by Chuck Tanowitz | Sep 14, 2020 | City Coucil, City Hall, Newton Police |
The Newton Police website has a public information page that can give you some top-level data, but if you really wanted to dig deeper, it’s surprisingly difficult. For example, you can see the locations of bike/pedestrian incidents, but you can’t do any... by Chuck Tanowitz | Sep 7, 2020 | Newton North, Newton South, Schools |
Newton Parent Jack Cheng wrote a great piece that came out in Commonwealth Magazine over the weekend in which he called on Newton (and other districts) to entirely rethink how we approach high school. He wants us to get creative in our thinking. He offers up some...
by Chuck Tanowitz | Aug 25, 2020 | Washington Street Corridor |
A number of changes are underway on Washington Street, primarily, the addition of a single, one-direction, protected bike lane. This is exciting and it’s about time, but there is a bit more to this story. Let’s go back to the Washington Street Vision... by Chuck Tanowitz | Jul 31, 2020 | Congress, Elections, Newton |
There’s been a lot of debate about whether what Jake Auchincloss said to Jesse Mermell was, in fact, sexist. Auchincloss’ supporters say this was an attack by Mermell and that Jake was just responding but what he said wasn’t sexist. Mermell’s...
by Chuck Tanowitz | Jul 19, 2020 | Newton
The Newton Nomadic Theater periodically run an event at Gregorian Rugs called the Nomad Story Slam. They are nights of community story telling. Each event has a theme and anyone can come and throw their name in the hat to tell a five minute story – and they have... by Chuck Tanowitz | Jun 24, 2020 | City Council, Mayor Fuller, Newton Police, Ruthanne Fuller |
When it comes to the future of the Newton Police, the only point that everyone seems to agree on is that something must change. That’s what the task force is about, that’s what the budget debate was about, that’s what the Defund movement is about,... by Chuck Tanowitz | Jun 10, 2020 | Newton |
There has been some confusion, even on this site, about what is meant by “Defund the Police.” A great explanation comes from John Oliver–who is, in my opinion, among the best commentators working today. This short clip is worth the few seconds... by Chuck Tanowitz | Mar 16, 2020 | Newton |
A few items from the retail world. When I was in Newtonville on Sunday Rancatore’s was already closed, and it looked like LeDu’s Thai wasn’t doing a brisk business, or nearly any at all. The Cherry Tree in West Newton announced that this is the end...
by Chuck Tanowitz | Mar 9, 2020 | City Council, housing, Northland, zoning |
The Boston University professors whose research found that most people who come to public hearings to oppose new housing tend to skew older, whiter, and more conservative than the overall city or town they’re in, took Newton to task in a Boston Globe op-ed this...
by Chuck Tanowitz | Feb 17, 2020 | development, Needham Street, Northland, Upper Falls |
Over at the Boston Globe, Jon Chesto took a deep dive into the Northland referendum and came up with the basic idea that this vote has grand implications for the future of our city. If you’re like me, you believe that the referendum sends a very strong signal...
by Chuck Tanowitz | Feb 12, 2020 | West Newton |
It looks like Flora’s Wine Bar in West Newton is about to open its doors. They’re just “one inspection” away from opening, possibly this coming weekend. The restaurant, from the founders of Mei Mei and Beer Mobile, a craft beer food truck, gave...
by Chuck Tanowitz | Feb 6, 2020 | Newton |
Before there was a fight about Northland and before the battle over Riverside, there was Engine 6. The proposal for the old fire station was as a place where people who were homeless could have a way to rebuild their lives. Its proximity to the Green Line, to the...