In an interview on WBUR this afternoon, Right Size Newton President Randy Block was less than forthright when he said that his organization “had a number of interactions” with Northland during the three years that this project was being presented and negotiated.
That’s very disingenuous.
In spite of multiple invitations, Right Size repeatedly declined to meet with Northland. Right Size also cancelled a scheduled meeting with Northland in early January of this year because according to the No side’s website, “the meeting would not be productive.”
It’s never been clear to me how someone can know a meeting won’t “be productive” without actually trying. I also don’t know why Block was dishonest about this today.
And most importantly: Why didn’t Right Size ever meet with Northland?
We received this robocall at home today. Transcript below courtesy of Google Voice. Yet another example of the RSN folks lack of respect for factual information.
Hello. I’m calling to remind you to vote. No on the North and Zoning change referendum that is happening this Tuesday, March 3rd. Northland Investment corporation has spent more than a $320,000 and marketing a project that includes 16 buildings 800 mostly luxury apartment units office and retail space on nearly 23 Acres off all without access to any public transportation my neighbors and I had no opportunity to negotiate with Northland and our concerns about size scope and traffic for largely ignored voting. No on Tuesday will send a signal to our elected officials and development and Newton should be responsible and Resident red not driven by developers and special interests. Send a clear message to city council that you don’t want developers signed up Newton’s and creating a city that has less affordable and less diverse. Be sure to ask the referendum ballot. Are you pulling place open 7 a.m. 8 p.m. Paid for by the committee for responsible development to be removed from future calls, please call 888-296-8513.
I smell a five alarm pants on fire.
Glad you guys are the side of the angels.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/27/metro/developer-pumps-nearly-320000-into-campaign-mixed-use-project-newton/
I received the RSN mailer yesterday. It tells voters that:
Your ‘NO’ vote means we can: Build a more modest-size project based on community input”
I have no words. The No vote prevailing means nothing of the kind.
Northland wanted to talk AT RSN, to tell them how great their project is. They were NOT open to negotiations. #fact
So, Matt, what exactly does RSN want again?
seriously Matt? #fact?
As you know, I am on the northland team. I would have been at the January 2 meeting – that was scheduled by Randall Block and subsequently cancelled by Leon Schwartz.
how could you POSSIBLY know what any of us intended to say at that meeting?
and further – what IF northland was not open to negotiations to shrink the approved project? was rsn open to negotiations to ACCEPT the approved project?
that’s why people meet. you never know what will come out of face to face. often adversaries are humanized instead of demonized – and something positive results.
To learn more about the now approved Northland Newton development, please visit: https://www.northlandnewtondevelopment.com/