Maria Scibelli Greenberg

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?

Expanding housing diversity and mixed-use development, especially in village centers, along with policies that incentivize businesses(efficient, transparent & predictable permitting process) will grow our tax base. We must maximize state and federal grants for targeted initiatives and ensure permitting, and licensing fees are fair and not overly burdensome. We could also ask the state to reexamine the 75% property tax reductions the 3 private Newton golf courses receive. This alone would add millions to our revenues. I would also support reevaluating the funding schedule for retiree liabilities to free up operating funds.

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?

Housing remains the biggest cost burden for Newton residents. High prices push out essential workers—teachers, police, firefighters, and local employees. Young families struggle to find starter homes, and seniors hoping to downsize or age in place face few options and financial challenges. Newton must stay committed to encouraging diverse development, especially in village centers, to create more attainable and affordable housing. We must also work closely with the administration and affordable housing agencies to initiate and support more projects like the Armory and Haywood House.

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

Newton is a leading community fighting climate change. Our commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 is demonstrated by our comprehensive mitigation and resiliency plans and actions. Unfortunately some benchmarks (residential installations of heat pumps and EV charging stations) set in CAP1 have not been met, making public awareness and education more necessary. I also would support BERDO extending requirements to meet declining emissions standards for large residential properties. In addition more focus should be placed on waste reduction and recycling. Finally, more progress is needed to eliminate gas lines to electrify our streets.

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?

Thank you to the LWV for Newton’s Transparency and Accountability report. In today’s political climate, it’s more important than ever to implement its recommendations to empower residents and build trust in our city government. We must share information proactively about public resources, services, officials, and decisions. To that end work is needed on city’s website searchability. I often need to use Google or AI to find things there. Links to meeting recordings should be added to reports docket, NewTV recordings need to be easier to search, recordings of ZBA meetings are not posted and upcoming public hearings should be better publicized.