I have worked all of my adult life on social justice issues. I grew up in a Newton that had a much larger working-class base than the one we have today. In my childhood, we had a broad range of financial diversity. A police officer owned the two-family at the end of my street, and my friends came from a range of incomes, from very low to clearly well-off. 

When I moved back to Newton around 2000 it was obvious that Newton was changing. Housing prices were growing yearly, the dot-com boom was beginning.

Many of my Newton South classmates moved back to Newton to raise their families. Some of them were lucky and their parents either gave them or sold them their family home. Some could afford to purchase houses and some, like me, live in small houses and make personal sacrifices because we want to raise our families here. 

Staying in Newton is not easy for many of us. The taxes and water bill go up significantly every year. Many of those who struggle to stay in Newton are invisible. There is much anxious talk about the challenges of helping our parents age in place. The city advertises tax breaks—but these are hard to get and are not realistic for all. The generation that we credit for keeping Newton the bedroom community that it is now is being marginalized. 

We talk of progressive values, but many of our representatives refuse to listen. We have advocates for the environment or affordable housing,  but these organizations are often out of touch with the real people of Newton. Engine 6 was unable to get affordable housing in Waban, and so now Engine 6 is on a mission to get more affordable housing throughout Newton. A goal I agree with, but unfortunately, what they are actually doing is partnering with big business and forcing the lower-income families and individuals out of Newton. Engine 6, and other like-minded organizations, mean well, but without having a conversation with all stakeholders they are marginalizing our citizens.

The groups and councilors that espouse these sentiments should have told Northland that they would only endorse if they had fewer high-end housing units and increased the affordable allotment above the minimum required. That’s what a negotiation is. We would not be in this position if our elected leaders worked to include and protect our residents. I believe that Newton has the power to advocate for those of us who live here, and I believe it is our councilors’ responsibility to do so. 

Lastly, Massachusetts urgently needs a transportation plan. As a state, we should lead the country and implement solutions to the housing crisis by connecting our cities and towns to one another. It’s absurd to assume that building new housing without parking--and with a shuttle to one-stop--will cause people to stop driving. Only when our cities and towns have adequate transportation will people want to leave their cars and take public transit. Our representatives should be heavily advocating for transportation issues first and foremost and THEN we can look at housing. If Springfield, Western Massachusetts, Burlington, Gloucester, Worcester, Lowell, Quincy, Braintree, etc. were all connected by a state-of-the-art transportation system, people would be happy to live in these outstanding suburbs and commuting to work would be a pleasure where one could listen to audiobooks, music, or podcasts. It’s foolish to think anything will change without first fixing our ability to get around. I was told that the first offer from Northland was to provide shuttles around Newton. Where did that offer go? Why didn’t our city take them up on that? Clearly, a shuttle that runs down a crowded street (Needham) to one T-Stop is not the best we can do. Let’s work on striving for excellence. Let’s work on connecting all of Newton. Let’s get funding for a transportation system that really works. Mexico did it. European towns do it. This is where our environmental, affordable housing lobby should be putting their effort in. You fix transportation and you solve many issues that face us today. 

I am voting NO on Tuesday because I want to send a message to our city leaders that I believe they can do better. I believe in their ability to negotiate a better deal. Developments are happening all over Newton. And without our council and city staff advocating for us, we have no hope of growing in the way that works for our residents and opens the door to new residents. I want the Northland site developed and I want Newton to be home to my classmates, to our first-responders, to our teachers, to single-parent families, to those that make 50% of AMI, and to my grandchildren (should I be so fortunate). But I want it done correctly and not at the risk of displacing those that make their home here now.

Please join me and Vote NO for a better future. For a better Newton.

Additional Materials:
Listen to the following councilors on why they voted NO:

Notable Newtonians (or perhaps Notable pre-Newtonian)

Today's Notable Newtonian is reprinted from Wikipedia:
I knew that Waban was a Native American word, but had no idea that Waban was a person. I was delighted to learn this bit of Newton history and I've reprinted for you all here:
"Waban (c.1604—c.1685) was a Native American of the Nipmuc group. Waban maintained close and friendly relations with the white settlers of Massachusetts and, in April 1675, reported to an English magistrate that trouble was brewing amongst the Wampanoags. Within two months, Waban's predictions came to pass when a Wampanoag named Metacomet, known as "King Philip," led his nation in the initially successful King Philip's War. Metacomet's subsequent death in August 1676 signaled the end of the brief war, and the rebellion soon collapsed due to a lack of leadership. Nevertheless, Waban, falsely accused of being a conspirator, was imprisoned in October 1675. After a brief period of captivity, Waban was released in the spring of 1676 and returned to his settlement of Natick, Massachusetts."

Heard on the Radio

Cambridge's 'Passive House' Is Built With Focus On Affordable Housing, Climate Change