2017-2018 Local Action
June 14, 2017: Letter to Newton City Council supporting Washington Place project
June 29, 2017: Letter to the Editor of the Newton TAB on the benefits of the Charter Commission proposal and stating support for a ‘yes’ vote.
July 27, 2017: Letter to the Newton Community Preservation Commission (CPC) in support of the Jackson Road Senior Housing, known as Haywood House.
August 2, 2017: Letter to the Editor of the Newton TAB supporting automatic voter registration.
August 28, 2017: Blog post on Village14.com announcing LWVN’s decision to include write-in candidate Allison Sharma in its candidates’ forums and voter guide.
August through November, 2017: Blog posts on Village14.com about Candidates’ Forums, the LWVN Voters Guide, and the ballot question on the Charter Commission proposal.
October 2, 2017: Letter to Newton City Council regarding their actions related to the charter vote. In particular, LWVN expressed concern about the refusal of the City Council to transfer the necessary funds to mail a copy of the charter proposal to all households as well as the docketing of a counter-proposal to change the City Council (often referred to as the ‘8 & 8 option’).
October 2, 2017: Letter to the Newton City Council advocating for a permanent sidewalk snow clearing ordinance.
October 8, 2017: Letter to the editor of the Newton TAB inviting members of the public to two meetings on the Charter Commission proposal and encouraging voters to use VOTE411 in the municipal election.
November 12, 2017: Letter to the Newton CPC in support of the application to restore the Whipple/Beal fence at the Newton Cemetery.
November 14, 2017: Letter to the Newton City Council about certain actions during the election season that LWVN felt were inappropriate. Specifically, LWVN objected to: the use of the Newton city seal on a piece of political mail advocating a ‘no’ vote on the charter during the spring of 2017; a perceived violation of the Open Meeting Law; and the use of personal emails by City Councilors when discussion and conducting their official duties.
November 29, 2017: Letter to the editor of the Newton TAB thanking those who participated in the 2017 elections as voters, candidates, and volunteers.
January 8, 2018: Letter to Mayor Fuller and the Newton City Council in favor of a sidewalk snow clearing ordinance with meaningful incentives.
January 21, 2018: Letter to the Newton CPC reiterating LWVN support for the Jackson Road project (Haywood House) and our concerns/request for continued review and evaluation for the Crescent Street project (originally written in January 2017)
May 12, 2018: Co-sponsor ‘Tag Newton’s Gas Leaks’ with Mother’s Out Front
2016-2017 Local Action
August 29, 2017: Candidates’ Forum for Governor’s Council and Middlesex County Sheriff
September 23, 2017: LWVN letter to the Election Commission and media outlets congratulating the commission on developing early voting hours that meet the Gold Standard set by the Massachusetts Early Voting Challenge.
October, 2016: LWVN display at the Newton Free Library.
October 27, 2017: LWVN Transportation Forum, “The Road Less Traveled: A Road Map to Reduce Traffic in Newton” at the Newton Free Library.
December, 2017: Letter to the City Council in support of accessory apartments.
December 2017: Letter to the School Committee in support of an updated transportation policy.
December, 2017: Letter from LWVN to the CPC in support of the City’s proposed Crescent Street Project.
March 15, 2017: Letter to the Editor—Newton TAB to thank Rep. Kay Khan and Rep. Ruth Balser for their work on legislation to address gas leaks.
March 27, 2017: LWVN co-sponsored the Newton Free Library/Green Newton event, “Sustainable Development with Andre Leroux, Executive Director of Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance.
April 20, 2017: LWVN co-sponsors the LWV of Needham event, Affordable Health Care for Our Communities: Still at Risk? on Thursday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. at the Broadmeadow School in Needham.
April 27, 2017: Don’t Just Stand There…Run! at the Brigham House for those running or considering a run for office
April 30, 2017: LWVN Member Meeting at the Waban Library Center on whether or not to support the proposal city charter
May 13, 2017: LWVN co-sponsors event with Mother’s Out Front and other groups to tag known gas leaks in Newton
May 22, 2017: LWVN letter to the CPC in favor of the Auburn Street project
2015-2016 Local Action
2014 – 2015 Local Action
op-ed Newton Tab re charter
CPC review
plastic bag ban
aqueduct
snow clearing
transportation letter
voter registration letter (TAB?)
2013 – 2014 Local Action
2012 – 2013 Local Action
February 27, 2013 – Letter to MassDEP about proposed revision to the Draft Solid Waste Master Plan
February 18, 2013 – Letter to Newton Board of Aldermen about Special Election for Ward 1 Alderman vacancy
January 14, 2013 – Letter to Newton Community Preservation Committee in support of Newton Homebuyer Assistance Program
December 12, 2012 – Op Ed in Newton TAB about Charter Commission initiative
October 25, 2012 – Interview in Newton Patch about Charter Commission initiative
October 24, 2012 – Op Ed in Newton TAB about Charter Commission initiative
October 17, 2012 – Letter to the Editor in Newton TAB about Charter Commission initiative
October 11, 2012 – Letter to Community Preservation Committee about the Draft Newton CPC Funding Guidelines
June 13, 2012 – Letter to the Editor in Newton TAB about Charter Commission initiative
2011 – 2012 Local Action
May 17, 2012 – LWVN organized a public forum about parking
May 4, 2012 – Statement re: water and sewer rates at Board of Aldermen Public Hearing in favor of Mayor’s proposed increase in water and sewer rates, with copy of statement distributed to Aldermen
April 25, 2012 – Participation in LWVMA Day on the Hill and meeting with Newton’s State delegation
March 22, 2012 – Statement re: Re-zoning at Board of Aldermen Public Hearing against proposed re-zoning of the Riverside MBTA property, with copy of statement distributed to Aldermen
March 21, 2012 – Letter to the Editor, Newton TAB, urging voters to sign nomination papers
March 8, 2012 – Letter re: MBTA to Jonathan Davis, MBTA General Manager, with copies to Governor Deval Patrick; Richard Davey, Secretary, Massachusetts Department of Transportation; Sen. Cynthia Creem; Reps. Ruth Balser, Kay Khan, and John Lawn; and Mayor Setti Warren, urging them to find an alternative funding plan for the MBTA
February 1, 2012 – LWVN board approved a “Riverside Information Sheet” that was posted on the LWVN website
January 6, 2012 – Letter to the Editor, Newton TAB, marking the second anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, and urging voters to be informed about political ads and to ask all candidates about their position on campaign finance reform
Winter 2011-Spring 2012 – LWVN Observers attended most of the Zoning meetings pertaining to the proposed Riverside development
December 14, 2011 – Letter supporting a City of Newton Resolution urging the Massachusetts Legislature to enact comprehensive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, sent to Mayor Setti Warren and members of the Newton Board of Aldermen
November 27, 2011 – LWVN organized a public forum about traffic
November 17, 2011 – Letter asking for an independent peer review of traffic planning for proposed Riverside development, sent to Mayor Setti Warren and Finance Committee members, Newton Board of Aldermen
November 2, 2011 – Letter to the Editor, Newton TAB, informing Newton voters about the League’s Voters Guide
September 14, 2011 – Letter re: Casino Gambling bill, to Sen. Cynthia Creem and Reps. Ruth Balser, Kay Khan, and John Lawn, urging them to vote no
August 8, 2011 – Letter about Draft Environmental Impact Report re: proposed development at Riverside sent to Richard K. Sullivan, Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and to Maeve Vallely-Bartlett, Acting Director, MEPA; copy to Normandy Partners
July 9, 2011 – Testimony and letter in favor of H-1136 & S-397, An Act for a Competitive Economy through Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals, sent to Rep. Anne Gobi and Sen. Marc Pacheco, Co-chairs, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture; cc’d to Sen. Creem and Reps., Balser, Khan, and Lawn