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No update this week on City Council business, but I do have an important political message.
If you are a registered Newton voter and have not voted already, I would encourage you to head out as soon as possible to vote for Madeline Ranalli and Bryan Barash for the two vacant Newton City Council seats.
How to vote: You can either go with a mask into City Hall to the Clerks’ Office between now and this Friday, March 12 (between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm) to cast a ballot early over-the-counter OR you can vote in person at your usual polling place on Tuesday March 16. (If you already received a mail-in ballot, don’t forget to get that turned in right away, at one of the white dropboxes at City Hall.)
Both special elections are citywide, so anyone in Newton can vote in them. I would recommend voting sooner rather than later during a week of good weather because of the forecast for snow early next week!
As I’ve said before, I’m enthusiastically supporting Madeline Ranalli and Bryan Barash because advancing progressive policy on the City Council requires progressive Council leadership to hold power and it requires additional votes in committees and on the floor. We also need them to contribute their ideas during policy brainstorming. If you support the work I’ve been doing, then you will want these two candidates sitting alongside me on the City Council.
This election has devolved into shockingly repugnant and false attacks from the opposition slate against these two candidates, who have run a positive policy-driven campaign, and we need to give them big victories next week to send a message that those dirty tricks don’t work in Newton. So, here are the positives that prompted so many of us to campaign for Maddy and Bryan!
Why we’re supporting Maddy
Eleven current City Councilors are supporting Madeline Ranalli of Nonantum to fill the seat of our late colleague from Ward 1, Jay Ciccone, in the March 16 citywide special election. We believe Madeline will bring an important, distinctive perspective to our work. She has been an experienced youth activist who has impressed many veteran officials in Newton and on Beacon Hill. She is an experienced, articulate knowledgeable young woman working for all the people of Newton and will add a vibrant voice to the Council.
The present public health crisis and its economic effects have been a profound tragedy for Newton. Maddy will be a strong voice seeking ordinances and budget requests that will help our neighbors, our businesses, and our community.
She brings an incredible breadth of knowledge and experience focusing on mental health issues and services for disabled people. She will bring fresh energy and enthusiasm to our continuing efforts.
Her detailed policy agenda, from environmental action and affordable housing to public transportation and racial justice, reflects who she is at heart. She is fighting for you and fighting for a stronger Newton.
You can also see a video from me and other high-profile endorsers talking about why we’re with Maddy.
Why we’re supporting Bryan
Fourteen members of the Newton City Council are urging you to vote for Bryan Barash for the Ward 2 At-Large seat to fill the vacancy left by Congressman Jake Auchincloss. We need Bryan’s knowledge, leadership and integrity on the Council.
The stakes are high for Newton. Young families struggle to move here; the median house price is over $1.2 million and growing. As Newtonians age in place we must make room for new families. Downsizing seniors and our city employees can’t find a home here. Our residents struggle to pay rent; many pay 50% of income. Bryan brings legislative experience to help us with these pressing issues.
Newton’s economic health requires an increasing housing supply to remain a vibrant community. Bryan understands this. The truth is creating both affordable and middle-income housing is necessary but hard, due to high land costs in Newton. There are no simple solutions.
We need Bryan’s expertise to continue our work to support affordable and middle-income housing. We need Bryan because he understands complex problems and how to create effective legislation. This is what he does for the State Senate. We need Bryan because he understands how to make our built environment more environmentally sustainable and meet our climate action goals.
We need Councilors who can work collaboratively as we work to meet ambitious climate action, housing and economic development goals, while maintaining a strong financial basis and working to upgrade our roads, bike lanes, parks and open space. Bryan will hit the ground running.