NVA Endorses These Great Candidates...
If you haven't already voted in Newton's municipal election using a mail-in ballot, your mail-in ballot must be received by the City Clerk's Office by 8:00pm on Election Day to be counted. Of course you can vote in person on Election Day, Tuesday, November 2nd, 7:00am-8:00pm at your polling location (see below), OR in early voting at City Hall October 25th-29th from 8:30am-5:00pm, or on October 30th from 8:30am-12:00pm. More information here.
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These are the Candidates to
Elect in Contested Races... Mayor Amy Mah Sangiolo Ward 1 At Large: John Oliver (Vote for only John.) Ward: Kevin Riffe Ward 3 At Large: Pam Wright (Vote for only Pam.) Ward: Julia Malakie Ward 5 At Large: Rena Getz (Vote for only Rena.) Ward: Deb Waller Ward 6 At Large: Lisa Gordon (Vote for only Lisa.) Ward: Barry Bergman |
These are the Candidates to Elect in Uncontested* Races...
(*They are running unopposed.) Ward 2 At Large: Tarik Lucas (Vote for only Tarik.) Ward: Emily Norton Ward 4 At Large: Lenny Gentile (Vote for only Lenny.) Ward: Chris Markiewicz Ward 7 At Large: Marc Laredo (Vote for only Marc.) Ward: Lisle Baker Ward 8 At Large: David Kalis (Vote for only David.) Ward: No endorsement |
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Here are some reminders about who can vote in various races, and some tips for voting strategically:
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The Newton Villages Alliance is Newton's community preservation organization, and we believe this year's municipal election is critically important...
Many people are unhappy about the teardowns, high-density-high-priced developments, increasing traffic and parking demand, and declining quality of life. Many are concerned about an override that may be coming, and about the "lost year of learning" and negative mental health impacts on youth due to the Fuller administration's failure to get students and teachers safely back into full-time, in-person learning in the Newton Public Schools for most of the 2020-21 school year. Residents are frustrated by the inadequate capacity and maintenance of parks, playing fields, Gath Pool, and infrastructure generally. They're worried about rising taxes and cost of living, badly-planned village "improvements" imposed on residents without meaningful input, non-stop excavations and construction, and the resulting dramatic increase rat activity across most parts of Newton. Mostly, they're tired of an administration and a ruling majority on the City Council that dictates rather than represents, and that makes policy based on ideology rather than on what residents say they want. Newton voters feel like those in power aren't listening, and no one likes being ignored. It's time for a change.
At present, Newton's City Council has a solid majority that will rubber stamp over-sized developments. This group will likely vote for the Fuller administration's planned re-zoning of the entire city for much higher-density, gentrification, displacement and higher housing prices and taxes. The most efficient and effective way to change the trajectory of the zoning overhaul process and other policies to ones in which residents' preferences are represented is to change some of the representation we have in local elected office. If all of the City Council candidates listed above are elected, control of the City Council will shift, and the Fuller administration's extreme up-zoning plans are unlikely to be approved.
We have an opportunity to elect representatives who will actually represent us and advance our priorities in this election. Please make sure you vote. This is an election for change.
Many people are unhappy about the teardowns, high-density-high-priced developments, increasing traffic and parking demand, and declining quality of life. Many are concerned about an override that may be coming, and about the "lost year of learning" and negative mental health impacts on youth due to the Fuller administration's failure to get students and teachers safely back into full-time, in-person learning in the Newton Public Schools for most of the 2020-21 school year. Residents are frustrated by the inadequate capacity and maintenance of parks, playing fields, Gath Pool, and infrastructure generally. They're worried about rising taxes and cost of living, badly-planned village "improvements" imposed on residents without meaningful input, non-stop excavations and construction, and the resulting dramatic increase rat activity across most parts of Newton. Mostly, they're tired of an administration and a ruling majority on the City Council that dictates rather than represents, and that makes policy based on ideology rather than on what residents say they want. Newton voters feel like those in power aren't listening, and no one likes being ignored. It's time for a change.
At present, Newton's City Council has a solid majority that will rubber stamp over-sized developments. This group will likely vote for the Fuller administration's planned re-zoning of the entire city for much higher-density, gentrification, displacement and higher housing prices and taxes. The most efficient and effective way to change the trajectory of the zoning overhaul process and other policies to ones in which residents' preferences are represented is to change some of the representation we have in local elected office. If all of the City Council candidates listed above are elected, control of the City Council will shift, and the Fuller administration's extreme up-zoning plans are unlikely to be approved.
We have an opportunity to elect representatives who will actually represent us and advance our priorities in this election. Please make sure you vote. This is an election for change.
Learn More About the Candidates We Support:
A good way to see the candidates in contested races in action is to watch the excellent Area Councils-sponsored debates, which took place on October 16th and 17th.
A good way to see the candidates in contested races in action is to watch the excellent Area Councils-sponsored debates, which took place on October 16th and 17th.
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Meet Some of the Candidates We Support:
The following videos give a sense of the personalities of a few of the candidates endorsed above: Ward 3 Councilor Julia Malakie, At-Large Councilor from Ward 3 Pam Wright, Candidate for At-Large Councilor from Ward 5 Rena Getz, and Candidate for Ward 6 Councilor Barry Bergman. Happy viewing!
The following videos give a sense of the personalities of a few of the candidates endorsed above: Ward 3 Councilor Julia Malakie, At-Large Councilor from Ward 3 Pam Wright, Candidate for At-Large Councilor from Ward 5 Rena Getz, and Candidate for Ward 6 Councilor Barry Bergman. Happy viewing!
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More Reasons Why This Election Matters So Much...
Newton is fortunate to have a well-educated population, including experts in architecture, political science, economics, finance, housing, transportation and data analysis, and many of them are really excellent writers. You might enjoy reading some of their work, as you prepare to vote. Included below are:
- "Newton Architects Concerned Over Rezoning Effort", a letter published in the TAB from a group of distinguished Newton architects who have concerns about the likely consequences of zoning redesign for higher density.
- "Vision Kits", an analysis by political scientist and Newtonville Area Council President Peter Bruce of the Fuller Administration's broken promises with regard to zoning redesign, with an introduction by Bob Burke of the Highlands Area Council.
- Ipso Facto, links to essays, about the current election campaign in Newton, on this excellent blog by Newton's Ian Lamont. Here and here.
- "Newton Architects Concerned Over Rezoning Effort" is below.
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- "Vision Kits" is below (as a downloadable PDF).
About the Newton Villages Alliance
The Newton Villages Alliance is Newton's community preservation organization. We are committed to:
Our priorities are very much aligned with those of the Community Preservation Act of Massachusetts. In addition, we are committed to local representation in the form of ward councilors and area councils, to genuine resident-led planning about the future of our villages and neighborhoods, and to greater transparency in our local government. We oppose privatization of public assets, building on public open space, and the influence of property speculators, developers and their attorneys and consultants on our planning department and local government. We oppose the efforts of unelected state and federal bureaucrats to usurp elected local government authority over local land use policy. We believe Chapter 40B is the worst way to create affordable housing, has failed to improve housing affordability in the Commonwealth and should be repealed. We believe the Fuller administration made a terrible error in judgment when they abandoned Newton's assertion of 40B 1.5% safe harbor, thus re-opening the door to unwanted, over-sized 40B developments.
The Newton Villages Alliance is Newton's community preservation organization. We are committed to:
- the preservation and expansion of open space, trees and green space in our Garden City
- the preservation of historic assets including buildings, streetscapes and natural places for future generations
- the preservation of natural and subsidized affordable housing; to small-scale, non-profit, 100% affordable-in-perpetuity affordable housing projects; and to the socio-economic diversity Newton struggles to maintain
- the preservation and improvement of parks and recreational facilities essential to the health and well-being of our residents of all ages.
Our priorities are very much aligned with those of the Community Preservation Act of Massachusetts. In addition, we are committed to local representation in the form of ward councilors and area councils, to genuine resident-led planning about the future of our villages and neighborhoods, and to greater transparency in our local government. We oppose privatization of public assets, building on public open space, and the influence of property speculators, developers and their attorneys and consultants on our planning department and local government. We oppose the efforts of unelected state and federal bureaucrats to usurp elected local government authority over local land use policy. We believe Chapter 40B is the worst way to create affordable housing, has failed to improve housing affordability in the Commonwealth and should be repealed. We believe the Fuller administration made a terrible error in judgment when they abandoned Newton's assertion of 40B 1.5% safe harbor, thus re-opening the door to unwanted, over-sized 40B developments.
Newton Villages Alliance Statement
Newton is the home we cherish. We value its architectural character, history, scale and socio-economic diversity. Newton residents are deeply invested in their community, both economically and emotionally. Whether they have been living here for decades or recently moved here, most residents chose Newton precisely for its suburban qualities, not because they hope to see it grow ever more urban. In recent years people from different villages, each interested in resolving a particular development-related problem, came to recognize that those from other villages shared similar concerns. Decisions were being made, it seemed, without residents having meaningful input. We don't wish to stand by as the leafy suburb of family neighborhoods that we know and love is lost to a dense urban environment. We understand that we all lose when any village falls victim to demolitions and over-development. So we formed an alliance - the Newton Villages Alliance. We invite you to accept our email updates about development issues affecting all of Newton's villages and neighborhoods.
One issue is density. The costs of density - overcrowded schools, traffic jams, parking shortages, tree and green space loss, overburdened City services and increasing taxes - fall on the existing residents of Newton. The current development patterns are eliminating Newton's existing affordable houses and replacing them with luxury condos and McMansions. Dense residential growth is damaging to Newton in terms of its negative impact on our quality of life, and because it drives our local government further into debt. We should demand housing sustainability, not growth. Peruse other parts of this website for more detail about the problems of excessive and inappropriate development.
Check this site frequently to see how your city councilors are voting, and how the people they appoint to commissions and advisory groups, are voting on land use, zoning, "surplusing" and other aspects of City Hall's high-density, urbanization agenda. And remember, at the next election, whether they voted to protect our villages or to help developers urbanize them.
The members of the Newton Villages Alliance believe that when people move to Newton they are becoming part of an established community. They value and expect stability in the character of our neighborhoods, the quality of our schools, the accessibility to public transportation, the village centers with their valuable cultural and commercial amenities, and the wide array of local government-supported services and programs. They expect their elected officials and public employees to value and protect that stability as well. We invite all Newton residents to help us in our efforts to preserve the physical character and scale of our villages and neighborhoods...
The Members of the Newton Villages Alliance
Newton is the home we cherish. We value its architectural character, history, scale and socio-economic diversity. Newton residents are deeply invested in their community, both economically and emotionally. Whether they have been living here for decades or recently moved here, most residents chose Newton precisely for its suburban qualities, not because they hope to see it grow ever more urban. In recent years people from different villages, each interested in resolving a particular development-related problem, came to recognize that those from other villages shared similar concerns. Decisions were being made, it seemed, without residents having meaningful input. We don't wish to stand by as the leafy suburb of family neighborhoods that we know and love is lost to a dense urban environment. We understand that we all lose when any village falls victim to demolitions and over-development. So we formed an alliance - the Newton Villages Alliance. We invite you to accept our email updates about development issues affecting all of Newton's villages and neighborhoods.
One issue is density. The costs of density - overcrowded schools, traffic jams, parking shortages, tree and green space loss, overburdened City services and increasing taxes - fall on the existing residents of Newton. The current development patterns are eliminating Newton's existing affordable houses and replacing them with luxury condos and McMansions. Dense residential growth is damaging to Newton in terms of its negative impact on our quality of life, and because it drives our local government further into debt. We should demand housing sustainability, not growth. Peruse other parts of this website for more detail about the problems of excessive and inappropriate development.
Check this site frequently to see how your city councilors are voting, and how the people they appoint to commissions and advisory groups, are voting on land use, zoning, "surplusing" and other aspects of City Hall's high-density, urbanization agenda. And remember, at the next election, whether they voted to protect our villages or to help developers urbanize them.
The members of the Newton Villages Alliance believe that when people move to Newton they are becoming part of an established community. They value and expect stability in the character of our neighborhoods, the quality of our schools, the accessibility to public transportation, the village centers with their valuable cultural and commercial amenities, and the wide array of local government-supported services and programs. They expect their elected officials and public employees to value and protect that stability as well. We invite all Newton residents to help us in our efforts to preserve the physical character and scale of our villages and neighborhoods...
The Members of the Newton Villages Alliance
