Bryan standing with City Councilors Bill Humphrey & Alicia Bowman to protest gas leaks with Mother’s Out Front.
“I enthusiastically support Bryan Barash for city council because he has been a strong supporter of affordable housing in Newton, working with housing advocates for many years. He also understands the interrelationship between housing and climate issues and will be a leader on both.”
- Lynn Weissberg, Engine 6
“I’ve seen Bryan serving our city in all the ways that were important to me; from working on the Human Rights Commission fighting for anti-racist policies and Black Lives Matter to getting involved in matters around affordable housing. I know that Bryan will be a leader for ALL people in our community, fostering understanding and bringing people together around common goals. I welcome you to join me in voting for Bryan Barash as our next City Councilor.”
The Proven Progressive with the Experience to Lead on:
Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change
Bryan’s top priority as a Councilor will be meeting Newton’s climate action goals: putting our city on the path to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He knows first hand the positive impact government can have on our environment and reducing the impacts of climate change, having played a key role in developing nation-leading climate legislation that passed the Massachusetts Senate in 2018. He is an active member of Green Newton and Newton Mothers Out Front, and as a City Councilor he will be a strong ally for Newton’s environmental advocacy community.
Affordable Housing
Addressing Newton’s affordable housing crisis requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach. Bryan has fought for affordable housing on multiple fronts, having successfully advocated for 100% affordable housing like Haywood House, a senior housing development that allows seniors to age in place, and supporting the conversion of the West Newton Armory into affordable units. Bryan successfully advocated for mixed-use developments that increased Newton’s affordable housing inventory, such as Northland and Austin Street, and supports the creation of an affordable housing trust, and making accessory apartments more cost-effective.
Racial Justice
Bryan believes Newton must lead by answering the call for racial justice. He was one of the earliest supporters of making Newton a Welcoming City for immigrants, worked hard to advocate for Indigenous People’s Day, and, as a Newton Human Rights Commissioner, wrote the resolution to declare racism a public health emergency. Bryan knows Newton needs comprehensive police reform, more diversity in city staff, and supports School Committee Member Tamika Olszewski’s push to create protocols for all departments in city government to improve their response to incidents of hate or bias.
Supporting Our Schools
As an expectant father, Bryan knows that our schools are a big factor in attracting families to Newton. He knows we must assure a quality education for every student, by reopening all of our schools for full time learning this spring and supporting all students, including those in distance learning, along with the implementation of necessary safety measures, including surveillance testing, to make that possible. Beyond the pandemic and this moment of crisis, our city must be vigilant to ensure that our schools maintain their excellence while increasing equity, and giving every student the learning experience they need. Bryan also supports full day kindergarten and later high school start times.