Not the Safest Town in America Anymore

By Kimberly Reiss

NEWTON – Newton is no longer the safest town in America.  According to the annual safest-city rankings, issued by the Morgan Quinto press, Brick, N.J. claimed the top spot while Newton has dropped to fourth behind Amherst, NY., and Mission Viejo, Calif.  Newton had held the title for the past two years, and for three out of the last six years.  “It’s not really that our crime numbers have gotten any higher, it’s that the other top cities have lowered theirs,” said Lt. Bruce Apotheker of the Newton Police Department. 

Newton’s crime remains low for a city of more than 80,000 people. In Newton’s 2006 crime statistics their overall crime index included only 1,198 reported crimes, which is well below the national average of 4,479 for a city.  Out of Newton’s 1,198 crimes only 143 of those were violent crimes.  Most were property crimes such as burglary, larceny/theft, arson, and motor vehicle thefts. 

Crime in Newton has made international headlines. In 1996 Louise Woodward, a nanny from England, was suspected of involvement in the death of the infant in her care.  She was charged with murder and the case became a big deal across the country and across the ocean.  She was eventually acquitted of the charges.

Apotheker said the Internet has become a new source of crimes.  These include bullying and online predators.

There are also a small amount of juvenile crimes.  Most include malicious damage including breaking of windows, and graffiti. 

“Most of the crimes I see at the high schools are ones of opportunity,” Officer John Panica said. “ You know kids will steal each other’s IPods, or purses, or clothes, but there is usually nothing too serious.” 

There are not too many drug crimes seen in Newton either. 

“We don’t see a great number of drugs. It’s no different than it was 20 years ago,” Panica said

The drugs he sees are mainly marijuana and alcohol.  There is some use of cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin, but not a lot.

“I have always felt safe in Newton,” said Elise Kohen a 21-year-old Newton resident.  “When I was growing up we were always allowed to ride our bikes around town, or go to the park without having our parents worry about us.”

Crime from the city of Boston rarely extends into Newton, and even Apotheker is not sure why. 

“I have no idea why we are safe,” Apotheker said. “Boston borders us on three areas, and we have a major highway coming through.  People are traveling all the time, and why we don’t have crime’s committed here is beyond me.” 

To Override or not to Override

By Kimberly Reiss

NEWTON - A $24 million override has become a dark cloud over the city. Since Newton is running $10 million behind, and an additional $5 million is needed for the designs for the new elementary school, the mayor has proposed an override of $24 million.

 The override raises taxes in Newton.  The city cannot raise taxes without citizens voting by more than 2.5 percent because of a document called Proposition 2 ½.  The document was issued in 1982 and has been effective ever since.  In 2002 the city issued a $11.5 million override which only passed by 700 votes.  

“My personal fear is that since ’02 we just haven’t done enough throughout the city government to prove to people why we need this money.”  Alderman Scott Lennon said.   

“What we did here in Newton two years ago was to beginning to try and forecast what operating revenues would be for a five year period,” said Dave Wilkinson, city comptroller

Wilkinson said a committee of residents who had expertise in municipal finance analyzed assumptions in the forecast.

“The mayor figured that by proposing $24 million dollars it takes care of the fiscal stability of Newton for the next two years,” Lennon said. 

A yearly tax increase of $24 million could mean as much as $1,000 added to a household’s taxes.

Citizens blame the new Newton North High School building project as being the source of the city’s financial shortcomings.  The behemoth of a high school has become a more than $150 million project.

“The lack of money is intertwined with the new school,” Lennon said.

Lennon is not optimistic about passing the override in May.  He said that this could mean less police, firemen, and other city officials on the streets.  Newton residents have not seen enough actions taken to try and consolidate departments to save money. 

“To me the override should be a last resort and we haven’t taken into consideration to mitigate that.” Lennon said.   

But officials still say the override is necessary, for the financial needs of the city. 

“No question that the city needs the money,” Alderman Anthony Salvucci said. “Everyone thinks it’s just for the school, but it’s cause our costs are rising greater than the income, and this is what we have to do.” 

Spokesman for a town - Profile of Jeremy Solomon

By Kimberly Reiss

NEWTON--Swinging in his rotating chair, Jeremy Solomon’s low voice resonates while on the phone with a reporter. As he answers questions about the building of the new Newton North High School, the spokesman for Mayor David Cohen rustles through the papers on his desk looking for data he needs.

“I am fortunate enough to have been able to be in positions of glamour, but I find that I am happier in more low key positions.” Solomon said.

Born in Newton, in 1970, Solomon attended Newton North High School before receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Vermont. After graduation he worked for a non-profit organization based in South Carolina, City Year. He spent a year in South Carolina before taking a job on Bill Clinton’s advance team. 

“The advance team showed me an interesting side of politics that doesn’t get a lot of scrutiny and is very important to a campaign.” Solomon said. His job for three years on the team was to help do the groundwork logistics before the president or first lady traveled. Following the advance team Solomon worked for two cabinet secretaries in Washington until moving back home to get a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard. He accepted the job in Newton as spokesman for the mayor in 2004. 

“Jeremy is a person who is more involved with the press and press relations than the rest of the city staff,” said Mike Kruse, director of planning and development in the mayor’s office.

As the mayor’s spokesman, Solomon deals with the press and all communications with media outlets including the local papers and the Boston Globe. He writes the mayor’s major speeches and helps coordinate the weekly press conferences. He is the first spokesman in Newton history. “The reason for this,” Solomon said, “is having someone like me handle the press gives the mayor more time to focus on the important issues,” he said. 

“Jeremy’s work for the mayor really articulates what the mayor’s goals are for the city,” said Linda Plout, director of cultural affairs in the mayor’s office.  “And because he is so clear and articulate he is a very effective representative.

With calls coming in daily to ask about the plans for the new $150 million dollar Newton North High School project, he fields all the questions. Most of Newton’s issues are money related, such as rising taxes, propositional overrides, or even just soaring house prices. In fact Newton has become such an expensive city to live in that Solomon cannot even afford the town he grew up in.  “My family and I moved to West Roxbury, prices in Newton are just too insane,” he said.   

Solomon’s job is also to help maintain the image of the mayor and the city’s government.  “Media tends to be skeptical of government, and usually gives more coverage to negative items then to the positive. It’s difficult to deal with, but you got to keep working at it,” Solomon said.   

Solomon’s sister Lara describes him as, “the quiet glue that holds his family and friends together.”

Solomon’s most important role, he says is as a husband to wife Michelle, and father to their two young sons, Jacob and Maxwell. His family is the reason he has no political aspirations. “I’ve seen how much time a campaign takes away from home life, and I’m not willing to sacrifice that,” he said.