We had our elections. We have our results. They are already over 12 hours old. Time to move on. What’s next?
Who will be president of City Council v2020? Committee chairs?
Who’s up? Who’s down?
What’s the impact on large developments? On zoning?
What issue comes to the fore that’s not there now? Trees? LGBTQ+?
What about our congressional candidates?
Senior Center? Marijuana? Webster Woods? Horace Mann?
We’ve never had a hew-to-the-post commenting rule, but let’s try to keep this thread framed in terms of the impact of the newest Council composition on the issues near and dear. Shall we?
Also, I’m going to write my election takeaways post(s) sometime in the next few days. Nobody gets to complain later that I covered something that got covered in the comments here. V14 founder privilege.
Have at it!
Re:Webster Woods, Newton Conservators asked the candidates their positions on open space and 27 out of 35 candidates answered.
Most candidates supported preserving Webster Woods and using eminent domain if necessary. Some even suggested taking over the lot where a salt storage facility was recently constructed by BC. That’s a good sign.
https://newtonconservators.org/questions-for-city-council-candidates-2019/
My own letters to the currently sitting councilors indicate support for preserving Webster Woods.
(Note: Community Preservation Committee which is partially tasked with preserving open space meets today in City Hall at 7 PM regarding Webster Woods.)
Looks like environmental regulation (e.g., bans on single use plastics) will be received well by the new council.
It was a very interesting election. What comes next? To paraphrase Hamilton’s King George:
“What comes next?
You’ve been freed
Do you know how hard it is to lead?
You’re on your own
-Awesome. Wow.-
Do you have a clue what happens now?
Slates rise
PACs fall
It’s much harder when it’s all your call
All alone
Spending sprees
When your people say they hate you
Don’t come crawling back to me
Da da da da da
Da da da da daye da
Da da da da daye da
You’re on your own…”
;-)
. Some thoughts:
1) I think the Council is more progressive, but also more fractured. Bill Humphrey and Alicia Bowman ran on very progressive issues. Pam Wright and Julie Malakie seem opposed on many of those same issues. Pam replaces Jim Cote, who was a Republican but also crossed over on issues as he saw fit. The more moderate candidates lost in both directions, and we now have more candidates who hew to the left/right divide vs. the center. Case in point Kathy Winters.
2) I’d imagine who wins the Council Presidency becomes very important. As Sean said, the election after the election. If Susan Albright does win, that is also a shift to a more left of center view on many issues.
3) Right Size Newton and Newton Democracy PAC won some battles, but lost the war. Emily Norton won. Julia Malakie Won, Pamela Wright won. But they still don’t have the votes to stop special permits, and Pamela Wright replaces Jim Cote, one of the more conservative members of the Council. And poor Greg Schwartz got caught in the middle.
4) With that said, this make-up of the council could have been much different. 30 votes separated Alicia from Greg. Bill Humphrey was helped by the Rena Getz write in campaign. Having Kathy Winters and Greg Schwartz as councilors would have strengthened the center. It will be interesting to watch what decisions are pushed in a more progressive direction due to Alicia and Bill. 30 votes and a write-in campaign could make a heck of a difference.
5) I said this election was not just about development to me, and I stick to that position. I think not much changes about development in Newton for the next two years. Still haven’t met our 40B requirement. The Right Size voting bloc won’t have the votes to block projects as they can’t block a supermajority absent major shifts. Doesn’t mean every project gets approved, but it wasn’t the major transformational change Newton Democracy PAC was looking for either.
6) Retired City Councilors should stay retired.
7) Elections in two year will be very interesting. Can Pamela Wright hold her seat if challenged by a progressive candidate like Carolina Ventura? Can Bill Humphrey hold his if challenged straight up by Kathy?
8) I said it in another thread, but even though Bryan Barash lost to Emily, he pushed Alicia Bowman over the finish line. Turnout in Ward 2 was much higher due to the contested election, and many of those progressive voters crossed over to vote for Alicia. When the Right Size Newton bloc can’t get a supermajority to block a development project, that’s due in part to Bryan. (and lots of other reasons I know since 30 votes is so small). But still.
9) This is also why slates work in our system. If you run candidates in every ward slot, you are far more likely to win at-large for your cause. Turn-out matters. Ward races drive turnout that changes the at-large races.
10) NewtonTV is awesome and their election coverage was great to watch
11) Anyone know the Area Council results yet?
Please no flame wars over the above, these are my thoughts and opinions, nothing more. But conversation is welcome. Also your favorite Broadway tune or Hamilton song is welcome.
Fig,
What do you mean that “poor Greg Schwartz got caught in the middle”?
@Fig: your post was peppered with “progressive”. Please supply your definition, with specific examples. I daresay your s may differ from others. No purple prose please. Sorry to be s(p)raying all over, LoL ;)
Pat: I used that term because Bill and Alicia were either endorsed by Progressive causes or describe themselves as Progressive.
As for a definition, buy a dictionary.
Echoing fig’s use of “fractured” to describe the immediate aftermath. I think those who were hoping this would be the definitive election to determine where Newton stands on the development/density debate are going to be disappointed.
I know in general the numbers aren’t as important as the position but I think this is one where the numbers are just as interesting as the winners.
Alicia went all out in her campaign, I attended one of her meet and greet events in Auburndale and she came off as very personable and passionate. I like her focus on transportation and although I don’t agree with all of her specifics I was impressed (although I wish not at Greg’s expense). She won a hard fought race, but at 30 votes (assuming it holds) that’s basically margin of error and I’m not sure the same results would hold if we held another election next week. Yes, she ran on a very progressive platform but she also is far from having a mandate compared to say the ward 2 race between Emily and Bryan where Emily was a more clear winner. That she was so close compared to Greg who was considered the more moderate voice means she’s going to have to balance a bit. I would also be worried about the “Bryan effect” as some people put it, in the absence of that type of race would she be able to carry the vote?
I would put Bill Humphrey in the same boat, while we don’t know definitively whether Rena’s write-in campaign played spoiler that’s going to be a specter that looms at least for the near future.
Besides that I see more of the same – Riverside will hopefully be less contentious now that LFIA and Mark Development have struck a compromise. Washington St will continue to be contentious, Northland will continue to be contentious, zoning redesign phase 2 will continue to be contentious. I don’t see a clear majority either way and the council is going to have to figure out how to balance between our more progressive councilors and our more.. less enthused on development councilors? Trying to void the anti/pro as the issue is hardly that black and white.
@Patrick Butera = love “our more … less enthused”
NPS educators should be offered a fair and equitable contract. For the naysayers, please implore the city to allow one to shadow a teacher for a week. NPS educators perform above and beyond and provide an excellent education. The Newton School Committee continues to drag their feet and discount a handful of pressing issues. Dedham showed the courage to strike. I am hopeful that the NTA will follow suit.
@Jason,
Can we just be clear that the educators are just one of the many Union’s in the City that are working without a contract. So ALL City employees should be offered a fair an equitable contract. It’s not just about the teachers.
Jason,
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree. The city has been using city employees as a punching bag. Newton residents demand the best, so pay accordingly.
TWT,
The unions need to publicly support each other and press the city in a concerted fashion. My response was meant for you.
@Jason – I’m relieved. I thought you were commenting that you agreed with your own comment. It’s crazy enough around here – that could get out of hand pretty quickly ;-)
@Jerry Reilly – Excellent point. I couldn’t have said it better myself.
The teachers need a new contract ASAP. And so do the other 16 unions without a contract.
JR,
I am mindless, but not that mindless.
@Bryan,
Although I’m sure you did not intend to…once again the “other 16” unions are minimized.
Just once I’d like to see someone highlight the “other 16” first rather than being treated as an afterthought.
I am a City employee that is working without a contract. Again.
My job and the jobs of those in my Union are JUST as vital as our teachers.
But frankly, we are made to feel far less important…every single day.
What really needs to happen is the City stepping up for it’s employees and pay them a fair wage without chiseling them to death. It’s a constant battle with the City as they always cry poor. It’s tiresome and it’s not true.
@TWT,
Newton is the 15th wealthiest city in the state. Newton has the second-most millionaires in Massachusetts. The ultra-wealthy aligns with their kin and cry poverty when it’s time for unionized employees to have their contracts renewed. Do you think things would be dramatically different if the better candidate (Scott Lennon) for mayor won?
Perhaps some people will reflect on the city having 24 councilors as a good thing. Perhaps they may come to realize they voted for the wrong candidate? They might take heart that as a damage control measure their candidate can only do 1/24 damage instead of 1/16/ or 1/12.