Who’s Amy going to endorse?

As first runner-up and the first choice of 3503 voters, Amy Sangiolo earns the coveted title of most-sought-after-endorser. Who’s Amy going to back? With Ruthanne Fuller and Scott Lennon separated by just 544 votes in the primary, could her endorsement tip the...

Some striking parallels to 2009

The dynamics in the 2009 mayoral primary were vastly different than they are in 2017, but the numbers are eerily similar. Ruthanne Fuller was this year’s top vote getter with 36.7% compared to Ruth Balser’s 36.1% (and their first names start with the same...
We are not electing the mayor tonight

We are not electing the mayor tonight

Quick history lesson. In 2009, Ruth Balser won the primary with 36.1% of the vote, followed by Setti Warren (30.6%), Ken Parker (15.1%), and Bill Heck (10.4%). As we know, Setti went on to win the general (49.9% to 47.6%). Which is to say, that Harry Sanders might be...

A decision-making framework

Tomorrow is go time for the mayoral primary and I’m still struggling. The three candidates for mayor are three genuinely good people, each of whom would serve Newton well as mayor. (If you want to complain that I’m ignoring four other candidates, read this...

Election predictions?

Who’s the best predictor? In the comments, let us know: Who’s going on to the general (1 point for the correct pair, any order) Top four (1 point for each candidate in the right position) Percentages for the top four (2 points to the person with the...

Mayoral transpo-housing open thread

Did you catch tonight’s Transportation and Housing forum at City Hall? What did you think? Anybody say anything noteworthy? Did the big three draw any clear distinctions? Any of the outsiders make an impression? Candidates, anything you’d like to expand...

Paying down the road debt(s)

The multi-year, possibly $100 million project to repave Newton roads is being driven by an objective measure of the condition of the roadways. It ought to be guided as well by an objective measure of how safe the roadway design is. In software development,...
Intersection Review: Dedham & Brush Hill

Intersection Review: Dedham & Brush Hill

Today’s installment of what-were-they-thinking? covers the intersection of Dedham and Brush Hill Roads. It’s a completely car-centric design with wholly inadequate pedestrian accommodations, just 900 feet from Countryside School. The intersection is...

Mayoral Candidates Transportation Forum

As noted on an earlier thread, Thursday night at 7, the seven mayoral candidates will be discussing housing and transportation at a forum hosted by Bike Newton, Engine 6, and Green Newton. As sometimes happens, the comments on the earlier thread took off on another...