May Update--New Chief, Budget, gun stores

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.