Engine 6 Newton Housing Advocates congratulates the Newton City Council for passing the most significant zoning reform in Newton in decades. This zoning sets new ground rules that will increase the opportunity to build more affordable homes – both deed-restricted affordable homes and market-rate homes that will cost less than the huge single family homes and townhouses of today.  The new zoning starts to reverse decades-old land-use policies that have made Newton an increasingly expensive place to live, especially for seniors and young families. Adopting zoning that complies with the MBTA Communities Act and encouraging housing near transit is also…

Engine 6 has now endorsed candidates in all the contested Newton City Council races.At Large Councilor RacesYou can vote for two at-large candidates in each ward, which means that you can vote for all these candidates.Deborah Crossley Ward 5 At-LargeAndreae Downs Ward 5 At-LargeAlicia Bowman Ward 6 At-LargeVicki Danberg Ward 6 At-LargeWard Councilor RacesYou must live in the ward, to vote for these candidates.Dan Gaynor Ward 2Doris Ann Sweet Ward 4Martha Bixby Ward 6Holly Ryan Ward 8You can read the candidates’ responses to our questionnaires, here.All the candidates endorsed by Engine 6 understand that for Newton to be a truly…

Please join us for a very special workshop for housing advocates presented by Abundant Housing Massachusetts in partnership with Engine 6 Newton Housing Advocates: Your Voice Counts at City Hall.Sunday, September 10 from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.Newton city councilors need to hear pro-housing stories and messages from caring and concerned residents. Want to speak out in support of abundant, affordable housing and village zoning redesign in Newton? Unsure what to say?In this session, you will learn about the process of giving public testimony at Newton City Council and the elements of an effective speech. You will have the opportunity…

 Both Dan Gaynor and Martha Bixby recognize that for Newton to be a truly welcoming and diverse community, we need more housing, both market-rate and affordable. They also understand that building more homes near public transit and our Village Centers is critical to addressing the global climate crisis.We based our endorsements on the candidates’ responses to our questionnaire, their experience, and their positions on the pressing issues of housing and sustainability.The stakes in these two preliminary elections are high. We urge all Newton voters in Ward 2 and Ward 6 to vote on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.Early voting and vote…