May 5, 2017: Transportation and How to Fix It
Newton Mayor Setti Warren and the Newton Planning Department spoke with us about the recently launched Newton transportation strategy, Newton-in-Motion. Transportation is fundamental to the quality of life and economic vitality in our region. This new transportation strategy embraces the gamut of multi-modal transportation choices — walking, biking, driving, and mass transit — and it’s going to require a region-wide,. public-private partnership to succeed.
April 20: 2017: Affordable Healthcare for our Communities–Still at Risk?
Presentations by: Martin Cohen, President & CEO, Metrowest Healthcare Foundation; Barbara Deveau, Asst. Director, Massachusetts SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone); State Representative Denise Garlick; Alexandra Calcagno and James Gessner, Massachusetts Medical Society.
Presented by the League of Women Voters of Needham and co-sponsored by the Leagues of Wellesley, Newton, Norwood, and Westwood-Walpole-Dedham.
March 27, 2017: Sustainable Development at Newton Free Library
LWVN, together with Green Newton, presented Sustainable Development with Andre Leroux, Executive Director of Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance.
When is development green? Is development ever green? These questions are the focus of public debate in Newton. Andre Leroux presented the case for sustainable development, both globally and locally. Green Newton board member, Jim Purdy, helped set the context as it relates to Newton.
The program addressed:
- Current development projects in Newton
- Why smart growth is needed to move toward a more sustainable future
- How sustainable development helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change
March 9, 2017: Dangerous by Design: Why our Car Oriented Street Design is Dangerous
“Dangerous by Design” highlighted why our street design is too often dangerous for all road users, and encouraged us to think creatively about how to change this. Examples from other communities that have improved safety in ways that are sometimes counterintuitive were presented. Nicole Freedman, Newton’s Director of Transportation, joined us.
March 2, 2017: Update on Charter Commission
We got an update on all the work the Charter Commission has done and asked questions of members of the Charter Commission.
January 19, 2017: Solid Waste
Waneta Trabert, Recycling Manager for the City of Newton, gave an overview of Newton’s recycling and waste management program and efforts underway to improve recycling rates, reduce trash tonnage and encouraging re-use and re-purposing of materials and products.
Waneta described where the city’s waste goes, and showed us that Newton’s solid waste (measured in tons) is going down over time. She detailed the program’s strengths, including our superb infrastructure, excellent use of technology, and the wide range of materials that the city collects. She also discussed the areas for improvement, including needing more education and outreach, making our residents accountable for their waste creation and disposal, and working with the commercial sector. Waneta’s presentation is on our League website (put url here)
Of special note, Waneta would like the League to know about the Recycle Right Newton app. In addition to there being a trash day reminder service, there’s also a Recycle Right tool that tells you how to properly dispose of various materials, and there’s also a sorting game that is fun for all ages!
“Never miss a trash day again! Use the Recycle Right Newton web application or download the mobile app for Apple or Android. A collection day reminder is easy to set up and the collection calendar lets you know when to expect changes to your collection schedule (such as yard waste and delays due to holidays). There’s also the “Recycle Right” search tool you can use to find the best way to properly dispose of various materials. Play the sorting game to learn about how to properly dispose of common items in Newton.” Please tell your friends and neighbors!
October 27, 2016: The Road Less Traveled: A Road Map to Reduce Traffic In Newton
For those frustrated by our congested roads – we discussed the causes of and solutions to traffic–including:
- What can be done to reduce vehicle traffic associated with new development?
- How does congestion affect our health, pocketbooks and environment?
- Do other communities have solutions Newton can use?
Our panelists:
- Steve Miller of LivableStreets Alliance and the Harvard School of Public Health, author of the popular blog The Public Way
- Sarah Kurpiel Lee, traffic planner and engineer at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
- Nicole Freedman, Newton’s newly-hired Transportation Director, formerly Chief of Active Transportation in Seattle, WA
The forum was moderated by Brooke Lipsitt, past president of the Newton Board of Aldermen
The three presentations are posted here–
- Sarah Kurpiel Lee, MAPC: Benefits of Reducing Congestion
- Steve Miller, Livable Streets: Mobility Decongestants
- Nicole Freedman, City of Newton: Newton’s Draft Transportation Strategy
Co-Sponsors include: Newton Department of Health & Human Services, Newton Council on Aging, Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce, Newton Safe Routes to School, Newton 350.org, Livable Newton, Green Newton, and the Newton Free Library.