Were Auchincloss’ comments about Mermell sexist?

by | Jul 30, 2020 | Newton | 16 comments

Check out these edited video excerpt from yesterday’s debate between Congressional candidates Jake Auchincloss and Jesse Mermell.

Did Auchincloss cross the line when he dismissed Mermell as a good communicator?

Mermell thinks so. Here’s a statement she released today.

“Another day, another privileged man trying to diminish the accomplishments of a woman. I may be used to this type of demeaning sexism, but I’m sure not going to be silent about it. Yes, I’m proud to be a good communicator and Tweeter. But I’m also proud to have been a twice elected local official, a nonprofit executive, a senior leader in the Governor’s Office and at Planned Parenthood, and a

Newtonville resident discovers what became of an old factory near her home

by | Nov 1, 2019 | Newton, Newtonville, zoning | 10 comments

Newtonville resident Amy Dain wondered whatever happened to an old factory in her neighborhood.

The abandoned factory of my childhood memories was not like nineteenth century riverfront factories, brick splendor punctuated by regular windows. It was also no concrete box of the modern era. It was all murky glass, pre-modern, ghostly. I recall no signs on the building, no indication of what was fabricated within. It was so out of place that I questioned if I had made it up. Google proved useless to answer.

What Dain discovered as she tried to find out what happened unearthed a public debate — and zoning decisions — that sound familiar today.

Newton needed to decide what could replace the factory, on the park, next to an excellent elementary school, and a short walk to CVS and the commuter rail. One suggestion was

Holly Ryan is about to make history

Holly Ryan is about to make history

by | Oct 29, 2019 | Boston University journalism, City Council, City Council elections, Newton | 18 comments

Boston University journalist Arianna Bouchard writes about Ward 8 city council candidate Holly Ryan in the Boston Globe:

When she wins, as expected, she’ll become the first openly transgender elected official in Newton — and one of the first in Massachusetts.

Of the 520,000 elected officials in the United States, about 13 are transgender, according to Victory Institute’s 2018 Out for America report.