July 14, 2025 • 39 mins
Residents of the heavily Italian American Nonantum neighborhood in Newton are still not satisfied over the Italian flag lane lines on Adams Street. Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller told Newton residents and listeners on NightSide that the lines were painted over yellow due to safety concerns but said the festival volunteers and residents are welcome to repaint the lines contiguous to the yellow lines before the start of the St. Mary of Carmen Society Festival that begins this week. For many residents, that isn’t good enough with more than 2,200 residents taking up a petition to bring back the originally placed Italian lines before the festival. Gina Fiandaca, former Secretary & CEO for MassDOT & former Commissioner of Transportation for the city of Boston, wrote an open letter calling on the city of Newton and the Newton Mayor to replace the lines in full, not as a side feature.
*Mayor Ruthanne Fuller has not yet replied to our invitation to join in on the conversation again on NightSide*
*Mayor Ruthanne Fuller has not yet replied to our invitation to join in on the conversation again on NightSide*
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's night Sime with Dan Ray.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm telling you Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
We talked last hour about this a contra tomp. For
those of you who speak French, you know that is
a little bit of a kerfuffle. But to people in Newton,
in the Nonantum area, it's much more than a kerfuffle
or a contra tomp. It is an absolute insult to
(00:29):
their cultural heritage. And I, for the life of me,
am having difficulty understanding this. So I'm hoping perhaps that
some of you might be able to enlighten me on this. Now.
For those of you who are listening around the country tonight,
Newton is a suburb of Boston. It's a city of
about one hundred thousand people. It's a big city Boston
(00:53):
only by day has about seven hundred and fifty or
by night has seven hundred and fifty thousand people, as
more than a million people, I'm sure during the day,
well maybe not quite now with COVID, uh you know
the follow from COVID. But so so, we have a
mayor who, as she's finishing her last term in office,
she has chosen not to run for reelection.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
She will be succeeded by another mayor, you know, someone else.
Uh in Uh in January, in an election. Uh. And
it just to me boggles my mind that as you
head out the door, after fairly successful tenure as mayor,
(01:37):
she was elected, re elected, elected, and re elected. Uh
and gonna pick a fight with a section of the
city which is very proud not it's you know, like
most sections of most cities. The city's a mix.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
There.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Used to be in Boston you would have the North
End which was virtually all Italian, in East Boston virtually
all Italian, and those communities change over time. But but
this is a fight that the mayor did not have
to pick. First of all, the road was milled and
(02:16):
they bring in big machines that tear the the asphalt
up and then lay you know, laid down you know,
asphalt and painted it. So it was done intentionally. It
was done under the cover of darkness. We talked about
it a couple of weeks ago. And Uh, I don't
know if there have been similar situations in other communities,
(02:38):
but uh, the Italian American community and I don't happen
to be Italian American, Okay, but it seems to me
that Newton, which which presents itself to the world as
a welcoming city, certainly to New England. It's a welcoming
(02:59):
city and it's making a statement that we welcome people.
It doesn't call herself a sanctuary city, but it calls
itself a welcoming city, which I think is a lovely term.
To be honest with you. I mean, who wouldn't want
to live in a welcoming city. But now the mayor
going out the door has decided that amongst her final
(03:24):
acts will be the destruction of this heritage. The festival
will go on. I don't know if people will be
more interested in attending the festival as a result of this.
I did play for you last hour when I interviewed
the mayor a couple of weeks ago, two weeks ago tonight,
(03:46):
she said, well, they can repaint the three colors of
the Italian flag red, white, and green. But I pressed her,
and I'm going to play that SoundBite one more time,
which is just to get you ready, Rob. It's cut
number twenty three, where I pressed her and said, you
(04:09):
know this would be contiguous. This is you're going to
leave the yellow the two yellow lines there. Okay, fine,
that's your win, but you're going to they're going to
allow the residents to repaint the colors in the street.
Will it be contiguous contiguous? I should look up the
word contiguous, because I know what contiguous means. You know
(04:31):
what contiguous means, and I think the mayor also knows
what the word contiguous means. Uh, And it simply means
something that is immediately next to something. So I wanted
to make sure that it was clear that we were
talking about something that was Yeah, here's here's the let
(04:53):
me get you the definition sharing a common border, touching
the forty eight contiguous states next or together in sequence. Okay,
pretty clear what that means. Okay, touching or connected throughout.
So this is the SoundBite in which she did not say, well,
(05:15):
I didn't quite say contiguous. She agrees with it. It's
as simple as that, Rob, Go ahead and play that
cut for me. Twenty three.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Please we can do both at the same time. Where
the yellow center lines are down and the amazing fest
of volunteers every year repaint the trycolor the green, white,
and red, and we've said you are welcome to repaint
again this year, just next to the yellow line. So
(05:46):
this could be a win win. We can do both
public safety and lift up.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Okay, So just so I understand that. So what you're
saying is that it's up to the resident, not the city,
but up to the residents to paint the tri color
the red, white, and green contiguous to the yellow line
next to contiguous, correct, right right, pretty clear to me. Now.
(06:19):
A release today dated Monday, July fourteenth, today twenty twenty five,
the Mayor's Newton Update. She talks about the ninetieth annual
Italian American Festival in No Nanum, affectionately known as Festa,
which starts Wednesday, two days from now. It starts about
forty eight hours from now. Before the city painted the
(06:40):
reflective yellow center lines, we gave permission to the Festa
volunteers to again this year repaint the tricolors on Adams
Street prior to Fester just moved over by twelve inches
or eighteen inches next to the double yellow center lines
once at twelve or eighteen inches away, not contiguous. Jay
(07:06):
is in Newton. Hey, Jay, welcome. You are first off
this hour and nightside. And I hope to hear from
some people both in and out of Newton on this
because I think this deserves a little more discussion because
guess what, I like people who try to fight city hall.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Go ahead, Jake Hi Dan.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
First of all, welcome back. I hope you had a
great vacation and happy birthday.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Thank you from.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
SO.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
I was listening earlier and I forgot the woman's name,
but she mentioned that Adams Street is getting patrolled now
every thirty minutes, and I thought that was interesting because
I was at a meeting with the Newton police chief,
who happened to be a very gracious guy, and he
was talking about, well, the comment had nothing to do
(07:53):
with Adams Street, but you know certain areas could they
get more of visibility by police And he says they're
doing the best they can, but they only have ten
to twelve officers during the day and eight officers on
the night shift. So if they're getting thirty minutes, I
mean every thirty minutes on Adams Street with only eight
(08:16):
officers and there's eighteen square miles at Newton, that really
says they've been given a directive from the mayor. I
want this place on watch because there's so many areas
and no.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Remember that on the night that the that the street
was milled and the colors of the Italian flag were erased.
It was done under the cover of darkness, and the
police were not notified. My understanding is there were no police.
Speaker 6 (08:50):
Yes that I understand, but that would be a little
bit different because that would have been a detail that
they would have had to put out, you know, for
a big so to speak.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
But they still don't on people. What I was trying
to say, and I meant to interrupt you, and I apologize,
so I'm not going to cut you off. I just
want to make sure that I make the point that
if all of a sudden, you're doing road work on
a street in Newton at ten thirty at night, and
you're milling the road, there's a lot of people who
are driving home at night, you know, who maybe have
(09:22):
had dinner and perhaps a drink or two, or maybe
three or four, and you would think that they would
make sure that those folks, you know, that they would
be a police detail out there that night. So no
detail the night that the work was done. And now
if indeed maybe thirty minutes, maybe it's overstated. I don't know.
(09:45):
I can't tell you what the call was said, but
I think the point you're making is a good one.
Speaker 6 (09:50):
Go right ahead, Yeah, I mean, you know, because, like
I said, the conversation was about, you know, better visibility
at a certain areas there's you know, four way stop
signs and whatnot, and the chief was, you know, very
sympathetic to it. But that's when you explain, well, we
can't really do much at night because we only have
eight officers you know, on patrol. And so if you
(10:12):
only have eight and you've got you know, someone able
to go up and down every thirty minutes, every forty
five minutes on Adams Street at night, what other areas
are you know, not being covered and safety is supposed
to be the reason for it.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
The other thing too, correct me if I'm wrong. You
live in Newton, I do as well. But I've led
to believe that Newton is a population of close to
one hundred thousand. Am I correct on that if I
overstated it is?
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Yeah, Newton's about one hundred thousand people, and right now,
according to the chief, there's one hundred and twenty three
police officers.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Yeah, well, I think that they need more police in
the city of that size.
Speaker 6 (10:51):
Will have becomes a budget issue, but.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
You know, h yeah, no, of course it does. But
it just seems to me that when you try to
staff up shifts over the course of a week that
has one hundred and sixty eight hours, you you know,
you you have a lot of people. You don't have
enough people in my opinion. But that's yeah, you're right.
(11:15):
I'm not a I'm not a finance guy. He jay
appreciate who am I?
Speaker 7 (11:21):
My mother?
Speaker 6 (11:21):
Will a test? You help one?
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Well? My math teachers would attest to you, Thank you
so much. Appreciate it. Jack.
Speaker 8 (11:27):
You have a great night, you too.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Six one, seven, two, five, four, ten thirty.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Those are the only lines that are open. The other
six one, seven, nine, three, one ten thirty is UH
is full. But six one, seven, two, five, four to
ten thirty is wide open. And if you want to
talk about this, great, If not, we can move on
to some other topic. I think it's a good topic.
And I hope that the publicity uh increases negative publicity,
(11:55):
but it increases the number of people who will make
themselves available. And we'll attend some one of the days
or nights of this festival in Newton. We'll be back
on Nightside right after this. You're on night Side with
Dan ray On Bzy, Boston's news Radio. Back to the
(12:16):
phones we go. Let's go to Grant in Belmont. Hi, Grant, welcome,
How are you tonight?
Speaker 8 (12:21):
I'm well Dan. How are you doing?
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Just great? What's your take on all of this? You
live in Belmont?
Speaker 8 (12:27):
Yeah, Dan, you know I live in Belmont. I was
actually down at the protest in front of Newton City
Hall night that one of your callers was talking about.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yes, Janet mentioned that, yep, yeah.
Speaker 8 (12:37):
And my great grandfather built a house on Adam's Court
down the lake in the nineteen twenties, so it's a
place close to my home, and that's why I wanted
to go down to the protest and see what was
going on.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Well, what was your impression of the protest tonight and
what's your impression of this this kerfuffle.
Speaker 8 (12:57):
Well, I speak to my nana who grew up down
the lake once a week, and she was in tears
earlier this week when I told her the lines hadn't
been repainted. So when I went down to Adams Street
last night, I did see the police details driving around,
and when I went to the protest, what I realized
is this was about more than paint on a road.
(13:20):
This was Americana that Norman Rockwell or Winflowholmer could only
hope to capture living and breathing and being erased before
our eyes. And I just felt hopeless, and I wanted
to do something well.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
By going to the event tonight was important. At the
same time, Newton advertises itself as a welcoming city. I
don't find this to be welcoming in the least.
Speaker 8 (13:57):
It has a sting of unwelcoming. I almost said cruelty,
but it has this sting of exclusion. This is a
very prideful community that could have abandoned the lake when
those factories left in the forties and fifties, but they didn't.
They stayed there. They built churches and homes and restaurants
(14:19):
and synagogues, and that should be celebrated, not censored.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Oh Man, so Well, said Grant. I don't know if
you ever called my show before, but I want you
to become a regular caller. That was just it was
almost poetic in what in what you had to say
on this one. I can feel in your voice the
depth of your concern about this, even though you're somebody
who no longer resides in But I'll tell you you've
(14:48):
you said it so well. I just want to thank
you for calling.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
Thanks Dan, and I'm going to head down there tomorrow
and I hope those lines are on the road, So
thanks very much.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Oh do me keep me posted and continue. You have
you called the show before? Is this your first time?
Speaker 8 (15:02):
We did have a prior discussion many moons ago, Dan,
I forget the topic.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well that's okay, I do too. I would only suggest
don't wait too long to make your next to all
the night's side. Okay, thanks Greg. We enjoy hearing on
familiar voices, but you also enjoy hearing new voices, so
thank you so much. And sometimes you don't call that
frequently I mistake you as a new voice, So thanks
so much.
Speaker 8 (15:26):
Thanks Dan. Good welcome.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Let's keep going here. Let me go to Jim in Missouri. Jim,
you were next on nice side.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Go ahead, man, thanks for taking my call. How you
doing doing great?
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Jim? What's on your mind?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Welcome back. I'm glad you had a seven day vacation,
well a lother than that, it.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Was about eleven days I was able to work, or yeah,
I think it was technically eleven days, so it was okay,
go right ahead.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
All right, Well, I've never been to either one of
the towns you're talking about, but I've been listening quite
a bit to what people are saying. And first of all,
I will say that based on what Gina said and
I left their voicemail about it previously. But I mean,
(16:14):
there are standards, and based based on what I heard
about the road, if you don't have those, if you
don't have that road mark just right, somebody crosses that
center line and there's a mishap, the town or the
city or the county could be held partially liable for
being out of substantial compliance with road standards.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
No, I get I get that. But but here's the deal.
The road was in that condition for decades, decades. This
mayor is finishing her eighth year in office.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I got it. I already heard that. I know that.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
That is that uh uh. Let's assume that she said, Okay,
we got to change it. Yeah, that festivals coming in
a couple of weeks. Let's let's let's deal with it
for a couple of weeks, and then on next Monday,
after the festival is over, we'll go in there and
we'll mill the road and put in the yellow lines.
I mean, at the timing of its stinks, Jim. That's
(17:20):
all I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Okay, I get that, you know, Uh, you know, I'm
not saying anything about that. But here's the other thing
that I think maybe we may all be missing. And
I don't know. I didn't hear what the mayor her
exact tone of voice, in the way she said, what
you say. She said about repainting the lines. Uh, just
slightly contiguous, but slightly in a different place. It's real simple.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
She put yellow lines down the No.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
It's not I don't think you. I don't think you.
I mean there is a possibility here that you're misinterpreting
what she said. It sounds to me like what she's
saying is that you could paint those same lines, just
as you're saying, paint the green one down the middle,
the white one on the one side, and then the
(18:11):
red one on the other side. Well, sounds like you
could do that. Or has anybody asked, because anybody asked, Jim,
Has anybody asked the mayor?
Speaker 1 (18:21):
I did two weeks ago. I did two weeks ago, Jim.
I understand the language pretty well. The word you would
just simply again the word contiguous is pretty pretty clear.
It means next to it.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Did you ask her?
Speaker 8 (18:38):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (18:38):
I did? I want we played for you again?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Yeah, I didn't hear. I listened to her, but I
didn't hear that part.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Well, here we go play it one more time here
for a special dedication going out to gym in Kansas City.
Rob let us play for Jim. We played it a
little earlier, but this has cut twenty three.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
We can do us at the same time where the
yellow center lines are down and the amazing fest of
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
(19:21):
a win win. We can do both public safety and
lift up.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Okay, 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 contiguous to the yellow line, next to contiguous, correct,
(19:48):
right next to contiguous. Okay. Today they released a statement
out of city Hall in Newton Gym, which again I
don't expect you to have read, but basically saying they
want this now moved over by twelve to eighteen inches.
That's you know, that's not contiguous, simple as that, Jim.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Okay, well no, because the yellow lines would be about
twelve inches in total, the distance between one. I think
it may be that we're all just misinterpreted.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
What Jim, I think you got it right. I got
it wrong, and all the call has got it wrong.
So you know you've you've enlightened me on this one.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Why why don't you just go Why don't you just
go out there and paint the lines like you want
to paint them and see what she does about it.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Well, Jim, you know I'm not going to paint the lines.
I don't live in that community. I'm not a member
of the community. But thank you for adding adding, appreciate
your call. I got to run because here's the news.
Thank you, Thank you. Talk to you soon, Okay, folks.
(20:55):
I think contiguous is pretty clear. Okay, now, I don't.
I'm not trying to be a stickler here, But if
someone wants to find me a different de dictionary with
a different definition of condiguous, let's have at it. Newton
feel free to join the conversation and if you are
anywhere abroad in the land, you are welcome as well.
(21:17):
This is about some people standing up to city hall.
And guess what, I like that. I like people when
they feel they're right. They're doing it peacefully. No one
is throwing rocks, no one is firing any you know,
throwing rocks or anything like that. This is a peaceful protest.
(21:39):
But these folks are quite upset, as I think you
can tell. Here are the number six one, seven, two, five,
four ten thirty or six one seven, nine three one
ten thirty. If this interests you, you're invited to call.
If it doesn't interest you, I'm sorry, it interests the
heck out of me. I love a story like this.
We'll be back on Night Side. It's nice side on.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Foston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
All right, back we go. Jay is in Newton. Jay,
you were next on NIGHTSID welcome hey.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Top of I even into you there, Dan. How are
you welcome back?
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Thank you very much, nice to be back.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Yeah, we spoke going back a while ago. And I
try to be disarming and not put up fences. I
like the way you're very disarming yourself and just look
at issues in life. And so I wanted to tie
two or three things together tonight if I could.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
I have experience with work on the road, and so
I just wanted to present some from a legal perspective
and then the moral perspective of just issues in life,
to try to get people to think, like, hmm, what
happens here now? I remember these guys from I was
involved with Department of Transportation. I remember this guy coming
(22:59):
by saying, Hey.
Speaker 8 (23:00):
I own this road, I could do what I want.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
I say, well, you're out of line, it's illegal. I'll
have your job. So I was like, I didn't worry
about it, because the law is there to protect the innocent.
They had my job. I still didn't worry about it
because when I got let go, somebody else picked me
up and said, this is the kind of thing that
has the right flavor to it that we can use
somebody who has respect for the law. So saying that
(23:25):
and go into the second.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Thing, Well, let me let me tell you. Let me
just stat abrupt for a second. Who will you let
go by? Will you let go by the city of
Is this directly related to the city of Newton or not?
Or you we let go by a different company.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Different this department of Transportation is statewide.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Okay. So okay, so is the state agency not the
city of Newton. I just wanted to make just want
to make that clear. Okay. So so you still done, Principal.
You you landed on your feet. That's good.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
And where I want to go with that is this
most people, this is like an insight to try it again,
to disarm everybody. I like everybody to just get along.
And so, because there's this power struggle in life, this
guy says, Hey.
Speaker 8 (24:09):
I own the road, I could do what I want.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Well, really, the law says, and this is what most
people are not aware of a double yellow line on
any road in the United States of America. I'm not
talking the state Department of Transportation, but there's a federal
code nationwide and it's controlled and written and administered by
the US Army Corps of Engineers. So the state means nothing.
(24:36):
In other words, they have to comply with the US
Army Corps of Engineers because of national defense, national security.
Where there's that when that yellow line goes down, that
jurisdiction belongs to the US Army Corps of Engineers. That
I know because I was injured on a road and
then they said, hey, you know, we can come in here.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Let me just say this, Jay, if the mayor wanted
to adopt the position that you've just articulated, I could.
I could understand that position, But the position that she
has adopted has adopted is simply confusing at best and
maybe belligerent at worst.
Speaker 9 (25:24):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
So that's part of the third thing. That we have
the exaltation of the will of man in direct opposition
to the law of the land.
Speaker 8 (25:32):
So if the law.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Violates the morality of the people, that a government by
the people and for the people shall not be abolished
from the earth. So you have this moral kind of
issue where it's like, hey, what do we do here
if the law stinks not people do ever?
Speaker 4 (25:47):
Right?
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Well, yeah, And I also think I'm more interested. I
understand the point you're making, but I'm really more interested
in if she if she really felt that this was
a a problem from a public safety point of view,
which she alludes to it but doesn't quite embrace. Why
(26:08):
did it take seven and a half years of her,
you know, time as mayor. I just felt that I
was pretty clear with her the other night that and
she said, this has been a win win we can
have the tricolors painted next to and I said, and
I basically pushed her and said, when you say next to,
(26:29):
you mean contiguous. You know, you might be sitting next
to me at Fenway Park three seats between us. Okay,
these seats are empties, but you're really sitting next to me.
But if we sit in you know, row row one,
see three and four, we're contiguous. There's no one between us.
You know, we're elbow and elbow. That's what the word
(26:50):
contiguous means. I was frustrated with what I thought was
less than you know, if she wanted to say no,
it won't be contiguous, she could have, but she said contiguous.
She agreed to that, and now the town is saying
twelve to eighteen inches and it's just been confusing. It's
almost seems to me as if it's been intentionally confusing
(27:12):
to these folks in Newton. So I'm standing with the
people on this one. I know the mayor, she's a
decent person, she was on the show two weeks ago.
I just feel that on this one she's wrong. And
as a as a journalist, one of the creeds of
journalism is you try to tell you the truth as
(27:34):
you see it. That's how I see it. If I'm wrong,
so be it.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
So's the third thing to tie together. If I get
that extra moment where you think so much today, I
always love your You got a healthy bounce. Excuse me,
I don't smoke. I guess I should start here.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Yeah, that would take you that go ahead. Yeah we're
getting tied here in time, but go ahead, Jay finish up.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
So from a moral standpoint a long time ago and
I re check in with you. I like the part
where it's like, well, animals go to heaven and the
reason being is because with God being the judge, the
animals are not able to make a choice what's right
what's wrong. They're provided for by a sixth sense called nature.
So with society, we think who we are the guy
(28:17):
on the Department of Transportation, Uh, somebody laying down the line,
somebody moving the line, somebody saying, you know, things have
to be this way because I said so. I think
society is losing a loose cannon now when it comes
to morality, and you know, we just we want to
be in control and not in any respect for the
(28:38):
law or any respect for the majority. When the people
speak up. So living in periblus times, and I'm glad
you're in there to be the voice of common and
passioned reason.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
God bless you.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Thanks for your service, and I totally all animals go
to heaven.
Speaker 10 (28:52):
Love you man, good night and a good week.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Let me get Lola in here before we Lola, I'm
not going to make you wait.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
You right ahead, okay, Dan. So I'm about three quarters
of a mile from No Nantum. I grew up going
over the ast to the Italian you know, the bread
place and all this hint. When I came home this time,
I wrote. I went down Adams Street and I saw
that double yellow solottle line and I'm like, how do
(29:22):
you how do you make a left hand turn if
you're going noth or how do you make a right
hand turn because it's a double solid yellow line and
you're not supposed to cross the double solid yellow line.
And I'm like, with the white, red and green line,
go so you know, you like you get on everything,
You bring everything to everyone's attention. And I'm like, I
(29:45):
didn't really realize what was going on, but I knew
the line was gone, and I'm like this this to me,
this to me, in my opinion, is immigration discrimination and
putting fea and making people said and less than and
whatever else you want to put under that umbrella.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
I just think it's I'll say, Lola, I'll be interested
if you agree with me or not. But and again,
you're an independent woman, trust me, an independent call. And
we've agreed and disagreed. I just think it was so unnecessary.
I mean, if if all of a sudden the mayor
had said, look, we're going to have to mill the line,
(30:27):
you know, take up the the asphalt that's painted green,
white and red. But we're going to do it after
the festival, okay, and then we can come up. We
have a whole year to come up with some sort
of a compromise that would make you happy and which
which would allow us to comply with whatever rules and
(30:50):
regulations she wants.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
She wanted to cite uh and just and immigrants.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
I said it was done under the cover of darkness.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
It was not.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
There was no advanced notification, which in of itself makes it,
you know, controversial. I mean, why come in and do
something that you know means something to that neighborhood. I
don't understand, And particularly now, maybe you can do it
because you're not standing for reelection and it doesn't really matter, okay,
Or maybe you could do it even and and try
(31:24):
to win reelection. But it's just the timing was off,
the circumstances were off, and it just was so unnecessary.
It's like bumping into someone inadvertently as you walk down
the street, and instead of saying, you know, she excuse me,
pardon me, the other person's going to say, oh, no,
it was my fault. I wasn't looking.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
If you say, what are you looking for a fight,
it's like you start off of the wrong five.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
In my opinion, if you drive down Adams Street, it's
not that wide. It's parking on both sides of the street.
Somebody's got to pull over to let the other guide buy.
I'm just look, it's not a big wide street. But no,
I don't know how many accidents have been caused because
of the green, white and red line.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Come on, I don't think there's any evidence that those
those that tricolor caused caused accents.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
So I read this. I read this little article and
it said, whenever you say something against me, you've cast
your own spell of negativity onto yourself. So she put
a spell on herself by crossing these people.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Oh, we'll see how it works. We'll see how it
works out. I had to I had to go back
to it tonight one more time. The festival begins on Wednesday.
I hope they get a great turnout.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
Yes, I'm going. I'm going now, just just because.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
You know, I'm not surprised. Hey, Lolda, thanks so much.
We'll talk soon.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
Have a good one, all right, and thanks you too.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
We'll take a very quick break here. I got a
room for a couple more if you want six, one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty. We got John, we got Warren, and maybe
room for a couple more. We'll be back on Nightside.
We'll wrap it up. This is our first night back
working remotely from a different location. Feel free to join
the conversation.
Speaker 6 (33:22):
It's night Side with Dan Ray on.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
All right, let's run the board here. Let me go
to John and Boston. Hey, John next on Nightside talking
about a controversy in Newton.
Speaker 11 (33:33):
Go ahead, John, all right, yeah, thanks Dan. Yeah, I
got a little bit of Italian. I mean, I go over.
I grew up in Springfield, where we did the same
thing sometimes painting the line purple. But I found no nantum.
And I love the little Italian community there, the little
neighborhood and everything. It's like special, and I don't I
(33:58):
go to that feast regularly. I love the fireworks. They
do a great job with the fireworks. And I don't understand.
I've driven on those streets over there, and I've had
no problem with which side of the road to be on.
So I don't know, it just feels like right now,
maybe I'm taking it to a person. There's a lot
(34:18):
of pot shots going on about the Italians. Whether it's
the North End, the Columbus or this thing. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
But anyway, look, I think again Newton is presents itself
as a welcoming city. Well, if I were Italian and
living in Newton, I'd feel a little less welcome as
a result of this. It just seems to be I
use the word kerfuffle earlier. It just seems to be
(34:45):
so unnecessary.
Speaker 11 (34:48):
Yeah, and how long haven't been going on? How long
it's been going on a long time?
Speaker 1 (34:52):
I think, actually, Well, oh, the event itself that that
road has been painted that way for like over thirty
five years. Yeah, and the festival is now in its
ninetieth year, so this is your community with deep roots.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
I had the.
Speaker 11 (35:12):
The fest Wednesday, the lady yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
And I had Mayor Fuller on last week, uh not
last week, two weeks ago, on June thirtieth, and she
seemed to agree with me that they would be able
to paint the tricolors uh contiguous to the yellow lines.
So they that would have been the compromise where she
(35:37):
would not have to erase the yellow line anyway. You know,
it's it's it's it's a kind of thing. It's unnecessary.
And she could have waited until after the festival and
then met with the festival people. Look, we need to
come up with a compromise. John, I appreciate you taking
the time to call. Please call again.
Speaker 11 (35:57):
Okay, I'll be there to thank you.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
All right, tell everybody I said hello. Unfortunately I'm not
in a you know, in a geographic position where I
could get there, but okay, thanks Sean, talk to you.
Warren is in Fall River, Warren next on Nightside. I
want to get you in one more in Warren go
right ahead.
Speaker 9 (36:15):
Yeah, hey Dan, Yeah, this sounds very very political, and
it just seems you know, like like a total mess.
I mean, this is politics at it's best. I mean
they can't figure.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
Out or it's worst one of the others go ahead.
Speaker 10 (36:33):
You know, they just don't know what line's to draw.
Speaker 9 (36:36):
And it's like it's like it baffles me that that.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
This is government at its best or it's worst.
Speaker 4 (36:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (36:46):
Yeah, so yeah, I mean I I I hope the
people went out. I mean, like I've always said that,
like if you're gonna fight, if you're gonna if you're
kinda protest, and if you're gonna do like if you're
going to give a fight, you know, fight the local fight,
that's where you can make the most change.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Yeah. Well that's exactly. I'm a big believer in that.
If you listen to my show, and that's why I'm
doing this today. Yeah, and you know, we probably won't
touch it again, but I think everyone understands my position,
and I think they understand your position, and I think
we're yeh.
Speaker 10 (37:20):
And I also wanted to say that the I talk
about Paul River real quickly. Yes, horrible, Yeah, those absolutely
horrible story. But those first responders were undermanned and they
did everything possible, and I think it's discussed and that
(37:43):
the union, the firefighters union, is kind of going after
the you know, the fire chief of Paul River.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, well, I appreciate that comment. For those who are
listening and don't know what we're talking about, there was
a fire last night late at a seniors center in
which nine people lost their lives. Several are in the hospital.
Just a horrific, horrific event. Warren. I want to get
one more in quickly here, Thank you my friend for thanks, buddy,
(38:12):
give me that one minute warning when you want to
rob when it's one minute, Actually when you have to.
John is in pabaty. John, want to get you in
under the wire here, go right ahead.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
Again.
Speaker 7 (38:22):
I'm just wondering, Uh, how did that Ward vote in
the last election.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
I'm told that they did that they were not particularly
supportive of the mayor, but I don't have those statistics
in front of me.
Speaker 7 (38:35):
And did they support Elizabeth Warren? And you know, just
does somebody have an act to grind because of the
way that Ward voted?
Speaker 1 (38:42):
Well, I think that's I took question that.
Speaker 7 (38:44):
Yeah, I don't know what what it was, but I
looked at it and most of Newton voted sixty percent
democratic and.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
He's over lovingly democratic.
Speaker 13 (38:57):
Yeah, absolutely, and welcoming. There is no person of color
that can get into Newton. You can't get in there
if you're a white right now. I mean it's just
too expensive.
Speaker 7 (39:07):
So I don't see how they're welcoming unless you can
afford to be there.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
All right, fair enough, you got the final word, John,
appreciate your call. Thanks for calling in, ladies, keep up
dokt you soon appreciate it. Done for the night. I
want to thank Rob, I want to thank Marita, want
to thank all the callers, all the listeners, and I'm
going to remind you as always I haven't forgotten all dogs,
all cats, all pets go to heaven. That's where my
pal Charlie Ray is, who passed fifteen years ago in February.
(39:32):
That's why your pets are who have passed. They loved
you and you love them. I do believe you'll see
them again. We'll see again tomorrow night on night Side
at eight o five. I'm going to be on Facebook
Night Side with Dan Ray in about two minutes and
I'll see you there. See you tomorrow night. Have a
great Tuesday, everybody,
It's night Sime with Dan Ray.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm telling you Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
We talked last hour about this a contra tomp. For
those of you who speak French, you know that is
a little bit of a kerfuffle. But to people in Newton,
in the Nonantum area, it's much more than a kerfuffle
or a contra tomp. It is an absolute insult to
(00:29):
their cultural heritage. And I, for the life of me,
am having difficulty understanding this. So I'm hoping perhaps that
some of you might be able to enlighten me on this. Now.
For those of you who are listening around the country tonight,
Newton is a suburb of Boston. It's a city of
about one hundred thousand people. It's a big city Boston
(00:53):
only by day has about seven hundred and fifty or
by night has seven hundred and fifty thousand people, as
more than a million people, I'm sure during the day,
well maybe not quite now with COVID, uh you know
the follow from COVID. But so so, we have a
mayor who, as she's finishing her last term in office,
she has chosen not to run for reelection.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
She will be succeeded by another mayor, you know, someone else.
Uh in Uh in January, in an election. Uh. And
it just to me boggles my mind that as you
head out the door, after fairly successful tenure as mayor,
(01:37):
she was elected, re elected, elected, and re elected. Uh
and gonna pick a fight with a section of the
city which is very proud not it's you know, like
most sections of most cities. The city's a mix.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
There.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Used to be in Boston you would have the North
End which was virtually all Italian, in East Boston virtually
all Italian, and those communities change over time. But but
this is a fight that the mayor did not have
to pick. First of all, the road was milled and
(02:16):
they bring in big machines that tear the the asphalt
up and then lay you know, laid down you know,
asphalt and painted it. So it was done intentionally. It
was done under the cover of darkness. We talked about
it a couple of weeks ago. And Uh, I don't
know if there have been similar situations in other communities,
(02:38):
but uh, the Italian American community and I don't happen
to be Italian American, Okay, but it seems to me
that Newton, which which presents itself to the world as
a welcoming city, certainly to New England. It's a welcoming
(02:59):
city and it's making a statement that we welcome people.
It doesn't call herself a sanctuary city, but it calls
itself a welcoming city, which I think is a lovely term.
To be honest with you. I mean, who wouldn't want
to live in a welcoming city. But now the mayor
going out the door has decided that amongst her final
(03:24):
acts will be the destruction of this heritage. The festival
will go on. I don't know if people will be
more interested in attending the festival as a result of this.
I did play for you last hour when I interviewed
the mayor a couple of weeks ago, two weeks ago tonight,
(03:46):
she said, well, they can repaint the three colors of
the Italian flag red, white, and green. But I pressed her,
and I'm going to play that SoundBite one more time,
which is just to get you ready, Rob. It's cut
number twenty three, where I pressed her and said, you
(04:09):
know this would be contiguous. This is you're going to
leave the yellow the two yellow lines there. Okay, fine,
that's your win, but you're going to they're going to
allow the residents to repaint the colors in the street.
Will it be contiguous contiguous? I should look up the
word contiguous, because I know what contiguous means. You know
(04:31):
what contiguous means, and I think the mayor also knows
what the word contiguous means. Uh, And it simply means
something that is immediately next to something. So I wanted
to make sure that it was clear that we were
talking about something that was Yeah, here's here's the let
(04:53):
me get you the definition sharing a common border, touching
the forty eight contiguous states next or together in sequence. Okay,
pretty clear what that means. Okay, touching or connected throughout.
So this is the SoundBite in which she did not say, well,
(05:15):
I didn't quite say contiguous. She agrees with it. It's
as simple as that, Rob, Go ahead and play that
cut for me. Twenty three.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Please we can do both at the same time. Where
the yellow center lines are down and the amazing fest
of volunteers every year repaint the trycolor the green, white,
and red, and we've said you are welcome to repaint
again this year, just next to the yellow line. So
(05:46):
this could be a win win. We can do both
public safety and lift up.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Okay, So just so I understand that. So what you're
saying is that it's up to the resident, not the city,
but up to the residents to paint the tri color
the red, white, and green contiguous to the yellow line
next to contiguous, correct, right right, pretty clear to me. Now.
(06:19):
A release today dated Monday, July fourteenth, today twenty twenty five,
the Mayor's Newton Update. She talks about the ninetieth annual
Italian American Festival in No Nanum, affectionately known as Festa,
which starts Wednesday, two days from now. It starts about
forty eight hours from now. Before the city painted the
(06:40):
reflective yellow center lines, we gave permission to the Festa
volunteers to again this year repaint the tricolors on Adams
Street prior to Fester just moved over by twelve inches
or eighteen inches next to the double yellow center lines
once at twelve or eighteen inches away, not contiguous. Jay
(07:06):
is in Newton. Hey, Jay, welcome. You are first off
this hour and nightside. And I hope to hear from
some people both in and out of Newton on this
because I think this deserves a little more discussion because
guess what, I like people who try to fight city hall.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Go ahead, Jake Hi Dan.
Speaker 6 (07:22):
First of all, welcome back. I hope you had a
great vacation and happy birthday.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Thank you from.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
SO.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
I was listening earlier and I forgot the woman's name,
but she mentioned that Adams Street is getting patrolled now
every thirty minutes, and I thought that was interesting because
I was at a meeting with the Newton police chief,
who happened to be a very gracious guy, and he
was talking about, well, the comment had nothing to do
(07:53):
with Adams Street, but you know certain areas could they
get more of visibility by police And he says they're
doing the best they can, but they only have ten
to twelve officers during the day and eight officers on
the night shift. So if they're getting thirty minutes, I
mean every thirty minutes on Adams Street with only eight
(08:16):
officers and there's eighteen square miles at Newton, that really
says they've been given a directive from the mayor. I
want this place on watch because there's so many areas
and no.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Remember that on the night that the that the street
was milled and the colors of the Italian flag were erased.
It was done under the cover of darkness, and the
police were not notified. My understanding is there were no police.
Speaker 6 (08:50):
Yes that I understand, but that would be a little
bit different because that would have been a detail that
they would have had to put out, you know, for
a big so to speak.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
But they still don't on people. What I was trying
to say, and I meant to interrupt you, and I apologize,
so I'm not going to cut you off. I just
want to make sure that I make the point that
if all of a sudden, you're doing road work on
a street in Newton at ten thirty at night, and
you're milling the road, there's a lot of people who
are driving home at night, you know, who maybe have
(09:22):
had dinner and perhaps a drink or two, or maybe
three or four, and you would think that they would
make sure that those folks, you know, that they would
be a police detail out there that night. So no
detail the night that the work was done. And now
if indeed maybe thirty minutes, maybe it's overstated. I don't know.
(09:45):
I can't tell you what the call was said, but
I think the point you're making is a good one.
Speaker 6 (09:50):
Go right ahead, Yeah, I mean, you know, because, like
I said, the conversation was about, you know, better visibility
at a certain areas there's you know, four way stop
signs and whatnot, and the chief was, you know, very
sympathetic to it. But that's when you explain, well, we
can't really do much at night because we only have
eight officers you know, on patrol. And so if you
(10:12):
only have eight and you've got you know, someone able
to go up and down every thirty minutes, every forty
five minutes on Adams Street at night, what other areas
are you know, not being covered and safety is supposed
to be the reason for it.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
The other thing too, correct me if I'm wrong. You
live in Newton, I do as well. But I've led
to believe that Newton is a population of close to
one hundred thousand. Am I correct on that if I
overstated it is?
Speaker 6 (10:39):
Yeah, Newton's about one hundred thousand people, and right now,
according to the chief, there's one hundred and twenty three
police officers.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Yeah, well, I think that they need more police in
the city of that size.
Speaker 6 (10:51):
Will have becomes a budget issue, but.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
You know, h yeah, no, of course it does. But
it just seems to me that when you try to
staff up shifts over the course of a week that
has one hundred and sixty eight hours, you you know,
you you have a lot of people. You don't have
enough people in my opinion. But that's yeah, you're right.
(11:15):
I'm not a I'm not a finance guy. He jay
appreciate who am I?
Speaker 7 (11:21):
My mother?
Speaker 6 (11:21):
Will a test? You help one?
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Well? My math teachers would attest to you, Thank you
so much. Appreciate it. Jack.
Speaker 8 (11:27):
You have a great night, you too.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
Six one, seven, two, five, four, ten thirty.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Those are the only lines that are open. The other
six one, seven, nine, three, one ten thirty is UH
is full. But six one, seven, two, five, four to
ten thirty is wide open. And if you want to
talk about this, great, If not, we can move on
to some other topic. I think it's a good topic.
And I hope that the publicity uh increases negative publicity,
(11:55):
but it increases the number of people who will make
themselves available. And we'll attend some one of the days
or nights of this festival in Newton. We'll be back
on Nightside right after this. You're on night Side with
Dan ray On Bzy, Boston's news Radio. Back to the
(12:16):
phones we go. Let's go to Grant in Belmont. Hi, Grant, welcome,
How are you tonight?
Speaker 8 (12:21):
I'm well Dan. How are you doing?
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Just great? What's your take on all of this? You
live in Belmont?
Speaker 8 (12:27):
Yeah, Dan, you know I live in Belmont. I was
actually down at the protest in front of Newton City
Hall night that one of your callers was talking about.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yes, Janet mentioned that, yep, yeah.
Speaker 8 (12:37):
And my great grandfather built a house on Adam's Court
down the lake in the nineteen twenties, so it's a
place close to my home, and that's why I wanted
to go down to the protest and see what was
going on.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Well, what was your impression of the protest tonight and
what's your impression of this this kerfuffle.
Speaker 8 (12:57):
Well, I speak to my nana who grew up down
the lake once a week, and she was in tears
earlier this week when I told her the lines hadn't
been repainted. So when I went down to Adams Street
last night, I did see the police details driving around,
and when I went to the protest, what I realized
is this was about more than paint on a road.
(13:20):
This was Americana that Norman Rockwell or Winflowholmer could only
hope to capture living and breathing and being erased before
our eyes. And I just felt hopeless, and I wanted
to do something well.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
By going to the event tonight was important. At the
same time, Newton advertises itself as a welcoming city. I
don't find this to be welcoming in the least.
Speaker 8 (13:57):
It has a sting of unwelcoming. I almost said cruelty,
but it has this sting of exclusion. This is a
very prideful community that could have abandoned the lake when
those factories left in the forties and fifties, but they didn't.
They stayed there. They built churches and homes and restaurants
(14:19):
and synagogues, and that should be celebrated, not censored.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Oh Man, so Well, said Grant. I don't know if
you ever called my show before, but I want you
to become a regular caller. That was just it was
almost poetic in what in what you had to say
on this one. I can feel in your voice the
depth of your concern about this, even though you're somebody
who no longer resides in But I'll tell you you've
(14:48):
you said it so well. I just want to thank
you for calling.
Speaker 8 (14:52):
Thanks Dan, and I'm going to head down there tomorrow
and I hope those lines are on the road, So
thanks very much.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Oh do me keep me posted and continue. You have
you called the show before? Is this your first time?
Speaker 8 (15:02):
We did have a prior discussion many moons ago, Dan,
I forget the topic.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
Well that's okay, I do too. I would only suggest
don't wait too long to make your next to all
the night's side. Okay, thanks Greg. We enjoy hearing on
familiar voices, but you also enjoy hearing new voices, so
thank you so much. And sometimes you don't call that
frequently I mistake you as a new voice, So thanks
so much.
Speaker 8 (15:26):
Thanks Dan. Good welcome.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
Let's keep going here. Let me go to Jim in Missouri. Jim,
you were next on nice side.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Go ahead, man, thanks for taking my call. How you
doing doing great?
Speaker 1 (15:38):
Jim? What's on your mind?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Welcome back. I'm glad you had a seven day vacation,
well a lother than that, it.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Was about eleven days I was able to work, or yeah,
I think it was technically eleven days, so it was okay,
go right ahead.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
All right, Well, I've never been to either one of
the towns you're talking about, but I've been listening quite
a bit to what people are saying. And first of all,
I will say that based on what Gina said and
I left their voicemail about it previously. But I mean,
(16:14):
there are standards, and based based on what I heard
about the road, if you don't have those, if you
don't have that road mark just right, somebody crosses that
center line and there's a mishap, the town or the
city or the county could be held partially liable for
being out of substantial compliance with road standards.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
No, I get I get that. But but here's the deal.
The road was in that condition for decades, decades. This
mayor is finishing her eighth year in office.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I got it. I already heard that. I know that.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
That is that uh uh. Let's assume that she said, Okay,
we got to change it. Yeah, that festivals coming in
a couple of weeks. Let's let's let's deal with it
for a couple of weeks, and then on next Monday,
after the festival is over, we'll go in there and
we'll mill the road and put in the yellow lines.
I mean, at the timing of its stinks, Jim. That's
(17:20):
all I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Okay, I get that, you know, Uh, you know, I'm
not saying anything about that. But here's the other thing
that I think maybe we may all be missing. And
I don't know. I didn't hear what the mayor her
exact tone of voice, in the way she said, what
you say. She said about repainting the lines. Uh, just
slightly contiguous, but slightly in a different place. It's real simple.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
She put yellow lines down the No.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
It's not I don't think you. I don't think you.
I mean there is a possibility here that you're misinterpreting
what she said. It sounds to me like what she's
saying is that you could paint those same lines, just
as you're saying, paint the green one down the middle,
the white one on the one side, and then the
(18:11):
red one on the other side. Well, sounds like you
could do that. Or has anybody asked, because anybody asked, Jim,
Has anybody asked the mayor?
Speaker 1 (18:21):
I did two weeks ago. I did two weeks ago, Jim.
I understand the language pretty well. The word you would
just simply again the word contiguous is pretty pretty clear.
It means next to it.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Did you ask her?
Speaker 8 (18:38):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (18:38):
I did? I want we played for you again?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Yeah, I didn't hear. I listened to her, but I
didn't hear that part.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Well, here we go play it one more time here
for a special dedication going out to gym in Kansas City.
Rob let us play for Jim. We played it a
little earlier, but this has cut twenty three.
Speaker 5 (18:59):
We can do us at the same time where the
yellow center lines are down and the amazing fest of
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
(19:21):
a win win. We can do both public safety and
lift up.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Okay, 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 contiguous to the yellow line, next to contiguous, correct,
(19:48):
right next to contiguous. Okay. Today they released a statement
out of city Hall in Newton Gym, which again I
don't expect you to have read, but basically saying they
want this now moved over by twelve to eighteen inches.
That's you know, that's not contiguous, simple as that, Jim.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Okay, well no, because the yellow lines would be about
twelve inches in total, the distance between one. I think
it may be that we're all just misinterpreted.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
What Jim, I think you got it right. I got
it wrong, and all the call has got it wrong.
So you know you've you've enlightened me on this one.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Why why don't you just go Why don't you just
go out there and paint the lines like you want
to paint them and see what she does about it.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Well, Jim, you know I'm not going to paint the lines.
I don't live in that community. I'm not a member
of the community. But thank you for adding adding, appreciate
your call. I got to run because here's the news.
Thank you, Thank you. Talk to you soon, Okay, folks.
(20:55):
I think contiguous is pretty clear. Okay, now, I don't.
I'm not trying to be a stickler here, But if
someone wants to find me a different de dictionary with
a different definition of condiguous, let's have at it. Newton
feel free to join the conversation and if you are
anywhere abroad in the land, you are welcome as well.
(21:17):
This is about some people standing up to city hall.
And guess what, I like that. I like people when
they feel they're right. They're doing it peacefully. No one
is throwing rocks, no one is firing any you know,
throwing rocks or anything like that. This is a peaceful protest.
(21:39):
But these folks are quite upset, as I think you
can tell. Here are the number six one, seven, two, five,
four ten thirty or six one seven, nine three one
ten thirty. If this interests you, you're invited to call.
If it doesn't interest you, I'm sorry, it interests the
heck out of me. I love a story like this.
We'll be back on Night Side. It's nice side on.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Foston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
All right, back we go. Jay is in Newton. Jay,
you were next on NIGHTSID welcome hey.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Top of I even into you there, Dan. How are
you welcome back?
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Thank you very much, nice to be back.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
Yeah, we spoke going back a while ago. And I
try to be disarming and not put up fences. I
like the way you're very disarming yourself and just look
at issues in life. And so I wanted to tie
two or three things together tonight if I could.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
I have experience with work on the road, and so
I just wanted to present some from a legal perspective
and then the moral perspective of just issues in life,
to try to get people to think, like, hmm, what
happens here now? I remember these guys from I was
involved with Department of Transportation. I remember this guy coming
(22:59):
by saying, Hey.
Speaker 8 (23:00):
I own this road, I could do what I want.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
I say, well, you're out of line, it's illegal. I'll
have your job. So I was like, I didn't worry
about it, because the law is there to protect the innocent.
They had my job. I still didn't worry about it
because when I got let go, somebody else picked me
up and said, this is the kind of thing that
has the right flavor to it that we can use
somebody who has respect for the law. So saying that
(23:25):
and go into the second.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Thing, Well, let me let me tell you. Let me
just stat abrupt for a second. Who will you let
go by? Will you let go by the city of
Is this directly related to the city of Newton or not?
Or you we let go by a different company.
Speaker 3 (23:39):
Different this department of Transportation is statewide.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Okay. So okay, so is the state agency not the
city of Newton. I just wanted to make just want
to make that clear. Okay. So so you still done, Principal.
You you landed on your feet. That's good.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
And where I want to go with that is this
most people, this is like an insight to try it again,
to disarm everybody. I like everybody to just get along.
And so, because there's this power struggle in life, this
guy says, Hey.
Speaker 8 (24:09):
I own the road, I could do what I want.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Well, really, the law says, and this is what most
people are not aware of a double yellow line on
any road in the United States of America. I'm not
talking the state Department of Transportation, but there's a federal
code nationwide and it's controlled and written and administered by
the US Army Corps of Engineers. So the state means nothing.
(24:36):
In other words, they have to comply with the US
Army Corps of Engineers because of national defense, national security.
Where there's that when that yellow line goes down, that
jurisdiction belongs to the US Army Corps of Engineers. That
I know because I was injured on a road and
then they said, hey, you know, we can come in here.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Let me just say this, Jay, if the mayor wanted
to adopt the position that you've just articulated, I could.
I could understand that position, But the position that she
has adopted has adopted is simply confusing at best and
maybe belligerent at worst.
Speaker 9 (25:24):
I agree.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
So that's part of the third thing. That we have
the exaltation of the will of man in direct opposition
to the law of the land.
Speaker 8 (25:32):
So if the law.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Violates the morality of the people, that a government by
the people and for the people shall not be abolished
from the earth. So you have this moral kind of
issue where it's like, hey, what do we do here
if the law stinks not people do ever?
Speaker 4 (25:47):
Right?
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Well, yeah, And I also think I'm more interested. I
understand the point you're making, but I'm really more interested
in if she if she really felt that this was
a a problem from a public safety point of view,
which she alludes to it but doesn't quite embrace. Why
(26:08):
did it take seven and a half years of her,
you know, time as mayor. I just felt that I
was pretty clear with her the other night that and
she said, this has been a win win we can
have the tricolors painted next to and I said, and
I basically pushed her and said, when you say next to,
(26:29):
you mean contiguous. You know, you might be sitting next
to me at Fenway Park three seats between us. Okay,
these seats are empties, but you're really sitting next to me.
But if we sit in you know, row row one,
see three and four, we're contiguous. There's no one between us.
You know, we're elbow and elbow. That's what the word
(26:50):
contiguous means. I was frustrated with what I thought was
less than you know, if she wanted to say no,
it won't be contiguous, she could have, but she said contiguous.
She agreed to that, and now the town is saying
twelve to eighteen inches and it's just been confusing. It's
almost seems to me as if it's been intentionally confusing
(27:12):
to these folks in Newton. So I'm standing with the
people on this one. I know the mayor, she's a
decent person, she was on the show two weeks ago.
I just feel that on this one she's wrong. And
as a as a journalist, one of the creeds of
journalism is you try to tell you the truth as
(27:34):
you see it. That's how I see it. If I'm wrong,
so be it.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
So's the third thing to tie together. If I get
that extra moment where you think so much today, I
always love your You got a healthy bounce. Excuse me,
I don't smoke. I guess I should start here.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Yeah, that would take you that go ahead. Yeah we're
getting tied here in time, but go ahead, Jay finish up.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
So from a moral standpoint a long time ago and
I re check in with you. I like the part
where it's like, well, animals go to heaven and the
reason being is because with God being the judge, the
animals are not able to make a choice what's right
what's wrong. They're provided for by a sixth sense called nature.
So with society, we think who we are the guy
(28:17):
on the Department of Transportation, Uh, somebody laying down the line,
somebody moving the line, somebody saying, you know, things have
to be this way because I said so. I think
society is losing a loose cannon now when it comes
to morality, and you know, we just we want to
be in control and not in any respect for the
(28:38):
law or any respect for the majority. When the people
speak up. So living in periblus times, and I'm glad
you're in there to be the voice of common and
passioned reason.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
God bless you.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Thanks for your service, and I totally all animals go
to heaven.
Speaker 10 (28:52):
Love you man, good night and a good week.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Let me get Lola in here before we Lola, I'm
not going to make you wait.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
You right ahead, okay, Dan. So I'm about three quarters
of a mile from No Nantum. I grew up going
over the ast to the Italian you know, the bread
place and all this hint. When I came home this time,
I wrote. I went down Adams Street and I saw
that double yellow solottle line and I'm like, how do
(29:22):
you how do you make a left hand turn if
you're going noth or how do you make a right
hand turn because it's a double solid yellow line and
you're not supposed to cross the double solid yellow line.
And I'm like, with the white, red and green line,
go so you know, you like you get on everything,
You bring everything to everyone's attention. And I'm like, I
(29:45):
didn't really realize what was going on, but I knew
the line was gone, and I'm like this this to me,
this to me, in my opinion, is immigration discrimination and
putting fea and making people said and less than and
whatever else you want to put under that umbrella.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
I just think it's I'll say, Lola, I'll be interested
if you agree with me or not. But and again,
you're an independent woman, trust me, an independent call. And
we've agreed and disagreed. I just think it was so unnecessary.
I mean, if if all of a sudden the mayor
had said, look, we're going to have to mill the line,
(30:27):
you know, take up the the asphalt that's painted green,
white and red. But we're going to do it after
the festival, okay, and then we can come up. We
have a whole year to come up with some sort
of a compromise that would make you happy and which
which would allow us to comply with whatever rules and
(30:50):
regulations she wants.
Speaker 4 (30:51):
She wanted to cite uh and just and immigrants.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
I said it was done under the cover of darkness.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
It was not.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
There was no advanced notification, which in of itself makes it,
you know, controversial. I mean, why come in and do
something that you know means something to that neighborhood. I
don't understand, And particularly now, maybe you can do it
because you're not standing for reelection and it doesn't really matter, okay,
Or maybe you could do it even and and try
(31:24):
to win reelection. But it's just the timing was off,
the circumstances were off, and it just was so unnecessary.
It's like bumping into someone inadvertently as you walk down
the street, and instead of saying, you know, she excuse me,
pardon me, the other person's going to say, oh, no,
it was my fault. I wasn't looking.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
If you say, what are you looking for a fight,
it's like you start off of the wrong five.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
In my opinion, if you drive down Adams Street, it's
not that wide. It's parking on both sides of the street.
Somebody's got to pull over to let the other guide buy.
I'm just look, it's not a big wide street. But no,
I don't know how many accidents have been caused because
of the green, white and red line.
Speaker 1 (32:12):
Come on, I don't think there's any evidence that those
those that tricolor caused caused accents.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
So I read this. I read this little article and
it said, whenever you say something against me, you've cast
your own spell of negativity onto yourself. So she put
a spell on herself by crossing these people.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Oh, we'll see how it works. We'll see how it
works out. I had to I had to go back
to it tonight one more time. The festival begins on Wednesday.
I hope they get a great turnout.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
Yes, I'm going. I'm going now, just just because.
Speaker 1 (32:54):
You know, I'm not surprised. Hey, Lolda, thanks so much.
We'll talk soon.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
Have a good one, all right, and thanks you too.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
We'll take a very quick break here. I got a
room for a couple more if you want six, one, seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty. We got John, we got Warren, and maybe
room for a couple more. We'll be back on Nightside.
We'll wrap it up. This is our first night back
working remotely from a different location. Feel free to join
the conversation.
Speaker 6 (33:22):
It's night Side with Dan Ray on.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
All right, let's run the board here. Let me go
to John and Boston. Hey, John next on Nightside talking
about a controversy in Newton.
Speaker 11 (33:33):
Go ahead, John, all right, yeah, thanks Dan. Yeah, I
got a little bit of Italian. I mean, I go over.
I grew up in Springfield, where we did the same
thing sometimes painting the line purple. But I found no nantum.
And I love the little Italian community there, the little
neighborhood and everything. It's like special, and I don't I
(33:58):
go to that feast regularly. I love the fireworks. They
do a great job with the fireworks. And I don't understand.
I've driven on those streets over there, and I've had
no problem with which side of the road to be on.
So I don't know, it just feels like right now,
maybe I'm taking it to a person. There's a lot
(34:18):
of pot shots going on about the Italians. Whether it's
the North End, the Columbus or this thing. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
But anyway, look, I think again Newton is presents itself
as a welcoming city. Well, if I were Italian and
living in Newton, I'd feel a little less welcome as
a result of this. It just seems to be I
use the word kerfuffle earlier. It just seems to be
(34:45):
so unnecessary.
Speaker 11 (34:48):
Yeah, and how long haven't been going on? How long
it's been going on a long time?
Speaker 1 (34:52):
I think, actually, Well, oh, the event itself that that
road has been painted that way for like over thirty
five years. Yeah, and the festival is now in its
ninetieth year, so this is your community with deep roots.
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
I had the.
Speaker 11 (35:12):
The fest Wednesday, the lady yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
And I had Mayor Fuller on last week, uh not
last week, two weeks ago, on June thirtieth, and she
seemed to agree with me that they would be able
to paint the tricolors uh contiguous to the yellow lines.
So they that would have been the compromise where she
(35:37):
would not have to erase the yellow line anyway. You know,
it's it's it's it's a kind of thing. It's unnecessary.
And she could have waited until after the festival and
then met with the festival people. Look, we need to
come up with a compromise. John, I appreciate you taking
the time to call. Please call again.
Speaker 11 (35:57):
Okay, I'll be there to thank you.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
All right, tell everybody I said hello. Unfortunately I'm not
in a you know, in a geographic position where I
could get there, but okay, thanks Sean, talk to you.
Warren is in Fall River, Warren next on Nightside. I
want to get you in one more in Warren go
right ahead.
Speaker 9 (36:15):
Yeah, hey Dan, Yeah, this sounds very very political, and
it just seems you know, like like a total mess.
I mean, this is politics at it's best. I mean
they can't figure.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
Out or it's worst one of the others go ahead.
Speaker 10 (36:33):
You know, they just don't know what line's to draw.
Speaker 9 (36:36):
And it's like it's like it baffles me that that.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
This is government at its best or it's worst.
Speaker 4 (36:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 12 (36:46):
Yeah, so yeah, I mean I I I hope the
people went out. I mean, like I've always said that,
like if you're gonna fight, if you're gonna if you're
kinda protest, and if you're gonna do like if you're
going to give a fight, you know, fight the local fight,
that's where you can make the most change.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Yeah. Well that's exactly. I'm a big believer in that.
If you listen to my show, and that's why I'm
doing this today. Yeah, and you know, we probably won't
touch it again, but I think everyone understands my position,
and I think they understand your position, and I think
we're yeh.
Speaker 10 (37:20):
And I also wanted to say that the I talk
about Paul River real quickly. Yes, horrible, Yeah, those absolutely
horrible story. But those first responders were undermanned and they
did everything possible, and I think it's discussed and that
(37:43):
the union, the firefighters union, is kind of going after
the you know, the fire chief of Paul River.
Speaker 1 (37:51):
Yeah, well, I appreciate that comment. For those who are
listening and don't know what we're talking about, there was
a fire last night late at a seniors center in
which nine people lost their lives. Several are in the hospital.
Just a horrific, horrific event. Warren. I want to get
one more in quickly here, Thank you my friend for thanks, buddy,
(38:12):
give me that one minute warning when you want to
rob when it's one minute, Actually when you have to.
John is in pabaty. John, want to get you in
under the wire here, go right ahead.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
Again.
Speaker 7 (38:22):
I'm just wondering, Uh, how did that Ward vote in
the last election.
Speaker 1 (38:27):
I'm told that they did that they were not particularly
supportive of the mayor, but I don't have those statistics
in front of me.
Speaker 7 (38:35):
And did they support Elizabeth Warren? And you know, just
does somebody have an act to grind because of the
way that Ward voted?
Speaker 1 (38:42):
Well, I think that's I took question that.
Speaker 7 (38:44):
Yeah, I don't know what what it was, but I
looked at it and most of Newton voted sixty percent
democratic and.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
He's over lovingly democratic.
Speaker 13 (38:57):
Yeah, absolutely, and welcoming. There is no person of color
that can get into Newton. You can't get in there
if you're a white right now. I mean it's just
too expensive.
Speaker 7 (39:07):
So I don't see how they're welcoming unless you can
afford to be there.
Speaker 1 (39:11):
All right, fair enough, you got the final word, John,
appreciate your call. Thanks for calling in, ladies, keep up
dokt you soon appreciate it. Done for the night. I
want to thank Rob, I want to thank Marita, want
to thank all the callers, all the listeners, and I'm
going to remind you as always I haven't forgotten all dogs,
all cats, all pets go to heaven. That's where my
pal Charlie Ray is, who passed fifteen years ago in February.
(39:32):
That's why your pets are who have passed. They loved
you and you love them. I do believe you'll see
them again. We'll see again tomorrow night on night Side
at eight o five. I'm going to be on Facebook
Night Side with Dan Ray in about two minutes and
I'll see you there. See you tomorrow night. Have a
great Tuesday, everybody,
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