Newton TAB favors Councilors’ Home Rule plan to preserve ward representation
The main editorial in last week’s Newton TAB expresses concern about the Charter Commission’s proposed revision of the City Council to be 8 ward-resident Councilors plus 4 other Councilors, all elected city-wide. The editorial states that eliminating Ward...
Majority of City Councilors co-sponsor a plan for downsizing the Council
Today 14 of our 24 City Councilors co-sponsored a proposal to reduce the City Council to 8 At-Large Councilors elected city-wide plus 8 Ward Councilors elected by their wards. The docketed legislation says that if the Charter Commission’s proposed City charter...Two views on the proposed charter. What’s yours?
In November, Newton voters will be asked to approve or reject revisions to the way our municipal government functions in the form of a new charter. Recently the TAB published columns by two men who have a first hand perspective on our city’s structure, in...
Malakie: independent advocate for residents, parks, trees and neighborhood preservation
For those who don’t know my background: I’m an almost lifelong resident of West Newton. I graduated from the “old” old Newton High School in 1973, went on to graduate from MIT with a bachelor’s in Economics, and earned an MBA at the University of Chicago. I spent most...
Haywood: Minorities have a much better chance of being elected at-large
One of the primary concerns expressed here and elsewhere by opponents of the proposed new charter is a concern that the elimination of ward-elected city councilors will make our council less diverse. Rev. Howard Haywood, a life-long Newton resident who was a member of the Charter Commission, addressed this topic in a letter to the TAB. Andy Levin shared a copy with us so it can run in its entirety.
Recent letter writers to the TAB have expressed their opposition to the proposed changes to our city charter on the grounds that elimination of ward-only elected councilors will prevent the election of minority representatives to the City Council. As a member of the Newton African-American community, and one of the nine members of the Newton Charter Commission elected at-large to serve our community, I most strongly disagree.
Newton does have a diverse population. Having lived here my entire life, over time I have witnessed Newton become a much
The campaign to fight changes to Newton’s charter has begun
My household received a flyer this morning from the Committee to Re-Elect Emily Norton that lays out reasons not to support the Charter Commission’s suggestions. The arguments are what you’d expect: reduces local representation and accountability,...UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Cohen to Charter Comm.: Special permitting should be easier for homeowners
Jonathan Dame at the Newton TAB reports on former Mayor David Cohen’s comments to the Charter Commission. Read here. And here’s the video of Monday’s full commission hearing compliments of NewTVFellow Newton wonks: Let’s talk city charter review!
Anne Borg and Sue Flicop, co-presidents of the League of Women Voters of Newton, wrote a column in this week’s TAB* in about the league’s signature drive to create a ballot question about whether Newton should set up a charter commission to review the city...