Newton Residents Coming Together To Find Compromise On Parking Ordinance

NEWTON, MA — The two opposite sides of a controversial city argument have joined forces in an effort to find a new solution that will satisfy everyone.

Last week’s Municipal Election ballot included a question that gave voters the chance to overturn a 90-year-old parking ordinance. Since 1936, overnight street parking has been banned in the city in some capacity. The current ban does not allow any on-street parking from Dec. 1 through April 1 between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. The vote to keep the ordinance in place placed by slim margain of just 71 votes, with both options receiving more than 10,000 votes each. Leading up to the election, two coalitions of residents both in favor of and against repealing the law.

According to the “Yes” Committee—which campaigned to have the ordinance changed —the two sides have come together in the aftermath of the “No” vote passing in the election and the ordinance remaining in place. “Yes” Committee leaders Peter Klapes and Jeremy Freudberg announced Tuesday that the two groups are joining forces with the goal of pushing city leaders to create a new ordinance that is a good compromise for all parties involved.

"Both sides agree: the complexity of this issue demands leadership from the City Council. It’s time for our elected officials to move forward—without delay—to craft a fair, balanced, and practical parking plan. One that isn’t overly broad or burdensome, and which will aim to address with expediency the issue,” the two committees said in a joint statement. “We pledge to work collaboratively and constructively. We urge the Council to make parking reform a top priority and to work collaboratively with residents to build a policy that serves every village and every resident.”