by Irina Costache, Campaign Organizer | Subscribe by Email
This week, Bill and his team of volunteers knocked 450 more doors in Ward 5, speaking to over 100 voters and hearing about the city issues affecting them. On Thursday, Bill also hit the milestone of having personally knocked more than 7,000 doors! The whole team is 6 doors away from the 8,000 mark now.
Environmental Door Knocking Event Tomorrow
This Saturday October 12 at 2 PM, Sunrise Boston youth climate activists will be joining Bill at the Waban T Station to launch a door-knocking afternoon in support of Bill's candidacy. Climate activists of any age who are interested in knocking doors for Bill are welcome to join the event! If that’s you, please email Bill by the end of today so that we can plan ahead for you to join us.
Official NewTV Candidate Statement and Candidate Debate
Bill’s 3 minute official candidate statement video for NewTV is now available to watch online here!
For those who cannot watch the video, here is a transcript:
I’m Bill Humphrey, and I’m running for the Ward 5 Councilor seat this year because I want to make sure we are a community for everyone, that we have a councilor who represents our entire ward, and that we have a councilor who is serious about the significant policy work our City Council will undertake in the coming years.
As your next Ward Councilor for Upper Falls, Newton Highlands, and Waban, I will be not only the person who picks up your phone call or answers your email to help you solve problems, but also an activist vote on City Council. That’s why I’ve personally knocked on more than six thousand doors this year, to hear your concerns and outline my vision for our community.
The Newton my great-great-grandmother knew - a Newton of farms, wagons, and streetcars - has long since evolved to the Newton we know today. As Newton continues to evolve as part of our region, we have an opportunity to shape that evolution to fit our values today. As a city councilor, I’ll evaluate proposals with the goal of making growth work for us.
I’m a public policy researcher, a political campaigner for candidates and for civil rights, a community activist, a fifth generation resident of Chestnut Street, and a graduate of the Newton Public Schools, where I’ve remained involved as a volunteer assistant coach for the Speech and Debate team. I understand our ward, and the issues it faces, inside and out.
We have both some of the lowest-income and wealthiest Newton residents in Ward 5. We have an affordable housing shortage that contributes to more than 4,000 Newton households struggling with monthly housing costs. We’re facing a global environmental catastrophe reflected locally in our hundreds of dangerous gas leaks. And we’re all experiencing broken roads and sidewalks that everyone wants fixed as quickly as possible.
We can have a city with safer roads and available alternatives to car travel. A city that protects its shared green spaces and the quality of its air and water. A city with affordable housing for our seniors, young adults, and families. A city that pays its employees fairly to provide high-quality services to all of us.
While there’s much we’re getting right, it’s within our power to do so much more.
The City Council is where I believe I can make a difference on these issues. It’s also where I can help out my neighbors on the day-to-day problems they run into.
I’m endorsed by Progressive Newton, Sunrise Boston, the Mass Sierra Club, the Mass Nurses Association union, Engine 6, and the Bay State Stonewall Democrats.
I’m the progressive candidate on the ballot, the environmentalist candidate, the affordable housing candidate, the union-backed candidate, and the winner of the September preliminary election.
I encourage voters to visit billhumphrey.org to read my detailed policy platform and to learn more about me, as well as to see my full endorsements list.
Many of you have known me since I was in elementary school, and I’m honored by how many of those folks continue to show confidence in my ability to both lead and represent our community. I hope those of you just getting to know me will also entrust me with your Ward 5 vote this November 5th. Together, we can start working to reach our full potential as a leading city and a community for everyone. Thank you.
The second Ward 5 candidates debate from the League of Women Voters is now also available for voters. The video of both candidates and the write-in candidate can be found here.
Waban Area Council
On Thursday night, Bill attended the monthly Waban Area Council meeting. On the agenda were updates about NewCAL, the 20 Kinmonth Rd proposal, Waban Area Council eletcions, future Chestnut St. repaving, the proposed Union Twist Registered Marijuana Dispensary, as well as community updates. Here are some of the most notable points:
One community update is that the DCR arborists recently worked on some safety/visibility pruning along Quinobequin Rd.
20 Kinmonth Rd (the condo development proposal for Waban Square, which we have covered in previous newsletters here and here):
The next Land Use discussion on this proposal will be held on October 29. Comments from the public are currently still open.
There are some available mitigation dollars that the public may wish to make suggestions for
Another community concern brought up were the ongoing safety concerns about non-functioning or insufficient street lights for pedestrians at night, especially now that is is beginning to get dark earlier.
Councilor Rice recapped his update from last week on the status of the NewCAL process. He also added these notes:
The so-called “Middle Tier” of medium sized options for NewCAL site selection is, really, only one option -- the Newton Centre triangle parking lot, which is being considered and evaluated. The drawbacks of this include: smaller footprint, a costly underground garage, and traffic flow challenges. On the other hand, the centrality and transit access and Village services, retail, restaurants are great
Road repair updates: It now turns out that gas and water work did not get done this summer on Chestnut St after all, so it will not be happening until next spring. The actual re-paving of Rte 9 to Beacon St might be delayed to 2021 with some touch up work before then.
Currently, all 3 of the Ward 5 Area Councils have fewer people signed up to run in the November elections than there are spots on the Area Councils. Write-ins who receive 25 votes or more would get elected to the Waban Area Council. Otherwise, the Council elected in November would appoint the remaining members up to 9. The WAC cannot operate without a hard quorum of 5 present at every meeting.
A WAC member reported back on the community meeting in West Newton earlier that evening about the proposed marijuana shop for Four Corners. The meeting was said to have been very contentious.
Councilor Rice said he believes that the Four Corners proposal will not come to a vote for City Council until the next term. Although a preliminary agreement was reached with the Mayor’s office, the Council still has the authority to approve or reject the proposal and set conditions.
Livable Newton Questionnaire
The Livable Newton coalition for inclusive, sustainable development has published questionnaire responses from all candidates (69 page PDF) -- no other candidate in Bill’s race submitted a questionnaire to them.
Voter Registration Deadline
Voter registration deadline reminder from Mayor Fuller's email: The last day to register to vote in the Nov. 5 City election for City Council and School Committee is Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 8:00 p.m. You can register in person in the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave., online here, or by mail postmarked no later than Oct. 16. Not sure if you’re registered? Check here.