With the debate raging in Newton about education, city finances and politics, Ken was recently contacted and interviewed by a journalist with Denebola, the Newton South student newspaper. Their reporter asked great questions - the Q&A can be found below. Let us know what you think!
Why do you want to become mayor?
Newton is a wonderful place to live and work and, as Mayor, I will be in a strong position to restore Newton to its position of leadership in providing excellent services, world class public education, and cutting-edge environmental policies. While we have lost some ground in recent years, I know what we need to do to get Newton back to being the model of excellence that has long been our reputation.
What criticism do you have of Mayor Cohen and/or of the direction Newton's been heading recently?
My differences with Mayor Cohen are not personal, but focus on issues. We have strong policy disagreements regarding the direction he has been taking the City of Newton. We need effective management practices that emphasize accountability and results and make the most of our limited resources. For example, we should invest in maintenance rather than waiting until buildings are in such poor condition that they need expensive repairs or even replacement. We should invest in our police and firefighters and provide them with the resources they need to keep us safe. We should maintain and continuously improve our parks, so that all our citizens can enjoy them. We should encourage Newton residents to participate in projects to improve our city. I want to change the culture of City Hall, so that new ideas are welcomed. I believe that by tapping into the ideas and talents of our citizens, we can improve local services and the quality of life for people throughout Newton.
What will you do about the new turf at Newton South if you are elected?
We need to have safe, playable fields in our high schools, so I strongly support the NEWTURF initiative. We should not debate this forever. As mayor, I would take swift action to get it accomplished.
What do you think of the Newton North Project? I heard that you support a new high school but have criticized the way the project is being handled? Why do you think it isn't being done correctly and how would you handle the project if elected?
The current administration has mismanaged the Newton North project from day one, ignoring good advice about how to keep costs under control and refusing to see the merits of a simple, compact design that could offer all of the elements of the current plan at an affordable price tag. As a result, the design that is being used is very complex with significant numbers of custom elements and excessive foundation work and will cost, according to numbers presented by the project architect Brad Dore, about 50% more than comparable high schools built elsewhere in Massachusetts in recent years on a per square foot basis (adjusted for inflation). My fear is that paying for this expensive design could force us to lay off teachers throughout our school system, increasing class sizes and lowering the quality of public education in Newton. The farther we go down this path, the more sunk costs we have and the fewer good alternatives will remain. By the time the next Mayor of Newton takes office on January 1, 2010 it may be too late to get this project back on the right track. However, at the least I would be able to lead the Aldermen and the citizens of Newton to shift the financing of the project to a debt exclusion (an option this Mayor has steadfastly opposed), so that paying for the new high school does not force layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters.
Do you believe that an override is necessary?
After years of poor fiscal planning at City Hall, including failure to take advantage of cost saving and new revenue opportunities, an operating override is necessary to maintain the current level of services and to avoid layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters. Also, a debt exclusion is necessary to pay for Newton North, without which millions of dollars will be diverted from the operating budget, forcing even more layoffs.
If elected, what will you do to help education in general?
My family moved to Newton because of the reputation of the Newton Public Schools and excellence in public education remains my highest priority. I support School Committee Member Geoff Epstein’s math and technology initiatives and will work with parents, educators and other interested Newton residents to develop new ideas for improving our schools through innovative new programs and public-private partnerships that put Newton back in the forefront of school systems around the country.
What do you think qualifies you for office?
I have a vision for Newton’s future and the knowledge, experience and energy needed to implement that vision. Having served more than sixteen years on the Board of Aldermen, I know our city government inside and out. I know what works and what doesn’t and how to fix the problems. I also know how to tap into the incredible and diverse expertise of Newton residents in an effort to empower the citizens of our community to address the challenges facing City Hall.
What would be your key priorities if you are elected?
As mayor, I will work with the Board of Aldermen and Newton residents to put Newton back on sound financial footing through innovative initiatives and management reforms that improve our revenue stream and control costs, so that we can support world class public schools, efficient police and fire services, and sound infrastructure maintenance. If I am elected mayor, in four years Newton residents will be able to say once again that their community has schools that are second to none, clean parks, smooth streets, well-maintained public buildings, and that we are on the forefront of the environmental movement with policies that reduce carbon emissions and save energy.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 10:00PM