Newton VOL 1, NO 3
NEWTON’S VOICE
OCTOBER 18-31, 2016
Vote early, many voting now By Alexander Culafi
The Voice Early Voting is making its way to Newton – and all of Massachusetts – for the first time this year, starting on October 24th and continuing through November 4th. It is estimated that 600,000 American voters have already cast their ballots all over the nation as the The Voice is delivered to its 400 distribution locations. Early voting makes the effort, or the responsibility, or the joy – whatever it is – much simpler for folks who find Election Day voting a hassle. Many votes were cast, about 500,000, before the Donald Trump groping imbroglio, which has dramatically altered the election scenario as we come down to the end of this presidential year cycle. Prior to this year, the only way a voter registered in the state could vote before Election Day was via an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots have been a bone of contention for years among those who worked in aggressive campaigns, as every effort was made in past years to collect absentee ballots from the elderly and infirm in order to get ahead early. “Early voting is a little different in that you don’t need an excuse,” City Clerk David Olson said in an interview. “Anybody can come in.”
continued on page 3
Photo | Rick Ashley This Rick Ashley photograph of painted images on the exterior wall of a Newton business place has the appearance of an art work. If you know where this is, please let us know.
Zoning debate rages on at Washington Place By Alexander Culafi
The Voice At the corner of Washington and Walnut Street, real estate development company Mark Development is planning to use an almost three acre block of land to create Washington Place, a series of four-story buildings consisting of 40,000 square feet of commercial space and 171 residential units above. Because of the sheer size and scale of the project, Washington Place, otherwise known as the Orr Block, needs a special zoning permit. In other words, Mark Development can still make a large structure with current zoning restrictions, but in order to make a structure this large, there will need to be some rezoning. Some Newton residents want this. Many Newton residents and city hall types really don’t. Those favoring development and rezoning
talk about the opportunities associated with new housing – especially since 25% of the units (originally 15%) are going to be devoted to affordable housing in a city where many feel they have been priced out from living here. Some local business owners talk about how good development will be for small businesses getting significant new traffic. Among those in opposition is Neighbors for a Better Newtonville, an organization who wants to “preserve and strengthen the best of what our village offers, while encouraging such change as will enhance and invigorate it,” according to their website. Opposing arguments often involve protecting Newton’s status as a city that doesn’t feel like a city. It feels home-y, and the villages feel like villages. With this development, many fear that this sense of community will be taken away. Beyond a sense of community, many fear increased traffic, not enough parking, and potential tax issues associated with this development.
I attended the latest public hearing – the fourth of its kind – at Newton City Hall on the evening of October 6. Ward 7 Councilor at Large Mark Laredo stood at the front of the auditorium, joined by around a dozen members of local government. In the audience, I counted about 80 people
total, consisting of representatives of Mark Development (including CEO Robert Korff), as well as local residents, business members, and former members of city government. Generally,
discussion
remained
civil.
continued on page 3