Candidate Profile: Deb Crossley, Ward 5 Newton City Council

NEWTON, MA — Deb Crossley is running for reelection against incumbent Andreae Downs and Rena Getz for Ward 5 Councilor-At-Large. There are 20 people vying for the 16 Councilor-At-Large seats on the Newton City Council in the Nov. 2 municipal election, as well as contested races for Ward Councilor, mayor, and school committee.

Newton Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles this week.

Crossley has been an architect with a home-based private practice since 1986. She holds to Bachelor's degrees, one in Environmental Design and the other in Architecture.

Are you running for office in Newton? Contact Annie Sandoli at annie.sandoli@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Newton Patch.

Campaign website

www.debcrossley.org

Age (as of Election Day)

67

Position Sought

Councilor-at-Large

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

My husband Phil and I came here in 1985, were active parents as we raised our children in the Newton public schools. Daughter Nikki (37) is a dietician with a Masters in Nutrition, son James (32) is a chef seeking his Masters in education and student teaching chemistry at NSHS!

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BS Environmental Design ('75), BA Architecture ('83), MA license

Occupation

Architect, residential/housing, home-based private practice since 1986

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Councilor-at-Large

Why are you seeking elective office?

I love our community and want to build upon my 12 years of work improving how we care for public places and municipal infrastructure, how we can better serve community needs - especially in ways that are sustainable and can accommodate future generations in a diverse and welcoming community.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There's not ONE issue - many things are interconnected. we must walk and chew gum ....
3 KEY ISSUES
COVID response
Unfortunately, we must remain alert to the course of the pandemic, and respond nimbly to keep Newton families and businesses safe and secure in every way possible. We may need more CPA-funded rental assistance, more small business grants, and rules allowing continued outdoor dining and events throughout the city.
INFRASTRUCTURE: Fortunately, ARPA funds allow us to reboot our capital plans: rehabilitating roads, sidewalks, schools, parks, water systems, a new Library children’s room expansion and senior center ... to improve quality, build capacity, and in all cases, assure reliability/resiliency as we combat climate change. We must carefully prioritize and rigorously monitor all projects.
ZONING REDESIGN: This is about laying the groundwork to help secure a better future,
by RULES that allow and encourage the development we WANT, and which do not allow, or which discourage that which we do NOT WANT:
- Secure local economic health: the right balance
- Encourage compact housing easily walkable to transit and village centers
- Control building massing, scale and proportion
- Advance reasonable development standards/ controls:
- Reduce on site parking requirements, especially near public transit
- Increase building performance, solar&EV requirements, storm water controls
- Restrict alterations to land forms, especially in neighborhoods

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

This is a 3 way race for two seats. I and my colleague incumbent Andreae Downs, have proven records as open-minded, caring, collaborative problem solvers. My combined skill sets in architecture, environmental science and long resume of community activism (Newton Energy Commission, Housing Partnership, League of women Voters (president), Comprehensive Plan committee (adopted 2007) continue to inform my work leading and advancing efforts to rebuild/improve schools, fire stations, streets, sidewalks, parks and clean energy (solar) installations, and as well, to help strengthen our land use development rules. See below

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 3 way race for 2 seats, and I strongly support my colleague Andreae Downs. Andreae as chair of the Public Safety & Transportation committee not only brings her passion for improved multi-modal transportation infrastructure, but as well has been leading the effort with our new police chief to institute reforms, including more training and programs needed to better address sensitive situations and restore trust between our police department and community.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

All of us were hurt by the pandemic; we suffered from the lack of science based leadership from the top down. As local officials we struggled to do the right thing. The mayor instantly established a COVID Relief fund, run by citizens to accept private donations to aid families in distress. Despite lost revenues (hotels, meals tax, parking receipts and rentals - all dried up) Council passed several rounds of funding: CPC funds twice to provide rental and mortgage assistance, money for chrome books to aid remote learning (difficult in any case) and about 5 million to improve ventilation in school and muni buildings as fast as possible. The mayor was criticized for not actin fast enough to get kids back in school. I heard equally from parents want their kids back bc they could not otherwise work - as I did from parents terrified to put their kids back in school unit there was some assurance of safety. I think the mayor's communication on the subject was outstanding, and her careful unflappable management of the city budget allowed us to donate funds where needed and be ready to invest again this year. I for one, am not going to throw stones.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

- Excellent public schools (facilities and programs)
- Improved transit options and walkability
- Wise environmental stewardship (Care and Maintenance!!)
- Assertive infrastructure investments (including more community spaces, parks, fields...)
- Stable & thriving village economies (right mix of housing-retail-office-public open space)
- More diverse housing options affordable to a wider range of income earners
- A city that truly is accessible to all

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

As former Public Facilities Chair I've led successful projects both to rebuild city infrastructure and strengthen city ordinances:
- initiated the strategic plan to rehabilitate egregiously leaky water, sewer and stormwater systems; - initiated an led effort earning Newton "Green community"status - both of which are ongoing earning $8 Million and $2 Million respectively, in state grants, - Played key role in drafting new accessory apartment ordinance and led adoption of lodging house rules, making these housing options accessible, - coordinated adoption of sustainable construction standards for municipal buildings, - Pushed to raise the bar for high performance building standards on new development petitions, ...

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Listen three times, speak once

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

I feel we are privileged and fortunate to live in a place like Newton. Even today, with C19, climate disasters wreaking havoc throughout our country and world, and some politicians seemingly oblivious to these realities, Newton – and much of New England, stand apart as havens of relative safety, sanity and security. We still have the ability and strength while mindful of these global issues, to continue improving our community and plan wisely for the future. I’m all in - sleeves rolled up - to continue our necessary work to repair, retrofit, restore, rebuild - and maintain - to keep the people’s place in shape, and to work hard to bring our community to consensus so that we can plan wisely and strategically for a brighter future for everyone.