It was exactly years ago today — May 19, 2009 — that Newton Alderman (now City Councilor) Lenny Gentile delivered his most notorious City Hall floor speech.
Videos didn’t go viral in 1990 the way they do now. But Gentile’s “SOMERVILLE!!??? Why not Everett? Or Chelsea?” rant sparked editorials, video parodies. and even editorial cartoons…
If my memory serves me right, Gentile was upset on that day by suggestions that Newton could benefit from following some of Somerville’s best practices when it came to zero sum budgeting.
But Gentile’s disdain for Somerville, Everett and Chelsea — three communities with large numbers of blue collar and immigrant populations — touched a nerve in other ways. It felt elitist and snobbish, the implication being Newton was too smart to learn from these lesser communities.
Somerville, of course, has transformed itself, from its Slummerville days and has become regarded as a well-run, forward-thinking and hip pace to live. And ironically perhaps, Gentile has emerged as an advocate Newton’s blue collar residents of late, which of course was at the core, a big part of the image of the three communities he was dismissing on that day.
Meanwhile, Somerville is still used as a dog whistle in Newton’s housing debate (As in, “We don’t want Newton to become the next Somerville”) to flag concerns about about race, diversity and poor people moving to the Garden City.
Every bit as cringe-worthy as it was 10 years ago.
It was out-of-touch then and it’s out-of-touch now. Somerville was already very solidly gentrified in 2009. We should be so lucky to have the kind of busy vibrant squares overflowing with top-notch restaurants, small businesses (not banks) and creative retail that they do over there.
Shame on you for talking like that about Somerville, and for comparing your dumb city to Cambridge.
Who said anything about Newton having concerns about diverse and poor people moving in?? That’s a bit of reach…and frankly insulting.
Matt,
You must be imagining things because Greg tells us those types of accusations not happen on this blog…. 🙂
I am a member of the “You Know You’re from Newton When…” Facebook group because I like seeing the old pictures of Newton, but there are a lot of people in that group who are complaining about how the development and low income housing will bring in crime. I only stay in the group because the old pictures are cool, but there are some vile comments in there.
I have had it up to HERE with this carping about “the need for housing” which is nothing but shoddy cover for gentrification via luxury apartments that the rest of us (ESPECIALLY those blue collar and poor persons you reference (who are being driven OUT of Somerville and others by this very same process!!!) can’t afford. And who would want to? Cheap flammable boxes thrown up overnight (intentional metaphor). I’ll pass on this punch, thanks.