Office Hours Sunday, March 6 , 3:30 pm
 
 I’m excited to host Representative Ruth Balser, who will join Councilor Alicia Bowman and me to talk about all things parklands and open space protection. She has been helping us at the intersection of Quinobequin and Hemlock Gorge to get funding for the historic Stone House (technically in Wellesley), sidewalk improvements and soon-to-come crosswalks. She has also secured funding for the Crystal Lake Bathhouse. Come with your questions and suggestions.
 And, yes, there will be time to talk about other areas of interest afterward.
 Surveillance and Facial Recognition Technology
 It’s important to me that our local government respects your civil rights and right to privacy. It is also important that, any time the city, state or nation acquires a new way to compile data on you, the reasons and guardrails around unwarranted intrusion are clear and openly debated.
 So on Feb. 9th, I invited the Massachusetts ACLU’s privacy and surveillance expert, Kade Crockford, to the Public Safety & Transportation committee meeting. Crockford laid out the dangers of “policy by procurement.” This is when police or other departments buy surveillance technology, often using grant funds, without a full Council discussion about what the technology does, how it works, and how it will be used.
 We also learned about the fallibility of facial recognition technology for identification, and how it particularly mis-identifies women, the young, the old and people of color. You can read the report here:
 Our next steps will be to examine ordinance language to limit facial recognition in Newton—building on what Sen. Cynthia Creem has done at the state level—and to ensure that Council properly vets any technological surveillance and the use of and access to any collected data.
 Signing Party
Speaking of state lawmakers—Councilor Bowman and I are holding a porch party for anyone who wants to get our legislators and a few other choice candidates on the state primary ballot.

Short Items:
 

• Albemarle Road: My #1 road safety priority is streets near schools—the latest stretch up for repair serves two schools, soon to include the city preschool program, plus a park and the Gath Pool. This stretch would also create a safer walking and biking connection from Washington Street (about to get a safety pilot) to the Charles River Paths. A public meeting on the improvements is March 10 at 5:30 pm on Zoom. Details here:
  
• Northland The Needham-Oak Street development is going to start construction this year. Plans have been refined, and improved. There’s more greenspace, more trees, AND more buildings are going to be built to the highest sustainability standards. I am also pleased that new streets are now getting names.
  
• Northland 40B Across the street, Northland is planning more housing and some small retail, building along the spine of Charlemont Street (which they extend to the Upper Falls Greenway) and Christina Street. I am pleased that they plan to construct a large park along the former rail spur that, we hope, will eventually again cross into Needham over the river. 
  
• Trash--I wrote in my December update about trash. Here’s a tool from the EPA that helps measure the greenhouse gasses we might save by wasting less. Thanks to Tom Gloria of Newton Centre for sending this. 
  
• The High Cost of Housing: Not everyone could open the link in last month’s update on why housing costs have spiked. A shorter article is here. Thanks to Mike Halle of West Newton for the link.   Also for this one.
  
• Winterfest: It was great to gather at the Soup Social last Saturday, and also a blast to walk in Cold Spring Park (picture above) in the snow on Sunday! Newton Community Pride is looking for more good ideas—and has micro-grants available for those willing to pull them off:
  

Hope to see you at office hours!! 

Questions Answered! Sunday, Feb. 6, 3:30pm Please join me and Councilor Bowman, along with state representatives Tommy Vitolo of Brookline and Kay Khan of Newton, for an informative session on how parts of the state's Climate Action Law allows municipalities to opt-in to a greener building code. We will take questions & suggestions.
And if you have something else you’d like to discuss, there will be time for that afterward. 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85298251794
 
Warning: Tight City Budget Because of the pandemic, city revenue is down. The mayor announced last week that some very popular projects will have to be cut or delayed.
One of the most important jobs of the City Council is to debate and approve the annual budget.  
 Having some Federal pandemic-relief funds and Infrastructure funds helps. But none of this money could--nor should, since they are one-time--go into our operating budget.
One of the biggest cost drivers has been and still is the city’s pension obligations. Others include trash, health insurance and other areas where inflation outpaces revenue growth.
 The mayor is talking about shaving every department--except schools--by a little. And we will have to make some tough decisions about which new initiatives to pursue. Talk to me about what you care about keeping.
 Zoning near Transit  There is already a lot of worry about a new state law that requires MBTA communities to zone for more housing near transit.
We don't know exactly how this law will play out for Newton, but there are a few things that are becoming clear; I outline these below:

• A good primer on the law is here.
• The regulations are still in draft form, and are open to public comment until March 31.
• Newton’s obligation is to allow--not produce--8,330 or so units.
  • We cannot restrict them to seniors;
  • We cannot restrict the size of each unit;
  • They need to be within a half-mile of a transit stop.
• I found the state FAQ, as well as the zoning memo from Monday’s meeting helpful to envision how Newton could comply.
• The Planning Department will be producing studies to help us further.

Here's what I think: the visioning Newton did this summer to prepare for re-zoning of Village Centers could give City Council a head start in complying with this law. Doing so will help our village center businesses thrive. We do know that the need for more housing in the region is urgent.
 Oh--and a great primer on what makes housing so expensive is in this podcast. The speakers say that the biggest cost driver is constrained supply--partly because of zoning.
 
Good to Know:

• ACLU and Facial Recognition at PS&T February 9th, 7 pm, check the Friday Packet for Zoom link. We will have Kade Crockford come talk with us about facial recognition technology, public safety and privacy. If our schedule allows, we will then join Programs & Services for discussion of enforcement of the leaf blower ordinance.
• Upcoming D Branch Vegetation Removal Shuttle buses replace D Branch service between Riverside and Newton Highlands the weekend of January 29-30 to allow for vegetation removal along the tracks. All shuttle buses are accessible for persons with disabilities.
• Winter Walk/Roll to School Feb. 2! Watch out on your travels as our Newton students take the winter challenge and walk, bike, scooter, bus or otherwise roll to school! If you have school kids, your PTO is organizing.
  

Here's the link to my update (lots of pictures)

Happy Italian-American Heritage month! Today at 5 pm, the city will raise Il Tricolore at City Hall to honor our residents with Italian heritage.

Mail-in ballots arrive in 2 weeks!
If you are already signed up for remote voting, your ballot may arrive as early as Oct. 15. Final registration deadline is Oct. 13. Sign up to get a ballot by mail by Oct. 27. Link to more election information here

“Dear Friends” by mid-month:
Research shows that happy constituents tend to stay home on Election Day. For those of us who have been working hard to make you happy—eek!

Please, friends, email your favorite Newton voters, particularly those who rarely cast a ballot in local elections, to encourage them to participate in the City Council elections!!

Police in focus
This Wednesday, October 6 at 7 pm, by Zoom I will welcome Chief John Carmichael at the Public Safety Committee to talk about how the Newton Police Department is complying with new state police reform measures. This is the first of what will be quarterly transparency meetings with the NPD.  I expect officers to return Oct. 17th to report on NPD’s progress on the Police Reform Task Force recommendations. One of those recommendations is that the department report several kinds of data to our committee.

Crystal Lake Parks and Water
I recently wrote to my colleagues in support of the Parks & Recreation Department’s proposal to improve the parkland at Levingston Cove, near the intersection of Lake and Lakewood avenues. This steeply-sloped shore is literally washing away, and that impacts water quality.
It will come to a full vote of the Council on Monday.

The P&R proposal would prevent erosion, add accessible paths and benches, allow fishing to continue and re-plant the lawn area. It will minimize additional concrete and make the lake waters more resilient as temperatures rise. You can read my whole memo here.

More dates for your calendar:

• Monday, October 11, noon-4pm: Indigenous People’s Day, Albemarle Field (also the Marathon)
• Tuesday, October 12th at 7:00 p.m. Moons and 12,000 Years: Honoring Indigenous Peoples Day  https://newtonfreelibrary.libcal.com/event/77791601
• Wednesday, October 13th at 7 p.m. Portraits of Resilience https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9lZPz64pQIy0fLQat5pNFw
• Sunday October 17th 11-4: Harvest Fair, Newton Centre
• Thursday, October 28th at 7 p.m. Resilience: The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope
  Webinar Registration - Zoom

Finally—Saturday, October 16th, 10 am Join my family and me for a community canvas! Meet your neighbors and drop literature. RSVP link here. Otherwise, I am out walking in the neighborhoods, going to virtual & in-person campaign parties, and will be at festivals. I hope to see you!

Onward!

Before we head into July 4 weekend and what feels like a very much needed summer break—some late-breaking news to get you through the summer season.
 
Weigh in by July 9
Roads repaved
Quinobequin
Bus fees
Responsive & Ready
Re-Elections!

Weigh in by July 9 on grant spending!
Don’t miss your opportunity to weigh in with the mayor on where the federal COVID recovery funding might be spent.

In my meeting with Mayor Fuller, I advocated for funding a Pedestrian/Bike/Accessibility plan for all our roads—so when any road or intersection is repaved, the DPW will be able to implement needed safety fixes, rather than returning roads to the old, unsafe conditions. This would also save money, time and the effort to install these independently of road construction.

I also reminded the mayor that the Washington Street Pilot was put on hold during COVID. Many of us believe that making Washington Street safer and more livable will unlock the economic potential of the north side of town.

And I asked if Newton could invest in a Park Maintenance Plan that would include climate adaption—such as planting trees that will thrive in warmer and wetter conditions predicted for the next 30-50 years, planting for habitat in our open spaces and verges to keep native animals alive, and locations for splash parks for days like the last few.
 
Road to Recovery?
 
Speaking of roads, Chestnut Street from Rt. 9 to Beacon was given its first smooth surface—this is just the first pass and a few more coats go down before it’s done, but the improvements are palpable (particularly on a bike saddle!). Dedham Street is also getting a refresh, and you have probably seen the crews on Walnut and Watertown.
 
Chestnut was delayed for needed underground work—the 1875-era cast iron water main needed to be reinforced and the sewer main relined—and two stretches of sewer had partially collapsed! Many other repairs, including new sidewalks and tighter curb radii at two corners, will help with access and safety.

I want to thank DPW for listening to neighborhood safety concerns and implementing some traffic calming along this stretch of Chestnut.
 
Quinobequin News
 
Our excellent state representatives are a big help in my advocacy for better roads, trails and parks. Rep. Ruth Balser has joined me in fighting for improvements to the riverside park and parkway that runs between Route 9 and Washington Street. This week she alerted me that the Department of Conservation & Recreation (the state park agency that owns the land and road) has published its preferred design for a multi-use path, safer roadway, and refreshed park. That’s here. Additional background here.
 
Neighbors who live along Quinobequin were buttonholing me earlier this month to ask about how the road might be made safer for them and their kids. Let me know what you think.
 
School Bus Fees
 
I have never been a big fan of charging for the bus. I do think that the city and School Committee need to find a way to make buses more equitable, available and convenient. But I know it isn'not something that Newton can do overnight.
 
I sit on the School Transportation Working Group, which has been working to make the school bus better since I was appointed—making it possible to sign up online, pay in installments, assign seats (important during the pandemic) and more. One of the big remaining challenges is to find parking for our contractor’s current fleet of diesel buses.
 
Ideally, we could find a public and central spot for electric buses to park overnight and recharge (their batteries could provide emergency back up power). Ideally, we would also have enough buses to meet demand (middle school is close to capacity, high school less so). But until we do, that single hurdle will prevent Newton from being able to handle the anticipated increased demand for a no-fee bus ride (and then there’s the challenge of finding enough drivers).
 
Responsive and ready
 
As your councilor, I attend meetings and knock on doors to get constituent feedback and know what matters to you. My pipeline of information, like so much else, was severely constrained by the pandemic. So, going in to the spring, I joined a number of colleagues in asking Newton voters what issues mattered to them.
 
It turns out that you and I share a concern for quality public schools, Covid relief for businesses, and good repair of our public assets. Now that I’m fully vaccinated, I will continue to check in via the usual methods—phone, email, knocking on doors and meeting people around the city on our usual business—as we move into the fall.

Re-Election Time!
I am eager to continue working on the above issues and more in a third term. It again looks like I face a contested race. Campaigns are fun, but I will need your help walking your neighborhood, hosting house parties (virtual is also an option), and signs. Please pitch in here.
 
Office Hours
 
I think we all need a rest from regular business for July. But am always interested in hearing from you so don’t hesitate to pick up the phone or shoot me an email.
 
In August, I thought we might walk a village or two and talk about history and zoning redesign with a Visioning Kit. Where would you like to tour and when will you be in town? Wondering what this is all about? Here’s the Zoning Newsletter.

Newton is starting to gather again in person, albeit cautiously! It was great to see and say hello to dozens under a tent outside for Chief John Carmichael’s swearing-in on Monday.

Other new opportunities to see people in 3-D include:

• The Senior Center will soon start holding in-person events in a tent outside
  
• The house museums (Jackson Homestead & Durant Kendrick) will be open for inside visits by June 16.
  
• Rumford Avenue recycling depot is now open without appointment
  
• Crystal Lake will be opening June 21 with limited hours until June 28 with full hours
  
• The Tuesday Farmer’s Market opens June 29, 1:30 to 6:00 p.m. at Cold Springs and the Saturday market June 26 9:30 to 12:30 at Newton North High School.
  

Budget Highlights 
Every budget tells a story--I started describing that story last month with police and schools. The last weeks have been filled with additional budget discussions. You can find the mayor's proposed operating budget here, and the capital priorities are here. 

• Fire: Our Fire Department is Class 1, which is a designation won with extensive training of our fire personnel. Roughly 90% of our firefighters are vaccinated, and all transmission of COVID has been from outside the workplace. We have a new engine in Auburndale (Washington Street) and a refurbished ladder truck that is working well. Every station now has power washers to remove carcinogens from fire gear after a call--further protecting the health of our force. Overtime has been a persistent issue with the NFD, in part because of the difficulty of staying fully staffed. After much effort, Chief Lucchetti has two additional recruits in the academy who will bring the department to full staffing. However, another five resignations or retirements are likely this summer.
  
• Seniors: Despite coming in at under a million dollars, this department overperforms--this year engaging virtually with residents on COVID epidemiology and mental health, delivering over 10,000 meals and 900 grocery visits, 7,000 calls to people who were not online as well as Thanksgiving dinner delivery, surprising residents with home baked cookies and activity gift bags and still providing NewMo trips to the doctor and other essential destinations.
  
• History: Zoom sessions aside, Historic Newton has been adding programming outside--with signage and QR codes, murals, tours by biking, kayak/canoe, etc. By popular demand, they are researching the local history of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s-60s, including the history of METCO here. 
  
• Equity: The budget sets aside $250,000 for a consultant to help the city assess its diversity equity and inclusion initiatives and develop a strategy and goals before hiring a coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion. 
  
• Sustainability: This year, the city realized $667,000 in savings, grants and incentives, $459,000 of which are associated with the solar panels on buildings, parking lots and the former landfill at Rumford Ave. Newton Power Choice customers now have 80% renewables in their electricity supply mix, except for the 7% who have opted up to 100% renewables (that’s nearly 2,000 households). 
  
• Trash: The cost of recycling and of throwing things away continues to increase, and the DPW is looking to reduce costs by reducing what we throw out. The composting program has helped with that—food waste is one of the heaviest components of Newton’s trash. The city will try food waste drop off locations also.
  
• Streets: All of Newton’s parking meters are now modern and can accept credit cards. All of our traffic signals now have audible pedestrian controls for those with limited vision. 
  
• Health: This past year highlighted the importance of public health information and services. HHS will continue to work on COVID, on top of restaurant inspections and school nursing. It has a new emphasis on community mental health, in partnership with non-profit entities and the police. 
  
• Library: Newton’s was among the first libraries to reintroduce library services in the region, and is the busiest  library in the Minuteman Network. Interest in its streaming and downloadable offerings grew 70% during the pandemic, so the library will invest more there. Our children’s programming and materials outperform all other segments of the library’s offerings, highlighting the need for a new, larger Children’s Room.
  
• Parks continue to be an area where the city needs to add investment. Our department manages nearly 500 acres, and 70% of our open space, as well as 20,000 street trees. The department is initiating a Shade Tree Master Plan next year, and investing more in athletic fields, Crystal Lake’s eroding shores and looking at the possibilities for the Gath Pool.
  

New Police Chief
Budget
Transit
Gun Stores 
New Police Chief
Last week, City Council welcomed and interviewed Chief John Carmichael. His candid, forward-looking answers to our many tough questions were impressive. I invite you to listen to the meeting (link here). The chief stressed the importance of trust and strong relationships with both the community and the officer corps. He also emphasized policing as community service, as a problem-solving branch of government (particularly on quality of life issues), and the importance of teamwork with other entities when responding to mental health and addiction disorder calls.
Chief Carmichael has experience with creating a more diverse department by removing it from the Civil Service system. We will undoubtedly be examining whether that is the right move for Newton.
I look forward to working with the new chief as Newton moves forward to implement recommendations from the Police Reform Task Force and other citizens, while also taking care of our officers’ mental and physical health.
Budget 
The mayor's budget for next year (starting in July) is here, and the capital priorities are here. I am pleased that the roads budget will gradually return to our $9.5m/year investment, that school renovations and re-builds are resuming, and that the Library Children's Room is back on track for expansion and remodeling. Good to see parks and the library back to normal funding, also. Council's review and debate will continue for the next few weeks.

• Schools: After an unprecedented year, our teachers, staff and colleagues on the School Committee are looking forward to a full re-opening in the fall. Everyone, including the students, has been impacted by remote learning and the stress of both in-person and zoom classes, the worries and the necessary precautions. Superintendent Fleishman assured Council that equity and social-emotional learning are the top concerns for next year and the department has added social workers and a diversity and equity coordinator. Newton’s enrollment, along with that of surrounding public schools, has dropped. Some elementary enrollment was dropping before the pandemic and is expected to continue as birth rates continue to stagnate. But students are starting to smile again; high school will have a later start time (following the science on adolescent development); and teachers have seen more learning with less homework. 
• Police: It’s hard to believe that less than a year ago, the police budget was the focus of thousands of resident emails. This year, it’s guns (see below). This department will see a 4% increase, less than many other departments, as we await Chief Carmichael for a thorough study of several changes, including more support to stave off mental health crises (additional funding this year for school guidance counselors and in the Health Department are part of this), examining the role of school resource officers (negotiated between the School Committee and the NPD), how to best ensure quality of life (leaf blowers, sidewalk obstructions), and expanding the corps of construction-site flaggers--among other things. I intend to work closely with the Chief to educate the council and the public on the department’s roles in Newton and progress on the most important NPD goal--to ensure that every resident and visitor to Newton feels safe and respected. 

Fighting for Transit
US Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Sen. Cynthia Creem, Rep. Kay Khan, Mayor Fuller and 10 city councilors met last Monday to share ideas on how to restore good transit to the north side of Newton. Sen. Creem has filed a state budget amendment to restore hourly train service and the #505 Express Bus. It will take at least 9 years to achieve two-platform. accessible stations for the Worcester Line--which are needed if Newton is to get the same hourly service as other communities--even if Newton can secure Federal money now. Newton might also be able to leverage development increment tax financing. I am filing a resolution from the Council to push the state to fully fund refurbishment of the three stations and to do so in this budget.
Gun Store Debate
​The idea that a firearms vendor might open on Washington Street has many of us concerned. Ensuring Newton’s safety and strictly limiting the ability of gun stores to operate near schools and residences is a priority. As the store owner works to get a building permit, prompt action is crtiical. 
Some have suggested we ban gun stores. But many in the gun-control community warn that this approach will lose in court, and could make it more difficult to regulate gun stores anywhere in the US. I am not willing to gamble with Newton’s future, and will be supporting strong, effective zoning that is easier to defend. The ban will be discussed Wednesday, May 26 at 6:30 pm. Council debate on the strict zoning will continue June 7th at our regular meeting, which may start early to allow enough time. More details here.

Silver linings
Room for Walking
Fight for Transit
Announcements
Office Hours

Silver Linings As we start to see the end of this painful pandemic year-plus, I have been taking time to assess what we learned; and what we may want to retain in the months and years ahead.
Below is my short list--I would love to know yours (here’s another):

• For some things, remote is positive
  • Our City Council meetings have expanded participation. Parents of small children and those without transportation could watch and weigh in. We need to keep doing this post-pandemic.
  • It's great to be able to see a nurse, attend a lecture, watch a show, participate in a meeting--vote!--without having to travel or change clothes. 
  • Virtual reunions of family and friends were bigger--more coasts, more continents. Connections cemented.
• It wasn’t easy, but we got stuff done:
  • Streets around schools got safety modifications--so more kids can walk & bike. More Newton children learned to travel indepently. They grew & their parents got a break from chauffeuring.
  • Our community pulled together for the neediest. I am heartened by the food banks, Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the “freedge,” among other efforts. 
  • We got outdoors more. Saw the moon rise during outdoor cocktails. Noticed birds. Discovered the many parks and beaches of the Commonwealth. 

Silver linings aside, this was a 'terrible, horrible, very bad' year for many of us, unequally and on many fronts. Acknowledging that--be kind to yourselves, too. We have been through a lot!

More safe walking roomThis is the Commonwealth Avenue Carriageway at Bristol Street in West Newton.
The barriers are part of a pilot to open this section for walking and biking only. 
Eventually, neighbors hope to reclaim some of the asphalt, plant trees in the median--create a “Bristol Park.”
I was happy to usher this through the process so that a little more of this popular walking route is even safer.

• The Christina Street Bridge is a missing link from the Upper Falls Greenway to the Needham-side DCR parks. After many discussions, my Ward 5 colleagues Deb Crossley, Bill Humphrey and I interested the Planning Department in applying for a grant to study how it could safely re-open. That grant in hand, the planners are asking for input from the community. Watch a video on the project here. Take the survey here.
• Related Greenway links the Friends of Upper Falls Greenway are building off the city’s plans to add box stairs from the Upper Falls Greenway “sunset deck” end to the conservation land along the river. Details here. Send them some funds here. (Be sure to put Upper Falls Greenway stairs in the comment line so that the donation will be designated for this project)
• Derby Street, connecting to the Franklin School has narrow and discontinuous sidewalks, and parents are rightly concerned about safe walking. The Transportation Division has pledged to try several methods, including striping, to make the street safer this spring.

Fighting for Transit

• To support our state delegation’s efforts to reverse MBTA cuts, I have sponsored a Council resolution asking for full restoration (we lost the #52 and #505 buses—although limited service on the #52 is pledged for this summer) and the single-seat ride on several other express buses as well as convenient train service). I invited other communities to join us, and at least 8 of them have passed or are debating similar resolutions. The MBTA Fiscal board heard us, but the funding for years 3-5 and beyond is still in doubt, so my amended resolution for expanded T funding will move to a full Council vote shortly.
• Meanwhile Newton is in line for a grant to pilot demand-based shuttles to connect the Wells Avenue/JCC area to the Highlands and other D-line stops starting this summer. Also, those stops are either under construction or on the T’s radar for needed accessibility improvements.
• Blue Bikes are expanding to a total of 16 stations, making for a network extending south to the Highlands T and Needham Street. Look for, and try out the new stations starting in early June. This expansion, according to Transportation Planning Director Nicole Freedman, should increase usage (usually one-way trips), which will be key to Newton’s keeping a bikeshare system in the future.

The spring bulbs are coming up, vaccinations are getting distributed, and plans are afoot to get students into classrooms safely. There's finally hope!

Police Task Force
New Senior Center
Grace Church Tower
Announcements

Police Task Force ReportThe final report of the Police Reform Task force is here.
It's a remarkable and thoughtful document, worth your time to read if you are at all interested in how policing in Newton might change to meet 21st century needs and budgets.
The Public Safety committee will be scheduling meetings with the Administration & the new chief, due to be hired by early April, to determine what the Council's role might be, and how to move forward.

NewCAL Taking Shape
Two general options have come out of the extensive process to build a new, functional senior center at its current site. All-new? Or retain the old façade?

An all-new structure has several advantages--better and more equal access for all, it can grow with the future programming needs, more parking (some covered), and is $2-3 million cheaper.
Many members of the public who have reviewed the two options --including seniors, the Council on Aging, the Disabilities Commission--prefer the all-new option. The possible other option--retaining the façade of the current center--is below:
Personally, I'm not fond of the big-boxy structure pictured in 2C above, but staff told us there are many ways to mitigate that. It could, like the library, retain a cupola, the stained glass windows, and other features that would help the building fit in with the existing architecture of Walnut Street in Newtonville. 
What do you think? What is most important to you?

#Stop Asian Hate

It was gratifying yesterday to join hundreds of Newton residents standing against the recent horror in Georgia and anti-Asian bias. Diversity makes our community stronger, especially when we stand together. 

Grace Church Tower
The parishioners of Grace Church asked for $1.4 million, a 50% match, from the Community Preservation fund to salvage their historic steeple. The Community Preservation Act in Newton is funded by a 1% surcharge on the property tax. It was passed by the voters of Newton in 2001 to fund historic preservation, community housing, open space and recreation.
It is a huge request--probably the largest single historic grant Newton’s CPA has been asked to fund--and there was a question of separation of church and state, as well as the possibility that Council would open the floodgates for the many religious institutions in historic structures with dwindling congregations and funds.
But other arguments persuaded me to support the project--neighboring Farlow Park was built with the tower as a focal point. This is one of the few intact places in Newton Corner, which was fragmented by the building of the Massachusetts Turnpike. The tower has no religious iconography, which may satisfy court findings on the church-state issue.
Ultimately, my respect for the work of the Community Preservation Committee-an all-volunteer 9-member board drawn from city committees in all the interest groups, and the public benefits the church community agreed to offer--among them allowing access to the tower during historic tours and developing a program of public secular bell concerts and classes--that tipped the balance for me. I hope the tower remains a landmark in the neighborhood for generations. 
Announcements

• Starting April 1 Newton restaurants are now able to request permission to expand into parking spaces beyond their frontage with written support from their abutting neighbors. Applications and other information available online here. That means more places to eat outside this spring & summer!
• Newton now has an energy coach, who can help homeowners and those contemplating new wheels to access rebates and other help to go green. Liora Sikes is part of the initial phase of Newton’s Climate Action Plan; She also will be reviewing development applications submitted to the city to make them as efficient as possible. Reach out to her at lsilkes@newtonma.gov or the entire team via this link. 
  
• Did you know that 95% of textiles (and shoes!) are recyclable? And yet they are an increasing percentage of trash in Massachusetts (details and more information here https://www.mass.gov/guides/massdep-textile-recovery). Newton has several donation boxes at Rumford Avenue--even ripped curtains or jeans can be re-purposed.