My election thoughts
Jan. 17th, 2007 12:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhuWe have a special election here in Newton next Tuesday on the question "Shall the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen be allowed to get away with it?" (I'm not sure, but I think that's the official wording.) Although I normally believe in keeping one's vote secret, in this case I am angry enough that I am publicly stating that I have come to the conclusion that we are pretty much forced to vote yes, but I will hold Mayor Cohen and those at-large aldermen who favored plan 5a accountable when they are next up for re-election. (Our ward's aldermen have consistently opposed plan 5a.)
Too long. Let me sum up: Plan 5a is a $160M plan to raze and rebuild Newton North High School. (Yes, $160M -- and that's before cost overruns!) It was passed by the Board of Aldermen last year, but a petition drive garnered enough signatures to force a special election which will vote on whether to approve the Board's vote. If the question passes, the city moves on to construction; if the question fails, the Board is entirely within their rights to meet on Wednesday and vote to approve plan 5a again, and I suspect they'd do so. If ground isn't broken by this summer, Newton will probably lose over $50M in grants and low-interest loans from the Commonwealth, for which we qualify only under a grandfather clause.
We clearly need to replace the existing building, but the proposed replacement has misplaced priorities, strong opposition from the surrounding neighborhood, and been shoved down our throats by a mayor with an edifice complex. (I love zeugma :-)
Too long. Let me sum up: Plan 5a is a $160M plan to raze and rebuild Newton North High School. (Yes, $160M -- and that's before cost overruns!) It was passed by the Board of Aldermen last year, but a petition drive garnered enough signatures to force a special election which will vote on whether to approve the Board's vote. If the question passes, the city moves on to construction; if the question fails, the Board is entirely within their rights to meet on Wednesday and vote to approve plan 5a again, and I suspect they'd do so. If ground isn't broken by this summer, Newton will probably lose over $50M in grants and low-interest loans from the Commonwealth, for which we qualify only under a grandfather clause.
We clearly need to replace the existing building, but the proposed replacement has misplaced priorities, strong opposition from the surrounding neighborhood, and been shoved down our throats by a mayor with an edifice complex. (I love zeugma :-)