Greetings, I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. In the photo above we're delivering Christmas Day homemade fudge delivery to our Police Headquarters and Fire Station 4 to show appreciation for our first responders keeping us safe every day of the year.

Here is some news of Newtonville and beyond.
Holiday Trash/Recycling Pickup Schedule
By now you've noticed that trash pickup was on a regular schedule this week, WITHOUT a one-day delay after Christmas. The City website notes that next week, too, there will NOT be a one day delay following New Years (Jan 2nd). Residents should bring barrels curbside on your REGULAR pick-up day.
Tax Bills Increasing
In November the City Council voted on new property tax levy distribution percentages in order to fund the Fiscal Year 2017 budget. Single-family homeowners will pay on average 5.7% more, or a median increase of $530.

Due to our relatively small commercial tax base, Newton is heavily dependent on residential taxpayers to fund our budget - 82% of the tax levy falls on residential taxpayers versus 18% on commercial property owners.
 
This is why I am keenly interested in seeing what can be done to expand commercial development in Newton. The mayor commissioned this report on where more housing can go. I am urging that the City similarly explore where more commercial development can go. Especially as the City has a $1 billion unfunded liability in retiree pension and healthcare costs, we should be leaving no stone unturned to find ways to increase revenues without adding to the residential tax burden. I will be docketing a discussion item on this very topic in coming weeks.
 
For more details see this Newton Tab story and this report by Director of Assessment Administration Elizabeth Dromey.
Washington Place
On Thursday, January 12th the Land Use Committee will discuss the Washington Place project (slated for the corner of Walnut and Washington Streets) starting at 7PM at City Hall.
Harvard/Washington intersection
The intersection at Harvard and Washington Streets is slated to have a traffic light installed in 2017. This location is dangerous and has a history of pedestrian accidents. Installing the traffic light will require moving a bus stop and losing several on-street parking spaces. A meeting will be held Wed., January 4th at 6PM for area businesses to see the options under consideration.
Sanctuary City
I have joined 9 other City Councilors in proposing an ordinance to establish Newton as a sanctuary city, to guarantee that City employees will not proactively seek to enforce immigration laws. Mayor Warren, Police Chief MacDonald and two councilors have proposed an alternative approach. The wording of each can be found here (scroll down to page 2). These items will be heard in the Public Safety and Transportation Committee, on which I serve. They are not on the agenda for our January 4 meeting, however. If you would like to know when they will come up for discussion please email me. (Here is Tab coverage of this issue, here is Globe coverage.)
Leaf Blowers
It’s been two long years, but finally the City Council will vote on Tuesday, January 17 on whether to restrict the use of leaf blowers in terms of season, hours and decibel level. The meeting will start at 7:45PM, but I do not yet know what time the vote will happen. I am in favor of increased restrictions. Here is the proposal to be voted on.
New Debt Management Policy
At the suggestion of Standard & Poor's, the City Council voted to approve a new policy for debt management for the City. It is not so much a change as a clearer statement of City policy. Click here for more details.  
Drive Green: Electric Vehicles at Significant Discount
A Massachusetts nonprofit called Mass Energy has organized a group purchase program to offer discounts on new Electric Vehicles. There are savings of literally thousands of dollars that I wish had been around when I got my Nissan Leaf! If you’re in the market for a new car, take a look. Note the Chevy Bolt is weeks away from being in show rooms and has a range of 238 miles per charge! (In contrast my Leaf goes 60-80 miles between charge).
Office Hours Friday January 27
My office hours are held the last Friday of the month, January 27th, 9-10AM at the Newton Senior Center, 345 Walnut St. in Newtonville. Hope to see you there!

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Contact Emily

Email: emily@emilynorton.org

Phone:  617-795-0362
Cell:  508-397-6839

www.emilynorton.org

Councilor Emily Norton
58 Prescott Street
Newton, Massachusetts 02460

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Share this email


 

Contact Emily

Email: emily@emilynorton.org

Phone:  617-795-0362
Cell:  508-397-6839

www.emilynorton.org

Councilor Emily Norton
58 Prescott Street
Newton, Massachusetts 02460

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