Issues

Maintain the character of Newton's neighborhoods

Newton's collection of 13 villages, each with its own unique flavor, makes it an exciting and desirable place to live. It provides a kind of multi-faceted diversity that few cities its size can claim. Diversity is what makes for a vibrant community. It is a core value that Newton has always championed, and it is a value we must preserve if we are to maintain the character of our city. I am seeking a second term so I can continue my efforts to maintain the character of Newton's neighborhoods.

Make Newton affordable for young families

Over the past decade, Newton has become a very expensive place to live -- so expensive, in fact, that young families earning modest incomes can no longer afford to buy a home here. Yet it is the presence of newcomers that keeps a community lively and vital. It is critical that Newton continues to welcome such families. We can do this by supporting reasonable proposals for affordable housing. I say "reasonable" because I think that houses that are either newly constructed or "rehabbed" must fit into the neighborhoods in which they are to be sited. We have on the books the Community Preservation Act which, among other things, offers grants to cities and towns in the Commonwealth wishing to expand their affordable housing stock. Newton has an active Community Preservation Committee that has been working hard to achieve that goal. I was pleased to support the recent Covenant Residence and Kessler Woods projects with their complement of affordable housing. However, we still are far from meeting the requirement that 10% of our housing stock qualify as affordable. There is a lot of work yet to be done-work that I consider important. To maintain the cultural richness that characterizes our city, Newton must continue to be a place that welcomes young families with moderate incomes. I wish to serve a second term so I can continue to help achieve that goal.

Ensure that older citizens can remain in Newton

Adding to the diversity of our city, Newton has a population of older citizens, many of whom live on fixed and/ or moderate incomes. I have spoken with some of these seniors, and what I am hearing is their concern about being able to remain in their homes and/or in the city, because of rising expenses. Usually, these people have lived in Newton for most of their adult lives, have raised their families here, and have contributed in myriad ways to the city. As a result of the work of U-CHAN in cooperation with other community organizations, there are tax deferments and partial exemptions available to older citizens who qualify. A particularly helpful provision allows seniors who cannot afford to pay their property taxes to defer them until sale of their house . A small number of older homeowners take advantage of these provisions; for personal reasons, many more do not. With costs rising, however, we should make certain that seniors who may need assistance are aware of what help is available to them. I strongly supported the accessory apartment program the Board of Aldermen passed during my first term. This program allows older people who own their homes and are in need of help to use part of their house as an "accessory apartment". This program provides information and funding so the homeowner can ensure that the designated space complies with building codes. As approved by the Board, accessory apartments are offered as affordable units and will remain as such, thus increasing the stock of affordable rental units in Newton.

Enable people who work in Newton, and the children of long-time Newton residents to be able to live in Newton

Part of making Newton more affordable entails helping those who work for the city -- our teachers, policemen, social workers, and firefighters for example -- to be able to live here. Presently, it is all but impossible for these people to afford to buy in Newton without assistance. Alderman Ted Hess-Mahan was a leader in creating a First Time Homebuyer's program that provides financial assistance to municipal workers in the form of a partial down payment on an affordable property. That program has been expanded to include the children of families who have lived in the city for many years, and who wish to make their home in Newton as their parents did. When these people, and Newton's teachers, policemen, social workers, firefighters, librarians, etc. can own homes in the city, they have a vested interest in its welfare. They also add to Newton's diversity, and it is this kind of diversity that leads to a vibrant community. I support this program as a way of preserving Newton's diversity and will continue to work to see it implemented as fully as possible.

Maintain dialogue with School Committee to solve financial problems

Good schools are the hallmark of a desirable community, and Newton has always maintained an excellent school system. Thousands of cities and towns across the country are struggling to fund schools and other city services with decreasing assistance from federal and state governments. We need to find cost saving measures that can be taken without compromising the quality of the education we offer our children. We must also identify ways to raise revenue without increasing property taxes. Our current course is not sustainable. We are not facing an immediate financial crisis, but costs are mounting and personnel are being lost. I believe a needs assessment of all our school buildings was essential in order to reasonably set priorities. Therefore, I supported the School Committee's request for funding for such a study when it came to the Board of Aldermen. When it failed to pass the Board, I favored the Committee's decision to fund the study from its own budget. I also believe a long-range strategic plan needs to be developed for our schools (and for the city as well) and am pleased that the School Committee is beginning this task.

Shortly after being elected, I suggested to our School Committee Chairperson, Dori Zaleznik, that we meet on a regular basis to establish open and ongoing communication. She agreed, and she and I have been meeting once a month ever since. I talk regularly with some other School Committee members as well. I believe such informal communication has helped to increase our mutual understanding of the issues and challenges we face as a city. It is a practice I intend to continue. As your Alderman, and a lifelong professional educator, I will continue to work with the Mayor and the School Committee to support creative, sustainable solutions and to maintain the tradition of excellence that characterizes Newton's schools.