August 2025 Newsletter
Will Newton be a place our kids can afford to live—or a museum of homes only the wealthy can buy? We face two paths to lower housing costs, and the one we choose will define our city for generations.
The first path is growth-driven affordability. The most compelling example comes from New Rochelle, New York, a city demographically similar to Newton. It streamlined environmental reviews, offered incentives, and guaranteed a 90-day approval process for projects that met the criteria. While rents in the surrounding NYC metro area jumped 25%, in New Rochelle they rose just 1.6%.
The second path is shrinking-city affordability. This is the affordability of a city in retreat. Minneapolis offers a crucial lesson in how well-intentioned policy can go wrong. While housing costs did fall, a detailed study found it was due to a "softening of housing demand." Achieving affordability because your city is seen as a risky place to build isn't a victory; it's a warning sign.
Here in Newton, we can’t afford to achieve affordability through stagnation. The choice for a vibrant future requires commitment.
Take action: send a letter to City Council
Teacher retention & housing costs: September event!
While teacher salaries have increased over time, dramatic changes in the housing market have left many educators in an unwinnable race for one of our most basic needs: an affordable place to live. Join National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) President Heather Peske to review the results of the research and the implications for Newton's teachers and community.
Donate to support Newton for Everyone
A thriving Newton is one where local businesses flourish, neighborhoods buzz with energy, and people of all ages and backgrounds find homes they can afford and love.
Newton for Everyone is making that vision a reality. Your gift helps us Educate & Engage residents, Advocate for Real Change at City Hall and Mobilize Voters.
Help support Newton for Everyone
Volunteer to advocate for diverse housing
Find out how you can help advocate for more diverse housing options in Newton, contact us at newtonforeveryone@gmail.com.
Discover what we are currently reading
Voters may face dueling ballot questions advancing competing ideas: Commonwealth Beacon covers ballot measures related to housing.
Tariffs hit Boston construction firms: NBC10 reports on international policy uncertainty that’s adding additional costs to housing.
All housing is housing: An economics student takes a look at the academic literature on housing creation.
Low-Rise Multifamily with Tobias Peter: A UCLA podcast discusses the importance of “missing middle” and other mid-size housing options.
Newton for Everyone is dedicated to promoting housing opportunities for people of all ages, means, backgrounds and abilities in Newton. The housing shortage affects all of us. We believe that diverse housing options are crucial to fostering a thriving community, a sustainable environment and a robust economy.