Addressing Equity Issues in Newton

Bryan is proud to be endorsed by LGBTQ+ Advocacy Organizations

Bryan’s deep commitment to civil rights and equity comes from his lived experiences—including his Jewish heritage, service on the Newton Human Rights Commission, work for LGBTQ+ rights and service on the board of the Bay State Stonewall Democrats, and work on gender equality in the State Senate.

It seems like you can’t turn on the news or check social media without seeing another story about race, gender-based, or anti-semitic discrimination. We must all look at what we can do to ensure Newton is welcoming and inclusive of all residents. Newton is taking steps in the right direction, but more progress needs to be made in areas like ableism, homophobia and transphobia, anti-semitism, and racism. We need to do everything in our power to ensure that every Newton resident feels safe, and has access to resources they need. 

One in four adults in the United States live with disability, yet the conversation about ableism and disability often gets forgotten. Ableism is the act of discriminating against people with disabilities, and it is prevalent even here in Newton. As a community we can combat ableism in simple ways such as making sure handicapped parking spots are clearly identified and parking laws enforced, to more complex issues like working towards universal design in Newton and ensuring all new buildings meet ADA standards and that we put in efforts to make older buildings more compliant. 

Housing affordability also plays a role. We must increase our affordable housing stock in Newton because many adults living with a disability are unemployed, underemployed and/or living off SSI. You can read Bryan’s full priority on affordable and middle income housing here.

We should proactively be bringing up disability and accessibility whenever we take on a new project in the city, and we should be including more voices of people with disabilities in these conversations, and we can’t forget about the intersectionality between disability and other minority groups, race, LGBTQ+ issues, mental health issues and more (You can read Bryan’s full priority on mental health and addiction here). To lift up these voices we must begin by actively inviting more people with disabilities to speak at city events, and consider forming a Youth Council on Disability and creating a Disability Rights/Awareness Day ceremony in October, which is disability awareness month, to elevate the disabled community in Newton. Newton should also continue to work with Understanding Our Differences, the city’s Commission on Disability, as well as other organizations to educate the public about ableism and other issues that people with disabilities face. 

Bryan already has experience taking issues like homophobia and transphobia head on, by taking steps like creating an LGBTQ+ resource guide, which he did as part of his work on the Newton Human Rights Commission. But Bryan knows there is more to be done. For example, while the city has created a position for a LGBTQ+ liaison who will provide critical services to LGBTQ+ residents, this position has gone unfilled for over a year. Bryan strongly believes that filling this position and making similar commitments to inclusivity is critical for our city’s future. He believes in working with our school committee to ensure the safety, and not just tolerance but acceptance, of our LGBTQ+ students of all ages. This includes things like comprehensive and ongoing education for our teachers and administrators that goes far beyond just checking a box.

One issue that unfortunately seems to be more prominent, or at least more out in the open, over the past few years, is antisemitism. While nearly 25% of Newton’s residents are Jewish, there have been numerous instances of antisemitism recently in our city. From swastikas spray painted on school walls, to racist banners hung in public spaces, to a zoom-bomber doing the Nazi solute at an event for Bryan and Ward 1 at-large candidate Madeline Ranalli, both Jewish, we unfortunately see these types of actions far too often. 

When dealing with situations of hate or bias, we must also examine the way we handle these in tandem with the outcomes we desire. In many cases, such as discipline in our schools, Bryan believes in a restorative justice model, as it is more effective and conducive to growth. Bryan also understands the importance of intersectionality, and that these issues don’t exist within a vacuum. For example, when we discuss policing and the way it disproportionately harms people of color, we can’t ignore that Black trans women are statistically more at risk for violence and intimidation. 

We must fight against a rising tide of racism in Newton, speaking loudly and with one voice that those views are not welcome here. Read Bryan’s full priority on racial justice here. Relatedly, we must continue to support immigrants living in our community, regardless of their immigration status. Bryan fought for Newton to become a Welcoming City to immigrants, which it has officially been for almost four years now. It is crucial that all feel welcome here. 

Bryan knows what it means to be an ally to all. He understands the importance of listening, especially to those with different experiences than your own. He works daily to amplify voices who aren’t always listened to. He knows that sometimes it is your time to get your hands dirty and do the work, and other times you need to take a step back and just listen.