I planned to run for Planning Board in 2026 (this year), but chose to withdraw in March (see my Needham, MA group FB post) due to a family emergency. I have chosen to stay involved, supporting Gary Lesanto for Planning Board, and keeping my name on the ballot for Town Meeting in Precinct G. During the past year, and this election cycle, I have discussed and observed much - two trends emerged:

1. There are many residents who are unaware of many important issues going on in town; despite articles and newsletters.

2. There are a number of ways that important choices are made and solidified prior to the public’s ability to affect those choices.

I am still running for Town Meeting, and I’ll briefly state my positions on some of these important issues. If time permits, I’ll add more rationale later - I will continue to stay involved.

• Envision (Needham Center): I support the “4 lane” plan. Fix infrastructure, add a cross walk where necessary. Doing otherwise is more costly, congestive, and rerouted traffic is unsafe.

• Pollard: I support adjusting to a more affordable alternative plan. The town has moved forward with one of the most costly plans. A financial analysis provided to the Select Board shows that Pollard will push the town’s budget past the long-established guidelines for debt-service limits. There is much need for a Pollard project, but going forward without looking for cost savings risks the need to layoff teachers and aides. Lexington’s story should serve as a warning: due to overspending and the looming expenses from their large high school project, they recently announced the lay off of the equivalent of 65 full-time staff, plus non-renewal letters to other staff.

• Large House re-zoning: I support the Planning Board taking more time to review and adjust the recommendations from the Large House Review Study Committee. Rushing to adopt the LHRSC’s recommendations (or even some of the recommendations) at this May’s town meeting I believe doesn’t give the PB enough time to properly consider the public’s comment from the hearing held on March 4th (if you wish to skip the presentation, jump to 35:00 in the video playback).

I will continue to stay involved, and work harder to bring my perspective here, at my website. I welcome people reaching out to me here through my contact