Your Vote, Our Future: Asking the Right Questions on Housing

Written By Joshua Herzig-Marx

On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Newton voters will elect the entire City Council. With several contested races on the ballot, this election presents a critical opportunity to shape the future of housing in our community.

Candidate mailers and websites are often filled with broad statements, but when it comes to housing, the details are what matter. How can you, the voter, discern a candidate's true commitment to creating the diverse housing options Newton needs?

At Newton for Everyone, we believe an informed voter is an empowered voter. While we do not endorse individual candidates, we encourage you to ask specific, substantive questions when you engage with them. Your vote is a powerful tool for change, and these questions can help you use it wisely.

Key Questions for Every Candidate:

1. Creating More Housing Options

"It is widely agreed that Newton needs a greater variety of housing, especially for our seniors, young families, and the people who work in our city. A menu of zoning changes could help, such as allowing homes on smaller lots or permitting multi-family dwellings like three-deckers and townhouses 'by right' in more areas. Which of these specific strategies do you support to create the housing we need?"

2. Building on MBTA Communities Success

"Newton’s compliance with the MBTA Communities Act was a significant first step, but it will not solve our housing shortage on its own. Beyond this initial compliance, what are the next concrete actions you would champion on the City Council to ensure we continue to address Newton’s pressing housing demand?"

3. Linking Commercial Growth and Housing

"Many agree that Newton needs more commercial development to strengthen our tax base. However, businesses considering a move to Newton need to know their employees can find housing they can afford nearby. What specific policies would you advance to create more moderately-priced homes, ensuring our economic growth is supported by a stable, local workforce?"

Diving Deeper: Questions from Our Community Conversations

Over the past year, our Newton for Everyone has explored many facets of the housing issue. Here are more detailed questions, based on our shared learning, to help you better understand a candidate's position.

4. On Housing and Climate Change:

"Our community's climate goals are directly linked to our housing policies. We've learned that building more homes in walkable, transit-accessible neighborhoods is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. What specific housing policies would you champion to build climate resilience and ensure that new development helps Newton meet its climate action commitments?"

5. On Housing and Aging in Place:

"Many of Newton's long-term senior residents wish to downsize and remain in the community, but we've seen how a lack of suitable housing options often forces them to move away. What concrete steps would you take on the City Council to encourage the creation of more accessible, smaller-scale housing that allows our seniors to age in place?"

6. On Housing's Contribution to City Funding:

"We've learned that, on average, each new home adds a net positive of $1,600 to Newton's annual budget, helping to fund our schools, public safety, and infrastructure. How do you view housing growth as a tool for the city's fiscal health, and what is your plan to support it?"

7. On Making Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) a Reality:

"The legalization of ADUs was an important step, but homeowners still face significant procedural and cost barriers. What further actions would you support to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to build ADUs, adding gentle density and housing flexibility to our neighborhoods?"

8. On Building 100% Affordable Housing:

"While there is broad support for 100% affordable housing projects, we heard directly from developers that these projects require active partnership from local government to succeed. Beyond verbal support, what specific actions would you take as a City Councilor to help secure funding, identify suitable sites, and streamline approvals for these critical projects?"

How to Evaluate Their Answers

You don't need to ask every question on this list—pick one or two that are most important to you. As you listen to a candidate's response, listen for specifics that demonstrate a real depth of understanding. Do their answers align with our goal of a more welcoming and inclusive Newton? A strong candidate will recognize that housing is interconnected with our climate goals, economic vitality, and community well-being. Look for a leader who acknowledges the complexities but moves beyond them to offer a concrete plan of action.

For additional research, several other local and regional advocacy groups issue candidate endorsements. While Newton for Everyone does not endorse candidates, we offer the following links as resources to aid in your own decision-making process:

The answers to these questions, combined with your own research, will reveal a candidate’s true vision for Newton. On November 4th, your vote can help turn that vision into a reality where everyone has the opportunity to call our city home.


Joshua Herzig-Marx
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