by Sean Roche | Sep 5, 2017 | Newton |
After spending much of my Labor Day watching videos of candidate forums, I’ve got a lot of thoughts and one big question: why in the world are the four non-councilor candidates running for mayor? There is absolutely no reason our next mayor has to come from the... by Sean Roche | Aug 29, 2017 | Newton |
Updated to reflect Allison Sharma’s official write-in candidacy for the now open Ward 4 ward councilor seat.
One thing that jumps out from the (so-far unofficial*) list of candidates for Newton elected offices: Newton is poised at the precipice of a city council with women in the majority. And, that’s despite two sure-bet (had they run again) incumbent women leaving the Council to run for mayor (v. one sure-bet incumbent man). Let’s do the numbers!
by Sean Roche | Aug 29, 2017 | Newton |
After much critique of the non-happening on Adams St., a report of something Newton has done right: a new four-way stop at Winchester Rd. and Rachel Rd./Goddard St. It’s always been a bit of adventure crossing Winchester or merging into traffic on Winchester.... by Sean Roche | Aug 18, 2017 | Newton |
It saddens me that I am the only person in Newton with the insight and vision to either identify the problems on Adams St. or propose solutions. But, at least the singularity of my analytic abilities explains and excuses the failure to act by folks who could have done...
by Sean Roche | Aug 17, 2017 | Newton |
Adams St., as I described in a previous post, is a very 20th Century design. I’ve got nothing against 20th Century traffic engineers. They were, undoubtedly, fine, god-fearing, family-loving men deeply committed to contributing to the common good through their...
by Sean Roche | Aug 17, 2017 | Newton |
Dinner at Comedor the other night. (Delicious, thank you for asking. And, wonderful company.) Menus came with this. (Full size and flip side after the jump.)
by Sean Roche | Aug 14, 2017 | Newton |
Walked into Newton Centre this weekend and came upon this bumper part at the corner of Beacon and Centre Streets. No mystery why it’s there. Clearly somebodies had a bit of a shunt. In the course of moving/removing the vehicles, the bumper got left behind. The... by Sean Roche | Aug 12, 2017 | Newton |
Forget about the elimination of ward-elected councilors. You want a reason to vote No on the Charter? Look no further than Section 2-9(c), the Charter Objection, and the Commission’s failure to address its unintended abuse. Turn the way-back machine to June... by Sean Roche | Aug 12, 2017 | Newton |
Welcome to Newton 2017. Our commitment to pedestrians and cyclists is reflected in a modern, progressive Complete Street policy. Our consensus desire for slower vehicular traffic is reflected in a lower default speed limit (25 MPH). And the (relatively) recent... by Sean Roche | Jul 30, 2017 | Newton |
Here’s a simple, but profound change we can make in Newton: put the burden on residential parking proponents to justify using city right-of-way for car storage. There is growing awareness that, of all of the uses of the city right-of-way, residential parking is... by Sean Roche | Jul 28, 2017 | Newton |
Help define Newton politics. Literally! National party distinctions are not particularly useful at the municipal level. The issues that are salient at the national level are not necessarily relevant at the local level and vice-versa. People have share similar...
by Sean Roche | Jul 27, 2017 | City Council, City Council elections |
The 2017 candidate list is out and, for the sixth time since 2001*, Brian Yates has to defend his Ward 5 at-large councilor seat. In that period, it’s likely that no councilor/alderman has had as many contested elections**. And, he’s survived them all....
