John Rice: Mayor Setti Warren made the right decision on Engine 6

As a strong supporter of affordable housing and ward alderman for the Waban community, I am voicing my support for Mayor Warren?s withdrawal of the proposed Engine 6/Pine St. project.

?As the director of the Hyde Community Center in Newton Highlands, I have enjoyed a front seat view of some very excellent affordable housing programs that have successfully served the disabled, the vulnerable, as well as the community where they are housed. And each time, the key factor that drives these projects to a successful conclusion is the fit with the community and a strong process for moving forward.

?The media has focused on the controversy of this project?s ?fit? with the community. However, the critical flaw from my perspective was process-based: it was rushed and it lacked answers for critical questions. It was just a few weeks ago that this bold proposal was dropped, seemingly out of nowhere, on the Waban community. Putting aside some of the controversial aspects of the intended program, Metro West Collaborative, a small nonprofit organization driving the project, had little experience with a project on this scale in Newton.

?Under ideal circumstances, this project would require a good deal of time and communication to address the many relevant questions from the community. Instead, the community meetings were marked more by contention than by consensus. By the conclusion of the second community meeting, it was obvious that this project had not been properly vetted and should not move forward.

?As a Waban resident, I know that my neighbors are open to good plans with good intentions. But those plans need a good process and respectful communication. This project did not fit that definition. Not moving forward on this particular project is the right decision for Waban and for the City of Newton.

--John Rice, Selden Street, Ward 5 Alderman

Source: http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/x997478615/John-Rice-Mayor-Setti-Warren-made-the-right-decision-on-Engine-6?rssfeed=true

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