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The Boston Globe’s article, "Newton home
prices soar; schools seen as key," comes on the heels of local
elections, in which a slate of Alderman and School Committee candidates
won their races under the moniker, "It’s About Education!"
Those politicians should remember their own words, and Mayor David
Cohen should show leadership, and join the call for the construction
of a new high school in Newton.
By using the money now targeted for a "hybrid" renovation,
and including a commercial component as part of the construction,
Newton can build a new, world-class high school, without raising
additional taxes. As evidenced by The Globe article, property owners
in Newton receive tremendous value in exchange for investment in
our schools, making construction of a new high school, an opportunity
The City can not afford to miss.
The staggering increase in home values, as detailed
by The Globe, is not solely attributable to Newton public schools.
Approximately twenty percent of The City’s school age children
attend private schools. Newton’s other unique characteristics;
our village structure, large parks and the progressive reputation
of our community, are all attractive characteristics for young families.
Newton’s challenge is to create affordable housing
within our existing housing stock, in a way that achieves greater
racial and economic diversity, and helps maintain a suburban quality
of life. The City should direct $5 million of Community Preservation
Act funds, into a new affirmative action plan, offering fifty moderate
income and minority families, and the families of Newton firefighters
and police officers, up to $100k per family toward the purchase
of a home. This plan can be paid for without raising taxes, by canceling
Mayor Cohen’s ill-conceived purchase of unbuildable land at
Kesseler Woods. That purchase, which will result in only fourteen
affordable units, uses public funds to subsidize private development
of open space, and removes the obligation of the developer to pay
real estate taxes for the entire property.
Newton is a great place to live. Those of us who
care deeply about The City must constantly strive to maintain a
high standard for our public schools, and the availability of affordable
housing to assure diversity.
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