Newton Candidate Profile: Deb Crossley, At Large City Councilor

NEWTON, MA — The city will have several contested races in this fall's election, including for at large city councilors in Ward 5. Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

At-Large Councilor Deb Crossley was first ellected to the council in 2009. She moved to Newton in 1985, she and her husband Philip Vance raised two children Nicole and James. She got her bachelor of science in environmental design from UMass Amherst, and her bachelor of architecture from the Boston Architectural Center. For the past 36 years she's been an architect specializing in private residential and public housing.

She took a moment recently to answer a few questions for Patch. Her answers have not been edited.

Previously: Newton Election Calendar 2019: What To Know About Election

Are you running for office in Newton? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Newton Patch.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

As a building and environmental professional, I look at the big picture from a systems perspective and see how our planning and our failure to plan directly affects city life now and for generations to come. Right now we face an unprecedented housing crisis, which not only prevents an increasing number of families, including our children, from living in Newton, but I believe will eventually cripple our local economy as well if we allow it to continue without taking action. This is a local, regional and state problem, but to date Newton has not done its part to address the need even within its own boundaries, so that, for example, we don’t have housing for seniors looking to downsize and for teachers looking to live and work in Newton.

A solution working well in communities across the country consists of first identifying key locations that could support a higher intensity of use. Next, they create more smaller housing options clustered in mixed use developments with retail shops and other supportive goods and services. They do this where public transit already exists or where it can be accessed. Newton’s unique village structure provides many opportunities that would allow this to happen.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe I have a strong record as an open-minded, constructive and collaborative problem solver who is a thoughtful steward of city resources. When I took my seat in 2010, the new City Council and administration inherited a city in precarious fiscal condition. The previous mayor's Blue Ribbon Commission shone a spotlight on a fast growing 'structural' deficit (meaning expenses were fast outpacing revenues, so positions and programs were being cut), major infrastructure liabilities (crumbling buildings, roads, water systems) with no serious plans to address them, no money left in reserve (emergency) funds and worst of all, nearly $1 billion in health care, pension and Other Post Employment Benefits liabilities. Our challenger served for 32 years as alderman and 23 years as Finance Chairman. His record shows no attempts to solve these problems. I and many of my colleagues and two mayors have been working to correct decades of fiscal mismanagement and lack of planning.
See "accomplishments."

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

NA, but

This is a three way race for two seats. I have enjoyed very much collaborating with my first term colleague, Andreae Downs, an environmental leader, who is well-informed and hard working. She adds a unique expertise and passionate voice regarding transportation planning and water management. She is a 'comprehensive' advocate for a clean and healthy built and natural environment. And she is responsive to constituents. I want to continue working with her.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

With precious limited resources, we must take good care of the built and natural environments we share -- as we do our best to plan for a sustainable, climate resilient and opportunity rich future that can include everyone. To do this well requires implementing strategic long range plans for transportation, housing, schools, park management, emergency (police, fire, communications) readiness, clean efficient energy and water systems, our local economy and more. These are the elements of the ‘public place’ that support a healthy, safe and welcoming community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I've built a strong record of accomplishment and constituent service.

I led the effort in 2010 to earn Mass. Dept. of Energy Resources 'Green Community' status, committing Newton to annual investments in municipal energy efficiency, earning over $1.5 million in state grants to date and millions in reduced energy costs.

I initiated in 2011 (with then Alderman Fuller) and continue to monitor the implementation of a plan to rehabilitate our leaking water and sewer systems, its neglected state costing ratepayers unnecessary millions. Working with DPW staff and their consultant, we developed a strategic plan, fully funded since July 2012. Now in year 7, we've earned over $7 million in Mass. Water Resources Authority grants, saved millions more in avoided costs, provided more reliable water services and stabilized rates. We also built back the reserve funds and cleaned up the accounting between the water, sewer and stormwater funds.

I've chaired the City Council’s Public Facilities committee for three terms, advancing new and repaired school and fire station buildings, road and sidewalk rehabilitations, village center redesigns for both West Newton and Newtonville streetscapes, the accelerated street re-paving program, three phases of solar electricity generation projects (now 30% of municipal use), and docketed the item to initiate the city "Newton Power Choice" program.
I led a subcommittee to create procedures and standards to help control pole-mounted wireless installations across the city.

Working with the city’s Design Review committee and Public Buildings Department, I advanced a set of design and construction guidelines for sustainable municipal building projects, adopted in 2017.

In 2011, I also chaired the "Zoning Reform Group" for the mayor and City Council, a group of citizens who volunteered their expertise in a series of public forums, working with staff to build a framework for zoning reform, the guiding tool for zoning redesign. I continue to participate in the zoning redesign efforts.

I helped draft our landmark accessory apartment ordinance, helping hundreds of homeowners to better afford to remain in Newton while providing more affordable units to others. I led the adoption (2018) of an ordinance to regulate (fire, safety, health) lodging houses (we had no ordinance).

I've drawn on my professional background while serving on the Land Use committee for ten years, advocating for more affordable units, improved storm water management practices, robust transportation demand management practices, and higher building performance standards.
I’ve been an active contributor to the City Climate Action Plan under development, which will raise standards for municipal operations, infrastructure maintenance, land use planning and decision making, fleet management and zoning redesign -- as we reach out to the wider community and assist with a transition to clean renewable energy, perhaps the most important task ahead.

I serve as the official liaison to the Gas Leaks Alliance, a collaboration of 20 regional communities working to press the gas companies repair and --ultimately phase out -- the aging, leaking gas pipes under our streets, which are posing an increasing threat to community health.

There is never a lack of critical projects to take on!

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

It doesn't matter if you have the best solution or most worthy idea - you must first listen to others, respect their ideas and meet folks where they are - if you want to build support and drive meaningful change.AND“Your representative owes you, not his (her) industry only, but his (her) judgment, and s/he betrays instead of serving you, if s/he sacrifices to your opinion” - Edmund Burke, 1774This was relayed to me first by former Alderman Verne Vance

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I care a great deal that our community be welcoming, inclusive and extend kindness to everyone. I supported the Welcoming City Ordinance, have co-docketed an item to investigate what more the city can do to provide and help integrate lifeline services for our neediest residents, and of course agree that education and communication must be part of every project and initiative. This is what motivates me regarding future community planning as well as how we care for the public places we are so fortunate to have today.I am deeply impressed with our student activists and want to find meaningful ways to engage them further

Personal: I love the outdoors. Kayaking, walking in the woods and heavy gardening is food for the soul. I am deeply concerned about the now obvious disappearance of so many flora and fauna, and the stresses on water quality in our rivers and oceans. I like to cook with my family, but both adult ‘foodie’ children have now exceeded my culinary talents!

My favorite aspect of this city is...

The people.

More on Newton Elections:

• Newton Candidate Profile: Bryan Barash On Why He's Running
• Newton Election Calendar 2019: What To Know About Election
• Ward 5 Residents To Head To The Polls Sept. 10
• Humphrey, Winters Win Preliminary Election In Newton's Ward 5
• Newton Candidate Profile: Kathryn Winters For City Council

• Bryan Barash Announces Candidacy For Newton City
• Newton Candidate Profile: Emily Norton Runs For City Council

Other Candidate profiles:

• Andreae Downs - At Large Ward 5