Mayor Setti Warren recently held a series of local town hall meetings in which he discussed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year and answered questions.
I do not know the specifics of the budget for next year, nor does it particularly interest me, but what fascinates me the most about these meetings is Warren’s genuine attempt to interact with the citizens of Newton.
Feedback is important in a democracy, but most of us cannot simply call the White House and ask to discuss the new health care bill. Our local government, however, is closer to us, so why shouldn’t we have more of a say? Our involvement in government is key.
The Warren era of Newton politics is one of approachability and communication. Warren wants to speak and listen to us, the people of Newton. His air of accessibility and casualty are traits quite contradictory to those of our former mayor.
I remember that at my block party one year, David Cohen stood on a fire truck wearing a jacket and tie. I do not wish to slam Cohen’s decisions or method of governing — his style as Mayor was just more formal than Warren’s.
About two months ago, a makeshift ice rink was constructed across the street from my house. Firefighters and a few policemen were there for safety reasons, and even Setti Warren stood nearby. The mayor wore jeans and sneakers and mingled with the other spectators.
My father and I were equally shocked with the mayor’s arrival and even spoke to him. Events like this bring people closer to their municipal government. These impromptu meetings make people believe that their opinions, in some small way, contribute to the important decisions made around them.
This factor of accessibility is key in almost any election around the country. People want to know their candidates, and the answers to questions like, “Whom would I rather get dinner with?” and “Has he ever fixed his own sink?” sometimes determine the outcome of an election.
In local government, we have an advantage: instead of screaming at our television while the president makes a decision hundreds of miles away, we can go to a town hall meeting, listen to what our mayor has to say and give feedback. We are so close to our government in Newton and our influence is as powerful as ever. Ignoring our mayor’s attempts to get to know us and talk to us is ignoring an opportunity to directly affect our government.
