June 30, 2025 • 39 mins
The primarily Italian American neighborhood of Nonantum in Newton is outraged over a 90-year-old road marker that was painted over. For decades, the center line down Adams Street has been red, white, and green, the colors of the Italian flag. Last week, the city of Newton had the colors painted over with a yellow line, citing safety reasons. A majority of Nonantum residents prided themselves on the Italian flag road marker and are upset over this change just three weeks before the St. Mary of Carmen Society Italian Festival and parade. Did the neighborhood deserve to be included in discussions over a change in the road marker? Newton residents as well as the Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, joined Dan to discuss!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, there is a huge, huge street fight going
on in the city of Newton, and we are delighted
to be joined by a young woman who finds yourself
in the midst of this. Arianna. Proya, Arianna, welcome to
Night's Side. How are you this evening.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm doing good. Thank you Dan for having me tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You are more than welcome. Thanks very much for coming on.
So you live in the no Nantum section of Newton,
one of the I think you told me there were,
is it thirteen villages in Newton, different different sections of Newton?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Correct, there's thirteen villages of Newton, and I actually live
on Adams Street, the street we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Okay. So Adam Street is an important street, particularly to
the Italian American community, because many of the families on
Adams Street, as I understand it, came to Newton, has
settled in Newton decades ago, decades ago, and many of
them came from the same small little village in Italy
(01:09):
called San Donado. Tell us about the characteristics of the
street in the neighborhood.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yeah, I mean this, this street, you know this neighborhood
has been a kind of a gateway to a lot
of immigrants in this city. You know, it's been that
kind of not just for Italians, but for others like
the Jewish community, like the Irish community, and now even
now the Chinese community has kind of settled here. For
us with the Italians, you know, we've been here for
(01:37):
a while, a long time, and this has been a
tight knit community and you know, we have take pride.
We have a festival that goes on that's been going
on for over ninety years. And that's really the heart
of this story is you know, the lines that were
on Adam Street have been there for about ninety years,
and you know that that is our culture, our identity
here in this neighborhood. That's how you know you're in
(01:59):
No nanta is. You see those lines on the street,
you see that guideway home, and you know it's really special.
And if you're not from around here and you know
you see it, you're out and about saying down in
Florida and someone says, oh, I'm from Loranto and then
someone will probably say, oh, you mean the area with
the where they paint the lines in Newton.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Very iconic and since this is radio, unfortunately, we have
to now explain that on this section of Adams Street
there has been for years and years and years a
white dividing line, call it a street marking. Many people
are familiar with that. And on one side of the
(02:41):
white line is a line that is red right along
Adam Street for about a half a mile. On the
other side is green, which represents the Italian flag as
well as hydrants are painted at least one that I've
seen in that tricolor of red, white and green. And
how long has it been that way?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
It's been there for ninety years. Like I said, that's
one of the main traditions, a part of our festival,
in our celebration in this neighborhood.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And the festival comes up on July sixteenth to the twentieth,
and it is it's a religious festival, but it's really
not a religious festival in that sense. It's a festival
of your culture more than anything.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Correct, it's both, but definitely the culture of the neighborhood
and it's about family. And we have this saying here
in no Nantum that you know, you don't have to
be Italian to be a part of this festival that week.
Everyone's Italian, everyone's a part of our family, everyone's a
part of our neighborhood. And it's really bringing people together
and connecting each other and building each other up.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Okay, So last Thursday night, sometime after darkness fell, all
of a sudden, the lines, the white, green, and red
line street marking down the middle of Adams Street was
(04:04):
destroyed by whom and under what were the circumstances.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
So I live on Adam Street. So around about ten
fifteen on Thursday night, my mother actually was outside because
she heard all this noise and dust was everywhere, and
we saw this big machinery going down Adams Street, milling
the street and taking up our culture, our identity of
these red, white, and green lines. No one had any
(04:32):
idea what was going on, and come to find out
in the morning it was ordered by the City of Newton,
by the Marya's office to have these lines replaced. No
warning to our neighborhood that this is ever happening that night,
anything like that, And it came out as a real
shock in kind of disrespect to us, as we were
very surprised for this to be happening. Curious timing, very
(04:53):
curious timing. You know, we're about a little under three
weeks away from our ninetieth year as a festival, and
one of those things, like I've said a few times,
those red light and green lines are synonymous with this neighborhood,
especially during that time of year.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Was there any notice given to the neighborhood in advance? Normally,
if if something's going to happen in the in a neighborhood,
the butters, the neighbors are notified, whether it's the work
being done by National Grid or being done by ever source,
or in some cases if the neighbors putting up a
fence or a stone wall, they're obligated. Wouldn't the city
(05:29):
have given you some advanced notice? And also there was none.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Ye, there was no advance notice to this street thea butters.
I had people's streets away texting me as I'm a
resident of Autam Street, asking what's going on because they
could hear the noise. This neighborhood was completely left in
the dark that night.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Okay, this is this is frustrating because no reason has
been given, as I understand it. Have you attempted to
find out why this happened? Has your organizations attempted to
find this out.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, there's been a lot of political spin on this
kind of story from the politicians from the mayor's office
in this city, saying that the festival organizers were aware
of this and that there was an agreement made upon
there was. I can say confidently I was a part
of those meetings as I am president of the Women's
Society for the festival, that in those with those meetings
with city officials, there was never any agreement made to
(06:25):
that happening or notification that that was happening. And there's
nothing in the permit so that mentions the red, white
and green lines on Adams Street being removed.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah, what were these meetings all about? I mean, with
these meetings, the typical meetings you have an advance of
an event or did they say to you, hey, we're
going to rip up the street.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
We usually have meetings with the city to kind of
help plan with this event and stuff like that, to
organize our permits. But like I said, you know, there
was never any agreement or kind of official notification that
this was happening on that night, and it's not something
any of our organizations or this neighborhood would ever agree
to happening. This is, like I said, this is our
(07:05):
identity and our culture, and anyone's saying that this was
agreed upon is frankly lying.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Did the city in any of these meetings ever say
to you, hey, one of the things we are intending
to do, or one of the things we would like
to do, or one of the things that we might do.
Was there any reference whatever to because this was a
fundamental change in your neighborhood, was there any discussion about there?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
There was.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
There was conversations at a certain point early on in
the process, but eventually, actually on our village day, the
mayor and two of the officers from the Saint Mary
Carmen Society, the festival chairman and the vice president, spoke
with the Mayor's office and said, you know, from her
they related to all of us that you know, we
were going to get to yes on everything. Our traditions
were going to be able to continue on as they
(07:52):
have always done because the either organizations that have always
done good for this city.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Okay, Arianna, since I spoke with you this small Mayor Fuller,
Mayor ruth An Fuller has agreed to come on with us.
So I'd like you to stay on the line. I'm
not going to put you or the mayor in any
sort of debate format. We will get to phone calls.
I guarantee you that I want to give the mayor
an opportunity to explain what she has to her perspective
(08:18):
on it. I'm delighted that she's going to join us.
And then a little bit later on we're going to
be dealing with your city councilor, who is also very
much involved in this. John Oliver will talk to him
at nine point thirty. But i'd like you to stay
on the line because eventually I do want to get
to callers. I'm not going to give the number yet
(08:40):
because they don't want people waiting too long. People are
waiting right now, and they are more than willing to
hold their position about But I want to give the
mayor a chance and we'll talk with Mayor ruth An Fuller.
But you stay there. I want you to hear everything
the mayor says. I'm not going to have you your audio. No,
there's going to be no debate. Don't worry about that.
I just want you to audit and then you can
(09:00):
respond to what she does or does not say in
the next segment, Okay, you stay right there, We'll make this.
I'm fair all around. I'm back in just a couple
of moments here as we will continue to discuss a
controversy that has really really impacted the no nantum section
of a very proud section of Newton. There's no doubt
(09:22):
about that. We'll be talking with Mayor Ruth Ann Fuller
right after the break.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
It's night Side with Dan Ray Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Joining us now in the middle of this street fight
is the Mayor of Newton, Ruth Anne Fuller. Mayor Fuller,
welcome to Nightside. Thanks for joining us tonight.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
How are you, Dan? It's a pleasure good heer your voice.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Well, I don't know that this old thing's been a pleasure,
that's for sure. I guess the question is what prompted
this action last Thursday? Why now, three weeks before this
festival that means so much to the folks in noon
Antem And why was it done without any advanced notice
(10:06):
under such what appears to me like cover of darkness.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Let's break that down.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Oh yeah, I hit you with this, two or three,
take them one at a time.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Go ahead, You're asking a great question and an important question.
Turns out, Adams Street is in our top five in
Newton for crash sites. So we've got this.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Section of Adam Street. Mayor, yep, Mayor, you know that
this section of Adam Street is not the the damage.
The accident is at the intersection of Adams and lewis Terrace.
This is a relatively safe section.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Sorry, Dan, We can get to the data in between
Washington Street and Watertown Street. Adams Street is one of
those places where public safety matters and there's everywhere.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Sure, go ahead, go ahead. I don't mean to.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
No problem and to be nerdy just for a minute.
There's something called the Manual on Uniform Traffic Controlled Devices
that the Federal Highway Administration applies all across the United
States and Massachusetts and center line markings in yellow, which
(11:27):
most of us are used to have to be on
all these paved, undivided two way streets that are more
than twenty feet wide and have more than six thousand
vehicles a day on them.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
I drove down l Avenue, I drove down Kumolv Avenue
in Beacon Street in the last few days. They're more
than twenty feet wide and they're two ways. I didn't
see yellow lines on those streets.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
I look again, Dan, they do have the yellow lines
unless they're literally under construction. Look one more time next
time you're out and about. So the yellow center lines
are absolutely necessary. But the good news is what I
shared with all of our amazing volunteers at TESTA is
(12:15):
we can do both at the same time. Where the
yellow center lines are down and the amazing FESTA volunteers
every year repaint the tricolor the green, white, and red,
and we've said you are welcome to repaint again this year,
just next to the yellow line. So this could be
(12:38):
a win win. We can do both public safety and
lift up oh way.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
So just so I understand that. So what you're saying
is that it's up to the residence, not the city,
but up to the residents to paint the tricolor the red, white,
and green. Contigue us to the yellow line next to
contiguous correct and for for is.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
I think Arianna. By the way, Arianna is wonderful. I'm
so glad that she was your guest tonight. Sure this
The Saint Mary of Carmen Society volunteers since nineteen thirty
five have been painting those three green, white and red
(13:26):
lines down Adams Street, and we welcome them to do
it again this year.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Okay, but again contiguous, I just because I was told
earlier today that the offer was it could be had
to be off to the side. So it's as I think, next.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
To next to the we need the yellow line right
next to it.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
That's what you know. You and I are both lawyers,
So when I say contiguous, I mean not me.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I thought you were lawyer too, and I've got an MBA.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Okay, well, that's that's probably more valuable in a low degree.
So I'll i'll see and i'll a bow down to that.
So let me ask us why no notification to the
neighbors and why in the dark of night?
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Two things?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Dark knight?
Speaker 4 (14:10):
We always do line markings at night the city of Newton.
We don't have the technology to do it, so we
use contractors, and the contractors always do it at night time.
Probably it makes total sense to everyone. That's when there
are far fewer cars on the road, and we didn't
(14:35):
do a good job on communication. I think the fest
of folks knew that we were going to do this.
The weird thing in Massachusetts is there are only two
companies that do these are called Long Lines do Long
Line markings. So we've been in the Q waiting. They
(14:57):
let the line markings were done Thursday night. They let
us know on Wednesday that it might be Thursday night,
it might be Monday night. They didn't let us know
until Monday Thursday morning. That was Thursday night. And I'd say,
our team let our residents and our city councilors down.
(15:20):
We should have been on the horn and letting people
know what was going to happen that night.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
You know, there was no police detail that night. You're
aware of that.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
We don't usually have a police detail because it's done
late enough. It's usually ten eleven, twelve o'clock at night.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I would argue that police detail might be even more
valuable at night when people are driving home, some of
them perhaps after having had dinner and maybe a drink
or two. So let me come back to It was
a very hot night. I've seen the videotape that people took.
There was a lot of dust. There are a lot
of people who did not have air conditioning, I mean
(15:59):
from a health respective doing it at that time of night,
on that hot night, it was it was dangerous to
people's health as well, and the other one.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I'm not sure I would say it was dangerous Dan.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Video did you did you see? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (16:17):
It is noisy construction because you're you have to your
own a million.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
But if you saw the video, there was all sorts
of dust and people had their windows open. Here's a really,
I get paid money to ask dumb questions, so let
me ask a dumb questions.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
It's never a dumb question.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Well that's what I learned in law school. But but
I'll so why not. Haves just said, look, let's put
this off until after the festival, because I think that
that would have you know, you you you've been a
good mayor. You know, I stood by you when you
when you had your disagreement a year and a half
ago when the teachers you know, basically went on for
(16:59):
about three weeks, and I admired your strength there. But
I just think that if this had been done on
July twenty first or July thirty first, it wouldn't have
been as much of a concern to this to these neighbors.
I've spoken to a lot of them, and a lot
of them are going to call in tonight, and I
just think this is an unforced era, Mayor. That's my reaction.
(17:22):
It's uncharacteristic of your administration.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
So I definitely agree that communication should have been better
if you listened carefully to Ariana. She was very careful
to say that this was discussed at length, and the
folks from FESTA never agreed whether it was before Festa
(17:49):
or after Festa to have the yellow lines. I think
this is a win win for the community because we're
going to have our green, white, and red, and we're
going to have yellow. We're going to have public safety
and tradition. And it is unfortunate that the line marking
(18:14):
companies are in such high demand. But I'm glad we've
got the yellow lines in and look forward to the green,
white and red appearing really soon.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
But that's going to be done not by the city,
well by city workers. That will be executed by the
neighbors on this stretch of By the way, the stretch
we're talking about here, just so I haven't been misled,
is about a half a mile.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
I not good with numbers, but that sounds directionally right.
And I have one more thing, let me just a
thing that we've let the volunteers do for the first time.
On Adams Street. We have a bunch of crosswalks there.
We've also said to them, why don't you consider painting
(19:05):
the crosswalks, take advantage of the white lines there and
add some green and red on either side, so we
can actually even add more of our Italian heritage and
celebrate that.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
One person today asked me, and so I'm going to
ask on behalf of them. I'll ask you the question
they asked me, and that is there are hydrants on
this section of Adams Street which are green, red and white.
No plan to change the color of the hydrants.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
I assume again what we've said to the Festa folks
and the neighbors. The hydrants can be the green, white
and red with one stipulation. But it does work for
the Italian flag colors. The white can't be on the top.
Got to be the green or the red. And we've
(19:52):
actually got a map that will I would hope would tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I would hope the red would be on the top
because particularly in the winter time, if there was a
big snowstorm. But I just do want to come back
to the point that was made to me, and I
believe it's accurate that the accidents that you're citing now,
they may be imputed to the entirety of the street.
That might be what the government says, But my understanding
(20:22):
is that this state of accidents are not on this
stretch of contested Adams Street. They're in an area further up,
actually not even in Nonantum in Newtonville, at the intersection
of Adams in lewis Terrace. And I don't know.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
My understanding is this stretch includes a whole bunch of crashes.
But look forward to letting the engineers look over street
by street, crash by crash.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Okay, that's fine. I just I got a chance to
get that in and I appreciate it very much. Appreciate
you coming on. Most mayors would not come on. I've
asked you what I consider to be the most tough,
difficult questions. I think it was mishandled, Mayor, and I
think that for you to admit mistakes were made, communication
was inadequate is probably the first steps of solving this problem.
(21:20):
I'm going to be talking with the City Council of
John Oliver in a in a couple of minutes, and
then we're going to take phone calls. I agreed not
to put you in the situation where you had to
deal with anyone other than me, and I thank you
for doing it tonight. And as they say generally, I
think as a resident of Newton, you've worked very hard
for the city of Newton, and I think this is
(21:42):
just one. We all make mistakes, and if this works
out to the satisfaction of everyone, then then maybe we
can maybe you can turn this around. I'm simply a reporter,
but I appreciate it very much. You haven't the.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
Last word. Go ahead, please, everybody who's listening, come to
the village of no Nantum July sixteenth through July twentieth.
It's a Wednesday through Sunday. Food, fun, family rides, music,
It's a wonderful festival put on by the volunteers of
(22:19):
the Saint Mary of Common Society. Come to Newton.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
All right, thanks very much. Mayor Ruth dan Fuller, the
mayor of Newton. She is leaving the office in January,
and this is probably a dust up that she could
have been avoided. But she's handling it. And you heard
everything she had to say. And I really appreciate you
taking my questions and going beyond the statement thanks again, Mayor.
(22:46):
You did have the last four Dan, all right, talk soon,
Thanks very much. We will take a break. We got
the news coming up. Right after that, we're going to
talk about city councilor John Oliver, and then we're going
to take questions. Arianna will join us, John Oliver will
join us questions, and we may go into the next hour.
That will depend upon the number of phone calls. My
audience always determines what we talk about here on Nightside.
(23:10):
We'll be back right after the news break at the
bottom of the hour.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
We're joined by City Council Newton City Council John Oliver,
who represents the No Nantum section which is the the
middle of this controversy. Also, we're bringing Arianna Proye back. Arianna,
and welcome back. Thank you for standing by so we
could have the mayor coucher. Did you get a chance
(23:40):
to listen to the interview with Mayor Fuller? I have, yes. Okay,
How satisfied are you with the concessions that she seems
to be willing to make at this point?
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Well, I think I heard a couple of things that
I haven't heard before, and I'm glad to hear that.
I'm glad, for example, to hear that she's acknowledging that,
you know, there were there were some mistakes here. I
think that not including the neighborhood, not including their representatives
(24:14):
in this conversation was it was more than an oversight.
I think anyone who has spent you know, ten minutes
in uh in No Nantum or the lake would understand
that this would be somewhat of a powder keg type
of an issue. And I'm glad to hear saying, you know,
(24:37):
she should have included more people in the conversation. And
and I'll add probably should have done that six months
six plus months ago.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Yeah, I don't think there are answer on the timing
and the circumstances I've saw. I've seen the video that
apparently some residents took, and that looked like a nasty
evening on Adams Street in terms of hot temperatures, you know,
(25:08):
dust everywhere.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Yeah, and I do think that, you know, the the
the element to me that was really striking when I
saw the video and someone sent it to me Thursday night,
and it took me a minute to understand really what
I was looking at. But the part to me that
really stuck out was the traffic trying to either back
(25:33):
up to, you know, go around you know, this machinery,
or to pass it in one particular case, you know,
on the side of the road. So it was, yeah,
it was a bit kind of a you know, I've
been using the firm head scratcher quite a bit over
the past few days.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Let's do this. We have Arianna on the line with us,
and I know that she appreciates your support. Arianna, are
you back with us? Us?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
I am here, Dan, Thank you, Hi John, Ariana.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Do you want to react to what the mayor had
to say? I thought that that it was interesting that
that the the new line can be contiguous with the
yellow line, and that she's talking about maybe crosswalks, and
that fire hydrants would not be impacted.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Did any of that I definitely want to respond to that.
You know, the community, you know from why I don
do myself. This community doesn't want a consolation prize or
some like kind of pity party appeasement. They don't want
to put it to the side of the road near
the gutter. It's kind of putting our traditions in the gutter.
You know, we really want the acknowledgment from her that
(26:49):
this decision hurt a lot of people in this community
that she might not be able to fully understand. But
we got to be able to work to fill this
community by giving them the tradition back fully down the middle,
like in years past, like worked with the city before.
And I also do want to just respond to the fact,
you know, she said she notified best of people. You know,
I am that I live on Adams Street. I'm one
(27:09):
of those kind of people. I'm the president of the
Woman's Society. You know, I work with the Men's Society.
There was no communication about that happening on that night,
no notification, And so I.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Just want to say that I pressed her on the
issue of it being contiguous because someone had told me
today that the offer that had been made was off
to the side. Contiguous means to me, next to a buddy,
That's what the word contiguous means. Yeah, and I think
she was pretty clear she did not waffle on that question.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Yeah, correct. And you know, she kind of mentioned this
federal regulation that's been on the books. You know, it's
not a law, it's a recommendation, but it's also been
on the books for about thirty years. So for us,
our question is why now the selective, kind of secretive
enforcement that happened on that Thursday night, with the lack
of kind of communication in this enforcement. Now it's been
(28:08):
a real It's like John said, Haadscratcher Fross.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Okay, let's let's get to some phone calls. Folks have
been very patient. I'm willing to take this into the
next hour. If people want to talk about it. Let
me go to Elizabeth in Newton. Elizabeth, thank you for
your patients. You were on with Arianna Proya and city
Council John Oliver.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
Great, good evening. Nice to chat with you guys. Thanks
for having me on.
Speaker 6 (28:33):
Welcome. I'm thanks.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
I'm a resident of Ward two and totally hear both
sides of this. But listen, I love festa, I love
the tradition, and I have to say Mayor Fuller's approach
seems reasonable. It seems like a real win win, and
you can have safety with a little yellow lines and
(28:57):
still have the flag represented. And so this honestly feels
like a pretty good compromise.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
I think.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Just remember, public safety is not separate from community celebration.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
It's what makes it possible.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
So let me get let me, let me get John.
So you were satisfied with what the mayor had to say, John,
h Arianna has weighed in on this. Your your reaction
what the mayor had to say. Again, what what I
was concerned about was, we're and again I'm not a
(29:28):
resident of no Nantum, I'm not Italian, I'm not a
member of the organization. But she said to me contiguous,
which means to me, next to the yellow line. And
I don't see there be any reason why you couldn't have, uh,
two stretched strips of red, white, and green on either
side of the yellow line. I should have asked her
(29:49):
that one. Your thoughts, John, Yeah, and so.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
I think this is probably the crux of it. So
I have many thoughts, but I'll try and uh I
and be quick here. I agree that safety and celebration
certainly go hand in hand. I don't think that what
we're really talking about here, like I keep hearing this
term all of a sudden, that we're in a win
(30:16):
win situation. I significantly disagree with that statement. Uh. I
think that what we need to find is that win
win situation. I think I heard a step in that
direction tonight the the you know, hey, we we should
have been talking to more people. And I'll add, you know,
(30:37):
earlier in the process. I heard that from the marriage
just recently, that that's the first step. I'm going to
get some people in a room. I suggest we get
some people in a room and and you know, like
like your college just said, let's find that win win,
because right now we we have quite a few people
(31:01):
who wouldn't agree with that statement, and I think that
we need a heck of a lot more people agreeing
that we have a win win here.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
All right, fair enough, Elizabeth, thank you for the call.
I've got packed lines, so I'd love to get to
some more folks as well. Appreciate you taking the time, Elizabeth.
Thank you. There goes Elizabeth. Okay, you can leave them
up Rob to say goodbye at the end. Joan is
in Newton. Joan, you were next on night Side with
Arianna Proya, who represents her position, and Newton City Councilor
(31:30):
John Oliver.
Speaker 7 (31:31):
Go ahead, Joan, thank you so much for taking the call.
I just want to say, you know, I've lived in
the Nomanthem community for about fifteen years now, and I
was really embraced by people like Fatty PELLOGREENI the whole
Pellegreeney family is embedded in the community, and I just
think that as a resident is someone who has been
(31:52):
treated so kindly moving in not too long ago, that
this is just a slap in the face to all
of the men and women that devote themselves to all
of us and all of the things that they do
for us. They're always in the parks cleaning up on
their own time. It's not city workers doing it, it's volunteers,
and I just feel that I'm hurt for them that
(32:14):
I feel like they deserve so much better. And I
understand what the mayor is saying about safety, I really do.
But I've lived here for sixteen years and those yellow
lines were never there before, and I just find it
a little funny that it's happening now. It just doesn't
(32:36):
make sense. And to be honest, I feel like there's
a lot of biases against no Nanton because we have
the lowest median income of the whole city. And I
think that if we were talking about Chestnut Hill or Wobbin,
I think it will be a really different situation right now.
And that's what I'm disappointed in is the lack of
respect for the people that do a lot for all
(32:59):
of us, right, and I think that they're ow a
genuine apology.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Sorry, well, well, said Joan, Ariana or counselor all of
a quick response to what Joan had to say.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Joan, I completely agree with what you're saying. I think
one of the things I just add in is, like,
you know, when it comes to other parts of the
city with different socio economic backgrounds, you know, the wealthier
area might understand this area because we are more of
a working class, right, there can tend to be somewhat
of an unconscious bias against the different socio economics discrepancies.
(33:33):
But you know, they don't know how this has affected
our lived experiences and how it will continue because these
are our traditions.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Counsel, right, I agree with you, counsole you quick.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
I think Arihannas said it very well. I think really
the what this comes down to is we have a neighborhood,
one of one of you know, one of thirteen villages
here in Newton that is uh, feeling neglected, feeling confused,
feeling kind of you know, disrespected, I think is a
(34:08):
good word. And at the end of the day. That
is not acceptable. So we need again, we need to
get some people around the table and talk this out.
You know, I feel like there are facts being kicked around,
or at least, you know, issues being or comments being
presented as facts, and I haven't had enough time to
(34:33):
go through all the details here and figure things out.
But it's all kind of behind us now. You know.
Decisions were made and whether you like them or you
don't like them, we are where we are and we
need to fix we need we need to get some
people around the room and truly listening to each other
so that we can find again, Like I don't want
to be a broken record, but that's okay.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
We reach it loud and clear. We read it loudly
and clearly. John, thank you for your call. Oh, I
appreciate it very much. We will continue with more conversation
on this issue. Remember again, the festival is still more
than more than two weeks away. Our number if you'd
like to join the conversation six months, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty Back on Nightside right after this with more
(35:17):
phones and phone calls and conversation with Arianna Proyer, who's
one of the organizers of the festival, an outspoken critic
of what happened last Thursday, and Newton City Councilor John Oliver,
who represents no Nantum, coming right back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Okay, we're tired on time. We'll try to get people
here quickly, very quickly. Susan and Newton. Susan next on Nightside,
Go right ahead. I know you've waited a while. Go ahead, Susan.
Speaker 6 (35:48):
Hi, good evening, everybody.
Speaker 8 (35:50):
Thank you John, Thank you Arihanna for representing us. I
am the third generation of the one of the founders
of the society, and my grandmother's house is the last
house that the madonna actually stops at on her way
through the park, and it's a huge tradition for us,
(36:13):
and the people who put it on do a fantastic
job personally. I live on Hathorne Street, so I'm right
one street over from Adams Street. The noise and the
smoke scared me, woke me up, woke the dog up.
I thought something was going on, walked up the street to.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
See what was going on.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
I was in shock like everybody else.
Speaker 9 (36:38):
But I feel very.
Speaker 6 (36:41):
Hurt that the mayor actually did this to us without
any warning.
Speaker 9 (36:47):
She was at no Nantam day, the village day.
Speaker 6 (36:51):
We embrace her, we respect her, we listened to her,
and this feels like a personal vendetta that she just
did it without any warning, without any conversation.
Speaker 8 (37:07):
She just went ahead and did it. Now, I was
on Chestnut Street.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
The street that was recently a whole tree fell.
Speaker 9 (37:15):
I was the next car. So if I was there
five minutes, three minutes earlier, it would have been me.
Speaker 6 (37:21):
That's the safety issue.
Speaker 9 (37:23):
So you were satisfied for sixty years a car accidents
on Adams.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
Street, Susan, I assume you were not satisfied with what
the mayor said tonight.
Speaker 9 (37:34):
Absolutely not all right to put it right, to put
the Italian flag beside the lines, Come on, you.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Know what, just leave it alone.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
You know you could have done it.
Speaker 9 (37:46):
Have the conversation for next year by the next mayor,
hopefully it's mac Laredo. But I just don't understand the
disrespect that she had for all of us in doing
that in such an un handed way.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Okay, thank you very much, Susan for your candor and
your your direct approach tonight. You are obviously still not happy.
Thank you, Thank you very much, Arianna. I'd like to
thank you for having the courage to be on tonight.
Mayor or rather city Councilor, Oliver Freudy and slipdar John,
(38:22):
thank you for being available tonight. I am going to
carry this into the next hour and I'm just gonna
go to callers. I'll let both of you go. I
hope you'll continue to listen this. This will be put
up on our podcast tomorrow, Arianna, So this can be
taken down at any point. It'll be up probably for
public consumption sometime around two o'clock this morning at nightside
(38:44):
on demand dot com, and you're welcome to use it
in whatever way you want.
Speaker 4 (38:48):
Okay, thank you, Dan.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
I think just one thing I'd like to say before
I hop off, is, you know, for us, we're still
sitting here. Why now? Why three weeks before? Why could
we not have waited? And we really hope, you know,
I will say we did reach out to the lines
company and they actually said if the mayor or the
city asked them to delay this process, they would have
done so by the end of July. So again, why
(39:10):
now for us? Is the question?
Speaker 2 (39:12):
Three?
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Weeks before our ninetieth festival. Thank you Ranch for having us.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Dan, You're very welcome. Thank you. I hope you have
a successful festival. Maybe this chip will actually generate a
greater turnout. John Oliver, thank you as well. I appreciate
you taking the time tonight.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. And I'm going to
double down on what Arianna just said.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Fair enough, now she said it. Both of you said
it well, and keep us posted. I'm more than happy
to come back to this story at some point in
the next few days or a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
Okay, fantastic, have a great night.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Thank you both very much. We've got to take a
break a little late for the news here. We'll continue
into the next hour. My name's Dan Ray.
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All right, there is a huge, huge street fight going
on in the city of Newton, and we are delighted
to be joined by a young woman who finds yourself
in the midst of this. Arianna. Proya, Arianna, welcome to
Night's Side. How are you this evening.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
I'm doing good. Thank you Dan for having me tonight.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
You are more than welcome. Thanks very much for coming on.
So you live in the no Nantum section of Newton,
one of the I think you told me there were,
is it thirteen villages in Newton, different different sections of Newton?
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Correct, there's thirteen villages of Newton, and I actually live
on Adams Street, the street we're talking about.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Okay. So Adam Street is an important street, particularly to
the Italian American community, because many of the families on
Adams Street, as I understand it, came to Newton, has
settled in Newton decades ago, decades ago, and many of
them came from the same small little village in Italy
(01:09):
called San Donado. Tell us about the characteristics of the
street in the neighborhood.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yeah, I mean this, this street, you know this neighborhood
has been a kind of a gateway to a lot
of immigrants in this city. You know, it's been that
kind of not just for Italians, but for others like
the Jewish community, like the Irish community, and now even
now the Chinese community has kind of settled here. For
us with the Italians, you know, we've been here for
(01:37):
a while, a long time, and this has been a
tight knit community and you know, we have take pride.
We have a festival that goes on that's been going
on for over ninety years. And that's really the heart
of this story is you know, the lines that were
on Adam Street have been there for about ninety years,
and you know that that is our culture, our identity
here in this neighborhood. That's how you know you're in
(01:59):
No nanta is. You see those lines on the street,
you see that guideway home, and you know it's really special.
And if you're not from around here and you know
you see it, you're out and about saying down in
Florida and someone says, oh, I'm from Loranto and then
someone will probably say, oh, you mean the area with
the where they paint the lines in Newton.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Very iconic and since this is radio, unfortunately, we have
to now explain that on this section of Adams Street
there has been for years and years and years a
white dividing line, call it a street marking. Many people
are familiar with that. And on one side of the
(02:41):
white line is a line that is red right along
Adam Street for about a half a mile. On the
other side is green, which represents the Italian flag as
well as hydrants are painted at least one that I've
seen in that tricolor of red, white and green. And
how long has it been that way?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
It's been there for ninety years. Like I said, that's
one of the main traditions, a part of our festival,
in our celebration in this neighborhood.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And the festival comes up on July sixteenth to the twentieth,
and it is it's a religious festival, but it's really
not a religious festival in that sense. It's a festival
of your culture more than anything.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
Correct, it's both, but definitely the culture of the neighborhood
and it's about family. And we have this saying here
in no Nantum that you know, you don't have to
be Italian to be a part of this festival that week.
Everyone's Italian, everyone's a part of our family, everyone's a
part of our neighborhood. And it's really bringing people together
and connecting each other and building each other up.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Okay, So last Thursday night, sometime after darkness fell, all
of a sudden, the lines, the white, green, and red
line street marking down the middle of Adams Street was
(04:04):
destroyed by whom and under what were the circumstances.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
So I live on Adam Street. So around about ten
fifteen on Thursday night, my mother actually was outside because
she heard all this noise and dust was everywhere, and
we saw this big machinery going down Adams Street, milling
the street and taking up our culture, our identity of
these red, white, and green lines. No one had any
(04:32):
idea what was going on, and come to find out
in the morning it was ordered by the City of Newton,
by the Marya's office to have these lines replaced. No
warning to our neighborhood that this is ever happening that night,
anything like that, And it came out as a real
shock in kind of disrespect to us, as we were
very surprised for this to be happening. Curious timing, very
(04:53):
curious timing. You know, we're about a little under three
weeks away from our ninetieth year as a festival, and
one of those things, like I've said a few times,
those red light and green lines are synonymous with this neighborhood,
especially during that time of year.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Was there any notice given to the neighborhood in advance? Normally,
if if something's going to happen in the in a neighborhood,
the butters, the neighbors are notified, whether it's the work
being done by National Grid or being done by ever source,
or in some cases if the neighbors putting up a
fence or a stone wall, they're obligated. Wouldn't the city
(05:29):
have given you some advanced notice? And also there was none.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Ye, there was no advance notice to this street thea butters.
I had people's streets away texting me as I'm a
resident of Autam Street, asking what's going on because they
could hear the noise. This neighborhood was completely left in
the dark that night.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Okay, this is this is frustrating because no reason has
been given, as I understand it. Have you attempted to
find out why this happened? Has your organizations attempted to
find this out.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yeah, there's been a lot of political spin on this
kind of story from the politicians from the mayor's office
in this city, saying that the festival organizers were aware
of this and that there was an agreement made upon
there was. I can say confidently I was a part
of those meetings as I am president of the Women's
Society for the festival, that in those with those meetings
with city officials, there was never any agreement made to
(06:25):
that happening or notification that that was happening. And there's
nothing in the permit so that mentions the red, white
and green lines on Adams Street being removed.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Yeah, what were these meetings all about? I mean, with
these meetings, the typical meetings you have an advance of
an event or did they say to you, hey, we're
going to rip up the street.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
We usually have meetings with the city to kind of
help plan with this event and stuff like that, to
organize our permits. But like I said, you know, there
was never any agreement or kind of official notification that
this was happening on that night, and it's not something
any of our organizations or this neighborhood would ever agree
to happening. This is, like I said, this is our
(07:05):
identity and our culture, and anyone's saying that this was
agreed upon is frankly lying.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Did the city in any of these meetings ever say
to you, hey, one of the things we are intending
to do, or one of the things we would like
to do, or one of the things that we might do.
Was there any reference whatever to because this was a
fundamental change in your neighborhood, was there any discussion about there?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
There was.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
There was conversations at a certain point early on in
the process, but eventually, actually on our village day, the
mayor and two of the officers from the Saint Mary
Carmen Society, the festival chairman and the vice president, spoke
with the Mayor's office and said, you know, from her
they related to all of us that you know, we
were going to get to yes on everything. Our traditions
were going to be able to continue on as they
(07:52):
have always done because the either organizations that have always
done good for this city.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Okay, Arianna, since I spoke with you this small Mayor Fuller,
Mayor ruth An Fuller has agreed to come on with us.
So I'd like you to stay on the line. I'm
not going to put you or the mayor in any
sort of debate format. We will get to phone calls.
I guarantee you that I want to give the mayor
an opportunity to explain what she has to her perspective
(08:18):
on it. I'm delighted that she's going to join us.
And then a little bit later on we're going to
be dealing with your city councilor, who is also very
much involved in this. John Oliver will talk to him
at nine point thirty. But i'd like you to stay
on the line because eventually I do want to get
to callers. I'm not going to give the number yet
(08:40):
because they don't want people waiting too long. People are
waiting right now, and they are more than willing to
hold their position about But I want to give the
mayor a chance and we'll talk with Mayor ruth An Fuller.
But you stay there. I want you to hear everything
the mayor says. I'm not going to have you your audio. No,
there's going to be no debate. Don't worry about that.
I just want you to audit and then you can
(09:00):
respond to what she does or does not say in
the next segment, Okay, you stay right there, We'll make this.
I'm fair all around. I'm back in just a couple
of moments here as we will continue to discuss a
controversy that has really really impacted the no nantum section
of a very proud section of Newton. There's no doubt
(09:22):
about that. We'll be talking with Mayor Ruth Ann Fuller
right after the break.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
It's night Side with Dan Ray Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
Joining us now in the middle of this street fight
is the Mayor of Newton, Ruth Anne Fuller. Mayor Fuller,
welcome to Nightside. Thanks for joining us tonight.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
How are you, Dan? It's a pleasure good heer your voice.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Well, I don't know that this old thing's been a pleasure,
that's for sure. I guess the question is what prompted
this action last Thursday? Why now, three weeks before this
festival that means so much to the folks in noon
Antem And why was it done without any advanced notice
(10:06):
under such what appears to me like cover of darkness.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
Let's break that down.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Oh yeah, I hit you with this, two or three,
take them one at a time.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Go ahead, You're asking a great question and an important question.
Turns out, Adams Street is in our top five in
Newton for crash sites. So we've got this.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Section of Adam Street. Mayor, yep, Mayor, you know that
this section of Adam Street is not the the damage.
The accident is at the intersection of Adams and lewis Terrace.
This is a relatively safe section.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Sorry, Dan, We can get to the data in between
Washington Street and Watertown Street. Adams Street is one of
those places where public safety matters and there's everywhere.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Sure, go ahead, go ahead. I don't mean to.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
No problem and to be nerdy just for a minute.
There's something called the Manual on Uniform Traffic Controlled Devices
that the Federal Highway Administration applies all across the United
States and Massachusetts and center line markings in yellow, which
(11:27):
most of us are used to have to be on
all these paved, undivided two way streets that are more
than twenty feet wide and have more than six thousand
vehicles a day on them.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
I drove down l Avenue, I drove down Kumolv Avenue
in Beacon Street in the last few days. They're more
than twenty feet wide and they're two ways. I didn't
see yellow lines on those streets.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
I look again, Dan, they do have the yellow lines
unless they're literally under construction. Look one more time next
time you're out and about. So the yellow center lines
are absolutely necessary. But the good news is what I
shared with all of our amazing volunteers at TESTA is
(12:15):
we can do both at the same time. Where the
yellow center lines are down and the amazing FESTA volunteers
every year repaint the tricolor the green, white, and red,
and we've said you are welcome to repaint again this year,
just next to the yellow line. So this could be
(12:38):
a win win. We can do both public safety and
lift up oh way.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
So just so I understand that. So what you're saying
is that it's up to the residence, not the city,
but up to the residents to paint the tricolor the red, white,
and green. Contigue us to the yellow line next to
contiguous correct and for for is.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
I think Arianna. By the way, Arianna is wonderful. I'm
so glad that she was your guest tonight. Sure this
The Saint Mary of Carmen Society volunteers since nineteen thirty
five have been painting those three green, white and red
(13:26):
lines down Adams Street, and we welcome them to do
it again this year.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Okay, but again contiguous, I just because I was told
earlier today that the offer was it could be had
to be off to the side. So it's as I think, next.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
To next to the we need the yellow line right
next to it.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
That's what you know. You and I are both lawyers,
So when I say contiguous, I mean not me.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I thought you were lawyer too, and I've got an MBA.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Okay, well, that's that's probably more valuable in a low degree.
So I'll i'll see and i'll a bow down to that.
So let me ask us why no notification to the
neighbors and why in the dark of night?
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Two things?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Dark knight?
Speaker 4 (14:10):
We always do line markings at night the city of Newton.
We don't have the technology to do it, so we
use contractors, and the contractors always do it at night time.
Probably it makes total sense to everyone. That's when there
are far fewer cars on the road, and we didn't
(14:35):
do a good job on communication. I think the fest
of folks knew that we were going to do this.
The weird thing in Massachusetts is there are only two
companies that do these are called Long Lines do Long
Line markings. So we've been in the Q waiting. They
(14:57):
let the line markings were done Thursday night. They let
us know on Wednesday that it might be Thursday night,
it might be Monday night. They didn't let us know
until Monday Thursday morning. That was Thursday night. And I'd say,
our team let our residents and our city councilors down.
(15:20):
We should have been on the horn and letting people
know what was going to happen that night.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
You know, there was no police detail that night. You're
aware of that.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
We don't usually have a police detail because it's done
late enough. It's usually ten eleven, twelve o'clock at night.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I would argue that police detail might be even more
valuable at night when people are driving home, some of
them perhaps after having had dinner and maybe a drink
or two. So let me come back to It was
a very hot night. I've seen the videotape that people took.
There was a lot of dust. There are a lot
of people who did not have air conditioning, I mean
(15:59):
from a health respective doing it at that time of night,
on that hot night, it was it was dangerous to
people's health as well, and the other one.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I'm not sure I would say it was dangerous Dan.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Video did you did you see? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (16:17):
It is noisy construction because you're you have to your
own a million.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
But if you saw the video, there was all sorts
of dust and people had their windows open. Here's a really,
I get paid money to ask dumb questions, so let
me ask a dumb questions.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
It's never a dumb question.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
Well that's what I learned in law school. But but
I'll so why not. Haves just said, look, let's put
this off until after the festival, because I think that
that would have you know, you you you've been a
good mayor. You know, I stood by you when you
when you had your disagreement a year and a half
ago when the teachers you know, basically went on for
(16:59):
about three weeks, and I admired your strength there. But
I just think that if this had been done on
July twenty first or July thirty first, it wouldn't have
been as much of a concern to this to these neighbors.
I've spoken to a lot of them, and a lot
of them are going to call in tonight, and I
just think this is an unforced era, Mayor. That's my reaction.
(17:22):
It's uncharacteristic of your administration.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
So I definitely agree that communication should have been better
if you listened carefully to Ariana. She was very careful
to say that this was discussed at length, and the
folks from FESTA never agreed whether it was before Festa
(17:49):
or after Festa to have the yellow lines. I think
this is a win win for the community because we're
going to have our green, white, and red, and we're
going to have yellow. We're going to have public safety
and tradition. And it is unfortunate that the line marking
(18:14):
companies are in such high demand. But I'm glad we've
got the yellow lines in and look forward to the green,
white and red appearing really soon.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
But that's going to be done not by the city,
well by city workers. That will be executed by the
neighbors on this stretch of By the way, the stretch
we're talking about here, just so I haven't been misled,
is about a half a mile.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
I not good with numbers, but that sounds directionally right.
And I have one more thing, let me just a
thing that we've let the volunteers do for the first time.
On Adams Street. We have a bunch of crosswalks there.
We've also said to them, why don't you consider painting
(19:05):
the crosswalks, take advantage of the white lines there and
add some green and red on either side, so we
can actually even add more of our Italian heritage and
celebrate that.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
One person today asked me, and so I'm going to
ask on behalf of them. I'll ask you the question
they asked me, and that is there are hydrants on
this section of Adams Street which are green, red and white.
No plan to change the color of the hydrants.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
I assume again what we've said to the Festa folks
and the neighbors. The hydrants can be the green, white
and red with one stipulation. But it does work for
the Italian flag colors. The white can't be on the top.
Got to be the green or the red. And we've
(19:52):
actually got a map that will I would hope would tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
I would hope the red would be on the top
because particularly in the winter time, if there was a
big snowstorm. But I just do want to come back
to the point that was made to me, and I
believe it's accurate that the accidents that you're citing now,
they may be imputed to the entirety of the street.
That might be what the government says, But my understanding
(20:22):
is that this state of accidents are not on this
stretch of contested Adams Street. They're in an area further up,
actually not even in Nonantum in Newtonville, at the intersection
of Adams in lewis Terrace. And I don't know.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
My understanding is this stretch includes a whole bunch of crashes.
But look forward to letting the engineers look over street
by street, crash by crash.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Okay, that's fine. I just I got a chance to
get that in and I appreciate it very much. Appreciate
you coming on. Most mayors would not come on. I've
asked you what I consider to be the most tough,
difficult questions. I think it was mishandled, Mayor, and I
think that for you to admit mistakes were made, communication
was inadequate is probably the first steps of solving this problem.
(21:20):
I'm going to be talking with the City Council of
John Oliver in a in a couple of minutes, and
then we're going to take phone calls. I agreed not
to put you in the situation where you had to
deal with anyone other than me, and I thank you
for doing it tonight. And as they say generally, I
think as a resident of Newton, you've worked very hard
for the city of Newton, and I think this is
(21:42):
just one. We all make mistakes, and if this works
out to the satisfaction of everyone, then then maybe we
can maybe you can turn this around. I'm simply a reporter,
but I appreciate it very much. You haven't the.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
Last word. Go ahead, please, everybody who's listening, come to
the village of no Nantum July sixteenth through July twentieth.
It's a Wednesday through Sunday. Food, fun, family rides, music,
It's a wonderful festival put on by the volunteers of
(22:19):
the Saint Mary of Common Society. Come to Newton.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
All right, thanks very much. Mayor Ruth dan Fuller, the
mayor of Newton. She is leaving the office in January,
and this is probably a dust up that she could
have been avoided. But she's handling it. And you heard
everything she had to say. And I really appreciate you
taking my questions and going beyond the statement thanks again, Mayor.
(22:46):
You did have the last four Dan, all right, talk soon,
Thanks very much. We will take a break. We got
the news coming up. Right after that, we're going to
talk about city councilor John Oliver, and then we're going
to take questions. Arianna will join us, John Oliver will
join us questions, and we may go into the next hour.
That will depend upon the number of phone calls. My
audience always determines what we talk about here on Nightside.
(23:10):
We'll be back right after the news break at the
bottom of the hour.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
We're joined by City Council Newton City Council John Oliver,
who represents the No Nantum section which is the the
middle of this controversy. Also, we're bringing Arianna Proye back. Arianna,
and welcome back. Thank you for standing by so we
could have the mayor coucher. Did you get a chance
(23:40):
to listen to the interview with Mayor Fuller? I have, yes. Okay,
How satisfied are you with the concessions that she seems
to be willing to make at this point?
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Well, I think I heard a couple of things that
I haven't heard before, and I'm glad to hear that.
I'm glad, for example, to hear that she's acknowledging that,
you know, there were there were some mistakes here. I
think that not including the neighborhood, not including their representatives
(24:14):
in this conversation was it was more than an oversight.
I think anyone who has spent you know, ten minutes
in uh in No Nantum or the lake would understand
that this would be somewhat of a powder keg type
of an issue. And I'm glad to hear saying, you know,
(24:37):
she should have included more people in the conversation. And
and I'll add probably should have done that six months
six plus months ago.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Yeah, I don't think there are answer on the timing
and the circumstances I've saw. I've seen the video that
apparently some residents took, and that looked like a nasty
evening on Adams Street in terms of hot temperatures, you know,
(25:08):
dust everywhere.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
Yeah, and I do think that, you know, the the
the element to me that was really striking when I
saw the video and someone sent it to me Thursday night,
and it took me a minute to understand really what
I was looking at. But the part to me that
really stuck out was the traffic trying to either back
(25:33):
up to, you know, go around you know, this machinery,
or to pass it in one particular case, you know,
on the side of the road. So it was, yeah,
it was a bit kind of a you know, I've
been using the firm head scratcher quite a bit over
the past few days.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Let's do this. We have Arianna on the line with us,
and I know that she appreciates your support. Arianna, are
you back with us? Us?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
I am here, Dan, Thank you, Hi John, Ariana.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Do you want to react to what the mayor had
to say? I thought that that it was interesting that
that the the new line can be contiguous with the
yellow line, and that she's talking about maybe crosswalks, and
that fire hydrants would not be impacted.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Did any of that I definitely want to respond to that.
You know, the community, you know from why I don
do myself. This community doesn't want a consolation prize or
some like kind of pity party appeasement. They don't want
to put it to the side of the road near
the gutter. It's kind of putting our traditions in the gutter.
You know, we really want the acknowledgment from her that
(26:49):
this decision hurt a lot of people in this community
that she might not be able to fully understand. But
we got to be able to work to fill this
community by giving them the tradition back fully down the middle,
like in years past, like worked with the city before.
And I also do want to just respond to the fact,
you know, she said she notified best of people. You know,
I am that I live on Adams Street. I'm one
(27:09):
of those kind of people. I'm the president of the
Woman's Society. You know, I work with the Men's Society.
There was no communication about that happening on that night,
no notification, And so I.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Just want to say that I pressed her on the
issue of it being contiguous because someone had told me
today that the offer that had been made was off
to the side. Contiguous means to me, next to a buddy,
That's what the word contiguous means. Yeah, and I think
she was pretty clear she did not waffle on that question.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Yeah, correct. And you know, she kind of mentioned this
federal regulation that's been on the books. You know, it's
not a law, it's a recommendation, but it's also been
on the books for about thirty years. So for us,
our question is why now the selective, kind of secretive
enforcement that happened on that Thursday night, with the lack
of kind of communication in this enforcement. Now it's been
(28:08):
a real It's like John said, Haadscratcher Fross.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Okay, let's let's get to some phone calls. Folks have
been very patient. I'm willing to take this into the
next hour. If people want to talk about it. Let
me go to Elizabeth in Newton. Elizabeth, thank you for
your patients. You were on with Arianna Proya and city
Council John Oliver.
Speaker 5 (28:30):
Great, good evening. Nice to chat with you guys. Thanks
for having me on.
Speaker 6 (28:33):
Welcome. I'm thanks.
Speaker 5 (28:36):
I'm a resident of Ward two and totally hear both
sides of this. But listen, I love festa, I love
the tradition, and I have to say Mayor Fuller's approach
seems reasonable. It seems like a real win win, and
you can have safety with a little yellow lines and
(28:57):
still have the flag represented. And so this honestly feels
like a pretty good compromise.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
I think.
Speaker 5 (29:02):
Just remember, public safety is not separate from community celebration.
Speaker 6 (29:06):
It's what makes it possible.
Speaker 2 (29:08):
So let me get let me, let me get John.
So you were satisfied with what the mayor had to say, John,
h Arianna has weighed in on this. Your your reaction
what the mayor had to say. Again, what what I
was concerned about was, we're and again I'm not a
(29:28):
resident of no Nantum, I'm not Italian, I'm not a
member of the organization. But she said to me contiguous,
which means to me, next to the yellow line. And
I don't see there be any reason why you couldn't have, uh,
two stretched strips of red, white, and green on either
side of the yellow line. I should have asked her
(29:49):
that one. Your thoughts, John, Yeah, and so.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
I think this is probably the crux of it. So
I have many thoughts, but I'll try and uh I
and be quick here. I agree that safety and celebration
certainly go hand in hand. I don't think that what
we're really talking about here, like I keep hearing this
term all of a sudden, that we're in a win
(30:16):
win situation. I significantly disagree with that statement. Uh. I
think that what we need to find is that win
win situation. I think I heard a step in that
direction tonight the the you know, hey, we we should
have been talking to more people. And I'll add, you know,
(30:37):
earlier in the process. I heard that from the marriage
just recently, that that's the first step. I'm going to
get some people in a room. I suggest we get
some people in a room and and you know, like
like your college just said, let's find that win win,
because right now we we have quite a few people
(31:01):
who wouldn't agree with that statement, and I think that
we need a heck of a lot more people agreeing
that we have a win win here.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
All right, fair enough, Elizabeth, thank you for the call.
I've got packed lines, so I'd love to get to
some more folks as well. Appreciate you taking the time, Elizabeth.
Thank you. There goes Elizabeth. Okay, you can leave them
up Rob to say goodbye at the end. Joan is
in Newton. Joan, you were next on night Side with
Arianna Proya, who represents her position, and Newton City Councilor
(31:30):
John Oliver.
Speaker 7 (31:31):
Go ahead, Joan, thank you so much for taking the call.
I just want to say, you know, I've lived in
the Nomanthem community for about fifteen years now, and I
was really embraced by people like Fatty PELLOGREENI the whole
Pellegreeney family is embedded in the community, and I just
think that as a resident is someone who has been
(31:52):
treated so kindly moving in not too long ago, that
this is just a slap in the face to all
of the men and women that devote themselves to all
of us and all of the things that they do
for us. They're always in the parks cleaning up on
their own time. It's not city workers doing it, it's volunteers,
and I just feel that I'm hurt for them that
(32:14):
I feel like they deserve so much better. And I
understand what the mayor is saying about safety, I really do.
But I've lived here for sixteen years and those yellow
lines were never there before, and I just find it
a little funny that it's happening now. It just doesn't
(32:36):
make sense. And to be honest, I feel like there's
a lot of biases against no Nanton because we have
the lowest median income of the whole city. And I
think that if we were talking about Chestnut Hill or Wobbin,
I think it will be a really different situation right now.
And that's what I'm disappointed in is the lack of
respect for the people that do a lot for all
(32:59):
of us, right, and I think that they're ow a
genuine apology.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
Sorry, well, well, said Joan, Ariana or counselor all of
a quick response to what Joan had to say.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Joan, I completely agree with what you're saying. I think
one of the things I just add in is, like,
you know, when it comes to other parts of the
city with different socio economic backgrounds, you know, the wealthier
area might understand this area because we are more of
a working class, right, there can tend to be somewhat
of an unconscious bias against the different socio economics discrepancies.
(33:33):
But you know, they don't know how this has affected
our lived experiences and how it will continue because these
are our traditions.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Counsel, right, I agree with you, counsole you quick.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
I think Arihannas said it very well. I think really
the what this comes down to is we have a neighborhood,
one of one of you know, one of thirteen villages
here in Newton that is uh, feeling neglected, feeling confused,
feeling kind of you know, disrespected, I think is a
(34:08):
good word. And at the end of the day. That
is not acceptable. So we need again, we need to
get some people around the table and talk this out.
You know, I feel like there are facts being kicked around,
or at least, you know, issues being or comments being
presented as facts, and I haven't had enough time to
(34:33):
go through all the details here and figure things out.
But it's all kind of behind us now. You know.
Decisions were made and whether you like them or you
don't like them, we are where we are and we
need to fix we need we need to get some
people around the room and truly listening to each other
so that we can find again, Like I don't want
to be a broken record, but that's okay.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
We reach it loud and clear. We read it loudly
and clearly. John, thank you for your call. Oh, I
appreciate it very much. We will continue with more conversation
on this issue. Remember again, the festival is still more
than more than two weeks away. Our number if you'd
like to join the conversation six months, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty Back on Nightside right after this with more
(35:17):
phones and phone calls and conversation with Arianna Proyer, who's
one of the organizers of the festival, an outspoken critic
of what happened last Thursday, and Newton City Councilor John Oliver,
who represents no Nantum, coming right back on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
You're on night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Okay, we're tired on time. We'll try to get people
here quickly, very quickly. Susan and Newton. Susan next on Nightside,
Go right ahead. I know you've waited a while. Go ahead, Susan.
Speaker 6 (35:48):
Hi, good evening, everybody.
Speaker 8 (35:50):
Thank you John, Thank you Arihanna for representing us. I
am the third generation of the one of the founders
of the society, and my grandmother's house is the last
house that the madonna actually stops at on her way
through the park, and it's a huge tradition for us,
(36:13):
and the people who put it on do a fantastic
job personally. I live on Hathorne Street, so I'm right
one street over from Adams Street. The noise and the
smoke scared me, woke me up, woke the dog up.
I thought something was going on, walked up the street to.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
See what was going on.
Speaker 3 (36:36):
I was in shock like everybody else.
Speaker 9 (36:38):
But I feel very.
Speaker 6 (36:41):
Hurt that the mayor actually did this to us without
any warning.
Speaker 9 (36:47):
She was at no Nantam day, the village day.
Speaker 6 (36:51):
We embrace her, we respect her, we listened to her,
and this feels like a personal vendetta that she just
did it without any warning, without any conversation.
Speaker 8 (37:07):
She just went ahead and did it. Now, I was
on Chestnut Street.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
The street that was recently a whole tree fell.
Speaker 9 (37:15):
I was the next car. So if I was there
five minutes, three minutes earlier, it would have been me.
Speaker 6 (37:21):
That's the safety issue.
Speaker 9 (37:23):
So you were satisfied for sixty years a car accidents
on Adams.
Speaker 2 (37:29):
Street, Susan, I assume you were not satisfied with what
the mayor said tonight.
Speaker 9 (37:34):
Absolutely not all right to put it right, to put
the Italian flag beside the lines, Come on, you.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Know what, just leave it alone.
Speaker 6 (37:45):
You know you could have done it.
Speaker 9 (37:46):
Have the conversation for next year by the next mayor,
hopefully it's mac Laredo. But I just don't understand the
disrespect that she had for all of us in doing
that in such an un handed way.
Speaker 2 (38:01):
Okay, thank you very much, Susan for your candor and
your your direct approach tonight. You are obviously still not happy.
Thank you, Thank you very much, Arianna. I'd like to
thank you for having the courage to be on tonight.
Mayor or rather city Councilor, Oliver Freudy and slipdar John,
(38:22):
thank you for being available tonight. I am going to
carry this into the next hour and I'm just gonna
go to callers. I'll let both of you go. I
hope you'll continue to listen this. This will be put
up on our podcast tomorrow, Arianna, So this can be
taken down at any point. It'll be up probably for
public consumption sometime around two o'clock this morning at nightside
(38:44):
on demand dot com, and you're welcome to use it
in whatever way you want.
Speaker 4 (38:48):
Okay, thank you, Dan.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
I think just one thing I'd like to say before
I hop off, is, you know, for us, we're still
sitting here. Why now? Why three weeks before? Why could
we not have waited? And we really hope, you know,
I will say we did reach out to the lines
company and they actually said if the mayor or the
city asked them to delay this process, they would have
done so by the end of July. So again, why
(39:10):
now for us? Is the question?
Speaker 2 (39:12):
Three?
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Weeks before our ninetieth festival. Thank you Ranch for having us.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Dan, You're very welcome. Thank you. I hope you have
a successful festival. Maybe this chip will actually generate a
greater turnout. John Oliver, thank you as well. I appreciate
you taking the time tonight.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. And I'm going to
double down on what Arianna just said.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Fair enough, now she said it. Both of you said
it well, and keep us posted. I'm more than happy
to come back to this story at some point in
the next few days or a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
Okay, fantastic, have a great night.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Thank you both very much. We've got to take a
break a little late for the news here. We'll continue
into the next hour. My name's Dan Ray.
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