing well! I don’t think I’ve seen the kids since we were in high school together.
Awesome response, Bill. I will absolutely support your candidacy. I know you to be a genuinely progressive person, which is so critical in this day and age. Your reply to my cannabis related questions was truly encouraging. I’ll let my kids know you asked about them. All three are doing great.
I wish I could vote for Bill Humphrey. But he has my endorsement.
Thanks, Ted! You were next on my call list, but you beat me to the punch. (I will still set up a call soon anyway because I know you’re a well of experience and advice I can draw from.)
Bill,
I have a very straight-forward question: What do you propose to keep property taxes low, bearing in the mind the gigantic pension shortfall for Newton
I don’t believe property taxes are set by the City Council. We are stuck with prop 2 and 1/2 for now. Mayor Fuller campaigned on taking a serious look at Pension finances in the city. Bill is a smart progressive candidate and will be a super addition to the council in Ward 5.
This is not meant as a reflection on Bill but I never understood why folks endorse candidates before they know who else is running.