Five Village 14 bloggers sat down this morning for an hour and a half round-table discussion with the three candidates for Ward 5 alderman at-large – Chris Steele, Deb Crossley and Brian Yates. In truth though, the table was oval shaped. Here’s what happened…
Ward 5 Alderman-at-Large candidates meet Village 14
by Chuck Tanowitz | Oct 25, 2013 | Newton | 32 comments
I can’t find a video on this week’s mayoral debate. Is there one?
@Hoss: No clue. Last week’s debate was recorded but not by NewTV. If someone from the League wants to share it, we’d be happy to post it.
This was a great forum. There’s a very good discussion near the beginning about the value of institutional knowledge on the board and whether Chris Steele would bring enough to the board to risk losing Brian Yates’ knowledge. The candidates also shared what they think went wrong with Engine 6, disagreements they’ve had with the mayor, their thoughts on zoning (of course!) and more. The format is different from what you’ll see elsewhere.
I hope people will take the time to watch this. Even beyond the election, this was a terrific conversation with three people who have a deep understanding of some key issues before our city.
The lightning round got the best answers
Great discussion – I learned a lot about Newton, got to know three terrific candidates a little better, and made me wish all three could be on the BOA.
Steven, that’s the way I feel. Although I have to say, not knowing which two of three candidates to vote for because you like them all is kind of a nice problem to have. Reminds me of my quandary ahead of the 2008 presidential primary. I was very happy when Obama picked Biden as VP and Hillary as Sec. of State.
I liked our forum. With no timekeeper or bells or green/yellow/red lights, and a fairly loose rein, some of the answers were a bit long, but I thought it was instructive for a change to hear what candidates have to say on a topic when they don’t have an arbitrary time limit. I think time limits can lead to more scripted answers.
Margaret and Andrea — see the opportunity you missed. (As Greg said to Brian, Deb and Chris at the end, “tell Margaret and Andrea we don’t bite.”)
Ward Alderman candidates, feel free to weigh in on how you would answer any of these questions.
It is too bad that our School Committee candidates declined this opportunity.
It’s too bad you didnt get the mayoral candidates, but I’m sure one of the candidates refused and you just don’t publicize it.
Commenting before getting all the way through (and I live in Ward 1, but still…)- love that the candidates agreed to this, outside of the “standard” debates – and hope more do so.
After watching/listening, I can only echo Steven’s statement. Best of luck to Ward 5 voters, I don’t see huge differences among the candidates- and as Julia said, a good problem to have.
Doug, not just Ward 5 voters — all voters!
In case an hour and 20 minutes is a little daunting for some people, here’s a rough viewers guide, in case you want to let it buffer or go do some vacuuming until your favorite subject comes up:
0:00:00 — what do you offer that the other candidates don’t?
0:09:00 — importance of institutional memory on on the Board, which veered into zoning
0:17:30 — conflict between development & preserving neighborhoods, which veered into promoting the city’s attractions, and Needham St
0:34:40 — how to communicate to city constituents so they are not surprised by things, which veered into Engine 6
0:51:30 — what’s something the mayor was wrong about?
0:52:20 — winter parking pilot, Austin St parking
0:59:50 — lightning round: charter reform, reducing size of Board, term limits, snow shoveling, who you’re supporting for mayor
1:05:00 — banning plastic bags, pay per throw, recycling
1:10:40 — how to encourage public/private partnerships to maintain open space
1:18:00 — Tree Preservation Ordinance
Sorry, we didn’t get into bike lanes!
Bike lanes? Maybe next time.
Thanks Julia, my comment was only in reference to those who get to vote among these three. I have my own choices to make as well (Ward 1), but am trying to keep up with it all.
But Doug, these three are at-Large candidates, we do all get to vote among them. I’m Ward 3 myself.
@Doug – We do all get to vote in this Ward 5 aldermen election. They are running for the two citywide seats, so the whole city can vote for 2 our of these 3 candidates.
As a member of Zoning and Planning, Alderman Yates voted for a moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries that may very well have cost Newton a dispensary, and made access to medical marijuana more difficult for patients living in Newton. He voted for a moratorium a second time, when it came before the full Board. The moratorium was opposed by the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance. I’d like to see his votes cost Yates this election.
Julia,
My mistake, I misread that. Withdrawn– and digging deeper.
Mike, it’s obvious where you stand on the dispensaries vote, I am not sure of it myself but it’s a worthy issue- that clarification is helpful (seriously). Thanks.
I just changed the title to Alderman-at-Large so it’s clearer to everyone!
Thanks Julia- I hope I set the low bar for figuring that out 😉
I’m not up on the RMD issue myself, but it’s not hard to find Alderman Yates’ comments regarding the issues which involve intricate state regulations, zoning implications and his reasoning for doing what many, many cities and towns (even Cambridge) in MA have done – a temporary moratorium to consider all the issues. I’m not saying it was right or wrong. My point is that there is some complexity to the issue that people should consider.
And as I’ve seen Ted Hess-Mann point out publicly:
Brian Yates “is a member of the working group that has been developing a zoning ordinance to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in Newton, ensuring that Newton complies with the state and federal laws and regulations concerning location and distance from schools and other uses. Based on the work he and Ald. Schwartz and the rest of the working group has done, I believe that the Zoning and Planning Committee and the Board of Aldermen will be able to get their work done before the end of this term. While it is true that Brian voted in favor of a moratorium that extended until March 2014, he ultimately voted in favor of the compromise measure that shortens the moratorium to December 31, 2013, which should not prejudice applications for a medical marijuana dispensary license in Newton.”
I’m not involved in Brian’s campaign – I’ve only met him once during the Tour de Newton! – and I’m not even sure I am voting for him yet, but I like to see issues like this discussed with some balance and context.
IIRC, the issue with the moratorium had to to with deadlines, missing which would mean dispensaries would effectively be prevented outright. Whether or not that was the intent of the moratorium, it may be that is the effect. If I can find the details, I will re-post here (someone nimbler is welcome to do so first).
You have to give these things time. The vote just happened in the last year. The state came out with regulations and rules this past spring. Over 80 cities and towns in the state are doing the same thing we are – temporary moratoriums. Some of those extend much further out than Newton’s (into next summer, e.g.)
To expect that everyone is going to say, “sure put them up anywhere you want even in residential neighborhoods” is a little unreasonable. Any commercial business development that has zoning issues takes time for planners and politicians to figure out the right solution. I wouldn’t vote against someone for trying to do careful planning, esp in light of the fact that the mayor was pushing for the delay as well.
On October 16th [before the Zoning and Planning vote], members of that committee received a letter from the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance. Here’s what that organization had to say about the then proposed moratorium…
“MPAA is opposed to a moratorium on RMDs. Even if the moratorium extends no further than March 2014, it will prevent a dispensary licensed by the state in January from operating in Newton. This would deny patients in Newton access to an effective treatment.”
And Yates voted to shorten the moratorium to Dec 31, 2013, right?
Here is the link to the earlier thread:
http://village14.com/netwon-ma/2013/10/marijuana-moritorium-aldermen-say-hold-on-a-minute/#axzz2j35JVkGc
Janet Sterman forwarded a call to support the shorter Moratorium (December), and Ted Hess-Mahan reported that the BoA approved the December moratorium- if I read correctly, that is what Alderman Yates voted for.
Mike Striar is also in that thread, expressing the opinion that even a December date is insufficient.
I believe Newton and Chris Steele’s practice would be better off with him in the many current civic boards and commissions he currently participates. I believe Newton’s BoA would be disadvantaged losing the deepest historical recall currently available on the Board. True wisdom comes with experience (Philosopher Mortimer Adler said it’s after age 60, but I’m trying to be polite!)
Seems to me the state needs to be lobbied to make the number of dispensaries allowed per county proportional to that county’s population.
@Hoss: You probably haven’t worked closely with Chris as I have in establishing the newly recognized Waban Area Council. Not only is Chris bright, articulate, earnest and extremely well-organized and hard-working, he is also a successful peace keeper who can convince with gentlemanly finesse and a solid base of facts. And there is no argument that Brian is without comparison in his intellectual library of institutional knowledge. They are both exceptional choices.
Sallee, where has that institutional knowledge been when it comes to add-a-lane?
I don’t know his work as well as Sallee, but I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Steele at a Newton Highlands Area Council meeting a few months ago. He gave a presentation about his work advocating for Newton traffic issues regarding the widen 128 project that will impact Rte 9. I was really wowed by his command of the issues, his presence, his intelligence and commitment. I found him engaging and engaged. Totally impressed and I put myself on his mailing list. I have no doubt he would be a good alderman.
The problem is Deb and Brian are also terrific choices. I road behind Deb on the tour de newton for 20 miles and I learned so much about the city and important issues as much as I got a good workout. I love Deb – she has a unique perspective and so much knowledge and also institutional knowledge. I wouldn’t want her off the BOA.
So it’s really tough decision. I vote for 25 aldermen.
@Mike Striar. I found a comment of yours on an older post about what your personal experience with how medical marijuana can make a huge difference in people’s lives. I was initially put off by your advocacy on this issue but then I read that comment, googled around and was surprised by what I found. I thought of it only as an alternative pain reliever. I have a whole other view because of your comments and I want to a) express my sympathy for your loss and b) thank you for involvement. I think there should be consideration of zoning but there should also be a rush to get it done and secure an RMD for Newton. I get it now. Thanks.
@Steven– Thank you for your very kind post. I really appreciate it.