News

Dear friends,

I hope that everyone is staying warm and enjoying another New England winter! In this month’s newsletter, I will discuss how as Mayor I will help our local businesses, the recently enacted limits on tobacco sales, our water meter replacement project, and the status of my campaign.

Supporting Our Local Businesses

A strong local business community is critical to the health of our city. As I have been meeting with Newton’s business owners and representatives of the Charles River Chamber of Commerce, which is a strong advocate for our local businesses, I am listening carefully to their concerns.

Here are some ways that as Mayor I will work with our business community:

• Listen to our business owners. What do they need from the city and how can we help?

• Recognize that not all local businesses are alike and strive to address their individual needs. For example, retail establishments differ from businesses that use office, lab or manufacturing space.

• Work collaboratively whenever we try out new ideas by including business owners as part of our planning team before projects are launched and incorporating their suggestions and addressing their concerns as we proceed forward.

• Help our businesses navigate City Hall. We will proactively work with our business owners to enable them to obtain necessary permits and approvals quickly and efficiently.

Together, we will make Newton an even better place in which to start and grow a business!

Tobacco Sales in Newton

On January 21, the City Council voted 19-4 to ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after March 1, 2004, rather than the current restriction preventing sales of tobacco to anyone under the age of 21. A similar Brookline ordinance was upheld by our state’s Supreme Judicial Court.

After carefully listening to my colleagues, I joined with the majority in voting in favor of the ordinance. All of us agreed that smoking is highly addictive and bad for our individual and collective health. The proponents of the ordinance cited that as sufficient reason to enact the legislation and noted that no one who can currently purchase tobacco products will be banned from doing so. Opponents, while fully agreeing about the harmful effects of tobacco, were concerned about restricting some adults from ever buying a legal product.

More important than our vote, however, was the process that led up to it. There were discussions in the Programs and Services Committee before it even reached the full Council. In the full Council, there was a thoughtful, passionate and respectful debate on both sides of the issue. This is how our City Council, and all government leaders, should address complex issues!

Water Meter Transmission Unit Replacement

Over a decade ago, the city replaced all residential water meters with external meter reading transmission units that allowed the city to collect and bill for water usage without entering individual homes. In 2019, many units began to malfunction and did not transmit readings. The city then began issuing estimated water and sewer bills until new meters could be installed.

As of mid-January, the city has replaced 90% of the meters. But there are still nearly 3,000 that need to be replaced, and we need residents’ help to get this work done. If your meter has not been updated, please visit www.newtonmeters.com or call 1-866-983-8080 to schedule an appointment.

The Department of Public Works also has created a new portal - Neptune 360 – that will allow residents to better monitor their water usage. Here is how to sign up:

• Activate your City of Newton account at newtonma.my360-app.com.

• Enter your account number and your full name or street address.

• Click create account and accept terms and conditions.

• Enter the bill number (without dashes).

• Enter the account holder's full name as it appears on the bill and the street address.

• Provide three security questions with answers.

• Enter your email address.

A link will be sent to the email for account activation. Then create a password and you are all set. (thanks to our new DPW Commissioner Shawna Sullivan for providing this information).

Campaign Update

Here are some highlights of the campaign to date:

• I attended an array of events throughout the city, including the Police Promotional Ceremony where Chief George McMains was sworn in as our new police chief; Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at Post 440; the Martin Luther King Celebration organized by the Harmony Foundation at the First Unitarian Universalist Society; a pizza party at City Hall to thank our election poll workers; the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at the Newton Free Library; the Soup Social at the Hyde Center; a tour of the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club; and a Chinese New Year celebration with the Newton Alliance of Chinese Americans. See some pictures below!

• We are scheduling coffees and fundraisers throughout the city – please email us to attend or host one.

• Our list of public endorsers continues to grow, and we now have over 350 people on the list. Please let us know if we can add your name!

• Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages and sign up to follow the campaign.

• Donations are critical to the success of a campaign. If you have not done so, please donate – the link is here.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions, comments, and criticisms!

Thanks,

Marc