Newton, Mass. – The Committee for Responsible Development, a ballot question committee organized to run the referendum campaign against the massive Northland Needham Street plan, issued the following statement today:
The Committee for Responsible Development filed a complaint with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) regarding Mayor Ruthanne Fuller’s use of city resources to enlist the assistance of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) to influence the special election on the Northland development proposal. The special election is necessitated by a successful petition drive signed by over 5,300 Newton residents calling for a referendum on the massive
Needham Street development proposed by Northland Investment Corporation. State regulations issued by OCPF prohibit the use of municipal or any governmental resources to support or oppose ballot initiatives.
On Dec. 12, 2019, Mayor Fuller sent a memo to Michael Kennealy, Secretary of EOHED, requesting a meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the state’s “potential support for infrastructure improvements related to (the Northland project), possibly through the MassWorks grant program.” The Mayor continued, “This meeting is time sensitive as a group of citizens are organizing a ballot referendum to overturn the City Council’s vote.”
The Mayor’s intention to enlist the state’s assistance so that voters would be more likely to approve the City Council’s action is indicated by the fact that Peter Standish, Senior Vice President of Development at Northland, was invited to join the Mayor at the requested meeting. After the requested meeting took place on Dec. 19, 2019, Mayor Fuller addressed a follow-up memo to Secretary Kennealy which stated: “We feel that, given the likelihood of a citywide referendum in March, a signal from the Commonwealth that they also see the tremendous value in this project could be extremely helpful.” The Mayor continued, “As discussed, even an announcement that Massworks design funding would be made available immediately contingent upon the project moving forward, with construction funding to be determined, could make a difference.”
Mayor Fuller has once again used the city’s resources to favor the proponents of the Northland plan. This Committee filed a complaint with OCPF on January 2, 2020, regarding the Mayor’s use of city resources to distribute the “Mayor’s Update” of Dec. 16, 2019 which publicized her decision to vote “yes” on the referendum regarding the Northland plan.
We now know that at the same time as Mayor Fuller illegally used city resources to persuade voters to vote “yes” in the referendum, she was also asking EOHED to announce early action on two infrastructure projects, Pettee Square improvements and the Upper Falls Greenway Extension.
The timing of these announcements was intended to distort the debate regarding whether voters should confirm or reject the City Council’s vote to approve a zoning change allowing the project to proceed. In fact, the Mayor’s latest “Update” on Feb. 7, 2020, indicated that the city had applied for a “$396,000 state grant to pay for design and engineering of two projects in Upper Falls. One project would extend the Upper Falls Greenway… The other project would result in a significant upgrade of Pettee Square.”
“Mayor Fuller’s inappropriate use of city and state resources undermines the democratic election process and sets a dangerous precedent,” said Martina Jackson, Co-chair of the Committee for Responsible Development. “Both Mike Kennealy, Secretary of EOHED, and the Mayor must adhere to political
finance regulations in exerting unlawful pressure on the March 3rd referendum.”
Really?
Seriously ?
By my count the score is now 3-0.
Three represents the number of dubious complaints Right Size has filed with the state: two with OCPF plus the already discredited open meeting law violation.
Zero is the number of times Right Size met with Northland over the past three years.
Oh and zero also represents the number of times Right Size has been willing to appear at a public forum with both sides present.
This is a very odd campaign strategy.
Their prior complaint had some merit. This complaint is a joke.
Unfortunately it has become a common political maneuver to use the Office of Campaign and Political Finance as an attack dog against opponents. The anti cannabis crowd did the same thing to me. The OCPF is run by clowns, all too willing to allow themselves to be used in this way.
The email in questions is here
From: Ruthanne Fuller
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2019 3:29 PM
To: Kennealy, Michael (EOHED) ;McGourthy, Timothy (EOHED) ; McLaughlin, Genevieve (EOHED)
Cc: Barney Heath ; Standish, Peter
Subject: Thank you and…
Mike, Tim, and Gina,
Thank you for making time to meet with us on short notice. We are convinced that the Northland
project embodies all that we are trying to accomplish both here in Newton and the Commonwealth in
terms of adding housing, increasing affordable housing, growing jobs, and linking this to public transit,
existing roadways, and better bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
We feel that, given the likelihood of a citywide referendum in March, a signal from the Commonwealth
that they also see the tremendous value in this project could be extremely helpful. Moreover, the
prospect of securing some early action on two adjacent previously identified infrastructure projects,
Pettee Square Improvements and the Upper Falls Greenway Extension, would be a powerful message
that projects like this can improve the quality of life for neighbors.
As discussed, even an announcement that Massworks design funding would be made available
immediately contingent upon the project moving forward, with construction funding to be determined,
could make a difference.
I will have Barney Heath, our Director of Planning, follow up with your team on how we can be helpful in
providing you the information you need.
Thank you again and happy holidays.
Warmly, Ruthanne
From: McGourthy, Timothy (SEA)
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2019 6:58:34 AM
To: Ruthanne Fuller ;Kennealy, Michael (SEA) ; McLaughlin, Genevieve C (SEA) Cc: Barney Heath ;
Standish, Peter Subject:
RE: Thank you and…
Mayor Fuller – Thanks very much for your visit and the discussion. It sounds like an exciting opportunity
for Newton. We will circle back with our team to see how we might assist the project.
I’ll be in touch with Barney in the next week or so as we develop a path forward.
Enjoy the holidays!
Tim
Timothy J. McGourthy
Deputy Secretary Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
One Ashburton Place, Room 2101
Boston, MA 02108
617-788-3622
On Dec 12, 2019, at 6:28 PM, Kennealy, Michael (EOHED) wrote:
I’m looking forward to meeting! I believe our team is working on times.
Mike Kennealy
Secretary
Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
One Ashburton Place, Room 2101
Boston, MA 02108
O: 617-788-3640
M: 617-634-4762
[email protected]
From: Ruthanne Fuller
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2019 10:46 AM
To: Kennealy, Michael (EOHED) ; Saia, Susan (EOHED)
; McLaughlin, Genevieve (EOHED)
Cc: Barney Heath ; [email protected]
Subject: A visit next week?
Mike,
Here in Newton, our City Council just granted a special permit for the Northland
development, a mixed-use development project including:
800 housing units
193,200 square feet of office space, housed in the renovated historic Saco-
Pettee Mill building
115,000 square feet of commercial space
A shuttle to the Green Line free to all and running every 10 minutes, 16 hours
a day and 7 days a week
I would be grateful if you’d be willing to meet with me and Peter Standish, Senior VP
of Development and Commercial at Northland Investment Corp, to discuss this
project, and potential support for infrastructure improvements related to it, possibly
through the MassWorks grant program.
This meeting is time sensitive as a group of citizens are organizing a ballot
referendum to overturn the City Council’s vote.
Could we come into Boston to meet with you next week, Monday – Thursday?
Thanks so much.
Warmly,
Ruthanne Fuller
When responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary
of State has determined that most email is public record and
therefore cannot be kept confidential.
Rather than filing dubious campaign complaints against Mayor Fuller we should commend her for proactively seeking to leverage the city council’s super majority Northland vote to secure state funds for transportation and infrastructure improvements.
Improvements to Pettee Square and the Greenway are improvements that everyone in Newton — regardless of their feelings about Northland — should celebrate.
@Greg . didn’t RSN get a campaign violation? who was the campaign finance chair? https://patch.com/massachusetts/newton/rightsize-newton-campaign-finance-law-violation-unintentional
This just in: the Committee for Responsible Development files a complaint against the Mayor for inappropriate use of political power.
Complaining is easy, particularly when that’s all Right Size and it’s ballot committee are willing to do because they evidently have nothing to back up their argument since they have turned down every invitation to discuss their assertions – even before a class of journalism students.
The below is just part of negotiating to get the best deal for Newton and Lower Falls by obtaining grant money to support improvements to complement mitigations obtained from Northland, not part of a nefarious conspiracy.
We all know the mayor supports new housing, retail and commercial – nothing new here – so when she says why she supports Northland, she is letting Newton know her reasons. If that influences voters by knowing valid reasons to support Northland, that’s a good thing.
“ It is outrageous, in and of itself, that the Mayor of Newton would seek action by a state agency for the sole purpose of influencing Newton voters on a local ballot question. But to have done so, with the knowledge and participation of the particular private third party whose business interest underlies that ballot question, constitutes a willful breach of the Mayor’s responsibility to exercise her official duties fairly and in accord with all applicable law, and borders on the pernicious.”