Newton Residents Should Be Concerned

If you are not already aware of the Charter Commission’s proposal to reduce the size of our governing board, you should pay attention.

There are many contentious issues facing Newton citizens in all villages, especially in the areas of development, housing and zoning.

Reducing the board from 24 to 12 councillors puts the power of decision making into the hands of very few. This proposal removes the one locally-voted ward councillor from each ward and therefore eliminating accountability. This proposal is flawed.

Consider projects that adversely affect or have affected your neighborhood. Under this proposal, you will only have citywide elected officials and only 12 of them to state your case.
Our system has worked since its inception. Keep our 24-councillor board intact. It gives every citizen a chance to be heard by locally-voted government representatives. Smaller ward sizes ensure neighborhood input and participation.

I urge you to vote against this badly conceived proposal.


Cyrus Whittier, Winchester Street, Newton (link)