Three Mayoral Candidates Forum
On June 24, 2017, Newton Forum and the Newton Villages Alliance co-sponsored a forum with mayoral candidates Amy Mah Sangiolo, Ruthanne Fuller, and Scott …
Fix it First (Part 2): It’s a Developer Crisis
In Part 1 we learned: Healthy and successful cities depend on abundant supports: infrastructure, transportation, and a strong commercial base. Newton is lacking in …
Double Counting for Density
January: a time of reflection and a time of resolutions. Politically speaking 2016 was a near rerun of 1876. In 2016 Clinton won by …
Real Estate Taxes & our Commercial Tax Base
Top of the day to all. 2016 should be remembered for quite some time. A most unusual election, with the winner of the popular …
An undemocratic approach to planning in Newton
The following ~725-word essay originally appeared on the Ipso Facto blog, titled Newton Mayor Setti Warren’s dangerous Planning Department report, and is reposted here …
Fix It First (Part 1): Where’s the money?
I’m reading The Human City, Urbanism for the Rest of Us by renowned demographer Joel Kotkin. U.S. News & World Report says “No one knows more about cities …
NEW PROBLEMS
Top of the day to all, For me, summer ended with Labor Day; for some it was August 31 and for most, I assume, …
Developing 50 Rowe St.–local question, wider impact
Taken narrowly, not only could a housing decision have a local impact, but it could set a precedent with wide implications. Here’s an Auburndale …
Housing Vision, Housing Pictures
I appreciate that the Mayor has attempted to create a vision for housing in the city. The Newton Leads 2040 Factbook is full of useful …
Look Who Wants to Upzone Your Neighborhood
Back at the end of March when I was writing what I intended to be a humorous piece for April Fools’ Day on zoning, …