I support Newton’s Climate Action Plan and Newton’s Safe Routes to schools. We must integrate and support organizations that seek to enhance our community. Only by city government, community groups, individuals, and all members of our community will we achieve the goals set out in Newton’s Climate Action Plan.

An increasing number of Newton homes are experiencing flooding or sewer issues during big storms. We must plan ahead for the changes that are heading our way and plan for the future. New construction should have more green space.

Additionally, our transportation system in Newton desperately needs to connect our villages. Finding paths through our village system to connect all of us should be a resource readily available to our community.

Navigating Newton should not be a frustrating experience. We need well-maintained streets, sidewalks, open spaces, athletic fields, and playgrounds. For example, Newton is home to Bullough's Pond and Crystal Lake, two of the aquatic gems of Newton. These are great public resources that have not received the care and attention that they deserve. We need to rebuild the bathhouse and the public swimming area and expand the hours of operation, as well as address the Cronin’s Cove public area and boat launch, and the parking near the public swim area. We can do a better job at increasing the ability for people to go swimming all year around and access the water.

Members of the Bullough's Pond Dam Working Group and the Bullough's Pond Association are advocating for the safest-possible dam rehabilitation project for this more than 360-year-old, continuously-working, treasured colonial dam. They are advocating for a plan that utilizes the most up-to-date dam safety technology; stops dam overtopping and downstream flooding; and want to avoid unnecessarily cutting down and paving over much of the historic Laundry Brook Forest with concrete blocks.

I agree with their preservation strategy. Beloved landmarks like these do not exist for as long as they do without the tireless work of groups like Bullough's Pond Association, Friends of Crystal Lake, Crystal Lake Conservancy, and it will be my chief priority that these constituents feel heard and are listened to.