Understandably, there’s a lot of focus these days (including on this blog) on several large pending development projects that — love em or loath them — will dramatically alter our city.
Equally understandably, there’s a lot of focus on this November’s city council elections, given that Newton’s City Council controls the special permit process.
But –as I was reminded this morning when reading Amy Sangiolo’s excellent weekly Community and Government update newsletter — we’ll collectively be making a mistake if we make our ballot choices simply on how our councilors will vote on large developments.
Tonight’s council agenda, as noted by Sangiolo, offers a great example of the variety and types of issues councilors must consider:
- Potential shortening of the duration of the overnight parking ban. Yes – the City Council will be voting on this at their full council meeting TONIGHT – with the suggested dates of December 15th (instead of November 15) to April 1st (instead of April 15th). See Reports Docket
- Banks at Washington Place? Yes – that is scheduled to be voted on TONIGHT – despite a condition to prohibit banks at the site when the original special permit was granted. See Reports Docket and Land Use Committee Report.
- Zoning Amendment to change the Inclusionary Zoning requirements is scheduled to be voted on TONIGHT. See Reports Docket and the Zoning and Planning Committee Report.
- New Ordinance regarding Short-Term Rentals is scheduled to be voted on TONIGHT. See Reports Docket and the Zoning and Planning Report.
- Not sure what will happen with the Sidewalk Clearing Ordinance amendments with Finance failing to carry an approval vote yet two other committees- Public Facilities and the Public Safety and Transportation Committee voting in favor. See Reports Docket and the Finance Committee Report.
- Newton Early Childhood Program (NECP) to move to 687 Watertown Street – Former Horace Mann Elementary School – as City Council will vote on the 5-58 and Site Plan Approval TONIGHT. See Reports Docket and the Public Facilities Committee Report.
- Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance Amendments are scheduled to be voted on TONIGHT. The amendments include a new definition for “reusable bag” as well as a $0.10 fee on paper bags. See Reports Docket and Finance Committee Report
…and that’s not all. Before the council meeting at 7 p.m. the Committee of the Whole will meet to discuss and vote on the following items:
- Public Hearing on Request to amend the lease for the Brown Middle School Solar Project to replace the front canopy at the site with two canopies in the rear parking area
- Request for an Extension of Time to Act until September 17, 2019 on a petition to install a small cell wireless facility on an existing utility pole located in the right-of-way in the vicinity of 262 Beacon Street. (Installation includes: antenna, radio equipment, an electric meter, and cabling for fiber and power)
- Recommendation on the use of $700,000 for off-site improvements provided for in the Washington Place Special Permit as amended by Special Permit #216-18
With two weeks to go before nomination papers are due, it already looks like we’re going to have many contested at-large and ward council races. That’s great news. (And there’s still time to decide to run!) Then it will be up to all of us to ask all the candidates where they stand on an entire constellation of issues (and that won’t be easy given our current understaffed media landscape) and listen carefully to their answers.
I personally know three or four long time activists who are running for City Council,in part, to take issue with the proposed size of Riverside and/or Northland. These folks have all been deeply involved in civic activities and political campaigns for several years. They are anything but “One Trick Ponies” and they have a lot things to talk about. I don’t think any of them will try to ride a simple “one issue” campaign against development to victory because they know. (1) It probably wouldn’t be successful. (2) there are so many other pressing and contentious issues that both citizens and candidates across the board expect will be discussed and debated.
@Bob: I was actually concerned about our collective responsibilities as voters. not about the candidates.
I watched the city council meeting and was disappointed about
the sidewalk snow non vote. This is a terrible item and ought
to be defeated. Also, the shopping bag issue is ridiculous. I have seen many shoppers become irate over this and grab their goods and yell they won’t return because people expect bags to be provided.
There are so many councilors I would hope be replaced on the council. Riverside and Northland are 2 big issues but there are many additional reasons to vote out at least 8 of the current councilors.
– Of course the November elections will be a referendum on the new Mayor’s agenda.
– I’ve got my list and will be checking it twice.
– You sound scared, bro.
Colleen- based on what you are upset about, my eight are different from your eight, which is why it is great to have some contested elections!
Greg, as right as you are about not voting on single issues, I’d be delighted if some of the controversial issues that Newton has recently faced drive more people to pull papers, lead campaigns, and participate in our democratic elections process. A vibrant democracy thrives on having a wide marketplace of ideas. Some voters only care about one issue, but running candidates will quickly find they need a platform, not just one issue, to rally a successful campaign.
Does anyone know how any of these items played out? Is there a place to look?
Andrea, you have no accurate idea who I may support.
Which issues do you support? Can you rely on your supposed
candidates to vote in favor of your issues?
Colleen, I support the snow shoveling ordinance and the bag fee so if you are trying to replace the councillors that support issues such as those, that is opposite of what I would seek to do. I generally support most things that favor the environment including walkability, and tend to support the Councillors who also support the environment, and Councillors who are not afraid of change, and who look forward.
Colleen – How do you propose people who need to walk in the winter to get places manage without cleared sidewalks? Not everyone can drive (or should drive as we recently tragically learned). People walking in the road with cars is dangerous for the people walking, not the drivers. I see it every winter.
And please don’t suggest education or relying on the kindness of strangers to clear sidewalks. We’ve been trying that for 20+ years – it’s not working.
Clearing sidewalks is a mixed bag, in my opinion. I’ve walked in the street many times when the sidewalk was completely clear but covered with ice. Sometimes it’s easier to walk with an inch or two of snow rather than non at all. To do it right, you have to clear AND sand / salt. Just like the roads.
@Greg
You correctly note that the developments in question would dramatically alter the city. The other issues you mention? Not so much.
Sometimes one issue is important enough to overshadow the others.
We need a clear read on what our citizens want in terms of new development. You and others have argued against ballot initiatives. Now you’re arguing against choosing City Councilors on the basis over their support for new development. Why are you so afraid of Newton citizens having a clear say on this issue?
Its almost feels like someone is paying you to muddy the waters so that these developments sneak through even though they don’t have support of the citizenry. Oh wait…
@Paul: Flattering how you spend so much time here writing about me. Glad you think I’m having an impact.
But I’m not backing off my point because it’s an important one. Sidewalk mobility, overnight parking bans, inclusionary zoning, schools, sustainability and a lot of other issues that our councilors deliberate in committee and on the council floor matter a lot to a lot of Newton residents. I’m glad our city councilors take these issues seriously, even if you don’t.
To the many residents who believe in the snow sidewalk ordinance you are making a mistake regarding expensive fines.
In my neighborhood there are many homeowners who do not have concrete sidewalks and do not clear a walking path in front of their property. This is not right. The sidewalk ordinance as written is a flawed item and must be amended.
I grew up in Toronto where every sidewalk was plowed by the city.
There are some storms like those in 2015 that preclude snow removal. Ice storms are difficult. Snow plows recover sidewalks and pack the snow. Get rid of the $100. fine The city ought to plow many more sidewalks. This ordinance is not well written and especially when our taxes are so high.
I love a good sidewalk snow clearing conversation in the middle of July…
For years proponents have touted a residential snow clearing ordinance as a solution to passable sidewalks. At what point are these well intentioned folks going to realize an ordinance doesn’t work? Shifting a municipal responsibility onto the backs of homeowners is not the answer. The city needs to purchase more sidewalk clearing equipment and increase the snow removal budget. The Mayor and City Council should be held accountable for impassable sidewalks, not homeowners.
Making the town clear all of the sidewalks in a timely fashion would be an enormous undertaking requiring far more man power than it takes to clear the roads. On the road a plow can drive at 25mph the sidewalk machines maybe do 5mph.
I’m all for the sidewalk fines, plenty of people clearly pay their landscaper to only clear their driveway and they could care less about the kids walking in the streets. Perhaps some fines will change their mind. I just hope the town actually follows through and fines people in all neighborhoods.
I think most people agree that sidewalks need to be cleared of snow and ice. Commenters have proposed a couple of solutions to achieve this goal:
1) The city clears the sidewalks
2) Homeowners clear the sidewalks
With #1, all taxpayers are essentially forced to pay for snow removal. The city’s labor isn’t free, after all; we all pay for it.
With option #2, homeowners can do the snow removal work themselves to save a few bucks or can hire someone else to do the work if they prefer. This provides the most flexibility and freedom while still satisfying the objective of having passable sidewalks. A win-win situation.
Lifelong resident of Newton here. When I was a kid in the 1970s and ’80s, there were citywide sidewalk plows. After a snowstorm, our way of knowing whether school was open or closed was to look out the window to see if the sidewalk plow had come or not. Why did this service end? Budget cuts?
Some sidewalks do get cleared by the City. The ones on school routes. I have always shoveled my own walk and thought others should do the same and was previously in favor of fines but now I am rethinking this. It seems what the city does by plowing some routes, not others creates an inequity which could be removed by the city plowing all sidewalks.
As far as choosing a candidate on one issue I think you need to figure out the candidate who most follows your own philosophy/beliefs. That may come down to one issue if it is a large one with significant impact such development especially with thr current environment where there are some significant potential projects on the horizon. I may have thoughts on an issue such as sidewalk shoveling or banning plastic bags however regardless of the outcome the impact isn’t huge on my life. That doesn’t mean you ignore the other issues when looking at candidates it just means that there might be one issue that is the tipping point,
I base my vote on the ability of a candidate to consider issues thoughtfully, learn more, understand the thinking of those who think differently, show courage to stand up to opponents but also friends sometimes, their ability to educate and be trusted by their peers, and their ability to explain their ideas and the ideas of others to ordinary people.
I actually don’t want to have to follow every decision carefully, even those regarding issues I care deeply about. I care less about exact positions if I respect how those decisions are made.