Voters for a Vibrant Newton

03/31/2026

Great opportunity for those who would like to work on a more Vibrant Newton!
Call for Applicants: Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)

From the mayor's newsletter:

"We are seeking interested residents to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), an important body that make certain land use and development decisions in our community.

The ZBA reviews requests for zoning variances, hears appeals of decisions made by the Commissioner of Inspectional Services, and considers comprehensive permits under state law (including under Chapter 40B, the state law enacted in 1969 that allows developers who include a percentage of affordable housing units to bypass most local zoning restrictions).

The ZBA meets monthly. Its five regular and five associate members are nominated for three-year terms by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.

As Mayor, I want to open the selection process for this board, and for all boards and commissions in our city, to a broad pool of applicants and encourage interested and qualified applicants to apply.

Click below to learn more about the application process. (Note, the application will say there are currently no openings on the ZBA. The terms of several members end in 2026.)
https://www.newtonma.gov/government/boards-commissions

And let us know if you decide to apply!

Newton residents participate in our local government as members of more than 80 Boards, Commissions, Committees and Advisory Councils. Such broad citizen involvement helps our government remain open and responsive to the people of Newton. Residents play a critical role in the work required to addres...

03/26/2026

"The VCOD–the plans for which were in motion before the MBTA Communities Act was passed—was designed to add more life to the village centers and focus more housing near the city’s 10 MBTA stops. The MBTA Communities Act made that a mandate and came with requirements for each community to up-zone for a certain number of new housing units in MBTA station neighborhoods, and Newton had to allow 8,300 new housing units by-right (without a special permit)."

A few years ago, the state mandated cities and towns with MBTA access rezone for higher density housing, to both combat the state’s housing shortage crisis and inspire more housing development near public transportation stops. [...]

03/23/2026

“The project is ideally located within two blocks of the Newtonville MBTA commuter rail station and along several bus routes connecting Newton with Boston and other surrounding communities. It is also within a short walking distance of a range of commercial and shopping services in Newtonville, including a Star Market and CVS, as well as Newton’s newly completed Cooper Senior Center”

Boston-based real estate firm Beacon Communities LLC has solidified its plans for the commercial block 793-821 Washington Street in Newtonville. Beacon Communities purchased the property in April 2025 and applied for a demolition permit on February 4. The project? New construction of an all-electric...

03/20/2026

"Small independent businesses help sustain village centers by offering unique products and experiences"

A new citywide map identifying 43 vacant storefronts across Newton — many in the city’s village centers — is giving officials and prospective business owners a clearer look at where new businesses could take root. When Economic Development Director Lauren Berman and Deputy Director Cheryl Lapp...

03/19/2026

"A study identified three sites with strong potential to explore affordable housing development, based on site size, redevelopment potential, and the ability to build on land already under public control. Using standard building typologies, the study developed low-yield and high-yield scenarios for each site."

A feasibility study commissioned by the Newton Affordable Housing Trust identified three publicly owned sites in Newton that could present opportunities to explore future development of affordable housing: Norumbega Gardens (52 Ash Street, Auburndale) Crescent Street municipal yard (Auburndale) Newt...

02/18/2026

“There aren’t a lot of new homes that are coming on the market, and the ones that are are quite expensive, so that does make it so that families considering moving to Newton might need to be a few years further along in their journey,” said Ward 5 Councilor-at-Large Brittany Hume Charm in an interview with The Heights.

Newton is working to rectify the impact of rising home values on middle and lower-income families while trying not to cause homeowners’ land values to depreciate, but the question remains: can the next generation afford [...]

02/11/2026

https://www.figcitynews.com/2026/02/mayor-laredo-issues-executive-order-on-federal-immigration-enforcement-in-newton/

In a press conference in Boston on February 5, Mayor Marc Laredo joined the chief executives of Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Lynn, and Somerville in announcing Executive Orders defining their cities’ policies and actions regarding federal immigration operations. This coordinated response from Great...

02/09/2026

"Providing fare free transit can be considered a matter of equity. Transportation costs are a major burden for low-income households and there are many people of all income levels who can’t drive or would prefer not to.

Using transit can allow people to leave their cars at home, leading to less traffic and less use of fossil fuels. Transit improves mobility and access to jobs, health care and social activities. Less congestion on the roads can lead to faster trips for everyone."

A new mobility phenomenon is quietly spreading throughout cities and neighborhoods in Massachusetts and beyond. It’s the concept of fare free transit. Providing fare free transit can be considered a matter of equity. Transportation costs [...]

01/01/2026

Starting 2026 with the Newton City Council Inauguration. Happy New Year!

12/31/2025

Join us to celebrate the election of the City Councilors supported by Vibrant Newton.

Inauguration Ceremony
Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 12PM
City Council Chambers @ City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459

Watch a live broadcast on NewTV’s government channel (Comcast 9, RCN 13, 614(HD), Verizon 33) or on NewTV’s YouTube channel.

11/06/2025

Thank you all for showing up to vote, volunteering, donating, and spreading the word to help elect a great group of city councilors who want to work together for a more vibrant and affordable Newton!

We are excited that Newtonians came together to elect four of our five endorsed candidates in contested races: Cyrus Dahmubed, Josh Krintzman, Sean Roche, and Maria Scibelli Greenberg. Together with newcomer Brittany Hume Charm, all of our remaining endorsed candidates will continue to serve, helping to lead Newton towards the vision we all share and reflecting our values of collaboration, inclusion, and care for our community.

While we are disappointed that Garry Miller was not elected as the Ward 5 Councilor, we are deeply grateful for his thoughtful, positive campaign. We hope that he will continue to bring his curiosity, care, and collaborative spirit to help address Newton’s issues.

We are proud of these election results, and look forward to continuing our work in the years to come.

Thank you for your partnership.