​This Election could be one of the most consequential in many years. There are very significant initiatives and development projects before the Council next term. This includes the Washington Street Corridor redesign and mixed use developments at Riverside and Northland which are still under review. There is a lot to like about these proposals including dramatically more efficient buildings, more greenspaces and robust shuttle services. Giving people options to driving will reduce traffic congestion and help us meet our climate goals. We are also in the midst of updating our zoning code which will help to make the process more predictable and easier to understand. It will also encourage the building of smaller homes and more diverse housing types. I will work to ensure we include standards for maximizing green infrastructure including increasing tree and vegetative cover and permeable surfaces which reduce impacts from the heat island effect and storm water runoff.  

I am in full support of passing the Citizen’s Climate Action Plan. This plan, a year in the making, is a road map to carbon neutrality developed by a brilliant team put together by the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy. The goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050.

I am a strong supporter of preserving of Webster Woods. We have a unique opportunity to preserve 17 acres of intact forestland and build resilience in the face of a warming planet. We cannot miss this opportunity.

Building a new senior center is also a big priority for me. The current facility is too small and wholly inadequate for the needs of our seniors. I support a new facility in a central location, near amenities, and transit with dedicated services for our senior population.
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It is important that we continue the long term strategic planning which is essential to mitigating climate change impacts as well as rehabilitating our shared infrastructure and public spaces. We have made significant progress including water, sewer stormwater improvements, embarking on phase 3 solar projects, a municipal aggregation program where we source 60% of our electrical power from renewable sources and investing in our schools including building 3 new elementary schools on time and under budget!

Not Sure Who to Vote For? 
 
City Council (At-Large) Contested candidates.
All Registered Newton Voters May Vote for Two Candidates for Each At-Large Seat.
Below are the candidates I am supporting in contested races
 
Ward 2
Susan Albright - Susan has been highly effective as the Chair of the Zoning and Planning Committee during a time where we are experiencing strong growth and development pressures while also in the middle of reforming our zoning code.  Susan is one of our most experienced city leaders serving on both the school committee and the City Council. She brings a deep knowledge of the City she was born and brought up and committed to equity, diversity, thriving village centers and meeting the housing needs for a wide range of Newton residents.

 Jake Auchincloss - Another Newton native, Jake served as a captain in the Marines and brings a strong sense of service and commitment along with his problem-solving skills and inquisitive mind. Very data driven, Jakes takes a deep dive into the details and  I have been impressed with his ability to negotiate and ensure that development projects offer the maximum public benefits for Newton residents.

Ward 3
Andrea Kelley
A multi issue candidate who has followed city council affairs for the LWV for over 30 years she has wealth of experience and a firm grasp of the challenges we face ahead. A landscape architect by training, Andrea was Newton’s first open space coordinator and a past President of the Newton League of Women Voters. Smart, resourceful and collaborative Andrea engages all stakeholders towards constructive solutions.

Ward 5
Deborah Crossley I serve with Deb on Public Facilities committee, which she very ably chairs. Deb spearheaded the Green communities program that significantly reduced energy use and saved the City money. She co-chaired the water, sewer, stormwater working group with Councilor Fuller (now Mayor Fuller) which alone saved the City over a million dollars. Her priorities include master planning, zoning reform, more diverse housing options and improving the built environment. As the only architect on the Council she offers important professional expertise and insight.
 
Andreae Downs - Andreae has a background in journalism and years of service in Newton, including as the Chair of the City’s Transportation Advisory Group where her accomplishments included a bicycle network plan and improved traffic designs. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Wastewater Advisory Committee to the MWRA.  Insightful and hardworking Andreae is extremely knowledgeable about both transportation issues and our underground water sewer and stormwater utilities and is a strong advocate for safer streets especially around our schools, and recently helped found Friends of Cold Spring Park.

Ward 6   Alicia Bowman
A first-time candidate for public office, but longtime community activist Alicia is the co-founder of Safe Routes to School, an active member of the Mayor’s Transportation Advisory Group, a former League of Women Voters Board member and President of Bike Newton. I am so thrilled that she has thrown her hat in the ring for City Council. I have no doubt that she will be leading on building environmental sustainability, diverse housing options and more transportation options. All of these experiences, combined with her commitment to our city and a strong work ethic, make Alicia exceptionally well qualified to serve on the City Council.

City Council Ward Contested candidates - you can ONLY vote for the candidate from your ward.
 
 Ward 1    Maria Scibelli Greenberg - A longtime local advocate and activist, Maria has been a tireless advocate for her constituents and has been very effective making our streets and sidewalks safer, improving our parks and green spaces and responding to the needs of her constituents. Through her advocacy, Maria has helped make her home villages of Nonantum and Newton Corner better places to live. Maria is a consensus builder, committed to equity, diversity and fairness.
 
Ward 3 Carolina Ventura – a first time candidate Carolina is an effective advocate, a consensus builder and a thoughtful listener. I was very impressed by Carolina when I met her over 2 years ago. Committed to keeping our community diverse and welcoming, environmental and fiscal sustainability are among her priorities.
 
Ward 5 Bill Humphrey  Another first time candidate and Newton native, Bill is a passionate environmentalist who served as the Political Committee Chair for the Massachusetts Sierra Club, pushing candidates for municipal and state elections to embrace more ambitious goals for climate action and environmental public safety.
 
Ward 6    Brenda Noel-   Unbelievably hard working and well organized, Brenda’s energy and grasp of the issues impressed me from the moment I met her. Very effective in her first term she leads on efforts to revitalize our village centers and commercial areas, improve walkability and safety and make Newton a leader on mitigating climate change impacts.
 
School Committee- All Newton Voters

Ward 1 Bridget Ray Canada -Bridget - has a focus on educational equity and excellence. An engineer by training, Bridget has a background in STEM, fiscal acumen and global business management. She also has experience managing multi-million dollar budgets and addressing systemic problems around race and class.
 
Ward 4 -Tamika Olszewski -Tamika has been very involved in the community from the start and serves on the Burr School PTO and on the Human Rights Commission among many others.  Tamika cares about her community and ensuring the best education opportunities for our kids. She is collaborative, effective and a good listener.  
 
Ward 5 Emily Prenner – Incredibly well qualified to serve on the school committee, Emily has real depth of experience and a proven track record of success. She served as President of the PTO Council as well as co-chair of the 2013 campaign which funded Angier, Zervas and Cabot school building projects, as well as additional teachers to reduce large class sizes. She is also 2017 recipient of the Massachusetts Association for School Committee (MASC) Community Leader for Public Education award.

Thank you for voting!

  1..Why are you a candidate to be an At-Large Newton City Councilor? 

There is much work to be done and I enjoy serving as a city councilor. I want to continue moving ahead with zoning reform, developing a master plan for our village centers and a holistic plan to thoughtfully manage growth and development. I am committed to the highest level of public safety and improving the city’s transportation networks, while continuing to provide the high level of community services that the citizens of Newton have grown to expect. I also believe that we need to pay more attention to our seniors who have been underserved for many years. I am committed to working with the Council on Aging on proposals for a new senior center and improved services and facilities

2.What are your most important accomplishments as an Elected Official or Community Activist in addressing issues that specifically affect seniors and those who support them? 

Improved pedestrian safety and accessibility. Advocated for street redesign that prioritizes safety for all users and working with the Commission on Disability to ensure that curb cuts meet accessibility codes. I supported the lowering of the default speed limit city wide to 25 MPH. Voted for housing options well suited to seniors, including Austin Street and Washington Place.

3.Please provide an example of a time when you exercised leadership on an issue that specifically affects seniors and those who support them? 

As a member of Zoning & Planning advocated for the Accessory Apartment ordinance which can help seniors stay in their homes. I have consistently voted for more diverse housing options including Austin Street and Washington Place. I supported Sunrise Senior Living in Newton Corner.

4.By 2030, more than 30% of Newton’s population will be age 60 and over. As you may know many senior residents have lived in Newton for a long time and the vast majority of us want to remain here as we continue to age. How will you as a City Councilor address issues identified in “Living and Aging in Newton: Now and In the Future” http://newtonseniors.org/ (pages vii and viii) such as Planning for substantial grown of the senior population; The high cost of living in Newton and how seniors will be able to stretch retirement incomes to meet current and anticipated needs to be able to remain in our city?

Encourage policies and programs that reduces the dependence on local property taxes and evaluate locations of the city that lend themselves to appropriate commercial and mixed use development.

Encourage diverse housing types that appeal to persons and households from a wide range of economic levels, cultures and age groups.

Optimize land use in village centers with a lively mix of uses, including housing, businesses and shops, civic and open spaces that invite walking, biking and reduce the reliance on auto use.

Expand transportation options, including a shuttle services.

Work with COA on planning for future senior needs including, improved senior facilities and services.

​The goal of the Solid Waste & Recycling Resolution #1 passed by the full City Council on May 16. 2016 is the development of a long term solid waste and recycling plan.  Please see the following steps/action items that will help us to achieve more immediate and shorter term recycling and solid waste goals as per the Resolution.
 
Residential Recycling Program;
 
A citywide education and outreach program on what the City currently allows in the green carts, what is prohibited and what can be brought to Rumford Ave. This should include, but not be limited to a citywide mailing to all households who participate in the residential curbside program. Waneta Trabert, the Director of Environmental Affairs has developed an education and outreach program for FY17. This will include a mailing to all residents that the city services tentatively scheduled mid-late September (my understanding is that significant funding is already available for these programs).
 
Increased audits of recycling carts and better enforcement and follow up of violations. Put in place a system of tracking the current enforcement by Waste Management which is usually done when carts are visibly contaminated or overflowing.    
 
Take advantage of new technology including new apps that give updated information on trash & recycling pick-ups. ReCollect is the program. Boston and Lowell use it. The company is based out of Vancouver, BC and their VP of Business Development now lives in the Boston area and teaches at the Kennedy School at Harvard about government and technology. The implementation of this program will be central to the FY17 education and outreach plan.
 
Require a feasibility study into expanding recycling facilities to businesses, institutions and condominiums complexes throughout the City of Newton and report back the results to the Public Facilities Committee no later than December 31, 2016. This should include looking at special permits whose terms require that the applicant provide private recycling and trash services. This could be part of a Solid Waste & Recycling Working Group made up, but not limited to the Director of Environmental Affairs, the Director of DPW, the Mayor or his designee, a member of the City Council, a member of the Solid Waste Commission and/or a member of the recycling committee.
 
School Recycling: 
 
A commitment from the school leadership to changing the culture of recycling from being an afterthought, to a district-wide resource recovery operation that reflects our commitment as a community to environmental sustainability, the preservation of our natural resources, protecting the oceans from non-biodegradable plastic waste and preserving a healthy, vibrant planet for generations to come. This could start in the form of a letter to all parents outlining recycling goals for September 2016.
 
A commitment from the Superintendent and the Director of Operations to achievable recycling goals within the next 6 months, 12 months and 24-month time frame (exact figures to be decided).
 
Apply for the School Recycling Assistance grant from MassDEP next year to be implemented district-wide at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. 
 
Clear signage in all the schools about what can be recycled. Educational posters on why recycling and waste reduction programs are important. Where does Newton's Trash go?
 
Explore opportunities to integrate recycling into classroom science education if feasible (myself and Waneta can help coordinate this)
 
City officials/staff and particularly the Solid Waste & Recycling Manager will collaborate with the NNHS Recycling club, NSHS Environmental Club and Green Newton's Students for a Greener World (SGW) to raise awareness about recycling and resource recovery programs within schools and support school initiatives.
  
Determine the current process for recycling and what the current barriers are to increasing school recycling rates. A recent tour of both high schools show a need for a strong, unified message that prioritizes recycling goals and education about recycling programs, and the implementation of processes that are consistently reinforced and convenient to carry out by custodial staff.
 
An open and transparent process of how the recycling steps are carried out and who is responsible for meeting recycling goals in each individual school. This would include, but not limited to the Director of Operations, the principals and all custodial staff. 
 
Increase recycling pick-ups at all schools and modify as needed. This will be coordinated by SWR Manager.
 
Explore the funding of a sustainability director for all the schools who would oversee and coordinate all solid waste, recycling and composting efforts in the long term. Apply for grant funding of this position by December 2016. 
 
A plan to ensure all water fountains and water filling stations are clean and in good working order in all schools and playgrounds by December 2016.
 
A plan to phase out the sale of bottled water in schools by September 2017.
 
 
Parks & Recreation (picks up trash & recycling from village centers, parks and recreation areas)
 
Better Signage and/or education and mailings on what types of materials can currently be recycled in Big Belly units. This should include a list of items that cannot go into Big Belly Recycling Unit, e.g. Styrofoam, plastic bags, liquids.
 
A public education program aimed at reducing the contamination rates of "away from home" recyclables.
 
The SWR Manager will work with WM to determine acceptable contamination rates.
 
Better collaboration between SWR Manager and Environmental Affairs to improve recycling rates and decrease contamination rates.  This includes re-designing the process as to how the Parks & Recreation Department manages the trash and recycling pick-ups and consider removing this responsibility from the department all together. 
 
Currently, the department has two conventional trash trucks and 6-8 pickup trucks used in operations. There is no clear process as to how trash and recycling are kept separate and most recycling is ending up in trash trucks. 
 
Implement a service switch so that Parks and Recreation carts/dumpsters are picked up by WM instead of being disposed of at Rumford. This would immediately improve the current situation.
 
There appears to be a culture and history of throwing most recycling into the trash which needs to be reversed. This is important. This cannot be tolerated. It is a state law (landfill/incineration banned materials) and must be core to the City’s efforts from the top down.
  
If trash & recycling pick up operations continue to be managed by Parks and Recreation it will be important to replace at least one of the two trash trucks (one of which is nearing the end of its useful life), with a split truck which keeps recycling and trash separate. 
 
Parks & Recreation will coordinate with other city departments to ensure that all parks and public spaces that have existing water fountains are clean and in good working order so as to encourage the use of reusable water bottles.

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​Development, Zoning, Housing & Land Use:
Promote efficient land use through development of compact communities with a lively mix of uses, including housing, businesses and shops, civic and open spaces, to encourage walking, biking and reduce the reliance on auto use, especially single occupant vehicle use (SOV). Support public transit and minimize loss of open space.

Encourage policies and programs that reduces the dependence on local property taxes and evaluate locations of the city that lend themselves to appropriate commercial and mixed use development.
Promote regional land use planning and transportation options. Regionalize the responsibilities of growth by coordinating and communicating with neighboring communities.

Promote diverse housing types in all communities to enable persons and households from a wide range of economic levels, cultures and age groups to live and work within their boundaries.
Foster a strong sense of place: Consider the history, micro-environment and character of communities when planning new development.

Promote development that makes use of existing structures; rehabilitating or repurposing existing buildings, and taking advantage of infill parcels. Rehabilitation and renovation conserves resources, minimizes waste, and preserves the history and culture of our villages.

Mimic natural systems. Evaluate the impact of development on larger ecosystems, and wherever possible, preserve the green-spaces, wildlife habitat, natural drainage and vegetation. Promote special protections for farms, forests, community gardens and fragile ecosystems.

Sustainability, Transportation & Green Infrastructure
Connect and expand walk- bike corridors (research has demonstrated that increasing a neighborhood’s “walkability by just 5% is correlated with driving 6.4 % fewer miles per capita). Additionally, a study by the Urban Land Institute in Cambridge projected that “maximum deployment” strategies to increase walking and biking could reduce CO2 emissions by millions of tons by 2050.

Engage in holistic long and short term transportation planning strategies that prioritize public transit and designs roads for all users.  Work with all stakeholders to leverage funding for significant infrastructure improvements that improve access and reliability.

Include strategies for maximizing green infrastructure in our zoning code, this includes increasing tree and vegetative cover, green roofs, permeable surfaces and utilizing cool pavements. This not only reduces the urban heat island effect, but also reduces storm water runoff and provides public health and economic benefits.

Solid waste and Recycling
Review current solid waste and Recycling goals annually, including but not limited to;

Review and evaluate the current haul and single stream agreement with Waste Management with an eye towards increased diversion and incentivizing recycling.

Consider new ways of contracting including encouraging requests for proposals from local businesses and small business startups.

Partner with Mass Challenge and local businesses for product redesign that integrates disposal/end use costs.

Pilot a weekly organics/food diversion program for 400-500 volunteer households.

Require all take out containers to be recyclable or compostable.

Goal of 50% diversion rate curbside by 2022

PILOTS; payments in lieu of taxes & Tax Policy
The amount of the PILOT should reflect the cost of providing services to a non-profit. Especially the cost of core public services like police and fire protection, snow removal and street cleaning. I would pursue a more formal PILOT agreement similar to what the City of Boston has done, which is to call for voluntary payments based on an institutions tax exempt property value.

Schools & Public Places
Support and promote excellent schools. Improve and maintain schools and city buildings, parks and open space, sidewalks and roads, and water, sewer and stormwater utilities.

Commitment to transparency, openness and communication;
Ensure that all decision-making processes continue to be open, predictable, fair and inclusive.
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