Lisa Gordon

Questions and Answers

Question 1: After 40+ years of Prop 2 ½, a very limited ability to pass overrides, steep increases in expenses such as employee benefits and utilities, and a relatively small commercial tax base, Newton faces fiscal challenges not encountered by our peer communities, making it increasingly difficult to adequately fund our schools and other city services. What are your ideas for raising revenues or otherwise addressing Newton’s fiscal challenges?

I will be an outspoken advocate for collecting and utilizing data on our finances to review expenditures and identify opportunities for cost savings through improving city systems and processes. This includes improving efficiencies through technology, pursuing new economic development while supporting existing businesses, and dedicating more resources to pursuing available grants. I will always be a champion for the City’s long-term financial health.

Question 2: What, specifically, can the City Council do to ensure that lower income residents, young families, and long-term residents looking to downsize, can afford housing in Newton?

Newton must do better to ensure we are truly a welcoming city. That means setting a wide range of policies that address the issue of affordability for all; whether you are a young family that wants to move here, a low-income family that wants to stay, or a senior who wants to age in place. Potential examples for the City Council to consider include encouraging more adaptive reuse (by adjusting FAR or teardown lot standards) or increasing funding for Newton’s Affordable Housing Trust (by introducing partial payments from developments that do not meet the Inclusionary Zoning requirement). We need policies that directly lead to results.

Question 3: What is Newton doing to address climate change, how effective are these efforts, and what else could/should we be doing?

Newton has been a leader in addressing climate change and has numerous plans and legislation already in place. But we urgently need a biodiversity plan in addition to the existing climate action plan. This would help lead us in decisions such as the amount of green space needed in new housing projects, the preservation of small parks, and ways to enhance the standard of living for all Newton residents, such as community gardens. Climate resilience is a critical component of fiscal stability and health. I look forward to support efforts that continue to preserve our open spaces, tree canopies and maintain Newton’s identity as the Garden City.

Question 4: Government transparency refers to the obligation of a government to proactively share information related to the management of public resources and decision-making; it’s indispensable to accountability and to an informed electorate. A recent initiative conducted by Newton’s LWV identified significant deficiencies in Newton’s local government transparency and specifically with respect to the City’s website. How do you think improved transparency could benefit our city? What improvements would you advocate for to the City website or transparency in general?

We should embrace transparency and clear communication with residents. Newton is behind the times for both our website and digital communications. The City website needs an overhaul, and this needs to be done while keeping intact the information that is currently there. We should not be using image PDFs. The entire website should be searchable. And information should be easily accessible within 1 click, and searchable. All virtual meetings should be community-style, and webinar-style should not be an option. All Committee Reports should attribute each speaker’s name when comments are quoted, and all votes should be recorded and published.